FOR ANOTHER $1 BILLION, YOU GET A CONDOMINIUM IN GAZA

TRUMP LAUNCHES HIS BOARD OF APPEASEMENT

AND THE SIGNS SAID, NO ELECTIONEERING BEYOND THIS POINT...

Good afternoon,

Please share this communication and the attached correspondence regarding political sign and electioneering compliance for the March 3 election with your candidates.

At this time, we are processing to contact the Police Department due to non-compliance with the City’s Electioneering Ordinance at the Main Library polling location.

Campaigners representing Eric Flores have refused to relocate to the designated canvassing area. Despite being provided a copy of the ordinance that outlines the designated canvassing areas, they continue to remain at the island on Central Blvd. near the City marquee sign and on the sidewalk at Veteran's Park, which are not permitted electioneering locations.

Any and all situation has been referred to the Police Department for assistance to ensure compliance with the City’s ordinance and to maintain an orderly and fair environment at the polling location.

We will continue to monitor and will provide updates as needed.

THE MEME WAR GETS NASTY IN THE COUNTY JUDGE'S RACE

B'VILLE OBSTINATE IN GLORIFYING SLAVE CATCHERS AND SLAVERS. $1/2 MILLION TO MOVE SHACK. AND THE SLAVE QUARTERS?

By Juan Montoya

5) Consideration and ACTION to Authorize a Contract with Dodson House Moving, LLC in the amount of $404,256.59 for moving the Neale House, Contract No. 064-26-EPMO-CP, with an estimated term of six (6) to eight (8) weeks or until completion of work. (Enterprise Project Management Office)

Well, the city is up to its bad ol' habit of spending your money on dilapidated buildings again just as it did with that of the former city "founder," Charles Stillman who used legal chicanery with his lawyer friend Samuel Belden to steal the land from its original Tejano land-grant holders. 

We still don't know how much in taxpayers' money it took to move and reconstruct that structure and to totally rebuild his Laureles Ranch House. 

Even though descendants of the Stillman family reportedly pitched in to pay for some of the charges, the bulk of the cost was borne by the taxpayers of the city. The result was a palatial ranch house that looks nothing like the original structure. 

And Tuesday, were it not for questions about the exorbitant  $404,256.59 cost by commissioner Bryan Martinez, Pedro Cardenas and Gustavo de Leon, the commission was ready to approve the contract for the removal from Texas Southmost College property to Linear Park of the William Neale carcass and make it a a neighbor to the Stillman Laureles Ranch House. That $404,256.59, by the way, equals to eight times the median income of Brownsville families, who are being asked to fund the moving of the house of a racist with whom they have no relationship.

The commissioners voted to table the item and bring it back in three weeks after getting more detailed information on the specific costs.

The moving of the Neale House to Linear Park establishes a de facto Brownsville Slavers Plantation Row and the cost cited above doesn't even include restoration and other costs.

Back in 2023, the city announced that it had set aside $190,000 to move the house and restore its foundation and roof for the dilapidated Neale House belonging to a former Brownsville mayor who was an officer in the confederacy and who supported slavery and gained a reputation for being a hunter of runaway slaves who escaped into Mexico.

It, too, is a rotting hulk of old timber that has undergone countless "renovations" as the city's Art League museum, the American Legion Hall and canteen, and now occupies a space in a dead-end street in front of a section of the border wall built by the Department of Homeland Security against the wishes of the now-defunct University of Texas-Brownsville-Texas Southmost College    

 The only difference between the descendants of Charles Stillman and the William Neale is that now the latter's occupy positions of power and politics which will allow the citizens again to carry the financial load of glorifying their family's "legacy." 

John Cowen is now the city's mayor and the Cowens – Phil, Ralph, etc. – wear the "heritage" of their ancestors on their sleeve. During his campaign, mayor Cowen wrote that "two of my ancestors, William Neale and John S. Ford, served as Mayors of Brownsville in the mid-1800s during the early formation of our city. We are proud of their service and other members of my family that have served in various elected positions."

But idols have been found to have their feet of clay. Neale, for example, made a lucrative living chasing runaway slaves into Mexico and returning them to their owners. His dubious claim to fame is  outlined in "The Twin Cities of the Border," by Lt. W. H. Charfield written in 1893.

According to Chatfield, Neale was "constantly called upon by the owners of slaves who had escaped to assist them in recovering their 'property'" – the runaway slaves – who he claimed  "in most cases, however, they were glad to return, when their masters followed them to their lairs: and offered to take take them back to the "Old Cabin Home." Oh, yeah, sure.

It is also worth noting that his son, William Peter Neale, was one of the men that Juan Nepomuceno "Cheno" Cortina, had on his hit list when he and 75 followers took over Brownsville in September 1859. 

According to a Cortina pronunciamento, the younger Neale had wantonly killed innocent Mexicans and walked around free with impunity.  When Cortina's raiders found him that September 1859, he was sleeping at his father's home, who was the the city's mayor, and took a bullet through a window when he woke suddenly to the sound of gunfire and sat bolt upright in his bed. What remains of the original building is now the Neale House.

