Tuesday, September 22, 2026
SLAVERS REUNITED: NEALE HOUSE, STILLMAN LOVE SHACK ON LINEAR PARK
At a cost of more than $400,000 for the preparation and relocation of the dilapidated remains of the house, the city commission has joined these two U.S. Confederate States of America adherents and established a de facto Plantation Row smack in the heart of the city.
Mind you, the $400,000-plus bill doesn't include the "restoration" of the structure. Before they're done, it might climb up to $1 million taxpayer dollars to honor a man who profited from depriving human beings of their freedom and returning them to bondage. The same thing was accomplished for Stillman who deprived the rightful owners of their land. When they are done with the house, the pieces of the structure will become a mansion, as did the Stillman ranch house which arrived here reeking like an abandoned whorehouse.
Descendants of these men, Sandy Stillman and John Cowen - the latter currently Brownsville's mayor- played a personal role in the embellishment of their ancestors' shrines, with the convenient assistance of the public treasury. The city commission was only too pliant in leaning on the local taxpayers to glorify our slaver past.
Some historic ironies were not lost today. The two pro-confederate structures lie in the shadow of the Union federal courthouse, which defeated the confederacy. And Polk Street intersects with 7th Street where the buildings are located. The street is named after James Polk, the expansionist president who manufactured a war that resulted in the U.S. expanding from the Nueces to the Rio Grande, making it possible for rapacious men like Stillman and Neale to ply their wares and despoil the land and people.)
WHEN THE RAINS COME, BROWNSVILLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HOLD ITS BREATH
By Dr. Laura E. CisnerosWhen heavy rain begins falling in Brownsville, many families do not simply listen to it from the comfort of their homes. They begin watching the street. They look toward the drainage ditch, move their cars to higher ground and wonder whether the water will reach their door.
For some residents, the sound of rain brings anxiety instead of peace.
Flooding is not an abstract issue when your home, vehicle or small business is at risk. It means missed work, damaged belongings, costly repairs and fear that the next storm will bring the same hardship again.
St. Charles and Sam Perl (Downtown)
Brownsville is home.
I was born here, spent part of my childhood in the Rio Grande Valley and returned because this community has always remained close to my heart. I have watched our city grow and change. Growth can bring opportunity, but it also requires responsible planning—especially when it comes to drainage, roads and flood control.
Our families should not have to accept repeated flooding as simply part of living in Brownsville.
Important drainage and infrastructure work has been done. But when the same streets and neighborhoods continue to flood, residents understandably wonder whether we are solving the underlying problem or merely responding after the damage occurs.
To begin gathering those facts, I have submitted a Public Information Request to the Texas Department of Transportation seeking information about state funding, projects and plans related to flooding, drainage and road infrastructure affecting our area. We need to understand what has already been funded, what work has been completed and what remains to be done.
“With all the technology, engineering knowledge and progress available today, Brownsville’s persistent flooding problem cannot simply be accepted as inevitable. Solving it may take years, but residents deserve to see a serious plan, measurable progress and evidence that something meaningful is being accomplished.”
Addressing flooding will require cooperation among local officials, drainage districts, engineers, developers and state agencies. Brownsville needs a clear, long-term flood-mitigation plan with measurable priorities, transparency and public accountability.
In Austin, I would fight to ensure that Brownsville receives its fair share of state infrastructure and flood-mitigation funding.
We cannot control how much rain falls, but we can control how seriously we prepare for it.
Our families should not have to accept repeated flooding as simply part of living in Brownsville.
Important drainage and infrastructure work has been done. But when the same streets and neighborhoods continue to flood, residents understandably wonder whether we are solving the underlying problem or merely responding after the damage occurs.
Price Road along Alice Road and 77-83 Frontage
We need to examine whether our drainage systems have enough capacity, whether they are properly maintained, whether new development is increasing runoff into older neighborhoods and whether local and state projects are being coordinated effectively.To begin gathering those facts, I have submitted a Public Information Request to the Texas Department of Transportation seeking information about state funding, projects and plans related to flooding, drainage and road infrastructure affecting our area. We need to understand what has already been funded, what work has been completed and what remains to be done.
“With all the technology, engineering knowledge and progress available today, Brownsville’s persistent flooding problem cannot simply be accepted as inevitable. Solving it may take years, but residents deserve to see a serious plan, measurable progress and evidence that something meaningful is being accomplished.”
Addressing flooding will require cooperation among local officials, drainage districts, engineers, developers and state agencies. Brownsville needs a clear, long-term flood-mitigation plan with measurable priorities, transparency and public accountability.
Resaca overflows next to Brandywine Apts. on Paredes Line Road
We cannot control how much rain falls, but we can control how seriously we prepare for it.
Sincerely,
Dr. Laura
SILK ROAD FOUNDER THANKS TRUMP FOR PARDON AT GOP CONVENTION
By Jeff AurandI have no idea how this isn’t all over Facebook or the news. At the midterm Republican Convention, one of their keynote speakers was Ross Ulbricht.
Who is he? Ross Ulbricht created and ran The Silk Road, a dark web website that facilitated the sales of narcotics, illegal firearms, human beings, and any other illegal merchandise you can imagine.
In 2015, he was sentenced to TWO life sentences PLUS 40 years for multiple charges, including attempted murder for hire, conspiracy to commit narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking. He is suspected to be responsible for trafficking the most amount fentanyl in the history of our country.
