Ildefonso Ortiz, Twitter: @Ildefonsoortiz
Commencements bring families of many types together
HIDALGO – Lelia Cortez and her daughter Janet nervously held hands as they waited behind stage Friday at the State Farm Arena for their graduation ceremony to begin.
The two, who often studied together for class, each received two associate’s…
Two charged with murder in teen’s dragging death
MISSION – “We didn’t mean to do it; I would give my life to take it all back,” said 32-year-old Ricardo Zamora after his arraignment on Friday afternoon.
Zamora and 18-year-old Aaron Justin Hinojosa were arrested Tuesday afternoon in Mission…
Crowds go green for Vida Verde
McALLEN – Crowds gathered Saturday morning at Quinta Mazatlan to celebrate Earth Day in the city’s own way with the fourth annual Vida Verde.
Organizers expected 4,000 visitors to spend the day outdoors with activities designed to reacquaint…
Family turns out for arraignment of Kalifa’s alleged killer
MISSION — More than a dozen family members of Christine Kalifa, all dressed in black and carrying pictures of the slain mother of three, arrived Friday at the Mission Municipal Court to witness the arraignment of her alleged killer.
As the family…
Border Patrol: More than 10,000 pounds of pot seized in five days
EDINBURG — U.S. Border Patrol announced the seizure of more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana during a span of five days. The drugs are said to have a street value of $8.2 million.
According to information released by USBP on Friday, one of the…
More than 30 pounds of cocaine seized at Anzalduas bridge
MISSION — U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday the seizure of 31 pounds of cocaine with an approximate street value of $1 million.
According to information released by CBP, the seizure occurred Thursday at the Anzalduas International…
23rd annual Onion Fest draws thousands
WESLACO — Thousands of winter Texas and local residents gathered Saturday morning at the Weslaco City Park for a festival honoring the Texas 1015 Onion.
Fried onions, onion rings and other onion-based delicacies took center stage at the 23rd annual…
Man sentenced to 20 years for beating death of McAllen man
EDINBURG — Some might consider a sentence of 20 years in prison for manslaughter as lengthy. But for Michael Anthony Mancha, that sentence seems like a victory.
Mancha, 19, was sentenced Friday morning after a conviction on manslaughter and sent…
Teens grieve for classmate killed in accident
McALLEN — More than 50 students gathered Friday afternoon at the intersection of Harvey and 21st streets — the same spot where just a few hours earlier, Marissa Bauman, 16, had been killed in an accident.
Near the spot of the accident, a bright…
Showing livestock offers life lessons
MERCEDES – A year of care and bonding turned out to be a bittersweet victory for young livestock show competitors as they prepared to say farewell to their prized animals.
After the competition at the 73rd annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show,…