Wednesday, January 22, 2025
THE BROWNSVILLE-FUNDED TRIP TO INAUGURATION THAT WASN'T
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Everything was set.
Reportedly arranged by City of Brownsville manager Helen Ramirez, it was to be a city-funded junket to be among the crowd that witnessed the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.
The flights for the group – composed of select city administrators and some city commissioners – and the hotels, per diem meals, etc., were to be doled out from city funds.
Then, as word got out and local pundits and gadflies started asking questions on why the public was being asked to fund what appeared to be a purely political event, things started to unravel.
According to one of the participants – a city commissioner who was scheduled to travel on the public dime – the inquiries by local pundits plus the fact that the swearing-in of the new president was moved indoors excluding most of the unimportant visitors like the Brownsville delegation, prompted the trip to be scrapped. Like the weather, cooler heads prevailed.
They missed McDonald and Melania, the Hamburglar, at play, the kiss-that-wasn't, Elon Musk being promised billions to go to Mars, and the taking of the oath by Trump who swore to uphold the constitution without placing his hand on the bible. Was he crossing his fingers?
Come to think of it, they didn't miss much.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
P.U.B., P.U.B.., IT'S COLD-FRONT TIME IN BROWN CITY...
It's cold-front time in Brown City
PUB, PUB, everyone dials PUB...
Brrr it will be Tuesday morning
Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red, green, and then darkness...
Cars and trucks
Rush
home in the dark without crashing
Hear ice crunch
See traffic bunch
This is BPUB's big scene
And above all this bustle
You will hear
Lights are out, lights are out
It's cold-front time in Brown City
Ring-a-ling, hear phones ring
Brrr it will be Tuesday morning
PUB, PUB...
Monday, January 20, 2025
DESPITE STATE $24 BILLION SURPLUS, ABBOTT REJECTS $450 MILLION IN FED $$$ TO FEED HUNGRY KIDS OVER ADMIN COST
By Eric Holguín
Austin American-StatesmanOpinion
The Summer EBT program is straightforward: $120 per child is loaded onto a debit card that parents can use to buy groceries for children who have already qualified for school meal programs.
For more than a million kids across Texas, summer break isn’t a time of carefree fun — it’s a time of hunger. When schools close for the summer, so do their meal programs, leaving working class families scrambling to provide enough food for their children.
The recently launched Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a critical lifeline. But Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to reject this program for 2024 left 1.3 million children without the help they need, even as the state enjoys historic budget surpluses.
The federal government funds 100 percent of the benefits and even covers half the administrative costs for states. This is our taxpayer money Texans can get back from the federal government to invest in our children.
Yet despite this opportunity to address child hunger at little cost, Texas, under Abbott’s leadership, was one of just 13 states to turn down the program for Summer 2024, walking away from $450 million in federal funds.
State officials claim administrative hurdles prevented implementation in 2024, citing the need for state funding that the legislature had not yet appropriated, limited bandwidth due to Medicaid reenrollment efforts and delayed federal guidance. These challenges, however, can be easily overcome — especially in a state with a projected $24 billion surplus for 2025.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. According to our newly released UnidosUS report, 52 percent of these Texas children are Hispanic/Latino. This is a harsh reality happening in areas like the Rio Grande Valley which has some of the poorest neighborhoods in the state.
State officials claim administrative hurdles prevented implementation in 2024, citing the need for state funding that the legislature had not yet appropriated, limited bandwidth due to Medicaid reenrollment efforts and delayed federal guidance. These challenges, however, can be easily overcome — especially in a state with a projected $24 billion surplus for 2025.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. According to our newly released UnidosUS report, 52 percent of these Texas children are Hispanic/Latino. This is a harsh reality happening in areas like the Rio Grande Valley which has some of the poorest neighborhoods in the state.
Hunger doesn’t take a break when school does. Families who rely on free and reduced-price meals during the school year face added financial strain when those meals disappear in the summer. For these families, Summer EBT offers direct, targeted relief that is proven to reduce child hunger and ensure our kids receive the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.
Rejecting federal food assistance doesn’t just harm families – it weakens Texas’ economy. Without those resources, families buy less food, which reduces sales for grocers and other retailers. The damage ripples outward as struggling retailers purchase fewer goods and services from other Texas businesses.
Rejecting federal food assistance doesn’t just harm families – it weakens Texas’ economy. Without those resources, families buy less food, which reduces sales for grocers and other retailers. The damage ripples outward as struggling retailers purchase fewer goods and services from other Texas businesses.
Instead of boosting economic growth by drawing down federal dollars, Abbott’s decision puts unnecessary strain on local economies, particularly in areasalready facing food insecurity. Our UnidosUS pre- and post-election polls made it very clear that Hispanic/Latino voters want elected officials to address costs of living.
With a historic $32.7 billion surplus recorded in 2023, Texas had more than enough resources to cover the minimal administrative costs and leverage federal dollars. Additional federal grants could further modernize Texas’ systems, ensuring smoother implementation of Summer EBT programs.
It’s not too late to act. Texas missed the August 15 deadline to submit its administrative plan for Summer 2025, but the state secured a waiver buying more time. Abbott and Texas leaders now have a second chance to opt into the program, but the February 15 deadline is quickly approaching.
This time, they must prioritize Texas children. Rejecting this program for another year would be an unforgivable choice – a choice to leave children hungry, deny Texans access to their own federal tax dollars and ignore the needs of Texas’ most vulnerable residents. Investing in children’s wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.
With a historic $32.7 billion surplus recorded in 2023, Texas had more than enough resources to cover the minimal administrative costs and leverage federal dollars. Additional federal grants could further modernize Texas’ systems, ensuring smoother implementation of Summer EBT programs.
It’s not too late to act. Texas missed the August 15 deadline to submit its administrative plan for Summer 2025, but the state secured a waiver buying more time. Abbott and Texas leaders now have a second chance to opt into the program, but the February 15 deadline is quickly approaching.
This time, they must prioritize Texas children. Rejecting this program for another year would be an unforgivable choice – a choice to leave children hungry, deny Texans access to their own federal tax dollars and ignore the needs of Texas’ most vulnerable residents. Investing in children’s wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.
(Eric Holguín is the Texas State Director of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.)
WHEN DOGS DIE: TELLTALE SIGNS YOUR FRIEND IS DYING
By Jordan Joseph
EARTH.COM
In every life that includes a dog, there comes a heartbreak unlike any other. They arrive in our world full of spirit, and then one day, their time winds down.
Many people do not know what to look for or what to expect. There is confusion, sadness, and worry, and no amount of condolences from friends and family can stop the emotions from flowing. The death of a pet, especially a dog, is a very difficult subject, but there are signs that can help us understand what is happening.
When dogs are nearing their final stage, they may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. A friend that once tugged at the leash, ready to trot outside, might suddenly ignore the door, choose to rest instead of walk, or even decline a short stroll. This shift may indicate that the body is no longer functioning as it once did.