During his trial, prosecutors said Ulbricht's website sold more than $200m worth of drugs alone between 2011 and 2013 when he was arrested.
Trump pardoned him in January.
This is the person they picked to represent their party. A narcotics trafficker. A HUMAN trafficker. A weapons and explosives trafficker.
A PERSON WHO PAID FOR MURDER. This guy was undoubtedly responsible for thousands, if not tens of thousands, of deaths all over the world.
Someone who was supposed to spend TWO LIFETIMES in prison, then stay an extra 40 years. How can they claim to the party of family values?
How can they claim to be the party who respects the law? What is even HAPPENING????
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ross-ulbricht-aka-dread-pirate-roberts-sentenced-life-federal-prison-creating
https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1386096/dl?inline
Monday, September 21, 2026
COMMISH GUS DE LEON SHUFFLES STORY, SAYS LAWSUIT MAY STILL BE ON...
Special to El Run-Rrun
In July, Gustavo De Leon was the one speaking for the family and "negotiating" for a $1.2 million settlement with his colleagues on the city commission, the city manager and city attorney, the latter two his subordinates which he could vote to hire or fire.
Now his story has changed.
In a recent Facebook reply, Gustavo says his immediate family has “stepped out of the law suit” and that the City will have to deal with the other two owners of the Vera-De Leon Trust.
Does that mean, by his own admission, that the dispute is still alive?
He may no longer be the person out front, but by his own words, the City is still dealing with the remaining owners over the same property.
So the real question is simple:
If Gustavo says he and his family have nothing to do with the lawsuit anymore, did they also give up any financial interest they may still have in the property?
Because stepping away from the fight is not the same thing as walking away from the money. Will he still expect his cut?
MAJOR MEDIA NETWORKS CIRCLE THE WAGONS, SUSPEND W.H. COVERAGE
A CNN reporter held her empty credential holder after the White House confiscated her badge on Saturday. Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
NY Times
Live Updates: Networks Suspend Pool Coverage of Trump After CNN Is BarredCNN, MS NOW and Politico said they would sue to regain access to the White House. They argued in a joint statement that President Trump’s decision to block them violates the First Amendment.
Major television networks agreed to suspend their pooled coverage of the president on Monday as CNN, MS NOW and Politico said that they would soon file a legal challenge against President Trump’s order barring them from the White House grounds.
The three outlets argue that Mr. Trump’s ban, which he declared over what he sees as negative news media coverage, violates the First Amendment. Reporters from each organization were denied access to the White House on Saturday and CNN was removed from its durties as the White House pool representative for television networks on Monday.
The five networks that have suspended their pool coverage of President Trump — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC — just issued a joint statement: “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”
TRUMPS TARIFFS, DIESEL COSTS, WAR ON IRAN ARE KILLING FARMERS
By Andrew Stanton
Newsweek
Various Sources
Democrats have their sights set on Texas, as polls suggest Republicans’ grip on the Lone Star State is slipping in the midterms. Democrats are increasingly hopeful about their chances of flipping the state this year in both the Senate and gubernatorial races.
In the Senate race, polls show a toss-up between Democratic state Representative James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, while (various pols polls show aa tight race) between Republican Governor Greg Abbott against Brownsville's Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa in the gubernatorial race.
In the Senate race, polls show a toss-up between Democratic state Representative James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, while (various pols polls show aa tight race) between Republican Governor Greg Abbott against Brownsville's Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa in the gubernatorial race.
Trump was 18 points underwater, with 38 percent approving of his job performance and 56 percent disapproving, according to Civiqs. In 2024, the state backed Trump by nearly 14 points over Harris.
Overall, Trump’s approval rating stood at -26 points in the latest Civiqs poll, with 60 percent disapproving of him and 34 percent approving as of Wednesday.
Here's where Trump’s approval rating stands in the states with the largest agricultural revenue:
California
Trump’s approval rating in California is one of his worst in the nation. The state had $59.01 billion in annual revenue, according to the 2022 Census. His approval stood at 24 percent, while 71 percent disapproved of him.
In 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris defeated Trump by 20 points. This year, a gubernatorial race pits former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, against Republican Steve Hilton, though Becerra is favored.
Some House races are competitive, including the Central Valley seat held by Republican Representative David Valadao, where agricultural issues could be more salient in November.
Iowa
Iowa, once a battleground, has shifted rightward over the past decade. But Democrats believe backlash to Trump’s tariffs and rising diesel prices could improve their chances in the state, where several races could be competitive.
According to Civiqs, Trump’s approval was -20 points in Iowa, even though he carried it by 13 points over Harris in 2024. Only 35 percent of Iowans approved of him, compared to 55 percent who disapproved.
In the Senate race, Democratic state legislator Josh Turek and Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson are facing off in an increasingly competitive race, while Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand has built out a slim polling lead over Republican businessman Zach Lahn in the governor’s race. There are also three competitive House races in Iowa.
Nebraska
In Nebraska, Trump’s approval rating was 5 points in the negative, with 43 percent approving and 48 percent disapproving, according to Civiqs. Nebraska voted for Trump by nearly 20 points in 2024.
The Senate race is viewed as being potentially competitive. Republican Senator Pete Ricketts faces a challenge from independent Dan Osborn, and some polls suggest a competitive race.
Minnesota
Trump’s approval was -35 points in Minnesota, where 28 percent of respondents approved of him, and 63 percent disapproved, according to Civiqs. Harris won Minnesota by about 4 points in 2024.
