Thursday, February 26, 2026
S. TEXAS DOCTORS AGREE TO PAY $5 MILLION TO SETTLE FALSE CLAIMS
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Six South Texas doctors and their respective practices have agreed to pay $4,855,844 to resolve allegations they submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE that were not rendered or not medically necessary, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Drs. Javier Cabello, 47, San Benito, Ammar Halloum, 52, Brownsville, Jamil Madi, 54, Olmito, Jairo Rodriguez, 62, Rancho Viejo, Ricardo Schwarcz, 57, Weslaco, and Stanley Sy, 55, Pharr, owned and operated Benchmark Inpatient Services PLLC dba Beyond Inpatient Services in Harlingen. Rodriguez also owned and operated Brownsville Pulmonary Center, P.A. dba Benchmark Pulmonary Center, Brownsville.
Critical care billing requires complex decision-making and at least 30 minutes of treatment for a critically ill or injured patient. BIS providers instead billed critical care for stable patients, unnecessary follow-up visits, or services they never performed, according to the allegations.
PFT services include various tests that demonstrate how well the lungs function. When medically necessary, PFT services either diagnose and evaluate new respiratory symptoms or assess a patient’s current therapeutic respiratory interventions. Medicare does not reimburse for routine PFT services. For Medicare to reimburse for medically necessary PFT services, providers must describe the indications and presentments for the order for testing in the patient’s medical record. BPC and Rodriguez instead allegedly billed PFT services for unnecessary routine testing or services they never performed.
As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE either paid significantly more for critical care claims or for PFT claims that should never have even been made to the government programs.
“This outcome emphasizes the Southern District of Texas’s commitment to vigorously investigate and disrupt civil health care fraud, wherever it may be,” said Ganjei. “Our country’s most vulnerable deserve care based on their medical need, not on a doctor’s unscrupulous desire to line their own pockets. Medical professionals have a solemn obligation to heal the sick and infirm, not to bilk the American taxpayer.”
“We remain steadfast in our mission to protect patients and safeguard federal health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. “This settlement underscores our commitment to holding providers accountable when they submit claims for services that are not medically necessary or not actually provided. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that taxpayer-funded programs are protected from fraud and abuse.”
“Fraud against the government will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “Submitting false claims to federal health care programs during a national emergency such as the COVID 19 pandemic steals from taxpayers and exploits vulnerable patients. The FBI, together with its federal and state partners, will hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit by defrauding the United States.”
The settlement stems from a qui tam or whistleblower complaint filed under the False Claims Act which permits a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.
DHHS-OIG and FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Texas Attorney General’s Office – Civil Medicaid Fraud Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.
REMEMBER WHEN "GAY" MEANT HAPPY? THURSDAY EVENTS SCHEDULE
- Brownsville Independent School District Children’s Charro Days ParadeFree admissionFeatures folkloric dances, Mexican music, colorful costumes, floats, and bands.East Elizabeth St.For more information, call (956) 548-8000
- Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
- (Tow away from Elizabeth Street at 12:30 p.m.)
- Noche Mexicana (Sponsored by the Begum Law Group)Admission $40 per personFeaturing The Latin Breed and Mariachi 7 LeguasTexas Southmost College at Jacob Brown AuditoriumDinner and Folkloric dances
- Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
INSIDE THE BEAST: IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, QUACKS LIKE A DUCK...IT'S NOT WADDLING ANYMORE. IT'S ALREADY HERE
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
U.S. Dept. of Justice
U.S. Dept. of Justice
A cursory glance at social media regarding the race for the Democratic party nomination for Cameron County Judge reveals numerous memes generated against incumbent Eddie Treviño by supporters of his main challenger, current Brownsville Navigation District chairman Steve Guerra.
Former Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza is the other contender in the Democratic Party primary ballot.
But some of the links between Guerra and the CDG and Juan N. Guerra have been confirmed as facts. Juan N., for example, founded the Gulf Cartel and ran it for 50 years and was Steve Guerra's grandfather, who has publicly acknowledged his familial ties. Juan N. was also the uncle of Juan Garcia Abrego, the successor of Juan N. as head of the cartel and who expanded the bootlegger beginnings and developed the organization into a drug cartel dedicated to the smuggling of cocaine and other drugs.
Some of the cartoon creations charge a rattish-looking Treviño with selling Boca Chica Beach to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who is pictured holding him on a leash, holding on to bags of cash, and also of receiving money from the CDG (the Gulf Cartel).