And John "Rip" Ford, who was also served as mayor, was an officer in the Confederate States of America and  – as a member of the so-called Circle of the Golden Knights secessionists – attempted to establish a separate republic made up of sections of seized northern Mexican states where southern sympathizers could go and slavery would be legal. He said the new republic would then establish an extradition treaty with Texas that would allow them to return runaway slaves to their masters.

If the city is true to form, it's going to sink cash into making the slummy-looking carcass of the building look like the Taj Mahal just as they did with the carcass of Charles Stillman's love crib – another slave owner – Laureles Ranch "house."

(That's the 1860 Census of Cameron and Hidalgo counties at right showing Stillman "owned" a female slave.)

In fact, other studies have pegged the entire cost of moving and restoration of what's left of the Neale house closer to $900,000 and the city's planning department had recommended three places where it could be moved, including the space finally chosen in the Linear Park where his fellow slaver Stillman's ranch house now stands.

Neale and his family were part of the frantic congestion of civilians and fleeing Mexican soldiers trying to cross the Rio Grande after the defeat of Mexican troops at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma in 1836. In other words, he had allegiance to Mexico. (He switched allegiances as often as a working girl her skivvies.).

When the federal troops occupied Brownsville during the Civil War – Neale, a second lieutenant in the Third Texas Infantry Regiment for the Confederacy in 1863 – returned to Matamoros to live. He finally settled in Brownsville in 1865 after the Union prevailed, and took an oath to the USA after the war (another change of undies.) He served two times as mayor, from 1858–59, and then again from 1866 to 1869. 

He died in Brownsville on April 6, 1896, and his home was given to the Brownsville Art League in 1950 and was moved to a location south of the United States Customs House. 

The Cowens have ridden that tired historical nag into the ground and embellished the settler narrative  even more. In a Brownsville Herald article some years ago, Philip Cowen, a former Brownsville Independent School District board member, also claimed to be a direct descendant to John "Rip" Ford, one of the confederacy's "heroes" and champions of slavery. 

He credits his ancestor as the founder of the murderous Texas Rangers, whose indiscriminate genocide of Mexicans and Mexican-American citizens in South Texas has long been covered up in Texas history.

Cowen, however, credits his ancestor with signing a truce six months later with two union generals to "end the war." 

Wasn't some guy named Ulysses S. Grant and some other guy named Robert E. Lee involved in signing some kind of document at a place called the Appomattox Court House, in Virginia that ended the Civil War?

Now, after regaining a seat on the city commission, former commissioner Nurith Galonsky – who championed the Neale House restoration – is back for more. In fact, during Tuesday's meeting, Galonsky made the motion to approve the $404,000 just to move it. Cowen, although he claims to be a direct descendant of the first Brownsville mayor, seconded the motion, however inappropriate it might have been. Wouldn't you take a free half a million to glorify your family name compliments of the taxpayers in one of the nation's poorest communities with a 30 percent poverty rate?

If the city stays true to form in its history of  moving and restoration of historical buildings, the house will probably be converted to some fantasized version that is nothing like the original structure. The Neale House served as the canteen for the American Legion where vets told lies and drank the night away.

Look at how the city got the Stillman shack and – after pouring thousands into the restoration – how it looks now. The same will probably happen to the Neal structure, which is literally rotting where it stands.

We have glorified the men who stole the land from their rightful owners (Stillman and Belden) by naming one a founder and restoring his ranch whore house, the other by naming a bike and hike trail  after him. This, ironically, on the very land they stole and where descendants of their dispossessed victims still live.

And now we are set to spend 404,000 just to brace it and move the house (and eventually close to $1 million to fully restore it) to praise the memory of a traitor to his country, a man who profited by denying human beings their freedom for money, and making him out to be a spiritual and historical pillar of our community.

Let the rotting structure, treason, white supremacy, slavery, and the confederacy and robber barons stay where they belong: in their pestilence and the dust bin of history.

TOUCH YOUR HEART FOR THIS CHILD IN NEED MARCH 1

EXTRA! EXTRA! EL RRUN-RRUN BREAKS 17 MILLION THIS FEBRUARY

FIRST DAY OF 2026 EARLY VOTING MORE THAN DOUBLES OVER 2022 (3,490 vs. 1,369)

AND REPUBLICAN TURNOUT

1ST DAY 2026 PRIMARY TURNOUT COMBINED: 2,590 + 900 = 3,490

1ST DAY 2022 PRIMARY TURNOUT COMBINED: 1,369

TREVINO SHOWS UP ALONE AT REALTORS' BOARD: GUERRA, GARZA NO-SHOWS

Treviño addresses board of Realtors next to the two empty seats of Steve Guerra and Eric Garza, who chose not to attend.

By Eddie Treviño

I want to sincerely thank the Brownsville-South Padre Island Board of REALTORS® for hosting last night’s candidate forum and for your continued commitment to keeping our community informed and engaged. Our local REALTORS® play a vital role in the growth of Brownsville, from housing and property investment to economic development and neighborhood stability. Your work helps shape the future of our city.

As a candidate, I believe it is my responsibility to show up, listen, and answer questions directly. That is why I was proud to attend and share my vision with you face-to-face.