Republicans hope to make the state competitive this year, but polling and forecasts show Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Peggy Flanagan leading Republicans Lisa Demuth and Michelle Tafoya in the gubernatorial and Senate races, respectively.
Illinois
In the reliably Democratic state of Illinois, only 29 percent of respondents approved of Trump, while 66 percent disapproved. While Chicago powers Democratic victories in the state, the large, rural downstate regions are more conservative and home to many farmers.
Harris won Illinois by about 11 points in 2024, and Democrats are favored in statewide races this year.
Kansas
Trump has a positive approval rating in Kansas, where 47 percent of respondents approved of his administration, and 44 percent disapproved, according to Civiqs.
Democrats are hoping to make the Sunflower State more competitive this year. In the gubernatorial race, Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson are running to succeed Democrat Laura Kelly. In the Senate race, Democrat Adam Hamilton is running against GOP Senator Roger Marshall.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, which gave Trump about a 3-point victory in 2024, Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a net -18 points. Thirty-eight percent of respondents approved of the president, while 56 percent disapproved, according to Civiqs.
The state is home to one of the most watched Senate races, where Democrat Roy Cooper, a former governor, has built a polling lead over Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee, to flip the seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
Indiana
Indiana backed Trump by 19 points in 2024, but Trump’s approval has declined to -6 points. Forty-nine percent of Indiana voters disapproved of Trump, compared to 43 percent who approved, according to Civiqs.
Indiana has no Senate or gubernatorial race this year.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE, NOR ANY DROP TO COOL STARSHIP LAUNCH AT BOCA CHICA
Nasa vs. SpaceX: Water deluge system: Starship Water Deluge — Heat and Energy Absorption
The shuttle needed 300,000 gallons to fight heat and sound...Starship needs 350,000 just to fight the heat!
The water absorbed sound waves before they could reflect off the pad and damage the rocket or payload above.
Starship's problem was entirely different. SpaceX's deluge system uses water to absorb energy from the rocket as it lifts off, with most of the water expected to be vaporized by the heat of the rocket engines.
Starship's problem was entirely different. SpaceX's deluge system uses water to absorb energy from the rocket as it lifts off, with most of the water expected to be vaporized by the heat of the rocket engines.
With 33 Raptor engines firing simultaneously, the issue wasn't noise — it was raw thermal energy obliterating the pad itself.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
AND THE POLL NUMBERS KEEP GINA MARCHING ALONG...
In his four campaigns for governor, Greg Abbott has never once been shown trailing in a statewide Texas poll. That changed yesterday.
A brand-new poll just showed us ahead of Abbott by four points, while he's asking Texans for a fourth term. Not within range. Not closing the gap. Ahead. For the first time.
Here’s what’s happening: Texans are getting a clear look at what twelve years of Greg Abbott has actually cost them. Rising grocery bills. Rising property taxes. Data centers flooding the state while the people footing the bill get nothing back. And when they look at me, they’re seeing someone who’s spent her career fighting for Texas families — not just for the people at the top.
None of this happens without you. We are competitive in this race because of the 170,000 people who've chipped in to build this campaign. Our people-powered movement is working. We are clearly breaking through.
But Abbott has a firehose of money aimed at us — $67 million in the bank, and he's already outspent us 10-to-1. He's never had to run from behind before. With this poll out there, he's going to open that firehose all the way to drown out our campaign before Texans vote.
We can't match him dollar for dollar. But we can outnumber him — that's how we got here. You haven't joined the 170,000 donors who've built this campaign yet. We need you to become one today by joining this movement with your first gift right now.
Can you chip in $5 right now to help us keep building a campaign that can defeat Greg Abbott and take Texas back?
REALLY, STEVE? WHY EVEN HAVE AN ELECTION? NI TU TE LA CREES, ESE
We’re now just one month away from the start of Early Voting. Polymarket currently has our campaign at 91 percent in the Cameron County judge race, but nothing is won until you go out and VOTE!
To be clear, this is not a poll. Polymarket is a prediction market, where participants put real financial conviction behind how they believe the election will turn out.
PORT OF BROWNSVILLE'S SARONIC TECHNOLOGIES LANDS NAVY CONTRACT
The Rio Grande Guardian
Staff
Saronic Technologies has been selected by the U.S. Navy to construct next-generation Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700-class vessels.
The production will take place at Port Alpha, Saronic’s new next-generation shipyard currently being developed at the Port of Brownsville.
The award is part of a broader, competitive multi-shipyard initiative announced by the U.S. Department of the Navy. Under the agreement—executed as a firm fixed-price Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement—Saronic joins Conrad Shipyard, LLC of Orange, Texas, and Master Boat Builders, Inc. of Coden, Alabama, in building prototypes for the Navy’s littoral transport fleet.
The total initial construction obligation across the three shipyards is $280,521,389.
For Saronic, the contract marks a significant milestone as the build will serve as one of the flagship production programs at Port Alpha. Production of the LCU vessels in Brownsville is slated to begin in 2028, with initial deliveries expected to start in 2029.
“This award reflects the kind of partnership we set out to build with the Navy, where speed, cost discipline, and a modern industrial base reinforce each other,” said Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic.
Mavrookas emphasized that the new facility at the Port of Brownsville is designed to bridge the gap between traditional defense needs and futuristic autonomous capabilities.
The production will take place at Port Alpha, Saronic’s new next-generation shipyard currently being developed at the Port of Brownsville.