Dr. Leslie Gillette, a veterinarian at the University of Florida, emphasizes the importance of bringing your dog to its regular veterinarian if you notice any changes or declines in its health or daily routine.
Some dogs may lose their appetite and refuse water. Others might suddenly eat more for a short time.
Sometimes there is incontinence, with urine or feces appearing in places they would never have chosen before. There can also be vomiting or diarrhea that worsens their state.
These unusual actions can mean they are having trouble controlling basic bodily functions. None of these changes are easy to witness, but they may be signs that time is running short.
There are known healthy ranges for a dog's body temperature, heartbeat, and breathing rate. If these shift too high or too low, something is off. A dog’s body temperature is usually between 101° to 102.5° Fahrenheit. If numbers stray beyond normal limits, it could mean the end is near.
It is useful to know how to check these signs. A rise or drop in temperature, labored breathing, or a weakened pulse can all be indications of health issues that should be addressed immediately.
One of the most difficult moments comes when a dog stops responding to those who love it. The pet that once lifted its head to a kind voice may lie still for hours. The paws that paced the floor might remain limp all day. The eyes that followed a favorite human might barely open. They can sink into what appears to be a deep fatigue, lacking the spark that once lit up a room.
There may be a sense that the dog’s spirit is drifting away. This heavy tiredness is painful to witness, but it speaks volumes about the body’s struggle.
Some dogs seem to find a strange calm as their life winds down and their daily rhythms fade into silence. Your pet may no longer fight the slow ache in their bones, choosing not to wait by the window or react to small noises, only accepting gentle touches without lifting their heads.
This calm state can be hard to understand, but it often arrives in those last days. It might be their way of easing into what comes next.
When it becomes clear that a dog’s time is short, many people feel helpless. There is no manual that describes the perfect approach. Some may prefer a silent vigil, sitting by their dog’s side, hoping the presence of a familiar face eases worry. Others place a soft blanket near their pet, or carefully offer a favorite treat, even if it is ignored.
Words may be whispered quietly, telling the dog how much it is loved. The focus shifts from asking the dog to stay and play to simply helping it feel safe and cared for.
Though these acts may feel small, they hold tremendous weight in that final chapter.
People often say their dogs are family. In the end, a dog’s companionship is measured by years of shared moments. They have been loyal through laughter and tears.
Their exit from this world does not erase the times they greeted us at the door, made us smile when days were heavy, or curled up close when we felt alone. Those memories remain vivid, etched into our hearts, weaving a lasting bond.
When a dog reaches the end, the pain that follows can linger, but knowing the signs can help us grant the kindness and gentle care they deserve. Recognizing that a loss is approaching allows space for actions that speak of love. Some may stay awake through the night, stroking soft fur. Others might talk softly, calling up old stories and recalling the bark that once filled the house.
Although grief is personal, one common thread is the desire to give back some measure of the devotion the dog gave so freely over its lifetime. The sadness will not vanish instantly, but there can be comfort in knowing that, in those final days, understanding and compassion shaped the way forward.
The full study was published on the leading pet health and wellness resource website PetMD .
EARTH.COM
In every life that includes a dog, there comes a heartbreak unlike any other. They arrive in our world full of spirit, and then one day, their time winds down.
Many people do not know what to look for or what to expect. There is confusion, sadness, and worry, and no amount of condolences from friends and family can stop the emotions from flowing. The death of a pet, especially a dog, is a very difficult subject, but there are signs that can help us understand what is happening.
Losing interest in old routines
When dogs are nearing their final stage, they may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. A friend that once tugged at the leash, ready to trot outside, might suddenly ignore the door, choose to rest instead of walk, or even decline a short stroll. This shift may indicate that the body is no longer functioning as it once did.
Dr. Leslie Gillette, a veterinarian at the University of Florida, emphasizes the importance of bringing your dog to its regular veterinarian if you notice any changes or declines in its health or daily routine.
Changes in appetite and habits
Some dogs may lose their appetite and refuse water. Others might suddenly eat more for a short time.
Sometimes there is incontinence, with urine or feces appearing in places they would never have chosen before. There can also be vomiting or diarrhea that worsens their state.
These unusual actions can mean they are having trouble controlling basic bodily functions. None of these changes are easy to witness, but they may be signs that time is running short.
Vital signs worth noting
There are known healthy ranges for a dog's body temperature, heartbeat, and breathing rate. If these shift too high or too low, something is off. A dog’s body temperature is usually between 101° to 102.5° Fahrenheit. If numbers stray beyond normal limits, it could mean the end is near.
It is useful to know how to check these signs. A rise or drop in temperature, labored breathing, or a weakened pulse can all be indications of health issues that should be addressed immediately.
Facing severe exhaustion
One of the most difficult moments comes when a dog stops responding to those who love it. The pet that once lifted its head to a kind voice may lie still for hours. The paws that paced the floor might remain limp all day. The eyes that followed a favorite human might barely open. They can sink into what appears to be a deep fatigue, lacking the spark that once lit up a room.
There may be a sense that the dog’s spirit is drifting away. This heavy tiredness is painful to witness, but it speaks volumes about the body’s struggle.
Quiet acceptance
Some dogs seem to find a strange calm as their life winds down and their daily rhythms fade into silence. Your pet may no longer fight the slow ache in their bones, choosing not to wait by the window or react to small noises, only accepting gentle touches without lifting their heads.
This calm state can be hard to understand, but it often arrives in those last days. It might be their way of easing into what comes next.
Offering comfort
When it becomes clear that a dog’s time is short, many people feel helpless. There is no manual that describes the perfect approach. Some may prefer a silent vigil, sitting by their dog’s side, hoping the presence of a familiar face eases worry. Others place a soft blanket near their pet, or carefully offer a favorite treat, even if it is ignored.
Words may be whispered quietly, telling the dog how much it is loved. The focus shifts from asking the dog to stay and play to simply helping it feel safe and cared for.
Though these acts may feel small, they hold tremendous weight in that final chapter.
Remembering their place in our lives
Their exit from this world does not erase the times they greeted us at the door, made us smile when days were heavy, or curled up close when we felt alone. Those memories remain vivid, etched into our hearts, weaving a lasting bond.
A meaningful farewell
When a dog reaches the end, the pain that follows can linger, but knowing the signs can help us grant the kindness and gentle care they deserve. Recognizing that a loss is approaching allows space for actions that speak of love. Some may stay awake through the night, stroking soft fur. Others might talk softly, calling up old stories and recalling the bark that once filled the house.
Although grief is personal, one common thread is the desire to give back some measure of the devotion the dog gave so freely over its lifetime. The sadness will not vanish instantly, but there can be comfort in knowing that, in those final days, understanding and compassion shaped the way forward.
The full study was published on the leading pet health and wellness resource website PetMD .
JUDGE SENTENCES FORMER CAMERON COUNTY ASS. D.A. TO 1 YEAR IN PRISON FOR HER ROLE IN JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION
(Kellye SoRelle, who worked as a Cameron County Asst. District Attorney from 2011 to 2017 – three of those years under DA Luis V. Saenz's Children Protective Services unit with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – was charged with four felony charges for conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding. Over that time with the DA's Office, Saenz came to depend on SoRelle and the CPS section to protect children and families and remove them from abusive situation.