Unfortunately, my opponents (Steve Guerra and Eric Garza) chose not to attend.

When community leaders take the time to organize a forum, the least a candidate can do is be present. Conversations with constituents are not optional; they are part of the duty that comes with asking for your trust and your vote.

Leadership means being present.

Leadership means listening.

Leadership means respect.

As your elected repreentative, I will always show up.

AT THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE, DID CHAIRMAN GUERRA AND DIETRICH USE POSITIONS TO PUNISH POLITICAL FOES?

Special to El RrunRrun

After 23 years of leasing and operating warehouses at the Port of Brownsville, Beto Torres's nightmare began when he ran for a seat on the board of the Brownsville Navigation District against the wishes of current board chairman Esteban Guerra.

Guerra is currently running for Cameron County judge against incumbent Eddie Treviño and former county sheriff Eric Garza. Garza is sen as a "stalking horse" candidate thrown in the race as a way to draw votes from the incumbent and insure a runoff between Treviño and Guerra. 

Torres, who had announced for Place 1 at the port in the last election, thought he had the blessing and support of Guerra until the board chairman announced his support – and campaigned for  Ernesto "Ernie" Gutierrez – a partner in  Brownsville Gulfside Warehouse Inc., which also leases land from the port and subleases warehouse space there. 

In items that have come before the board, the commissioners have approved purpose clause amendments for them and other lessees, in contrast to denying Torres's requests to even get an item for consideration on the board's agenda. In fact, Gutierrez's Gulfside had a lease amendment agenda item also for the board's consideration which was routinely approved, while Torres' lease request was denied.

Torres's problems came even after Port Director William Dietrich assured him – before witnesses –  that his B & L Freight Service LLC could rent his warehouse space to anyone he wished. After the election results came in, Dietrich, in a meeting called with port staff and Torres, denied that he had ever told Torres any such thing and stormed out of a meeting he called to iron out his stand on the requests. 

"Dietrich called me after the election and told me that he wanted me to be happy," Torres recalled. "He said he wanted me to make a million dollars. He said that as long as I didn't use the word sublease, I could rent to anyone I wanted and that the port wouldn't care. Then he denied he ever told me anything. and I was told that Guerra was doing this because I needed to be punished for going against his candidate. Se tiene que castigar."

Dietrich's actions against Torres has raised eyebrows at the port given that the port director's personal

romantic relationship with one of Guerra's female relatives. Dietrich – a retired Brownsville Police Department commander – was picked by Guerra to be interim port director after Eddie Campirano retired, and after a pro-forma national search, was appointed permanent port director by the board. 

Despite the fact that he came in third in the four-man race for Place 1 on the board, and behind eventual winner – and current incumbent Gutierrez who was supported by Guerra – his efforts to amend his purpose clause on his lease to allow him to sublease or rent to tenants has been removed from the port's agenda time after time since he first submitted it last February. In fact, Torres said that  Gutierrez called him and offered to pay his campaign expenses if he would withdraw from the Place 1 race.

The authority to place or remove items on the BND 's board agenda is delegated to the chairman and the port director. 

And even after the BND's Leasing Committee then chaired by commissioner Tito Lopez reviewed Torres'  proposed lease and sublease amendments and determined that he had complied with with the BND's leasing policies, the board's counsel determined that it is up to Guerra to ultimately decide the timing and placement of items on the agenda. So far, Guerra had refused to place the item on the agenda. It was only after Torres procured legal counsel that the item was placed on the port commissioners' agenda. He said that the possibility of him filing a lawsuit over the chairman and port director's actions is still in the works today.

In frustration that the recommendations that his leasing committee made to allow the B & L Freight Service to amend his lease and sublease on his two warehouses had been ignored by the director and board chairman, Lopez resigned as its chair. Lopez's frustrations with Guerra and the port's director came to a head during a September 18th meeting, when Lopez openly questioned the motives behind the negative consideration of Torres's request  

Since then, the officers of Bureau Veritas – the company who has been trying to sublease from Torres to expand its business –  have had to wait for the item to be placed on the agenda and get the approval of the sublease before the commission. 

The animosity by Guerra and port director Dietrich toward Torres has been increasing as time went on. One of the issues that the port has raised is the use of B&L Freight Service – a trucking company – to allow third-party parking of trucks awaiting to load their cargoes before departing to Matamoros. The port director – Dietrich – determined that allowing trucks to park in his yard constituted "unauthorized use of third-party truck parking and staging" alleging that such use posed a "grave safety and security risk."

That "risk," the port said, required he get a $3 million liability policy, which he did.

Yet, after he was prevented from using his yard to park third-party trucks, video footage taken by Torres as late as November 8 showed that the trucks were allowed to use ROBCO LLC, in which Guerra has an interest, and at commissioner Gutierrez's lease, and in the lease of former port commissioner Ralph Cowen. At first it was just third-party tanker trucks, but soon even flatbeds were prohibited in Torres's yard, but are now welcome at Guerra's and Gutierrez's companies, putting $1,000s in their pockets at $20 a day. Do they have the $3 million liability policy that was required from Torres? Somehow, he seriously doubts it.