The award is part of a broader, competitive multi-shipyard initiative announced by the U.S. Department of the Navy. Under the agreement—executed as a firm fixed-price Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement—Saronic joins Conrad Shipyard, LLC of Orange, Texas, and Master Boat Builders, Inc. of Coden, Alabama, in building prototypes for the Navy’s littoral transport fleet.
The total initial construction obligation across the three shipyards is $280,521,389.
For Saronic, the contract marks a significant milestone as the build will serve as one of the flagship production programs at Port Alpha. Production of the LCU vessels in Brownsville is slated to begin in 2028, with initial deliveries expected to start in 2029.
“This award reflects the kind of partnership we set out to build with the Navy, where speed, cost discipline, and a modern industrial base reinforce each other,” said Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic.
Mavrookas emphasized that the new facility at the Port of Brownsville is designed to bridge the gap between traditional defense needs and futuristic autonomous capabilities.
ICE AGENT CHRISTIAN CASTRO ARRESTED IN MINNEAPOLIS
Minneapolis
Christian Castro has finally been taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and booked into the Hennepin County Jail after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tried to shield him from prosecution.
Castro made his first appearance in court Thursday after he was booked in the Hennepin County Jail the day prior.
He faces four counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime. Prosecutors say he shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis through the front door of a Minneapolis home, sending a bullet through multiple walls while four adults and two children were inside.
Castro claimed he had been attacked and fired as the men ran toward the home, but investigators say surveillance video, witness statements, physical evidence and his medical records contradicted his story.
Friday, September 18, 2026
WILL CITY COMMISH GUS DE LEON ONCE AGAIN THREATEN TO SUE CITY FOR $1 MILLION OVER "DUMPING" ON HIS ROAD?
Special to La Garra
CITY COMMISH GUS DE LEON ON DENNET ROAD(L), AND ON HIS PRIVATE ROAD (R)
CITY CREWS "DUMP" ASPHALT MILLINGS ON HIS PRIVATE ROAD(L,C), MAKE "ROAD IMPROVEMENTS" ON DENNET ROAD (R)
TRUE TO HIS MASON-DIXON ORIGINS, MITCH RETURNS TO SENATE IN A JAR
Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to Capitol Hill on Monday for the first time after a three-month absence due to health issues. And although his fellow senators tried to shake his hand, they found themselves stymied by the Mason jar enclosure and the disconcerting stench of formaldehyde.
McConnell arrived at the Capitol for the evening vote series in a wheelchair, his appearance noticeably thinner and his speech slower than before his prolonged absence. The 84-year-old was hospitalized on June 14, but did not initially disclose the reason for the hospitalization, leading to weeks of speculation over his health status. He was last seen in a hospital corridor conversing with Elvis Presley.
The Kentucky Republican briefly spoke to reporters upon his return Monday, saying it’s “time to get back to work,” but he did not answer questions, including whether he should have been more transparent about his health during his absence. From outside the jar, his lips could be seen moving, but the senators could not make out what he was saying. Thick bubbles of air floated through the fluid and then sputtered above his head at the top.
“I must admit, after two years — two decades, actually — dodging your questions, I wasn’t sure how many of you would be here today, but I’m glad to see you,” he said.
“Time to get back to work, finish the job for this Congress,” he said, pointing to passing the annual farm bill and aiding Ukraine in its war against Germany and Russia and said he would work to end the war in Vietnam.
Thursday, September 17, 2026
600 DAYS AFTER BIDEN LEFT, TRUMPS STILL BLAMING HIM FOR WOES
Trump keeps blaming Biden. The numbers disagree:
Gas: $3.12 when Biden left. $4.33 today
Diesel: $3.63 then. Nearly $6.00 now
Inflation: Rose from 2.9 percent to 3.4 percent
Wage growth: Dropped. Real wages went negative
GDP: Slows to 1.5 percent in Q2 2026
America was not at war when Biden left It is now
FACTS DON'T LIE.
When Scott Bessent was being grilled by the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Ritchie Torres asked him what the statute of limitations was on the Joe Biden Blame Game. I thought that was brilliant!
SEARCH FOR ALLIGATOR KILLERS FOCUSED AROUND LOS FRESNOS
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Texas Game Wardens are investigating the killing of an alligator in Cameron County and offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest regarding the dead alligator found recently in the Los Fresnos area of Cameron County.
In pictures posted by game wardens, the gator's mouth was taped, and had cuts on his body and a hole in the head.
Call: 1-800-792-4263 (1-800-792-GAME)
Text: Text the keyword TXOGT followed by your tip to 847411
Online: Visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department tip portal.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
25 YEARS AGO, TWO FIREFIGHTERS RISKED IT ALL TO HELP CAUSEWAY VICTIMS
By Juan Montoya
El Rrun-Rrun Files
After the collapse of the Queen Isabella causeway, when plaudits rained down upon the firefighters and EMS personnel who rescued victims and pulled out the bodies from the drink below, then-acting Brownsville Fire Department Chief Lenny Perez proudly received the public recognition from then-U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz for his firefighters and those from other entities for the gallant rescue of the victims.
Perez accepted the congressional resolution for the firefighters and EMS personnel but failed to mention to the assembled crowd at city hall that the firefighters who were actually there hadn't been notified of the impending ceremony and that he had decided he would accept it in public on their behalf. One of them was put on duty to keep him from publicly accepting the recognition.
