Saturday, February 14, 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026
UNDER TRUMP, HEGSETH, DEPARTMENT SCRUBBING HISTORY LILY WHITE
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,
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
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?
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?
Thursday, February 12, 2026
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
STARBASE LAUNCH SITE LAYS GROUNDWORK TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
By Ryan Weber
By Ryan Weber
NASASpaceFlight
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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)
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.
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/
STARTING A FOOD BUSINESS? THE INS AND OUTS OF GREASE TRAPS
Permitting should not delay your opening!Join BCIC and our guest speakers from Brownsville Public Utilities Board for Permitting Made Simple, a session on grease interceptors (grease traps) and pretreatment systems, what they are, why they matter, and what you need in place before you open or expand a food business.
Tues., Feb. 17, 2026
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St.Wednesday, February 11, 2026
NO MORE KINGS: AFTER 20 YEARS OF RIDING FAMILY COATTAILS, KING DAVID WANTS 4 MORE
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
For 20 years, David Betancourt has promised the voters the world, and delivered nothing. It’s barely been three months since Betancourt began his campaign outreach to Cameron County, and like clockwork, he is out on the hustings reminding voters of his Democratic lineage, and of his “hard work” as Cameron County Treasurer.
As a descendant of true Democrats in his late father Adolfo and late mom Janie, David has sat at the center of Cameron County’s finances as county treasurer. Unfortunately, he’s transformed from a real Democrat into an entrenched part of an old establishment that talks about progress but never delivers.
The Cameron County Commissioners Court, this year, finally appeased the king by giving him a raise of $12,693 FY 2025-2026, lifting his total compensation from $83,676 to $96,368.
A closer analysis reveals, after two decades, taxpayers aren’t seeing results for their money; they’re seeing higher bills, stale leadership, and a treasurer who’s more interested in holding the title than doing the job.
Now, as he faces a challenger in former JP Jonathan Gracia who has openly called for change and lower taxes on our homes, Betancourt has literally, and conveniently, altered his campaign signs promising to – you guessed it – to lower taxes in a epiphany election. This new tune sounds less like reform and more like desperation to keep the Betancourt gravy train going.
(After Gracia called for lower taxes, Betancourt's signs conveniently plastered an addition saying he was "helping to lower taxes," while giving himself a salary raise.)
Let’s be honest: David Betancourt has become the definition of complacency. He rarely shows up to work, stays detached from the community he’s supposed to serve, and hasn’t led with initiative or engagement. While other public servants step up to make Cameron County stronger, he’s been content to coast — a taker, not a giver. He doesn’t contribute, he doesn't connect, and he doesn’t care to show up unless someone else throws a party or there’s a campaign sign nearby.
It's a breath of fresh air that current county judge Eddie Treviño has called on all "real Democrats" to tally around our party. We're Democrats and should be justly proud to uphold and promote our ideals.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, everyone will acknowledge that the Democrats are under siege by the Republicans in Cameron County and across South Texas. It’s going to take energetic and engaged leaders to withstand the attacks that will not stop for the foreseeable future. Don’t look to David Betancourt for any help there.
Betancourt –has ridden his family’s coattails his entire life. Up to now he hasn't had to work or worry because his name recognition has carried him to a campaign victory, and he has flaunted his entitlement to public office – and check – as if it was a family heirloom.
Now Betancourt, after 20 years of minimal effort and maximum self-interest, wants one more four-year term. But for who? For him – or for us? If two decades of inaction weren’t enough time to make a difference, what could possibly change in another four years?
Change will not come from the Betancourt dynasty. Change will come from the people of Cameron County. And this year, that change starts at the ballot box. Sorry David, your time is up!
A closer analysis reveals, after two decades, taxpayers aren’t seeing results for their money; they’re seeing higher bills, stale leadership, and a treasurer who’s more interested in holding the title than doing the job.
Now, as he faces a challenger in former JP Jonathan Gracia who has openly called for change and lower taxes on our homes, Betancourt has literally, and conveniently, altered his campaign signs promising to – you guessed it – to lower taxes in a epiphany election. This new tune sounds less like reform and more like desperation to keep the Betancourt gravy train going.