"And supposedly they don't want any third-party parking," Torres said. "Those trucks used to be in my yard." 

In fact, there were repeated letters warning Torres about using his yard or subleasing (or renting) to tenants without the board's approval, and even threatening possible termination of his leases.

The request clearly states that he will not be authorized to permit third-party trucks parking or staging or transloading and storage of hazardous materials on the premises. Given the chairman and port director's animosity toward Torres, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the item would not get their recommendation for approval. Is it pay to play, then?

It is interesting to note that the BND's Code of Ethics clearly prohibits such conduct from commissioners. It states that:

"No Commissioner shall: 

1. Participate in a vote or decision on a matter involving a business, contract or real property in which the Commissioner has a substantial interest if it is reasonably foreseeable that an action on the matter would confer a special economic effect, distinguishable from its effect on the public, on the business, contract or property involved."

Is the port's code of ethics merely words on paper to be ignored by the chairman and the port director and the other commissioners to retaliate and satisfy a whim for political revenge? Is this any way to run an international industrial port? 

NO EXCUSE NOT TO VOTE IN EARLY VOTING: TODAY-FEB. 27

https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/elections/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Early-Voting-Locations-for-the-March-3-2026-Primary-Elections-nc-01282026.pdf

HOST OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNTY RESIDENTS ENDORSE EDDIE

NOE GARZA, THE CLEAR CHOICE FOR THE 107TH DISTRICT COURT

By Noe Garza

Dear Friends and Cameron County neighbors, 

The black and white photograph below in this post shows me, Noe Domingo Garza, Jr., at five years old, standing with my two older sisters. 

My father took this picture in 1967 on the shores of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to commemorate the day our family received legal residency in the United States. We had traveled there as part of the medical inspection process required for our immigration, and my father wanted to preserve that important moment in our journey.

My name is Noe Domingo Garza, Jr. I was born on August 22, 1962, in a small ranch called El Tahuachal in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. After Hurricane Beulah destroyed our home in 1967, my family immigrated legally to the United States in search of a better future.
I began school in Brownsville at the age of five, and attended Garden Park Elementary when the classrooms were refurbished military barracks and the school still used septic tanks for sanitary services.

My parents worked humble jobs. My father was a custodian at Cummings Intermediate School, and my mother worked in the cafeteria at Hanna High School. 

My father was illiterate and could not read or write, and my mother attended school only through the third grade, not by choice but because of their circumstances. Even so, they believed deeply in education and made sure their children never lacked encouragement, discipline, and hope.

I graduated from Pace High School at seventeen, earned my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Pan American University at Brownsville, and graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1986 at the age of twenty-three.

For thirty-nine years, I have practiced law with an impeccable record with the State Bar of Texas. I am also licensed to practice in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Eastern District of Michigan.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of families during some of the most difficult and important moments of their lives. I have handled more than 300 jury trials and have always worked to uphold fairness, justice, and dignity in the courtroom.

In 2015, I was honored as Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year by the Cameron County Bar

Association. In 2018, I was recognized by Bishop Flores during the Red Mass for my service to the community. I have also been inducted into the BISD Hall of Fame, served as Principal for a Day, and been honored to speak at Pace High School as a keynote speaker in 2016 and 2022.

But my greatest pride is my family. My wife, Judge Adela Kowalski Garza, and I have been married for thirty-five years, and together we raised three wonderful sons. They are my greatest blessing and my daily motivation to serve with integrity and compassion.

From humble beginnings to a lifetime of service, my journey reflects the American Dream. With faith, hard work, and determination, anything is possible. Everything I am today is because of this community, and I want to give back what I have learned and what I know.

With your help and your vote, I ask for the opportunity to continue serving Cameron County.
Early voting begins on February 17 and ends on February 27. Election Day is March 3.

Please support me so that I may continue to serve our community with experience, fairness, and respect.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.

TEXAS MEDIA ENDORSE HINOJOSA IN DEM PRIMARY

    Endorsed by:

Houston Chronicle

Ft. Worth Star Telegram

Dallas Morning News

San Antonio Express News

Austin American Statesman

El Run-Rrun

By The Express-News Editorial Board

Opinion Staff

We recommend state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in the Democratic Party primary for Texas governor. Among nine Democrats vying for this office, Hinojosa has emerged as the only credible candidate with a fighting chance to unseat incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott in the general election.

That’s largely because this effective member of the Texas House has a history of fighting for people and causes. That goes back to her early career in the 2000s as a civil rights and union lawyer, and her stint in the early to mid-2010s as a member of Austin Independent School District’s board when she fought to prevent school closures.

Most recently, she rightly opposed — albeit unsuccessfully — last year’s mid-decade redistricting, which was demanded by President Donald Trump and executed by a compliant Abbott and Republican-led Legislature.

The redistricting fight demonstrates that Abbott will not push back against Trump and will not stand up for Texans,” she said.

With regard to standing up for Texans against an overreaching and untrustworthy Trump administration, Hinojosa is appropriately leery and critical of Texas voluntarily sending a complete list of the state's registered voters to the U.S.  Justice Department in December.