These are no amateurishly concocted creations, but pointed – and without confirmation – allegations. The goal, it would appear, is that if you hurl enough mud, something, anything, may stick.
But there is also something deeply disturbing that reminds one of the Q-Anon conspiracy where Trump MAGA supporters alleged that the Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, were operating a massive pedophile worldwide ring from a pizza restaurant in San Francisco that diverted public attention away from the real Jefferey Epstein pedophile ring associated with Trump and wealthy men of both parties.
In other words, hinting that Musk and the cartel were paying off Treviño diverts attention from their candidate Guerra and his association with alleged cartel operatives. Treviño was but one of half a dozen politicians who unknowingly received contributions in Hidalgo and Cameron counties from a drug dealer, but all returned then once the contributor's identity was revealed. A slim hook, indeed.
Juan N. died in 2001 and Garcia Abrego is currently serving 11 life sentences in a U.S. jail for his drug trafficking. (In the photo, Juan N. is wearing the white hat and Abrego Garcia is standing holding a cup.)
On the streets, the scuttlebutt is that the Cartel del Golfo manages the Port of Brownsville as a massive money laundering operation and point to Steve Guerra as the point man for the group on the U.S. side of the border.
The Guerra family, the story goes, is the treasury arm of the Cartel and as such, delegate their power to other members of their extended family such as the Garcia, Cardenas, Guillen, and Salinas as fronts of the organization, which the public and media labels them "Capos" or ""Cartel Bosses." But they claim that this is mostly ceremonial for the Guerra family uses the cartel profits to payoff Mexican and American politicians, judges, and law enforcement to avoid any consequences whenever one of the their fronts become convicted.
Incidentally, Steve Guerra is also the cousin of Sandra Guerra, who was charged in a federal indictment in the "Transmigrante" scandal at Los Indios Bridge with conspiracy to fix prices and allocate the market, conspiracy to monopolize, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion, and international money laundering. It has been reported that she has reached a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors. One of the conspirators - Carlos Martinez, of Mission - was sentenced to 11 years in a federal prison for his conviction in the case.
Meanwhile, Steve Guerra, the story goes, uses his administrative power to grant contracts to his extended family and Mexican allies such as Transportes Guerra, Grupo Salinas, and other Mexican trucking companies. Of course all of this is within the excuse of United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (NAFTA light).
There are also allegations that port commissioners Tito Lopez and the Ernesto Gutierrez family have established a monopoly on the dock cargo. As other readers of this blog have commented, if you lease a property on the port but you don't pay your dues you will be eventually forced out. Just ask Beto Torres, who dared to run against Gutierrez, much to the displeasure of Guerra, who feigned supporting Torres while promoting Gutierrez. https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2026/02/at-port-of-brownsville-did-chairman.html
The Port Administration hires staff with close ties to Matamoros, most are dual citizens. These people view this arrangement as a normal way-of-life so they don't question it. A commenter to this blog stated that:
There are also allegations that port commissioners Tito Lopez and the Ernesto Gutierrez family have established a monopoly on the dock cargo. As other readers of this blog have commented, if you lease a property on the port but you don't pay your dues you will be eventually forced out. Just ask Beto Torres, who dared to run against Gutierrez, much to the displeasure of Guerra, who feigned supporting Torres while promoting Gutierrez. https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2026/02/at-port-of-brownsville-did-chairman.html
The Port Administration hires staff with close ties to Matamoros, most are dual citizens. These people view this arrangement as a normal way-of-life so they don't question it. A commenter to this blog stated that:
"Guerra talks about transparency. So let him explain why he, Port Director William Dietrich, and Gomez fired the Director of Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and the Deputy Director, who claims she retired but was actually fired.
"Everyone knows that the port is Guerra's monopoly, but the problem is that if anyone speaks up, they lose their job and are even threatened. Only corrupt people use those tactics. Now he's pretending to be an angel and claiming to have done wonderful things. Como dice un dicho quieres saber quién es la persona. Empieza por su familia y te darás cuenta (Puro CDG)."
And: "The Guerra family and Gulf Cartel are doing to South Texas what they did to Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, and Veracruz after the fall of Garcia-Abrego. The Gulf Cartel and the Guerras infiltrated the local PRI party and became the politicians themselves which enabled Osiel Cardenas-Guillen to maintain power for so long."