(After Gracia called for lower taxes, Betancourt's signs conveniently plastered an addition saying he was "helping to lower taxes," while giving himself a salary raise.)
Let’s be honest: David Betancourt has become the definition of complacency. He rarely shows up to work, stays detached from the community he’s supposed to serve, and hasn’t led with initiative or engagement. While other public servants step up to make Cameron County stronger, he’s been content to coast — a taker, not a giver. He doesn’t contribute, he doesn't connect, and he doesn’t care to show up unless someone else throws a party or there’s a campaign sign nearby.
It's a breath of fresh air that current county judge Eddie Treviño has called on all "real Democrats" to tally around our party. We're Democrats and should be justly proud to uphold and promote our ideals.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, everyone will acknowledge that the Democrats are under siege by the Republicans in Cameron County and across South Texas. It’s going to take energetic and engaged leaders to withstand the attacks that will not stop for the foreseeable future. Don’t look to David Betancourt for any help there.
Betancourt –has ridden his family’s coattails his entire life. Up to now he hasn't had to work or worry because his name recognition has carried him to a campaign victory, and he has flaunted his entitlement to public office – and check – as if it was a family heirloom.
Now Betancourt, after 20 years of minimal effort and maximum self-interest, wants one more four-year term. But for who? For him – or for us? If two decades of inaction weren’t enough time to make a difference, what could possibly change in another four years?
Change will not come from the Betancourt dynasty. Change will come from the people of Cameron County. And this year, that change starts at the ballot box. Sorry David, your time is up!
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
FAKE PROPAGANDA ARM OF GUERRA CAMPAIGN SKATING ON THIN ICE
Special to El RrunRrun
4. That the company and its managers are involved in the "corruption-money laundering scheme."
Dear Editor:
Judging by the social media posts by the scurrilous online publication Brownsville & Valley News – an ill-disguised "bad cop" arm of the Steve Guerra for County Judge campaign – there are no adults in the room controlling the content spewed by this anonymous bunch of his supporters.
If there were, they would have readily recognized that the photo and caption below right are on very thin libel ice.
Among some of the problems with the post are these:
1. They are claiming – without citing source or any evidence – that there is "a corruption alert" and that a federal investigation "may" force incumbent Eddie Treviño out of his re-election campaign. More like wishful thinking, it would appear.
2. That a company in which one of his law firm partners (Conrad Bodden) is listed as a manager by the Texas Secretary of State – and which has been in the construction business since 2019 – was awarded "millions of dollars" in contracts and is actually owned by the county judge despite Treviño's name not appearing in any official or non-official document.
In contrast, Guerra's name is listed as the manager of Warrior Fuel Traders LLC, which sold fuel to Pyrodiesel Del Cento SA de CV, named by Mexico's Federal Criminal Intelligence Center of Mexico as a principal in the smuggling of (huachicol) fuel, and which was sued for welshing on its debt to a fuel supplier for more than $300,000. https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2026/02/guerras-ties-to-huachicolembarassing.html
3. That a "shady" local bondsman, Juan "Jr." Andrade is a "front man" in the company for Treviño.
5. That the SpaceX contract will be a "kickback to the county judge for his "suspicious" support to "all SpaceX operations on Boca Chica Beach."
These are serious allegations and boil down to this:
1. That SpaceX – that is, Elon Musk – awarded Core Construction contracts as a bribe to Treviño in return for his "suspicious" support all SpaceX operations at Boca Chica.
These are very dangerous grounds to tread.
These allegations are made without any documentation that there is any federal "corruption investigation" ties to Treviño, Bodden, or Andrade. And if there was, federal authorities would neither confirm nor deny its existence. It ends up being a convenient "rumor" that can safely be exploited for Guerra's political ends, personal and professional reputations that can be destroyed be damned.
The post implies that Andrade – a local bail bondsman, grocer, and politically engaged Cameron County resident whose family started with a small mom-and-pop grocery store in poverty-stricken Cameron Park and built it up into a successful business through honest work – is nothing but a "front man" for the concocted bogus bribery and kickback scheme.
