Thursday, June 18, 2026
LITTLE MARCO GETS BOMBED IN TRUM'PS ALGAE-RIDDEN REFLECTING POOL
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
WILL BROWNSVILLE APPLY FOR ANNEXATION BY STARBASE?
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Opinion
With billions of dollars in private investment flowing into the Brownsville region — and with the world' only trillionaire Elon Musk continuing to expand his footprint across the Valley — it is becoming increasingly clear why he chose to establish his own city rather than be annexed into the City of Brownsville.
Most CEOs seek decisive leadership from governing bodies and executive teams. Yet, until today, the City Commission’s months-long inability to make a critical decision — selecting a City Manager — was on full display. This lack of direction sends a troubling signal, not only to residents but also to investors and partners watching closely.
Remember that Ramirez brought Gard from Ana, Texas, a metropolis of 29,000 people while Brownsville's population is climbing toward 200,000 and is rapidly becoming an industrial trade center along an international border.
What message does this send to graduates of institutions like UTRGV, UTB, or TSC? The implication appears to be that local talent — individuals with deep roots, experience, and commitment to the community — are somehow not qualified to lead at the highest levels.
The irony is striking. The City Commission approved the expenditure of millions of dollars on leadership initiatives such as Total Alignment and One City, promoting the idea that every employee can be a leader. Yet when the opportunity arises to elevate a seasoned local professional to the City Manager role, that philosophy seems to fall short.
Meanwhile, within the organization are individuals with decades of municipal experience — professionals who understand the community, its infrastructure, and its needs. Still, a group of relatively inexperienced elected officials appears confident in overriding that institutional knowledge.
At some point, the question must be asked: if decisive leadership cannot be found within City Hall, where will it come from?
Or perhaps, in a moment of irony, Brownsville should consider asking whether Starbase might be willing to annex a city still searching for direction.
With billions of dollars in private investment flowing into the Brownsville region — and with the world' only trillionaire Elon Musk continuing to expand his footprint across the Valley — it is becoming increasingly clear why he chose to establish his own city rather than be annexed into the City of Brownsville.
Over the past several years, Brownsville has endured leadership marked more by personality than performance — where public relations campaigns, polished slogans, and TED Talk-style presentations took center stage, while the fundamental responsibility of delivering reliable public services to neighborhoods was too often sidelined.
For example, with two candidates from Brownsville – Asst. City Managers Doro Garcia and Felix Sauceda available – and possessing a wealth of knowledge of the city's culture, innerworkings, and its infrastructure, they chose another assistant city manager handpicked by former manager Helen Ramirez, Allan Gard, from upstate.
What message does this send to graduates of institutions like UTRGV, UTB, or TSC? The implication appears to be that local talent — individuals with deep roots, experience, and commitment to the community — are somehow not qualified to lead at the highest levels.
The irony is striking. The City Commission approved the expenditure of millions of dollars on leadership initiatives such as Total Alignment and One City, promoting the idea that every employee can be a leader. Yet when the opportunity arises to elevate a seasoned local professional to the City Manager role, that philosophy seems to fall short.
Meanwhile, within the organization are individuals with decades of municipal experience — professionals who understand the community, its infrastructure, and its needs. Still, a group of relatively inexperienced elected officials appears confident in overriding that institutional knowledge.
At some point, the question must be asked: if decisive leadership cannot be found within City Hall, where will it come from?
Or perhaps, in a moment of irony, Brownsville should consider asking whether Starbase might be willing to annex a city still searching for direction.
AMERICANS CHAFE UNDER PENTAGON PROPAGANDA MASKERADING AS PROMOTION
By Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie
Dear Regal Theaters:
As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I am writing to Regal Theatres to demand that you immediately stop showing the war.gov promotional spot that appears before movies.
The video is a propaganda video. Nothing more, nothing less.
While at Portland’s Regal Lloyd Center last night to watch Disclosure Day, our family was surprised that before the movie, we were forced to watch an advertisement touting the leadership of Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and the so-called Department of War.
While at Portland’s Regal Lloyd Center last night to watch Disclosure Day, our family was surprised that before the movie, we were forced to watch an advertisement touting the leadership of Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and the so-called Department of War.
It was like we were at a movie theater in Russia or North Korea. Democracies do not do this. The audience loudly booed.
We routinely see videos at Regal promoting careers in the military. This was not that.
Regal’s decision to show this video can only be construed as an endorsement of Donald Trump, his failed war in Iran, and the white Christian nationalism advocated by Secretary Hegseth.
Again, I must demand that Regal stop showing this video immediately. Blessed are the peacemakers.
In Peace
THE BERNAL-RAMIREZ LEGACY CONTINUES AT CITY MANAGER'S SLOT
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Various Sources
Guard will enter into contract negotiations with Cowen following his selection. It is assumed that he will earn between $250,000 to $300,000 as did Ramirez and Bernal. Remember that Ramirez brought Gard from Ana, Texas, a metropolis of 29,000 people while Brownsville's population is climbing toward 200,000 and is becoming an industrial trade center along an international border.