“I am less and less comfortable with the federal government having as much of our data as they have,” she said, particularly in light of the increasingly creepy coziness between Big Tech and Trump.

The list of important issues that Hinojosa is on the right side of, in opposition to Abbott, also includes school vouchers and the persistent underfunding of public education, the need to expand Medicaid in Texas, and overly aggressive, performative and sloppy immigration enforcement tactics that have disrupted communities and swept up U.S. citizens.

On this front, Hinojosa sees an opening. While the tragic events caused by federal agents in Minnesota have captured national attention and disapproval, what’s happening in Texas is quieter but also insidious and evoking anger.

“They’re so pissed off,” Hinojosa said, “because what is happening right now in the (Rio Grande) Valley is that they are sweeping job sites indiscriminately.”

 Recent polling shows Abbott's lead lead is comfortable but getting smaller, and a 14-percentage point victory by Democrat Taylor Rehmet in the Jan. 31 special election for Texas Senate District 9, which Trump carried by 17 percentage points in 2024, suggests there are no guarantees.

If any crack in Abbott’s armor opens, the Democratic Party needs its best candidate possible, and that is Hinojosa.

COUNTY JUDGE'S RACE HEATS UP: GUERRA'S LLC INVOLVED IN HUACHICOL

U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) 

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN),

Huachicol, in the context of beverages, refers to an adulterated alcoholic drink, often made with low-grade alcohol, though the term is now more famously associated with the illegal siphoning and theft of fuel (gasoline/diesel) in Mexico, a practice carried out by "huachicoleros". While the original beverage meaning is rooted in traditional, sometimes illicit, alcohol mixing, the modern usage primarily describes the criminal activity of stealing and selling stolen fuel, sometimes through sophisticated tax evasion schemes known as "huachicol fiscal." 

A U.S. advisory in May called huachicol schemes “the most significant non-drug illicit revenue source” for Mexico's cartels, which have become a prominent Trump administration target. But the cartels often rely on affiliated individuals and firms—including along the Texas border—to pull them off.

PUSH COMES TO SHOVE AMONG COUNTY GOP: CANDIDATE FILES CEASE AND DESIST LETTER TO CHAIR, THREE OTHERS

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

In a stunning development in Cameron County politics, Barbara "Barbie" Ann Lopez, a Republican candidate to the precinct 2 commissioner's position has filed a criminal complaint with the sheriff's department against her opponent Jonathan R. Campos, the county chair Deborah Bell, and fellow GOP county members Patsy Lopez and Christian Alvarado of violating the Texas Election Code.

In a letter acquired by this blog, Lopez issued a formal letter warning them to cease and desist their alleged acts of defamation, abuse of Authority, coordinated election interference, and Pother "potential Violations of the Texas Election Code Targeting (her). She cites an "ongoing criminal investigation targeting her by the named individuals.

"This letter serves as a formal and final demand that each of you immediately cease and desist from publishing, circulating, forwarding, posting, or otherwise disseminating false, defamatory, malicious, or misleading statements," she wrote. "Your coordinated conduct constitutes a direct attack on her reputation, her candidacy, and the integrity of the electoral process. This behavior is unacceptable and will be addressed aggressively."

The letter goes on to cite instances where they  three were reportedly heard stating that they “had dirt” on Ms. Lopez. The statement, the letter continued, "made in the context of an active political campaign and was clearly intended to intimidate, smear, and manipulate voter perception. Despite being advised to run a clean campaign, Lopez charges, Mr. Campos chose to escalate his conduct.

Lopez also said that she had received a forwarded text message from an individual referred to as R/P. "The message contained a series of defamatory, unverified, and intentionally damaging allegations regarding Ms. Lopez’s personal life and character. This same message was also sent to an elected official, hereafter referred to as G/D, who reported that the text originated from Bell and Alvarado. When confronted, the individuals involved refused to identify the source, further fueling the spread of misinformation.

In addition, her letter informs the individuals that a criminal report has been filed with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office regarding the defamatory communications and the coordinated attempts to interfere with her campaign. The report is filed under Case No. 2026-30077 with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, 7300 Old Alice Road, Olmito, Texas 78575. This matter is now part of an active investigation, she wrote, and all individuals named in this letter are expected to cooperate fully.

Lopez demands "that Jonathan R. Campos immediately cease making or repeating statements suggesting possession of 'dirt' or other defamatory information about her. Given the severity of his conduct, Ms. Lopez demands that Mr. Campos issue a public apology and withdraw from his candidacy.

She further demands that "Deborah Bell and Christian Alvarado immediately cease distributing, forwarding, or amplifying defamatory content concerning her. Ms. Bell is specifically directed to refrain from using her elected position in any manner that could be perceived as attempting to influence voters through misinformation or personal attacks. 

"In light of the gravity of her involvement, Ms. Lopez demands that Ms. Bell issue a public apology and resign immediately from her position as County Chairwoman. Ms. Lopez also reserves the right to seek compensation for pain, suffering, and reputational harm resulting from Ms. Bell’s conduct."