If no one knew it, they would be surprised that Cameron County Sheriff Manuel "Manny" Treviño after a bidding process, let out the jails commissary service to Andrade, and sheriff Treviño – as straight as they come – would never allow himself or his department to be involved with anyone in such a scheme. In fact, the sheriff has expressed his disgust with this kind of baseless anonymous accusations and endorsed the incumbent for re-election over Guerra and former sheriff Eric Garza.
In fact, all the county commissioners have condemned Guerra's proxies' libelous characterizations and attacks and have endorsed incumbent Trevino in the upcoming Democratic Party primary March 3. Early voting starts February 17.
The flaw in these allegations against the incumbent county judge is that they assume that Treviño single-handedly has the power to pass any issue through the commissioners court. As Dolph Thomae – the late commissioner for Pct. 3 – used to say, "we country boys know we have to count to three" to pass anything on the county agenda. Treviño, like all the other commissioners, control only their one vote. Is the entire commissioners court suspect of "corruption," too, then? Careful.
Perhaps they forget that Musk – if he wanted to find the people behind the Brownsville & Valley News front used by the Guerra campaign – has the technological know how to rip the cover behind which they hide. SpaceX is a private company that is free to shop around for its vendors. A cursory glance at suppliers for a myriad of services to SpaceX and now Starbase, shows thousands of vendors, local and from throughout the United States and abroad, supply it with the goods they need to keep their operations working. Core Construction was but a tiny supplier on that list.
There is enough potential exposure to defamation and libel in the posts of the Brownsville & Valley News to keep a libel attorney busy for months. In this day and age, no one can hide. And if Musk, Bodden, Andrade, and Treviño decide to defend themselves from these scurrilous allegations that they engaged in bribery for paying "kickbacks" to the county judge through a vendor contract to a business not associated with himself, but with a side private business outside their law firm run by his law partner, no se la acaban.
Thank you for the opportunity to address your seven readers.
REPUBLICAN TEXAS GOV. GREG ABBOTT SOLD OUT OUR KIDS
One of Greg Abbott’s biggest grifts yet is officially underway, and our public schools are squarely in the line of fire.
With applications now open, his school voucher scheme is moving from plan to reality, and he expects hardworking Texas families to foot the bill.
Let’s be clear: This is a reckless, exclusionary scam that takes public money out of our neighborhood schools and hands it to private institutions that can pick and choose who they let in, and who they leave behind.
I’m tired of the political tricks, and I know you are too. I won’t allow Abbott to drain our neighborhood schools and take opportunity out of the hands of 5.5 million Texas public school kids.
And I know what’s at stake because this fight is personal for me. I first ran for office when my son’s public school was threatened with closure, so I’ve seen up close how much our communities rely on strong neighborhood schools, and how devastating it is when politicians treat them as disposable.
Our public schools need investment and support, not to be gutted by Abbott so that he can line the pockets of his billionaire donors.
But here’s the good news: We can stop him.
I’ve beat Abbott on this issue before. By standing with parents, educators, and communities who refuse to let anyone gamble with their kids’ futures. When I’m governor, we’ll shut down this attack on our neighborhood schools and get back to putting our kids first. But to get there, I need you with me in this fight.Thank you for standing with me in this fight.
Monday, February 9, 2026
FROM HANNA H.S., WITH LOVE AND ART, BAD BUNNY HALF-TIME APPEARANCE
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Various Sources
A Brownsville native was among the many dancers who performed alongside Bad Bunny at the Big Game halftime show.
Various Sources
A Brownsville native was among the many dancers who performed alongside Bad Bunny at the Big Game halftime show.
Gabriela Valadez Ebel, a Homer Hanna High School alumnus, was among the dancers who were selected to perform on the biggest stage in the nation.
(The photo was sent to us by a member of the Valadez family. She is their niece.)
Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, performed a medley of songs, which included “Baile Inolvidable,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii”, “El Apagon” and others.
Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, performed a medley of songs, which included “Baile Inolvidable,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii”, “El Apagon” and others.