Partly as a result of the media coverage, Perez was elevated from interim chief and selected from among four others to head the BFD by then-city manager Charlie Cabler. Perez – disliked by the rank-and-file – then went on to be fire chief with Pharr Fire Department.
"He justified it by claiming that if they recognized just one or two the rest of the firefighters would be resentful so he decided to receive the recognition himself," said retired BFD firefighter David Lopez, "He claimed that he couldn't locate us, when in fact he had assigned us to ambulance duty at the time."
On that September 15 25 years ago, the firefighters and paramedics arrived to find that a 240-foot section of the causeway had been knocked down by a runaway barge and that several cars were already sunk in the waters below some 80 to 90 feet into the dark waters of the Laguna Madre.
When the BFD firefighters arrived, there were Port Isabel and Los Fresnos units at the scene. The two EMS personnel from Los Fresnos, a former Marine and a former Navy veteran, were peering into the dark.
"You could see that some of the headlights were still on in the cars underwater," said one. "We could tell that there was nothing we could do for the people in those cars because the cars were piled on top of each other."
Although some of the drivers and passengers in the cars were able to be saved, some by swimming away on their own, firefighters were unable to see whether the driver of a two-door gray sedan that was teetering on a concrete abutment below was still alive.
"We couldn't tell," said one. "He looked like he was dead."
The firefighters were only able to tie several ropes to the car, an unacceptable method to stabilize the car in case of a rescue attempt.
"When we were talking about the man being probably dead, he made a movement to let us know he was still al
ive," recalls Lopez. "At that point, neither the ex-Marine nor the Navy veteran volunteered to take the risk of going after the man on the unstable car."
A Brownsville firefighter recalls that one of his company was just getting on the scene when they noticed that J.P. Montoya, then working part-time as a Port Isabel EMS paramedic looked in the car and started making his way to the trapped motorist.
"He didn't think twice about it," the firefighter recalled. "The car wasn't stable with just those ropes but he went in after him anyway."
After the collapse of the Queen Isabella causeway, when plaudits rained down upon the firefighters and EMS personnel who rescued victims and pulled out the bodies from the drink below, then-acting Brownsville Fire Department Chief Lenny Perez proudly received the public recognition from then-U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz for his firefighters and those from other entities for the gallant rescue of the victims.
Perez accepted the congressional resolution for the firefighters and EMS personnel but failed to mention to the assembled crowd at city hall that the firefighters who were actually there hadn't been notified of the impending ceremony and that he had decided he would accept it in public on their behalf. One of them was put on duty to keep him from publicly accepting the recognition.
Partly as a result of the media coverage, Perez was elevated from interim chief and selected from among four others to head the BFD by then-city manager Charlie Cabler. Perez – disliked by the rank-and-file – then went on to be fire chief with Pharr Fire Department."He justified it by claiming that if they recognized just one or two the rest of the firefighters would be resentful so he decided to receive the recognition himself," said retired BFD firefighter David Lopez, "He claimed that he couldn't locate us, when in fact he had assigned us to ambulance duty at the time."
On that September 15 25 years ago, the firefighters and paramedics arrived to find that a 240-foot section of the causeway had been knocked down by a runaway barge and that several cars were already sunk in the waters below some 80 to 90 feet into the dark waters of the Laguna Madre.
When the BFD firefighters arrived, there were Port Isabel and Los Fresnos units at the scene. The two EMS personnel from Los Fresnos, a former Marine and a former Navy veteran, were peering into the dark.
"You could see that some of the headlights were still on in the cars underwater," said one. "We could tell that there was nothing we could do for the people in those cars because the cars were piled on top of each other."
Although some of the drivers and passengers in the cars were able to be saved, some by swimming away on their own, firefighters were unable to see whether the driver of a two-door gray sedan that was teetering on a concrete abutment below was still alive.
"We couldn't tell," said one. "He looked like he was dead."
The firefighters were only able to tie several ropes to the car, an unacceptable method to stabilize the car in case of a rescue attempt.
"When we were talking about the man being probably dead, he made a movement to let us know he was still al
ive," recalls Lopez. "At that point, neither the ex-Marine nor the Navy veteran volunteered to take the risk of going after the man on the unstable car."A Brownsville firefighter recalls that one of his company was just getting on the scene when they noticed that J.P. Montoya, then working part-time as a Port Isabel EMS paramedic looked in the car and started making his way to the trapped motorist.
"He didn't think twice about it," the firefighter recalled. "The car wasn't stable with just those ropes but he went in after him anyway."
They didn't know it at the time, but then-Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa was in a Coast Guard boat watching them crawl toward the victim trapped in the car.
Montoya reached the sedan and spoke to the man, who was badly injured as a result of the of the impact with the remnants of the bridge above and the plunge to the bottom. The impact had been so great that the motor had become detached from the car and was lying on the side on the concrete separated from the car.
He punched out the windshield and climbed in without a life vest or ropes to reach the injured man.
"He was pleading with me not to leave him there to die," Montoya recalled. "He was a big guy and when I went in the car and tried to pull him out his foot was wedged in the wreckage. Try as I might I couldn't get him loose because his foot was smashed and stuck."
With the man pleading with him not to leave him, Montoya opted to take drastic measures.
"I could see his foot was useless and that he was already bleeding profusely and he was going into shock," he said. "So I pulled and pulled and broke his leg until I could pull him free."
Then, using all his strength to pull the dying man out of the car, the firefighter pulled the large victim out and hauled him across his back and then out to a waiting Coast Guard boat which took him to shore and into an ambulance to get him to the hospital. That was Gaspar H. Hinojosa, they later found out.