A former law enforcement employee at the port wrote that "a lot of money is being made in the Port of Brownsville, but most of it is going south to Mexico. If the Port of Brownsville were to hire Texas companies this region would indeed flourish and be richer than south of San Antonio. But the Matamoros families do not let it happen. The Guerra family has not only infiltrated the Mexican side of the city, state, and federal governments, but are now entrenching themselves on the U.S. side with the Guerra candidacy for the county judgeship in tandem with Gutierrez at the port and Pedro Cardenas as a city commissioner."
A former law enforcement employee at the port wrote that "a lot of money is being made in the Port of Brownsville, but most of it is going south to Mexico. If the Port of Brownsville were to hire Texas companies this region would indeed flourish and be richer than south of San Antonio. But the Matamoros families do not let it happen. The Guerra family has not only infiltrated the Mexican side of the city, state, and federal governments, but are now entrenching themselves on the U.S. side with the Guerra candidacy for the county judgeship in tandem with Gutierrez at the port and Pedro Cardenas as a city commissioner."
Another commenter said:
Steve Guerra has all the Port of Brownsville. William Dietrich was married to Alejandra Rodriguez Guerra, and is related to Jose Luis Rodriguez Guerra. Grupo GRN, his cousin. Also, Arturo Gomez currently employed at the Port of Brownsville as “Deputy Port Director of Operations” was a formal PRI administrator who is friend of Jose de Jesus Tapia Fernandez former PRI representative indicted as a transmigrante price fixer and huachicol operative for the Gulf Cartel.
Guillermo Rico, also another PRI rat who continued communication with the "Grupo Mafre" and also Ernesto Gutierrez "el pajarito" is related to Oscar Luebbert. This (sic) are only a few that operate at the Port of Brownsville. Puros juniors!!
"What's crazy is the Coast Guard and Customs are right there and they don't do anything about it," the former investigator commented. "If a former local cop came to know this this they must know, too. But, hopefully the people of Cameron County learn the history of their politicians before they get them elected.
"Well, these have been the words of a retired 30+ year detective who was entrenched in this mess, but became disillusioned when their superiors turned a blind eye. I no longer live on the region but do get whispers here and there. I bid farewell to the hardworking people of Cameron County."
"What's crazy is the Coast Guard and Customs are right there and they don't do anything about it," the former investigator commented. "If a former local cop came to know this this they must know, too. But, hopefully the people of Cameron County learn the history of their politicians before they get them elected.
"Well, these have been the words of a retired 30+ year detective who was entrenched in this mess, but became disillusioned when their superiors turned a blind eye. I no longer live on the region but do get whispers here and there. I bid farewell to the hardworking people of Cameron County."
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
ATTORNEY KATYAL, SON OF IMMIGRANTS, DERAILED TRUMP TARIFFS
Daily Kos Staff
Neal Katyal, the attorney who successfully challenged the legality of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies before the Supreme Court, spoke with CNBC Monday morning about the victory. While he took the metaphorical high road in describing the case, he couldn’t resist a subtle poke at the famously thin-skinned president.
“The Supreme Court is the crown jewels in our democracy,” Katyal said. “It's so amazing to think what
happened on Friday can happen, that I, you know, I'm the son of immigrants, and I can walk into court and say the highest person of the land — the president —got something wrong and to do it not in some rinky-dink traffic court but in that highest court of the land, and to win,” he added, twisting the metaphorical knife ever so slightly. “That is something remarkable about this country.”
Katyal, a self-described "extremist centrist," has not shied away from the Trump administration’s attempt to justify its ill-conceived tariff policy, calling it "gravely illegal" and "fundamentally un-American.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s unconstitutional tariffs inspired the president to ramble through an unhinged press conference in which he lied about the success of his trade wars, threatened other countries with economic destruction, and accused the Supreme Court of bias against him.
Being reminded that immigrant stories are foundational to American excellence isn’t likely to soothe Trump’s never-ending sense of aggrievement.
Neal Katyal, the attorney who successfully challenged the legality of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies before the Supreme Court, spoke with CNBC Monday morning about the victory. While he took the metaphorical high road in describing the case, he couldn’t resist a subtle poke at the famously thin-skinned president.
“The Supreme Court is the crown jewels in our democracy,” Katyal said. “It's so amazing to think what
Katyal, a self-described "extremist centrist," has not shied away from the Trump administration’s attempt to justify its ill-conceived tariff policy, calling it "gravely illegal" and "fundamentally un-American.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s unconstitutional tariffs inspired the president to ramble through an unhinged press conference in which he lied about the success of his trade wars, threatened other countries with economic destruction, and accused the Supreme Court of bias against him.
