U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, was one of eight legislators inducted into the New Democrat Coalition, a group of 68 Democrats focused on advancing pro-business and financially responsible policies, according to a news release from his office.

“Now more than ever, it is important that we put politics aside and approach challenges together,” Gonzalez said in the prepared statement. “I am proud to join the New Democrat Coalition — a group that values good governance and welcomes new ideas. I look forward to working with my fellow New Democrats to build consensus and tackle the very issues Americans care about.”

Gonzalez joins seven other members of the U.S. House of Representatives as the newest members of the coalition: Reps. Brenda L. Lawrence of Michigan, Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Al Lawson Jr. of Florida, Donald A. McEachin of Virginia, Raul Ruiz of California, Thomas R. Suozzi of New York and Marc A. Veasey, also of Texas.

New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Hines welcomed the new inductees, calling them “solution-oriented members.”

“They will help the coalition continue to move beyond the partisan divide in Washington to advance innovative, pro-growth policies that will help all Americans and keep our nation secure,” Hines said.

McALLEN — A Monte Alto man faces up to five years in prison if found guilty of a federal gun charge as his trial is set to begin Tuesday, court records show.

Jose Joel Elizondo Jr., 39, faces a federal jury beginning Tuesday for his alleged role in a straw purchase of a gun that was later used in a carjacking, according to the indictment against him.

Elizondo was arrested last July after federal prosecutors alleged he had purchased a semi-automatic handgun that was later used by Jorge Luis Almanza-Barceñas in at least one carjacking in April of last year.

Almanza-Barceñas, 30, a Mexican national without legal status in the country, was arrested in early May of last year in connection with two alleged carjacking incidents.

During one of those carjackings, Almanza-Barceñas used the gun Elizondo is alleged to have illegally purchased from a San Juan pawn shop a year and three days before the carjacking, according to the indictment filed against the two men.

Federal prosecutors allege that on April 9, 2016 Elizondo violated federal gun laws when he visited the Cash America Pawn in San Juan and purchased a Beretta, Model PX4 Storm, 9mm caliber pistol — claiming on the federal gun form that the gun was for him but in actuality was for Almanza-Barceñas, the indictment reads.

“(Elizondo) falsely represented on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Form 4473, that defendant (Elizondo) was the actual buyer of the firearm described above, when in truth and fact the defendants knew that those statements and representations were false and that defendant (Elizondo) was not the actual buyer of the firearm,” the record states.

Prosecutors allege that days after Elizondo purchased the handgun from the pawn shop, Almanza-Barceñas used it to steal a sports utility vehicle in an unknown location in Hidalgo County, the complaint filed against Almanza-Barceńas states.

According to the complaint, Almanza-Barceñas took the SUV, a 2016 Toyota RAV4, on April 12, 2017 by “force and violence and intimidation,” and “with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm.”

It was further noted in the complaint that the SUV had been “transported, shipped and received in interstate commerce and foreign commerce from the person and presence of Y.C.”

Almanza-Barceñas was also implicated in a carjacking on March 27, 2017, court records show.

Last September, Almanza-Barceñas pleaded guilty to all the counts against him — reentry by deported alien; penalty for firearms; motor vehicle theft-carjacking; violent crimes; and unlawful transport of firearms, according to court records.

As part of the plea agreement, Almanza-Barceñas must pay back full restitution, which will be determined at a later date, to the victims of the carjackings, the record states.

“Defendant understands and agrees that the court will determine the amount of restitution to fully compensate the victims, that restitution imposed will be due and payable immediately, and that defendant will not attempt to avoid or delay payment,” the record states.

Almanza-Barceñas is scheduled to be sentenced April 19 and faces up to 15 years in prison, court notes show.

According to court records, federal prosecutors are expected to enter several pieces of evidence during Elizondo’s trial; including the aforementioned firearm, the form that Elizondo filled out at the pawn shop, and a video record of Elizondo’s alleged confession, to name a few.

This story was updated to reflect the correct date of the firearm purchase.

EDINBURG — A process long in the making intended to better support undocumented students and other groups at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is expected come to fruition as officials have requested funding to create a new support center.

Recently, the Student Government Association of UTRGV passed a resolution for the creation of what they call a Dream Center where undocumented students can find resources such as counseling and guidance with financial aid opportunities and registration. University officials confirmed this is something that has been in the works for a few years and they are moving forward with its creation, which is planned for the fall of this year if funds are allocated.

“These groups are under a lot of stress given their status and given the rhetoric that our current government uses,” said Senator at Large for UTRGV Edinburg, Denisce Palacios. “It’s important to make sure that they are mentally healthy.”

The association was approached by students who were concerned that while the state allows undocumented students or those who are DACAmented – legally in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – to receive in-state tuition, there wasn’t a specific person or place they could go for information pertaining to their status.

Some of the main questions heard by student representatives and university officials were how to find job opportunities after graduation, where to find grants or financial aid opportunities while in college, and how to protect their information or status from being divulged.

This is something university officials say has been in the works for the past few years as they began hearing concerns from student activists and others close to the issue. The main issue was having staff well versed on how to address the unique issues that come with not having a legal status in the U.S. or having an unstable status while trying to acquire a degree and a job after graduation.

“We started meeting with students about a year ago,” said Rebecca Gadson, dean of students at UTRGV. “Ideas were presented in terms of what we could do as an institution to break down any barriers and just really help provide support and affirmation for our students in that experience. And I think we try to do that for all of our students in general but we have to also be responsive to the unique circumstances that students are going through.”

Gadson began by requesting funds to be allocated for what they call an Overarching Center in which to offer support for students with many different identities and circumstances. This center would in turn house the Dream Center with staff specifically hired for and trained in the area of how to better guide and support these students.

Kristin Croyle, vice president for student success, said it was over the past year that they heard increased concerns over the need to expand support to this group of students considering many of them felt pressures from the political climate around the country.

The main way in which students asked for this support to be expanded was through the center, she said, and officials began looking into what other universities had to offer. This is when they found out UT-San Antonio was also working on the development of a center catered to undocumented and DACAmented students.

“It’s the same approach that UT-San Antonio is taking, an overarching center that has more of an inclusion focus and within it a Dream Center,” Croyle said. “It would be a mix of concrete factual resources and clear communication of support and belonging too.”

The budget request, which includes hiring one full-time staff member and one graduate student for the center, has already received initial approval and they are expecting to receive final approval on the overall budget by July. If the item receives approval the goal is to have a center in place by the fall.

The university’s SGA are also conducting their own surveys of the general student population asking what resources they would like to see offered in the space. The hope is to compile the results and present it to Croyle and Gadson in about a week, Palacios said, so they can take that feedback into consideration.

In the meantime, Gadson said they are moving forward with the panning process as if this has already been approved. This includes getting feedback from students via additional anonymous surveys, finding a location for the overarching center and identifying adequate training.

“I’m already looking at identifying those spaces,” Gadson said. “It’s about having dedicated personnel who focus on how we can continue to expand and support the whole person.”

As commerce and travelers continue to flow northbound from Mexico at increasing rates, there’s a need for more U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry.

U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, introduced legislation last week increasing CBP’s capacity to screen passengers and facilitate trade at international airports, seaports and land ports of entry, seeking to hire 500 CBP officers and 100 agriculture specialists per year to address staffing shortages.

National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon said CBP needs to hire 3,700 new officers and 721 agriculture specialists. The NTEU, which endorsed the bill, represents more than 25,000 CBP employees.

“A CBP officer and agriculture specialist hiring surge would immediately improve employee safety by reducing excessive overtime shifts; facilitate legitimate travel and trade that is currently slowed by the lack of personnel, and improve their ability to prevent the entry of high-risk travelers and cargo through the ports,” Reardon said.

The volume of commerce entering the country has more than tripled in the past 25 years, which has led to an increased flow of commercial traffic through ports of entry, according to the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee.

“Both involuntary overtime — resulting in 12 to 16 hour shifts, day after day, for months on end — and involuntary work assignments far from home significantly disrupt CBP officers’ family life, erode morale, and are not a solution for staffing shortages at the ports,” Reardon said.

A Vela aide acknowledged the difficulties in hiring large numbers of CBP employees, but introducing the bill is the first step in the attempt to add more officers.

“CBPOs, stationed at our ports of entry, screen more than 1 million foreign nationals and U.S. citizens and approximately $6.3 billion worth in imported goods at ports of entry annually,” Vela said in a statement. “The economy of the United States as a whole relies on the critical work that CBPOs perform every day, and that is imperative that our front-line personnel have the support, staffing and resources they need for a safe and effective work environment.”

Vela is the ranking member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee. He introduced this bill alongside U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security.

PHARR — Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives this week began distributing information about federal assistance available for residents impacted by floodwater.

The disaster declaration issued by President Donald Trump last week triggered the availability of federal funding, such as grants and loans, for residents impacted by storms last month, which the National Weather Service estimates caused flooding and rainfall amounting to about 18 inches between Weslaco and Mercedes.

“Drainage was unable to handle the deluge, and widespread flooding with photo and video evidence of at least 3 to 5 feet of water depth in many streets of each town ensued,” according to information provided by the NWS.

The floods left more than 2,000 homes damaged in Weslaco alone, and the NWS estimates that total damages could surpass $100 million and up to $500 million in the region, which also includes Zapata, Jim Hogg, Brooks and Kenedy counties.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews went door-to-door in the Las Milpas area on Friday, handing out flyers and signing up residents who had not yet filled out the necessary forms required to be eligible for aid.

“We’re going to be around, doing the canvassing, going door-to-door” said Ramon Colon, who works for the disaster survivor assistance division of FEMA.

Though homes near East Mavi Drive in the Las Milpas area sustained “regular damage,” other homes, like in the Mercedes and Weslaco area, were damaged severely, Colon said. Crews will also be canvassing those areas.

“The thing about water is that immediately, you don’t see the damage,” said FEMA representative Luis Burgos. “(If) something gets wet beneath your house, wood gets weak, you (can) get mold.”

The FEMA crews work from Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“FEMA encourages everyone to register, if they have damage,” Colon said, adding that homeowners and renters should consider applying if water entered their property.

The disaster survivor assistance teams also encourage residents to contact their flood insurance, but insurance coverage is not necessary to be considered for federal assistance.

Residents requesting disaster assistance will be given an identification number used to lookup their application status. Inspectors will then conduct damage assessments of property within 10 business days of receiving the application, Colon said.

FEMA, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requires that at least one resident in the household be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified immigrant to qualify for assistance, according to information provided by the agency. Crews, though, do not check citizenship status of members in the households.

FEMA representatives identify themselves when approaching homeowners and wear government-issued badges. Flyers with information about disaster assistance may also be left at temporarily unoccupied homes.

Residents in the declared disaster area may also apply for assistance by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362 or online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

“We’re going to continue working the area until they need us,” Colon said.

When Thea — now a plump 5-year-old silver and white domestic short-haired cat — arrived at the Palm Valley Animal Center in Edinburg over a year ago, she suffered from intestinal issues. And after an upper respiratory infection, she was at risk of losing her eyesight.

“Everybody here is impacted by her and her story,” said PVAC Director of Development Rebecca Villanueva. She held the cat, commenting on her soft fur.

After receiving care from the organization, the feline is healthy and available for adoption. Today’s “Clear the Shelters” event will be Thea’s best shot at finding a home, Villanueva said.

Palm Valley Animal Center, and the Laurie P. Andrews PAWS Center, will join two other Rio Grande Valley facilities — Sullivan City’s no-kill nonprofit Yaqui Animal Rescue and Port Isabel’s Isabel Y. Garcia Animal Shelter — participating in the national campaign, where adoption fees are waived. PVAC and PAWS open their doors at 9 a.m.

Last year, while only utilizing the PAWS Center, the organization secured more than 320 adoptions. They’ll open both Edinburg facilities this year, and Villanueva said the goal is to find at least 400 animals homes.

The staffs at the centers worked this week — coordinating with volunteers, organizing paperwork and microchipping animals — to help the adoption process on Saturday run smoother. Large tents are pitched to accommodate the visitors expected Saturday. Potential adopters are given wristbands and wait in either dog or cat lines. Then, in groups, visitors are taken to see animals.

Staff suggests those interested in adoption should arrive early with water, and maybe a chair.

“It’s the same adoption process, it’s just at a larger scale,” Villanueva said. “We talk a lot about these free adoption events, and I always emphasize to people that free is not a real thing. Somebody always covers those costs.”

Local and national sponsors make the event possible, she said.

And while pets won’t cost anything that day, good pet ownership is a big investment and a lot of work, she said. Counseling during the event makes sure people know what they’re getting into.

Most of the animals up for adoption are spayed or neutered, but the center will try to find unaltered animals a home. These come with a $50 deposit, and PVAC covers the cost for the procedure.

On Friday, staff put together packets with info like house training, illustrations interpreting the body language of animals and a rundown of symptoms to common ailments new owners should look out for. Staff will just need to add the newly-adopted animal’s medical records to the materials on Saturday.

“We try to give them as much information as we possibly can,” said Renee Ramirez, PVAC adoption specialist.

Some people came in on Friday to start paperwork and see which animals they might want, she said. Interaction will be limited on Saturday because of the number of people expected.

Admitting side is closed to the public tomorrow, but they’ll still taking from animal control during the event.

PVAC took in 40,637 animals in 2017. Of those, lost animals accounted for 1,653, PVAC adopted out 2,785, and 6,031 were sent to rescues.

The organization posted a nearly 35 percent live release rate in 2017, and was just over 50 percent as of May.

The group underwent changes after a controversial video of the facility surfaced in February sparking criticism on social media.

In May, PVAC announced their pursuit of no-kill status, requiring a more than 90 percent live release rate. The organization has previously said the backlash wasn’t a determining factor to pursuing that goal.

“What feels great is that we’ll have space for those animals — those healthy and adaptable animals,” Villanueva said, “because right now we don’t.”