BY THE NUMBERS: BAD BUNNY VS. TURNING POINT'S KID ROCK
STEVE'S TIES TO HUACHICOL EMBARASSING: TEAM GUERRA THUGS VANDALIZE SIGNS
An offending campaign sign showing Steve Guerra's ties to huachicol and his team's response: tear down the signs.
Special to El Rrun-RrunAfter months of denying any link between him and the illegal importation of petroleum products into Mexico, documentation from the Mexican government, the Texas secretary of State, and district court records have directly linked Brownsville Navigation District chairman Steve Guerra to shipments between his Warrior Fuel Traders Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and Pyrodiesel Del Cento SA de CV, named by the Federal Criminal Intelligence Center of Mexico as a principal in the smuggling of fuel.
Guerra was first elected to the BND board in 2018 and appointed chair in 2022. He was reappointed to the position in May 2024. He is currently a candidate for Cameron County Judge in the Democratic Party primary.
These revelations were first published in Frankie Olivo's Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/FrankieOlivo10/posts/this-is-how-steve-guerra-is-linked-to-huachicol-he-was-buying-diesel-in-the-us-a/1221688939939605/ outlining a debt of Guerra's LLC to non-payment to Key Performance Petroleum Company of Navasota, Texas.
In that lawsuit, Key Performance president Mark Jackson filed an affidavit October 26, 2022 in support of his company's lawsuit demanding payment of an outstanding balance of $333,484.47 and attached copies of 24 invoices totaling shipments of diesel and other petroleum products they had shipped at Warrior Fuel Traders' request over a two-month period in 2020 that had not been paid. Guerra was served the next day, October 27.
In Cause No: 2022-DCL-5154-I plaintiff Key Performance lists a systematic record of transactions that make up the outstanding delinquent balance of Warrior Fuel Traders, LLC. (Remember, we only found out about Guerra's LLC after he failed to pay his debts. What about the times that his LLC did pay for past purchases? More than $300,000 owed? Where did the money to purchase the petroleum products come from?)
He calls himself as an "entrepreneur." En que trabaja el muchacho?
Government investigations revealed that Warrior Fuel Traders/Steve Guerra was in direct contractual business with Pyrodiesel Del Cento SA de CV. Pyrodiesel has been named as a principal in fuel smuggling activities (huachicol) of petroleum by the Federal Criminal Intelligence Center of Mexico. https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/huachicoleros-controlaban-puertos-pa%C3%ADs-060000638.html
Invoices to Warrior Fuel Traders from Key Performance indicate the diesel and petroleum products were shipped through Eagle Pass, Texas and delivered to Pyrodiesel. The Warrior Fuel Traders LLC was registered with the Texas Secretary Of State April 13, 2020 and its certification was forfeited June 24, 2022.
"The identification of the modus operandi: First modus operandi, the fuel is purchased in the United States and then imported into Mexico, where it is sold to various companies. These companies are responsible for distributing it through marketing and transportation companies, selling the fuel at a lower price than the one established in the national market.
"To this end, they use cloned gasoline and diesel import declarations to simulate the legal origin of the hydrocarbons, allowing them to legitimize the multiple sales they make," the Federal Center for Criminal Intelligence (FGR) analysis details.
"The identification of the modus operandi: First modus operandi, the fuel is purchased in the United States and then imported into Mexico, where it is sold to various companies. These companies are responsible for distributing it through marketing and transportation companies, selling the fuel at a lower price than the one established in the national market.
"To this end, they use cloned gasoline and diesel import declarations to simulate the legal origin of the hydrocarbons, allowing them to legitimize the multiple sales they make," the Federal Center for Criminal Intelligence (FGR) analysis details.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
THE NUMBERS ARE BOUGHT, BOTANA READY FOR SUPER BOWL LX
New England Pats
Micheladas and porra bets
We got new guys
Tambien las babes
Y gamblers attempting to get paid
And karaokers thinking they're country stars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
Forget the Cowboys
Forget those fuckers
Mistake-ridden fools and suckers
Sam the cow farmer
Mark selling numbers
Mama's botana on the burner
And vets lying about their battles and the war
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
Vente as you are
No esta muy far
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, gotta love this bar
Super Bowl 60's here
We've got your chair
High-backed bar stools
For lovers and fools
Y muchas, muchas babes
Even seen Pati emerge from her kitchen-cave
There's door prizes
Botana surprises
We might even have a drunk dance on the bar
Ooh, ooh, ooh, gotta love this bar
And we like it here, 'cause no vivimos far
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm,just love this bar
(Yes I do)
But I love this bar
It's my kind of place
At the back of the burger joint
Shit eatin' grin on my face...