Furthermore, "all individuals named in this letter are hereby required to provide proof of the origin of the defamatory messages, including but not limited to screenshots, message logs, forwarding history, and the identity of the original sender. Any refusal to disclose this information will be treated as an intentional effort to obstruct the truth and perpetuate the spread of defamatory content."

STEP RIGHT UP! STEP RIGHT UP! GET IT BEFORE IT'S GONE...

BONDI JUST ONE OF TRUMP'S OVERPAID UNDERACHIEVERS

UNDER TRUMP, HEGSETH, DEPARTMENT SCRUBBING HISTORY LILY WHITE

We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent deletion of important webpages and resources related to veteran history on the Department of Defense (DOD) and Arlington National Cemetery websites, including the removal of pages highlighting important aspects of American history such as Medal of Honor recipients, Navajo Code Talkers, the Iwo Jima flag raisers, Jackie Robinson, and histories of prominent Black, Hispanic, and women veterans interred at the Arlington National Cemetery. 

The process of restoring these webpages has been inconsistent, and it seems likely that numerous pages were removed in error and may now be permanently lost. We strongly encourage you to prioritize the immediate restoration of the remaining webpages and resources. We urge against any future scrubbing of veteran history. 

The history of these American heroes should not be erased by the Department of Defense’s “digital content refresh.”1 

Removing easy access to this information diminishes the contributions these veterans made to defending and shaping our nation. To scrub the stories of these brave and proud Americans is beyond censorship; it dishonors the immense sacrifice of anyone who has ever worn the uniform. Particularly concerning is the fact that this was carried out through an artificial intelligence-powered automated review process rather than through a careful review by the Department of Defense.2 

According to multiple news reports, the deletions on the DOD websites encompassed significant stories of historical importance such as the Navajo Code Talkers3 , profiles of Medal of Honor recipients like Charles C. Rogers and Harold Gonsalves4, details about the 442nd Infantry Regiment—a highly decorated Japanese-American unit, biographies of notable figures like Medgar Evers and Ira Hayes, as well as educational modules on Black, Hispanic, and women veterans and military history. Even an article on Jackie Robinson’s military career was taken down.5 

Similarly, the deletions on the Arlington National Cemetery website included three lists of “Notable Graves” that featured biographies and locations of Black, Hispanic, and female service members and public figures buried at Arlington National Cemetery.6 

This included General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s information that was edited,

including removing mentions of his race.7 These histories were removed from the site’s navigation and main links, making them harder to access. 

Additionally, six educational modules, which provided resources on topics such as women’s history and Medal of Honor recipients, were removed entirely from both the drop-down menu and the main Education page. Historical pages on Freedman’s Village and Section 27, key aspects of Arlington’s post-Civil War history, were delinked. Certain terms like “civil rights” and “racial justice” were replaced with more generalized language about “service.” 

Black veterans have served in every American conflict, going back to the Revolutionary War, and often came home to a country that didn’t see them as a whole person. Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands and still fought to defend the United States. These facts, whether redeeming or shameful, are part of our American history and must be told. 

This action goes beyond a simple administrative decision — it’s a policy choice that will make our military weaker. For generations, Americans of all backgrounds have been instrumental in forging the strength and resilience that define our armed forces. Their contributions span every facet of military service, from leadership to front-line combat, from strategic planning to technological innovation. 

These groups have brought unique perspectives, skills, and cultural strengths that have enhanced the effectiveness of our military in countless ways. To have a strong and prepared military, we need contributions from everyone. A force that draws on the talents and dedication of people from all walks of life is better equipped to address complex challenges in a rapidly changing world. 

Without the contributions of everyone, we risk becoming a less cohesive, adaptive, and effective fighting force. The strength of our military lies in its people, and it is through the contributions of all that we achieve greatness. Just as our brave service members serve to defend all Americans, we must preserve all our history. 

To erase history is to diminish our strength and lose the wisdom it offers for guiding our future. Removing these resources from the Department of Defense and Arlington National Cemetery websites directly impacts our entire nation and diminishes the service and sacrifice made by these heroes. We strongly urge you to republish the information and materials that have not yet been restored without delay. 

We also urge against any future attempts to arbitrarily scrub or censor materials that honor our nation’s service members and veterans in the fullness of their history.

(Signed by 29 members of U.S Congress.)

1 Pentagon ‘DEI’ purge leads to removal of web page on Iwo Jima flag-raiser - The Washington Post

 2 Pentagon restores histories of Navajo Code Talkers, other Native veterans after public outcry – NBC News 

3 Military slices out web pages about WWII Native American code talkers to comply with Trump DEI order | TheIndependent 

4 Serving our veterans means telling their stories | Stars and Stripes

5 Article on Jackie Robinson’s military career removed from defense department website - The Guardian

6 Arlington Cemetery website removes links about Black, female veterans - The Washington Post 

7 Investigating claim of Colin Powell's name being removed from Arlington Cemetery website

AIM EDITORIAL BOARD CONDEMNS WANTON ICE KILLINGS

AIM Editorial Board

Many Rio Grande Valley residents likely are saddened, and perhaps even shocked, at the news that the two immigration enforcement agents who fatally shot a protester in Minneapolis last month were from here. But this is just one of the many tragedies related to the lawless behavior of people who ostensibly have been charged with enforcing our nation’s immigration laws.