“I am honored and ready to continue serving the people of Brownsville in this enhanced role,” said Guard. “Brownsville is a City with tremendous momentum, and I look forward to working alongside the Mayor, City Commission, staff, and community to continue advancing the priorities that matter most to our residents.”
On May 26, the city approved a new organizational (consolation prizes) structure that creates two Co-Deputy City Manager positions. Current Assistant City Manager and Chief of Police Felix Sauceda, Jr. and Assistant City Manager Doroteo Garcia, Jr. will assume these roles, providing them with expanded responsibilities overseeing all City departments, opportunities for cross-training, and provides them the opportunity to pursue their ICMA-CM designation and Certified Government Finance Officer credentials.
The city statement hinted that both Brownsville natives' lack of that credential may have played a role in them not being selected. This continues the city's hiring of non-Brownsville native administrators at the city manager's position.
Current Chief of Staff Marina Zolezzi will serve as Interim Assistant City Manager, while the city will begin the process of hiring a new Chief of Police following Sauceda’s transition into his new role.
Various Sources
The man who was hand picked by former City of Brownsville Manager Helen Ramirez – herself selected by her predecessor Noel Bernal – has been chosen for the position by the members of the city commission.
Alan Guard, named interim city manager last December 2025, was chosen by Mayor John Cowen and the commissioners during the regularly scheduled city commission meeting on Tuesday.
Alan Guard, named interim city manager last December 2025, was chosen by Mayor John Cowen and the commissioners during the regularly scheduled city commission meeting on Tuesday.
“Alan is the ideal candidate to serve as Brownsville’s City Manager because of the leadership he has demonstrated during his service as Interim City Manager,” said Cowen.
“He understands where the City is today, where we are headed, and what needs to be done. We must remain focused on responsible growth, excellent public service, and meeting the needs of our residents, and he understands those priorities firsthand.”
Guard will enter into contract negotiations with Cowen following his selection. It is assumed that he will earn between $250,000 to $300,000 as did Ramirez and Bernal. Remember that Ramirez brought Gard from Ana, Texas, a metropolis of 29,000 people while Brownsville's population is climbing toward 200,000 and is becoming an industrial trade center along an international border.
“I am honored and ready to continue serving the people of Brownsville in this enhanced role,” said Guard. “Brownsville is a City with tremendous momentum, and I look forward to working alongside the Mayor, City Commission, staff, and community to continue advancing the priorities that matter most to our residents.”
On May 26, the city approved a new organizational (consolation prizes) structure that creates two Co-Deputy City Manager positions. Current Assistant City Manager and Chief of Police Felix Sauceda, Jr. and Assistant City Manager Doroteo Garcia, Jr. will assume these roles, providing them with expanded responsibilities overseeing all City departments, opportunities for cross-training, and provides them the opportunity to pursue their ICMA-CM designation and Certified Government Finance Officer credentials.
The city statement hinted that both Brownsville natives' lack of that credential may have played a role in them not being selected. This continues the city's hiring of non-Brownsville native administrators at the city manager's position.
Current Chief of Staff Marina Zolezzi will serve as Interim Assistant City Manager, while the city will begin the process of hiring a new Chief of Police following Sauceda’s transition into his new role.
AND WITH TRUMP, JIMMY KIMMEL ONLY LOST HIS JOB...
The (London) Times
A Russian artist known for his grotesque caricatures of President Putin and the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been shot dead in Poland.
Robert Kuzovkov, who used the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot five times in the head, chest and back in Biala Podlaska, a city close to Poland’s border with Belarus, officials said.
Last Friday Kuzovkov protested outside the Russian embassy in Berlin with a satirical painting of Putin and Joseph Stalin. It depicted a tiny Putin sitting on Stalin’s lap. He also stuffed a Russian flag into a bin during the protest, which was staged on the Russia Day national holiday.
The execution-style killing took place in a car park 600 metres from the consulate of Belarus, a key Russian ally, where a gunman approached Kuzovkov and fired two shots.
“When the victim fell to the ground, the perpetrator approached, fired three more shots and then quickly fled,” Marcin Kozak, a spokesman for the local district prosecutor’s office, said.
Two Belarusian citizens have been detained in connection with the killing. A Geco 9mm Luger bullet and shell casings were discovered at the scene.
A Russian artist known for his grotesque caricatures of President Putin and the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been shot dead in Poland.
Robert Kuzovkov, who used the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot five times in the head, chest and back in Biala Podlaska, a city close to Poland’s border with Belarus, officials said.
Last Friday Kuzovkov protested outside the Russian embassy in Berlin with a satirical painting of Putin and Joseph Stalin. It depicted a tiny Putin sitting on Stalin’s lap. He also stuffed a Russian flag into a bin during the protest, which was staged on the Russia Day national holiday.