No esta muy far
Vente as you are
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, gotta love this bar
HHS SEC. KENNEDY: YOU AIN'T GOT NO SKINS IN THE GAME...
La Cebolla
WASHINGTON—In a firm dismissal of decades of scientific research and real-world data on the organ’s benefits and safety, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly questioned the efficacy of skin Wednesday while testifying before Congress.
“Everything we know about skin has been learned from so-called scientific studies funded by large corporations who have a financial stake in keeping our musculature covered in an unnecessary layer of man-made flesh,” said the self-proclaimed “membrane skeptic,” declaring that the ubiquity of skin in modern society, from the epidermis down to the subcutaneous tissue, amounted to little more than a “nefarious marketing campaign by the powerful people who manufacture skin.”
“A lot of the public has lost their trust in skin, and for good reason. Skin is a significant contributing factor to skin cancer, being linked to it in nearly 100% of cases. One of the most common factors shared by those diagnosed with autism is that they all have skin on their bodies. That’s not a coincidence. What’s more, your muscles can easily suffocate if they don’t get enough exposure to the air.”
“That’s why I cover my internal organs with a perforated raw beef hide, which a lot of research shows works even better than whatever skin is made of,” the secretary continued. “I mean, stratum basale, spinosum, granulosum—what the heck are these ingredients, and why are we letting them anywhere near our children’s bodies?”
Kennedy added that skin was a relatively recent invention, citing the fact that the bones of prehistoric humans unearthed by archaeologists are consistently skinless.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE CHIMPS, IS GOOD FOR THE ORANGUTANS...
To be honest… Melania never looked so happy and kind…
Saturday, February 7, 2026
PERFUME AND EXCUSES FROM TRUMP FOR INSULTING BLACKS, OBAMAS
By Michael Jochum
There is no gray area here.
None.
Depicting Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes is not satire, it’s not “edgy,” it’s not an “internet meme,” and it sure as hell is not “fake outrage.” It is one of the oldest, most putrid racist tropes in the American sewer system, comparing Black human beings to monkeys in order to dehumanize them. 
That imagery was used to justify slavery, segregation, lynching, and systemic humiliation for generations. Anyone pretending not to understand that is either historically illiterate or morally bankrupt.
What makes this especially grotesque is the transparent distraction machine humming underneath it all. The same week credible voices are demanding accountability on the Epstein files, we get jungle-king cosplay and racist memes set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
That imagery was used to justify slavery, segregation, lynching, and systemic humiliation for generations. Anyone pretending not to understand that is either historically illiterate or morally bankrupt.
And when the President of the United States shares it, whether for one second or sixty-two, it isn’t an accident. It’s a signal. It’s a wink to the ugliest corners of his base. It’s a reminder that cruelty is still the currency of his political brand.
And then comes the inevitable chorus of enablers. The press secretary dismisses it as a meme. Staffers say it was “erroneously” posted. Allies urge everyone to calm down.
This is the pattern. Every time he steps in something foul, the administration rushes in with perfume and excuses, as if the American public can’t smell what’s right in front of us. This is the same man who launched his political career on the racist lie that Obama wasn’t born in this country. The same man who has never found a kind word for anyone who challenges him, and rarely even for those who don’t.
His rhetoric has always been a river of bile, but now it feels more unhinged, more desperate, like a man thrashing as the walls close in. When even Republican Senator Tim Scott calls it “the most racist thing” he’s seen from this White House, that should tell you something.
What makes this especially grotesque is the transparent distraction machine humming underneath it all. The same week credible voices are demanding accountability on the Epstein files, we get jungle-king cosplay and racist memes set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
The White House tells us to focus on “what matters.” Apparently what matters is not decency, not dignity, not the basic human respect owed to former presidents and first ladies, especially the first Black family to ever occupy the White House.