Being reminded that immigrant stories are foundational to American excellence isn’t likely to soothe Trump’s never-ending sense of aggrievement.
GUERRA'S TIES TO CARTELS' HUACHICOL REVEALED: TEAM GUERRA VANDALIZES SIGNS
An offending campaign sign showing Steve Guerra's ties to Mexican cartels' huachicol smuggling of illegal fuel and his team's response: tear down the signs.
By Juan Montoya
After 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 linked Brownsville Navigation District chairman Steve Guerra directly 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 by the Mexican cartels.
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 balance of Warrior Fuel Traders, LLC.
Government investigations revealed that Warrior Fuel Traders/Steve Guerra was in direct 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.
Monday, February 23, 2026
TRUMP ASKS WHEN HE CAN KILL OLYMPIANS WHO LOST...
La Cebolla
WASHINGTON—Declaring that athletes who had disgraced their country with a poor performance needed to be dealt with in the harshest manner possible, President Donald Trump asked advisors Tuesday when he would get to kill members of Team USA who lost at the Olympics.
“If they’re not standing on that podium, they’re traitors who should be executed, so when exactly do I get to do that?” said Trump, wondering whether athletes who failed to medal would be strangled to death upon their return to the United States, discreetly poisoned at the Olympic Village, or just shot through the head the moment they fell during their short program or allowed a puck to get past them for a game-deciding goal.
“And even if we spare athletes who won the silver or bronze, they should probably have a limb sawed off for coming up short. Can we do that right when they get their final scores on TV?”
Trump added that even a gold medalist should be killed if they ever criticized him and that their deaths should be much slower than all the others.
ABBOTT AND THE REPUBLICANS HEARING FOOTSTEPS...
Team Gina
Everywhere we look, we see the consequences of Greg Abbott’s leadership:
Neighborhood schools are closing
Health care costs are skyrocketing while Texas ranks near the bottom in access to affordable, quality care
Property taxes are unaffordable and getting worse
People are struggling to afford the basics
That’s why I’m running for Governor. Because Texans deserve better.
But I know this race won’t be easy. Our opponent has more than $100 million in his campaign account — and he’ll spend whatever it takes to try to bring us down. Republicans are on HIGH ALERT after the latest poll showing only three points between me and Abbott. They are getting ready to spend BIG against us.
It takes real courage to meet this moment and fight for a better future for our state. And if I’ve learned anything during my career, it’s that courage is contagious. That is the secret to beating right-wing billionaires and special interests — it’s our courage to never back down, even when we’re up against fierce opposition.
I need your support now more than ever. Let’s prove we’re in this race to win it.
That’s why I’m running for Governor. Because Texans deserve better.
But I know this race won’t be easy. Our opponent has more than $100 million in his campaign account — and he’ll spend whatever it takes to try to bring us down. Republicans are on HIGH ALERT after the latest poll showing only three points between me and Abbott. They are getting ready to spend BIG against us.
It takes real courage to meet this moment and fight for a better future for our state. And if I’ve learned anything during my career, it’s that courage is contagious. That is the secret to beating right-wing billionaires and special interests — it’s our courage to never back down, even when we’re up against fierce opposition.
I need your support now more than ever. Let’s prove we’re in this race to win it.
CHARRO DAYS WEEK IS HERE! WHO'D WANNA BE ANYWHERE ELSE?
Fire and Ice
By Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction
Ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
HALFWAY THROUGH EARLY VOTING, 14,569 VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST: 10,834 FOR DEMOCRATS, 3,735 FOR REPUBLICANS
Haven't voted early yet? Some are open Sunday. Click on link to find your nearest polling site below:
AIN'T BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, MORE LIKE PLATON AT THE 9-11
Aside from a dollar or two, they were also asked for their business cards for future events like birthdays, or other family events. The grouch next to us quipped that he'd rather pay them not to play, but he pitched in a dollar bill anyway. They then made their way down the road to the next downtown restaurant.
On any given day in downtown Brownsville, these troubadours ply their songs for restaurant patrons, or like below, someone hires them to play right on the sidewalk. You can give, or just ignore them. Oh, by the way, the portions at the 9-11 were generous, the hand-made corn tortillas delicious and the salsa verde is killer.)