"Nobody else wanted to go in there and he did," they all agreed.
Hinojosa died on the way to the hospital, but the man's relatives were grateful that the firefighters had rescued him from the murky waters of the Laguna. A few hours later, the concrete base of the causeway where the car had teetered and Montoya had climbed in to retrieve the victim collapsed into the currents below.
At the time Perez was interim chief after Raul Salazar was suspended on suspicions of wrongdoing. Salazar later went to work as an administrative assistant to Cameron County Precinct 2 Commissioner Ernie Hernandez and got in trouble there, too.
When the time finally came around and entities began issuing proclamations in recognition of the first responders' bravery, Montoya – working for the BFD as a firefighter and with Port Isabel as an EMS paramedic – was unceremoniously handed his congressional resolution by his supervisor in a hallway at the firehouse.
Even though the certificate of congressional recognition singled out Montoya and Lopez for their bravery, they were never told of the award.
"We had just finished with a cardiac case and were getting back to the fire house when my supervisor Robert Perez came into the dormitory and handed me the congressional award," Montoya recalled. "He told me that they had had a big ceremony at City Hall but that the chief had told them that they couldn't find us. All that time the presentations were made we were kept away on duty."
(P.S. Ever since then, when Montoya participates in the annual Queen Isabela Causeway Run, he touches the railing where he stood 25 years ago and mutters a prayer for Hinojosa, whose surviving family members send him a message of thanks every year.)
Montoya reached the sedan and spoke to the man, who was badly injured as a result of the of the impact with the remnants of the bridge above and the plunge to the bottom. The impact had been so great that the motor had become detached from the car and was lying on the side on the concrete separated from the car.
He punched out the windshield and climbed in without a life vest or ropes to reach the injured man.
"He was pleading with me not to leave him there to die," Montoya recalled. "He was a big guy and when I went in the car and tried to pull him out his foot was wedged in the wreckage. Try as I might I couldn't get him loose because his foot was smashed and stuck."
With the man pleading with him not to leave him, Montoya opted to take drastic measures.
"I could see his foot was useless and that he was already bleeding profusely and he was going into shock," he said. "So I pulled and pulled and broke his leg until I could pull him free."
Then, using all his strength to pull the dying man out of the car, the firefighter pulled the large victim out and hauled him across his back and then out to a waiting Coast Guard boat which took him to shore and into an ambulance to get him to the hospital. That was Gaspar H. Hinojosa, they later found out.
"Nobody else wanted to go in there and he did," they all agreed.
Hinojosa died on the way to the hospital, but the man's relatives were grateful that the firefighters had rescued him from the murky waters of the Laguna. A few hours later, the concrete base of the causeway where the car had teetered and Montoya had climbed in to retrieve the victim collapsed into the currents below.
At the time Perez was interim chief after Raul Salazar was suspended on suspicions of wrongdoing. Salazar later went to work as an administrative assistant to Cameron County Precinct 2 Commissioner Ernie Hernandez and got in trouble there, too.
When the time finally came around and entities began issuing proclamations in recognition of the first responders' bravery, Montoya – working for the BFD as a firefighter and with Port Isabel as an EMS paramedic – was unceremoniously handed his congressional resolution by his supervisor in a hallway at the firehouse.
Even though the certificate of congressional recognition singled out Montoya and Lopez for their bravery, they were never told of the award.
"We had just finished with a cardiac case and were getting back to the fire house when my supervisor Robert Perez came into the dormitory and handed me the congressional award," Montoya recalled. "He told me that they had had a big ceremony at City Hall but that the chief had told them that they couldn't find us. All that time the presentations were made we were kept away on duty."
WHEN TRUMP CALLS SOMEONE "LOW IQ" IT'S PURE PROJECTION: LA MENTIRA DURA HASTA QUE LA VERDAD LA ALCANZA
Who did he beat? Pete Hegseth and JD Vance?
U.S. ANTI-WAR SENTIMENT OVER IRAN BEGINS: HELL NO, WE WON'T GO!
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
In an incredibly embarrassing moment for Trump, the House just passed a resolution demanding U.S. forces be removed from Iran and the war ended, with seven Republicans crossing the aisle to help make it happen.
The final vote was 220 to 204. Every single Democrat present voted yes. They were joined by seven Republicans willing to break with their own party and their own president over a war that Congress never actually voted to authorize.
It's not legally binding. Trump doesn't have to sign it, and it doesn't automatically bring troops home. But it is, once again, a direct bipartisan rebuke of a war that has already cost American lives and cost families at the pump.
Eighteen U.S. troops have died since fighting broke out in February. Nearly 500 have been injured, with 100 of those injuries coming in just the past two weeks. Meanwhile, gas and diesel prices have hit record highs, with American households paying well over $100 billion more collectively since the war began.
Trump has previously dismissed these war powers votes as "meaningless," accusing Republicans who cross over of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Seven Republicans just told him otherwise, on the record, with their votes, for the third time.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
ON THE EVE OF HER B'VILLE EVENT, GINA RIDING BLUE WAVE
By Edgar Sandoval
New York Times
Photographs by Christopher Lee
Reporting from San Antonio and Beeville, Texas
When Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state lawmaker with a progressive record, decided to run for Texas governor last year, many people — including some Hispanic voters she will need to win — were skeptical.
“Pa’ que?” she was asked over and over. “For what?”