Apparently what matters is protecting a man whose behavior grows more aberrant by the day, whose speech drifts into incoherence, whose physical decline is harder and harder to disguise, and whose response to pressure is always the same: lash out, demean, degrade.
This is not normal politics. This is not hardball. This is rot. And every Republican who shrugs, deflects, or whispers criticism without consequence becomes complicit in that rot. You cannot claim to love this country while excusing the deliberate dehumanization of its citizens for cheap applause.
You cannot preach faith while laughing at imagery that echoes centuries of racial hatred. And you certainly cannot hide behind the word “meme” when the poison is that obvious. History will not be confused about what this was. It will not file it under humor. It will file it under disgrace.
LA FIRMA REPLACES LOS INVASORES FOR SOMBREROFEST 2026
By Shirley Escobedo
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Valley Central) — Sombrero Fest has announced “La Firma” as its new Saturday headliner for its 2026 main stage.
This announcement comes after Los Invasores de Nuevo León canceled their performance at the Sombrero Festival main stage on Feb. 28.
“Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the group had to cancel their performance at this year’s Sombrero Festival. “Our team is hard at work to find a replacement, and we will announce them Los Invasores de Nuevo Leónas soon as they are confirmed,” Sombrero Festival, Ltd. Board Chair and CEO Olga Gonzalez said.
The Sombrero Festival will be held at Washington Park, located at 700 E. Madison St. in Brownsville.
The three-day festival will take place Feb. 26 through Feb. 28, during the Brownsville Charro Days festivities.
The full lineup and ticket information for the event are available on the Sombrero Festival website.
This announcement comes after Los Invasores de Nuevo León canceled their performance at the Sombrero Festival main stage on Feb. 28.
“Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the group had to cancel their performance at this year’s Sombrero Festival. “Our team is hard at work to find a replacement, and we will announce them Los Invasores de Nuevo Leónas soon as they are confirmed,” Sombrero Festival, Ltd. Board Chair and CEO Olga Gonzalez said.
The Sombrero Festival will be held at Washington Park, located at 700 E. Madison St. in Brownsville.
The three-day festival will take place Feb. 26 through Feb. 28, during the Brownsville Charro Days festivities.
The full lineup and ticket information for the event are available on the Sombrero Festival website.
THEY HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT LORD THE GOOD THEY DIE YOUNG....
African and Black History African Archives's Post:
Medgar Evers was only 37 when he was assassinated in 1963. By that age, he was already the NAACP’s first field secretary in Mississippi, organizing voter registration drives, investigating racial terror, and challenging segregation in one of the most violent states in the country for Black activism.
Malcolm X was killed in 1965 at 39. In barely a decade of public life, he transformed himself from a street hustler into one of the most powerful and globally recognized Black voices of the 20th century. His thinking was still evolving. His politics were still changing. He was just beginning to broaden his vision beyond the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr. was also 39 when he was assassinated in 1968. By that age, he had already led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech, and played a central role in the passage of landmark civil rights legislation.
None of them reached 40.
They are often remembered as finished figures, as if their work was complete. It wasn’t. They were young men still growing, still debating strategy, still imagining what freedom could look like in a country that resisted it at every turn.
What they accomplished in such short lives is extraordinary. What was taken from them—and from the movements they were shaping—is just as important to remember.
Friday, February 6, 2026
GUERRA'S FAKE "VICTIM" ACT FLOPS, TRIGGERS BACKLASH
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
It's a page taken straight out of the PRI campaign playbook.
Guerra's self-serving ads claiming he would endure his opponent's "smear tactics" and remain on the high road despite the sticks and stones against him by those mean Treviño supporters are nothing short of disingenuous.
In one of the social media attacks, Treviño is ridiculed in a Photoshopped meme and a caricature showing a rat-like Treviño on a leash and accusing him of single-handedly selling Musk Boca Chica Beach in return for bags filled with cash. They say that they want to "send Musk's pet rat back to the sewer" and vote for Guerra. Again, they offer no proof or put their names behind the accusations.