"Whenever we had a CPS issue, we knew we could count of Kellye to protect kids and take care of the kids," Saenz said. "That's why it threw us for a loop to hear she had been arrested for her participation in the January 6 insurrection. All of us are stunned to hear that. Sometime after she left us in 2017, something went wrong."
After her husband Jeremy left the DA's staff, SoRelle followed. Saenz said the couple had later split after they moved to Granbury, about 20 miles southwest of Fort Worth in North Texas.)
Law and Crime
Various Sources
A former Cameron Counry Assistant District Attorney who resigned and them moved to North Central Texas ty join the leader of the Oath Keepers and stormed the U.S. Capitol January 6, has been sentenced to prison for urging defendants to delete their cell phones and computers of incriminating evidence.
Kellye SoRelle, 46, was sentenced to 12 months behind bars on Friday. She pleaded guilty in August to felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanor trespassing in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which supporters of Donald Trump violently breached the Capitol building as Congress was set to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
According to prosecutors, SoRelle, along with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, entered restricted Capitol grounds at around 2:12 p.m., just as the initial violent breach of teh Capitol building was underway.
“As she entered the restricted area, SoRelle live-streamed a video to Facebook, expressing her support for the actions of the rioters and urging others not to be afraid,” the DOJ said in a statement. “She described the scene as one of the ‘coolest damn things’ she had ever witnessed and framed the riot as a necessary step to prevent the United States from descending into communism and tyranny. SoRelle continued to document the riot over Facebook live-stream as she moved around the Capitol building with Rhodes and the other Oath Keeper affiliate.”
Prior to that, at around 1:30 p.m., SoRelle had messaged an Oath Keepers group that called itself the “Leadership intel sharing secured” group, saying: “We are acting like the founding fathers — can’t stand down. Per Stewart, and I concur.”
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who also oversaw the case against Rhodes – with whom SoRelle was romantically involved at the time of the Jan. 6 attack – told SoRelle that her offenses were indeed grave.
“What you were trying to cover up, and what you were encouraging others to cover up, is among the most serious conduct Americans can engage in,” Mehta told SoRelle at Friday’s sentencing, according to local CBS affiliate WUSA reporter Jordan Fischer. “Sedition.”
Mehta, a Barack Obama appointee, also reportedly told SoRelle that her actions “shocked the conscience,” considering that she was a lawyer who used her status to promote Rhodes’ increasingly violent rhetoric, and that the consequences of her actions reached well beyond her.
“People listened,” Mehta said, according to WUSA. “People listened. And there are people sitting in jail today because of that. Whose lives have been ruined.”
Rhodes was convicted in Nov ember 2022 of seditious conspiracy and ultimately sentenced by Metha to 18 yes behind bars. SoRelle had announced in January 2022 that she was the acting head of the militia-style group after Rhodes' arrest earlier that month.
On Jan. 6, after the violence at the Capitol had ebbed, SoRelle and Rhodes joined other Oath Keepers members for what prosecutors described as a “celebratory dinner.” However, that dinner was apparently cut short when that group “received word that law enforcement was either arresting or searching for individuals involved in the Capitol attack,” prosecutors said. SoRelle and the others left the restaurant and retrieved their things from their hotel before regrouping at a nearby gas station.
At that point, Rhodes turned off his cellphone, apparently afraid of being tracked by law enforcement, and gave it to SoRelle, who took it. SoRelle then conveyed messages on the messaging app Signal to Oath Keepers members and affiliates on behalf of Rhodes using her own phone. She urged Oath Keepers members to scrub their devices of evidence that they participated in the deadly riot, which resulted in multiple deaths and force lawmakers and staff to either flee the Capitol or shelter in place for several harrowing hours.
“Please delete any information you’ve posted regarding the DC op and your involvement,” SoRelle wrote to the group in the days after Jan. 6 “This thread will be deleted when possible.”
She also relayed instructions from Rhodes, who had turned off his phone to avoid being tracked, to “clean up all your chats,” prosecutors say.
“YOU ALL NEED TO DELETE ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WHO DID WHAT,” she also wrote, explaining that only the comment authors could delete their posts. According to the Justice Department, members of the Oath Keepers “complied” with these instructions, “deleting messages, photographs, and videos from their devices that could serve as evidence of their participation in the Capitol attack.”
Mehta also sentenced SoRelle to 36 months of supervised release and ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution toward the estimated $2/8 million in damage and losses to the Capitol. His sentence is closer to the government’s request of 16 months behind bars than to SoRelle’s own request to be sentenced to time served plus probation, court records show.
In addition to the obstruction of justice charge, SoRelle was also originally charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding, a widely-used charge that the Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 was wrongly applied to accused Jan. 6 rioters.
As Law&Crime has previously reported, Mehta deemed SoRelle mentally incompetent to stand trial in JuUne 2023 following her September 2022 arrest. She was restored to competency in February 2024.
According to prosecutors, SoRelle, along with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, entered restricted Capitol grounds at around 2:12 p.m., just as the initial violent breach of teh Capitol building was underway.
“As she entered the restricted area, SoRelle live-streamed a video to Facebook, expressing her support for the actions of the rioters and urging others not to be afraid,” the DOJ said in a statement. “She described the scene as one of the ‘coolest damn things’ she had ever witnessed and framed the riot as a necessary step to prevent the United States from descending into communism and tyranny. SoRelle continued to document the riot over Facebook live-stream as she moved around the Capitol building with Rhodes and the other Oath Keeper affiliate.”
Prior to that, at around 1:30 p.m., SoRelle had messaged an Oath Keepers group that called itself the “Leadership intel sharing secured” group, saying: “We are acting like the founding fathers — can’t stand down. Per Stewart, and I concur.”
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who also oversaw the case against Rhodes – with whom SoRelle was romantically involved at the time of the Jan. 6 attack – told SoRelle that her offenses were indeed grave.
“What you were trying to cover up, and what you were encouraging others to cover up, is among the most serious conduct Americans can engage in,” Mehta told SoRelle at Friday’s sentencing, according to local CBS affiliate WUSA reporter Jordan Fischer. “Sedition.”
Mehta, a Barack Obama appointee, also reportedly told SoRelle that her actions “shocked the conscience,” considering that she was a lawyer who used her status to promote Rhodes’ increasingly violent rhetoric, and that the consequences of her actions reached well beyond her.
“People listened,” Mehta said, according to WUSA. “People listened. And there are people sitting in jail today because of that. Whose lives have been ruined.”
Rhodes was convicted in Nov ember 2022 of seditious conspiracy and ultimately sentenced by Metha to 18 yes behind bars. SoRelle had announced in January 2022 that she was the acting head of the militia-style group after Rhodes' arrest earlier that month.
On Jan. 6, after the violence at the Capitol had ebbed, SoRelle and Rhodes joined other Oath Keepers members for what prosecutors described as a “celebratory dinner.” However, that dinner was apparently cut short when that group “received word that law enforcement was either arresting or searching for individuals involved in the Capitol attack,” prosecutors said. SoRelle and the others left the restaurant and retrieved their things from their hotel before regrouping at a nearby gas station.
At that point, Rhodes turned off his cellphone, apparently afraid of being tracked by law enforcement, and gave it to SoRelle, who took it. SoRelle then conveyed messages on the messaging app Signal to Oath Keepers members and affiliates on behalf of Rhodes using her own phone. She urged Oath Keepers members to scrub their devices of evidence that they participated in the deadly riot, which resulted in multiple deaths and force lawmakers and staff to either flee the Capitol or shelter in place for several harrowing hours.
“Please delete any information you’ve posted regarding the DC op and your involvement,” SoRelle wrote to the group in the days after Jan. 6 “This thread will be deleted when possible.”
She also relayed instructions from Rhodes, who had turned off his phone to avoid being tracked, to “clean up all your chats,” prosecutors say.
“YOU ALL NEED TO DELETE ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WHO DID WHAT,” she also wrote, explaining that only the comment authors could delete their posts. According to the Justice Department, members of the Oath Keepers “complied” with these instructions, “deleting messages, photographs, and videos from their devices that could serve as evidence of their participation in the Capitol attack.”
Mehta also sentenced SoRelle to 36 months of supervised release and ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution toward the estimated $2/8 million in damage and losses to the Capitol. His sentence is closer to the government’s request of 16 months behind bars than to SoRelle’s own request to be sentenced to time served plus probation, court records show.
In addition to the obstruction of justice charge, SoRelle was also originally charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding, a widely-used charge that the Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 was wrongly applied to accused Jan. 6 rioters.
As Law&Crime has previously reported, Mehta deemed SoRelle mentally incompetent to stand trial in JuUne 2023 following her September 2022 arrest. She was restored to competency in February 2024.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
BROWNSVILLE LEADS ON SALES TAX REVENUE INCREASE (*FOR LOWER VALLEY CITIES) IN THE LAST 11 MONTHS
Brownsville leads the way with $53.6 million worth of sales tax revenues, followed by Harlingen with $30.9 million, and San Benito at $6.6 million.
Looking at the cities in Willacy County, Raymondville led the way with $1.5 million.
In terms of percentage growth, year-on-year, Port Isabel’s sales tax revenues have grown by a staggering 19.41 percent.
BROWNSVILLE BIDS FAREWELL TO VINCENT CRIXELL TODAY
VINCENT CRIXELL III
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 19th of January 2025 between the hours of one 1 to 5 p.m. in the afternoon within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. The recitation of the holy rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville.The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.in the morning on Monday, the 20th of January 2025 at St. Luke Catholic Church. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church.
Entombment with committal rites will be held at one 1 p.m. in the afternoon within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the mausoleum.
Pallbearers include Vincent’s grandsons Niko, Paul, Jason, and Clayton Serafy, Ricco Crixell, Houston and Westin Kirby, and Chase McAllister. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Ford Lockett, Rey Lopez, Ralph Cowen, Joe Rivera, Nick Serafy, Roger Keller, Alex Camacho, Taurino Gonzalez, Exiquio Balboa, Emilio Crixell, and Alfredo Crixell.
In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests donations in memory of Vincent to The Love Builds Hope Foundation of the Diocese of Brownsville, 700 Virgen de San Juan Boulevard, San Juan, Texas 78589. He will be remembered as a man of great faith, love, and generosity, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Friday, January 17, 2025
SLAVERY, RELATIONS WITH NATIVES, SHAPED EARLY MATAMOROS HISTORY
(Editor's Note: The following narrative originally appeared in El Bravo newspaper of Matamoros and we translated it for our Spanish-challenged readers.)
"Mi Matamoros Querido"
By Oscar Treviño Jr.
The Spanish Crown formed the Internal Provinces Command in 1776 due to the constant attacks by marauding bands of Indians (natives) of the Plains, Comanches, and other tribes who resisted the 
efforts of the government to colonize them.
Nuevo Santander formed part of the command and a demarcation line was formed to cordon the colonies from the attacks.
The colonization of Nuevo Santander was based on the establishment of "Ayuntamientos," (a political jurisdiction roughly equal to a county), so that each town could name a mayor, a prosecutor, and two council members (regidores).
The evangelization and conversion of natives was entrusted to Franciscan monks from the College of the Propagation of the Faith based in Guadalupe, Zacatecas. In 1793, the priests Francisco Pueyes and Manuel Julio Silva arrived and at once proposed that the name of the community be changed to "Nuestra Señora de Refugio de los Esteros," partly because the inhabitants called it "El Refugio" or "Villa del Refugio."
The Huastecos and the Olives who had been transported here from Florida, strongly resisted colonization and fought against both the local inhabitants and the domesticated natives. They were summarily exterminated.
(The name Tamaulipas is derived from Tamaholipa, a Huasteca term in which the "tam" prefix signifies "place where." As yet, there is no scholarly agreement on the meaning of holipa, but "high hills" is a common interpretation. However, a native population of Tamaulipas, now extinct, was referred to as the "Olives" during the early colonial period, which is a likely Spanish transformation on holipa... source: Wikipedia)
The native prisoners were exchanged at a rate of 60 to 80 natives for a horse. After the Crown – whose policy forbade slavery – discovered that this trade was being allowed in Nuevo Santander, it charged José de Escandón y Helguera and tried him to Juicio de Residencia (Trial by Residence?) in 1767. Despite this fact, he still retained the governorship of Nuevo Santander. Escandón died four years later but was vindicated by the honors granted him in Spain upon his death.
The Franciscans, meanwhile, decided to change the center of the town to a higher elevation due to the chronic flooding of the Rio Grande and it was moved two blocks to the south, where it currently exists.
They used the traditional town layout used in their native Spain: the cathedral toward the east, a plaza, the government building housing the cabildo to the west, and prominent businesses and citizens to the north. They christened the new layout as "Congregación de Nuestra Señora Refugio."
They also brought a patron saint, a virgin originally named "Nuestra Señora de Refugio de los Pecadores," (Our Lady of the Refuge of Sinners), but removed the word "sinners" since everyone had converted to Catholicism.
The Plaza de Armas, now known as "Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla", was a very important place because that's where "La Picota" was placed. This consisted of a large stake upon which were impaled the heads of natives who resisted the authority of the Crown. There was also a type of wooden platform where public executions would take place.
It was called "plaza de armas" because the authorities would call out the inhabitants in case of an indian attack, raiders, or foreigners. They would hand out weapons to the inhabitants that showed up to defend the town or go after the raiders.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
VINCE CRIXELL III, MEMBER OF A PIONEER BROWNSVILLE FAMILY, DIES
Vincent L. Crixell III
BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Vincent L. Crixell, III, died peacefully on Tuesday, the 14th of January 2025, in Brownsville, Texas.
Born on September 10, 1934, in Brownsville, Texas, Vincent was the beloved son of Gloria Cardoza Crixell and Vicente Laulom Crixell, Jr., and brother of Adolph E. Crixell. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother. Vincent was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His commitment to family, community, and faith marked his life.
Vincent graduated from Brownsville High School in 1952 and from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 1956. While at UT, he was a proud member of the Texas Longhorn Band. While briefly attending UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, Vincent met his future wife, Barbara Baker Crixell. The two raised four daughters: Viveca, Monique, Laurette, and Patrice.
After living in Dallas and Pharr, Vincent settled in his hometown of Brownsville, Texas. He became deeply rooted in the community and dedicated his life to improving and growing it.
His dedication to the pharmaceutical field marked his professional journey. He worked at Palm Village Pharmacy and Pfizer Pharmaceutical and later owned and operated Calderoni City Drug in downtown Brownsville. His commitment to quality care was evident as the head pharmacist at Valley Baptist Medical Center and Drug Emporium in Brownsville, Texas. Vincent’s attentive care for his pharmacy customers was well-known and appreciated.
Vincent was a dedicated civil servant, actively contributing to the development of his community and holding leadership positions in many civic organizations. Vincent was appointed to the Brownsville Housing Authority board in the early nineteen seventies where he was appointed as chairman from 1970-1972.
Vincent graduated from Brownsville High School in 1952 and from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 1956. While at UT, he was a proud member of the Texas Longhorn Band. While briefly attending UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, Vincent met his future wife, Barbara Baker Crixell. The two raised four daughters: Viveca, Monique, Laurette, and Patrice.
After living in Dallas and Pharr, Vincent settled in his hometown of Brownsville, Texas. He became deeply rooted in the community and dedicated his life to improving and growing it.
His dedication to the pharmaceutical field marked his professional journey. He worked at Palm Village Pharmacy and Pfizer Pharmaceutical and later owned and operated Calderoni City Drug in downtown Brownsville. His commitment to quality care was evident as the head pharmacist at Valley Baptist Medical Center and Drug Emporium in Brownsville, Texas. Vincent’s attentive care for his pharmacy customers was well-known and appreciated.
Vincent was a dedicated civil servant, actively contributing to the development of his community and holding leadership positions in many civic organizations. Vincent was appointed to the Brownsville Housing Authority board in the early nineteen seventies where he was appointed as chairman from 1970-1972.
In the early nineteen eighties, he was a founding board member of KVEO, Brownsville’s local National Broadcast Company affiliate. He served on the Brownsville Public Utilities Board where he served as chairman from 1986-1987. Vincent served as the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce president from 1987-1988.
He also served on the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation board in the nineteen nineties where he was chairman from 1992-1994. He enjoyed his participation in the Texas and Brownsville Jaycees, where he held various leadership positions. Vincent particularly loved the beautiful tradition held every February in his hometown celebrating the sisterhood between our two border cities of Brownsville and Matamoros.
He enjoyed serving as part of the Mr. Amigo Association where he served as board president in 1985, and he continued to serve on this board through 2003. He was also an honorary life director of Charro Days, Incorporated. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes of many community organizations to help improve his hometown.
A devout Catholic, Vincent's faith was a guiding force in his life. He was actively involved in St. Luke Catholic Church and many other ministries within the Diocese of Brownsville.
Vincent is survived by his beloved wife, Martha Balboa Crixell of Brownsville, with whom he shared a profoundly loving and happy life for the last 32 years. He is also survived by his four daughters Viveca Crixell (Nick) Serafy of Brownsville, Monique Crixell (Roger) Keller of Brownsville, Laurette Crixell Kirby of San Antonio, Texas, and Patrice Crixell (Charles) McAllister of Auburn, Alabama; and by his grandchildren Nicholas III, Jenna, Paul (Lauren), Jason (Carla) and Clayton Serafy, Ricardo (Emily) Crixell, Haley (Andy) Mohl, Houston (Whitney) and Westin Kirby, Taylor (Ronnie) Rucker, Madison (Caleb) Fahlgren, and Chase McAllister. His beloved niece, Annette (Alex) Camacho of San Antonio, Texas and his grandnieces, Natalia and Daniela Camacho, also survive him.
His family included numerous great-grandchildren who brought Vincent immense joy: Ryleigh, Nicholas IV, Tanner, Pablo, Luka, Georgiana, Gisele, Alexander and Carlos Serafy, Julian Crixell, Jackson and Whitman Kirby, and Hadley Rucker. His family, including cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends, will forever cherish his memory.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 19th of January 2025 between the hours of one o'clock and five o'clock in the afternoon within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. The recitation of the holy rosary will be recited at seven o’clock Sunday evening at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of January 2025 at St. Luke Catholic Church. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church.
Entombment with committal rites will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the mausoleum.
Pallbearers include Vincent’s grandsons Niko, Paul, Jason, and Clayton Serafy, Ricco Crixell, Houston and Westin Kirby, and Chase McAllister. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Ford Lockett, Rey Lopez, Ralph Cowen, Joe Rivera, Nick Serafy, Roger Keller, Alex Camacho, Taurino Gonzalez, Exiquio Balboa, Emilio Crixell, and Alfredo Crixell.
In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests donations in memory of Vincent to The Love Builds Hope Foundation of the Diocese of Brownsville, 700 Virgen de San Juan Boulevard, San Juan, Texas 78589. He will be remembered as a man of great faith, love, and generosity, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A devout Catholic, Vincent's faith was a guiding force in his life. He was actively involved in St. Luke Catholic Church and many other ministries within the Diocese of Brownsville.
Vincent is survived by his beloved wife, Martha Balboa Crixell of Brownsville, with whom he shared a profoundly loving and happy life for the last 32 years. He is also survived by his four daughters Viveca Crixell (Nick) Serafy of Brownsville, Monique Crixell (Roger) Keller of Brownsville, Laurette Crixell Kirby of San Antonio, Texas, and Patrice Crixell (Charles) McAllister of Auburn, Alabama; and by his grandchildren Nicholas III, Jenna, Paul (Lauren), Jason (Carla) and Clayton Serafy, Ricardo (Emily) Crixell, Haley (Andy) Mohl, Houston (Whitney) and Westin Kirby, Taylor (Ronnie) Rucker, Madison (Caleb) Fahlgren, and Chase McAllister. His beloved niece, Annette (Alex) Camacho of San Antonio, Texas and his grandnieces, Natalia and Daniela Camacho, also survive him.
His family included numerous great-grandchildren who brought Vincent immense joy: Ryleigh, Nicholas IV, Tanner, Pablo, Luka, Georgiana, Gisele, Alexander and Carlos Serafy, Julian Crixell, Jackson and Whitman Kirby, and Hadley Rucker. His family, including cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends, will forever cherish his memory.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 19th of January 2025 between the hours of one o'clock and five o'clock in the afternoon within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. The recitation of the holy rosary will be recited at seven o’clock Sunday evening at St. Luke Catholic Church, 2800 Rockwell Drive, Brownsville.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of January 2025 at St. Luke Catholic Church. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church.
Entombment with committal rites will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the mausoleum.
Pallbearers include Vincent’s grandsons Niko, Paul, Jason, and Clayton Serafy, Ricco Crixell, Houston and Westin Kirby, and Chase McAllister. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Ford Lockett, Rey Lopez, Ralph Cowen, Joe Rivera, Nick Serafy, Roger Keller, Alex Camacho, Taurino Gonzalez, Exiquio Balboa, Emilio Crixell, and Alfredo Crixell.
In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests donations in memory of Vincent to The Love Builds Hope Foundation of the Diocese of Brownsville, 700 Virgen de San Juan Boulevard, San Juan, Texas 78589. He will be remembered as a man of great faith, love, and generosity, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT LAYS BLAME FOR JAN.6 AT TRUMP'S FEET (CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO READ ENTIRE REPORT)
In August 2023, the special counsel Jack Smith charged Donald J. Trump with three intersecting conspiracy counts accusing him of plotting to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
By Alan Feuer and Charlie Savage
The New York Times.
Jan. 14, 2025Leer en español
Jack Smith, the special counsel who indicted President-elect Donald J. Trump on charges of illegally seeking to cling to power after losing the 2020 election, said in a final report released early Tuesday that the evidence would have been sufficient to convict Mr. Trump in a trial, had his 2024 election victory not made it impossible for the prosecution to continue.
“The department’s view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a president is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government’s proof or the merits of the prosecution, which the office stands fully behind,” Mr. Smith wrote.
He continued: “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.”
The Justice Department delivered the 137-page volume (click on link to read report) – representing half of Mr. Smith’s overall final report, with the volume about Mr. Trump’s other federal case, accusing him of mishandling classified documents, still confidential — to Congress just after midnight on Tuesday.
The report amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of a president-elect, capping a momentous legal saga that saw the man now poised to regain the powers of the nation’s highest office charged with crimes that struck at the heart of American democracy. And although Mr. Smith resigned as special counsel late last week, his recounting of the case also served as a reminder of the vast array of evidence and detailed accounting of Mr. Trump’s actions that he had marshaled.
In his report, Mr. Smith took Mr. Trump to task not only for his efforts to reverse the results of a free and fair election, but also for consistently encouraging “violence against his perceived opponents” throughout the chaotic weeks between Election Day and Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, injuring more than 140 police officers.
Mr. Smith laid the attack on the Capitol squarely at Mr. Trump’s feet, quoting from the evidence in several criminal cases of people charged with taking part in the riot who made clear that they believed they were acting on Mr. Trump’s behalf.
In several lengthy footnotes, Mr. Smith explored the trauma experienced by Capitol Police officers who were attacked during the riot, including “shell-shock” and the inability to move. He quoted one officer who described the effort to keep rioters from getting to congressional staff members inside the Capitol; the officer said that for them, that could have meant “possible death. People are getting killed, maimed.”
SUSPECT WHO SHOT MAN TO DEATH AT CITY LIBRARY "INCOMPETENT"
Special to El Rrun-Rrun.PNG)
KGBT-Various Sources
The man accused of fatally shooting another man in the Brownsville Public Library has ben ruled incompetent to stand trial, court records show.
Humberto Paz was arrested on May 11, 2024 after police say he shot and killed 71-year-old Vahid Khaledi. Both men allegedly got into a verbal alteration at the library, located at 2600 Central Blvd.
The Brownsville Police Department previously said they found a weapon on Paz at the library, and arrested him on charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On Monday, Paz was deemed incompetent to stand trial.
“[Paz] does not have the sufficient present ability to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; or a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him,” court documents state.
In a social media post, Brownsville Police Department Public Information Officer Abril Luna said mental health called were made to police but that there had been no indications he was a threat.
Court documents state Paz will be transferred to a mental health facility or residential care facility “for further examination and treatment toward the specific objective of attaining competency to stand trial.”
The man accused of fatally shooting another man in the Brownsville Public Library has ben ruled incompetent to stand trial, court records show.
Humberto Paz was arrested on May 11, 2024 after police say he shot and killed 71-year-old Vahid Khaledi. Both men allegedly got into a verbal alteration at the library, located at 2600 Central Blvd.
The Brownsville Police Department previously said they found a weapon on Paz at the library, and arrested him on charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police confirmed Paz had a history of mental health issues, and that he had posted conspiracy theories against the federal government on the day of the shooting before he went to the library. 
In one posting, he stated a conspiracy theory that: "Since 1910, Tejas has been injuring the scout boys, Scout girls, and Girl Scouts, because Austin Tejas has been abusing the military federal command system. They have been abusing the military federal command system.
"They have been abusing of the parental control area of the brain with their encephalitis, as you have noticed many of those so-called aren't uniform service members have they attempt to code to a military law with their encephalitis, those extreme organisms that thrive on the extremes are pussing the brain of innocent scouts, boys and girls, teens, young adults, adults, etc. with their intentions of criminal terroristic to be the fungus."
And: "The bacteria thrives in the extremes that is always attempting to hijack the brain with their pussing swells the brain eventually kill the organism....Cycle repeats they have a molecular language that is infected with pussing because it is fungus that they have tattooed on the dermis."
“[Paz] does not have the sufficient present ability to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; or a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him,” court documents state.
In a social media post, Brownsville Police Department Public Information Officer Abril Luna said mental health called were made to police but that there had been no indications he was a threat.
The fatal shooting led Texas State District 38 Representative Erin Gamez to introduce a bill this legislative session to give communities the right to prohibit firearms in libraries in municipalities and counties across the state.
“I’m thrilled to share that I have filed my initial round of bills for the upcoming legislative session. These bills were developed in collaboration with various community stakeholders," she said.
"I believe these initiatives will make a positive difference in our community and across our great state. In order to enhance safety and accessibility for all members of our community, I am introducing the following bill(s)."
HB 1138: was filed in response to the tragic shooting incident at the Brownsville Public Library last May. It empowers municipalities and counties to prohibit firearms in libraries they establish and operate.
HB 1138: was filed in response to the tragic shooting incident at the Brownsville Public Library last May. It empowers municipalities and counties to prohibit firearms in libraries they establish and operate.
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Panic-stricken parents and children fled from library at the time of the shooting.
THE REAL HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN OF MATAMOROS, TAMAULIPAS
(Ed.'s Note: The following narrative on the founding of Matamoros was posted here some 14 years ago. One of our readers reminded us that we had posted it and asked if we still had the original Spanish version. Unfortunately, we did not. We found one that originally appeared in El Bravo and translated it for our Spanish-challenged readers. We thank our reader for reminding us.)
"Mi Matamoros Querido"
By Oscar Treviño Jr.
By Oscar Treviño Jr.
While colonization was under way by 1749, Matías de los Santos Coy decided to establish a livestock ranch called "San Juan de los Esteros Hermosos." The location of that first effort at 
settling the area is near what is today the intersection of Calle Quinta y Matamoros. Esteros refers to what we call "resacas" on the Brownsville side.
However, Santos Coy had to give up that effort because of constant attacks by local natives who did not show a propensity to be "civilized."
That's the reason why today Santos Coy is not considered one of the founding settlers of the city.
Two years before, José de Escandón wrote a letter to the Crown saying that this place – Matamoros – was an inadequate place to build a town because of the annual flooding of the Rio Grande and because of the poor drainage of the land that caused outbreaks of yellow fever and pestilence.
Nonetheless, in 1747, 12 families came down from Camargo and Reynosa upriver and they founded a congregation called "San Juan de los Esteros Hermosos", and choosing, coincidentally, the same spot chosen temporarily by Santos Coy.
In 1784 they filed the paperwork to purchase 113 sitios de ganado mayor- something like 17. 5 square kilómeters - claiming that they had lived on the site for more than 10 years. The owner of the land, Don Andrés Vicente o Antonio de Urízar, who didn't know his property named Don Ignacio del Valle as his representative in the transaction. The families named Ignacio Anastacio de Ayala as their representative and the deal was consummated with Diego de Lasaga, the political and military governor of the colonia del Nuevo Santander present as well as Pedro Félix Campuzano, the judge commissioned by the government for the mediation of lands.
Even though the families signed the documents on October 18, 1784 in San Felipe de Linares, Nuevo León, with Juan Jacinto de Lanuza, Andrés Vicente de Urízar's new representative, it wasn't until January 3, 1785, when the transaction was finalized.
In this way, large tracts of the land and big ranches started being identified with the names and geographic characteristics of the livestock raised by the original 12 families .
For example, the ranch owned by Juan José Cisneros who was married to María Antonia Villarreal, was identified by locals as "Cabras Pintas".
Don Juan Nepomuceno Cisneros Villarreal, who was married to María Teresa Salinas, owned the ranch called "La Canasta."
Don Miguel Chapa, married to María Teresa Treviño, owned "El Chapeño."
Don Santiago Longoria, married to María Hinojosa, owned "El Longoreño.
Don José Antonio de la Garza Falcón, married to Josefa Villarreal, owned "El Falconeño."
Don Antonio de la Garza, married to María Salomé Sepúlveda, owned the now-famous "El Tahuachal."
Don Luis Antonio García Rodríguez, married to María Rosalía de la Garza, owned the horse ranch "Los Gachupines."
Don Ramón Longoria, married to Josefa García, owned "La Barranca" and "El Capote,"along with Marcelino Longoria and his wife Francisca de la Serna.
Don José de Hinojosa, married to Antonia Benavides, owned "La Palma."
Juan José Solís, married to María Gertrudis Hinojosa, owned "El Soliseño."
Nicolás de Vela, married to María García, were owners of the ranch "Las Animas" along with José Antonio Cavazos y Gertrudis Cantú.
Some of the original names that were given to these areas still persist.
settling the area is near what is today the intersection of Calle Quinta y Matamoros. Esteros refers to what we call "resacas" on the Brownsville side.However, Santos Coy had to give up that effort because of constant attacks by local natives who did not show a propensity to be "civilized."
That's the reason why today Santos Coy is not considered one of the founding settlers of the city.
Two years before, José de Escandón wrote a letter to the Crown saying that this place – Matamoros – was an inadequate place to build a town because of the annual flooding of the Rio Grande and because of the poor drainage of the land that caused outbreaks of yellow fever and pestilence.
Nonetheless, in 1747, 12 families came down from Camargo and Reynosa upriver and they founded a congregation called "San Juan de los Esteros Hermosos", and choosing, coincidentally, the same spot chosen temporarily by Santos Coy.
In 1784 they filed the paperwork to purchase 113 sitios de ganado mayor- something like 17. 5 square kilómeters - claiming that they had lived on the site for more than 10 years. The owner of the land, Don Andrés Vicente o Antonio de Urízar, who didn't know his property named Don Ignacio del Valle as his representative in the transaction. The families named Ignacio Anastacio de Ayala as their representative and the deal was consummated with Diego de Lasaga, the political and military governor of the colonia del Nuevo Santander present as well as Pedro Félix Campuzano, the judge commissioned by the government for the mediation of lands.
Even though the families signed the documents on October 18, 1784 in San Felipe de Linares, Nuevo León, with Juan Jacinto de Lanuza, Andrés Vicente de Urízar's new representative, it wasn't until January 3, 1785, when the transaction was finalized.
In this way, large tracts of the land and big ranches started being identified with the names and geographic characteristics of the livestock raised by the original 12 families .
For example, the ranch owned by Juan José Cisneros who was married to María Antonia Villarreal, was identified by locals as "Cabras Pintas".
Don Juan Nepomuceno Cisneros Villarreal, who was married to María Teresa Salinas, owned the ranch called "La Canasta."
Don Miguel Chapa, married to María Teresa Treviño, owned "El Chapeño."
Don Santiago Longoria, married to María Hinojosa, owned "El Longoreño.
Don José Antonio de la Garza Falcón, married to Josefa Villarreal, owned "El Falconeño."
Don Antonio de la Garza, married to María Salomé Sepúlveda, owned the now-famous "El Tahuachal."
Don Luis Antonio García Rodríguez, married to María Rosalía de la Garza, owned the horse ranch "Los Gachupines."
Don Ramón Longoria, married to Josefa García, owned "La Barranca" and "El Capote,"along with Marcelino Longoria and his wife Francisca de la Serna.
Don José de Hinojosa, married to Antonia Benavides, owned "La Palma."
Juan José Solís, married to María Gertrudis Hinojosa, owned "El Soliseño."
Nicolás de Vela, married to María García, were owners of the ranch "Las Animas" along with José Antonio Cavazos y Gertrudis Cantú.
Some of the original names that were given to these areas still persist.
YTURRIA'S BOOK ABOUT HIS ANCESTOR GAVE INSIGHTS INTO HIS LIFE
(Frank Yturria died at a Houston hospital on Nov. 26, 2018 at the age of 95. Yturria was a lawyer, but dedicated most of his life to his ranch and conservation projects, including huge easements to protect ocelots and other endangered species. He also had a flair for acting in westerns as a young man. His book about his ancestor "The Patriarch" gives an insight into his background. We reprint this review we published at the time.)
"The Patriarch"By Frank D. Yturria
Pub. UTB-TSC
2006
319 pages
By Juan Montoya
Having known the author personally, I had hesitated to write a review of Frank's book.
It is a well-known fact that I consider Charles Stillman, Mifflin Kenedy and Richard King – all of the contemporaries and associates of his ancestor Francisco Yturria – as Robber Barons who ultimately dispossessed the rightful owners of their property in South Texas with the help of the Texas Rangers and have been portrayed as the saviors of civilization in paid narratives passing off as history.
Nonetheless, as I read Frank's book carefully, I came to the realization that writing about your ancestors forces your hand and gives you an insight of people's lives that you would otherwise see in a different light.