Saturday, February 21, 2026
2026 EARLY VOTING TURNOUT ALMOST DOUBLE THAT OF 2022
AND REPUBLICAN TURNOUT
4 DAYS EARLY VOTE 2026 PRIMARY TURNOUT COMBINED: 9,303(D)+ 3,290(R) = 12,599
4 DAYS EARLY VOTE 2022 PRIMARY TURNOUT COMBINED: 4,865(D)+1,985(R) = 6,850
A VOTE FOR "STALKING HORSE" ERIC GARZA IS A WASTED VOTE
"A stalking horse candidate is a person put forward in an election to mask the candidacy of another, test public support for a policy, or divide the opposition. Operating as a political decoy, this candidate rarely has a genuine chance of winning but serves to conceal a third party's true intentions until a safer time."
Garza, whose novice management of the sheriff's department caused the feds to pull out their prisoners from county jails, cost the county $3 million, and the prisoners didn't return until new sheriff Manuel "Manny" Treviño cleaned up the mess the former sheriff left behind.
When Garza left, he left a demoralized department, numerous lawsuits caused by his rampant mismanagement, and a trail of favoritism that divided the department's personnel. He sued the commissioners court. And veteran law enforcement officers lost all respect for the man in charge.
Garza lost to his successor Treviño – no relation to Eddie Treviño, the incumbent county judge – during the Democratic primary in 2024, and then, in the November general election, hosted Republican nominee Jimmy Manrrique at department events and endorsed him in social media despite having run for the Democratic Party nomination.
Then, all of a sudden, he reappeared this year and filed to run as the third candidate for Cameron
County judge as a Democrat after Brownsville Navigation District chair Steve Guerra announced. Reports by eyewitnesses indicate that both men were seen conversing at a local eatery prior to Garza making his announcement. Garza is a de facto stalking horse to cover for Guerra and get him into a runoff with incumbent Treviño.
Then, all of a sudden, he reappeared this year and filed to run as the third candidate for Cameron
Documentation published by the U.S. Treasury and Mexican federal investigators indicate that Guerra owned a fuel company (Warrior Fuel Traders LLC) which was doing extensive business with a Mexican fuel supplier Pyrodiesel Del Cento SA de CV, named by the Federal Criminal Intelligence Center of Mexico as a principal in the smuggling of fuel products into Mexico.
That relationship came to light only after Guerra was sued by a Navasota, Texas-based fuel supplier for more than $300,000 in unpaid fuel.
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."
If by chance Garza should get the nod as the Democratic nominee for the general election, he would be in charge of determining the sheriff department's budget over sheriff Treviño, clearly an untenable situation. Ditto for getting along with the other commissioners on the court, who he sued.
"Voters should remember that Garza is a candidate running to be the Democratic Party nominee for the November general election against the Republican party candidate," said a longtime Democrat. "After he lost the primary to Treviño, he supported his Republican opponent Manrrique openly. He was a Democrat only when it suited him.
"Good Democrats should bear that in mind when they vote either in the early voting or on election day March 3. A vote for Garza means you're voting to give Guerra a chance to get into a runoff with Eddie Treviño. It's really a wasted vote."
IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOW THE TRUMP FAN CLUB?
(Edgar Lee Masters, The Spoon River Anthology)
The press of the Spoon River Clarion was wrecked,
And I was tarred and feathered,
For publishing this on the day the
Anarchists were hanged in Chicago:
"l saw a beautiful woman with bandaged eyes
Standing on the steps of a marble temple.
Great multitudes passed in front of her,
Lifting their faces to her imploringly.
In her left hand she held a sword.
She was brandishing the sword,
Sometimes striking a child, again a laborer,
Again a slinking woman, again a lunatic.
In her right hand she held a scale;
Into the scale pieces of gold were tossed
By those who dodged the strokes of the sword.
A man in a black gown read from a manuscript:
"She is no respecter of persons."
Then a youth wearing a red cap
Leaped to her side and snatched away the bandage.
And lo, the lashes had been eaten away
From the oozy eye-lids;
The eye-balls were seared with a milky mucus;
The madness of a dying soul
Was written on her face--
But the multitude saw why she wore the bandage."
Friday, February 20, 2026
WE'RE NOT KIDDING ABOUT GETTING YOU TO VOTE FOR BARBIE!
Thursday, February 19, 2026
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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rita