What we are witnessing is not debate. It is not accountability. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public through guilt-by-association and recycled insinuations. Hiding behind fake social media accounts to attack others is an act of cowardice. That’s not what a real man does!
It's a page taken straight out of the PRI campaign playbook.
Here's poor (not so) little Brownsville Navigation District Steve Guerra complaining about being abused by his opponents in the race for Cameron County Judge and vowing to take the high road instead, specifically singling out supporters of incumbent Eddie Treviño, since the other candidate in the race is former Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza, who political observers say was put into the race as a stalking horse to throw the race into a runoff.
While he hides his hand, his supporters – through anonymous social media accounts (like Brownsville and Valley News) – attack and ridicule Treviño and accuse him of personal enrichment and of single-handedly giving away Boca Chica Beach to Elon Musk's SpaceX.
But despite his hand wringing and protestations, honesty and transparency aren't Guerra's forte. No martyr is he.
He forgets to mention that Treviño's vote is but one of three needed to have a majority to approve any county vote. Treviño's single vote cannot pass anything without the support of a majority of the commissioners' court. But Guerra knows that going after majority would backfire, so his anonymous supporters are content to demonize the incumbent in social media and accuse him – without providing proof – of allegations of criminality and wrongdoing.
But they neglect to tell their followers that the Texas Legislature – with the support of the late Rene Oliveira and the House and Eddie Lucio Jr. in the Texas Senate – were the ones responsible for pushing through bills allowing Musk – through the county – to close access to the beach. Treviño was actually the only one on the commissioners Court who was opposed the state move to approve the handing over access to Boca Chica, bypassing the county, to Musk's new city, Starbase.
But this mudslinging backfires and has unintended consequences, too. None other than Cameron County Sheriff Manuel "Manny" Treviño issued a strong statement against these "smear" (that word again!) tactics being used by Guerra and his proxies in social media.
"Statement from Sheriff Manuel Treviño:
"I have worn a badge for many years, and with that badge comes a responsibility to stand up for truth, fairness, and integrity. That is why I am angry and disgusted by the tactics being used against Eddie Treviño Jr. in this campaign. Anyone who believes this kind of behavior is acceptable leadership should be ashamed.
"I have worn a badge for many years, and with that badge comes a responsibility to stand up for truth, fairness, and integrity. That is why I am angry and disgusted by the tactics being used against Eddie Treviño Jr. in this campaign. Anyone who believes this kind of behavior is acceptable leadership should be ashamed.
As a law-enforcement officer, I know the difference between facts and smear tactics. I also know that trying to destroy someone’s reputation without evidence is wrong — and it speaks volumes about the character and judgment of the people doing it.
If a candidate is willing to distort the truth and poison public discourse just to win an election, then they are not fit to hold public office." 
Likewise, Cameron County Pct. 1 Commissioner Sofia Benavides issued her endorsement of Treviño and chided Guerra's proxies for their childish antics and urges voters to vote for "the adult in the room."
"It seems like his opponents are acting like spoiled kids who think dirty politics and shady social media posts are a magic wand that will somehow get them elected. Instead of doing the hard work – showing up, learning the job, and offering real solutions – they hide behind fake outrage and dumb, false narratives pushed online
"That kind of behavior isn't bold or clever; it's immature and irresponsible. Cameron County isn't a game, and leadership isn't earned through smear pages or cheap tricks. This job demands discipline, experience, and respect for the people – not shortcuts or nonsense."
Therein lies the rub.
Guerra and his anonymous proxies hadn't counted on triggering the ire of two popular elected officials with a lifetime of experience and loyal constituents who can see through the smear and detect Guerra's attempt to hide his hand after slinging the mud trying to make himself a victim and instead having his tactics coming back to bite his ample behind.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
"FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN, IF HE SHOULD GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?" MARK 8:36
Blanche: It's not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.
Megyn Kelly: "Raping fourteen-year-old girls is not really pedophilia, so relax."
Karoline Leavitt: "They were neighbors, so it’s OK."
Todd Blanche: "You can party with Epstein no problem."
At this point, MAGA—how much of your soul is left to sell?
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