Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
The first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families. Full Story
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Berenice Garcia is a regional reporter covering the Rio Grande Valley. She works at the Tribune as a corps members with Report for America. She previously covered local government, crime, healthcare and general assignments for The Monitor in McAllen where she was born. Though she's spent the majority of her life in the Valley, she traveled east to attend New York University where she studied journalism and politics. While there, she interned at the New York Daily News, the Daily Beast and NBC News. When she’s not working, she enjoys fighting for her life at the gym. Berenice is based in McAllen.
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![From left: Democrat Jonathan Gracia is challenging Republican incumbent Janie Lopez in state House District 37, which covers part of the Rio Grande Valley, which includes Harlingen and part of Brownsville.]()
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In South Texas, SpaceX faces skepticism over environmental damage
A federal agency has paused some of SpaceX's plans amid concerns over the environment. Full Story
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![Members of the ENTRE Film Center, a local film center and regional archive, hosted the gathering at Boca Chica to celebrate the beach and motivate people to fight for its preservation, which they view as being in jeopardy since the arrival of Elon Musk's SpaceX. Aug. 8, 2024.]()
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Ken Paxton’s vote harvesting investigation in South Texas renews questions over politiqueras
Since the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have dramatically rewritten the state’s voting laws, which have made some long-standing practices illegal. Full Story
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![A voting feather flag outside of Firemans Park voting station in McAllen on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
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A Fox News host's debunked election conspiracy appears to have prompted a state investigation
The Fox News host who shared the allegation online has previously shared election misinformation. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fields questions at the Frisco Gun Club during a press conference announcing his intent to sue the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on May 1, 2024. This comes after the Justice Department announced a new rule requiring all gun sellers to conduct federal background checks on buyers, closing what is known as the “gun show loophole”.]()
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A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries
The request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back. Full Story
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![Books at Vandegrift High School's library on March 2, 2022.]()
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Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South Texas
This week’s ruling was the latest twist since cities and groups in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sued to block the projects. Full Story
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![Construction crews work at the 750-acre site of the proposed Rio Grande LNG facility Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 in Brownsville.]()
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Data shows Rio Grande water shortage is not just due to Mexico’s lack of water deliveries
Water levels at the Amistad and Falcon international reservoirs are currently at 19% and 12% of capacity, respectively. Some of the decrease is from lower inflows from the U.S. side of the river. Full Story
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![The U.S. 90 bridge crosses the Amistad Reservoir near Del Rio on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Water deliveries from Mexico are stored at the reservoir, where water levels have dropped in recent months.]()
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The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?
Local leaders began debating a household limit on the number of pets after two residents were arrested for having 93 dogs and a cat in their home. Full Story
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![A dog rests in an area that has air conditioning and an access to the outside at Yaqui Animal Rescue, also known as Yaqui Ranch, in Sullivan City, Texas on July 26, 2024. This area is designated for the older dogs and for those who are sick.
Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
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Texas attorney general can’t question Catholic Charities director over migrant services, court says
Wednesday’s ruling is the second time a Texas judge has ruled against the attorney general for investigating shelters helping migrants. Full Story
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![A table displayed with religious objects for sermons inside the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on April 22, 2021.]()
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As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Many of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative. Full Story
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![A crew works on upgrading pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on Thursday, July 18, 2024. In order to increase the amount of water the plant is able to distribute, pipes were upgraded and replaced, connect to the plant’s existing facility with the newly expanded infrastructure.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune