Editorial: Olympics offer Valley residents a respite from political turmoil, chance to cheer local athlete

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July 25, 2024

AP24174026778523 — Shaine Casas celebrates after the Men's 200 individual medley finals Friday, June 21, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks on the political scene, with an attempted assassination, a raucous nominating convention and the incumbent president’s announcement that he’s abandoning his campaign for reelection. Congress members continue to spend their time waging partisan battles instead of offering and debating substantive legislation, and global climate experts are telling us that recent days have given us the hottest week in recorded history.

We could sure use a break.

Fortunately, the Summer Olympic Games are beginning in Paris. The quadrennial tournament that brings together the greatest athletes in the world to compete in dozens of sports competitions should offer us a welcome distraction from all the madness and turmoil.

This year should be of special interest to Valley residents, as we get to root for one of our own competitors.

Shaine Casas swims during a Men’s 200 individual medley preliminary heat Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

Former McAllen High School star Shaine Casas will represent the United States, and the Valley, in the swimming competition. Casas, who has earned 11 world championship medals and three collegiate national championships swimming for Texas A&M University, will compete in the 200 individual medley event, which combines four different swimming strokes — backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.

Olympic swimming competition begins Saturday, July 27, and qualifying heats for Casas’ event start Aug. 1.

This year also offers the compelling story of a homeless team of refugees, athletes displaced from their home countries by war, violence and other strive.

To be sure, many people are drawn to the kind of political and social turmoil that currently dominates our news and social media outlets. For better or worse, the Olympics often provide plenty of fodder in those areas as well. Past games have served up a fair amount of controversy as well, from disputes over judges’ rulings to cheating scandals that range from unauthorized drugs to the use of new technology that might give some teams unfair advantages over others.

The good thing about such matters at the Olympics is that they feed some people’s appetite for controversy without directly affecting our personal safety or finances, as political battles often do.

It all begins with the spectacle of the opening ceremonies on Friday. This year the pagentry carries a twist; instead of the traditional march into the main stadium, the parade of nations will place the teams on boats floating down the Seine River.

Isaura Maenhaut and Anouk Geurts, of Belgium, sail past Marseille’s Notre-Dame de la Garde, during in the 49’er Women’s Skiff class practice at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Marseille, France. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

Technological advances have made our enjoyment of the games easier than ever. People with internet connections should be able to find live streams of the action in most of their favorite sports, in addition to the customary delayed broadcasts featuring highlights of each days events. That’s good news for those interested in following their favorite events, teams and athletes — perhaps not so much for managers worried about worker productivity.

Fortunately, they’ll only have to worry about such things for the next couple of weeks; closing ceremonies will take place Aug. 11.

Between now and then, we have the chance to enjoy thrilling competition, cheer on our local athlete, and take a break from weightier issues.

Federal agents at Delia’s Tamales in McAllen

By

Dina Arévalo

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July 24, 2024

McALLEN — Federal agents were seen entering the Delia’s Tamales restaurant at 3400 N. 10 St. Wednesday morning.

Approximately four law enforcement officers — some wearing ballistic vests bearing the word “POLICE” and others reading “FBI” — entered the restaurant at approximately 10 a.m.

One unmarked law enforcement vehicle parked just outside the restaurant’s drive-thru lane, which was empty at the time of their arrival.

A few minutes later, dine-in customers could be seen emerging from the restaurant’s front door and leaving in their vehicles.

A woman with a bullet proof vest reading “POLICE” emerged briefly to take photographs of the front of the restaurant, then returned inside.

Minutes later, two men bearing vests that read “FBI” retrieved what appeared to be empty cardboard evidence boxes from their vehicles and returned inside the restaurant.

A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that agents are conducting “court authorized” activity at the restaurant.

A group of customers who arrived just after 10:15 a.m. were met with a printed sign reading “We are closed.”

The group said they found another Delia’s location on Jackson Road to be similarly closed.

A couple hoping to dine at a Delia’s Tamales restaurant in north McAllen are met with a “we are closed” sign as FBI agents carry out an investigation inside on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Dina Arévalo | [email protected])

The FBI spokesperson also confirmed that agents are carrying out similar activity at other Delia’s locations, including in San Antonio.

“(W)e were performing court authorized law enforcement activity in the vicinity of Hauseman and 1604 in San Antonio,” the spokesperson said.

According to the company’s website, Delia’s operates a total of seven restaurants — two in McAllen, and one each in Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, San Juan and San Antonio.

The company that owns Delia’s Tamales, Del-Gar Foods, is currently embroiled in a wage theft lawsuit in federal court.

In the suit, more than two dozen former employees of the restaurant claim that Delia’s engaged in fraud by forcing them to work long hours without paying them overtime, then terminated their employment as they reached retirement age.

A law enforcement officer walks inside the Delia’s Tamales restaurant at 3400 N. 10th St. in McAllen as the FBI conducts an investigation at several Delia’s locations across the region on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Dina Arévalo | [email protected])

In early versions of the lawsuit, the employees — many of whom are undocumented — also claimed that Delia’s obtained fraudulent Social Security numbers for its employees, then withheld Social Security deductions from their paychecks.

The employees claimed the company kept those payroll deductions for itself while threatening to report the employees to immigration officials if they complained.

Among the allegations included in more recent court filings are claims that Delia Lubin, owner and founder of the company, assigned some of those employees as her personal house cleaners. Lubin is not a named defendant in the civil suit.

The newer allegations also claim that for years the company has maintained two sets of books — one to record legitimate business and payroll accounting, and another to record illicit transactions, such as under-the-table payments to employees.

Messages left with several attorneys representing the company went unreturned Wednesday.

A pair of customers hoping to dine at a Delia’s Tamales restaurant in north McAllen are met with a “we are closed” sign as FBI agents carry out an investigation inside on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Dina Arévalo | [email protected])

Staff at the office of one attorney — Stephen Quezada, of Houston — told The Monitor that he was in court with a trial.

Quezada’s name was one of two mentioned in an early version of the lawsuit, which was originally filed in state district court by Edinburg attorney Richard Alamia.

In that complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that Quezada, along with a human resources staffer, threatened to report employees to “ICE,” or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, if they tried to speak up.

One such employee has already testified to those alleged threats as part of the civil lawsuit’s discovery process, according to Ricardo Gonzalez, an Edinburg attorney who has taken over as lead counsel for the former employees.

“That’s what our clients have testified to, at least one of them,” Gonzalez said of the immigration threats.

The attorney, who joined the case in late-May, said six of the plaintiffs recently sat for depositions as part of the discovery process. Their testimony is meant to be representative of the larger group of 27 plaintiffs, he said Wednesday afternoon.

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Gonzalez said he was hoping to depose Lubin, as well as at least two family members who are involved with the business’ operations, before next month’s court-mandated discovery deadline.

He said he had been in the process of trying to schedule those depositions when Wednesday’s news broke. Now, he doesn’t think he or his clients will have an opportunity to hear from Lubin.

“We were trying to schedule her deposition, and based on this, I don’t think that they’ll present any witnesses,” Gonzalez said, citing potential Fifth Amendment concerns the company or its principals may now have.

Asked for his reaction to news that all seven Delia’s locations had been visited by federal law enforcement, Gonzalez replied, “You could have reasonably anticipated this was going to happen.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.

Harlingen sues over once-controversial Bass Pro Shop development

By

Mark Reagan

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July 24, 2024

Bass Pro Shop is seen in this July 22, 2020, file photo in Harlingen. (Maricela Rodriguez/Valley Morning Star)

The city of Harlingen and its economic arm have sued over the Bass Pro Shop development — a once-controversial proposal that resulted in a fiery public discussion over whether the plan was worth the price tag.

Now, more than a decade later, the city claims it might never be possible to ever even pay for the land with public funds.

The city of Harlingen and the Economic Development Corporation of Harlingen filed the lawsuit against 83/77 Properties Ltd. and 83/77 GP LLC in December 2023.

On March 21, the city filed an amended petition and the respondents answered on April 12.

“The Petitioners have filed this case because doing so is the only way to protect the citizens of the City of Harlingen from a predatory and abusive financing agreement which the Petitioners entered into thirteen years ago,” the lawsuit stated. “The Agreement has and will continue to cost Harlingen taxpayers to pay out millions of dollars in public funds to Respondent for no real purpose.”

The city claims the agreement only serves to enrich 83/77 Properties Ltd. and 83/77 GP LLC.

For its part, those companies answered with a general denial to “each and every material allegation.”

“Only now, years after the written agreement was signed do the (city) suddenly come forth and attempt to invalidate the promises and representations they made to induce the Defendant … into accepting the written agreement terms,” the answer stated.

Harlingen entered into the agreement on Dec. 15, 2010 to develop a 30-acre tract of land “and other land” that would be developed, including Bass Pro Shop.

The total principal debt — which carries an 8% interest rate — is $4,431,204 with Harlingen’s debt amounting to $3,013,219 and its economic arm’s amounting to $1,417,985.56 plus accrued interest.

“The debt was ‘seller financed’ by 83/77 Properties LTD,” the lawsuit stated.

According to the city, the only way it can pay the debt is “exclusively from a perpetual assignment of sales tax collected” from the development.

The lawsuit claims that if the land weren’t developed there wouldn’t be enough sales tax to extinguish the debt.

“In this scenario, Harlingen residents would be paying off this debt until the end of time,” the lawsuit stated.

The city claims that “little to nothing” has been done to develop retail over the last 13 years.

Now — despite already paying $2,365,897.82 — the outstanding principal and unpaid interest has grown to $6,393,659.32, according to the lawsuit.

“However, despite Petitioners full performance, the debt owed on this project will continue to increase so long as 83/77 Ltd. continues to simply choose not to develop the 30-acre tract which it promised to develop in the Agreement,” the lawsuit stated. “Harlingen taxpayers will, in that event, never be able to pay off the principal balance and will be trapped in an ever-spiraling cycle of debt.”

Here’s the latest update:

Harlingen official outlines settlement ending lawsuit over Bass Pro development

Judge denies Texas AG’s request to depose Catholic Charities

By

Dina Arévalo

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July 24, 2024

071724.CATHOLIC CHARITIES_AG OFFICE CASE. dl 007 — Judge Bobby Flores during a hearing with Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas Attorney General’s Office Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

A state district judge has knocked down an attempt by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to depose Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in a bid to suss out information on alleged human smuggling.

J.R. “Bobby” Flores, judge of the 139th state District Court, handed down the order denying the AG’s request shortly after noon on Wednesday, court records show.

“Upon consideration of the Petition and the Response and Objections, as well as all applicable law, the arguments of counsel, and all timely filed pleadings and evidence, the Court is of the opinion that the Petition should be DENIED,” Flores’ two-paragraph order states.

Last Wednesday, a veritable swarm of attorneys representing both the AG’s office and Catholic Charities crowded into Flores’ courtroom on the second floor of the Hidalgo County Courthouse to argue the merits of their opposing positions.

The state’s attorneys said that the AG’s office began looking into allegations that non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, have been illegally assisting migrants enter the country at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The allegations stemmed from a December 2022 directive by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calling on the AG’s office to investigate the claims, as well as a September 2023 letter from U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican representing East Texas, to Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Gooden’s letter made similar claims, calling the unnamed NGOs “complicit” in trafficking more than 8 million migrants into the country.

Earlier this spring, attorneys with the state began reaching out to Catholic Charities on a fact-finding mission.

On March 25, the attorney general’s office sent Catholic Charities a letter demanding that it designate a representative to testify before state attorneys in Austin at the beginning of April.

The AG’s office cited its authorities to investigate businesses and nonprofits under the Texas Business Organizations Code.

But the nonprofit, via attorney David C. Garza, pushed back, arguing that the state was exceeding its authorities under that statute.

Sister Norma Pimentel is greeted by a dozen immigrant children at the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center on Monday, June 20, 2022, in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

What followed next was several months of back-and-forth written correspondence between the two sides, with the AG’s office making increasingly pointed requests for information about the nonprofit’s operations, staffing procedures, and how it processes the migrants that pass through its downtown McAllen respite center, among other locations.

Catholic Charities responded by sending reams of documents to the state, as well as a sworn statement from Sister Norma Pimentel, the much-beloved Catholic nun who serves as the nonprofit’s executive director.

But repeatedly in the correspondence, Garza explained that Catholic Charities only offers migrants assistance with food, travel to bus stations, and temporary shelter only after they have been vetted by — and released from the custody of — federal immigration agents.

The nonprofit further explained that some of the very migrants they have assisted have left Texas on passenger buses as part of Gov. Abbott’s plan to send migrants to so-called “sanctuary cities” like New York City and Chicago.

Meanwhile, the state’s attorneys attempted to allay the nonprofit’s fears regarding the AG’s probe.

“At this time, the Attorney General’s office is not accusing Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley … of any substantive legal wrongdoing,” Levi Fuller, one of the state’s attorneys, wrote to Garza on April 5.

But in court last Wednesday, the tone had decidedly shifted.

“We’re looking into, specifically, several criminal … possible criminal violations — smuggling persons and bringing in and harboring certain aliens,” Matthew Kennedy, an attorney with the AG’s office said then.

Matthew Kennedy, an attorney with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, presents a folder to Judge Bobby Flores during a hearing in its lawsuit against RGV Catholic Charities Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Attorneys representing the nonprofit, including the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, or ICAP, out of Georgetown University Law Center, argued that the AG’s office had no evidence of wrongdoing — criminal or otherwise — beyond the governor’s two-year-old assertions.

Further, in court documents, Catholic Charities referred to the would-be investigation as a “fishing expedition into a pond where no one has ever seen a fish.”

In handing down his order on Wednesday, Flores has denied the state’s attempt to conduct what’s called a “Rule 202 deposition” — a legal maneuver typically used to obtain sworn testimony from a witness in anticipation of a civil lawsuit.

But, as last week’s court arguments confirmed, the state may intend to use such civil action to pursue criminal charges.

Flores knocked down the state’s first attempt to do so. His ruling echoes a similar one handed down earlier this month in El Paso.

In that case, a judge denied the state’s attempts at subpoenaing a similar migrant aid organization, Annunciation House.

Lawsuit brought by woman charged with murder for abortion to move forward

By

Francisco E. Jimenez

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July 24, 2024

040224.LIZELLE GONZALEZ.jm.003 — Lizelle Gonzalez listens as a statement is read aloud by her lawyer Cecilia Garza during a press conference on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

McALLEN — A federal judge on Wednesday denied three motions to dismiss the lawsuit filed by attorneys representing Lizelle Gonzalez against Starr County, District Attorney Gocha A. Ramirez, Assistant District Attorney Alexandria Lynn Barrera and Sheriff Rene Fuentes.

Gonzalez, who was previously identified in jail and court records as Lizelle Herrera, was falsely indicted and jailed on April 7, 2022 on a murder charge for having a self-induced abortion.

She spent three days in jail before the Starr County district attorney dismissed the unfounded charges. She is seeking $1,000,000 in damages over the claims made against her.

She later sued.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton made the ruling following brief arguments made by attorneys representing Starr County and Gonzalez.

Attorneys representing the county, D.A., assistant D.A. and the sheriff had argued that the basis for the dismissal was prosecutorial immunity.

“We’re glad to say that the court did dismiss all three of the defendants’ motions to dismiss,” I. Cecilia Garza, who is representing Gonzalez, said following the judge’s ruling. “So we will continue to fight for Lizelle. We’re very excited about what’s going forward, and we’re happy to fight for her and keep going on this case.”

Garza said her client will be excited that the rulings were made so early.

“We’re very pleased that the judge made the ruling so quickly and from the bench,” Garza said. “This gives us the opportunity to move forward and move forward fast. I’m sure that Lizelle is going to be very excited when we let her know that we crossed this initial hurdle and we can move forward.”

Harlingen borrowing $10 million to help fund $258 million project

By

Fernando Del Valle

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July 24, 2024

2023-09-14_HarlingenWaterworks_1 — A view of Harlingen's WaterWorks System facility on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

HARLINGEN — Officials here are launching the biggest project in Harlingen’s history, borrowing $10 million through a 30-year loan to help fund the first part of a $258 million WaterWorks master plan aimed at overhauling an aging sewer system.

Officials are selling about $10 million in revenue bonds after the Texas Water Development Board granted the city a $10 million low-interest loan last September.

At WaterWorks, officials are planning to request the board grant further funding to help finance the sewer system’s $258 million overhaul.

On Wednesday, WaterWorks interim General Manager David Sanchez could not be reached for comment.

Now, as a result of increased demand, some of the sewer system’s pipes are leading to overflows, officials said.

As part of the board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, the city’s saving $2.4 million, Anne Burger Entrikin, the city’s financial advisor with First Southwest Co., said.

In a presentation, she told commissioners the program offered a 2.557% interest rate, 1.21% lower than the market rate, projected to save the city $2.4 million.

WaterWorks’ revenues are securing the bonds, Burger Entrikin said.

During the 30-year loan’s term, running from 2026 to 2055, the city’s projected to pay $14.2 million in debt service, she said during a July 17 meeting.

Harlingen Waterworks System office is pictured Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in Harlingen. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

Last September, the Water Development Board granted the city the low-interest loan based on records showing Harlingen’s “financials are excellent,” board members told city officials.

As part of the city’s request, Mayor Norma Sepulveda told board members the loan would help the city “lighten the load” for utility customers, helping to reduce water rate increases set to help fund the master plan.

Meanwhile, former WaterWorks General Manager Tim Skoglund told board members the city’s aging sewer system was projected to lead manholes to overflow.

In response, board members described the sewer system’s upgrade as “critical to the community.”

At the time, Skoglund said WaterWorks was planning to use the loan to fund the sewer system project’s design phase.

As part of the $258 million project, officials are planning to upgrade a sewer plant lift station, a central pipeline known as an interceptor, along with trunk lines leading to the main pipeline, he said.

Officials were planning to launch the first leg of construction within 12 to 18 months, he said in an interview last September.

In May, Skoglund left office after seven years on the job as a result of what he described as “disagreements about personal management style.”

Now, the WaterWorks board of directors is searching for a new general manager.

Games of Texas kicks off in Brownsville

By

Steve Clark

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July 24, 2024

Mark Lord, executive director of the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation, speaks at Veterans Memorial Early College High School in Brownsville at a press conference Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Steve Clark | The Brownsville Herald)

It’s about to get real, and possibly a little soggy.

The 2024 Summer Games of Texas will take place Thursday through Sunday in Brownsville, with an elaborate opening ceremony scheduled for Friday at the Brownsville Sports Park. The free public ceremony starts at 6 p.m., weather permitting, and will feature live music, dancing, fireworks and other entertainment. Vendors and sponsors also will be on hand.

This is the second year in a row Brownsville is hosting the games, created 38 years ago by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation, which itself turns 100 next year. When a city is chosen for the games, they’re held there two years consecutively. When Brownsville was chosen in 2018, it was meant to host the 2022-2023, though the games were postponed for a year due to the pandemic. The event is the largest annual sporting festival in the state.

Mayor John Cowen Jr., spoke Wednesday at a press conference held at Veterans Memorial Early College High School, which will host some of the athletic competitions through the weekend. He said it’s an honor for the city to be chosen by TAAF, noting that the games bring together the most talented amateur athletes from across the state. The annual summer games are preceded by TAF regional competitions around the state. TAF has 17 regions.

Cowen said the event brings significant benefits to the city and the region, and presents an opportunity for Brownsville and neighboring communities, and businesses, to welcome visitors from across Texas. He thanked the Brownsville Independent School District and its board of trustees for partnering with the city to host the games.

“It gives us the opportunity to show case the rich culture, the beauty and the vibrancy that make the Rio Grande Valley and Brownsville unique,” Cowen said. “My daughter’s also competing in track and field and swimming, so I’m really excited to watch her this weekend.”

City Manager Helen Ramirez, taking her turn at the podium, noted that many of those competing are from the Valley, which she said produces “wonderful athletes.” Ramirez added that hosting such major events is part of “growing up as a city,” touting the economic impact.

“We generated almost $4 million in additional sales tax from hosting the (games) last year,” she said.

Mark Lord, TAAF executive director, also was on hand Wednesday and said that the annual games bring between 7,000 and 10,000 athletes plus another 20,000 or so spectators.

“We are a big economic generator for the area,” he said. “South Texas Region 2 is our biggest track registration in the history of TAAF. This year, in track and swim, we had over 18,600 registered from every corner of the state.”

With rain in the forecast through at least Sunday morning, Lord acknowledged that “we may have some weather” but said all parties involved will meet throughout the week to stay on top of it.

“We are prepared for it,” he said. “It may be inconvenient. But I want to encourage everybody to come on out. The athletes are going to be here. They need some cheering. So come out and support them.”

Lord thanked BISD for helping make the games possible in Brownsville and praised the relationship between city of Brownsville and its public school district.

“It’s great to be here,” he said. “Come out and see us and cheer for (the athletes).”

Among the 16 individual competitions — a number of which will take place at BISD facilities — are youth basketball, youth and adult boxing, adult flag football, youth and adult golf, youth and adult skateboarding, youth soccer, youth softball, adult and youth tennis, and youth track and field.

Competitions also include youth and adult co-ed volleyball, youth and adult disc golf, youth and adult pickleball, adult sand volleyball, youth and adult swimming, and youth volleyball.

Araceli Sandoval, athletics manager for the city’s parks and recreation department, who emceed Wednesday’s press conference, said the schedule for all events — plus any changes due to weather — can be found at TAAF.com and GamesofTexas.com. Long delays are possible for some events, depending on weather, according to TAAF.

TAAF posted on its website late Wednesday that all baseball and softball events have been canceled due to inclement weather.

Still, Sandoval said Friday night’s opening ceremony at the Sports Park should not be missed, weather permitting.

“We invite everybody,” she said. “It’s free of charge. … It’s a great time to come out with the whole family and just enjoy an evening of some shows and great entertainment.”

Kids Appreciation Day set for Saturday at Gladys Porter Zoo

By

Staff Report

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July 24, 2024

2023-08-02_KidsAppreciaitionDayGPZ_4 — H-E-B employees volunteer Wednesday morning, Aug. 2, 2023, filling 1,000 back to school backpacks with school supply kits in partnership with Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville as the zoo will celebrate its 19th Annual Kids Appreciation Day. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

The Gladys Porter Zoo will be celebrating children this week with its 20th annual Kids Appreciation Day on Saturday.

The event will provide children with a passport that they will carry throughout the zoo as they visit various activity stations where they can learn about health and wellness, safety, animal conservation and more.

“This event is the perfect way for Valley residents to spend quality time with their children while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming school year,” a news release read.

To help prepare for the upcoming school year, the zoo will be providing backpacks filled with school supplies to the first 1,000 children to pick up their passports. Children who complete their passports may also enter a raffle to win prizes including bicycles, gift cards and backpacks filled with even more school supplies.

Children have fun feeding the giraffes at Gladys Porter Zoo on Nov. 13, 2021, in Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

“We are especially grateful to H-E-B and all our sponsors for their continued support of the Zoo,” Cynthia Garza-Galvan, marketing director, said in the news release. “Without their help, the Zoo would not be able to distribute 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to our Valley students, which is something we look forward to every year.”

Kids Appreciation Day is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children ages 2 through 13 can get a free admission with paid adult admission coupon for Kids Appreciation Day at any H-E-B location in Cameron and Willacy counties.

Passes will also be available at any Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Rio Grande Valley before Saturday.

For more information, visit www.gpz.org or call the Gladys Porter Zoo office at (956)546-7187.

Peñitas man gets 35 years for July 4 murder of his stepdaughter

By

Xavier Alvarez

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July 24, 2024

EDINBURG — A 55-year-old Peñitas man pleaded guilty to murder and was convicted Wednesday morning for shooting and killing his stepdaughter who had four children with him.

Leonardo Zapata Silva was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the July 4, 2023 murder of 41-year-old Claudia Gallegos.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Gallegos and her daughter, Crystal, were attempting to leave the residence located at 1501 N. 11th St. in Peñitas when Leonardo Zapata Silva prevented them from leaving, prompting Crystal to look for her uncle Joshua Silva.

Leonardo Zapata Silva was sentenced for the murder of his stepdaughter on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Hidalgo County Courthouse. (Xavier Alvarez | The Monitor)

Crystal also told investigators that a week prior Leonardo Zapata Silva had threatened Gallegos by saying that he would take her life before ending his.

At about 9:22 p.m. that day, police made contact with Joshua Silva who stated that he was outside the residence when he heard a loud bang, looked up and saw his father pointing a handgun toward the lower part of his sister’s body, the affidavit said.

When police handcuffed Leonardo Zapata Silva, he said that he was only trying to “scare her in a joking manner and did not believe” there were any bullets in the gun.

However, the affidavit states that the gun was separated from the magazine meaning that Leonardo Zapata Silva would have seen the bullets in the magazine and would have had to chamber a round.

Following his plea of guilty, Prosecutor Michelle Beltran read two victim impact statements written by Gallegos’ youngest and oldest sons, Mark and Christopher Silva.

She added that the family didn’t want to be there when Leonardo Zapata Silva was sentenced.

Mark Silva’s letter described his mother as a hard-working and wonderful woman who cracked inside jokes with him and said she would call him her “payaso,” her clown.

As Beltran read the statements, Leonardo Zapata Silva cried and his body visibly shook.

“She would always know how to make me feel special,” Beltran read.

Mark Silva described his days as “gray” without his mother around and stated that his family may never recover from the tragedy to which Leonardo Zapata Silva shook his head.

Christopher Silva’s letter said that he can’t find peace even in his sleep.

“The nightmares aren’t as bad anymore, but I still have them from time to time,” Beltran read.

He added that he doesn’t celebrate July 4 anymore. His letter also described how he had to handle the funeral proceedings and struggled to hold it together, stating that his family would call him strong when he didn’t feel that way.

Christopher Silva also lamented the fact that his newborn daughter would never get to know her grandmother and called it unfair.

“My mind will not be at ease with the loss of my mother,” Beltran read, concluding Christopher Silva’s statement.

Brownsville, Harlingen doctors urge healthy habits as school year returns

By

Travis M. Whitehead

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July 24, 2024

2023-02-05_BISD_ScratchLunchFood_1 — Brownsville Independent School District students take their lunch at Lucio Middle School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

It’s that time again.

The end of long summer days and nights hanging with friends in the parks and the game rooms and at community centers.

Instead, it will soon be the time of early bedtimes and wake ups in the early morning hours and struggling through breakfast, the time of buses and ringing bells and classrooms.

Children throughout the city and surrounding places will soon return for the 2024-2025 school year, and they will bring with them that rather confusing and yet playful medley of excitement and anxiety and all things in between.

Of the many things crucial to the healthy return to school is the matter of sleep, uninterrupted sleep without smartphones and other distractions.

“Getting good sleep is good for your health, like taking a vitamin,” said Dr. Asim Zamir, chief of pediatrics at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville.

“During sleep, your body repairs your worn-out muscles and refreshes your brain,” Zamir said. “Without enough sleep, children can feel tired, fatigued, irritable, moody, forgetful, and may even not perform as well at school.”

There is of course no one-size-fits-all playbook the addresses the needs of each child. Each individual is wired differently and must find his or her own way in the world. In general terms, however, children in school must get between nine and 11 hours of sleep each night.

To encourage children to get to bed on time, make bedtime fun.

“Try to make bedtime a positive experience, because sleep is happiness,” Zamir said. “There is nothing more exciting than dreaming. Children should have a regular bedtime and wake time, with a relaxing schedule to help wind down. There should be no screens, televisions, computers, phones, or tablets in the bedroom.”

Children between the ages of five and 11 receive their Pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at the City of Harlingen Health Department Lon C. Hill Building. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

Kids also must be current with their immunizations for many reasons. Immunizations are important to keep a child healthy, they are important to keep them in school rather than home sick, and they are important to prevent their teachers and classmates from falling ill.

“Children should receive their immunizations as soon as they are recommended independently of their school schedule,” said Dr. Jose Campo Maldonado, infectious disease specialist at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

“Vaccinations are so important because they can save lives,” he said. “Before vaccinations were widely available, millions of children died each year due to preventable illnesses. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccination saves 2.5 million child deaths each year and could save two million more deaths per year if vaccination was more widely implementation.”

All physicians agree that a healthy diet is also crucial to a successful school day and school year.