The execution-style killing took place in a car park 600 metres from the consulate of Belarus, a key Russian ally, where a gunman approached Kuzovkov and fired two shots.
“When the victim fell to the ground, the perpetrator approached, fired three more shots and then quickly fled,” Marcin Kozak, a spokesman for the local district prosecutor’s office, said.
Two Belarusian citizens have been detained in connection with the killing. A Geco 9mm Luger bullet and shell casings were discovered at the scene.
On Saturday Kuzovkov posted a painting on Telegram showing Kadyrov and his teenage son, Adam, as pigs. His work included sexually explicit images of Kadyrov that suggested the Chechen leader was gay. He also mocked Apti Alaudinov, the commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces unit.
To read rest of article, click on link: https://www.thetimes.com/article/4c68c4c3-b62f-4510-b954-4cd71597d34f?shareToken=72214a06dfa877263a57d507f9052798
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
COUNTY COMMISSION MAJORITY GRANTS SARONIC $100 MILLION TAX ABATEMENT: GARZA, RUIZ, CHICKENED OUT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MAKING THE PUBLIC DECISION
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
With two Cameron County commissioners absent, the majority (3) voted to grant Saronic Technologies a 19-year tax abatement that could save the company up to $100 million in waived property taxes.
The proposal was deeply controversial, sparking fierce debate.
Despite that, Precinct 1 Brownsville commissioners Sofia Benavides and Joey Lopez Pct. 2 with Cameron County Judge Edie Treviño – a bare majority – voted to pass the abatement and try to entice Saronic to bring the plant and create 10,000 permanent jobs within the first 10 years of operation and bring an estimated $3.2 billion in capital improvement cost for the project.
Absent from the meeting were San Benito Pct. 3 commissioner David Garza and Pct. 4 Harlingen Gus Ruiz, a fact not lost on Treviño, who pointedly told myRGV.com that the decision had ben tabled several times before to give all commissioners an opportunity to voice their opposition if they so desired.
Instead, they stayed away to distance themselves from the public decision.
Project Details
Proposed Break: 95 percent waiver on property taxes.Project Value: Estimated at $2.7 billion in tax property value over four phases.
Term: 19 years, expiring in 2048.
Promises: Up to 10,000 direct jobs over time, with nearly 2,000 created in the first phase. The county was considering a tax break for tha technology company that wants to build military and commercial ships at the Port of Brownsville.
Saronic Technologies is looking at the port as a possible site for the shipyard. The company is also considering a location in Virginia.
The county was scheduled to hold a public meeting in late May to discuss the proposal but rescheduled it for June 2. But it was until today that the item was placed on the agenda.
BACK IN THE DAY WHEN STUDENT ACTIVISM MEANT SOMETHING
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
We dug up this newsletter of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlan (MEChA) published in March 1982 by the organization's chapter at the University of Wisconsin, Madison after we received an email from a former school mate living in El Paso.
That student was Wisconsin Law School graduate Mario Caballero, who now practices law in his hometown (He Badgers witnesses). He is pictured addressing the Wisconsin Council on Migrant Labor during their March 20, 1982 meeting to consider endorsing the proposal to grant in-state tuition to former migrants to that state. The majority of migrants in the state originated in Texas and across the Southwest. In those days La Raza was united.
Mario represented MEChA during the Council's meeting and was accompanied by several other members. Partly as a result of their testimony in Madison – where the university and the state capitol are located – the proposal, Assembly Bill 1051, which was then under consideration by the Assembly's Education Committee, was amended and passed. 
Today, the Universities of Wisconsin provide an exception that allows qualifying migrant workers, or their spouses and children, to pay in-state tuition. The University of Michigan, across Lake Michigan, already provided the exception and the student reps took copies of the legislation to the Wisconsin Assembly.
Worker Requirement: The prospective student or their parent/guardian must be a migrant worker who has been employed in agricultural labor in Wisconsin.
Frequency: The work must be performed on an annual basis in Wisconsin.
Dependents: Spouses and children of the qualified migrant worker are also eligible for the in-state tuition rate.
To apply the tuition exception, prospective applicants need to complete a residency application and provide documentation verifying employment history.
After receiving the email from our former classmate, we dug up a yellowing copy of El Portavoz, the MEChA student newsletter published monthly in Madison, and set him a copy of the front page. Since I (Juan Montoya) was a graduate journalism student, I was the coordinator for its publication. Those were heady days for student activism. Thanks for the memories, Mario. Saludos!.
CITY SOURCES: THIS TIME WILL BE THE CHARM FOR CITY MANAGER CHOICE. WILL IT BE DORO?
1) Closed session pursuant to Tex. Gov't. Code Sections 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney) and
551.074 (Personnel Matters) to deliberate the appointment, employment, or duties of a public
officer or employee, pertaining to the city manager. (City Commission/ Office of the City Attorney/
OD&HR Department) Special Work Session and Regular Meeting, on June 16, 2026, at
4:00 PM, in the Commission Chambers.