It’s also one of the many ways in which what’s happening on too many American streets doesn’t fit the narrative we’re hearing from official sources.

Records indicate that Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez, both from the Valley, were the agents who fatally shot Alex Pretti after he tried to protect an elderly woman who was being assaulted by several masked agents Jan. 24 in Minneapolis.

Pretti was killed several days after another agent fired into an SUV, killing Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother, as she tried to drive away from a group of officers.

Trump administration accounts of both incidents contradict multiple videos taken by witnesses and reporters. The officials have tried to paint the two victims as paid agitators who were trying to kill the agents. The recordings indicate otherwise.

Other inconsistencies arise from reports of these and other incidents, from both administration officials and those who oppose their actions.

Much attention is directed at the Department of Homeland Security’s recruitment of thousands of people to work for its Immigration and Customs Enforcement division. Qualification requirements were severely lowered and training was cursory. Opponents say the lower standards endanger the public and allege that many of those employed are known Trump supporters who have published radical messages on social media or participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Both Ochoa and Gutierrez, however, are veteran agents with the Border Patrol and the Customs and Border Protection departments, respectively, as was Jonathan Ross, Good’s reported killer, who served eight years with the Border Patrol before transferring to ICE in 2015.

They all were part of ICE operations to round up criminal illegal immigrants in cities across the country with Democratic Party leadership. ICE agents in general have been accused of racial profiling during the campaign.

And yet, both victims, and others, were white, and obvious U.S. citizens. Many of the targets of ICE violence have been protesters, bystanders and reporters, not immigrants.

These are the realities, and we much acknowledge them. We also must accept the fact that this is our national reality today. This is how the world sees us. And, as is often said, perception is reality.

A common chant among protesters is that this is not who we are.

Yes, it is. We elected this administration, which campaigned on pledges to do exactly what it is doing. Our tax dollars fund these atrocities.

And while many are alarmed and outraged at the brutality, far too many people defend and even celebrate it.

This is what America has become. This is who we are. As we prepare to cast our votes in the upcoming primaries and general election, we must ask ourselves: Is this who we want to be?

CIA OPERATIVE WHO OVERTHREW GOV'T OF EL SALVADOR TOURS PORT: HIS PRESENCE HERE RAISES QUESTIONS

Port of Brownsville

Various Sources

Today, the Port of Brownsville welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson for a tour of the port with Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban “Steve” Guerra.

 The port's public relations spin is that the visit spotlighted the port’s role as a gateway for U.S.–Mexico trade, or so it would appear. It is interesting to note that this was not a public press conference, but a semi-private meeting between select officials and the ambassador.

And what an ambassador. 

His background indicates that Johnson is a counter-insurgency operator and retired CIA official. Which raises the question: What is he doing here in a hush-hush visitation? Or is it an infiltration, or worse, an investigation?

Or is he the point man for the preparation for an intervention against Mexican cartels? 

He graduated from the Special Forces (Green Beret) officers course in 1977, while assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). 

In 1984, he entered full-time active duty as the detachment commander with 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Panama. He would serve in a wide variety of command and staff positions including being selected as the first Special Forces officer to attend the Army War College fellowship at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Johnson spent a significant portion of his military career in the Southern Command Area of Responsibility and is fluent in Spanish. He led combat operations in El Salvador as one of the authorized 55 military advisors during the civil war in the 1980s. 

He also deployed to the Balkans in the 1990s as the senior military officer of an integrated team from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and Special Mission Unit personnel to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes. 

After his military career, Johnson served a second career with the Central Intelligence Agency and participated in worldwide operational and combat experiences in integrated (covert) actions with special mission units. 

He also served as the senior representative for both the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at the U.S. Southern Command, and as the Science and Technology Liaison to the U.S. Special Operations Command for the Central Intelligence Agency

Joining Ambassador Johnson were Mary Virginia Hantsch, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros; Carlos J. Guizar, Assistant to the Ambassador and Strategic Communications Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico; and Jake Stevens, Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros.

With a background like that, it has raised questions that his semi-private meetings at the Port of Brownsville indicate that something besides the port's geographical location is of interest to the U.S. Government. Is it time for someone to get a bit worried about his presence here?

MCALLEN'S CAMPAIGN CAPS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL: IS B'VILLE NEXT?

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Various Sources

The "McAllen Anti-Corruption Act" (Article 19) is dead.

A Hidalgo County judge ruled that the voter-approved cap on campaign contributions ($500) violated the First Amendment. The court cited federal precedents stating that donation limits cannot be set "too low" because it hinders political speech.

It was passed by the city commission and adopted on January 27, 2025. It was at issue in a lawsuit under Cause No. CL-25-5597- B; Efren Barajas v. City of McAllen; In the County Court at Law No. 2 of Hidalgo County, where a judge ruled that it was unconstitutional, void, and of no force and effect because it violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, must be repealed, and should 

not be enforced by the City of McAllen, its officers, agents, employees, or any persons acting on its behalf;

On Tuesday, the McAllen City Commission voted unanimously to pass a "Minute Order" officially repealing it.