Gov. Greg Abbott, a third-term Republican, seemed unbeatable. He sat on a sizable campaign war chest and could rely on a well-tuned campaign infrastructure that has helped keep him in office for more than a decade. He had already faced a better-known, better-funded Democratic challenger four years ago, Beto O’Rourke, and easily defeated him.
“The conventional wisdom is that no one can beat Greg Abbott,” Ms. Hinojosa said in an interview. She said she had entered the race because she saw no other Democrat willing to do so.
“I decided I needed to try,” she said.
Even in year where Democratic optimism in Texas runs high, Ms. Hinojosa, a state representative, faces a daunting challenge. She has little name recognition outside her safely Democratic district in Austin and has struggled to raise the funds needed to compete with Mr. Abbott. He has outspent her by more than 10-to-1 and still had about 20 times as much money in his campaign account at the end of the most recent filing period, in mid-July. That financial disadvantage has hampered her efforts to introduce herself to Texans across a state where it is notably expensive to campaign.
Republican political consultants in Texas are dismissive of her chances.
“It’s wholly unrealistic that Gina Hinojosa has any credible chance at victory,” said Anthony Holm, a Republican strategist.
But the hope that reliably returns for Texas Democrats every four years has found new life in the governor’s race. The reason is a surprising polling trend: Ms. Hinojosa has repeatedly appeared within striking distance of the governor.
Texas Democrats have been here before. In 2010, a few summer polls suggested a competitive race between Bill White, a Democrat, and Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican. By the fall, Mr. Perry was consistently leading in the polls, and he won by nearly 13 points. In 2022, several polls had Beto O’Rourke just five points behind Mr. Abbott. Democrats believed then, too. But Mr. Abbott’s polling lead grew in the fall, and Mr. O’Rourke lost by nearly 11 points.
“Greg Abbott is facing the most challenging election of his career,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor and pollster at Rice University. “Right now you have voters who are unhappy about Abbott and unhappy with Trump, but don’t know much about Hinojosa other than that she’s the Democratic candidate.”
In the past few months Mr. Abbott has avoided mentioning her name, instead choosing instead to attack James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and warning Republicans about the broader threat posed by Democrats. But in recent weeks, the Abbott campaign has begun regularly attacking Ms. Hinojosa and her record, focusing in particular on her support for the rights of transgender and LGBTQ+ children and youth.
“From prosecuting parents who ‘misgender’ their own child to voting in favor of Texas public schools transitioning kids behind parents’ backs, Hinojosa is a rubber stamp for the Socialist Democrats and their gender insanity.” said Eduardo Leal, a press secretary for the governor’s campaign.
Ms. Hinojosa, who has described herself as a progressive in the past, now favors the term “populist,” she said in the interview. “It is no longer progressive versus moderate,” she said of the 2026 election. “It is about: Are we going to have candidates who are going to work for the people?”
A major question facing Democrats across Texas, including Ms. Hinojosa, is whether Latino voters, particularly men who supported President Trump in 2024, will return to the Democratic Party this November.
At a recent event in San Antonio, organized by the Latino Victory Fund and called “Latinas for Gina Hinojosa,” Orlando Ventura, 21, was among a small group of Hispanic men cheering her on.
“I don’t see a lot of Latinos supporting her, but I want to see more,” Mr. Ventura said.
Ms. Hinojosa has received support from fellow Democrats in an effort to raise her profile and introduce her to Democrats across the state. She ate tacos with former President Barack Obama and Mr. Talarico in Austin in May.
But her lack of name recognition was clear at a Democratic event last month in Beeville, near Corpus Christi, where Ms. Hinojosa appeared alongside Mr. Talarico and Bobby Pulido, a Tejano star running for a South Texas congressional seat.
Bea Martinez, 65, a retired educator, said she knew about Mr. Pulido and Mr. Talarico but was unfamiliar with Ms. Hinojosa.
“I don’t know much about her, but I am fed up with Abbott,” Ms. Martinez said. “I voted for him in the past, but I think it’s time for someone new.”
For Ms. Hinojosa, such voters represent both the challenge and the opportunity of her campaign: Texans who know little about her but may be open to someone other than Mr. Abbott. Like other Democrats nationwide, she is trying to harness voter anger over the cost of living and the growth of data centers, which voters blame for rising electricity prices and water use. She has also looked to differentiate herself as a Texas Democrat.
Ms. Hinojosa has made public schools and concerns over affordability centerpieces of her campaign. She has called Mr. Abbott’s $1 billion program to help parents pay for private school a “scam.”
If elected, she said, she would push for legislation to authorize $1,500 checks for every household, paid for out of the state’s rainy-day fund. (The state’s account holds a record balance of about $27 billion.)
She also opposed the growth of data centers in Texas, an issue that has rocketed up the priority list for voters from both parties. She is skeptical of Mr. Abbott’s recent order to pause the approval of such centers until the state conducts an audit to study how much water and energy the centers require to operate.
“If he wanted to protect people from data centers, he would call a special session today until we can pass laws and have real protections in place for people,” she said, adding that that was something she would do as governor.
Her message resonated with Adelfa Reyna, a retired teacher from San Antonio. “We could see the first-ever Latina governor of Texas,” Ms. Reyna said. “Republicans have had control of the state for 30 years, and Abbott has been governor for 12. It’s time for change.”
Photographs by Christopher Lee
Reporting from San Antonio and Beeville, Texas
When Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state lawmaker with a progressive record, decided to run for Texas governor last year, many people — including some Hispanic voters she will need to win — were skeptical.