The decision had been delayed due to indecision of commission and later the absence of the mayor and two commissioners and was postponed. Even after a marathon executive session during the last meeting, no cigar. The eventual choice will permanently replace the former city manager Helen Ramirez, who left at the end of 2025.
Alan Gard, one of the candidates, is currently Interim City Manager. Doro Garcia, Asst. City Manager, an engineer, is also in the running.
No decision has been made since April, when the item first appeared in the executive session section of the city agenda. However, inside sources indicate that the decision will be made at tonight's meeting.
The five candidates narrowed down from an original pool were Interim City Manager Alan Gard, Brownsville Police Chief/Asst. City Manager Felix Sauceda, Assistant City Manager Doroteo Garcia, Steve Williams, City Manager of Schertz, Texas, Majed Al Ghafy, City Manager, DeSoto, Texas, and Edwina "Edy" Benites-LM, Interim Director of Economic Development, Jefferson County, West Virginia.
EIGHT CREW MEMBERS DEAD IN B-52 CRASH AT AIR FORCE BASE
The aircraft burst into flames on Monday morning shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California northeast of Los Angeles, on Monday morning, officials said. The cause is still under investigation.
It is the deadliest crash involving a B-52 bomber since 1982. In that crash, nine crew members died in test training at the Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, The Associated Press reported at the time.
The B-52 Stratofortress in Monday’s crash was on a routine test mission that took off at 11:20 a.m. local time at the remote air base, officials said. It is now considered a recovery operation.
“It was tragic and unsurvivable,” Colonel James Hayes said at a news conference.
Teams are working to notify families about the deaths over the next several hours, Chief Master Sgt. Joshua T. Skarloken said. The crew was a mix of military officials, government civilians and government contractors, Skarloken said.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane, said two of its employees were on Monday’s flight. “We are in contact with their families and are offering support,” Boeing said in a statement.
Monday, June 15, 2026
SLOWLY, BUT SURELY, WORKMEN RESTORE SAN FERNANDO BUILDINGS WITH CIRCA 1880 BRICKS
INSCRIPTION ON MARKER:
Built beginning in 1877 for Victoriano Fernandez, the Border Brick style structures were built in stages, possibly accounting for the varying heights. The last of the three buildings was completed in 1886. They were designed as a combination commercial space/private residence, and originally housed Fernandez’s furniture store. Since then, the buildings have been occupied by the San Fernando Hotel, saloons and a variety of commercial establishments.
TRUMP-IRAN ANNOUNCE PRELIMINARY "DEAL" OVER CEASE FIRE
• Diplomatic breakthrough: The US and Iran say they have reached an agreement that will take effect on Friday. President Donald Trump said the US is lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports, and that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen after the agreement is signed. The full text has not yet been released.
• What comes next: The US and Iran have offered conflicting accounts of the next steps after a signing ceremony on Friday. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said negotiations will begin when the U.S. releases billions in frozen funds, but an American official has rejected the claim.
• Lebanon conflict: Israel has yet to comment on the agreement. Israeli forces launched aistrikes in Beirut earlier Sunday before news of the agreement. Trump criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "a very difficult guy..."
• Oil prices down: Brent crude and U.S. crude prices fell on Sunday after the agreement was announced.
MORALS-CHALLENGED CRUZ, PAXTON, TAKE SHOTS AT TALARICO
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Ted Cruz said James Talarico isn't "masculine," and Talarico answered with a list of what real men never do.
The smear came Monday on Fox News, where Cruz declared that if you were making a list of 1,000 adjectives to describe the Texas Democrat, "masculine" would not be one of them, then added that a stiff breeze would blow him over like a feather.
The attack was not a one-off. Since Talarico won the Democratic nomination and pulled ahead of Ken Paxton in the polls, the Republican machine has gone all in on manhood.
Paxton called him "too low-T for Texas." White House aide Stephen Miller falsely claimed Democrats had nominated "their first transgender senate candidate," a lie about a man who is neither transgender nor, for the record, the vegan they also keep insisting he is.
None of it touches his actual record. That is the point.
On MS NOW with Jen Psaki on Thursday, Talarico took the question head on, and he answered it with a lawn mower.
He told the story of Mark Talarico, the adoptive father who gave him his last name.
Every Saturday morning, rain or shine, whether he wanted to or not, his dad mowed the family's lawn. Then, without anyone asking, he walked next door and mowed the lawn of their neighbor, an elderly widow.
Every Saturday morning, rain or shine, whether he wanted to or not, his dad mowed the family's lawn. Then, without anyone asking, he walked next door and mowed the lawn of their neighbor, an elderly widow.
He never talked about it. He just did it.
That, Talarico said, is what a man does.
That, Talarico said, is what a man does.