City Attorney Isaac Tawil explained that this was a "ministerial duty" meaning the Commission had no choice but to follow the Judge's order.

Likewise, the Brownsville City Commission passed an amendment to the Municipal Campaign Finance Code in August 2024, establishing strict contribution limits for mayoral and commission candidates. 

The ordinance caps individual donations at $2,500 and Political Action Committees (PACs)/companies at per two-year cycle, alongside a $100 cash limit. 

The Brownsville ordinance has never ben challenged in court. At the time it was passed, its opponents said it might work to influence the outcome of future elections in favor of wealthy candidates, but it passed anyway. 

Key Aspects of the Brownsville Ordinance:

Contribution Limits: $1,000 per person and $2,500 per PAC/company per two-year cycle.
Cash Limit: Contributions are limited to $100 in cash.
Prohibitions: Funds cannot be received from litigants with cases against the city seeking $50,000 
or more, or from contractors from the time of solicitation until 180 days after a contract is awarded.
Restrictions: City employees are restricted from soliciting funds unless they are off the clock.
Penalties: Violations may lead to civil and criminal penalties, with a potential $500 to $1,000 in fines.

According to its advocates, the measure passed with a 5-2 vote in late August 2024, aimed at increasing transparency in local elections.

Is Brownsville next on the court docket, or will it continue this unconstitutional practice before they are dragged into litigation?

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF: FIRST AS TRAGEDY, THEN AS A FARCE

STARBASE LAUNCH SITE LAYS GROUNDWORK TO DOUBLE IN SIZE

By Ryan Weber
NASASpaceFlight

While pushing for Flight 12, SpaceX has received approval to nearly double the launch site’s size at Starbase. With this approval, SpaceX will be able to complete the redesign of Pad 1 and add additional capabilities to the Starbase launch site.

Pad 1 Redesign

Shortly after Flight 11, SpaceX began the long process of converting Pad 1 into the newer and more advanced pad design. Over the past couple of months, the orbital launch mount has been demolished, the water-cooled steel plate has been scrapped, the Pad 1 propellant pumps have been removed, and many other components have been scrapped.

As part of this conversion, SpaceX has recently been drilling Continuous Flight Auger Piles (CFA) for the new flame trench and is preparing to start sheet piles and deep soil mixing. This same process was used at Pad 2 in the early stages of flame trench construction.

The CFA piles stabilize and anchor the structure to the ground below, the sheet piles prevent soil from collapsing into the trench during excavation, and deep soil mixing forms a concrete slurry floor to prevent excess water from filling the trench.

CFA Piles being Drilled for Pad 1’s Flame Trench (Credit: Ceaser G for NSF)

Once these parts are complete, SpaceX will begin excavating the trench and installing tie-backs into the sheet piles to anchor them. Once dug out, the concrete floor can be set up and poured, and the steel walls can start to go in. Part of the trench is the cryogenic supply trench, which will house the propellant and high-pressure gas lines that will go to the service structure on the side of the main flame trench.

This addition required SpaceX to get permission to build on more land, as a small corner of it went into the salt flats. Well, just recently, SpaceX received approval from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and a few other agencies to build on this land.

Pad 1 Redesign Underway (Credit: Ceaser G for NSF)

Launch Site Expansion
This new expansion that SpaceX has gotten approval for will just about double the area of the Starbase launch site. With this extra room, SpaceX will be able to add in Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) liquefaction plants to be able to turn natural gas into LNG for Starship. SpaceX will also have additional areas for ground support equipment storage and possibly more water storage.

At the very south of the expansion, SpaceX will likely move the entire methane tank farm away from the Liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Oxygen so as to keep the propellants separated. Currently, crews are preparing to remove several older methane tanks and install several new, larger horizontal tanks, which should bring their total capacity to two and a half launches’ worth of methane.

US Army Core of Engineers Launch Site Plan (Credit: USACE)

These new tanks are currently being installed where the old Pad 1 vertical tanks were located. However, as stated above, this is all likely to move once SpaceX is able to, as these tanks currently sit at one of the exits of the new Pad 1 flame trench once built.

This expansion will also allow crews to be able to add in what should be another set of subcoolers and pumps for Pad 1, which would just tap into the original tank supply lines. This will likely be located on the site plan, labeled “HEX + Tank Farm Expansion,” just south of the current Pad 2 pumps and subcoolers. With HEX standing for heat exchangers.

Below that expansion is planned as the new water deluge farm and the Isolation and Purging area; this is likely to be a near carbon copy of what SpaceX has built for Pad 2 and is building for LC-39A and SLC-37. It is unclear what the staging areas will be next to each pad. SpaceX may use these areas to park vehicles while the opposite pad is used.

With the addition of the new tank farm parts for Pad 1, SpaceX will need a new way to roll vehicles to the pad. To do this, there will be another exit on the roundabout, which will offer access with Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) to stage a booster or ship in Pad 1’s chopsticks for stacking.

To read rest of story, click on link: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/02/starbases-launch-site-double-size/