“Pa’ que?” she was asked over and over. “For what?”
Gov. Greg Abbott, a third-term Republican, seemed unbeatable. He sat on a sizable campaign war chest and could rely on a well-tuned campaign infrastructure that has helped keep him in office for more than a decade. He had already faced a better-known, better-funded Democratic challenger four years ago, Beto O’Rourke, and easily defeated him.
“The conventional wisdom is that no one can beat Greg Abbott,” Ms. Hinojosa said in an interview. She said she had entered the race because she saw no other Democrat willing to do so.
“I decided I needed to try,” she said.
Even in year where Democratic optimism in Texas runs high, Ms. Hinojosa, a state representative, faces a daunting challenge. She has little name recognition outside her safely Democratic district in Austin and has struggled to raise the funds needed to compete with Mr. Abbott. He has outspent her by more than 10-to-1 and still had about 20 times as much money in his campaign account at the end of the most recent filing period, in mid-July. That financial disadvantage has hampered her efforts to introduce herself to Texans across a state where it is notably expensive to campaign.
Republican political consultants in Texas are dismissive of her chances.
“It’s wholly unrealistic that Gina Hinojosa has any credible chance at victory,” said Anthony Holm, a Republican strategist.
But the hope that reliably returns for Texas Democrats every four years has found new life in the governor’s race. The reason is a surprising polling trend: Ms. Hinojosa has repeatedly appeared within striking distance of the governor.
Texas Democrats have been here before. In 2010, a few summer polls suggested a competitive race between Bill White, a Democrat, and Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican. By the fall, Mr. Perry was consistently leading in the polls, and he won by nearly 13 points. In 2022, several polls had Beto O’Rourke just five points behind Mr. Abbott. Democrats believed then, too. But Mr. Abbott’s polling lead grew in the fall, and Mr. O’Rourke lost by nearly 11 points.
“Greg Abbott is facing the most challenging election of his career,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor and pollster at Rice University. “Right now you have voters who are unhappy about Abbott and unhappy with Trump, but don’t know much about Hinojosa other than that she’s the Democratic candidate.”
In the past few months Mr. Abbott has avoided mentioning her name, instead choosing instead to attack James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and warning Republicans about the broader threat posed by Democrats. But in recent weeks, the Abbott campaign has begun regularly attacking Ms. Hinojosa and her record, focusing in particular on her support for the rights of transgender and LGBTQ+ children and youth.
“From prosecuting parents who ‘misgender’ their own child to voting in favor of Texas public schools transitioning kids behind parents’ backs, Hinojosa is a rubber stamp for the Socialist Democrats and their gender insanity.” said Eduardo Leal, a press secretary for the governor’s campaign.
Ms. Hinojosa, who has described herself as a progressive in the past, now favors the term “populist,” she said in the interview. “It is no longer progressive versus moderate,” she said of the 2026 election. “It is about: Are we going to have candidates who are going to work for the people?”
A major question facing Democrats across Texas, including Ms. Hinojosa, is whether Latino voters, particularly men who supported President Trump in 2024, will return to the Democratic Party this November.
At a recent event in San Antonio, organized by the Latino Victory Fund and called “Latinas for Gina Hinojosa,” Orlando Ventura, 21, was among a small group of Hispanic men cheering her on.
“I don’t see a lot of Latinos supporting her, but I want to see more,” Mr. Ventura said.
Ms. Hinojosa has received support from fellow Democrats in an effort to raise her profile and introduce her to Democrats across the state. She ate tacos with former President Barack Obama and Mr. Talarico in Austin in May.
But her lack of name recognition was clear at a Democratic event last month in Beeville, near Corpus Christi, where Ms. Hinojosa appeared alongside Mr. Talarico and Bobby Pulido, a Tejano star running for a South Texas congressional seat.
Bea Martinez, 65, a retired educator, said she knew about Mr. Pulido and Mr. Talarico but was unfamiliar with Ms. Hinojosa.
“I don’t know much about her, but I am fed up with Abbott,” Ms. Martinez said. “I voted for him in the past, but I think it’s time for someone new.”
For Ms. Hinojosa, such voters represent both the challenge and the opportunity of her campaign: Texans who know little about her but may be open to someone other than Mr. Abbott. Like other Democrats nationwide, she is trying to harness voter anger over the cost of living and the growth of data centers, which voters blame for rising electricity prices and water use. She has also looked to differentiate herself as a Texas Democrat.
Ms. Hinojosa has made public schools and concerns over affordability centerpieces of her campaign. She has called Mr. Abbott’s $1 billion program to help parents pay for private school a “scam.”
If elected, she said, she would push for legislation to authorize $1,500 checks for every household, paid for out of the state’s rainy-day fund. (The state’s account holds a record balance of about $27 billion.)
She also opposed the growth of data centers in Texas, an issue that has rocketed up the priority list for voters from both parties. She is skeptical of Mr. Abbott’s recent order to pause the approval of such centers until the state conducts an audit to study how much water and energy the centers require to operate.
“If he wanted to protect people from data centers, he would call a special session today until we can pass laws and have real protections in place for people,” she said, adding that that was something she would do as governor.
Her message resonated with Adelfa Reyna, a retired teacher from San Antonio. “We could see the first-ever Latina governor of Texas,” Ms. Reyna said. “Republicans have had control of the state for 30 years, and Abbott has been governor for 12. It’s time for change.”
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