A man takes responsibility. A man upholds his commitments to his family and his neighbors. A man does what's right even when no one is watching.
Then came the other half. "They don't lie and cheat their way through life. They don't sell their soul to the highest bidder. They don't steal from other people in order to enrich themselves."
Real men serve others, he said. Weak men serve themselves. And he closed the door on his way out: he doesn't think Ken Paxton or Ted Cruz are in a position to tell anybody what a real man is.
Real men serve others, he said. Weak men serve themselves. And he closed the door on his way out: he doesn't think Ken Paxton or Ted Cruz are in a position to tell anybody what a real man is.
The list reads differently considering who it was aimed at.
Cruz spent 2016 watching Donald Trump publicly mock his wife's appearance, then endorsed him and became one of his most loyal soldiers.
When a deadly winter storm froze Texas in 2021, Cruz boarded a flight to Cancun.
Paxton was impeached on bribery and corruption charges by his own Republican colleagues in the Texas House, and his wife filed for divorce last year citing adultery.
Mark Talarico never talked about the widow's lawn. He just mowed it. Some men do what's right when no one is watching.
Ted Cruz does Fox News.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026
NO JOY IN SPURVILLE: SPURS FALL TO KNICKS 94-90 (4 GAMES TO 1)
San Antonio won 62 games to tie for the second-most victories in franchise history just two seasons after a second straight 22-win season.
There was much for the Spurs to celebrate this season, just not on Saturday night.
“Yeah, it’s a little early to go there,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said.
The Spurs were seeking their sixth league championship and first since 2014 after missing the postseason for six straight seasons.
The lack of postseason success hurt San Antonio in the closing minutes of each loss as New York took advantage of every mistake to rally.
“The margin of error is very thin,” Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama said. “Our domination stats are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”
Along with Wembanyama, the Spurs have 21-year-old Stephon Castle and 20-year-old Dylan Harper to build around and now they have the anger and frustration of what might have been to add to it.
“I hope they take the same thing that we’ve taken from our success,” Johnson said. “I hope it leads to them be hungrier than they’ve ever been, and I hope it leads them to be more motivated than they’ve ever been, and hopefully that leads them to be more — yeah, just to continue to improve in every facet.”
FINAL VOTE: DE LEON WINS TSC PLACE 1 RUNOFF RACE
FINAL VOTE INCLUDING EARLY, MAIL-IN AND ELECTION DAY VOTING
TOTAL VOTE BREAKDOWN: MAIL-IN, EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY
THE DISMANTLING OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY BEGINS AT KENNEDY CENTER
Pete Kiehart for The New York Times
USA Today
Key points:
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29, 2026 that adding Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center violated the 1964 law establishing the center to honor President John F. Kennedy.
The judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from official materials and signage within 14 days, setting a deadline of June 12, 2026.
A construction crew began stripping the name from the building’s facade in the early hours of June 13, 2026 after appellate judges denied a stay request from the Justice Department.
The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees voted in December 2025 to rename the venue after Trump, citing his role in securing federal funding for the center’s transformation.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, filed the lawsuit that led to the judge’s order, challenging both the rebranding and a proposed two‑year closure for renovations.
RE-OPENING OF FREDDY FENDER MUSEUM IN SAN BENITO TODAY
Freddy Fender Museum Grand Re-OpeningJune 13, 2026
4 PM to 10 PM
Freddy Fender Museum
210 E. Heywood Street, San Benito, TX 78586
Events include the Freddy Fender tribute concert featuring @lostexmaniacs with special guest Rick Treviño, a $1,000 Freddy Fender look-alike contest, the Freddy Fender Memorial Ride and Bike Show, a songwriter showcase, museum exhibit pieces from Freddy’s life and career, and more.
Friday, June 12, 2026
SOMETIMES RIGHT AND WRONG IS A BLURRY CALICHE LINE
By Juan Montoya
A long time ago, when I was an administrative assistant with Cameron County Precinct 1, I remember dealing with the issue of undedicated roads.Periodically, someone – usually someone driving by a road – would complain that the county crews were putting caliche on undedicated roads. Sometimes it was for politics.
Other times, it was because the people needed a way out after rain storms gutted the existing road in their colonias. Usually, it never got to the level of state prosecution and the workers were disciplined and told not to do it again.
As the supervisor in the precinct, I was in the middle of demands by the resident that we at least send a grader to smooth out the dirt roads and the prohibition in the law that you didn't send crews, machinery, or materials to an undedicated road. Some wanted caliche, too, but they knew they couldn't demand it.
For the most part, I followed the law. But I must confess that sometimes I followed my moral compass and did what I though was right, and not necessarily legal. Let me explain.
Back before Sunny Skies, a colonia at the corner of Dockberry and Indiana roads in precinct 1 was legalized after a long and costly process by the county and the State of Texas, we could not enter the colonia. The residents shared one single spigot of water provided by the El Jardin Water District at the entrance to the colonia. The residents carried the water in buckets and barrels for their domestic use.
The Brownsville Independent School District administrators came to the county commissioners court asking that the county provide some caliche and machinery to spread it on the only dirt road that led into the colonia. The law, legal counsel said, prohibited us from doing that until the colonia was legalized and the road dedicated to the county road system. That meant that it would be years before we could service the residents even though they paid county taxes.
The BISD administrators said they wanted the caliche on the road in order for their buses to be able to pick up one Special Needs child who used a wheelchair and lived in a house at the very end of the cul-de-sac in the colonia and could not walk to the entrance of the colonia to be picked up by his bus.
As the supervisor in the precinct, I was in the middle of demands by the resident that we at least send a grader to smooth out the dirt roads and the prohibition in the law that you didn't send crews, machinery, or materials to an undedicated road. Some wanted caliche, too, but they knew they couldn't demand it.
For the most part, I followed the law. But I must confess that sometimes I followed my moral compass and did what I though was right, and not necessarily legal. Let me explain.
Back before Sunny Skies, a colonia at the corner of Dockberry and Indiana roads in precinct 1 was legalized after a long and costly process by the county and the State of Texas, we could not enter the colonia. The residents shared one single spigot of water provided by the El Jardin Water District at the entrance to the colonia. The residents carried the water in buckets and barrels for their domestic use.
The Brownsville Independent School District administrators came to the county commissioners court asking that the county provide some caliche and machinery to spread it on the only dirt road that led into the colonia. The law, legal counsel said, prohibited us from doing that until the colonia was legalized and the road dedicated to the county road system. That meant that it would be years before we could service the residents even though they paid county taxes.
The BISD administrators said they wanted the caliche on the road in order for their buses to be able to pick up one Special Needs child who used a wheelchair and lived in a house at the very end of the cul-de-sac in the colonia and could not walk to the entrance of the colonia to be picked up by his bus.
If their buses could not enter, the parents would have to negotiate though the mud and water puddles to bring him up to the entrance of the colonia at the edge of Indiana Road. Our hands were tied, we told them.
One day my road foreman( Joe Cuellar, el borrado) and I were driving along Dockberry and we happened to see the boy's parents pushing his wheelchair through the mud to bring him to the road to be picked up by the bus. Both were elderly and they labored through the grassy edge of the drive to push him along. They were exhausted and their clothes and shoes were muddy and the child's wheelchair and clothing were splattered with muck. Right then and there we conspired to break the law.
It just so happened that the Villa Pancho Subdivision was about a mile south on Indiana and it had been scheduled for a caliche overlay. Villa Pancho was a long drive, about half a mile long. It took about 30 to 35 truckloads of caliche to cover it. I told our secretary (Rosie) to order an additional five truckloads for the job.
One day my road foreman( Joe Cuellar, el borrado) and I were driving along Dockberry and we happened to see the boy's parents pushing his wheelchair through the mud to bring him to the road to be picked up by the bus. Both were elderly and they labored through the grassy edge of the drive to push him along. They were exhausted and their clothes and shoes were muddy and the child's wheelchair and clothing were splattered with muck. Right then and there we conspired to break the law.
It just so happened that the Villa Pancho Subdivision was about a mile south on Indiana and it had been scheduled for a caliche overlay. Villa Pancho was a long drive, about half a mile long. It took about 30 to 35 truckloads of caliche to cover it. I told our secretary (Rosie) to order an additional five truckloads for the job.
During the course of the day when the trucks were arriving to deliver the caliche to Villa Pancho, as they passed by Sunny Skies, I told Cuellar to direct five of them to empty their loads of caliche in the Sunny Skies drive and to make sure that they got to the very end where the handicapped child lived.
If they were asked, the residents were to tell people that they had piggybacked on the county caliche contract and purchased the five caliche loads with their own money.
If they were asked, the residents were to tell people that they had piggybacked on the county caliche contract and purchased the five caliche loads with their own money.
They were to spread the caliche themselves because we could not have county machinery there. They happily agreed. The caliche lasted for five or six months until we had to redo Villa Pancho.
Years later, the Valley Morning Star had a story by reporter Raul Garcia Jr. where he quoted a 71-year-old resident of Freddie Gomez Road saying she was dearly appreciative that former Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda (and now county administrator) ordered the road crews of Precinct 4 to spread road millings on the undedicated road.
Garcia wrote:
Madelyn Fairbanks, who has lived on Freddie Gomez Road for many years, knows what the road used to be like. Fairbanks said she could stand in the potholes ankles deep. The water collected, and the mosquitoes bred in the potholes.
Last March, that all changed. More than 500 feet of the road was paved with mill to harden the dirt road, leaving a smooth surface for Fairbanks and her neighbors on which to drive."
Eventually, it led to his indictment and deferred adjudication. Today, he again is county administrator in charge of, among other things, the county's road system. And after years of laboring to straighten out the mess, the Sunny Skies colonia in Pct. 1 was accepted by the county and the road was dedicated and crews could enter the right-of-way to improve it. Eventually it was paved under commissioner Sofia Benavides.
Years later, the Valley Morning Star had a story by reporter Raul Garcia Jr. where he quoted a 71-year-old resident of Freddie Gomez Road saying she was dearly appreciative that former Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda (and now county administrator) ordered the road crews of Precinct 4 to spread road millings on the undedicated road.
Garcia wrote:
Madelyn Fairbanks, who has lived on Freddie Gomez Road for many years, knows what the road used to be like. Fairbanks said she could stand in the potholes ankles deep. The water collected, and the mosquitoes bred in the potholes.
Last March, that all changed. More than 500 feet of the road was paved with mill to harden the dirt road, leaving a smooth surface for Fairbanks and her neighbors on which to drive."
Eventually, it led to his indictment and deferred adjudication. Today, he again is county administrator in charge of, among other things, the county's road system. And after years of laboring to straighten out the mess, the Sunny Skies colonia in Pct. 1 was accepted by the county and the road was dedicated and crews could enter the right-of-way to improve it. Eventually it was paved under commissioner Sofia Benavides.
Was Sepulveda wrong to help these elderly county taxpayers on Freddie Gomez Road?
What he did – and I, as well – clearly wasn't legal. I could have been easily indicted just as he was for what I did to help the parents and their handicapped child get to the school bus.
It wasn't legal. But up to today, I still feel that it was the right thing to do.
What he did – and I, as well – clearly wasn't legal. I could have been easily indicted just as he was for what I did to help the parents and their handicapped child get to the school bus.
It wasn't legal. But up to today, I still feel that it was the right thing to do.
ADVISORS TO KING TRUMP: THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING. "YES, THEY ARE," HE SAID
Feminist News
Yes, he really said that.
For millions of Americans, the inflation numbers mean groceries are more expensive. Rent is harder to make. Credit card debt is harder to escape. Paychecks stretch less. Families who were already making impossible choices now have to make even more of them.
But Trump?
He LOVES the inflation.
That’s not a gaffe. And it’s not a joke.
None of this is funny.
He LOVES the inflation.
That’s not a gaffe. And it’s not a joke.
None of this is funny.
It’s the sound of a billionaire president telling working people exactly how little their hardships matter to him.
Because while Americans are getting crushed by higher prices, Trump is busy staging spectacles for himself. Golf trips. Basketball games. UFC fights on the White House lawn. Ballroom plans. Reflecting pool upgrades. Military parades. Gold-plated monuments. His name slapped on anything he can get his hands on.
And it’s not just the vanity projects.
Trump’s chaos has consequences.
Trump’s chaos has consequences.
After he said he planned to hit Iran again “very hard,” oil prices spiked to their highest levels of the day. U.S. crude jumped 3.5% to more than $91 a barrel. Stocks fell to their lowest levels of the day, with the S&P 500 down 1% and the Nasdaq down 1.4%.
That is what instability costs.
That is what instability costs.
In a 1992 debate, Bill Clinton famously told Americans, “I feel your pain.”
Trump’s message is closer to: I caused your pain; I’m profiting from your pain; and I don’t care.
Affordability is not a Democratic hoax. It’s not a media invention. And it’s not a talking point.
It’s the grocery receipt, the rent bill, and the prescription refill. It’s utilities and child care payments.
It’s the grocery receipt, the rent bill, and the prescription refill. It’s utilities and child care payments.
Trump knows Americans are hurting.
But for people like him, chaos is profitable.
For everyone else, it’s survival.
For everyone else, it’s survival.
SALES TAX NUMBERS DON'T LIE: BROWNVILLE STILL LAGGING BEHIND MCALLEN
By Rudy Mireles
Valley Central
HARLINGEN, Texas — The Texas Comptroller’s Office on Wednesday released sales tax allocation numbers for the month of May.
The numbers show a snapshot of where consumer spending was the strongest across the Rio Grande Valley last month.
The allocations are based on sales taxes collected by businesses and may help indicate present and future economic trends.
May leadersAccording to the data, McAllen led sales in the Valley, getting more than $8.5 million back from the state for May. That represents a 12.93% increase compared to May of last year.
Rounding out the top five cities for May are Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, and Pharr. However, three of the top five earners also appeared on the list of cities that earned less than the same time last year. McAllen and Pharr are the only two cities that saw growth in the same time period.
HARLINGEN, Texas — The Texas Comptroller’s Office on Wednesday released sales tax allocation numbers for the month of May.
The numbers show a snapshot of where consumer spending was the strongest across the Rio Grande Valley last month.
The allocations are based on sales taxes collected by businesses and may help indicate present and future economic trends.
Rounding out the top five cities for May are Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, and Pharr. However, three of the top five earners also appeared on the list of cities that earned less than the same time last year. McAllen and Pharr are the only two cities that saw growth in the same time period.
To read the whole story, click on link:
Thursday, June 11, 2026
THE WRITING IS ON THE BLACKBOARD FOR TEXAS CHILDREN: DUMP ABBOTT
Team Gina
Texas public schools are in trouble. Big time. And Greg Abbott is making it worse.
This year, Texas public schools saw 76,000 fewer students enrolled for the first time in nearly four decades — a large portion of these kids being Hispanic.
And now, with this voucher scheme that drains public dollars out of neighborhood schools towards students who are already in private school, it’s very clear who this scheme is meant to serve. And it’s definitely not working families.
Abbott has made it clear that protecting his own power matters more to him than protecting Texans.
Year after year, Abbott has doubled down on policies that benefit his biggest donors and political allies while everyday Texans pay the price.
He’s slashed funding for public schools, pushed culture wars instead of real solutions, and funneled taxpayer dollars to corporations and his own campaign donors. Meanwhile, hard-working Texans are struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, and child care, and classrooms are overcrowded and under-resourced.
The consequences of Abbott’s poor leadership are already here.
Abbott has made it clear that protecting his own power matters more to him than protecting Texans.
Year after year, Abbott has doubled down on policies that benefit his biggest donors and political allies while everyday Texans pay the price.
He’s slashed funding for public schools, pushed culture wars instead of real solutions, and funneled taxpayer dollars to corporations and his own campaign donors. Meanwhile, hard-working Texans are struggling to afford groceries, healthcare, and child care, and classrooms are overcrowded and under-resourced.
The consequences of Abbott’s poor leadership are already here.
*Texas ranks near the bottom nationally in healthcare access and education.
*Millions of children have lost Medicaid coverage.
*Public schools are closing or losing millions in funding.
When leaders choose power over people, it’s our kids who suffer — not just today, but for generations to come. Abbott is subsidizing the wealthy, and we have a chance to change that this November.
*Millions of children have lost Medicaid coverage.
*Public schools are closing or losing millions in funding.
When leaders choose power over people, it’s our kids who suffer — not just today, but for generations to come. Abbott is subsidizing the wealthy, and we have a chance to change that this November.
I’m running for governor because Texas kids deserve a leader who will fight to fund public schools, pay educators what they’re worth, and stop selling out our communities to billionaires.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
TRACES OF AZTEC CULTURE PRESERVED IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN
43°03'59.09"N 88°51'40.67"W
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) reveals the remarkable layout of Aztalan, one of the northernmost expressions of Mississippian culture in North America. Situated along the Crawfish River in southeastern Wisconsin, the site preserves a fortified ceremonial center occupied between approximately AD 1000 and 1300.
The site predates the "discovery" of America by Cristopher Columbus in 1492.
Even today, the outlines of its massive earthen platform mounds, defensive walls, and carefully planned plaza remain clearly visible in the terrain.
The site covered roughly 20 acres and was enclosed by a stockade nearly half a mile in length. The original wooden palisade was reinforced by dozens of regularly spaced bastions, allowing defenders to observe and protect the settlement from multiple directions. Archaeological evidence indicates the walls were rebuilt several times during the site's occupation, suggesting the fortifications played an important role in community life.
Three major platform mounds dominate the site. The largest, located near the river, rises approximately 16 to 22 feet above the surrounding terrain and supported important ceremonial or administrative structures. Two additional platform mounds stand at opposite ends of the central plaza, connected by a carefully organized settlement layout that reflects influences from larger Mississippian centers farther south, particularly Cahokia in present-day Illinois.
Excavations have uncovered evidence of long-distance trade, agriculture, ceremonial activity, and large communal gatherings.
Artifacts from the site include shell ornaments from the Gulf Coast (The Crawfish River is a tributary to the Rock River in the Mississippi River watershed, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico), copper objects, pottery, and stone tools, demonstrating connections to an extensive trade network that stretched across much of eastern North America and south to Mexico. The inhabitants cultivated maize, beans, and squash while maintaining cultural traditions distinct to the Upper Midwest.
Today, Aztalan State Park preserves one of the most important archaeological sites in Wisconsin. LiDAR highlights not only the surviving mounds but also the broader defensive and ceremonial landscape, allowing visitors to appreciate the scale and sophistication of a community that flourished along the Crawfish River more than 700 years ago.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
WHY IS BROWNSVILLE CLINGING TO ITS SLAVER "HERITAGE"?
WILLIAM NEALE, BROWNSVILLE'S FIRST MAYOR, HUNTED RUNAWAY SLAVES INTO MEXICO FOR MONEY. CHARLES STILLMAN– THE CITY'S "FOUNDER" – OWNED ONE. WHY ARE WE SPENDING $100,000S IN PUBLIC MONEY - $495,000 FOR THE NEALE SHACK ALONE - TO REBUILD SLAVERS' HOUSES?
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