The first thing that strikes you as a contradiction in Yturria's book about his adoptive great-grandfather is that he wasn't his great-grandfather at all. And the next thing is that the book's title, "The Patriarch," is a misnomer of the first degree.
His ancestors Francisco and Felicitas Yturria could not bear children for four years after they married and despite traveling to New Orleans to get expert medical advice, were told to forget about having offspring.
The current batch of "Yturrias" are the descendants of an ill-conceived offspring between an Irish soldier who came with the invading U.S. Army and a poor Mexican woman from old Guerrero, upriver from Brownsville.
Yturria himself relates this in his tale. After the couple found out they could have no children, a friend advised them to look for a likely child to adopt.
In 1858, Dan Sullivan, a San Antonio businessman, offered to help them adopt one. He was talking about a child born to a Dolores Serna from her relationship with Sullivan's business agent, an Irishman who came with Zachary Taylor's army, one Daniel Louis McGraw.
So in reality, Frank and his brother Fausto and the descendants of his grandfather Daniel are really McGraws.
"It took some persuading, but the arrangements finally were complete," Yturria writes of the couple's first adoption.
According to his account, the friend told Francisco that "You and your wife have so much to offer a child, much more than a poor family can...They might consider letting you adopt the child since you could give him all the things she never will be able to."
According to his account, the friend told Francisco that "You and your wife have so much to offer a child, much more than a poor family can...They might consider letting you adopt the child since you could give him all the things she never will be able to."
Francisco and Felicitas arranged for McGraw to deliver the boy – and named him Santiago – after Francisco's younger brother. The boy died from a fever a year later.
The boy's father had "moved on," and the couple contacted S. G. Cole, a friend in Edinburg, and "arranged" to adopt Dolores Serna's second child. She was "understandably hesitant" to part with her second child.
Negotiations continued until November 1860, when Yturria accompanied by a priest fetched the 18-month-old child. The boy's name was Daniel and he traveled with his mother to Brownsville because she was still breast feeding him. She remained with the boy for a short time and weaned him before returning to Guerrero.
He spent the closing months of the Civil War in 1865 with his mother before returning to Brownsville. After helping her financially "for at least a number of years," they ruptured all contact with the biological mother.
"As far as I know, my grandfather (Daniel) never reestablished contact with his birth mother, nor sought to discover her ultimate fate or that of his father," Yturria writes. "Neither did my father, nor have I, as yet."
Yturria outlines the methods used by his ancestor along with King, Kenedy and Stillman to acquire huge amounts of land. Even though he assures us that everything was on the up and up as they swallowed huge estates from the heirs of the original grant holders, most historians are not as charitable. They cite instances where "questionable" methods were used to cheat the heirs of their valuable lands.
However, Yturria insisted that his ancestor went the extra mile to convince the heirs of land-grant families like the Cavazos family to sell him and his partners thousands of acres for a song.
In the history books, Yturria is known as a "Civil War profiteer and banker," son of Capt. Manuel Maria and Paula Navarro (Ortuzu) Yturria, was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on October 4, 1830. He was married to Felicitas Treviño, daughter of Ygnacio Treviño, an original Spanish land grantee in Cameron County, Texas. True to form, both Kenedy and King also married to daughters of families who inherited land grants and used that relationship to buy off the rest of the family members.
The original Yturria began his career in business by working as a clerk for Stillman, the founder of Brownsville, Texas, and by purchasing lands adjoining those of his wife's inheritance.
As a top aide to Stillman, Yturria was involved in the formation of Mifflin Kenedy and Company, the Rio Grande river boating monopoly that Stillman financed and that Kenedy and King operated. Yturria became the leading cotton broker of Matamoros during this time.He not only established and operated the Francisco Yturria Bank of Brownsville under a private charter, he also owned and established a mercantile house in Matamoros.
For his business friends in Brownsville during the Civil War, Yturria became the registered owner of record of boats belonging to King, Kenedy, and Stillman, allowing their boats loaded with cotton and bound for European ports to sail past vessels of the Union blockade flying the Mexican flag.
In 1864 Emperor Maximilian of Mexico knighted Yturria and appointed him customs collector on the Rio Grande, a position he held until 1867.
In 1864 Emperor Maximilian of Mexico knighted Yturria and appointed him customs collector on the Rio Grande, a position he held until 1867.
When the Civil War ended, Stillman, King, and Kenedy fled to Matamoros and to Yturria's protection; in 1867 they returned to Brownsville, and Yturria fled to Europe to live in France. He returned to Brownsville two years later to again take over his many business enterprises and continue his service to his old friends Stillman, Kenedy, King, and others.
At the time of his death Yturria owned 130,000 acres in Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Kenedy, and Starr counties.
The vast Punta del Monte Rancho was the headquarters of an 85,000-acre tract of land in Willacy and Kenedy counties, which produced 2,000 steers per year. Yturria would travel by boat to New Orleans and by train to Kansas, where he sold his cattle; he returned to Texas by way of New York, where he made his deposits in the Hanover National Bank.
He was one of the wealthiest and most influential men of his time in southwest Texas. Yturria died on June 12, 1912, in Brownsville. And his adoptive descendant Frank Yturria died at 95 on November 26, 2018.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Monday, January 13, 2025
CANADA TO TRUMP MAKING IT 51'ST STATE: (POUSSE-LE) SHOVE IT!
By Jean Chrétien
Former Canadian Prime Minister
Today is my 91st birthday.
It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends. To look back on the life I’ve been privileged to lead. And to reflect on how this country we all love so much has grown and changed in my nine decades on this earth.
This year, I’ve also decided to give myself a birthday present. I’m going to do something in this piece that I don’t do very often anymore: address a major issue that affects the state of our nation and deeply concerns me and so many other Canadians.
Today is my 91st birthday.
It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends. To look back on the life I’ve been privileged to lead. And to reflect on how this country we all love so much has grown and changed in my nine decades on this earth.
This year, I’ve also decided to give myself a birthday present. I’m going to do something in this piece that I don’t do very often anymore: address a major issue that affects the state of our nation and deeply concerns me and so many other Canadians.
Of course, it’s the totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats to our sovereignty from Donald Trump.
I have two very clear and simple messages.
To Donald Trump, from one old man to another: wake up! What makes you think that Canadians would ever give up the greatest country in the world – and make no mistake, that is what we are – to join the United States?
I can tell you that Canadians value their independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world – in compassion, in understanding, in tolerance, and in finding a way for people of different backgrounds and beliefs to live together in harmony.
We have also built a strong social safety net – including public health care – that we are very proud of. It is not perfect, but it is based on the principle that the most vulnerable among us must be protected.
It may not be the “American way” or the “Trump way.” But it is the reality that I have witnessed and lived throughout my long life.
If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to change our minds, you really don’t know us. You don’t know that when it came to fighting two world wars for freedom, we signed up – both times – years before your country did. We fought and sacrificed enormously.
We also had the courage to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a totally unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq.
We built a nation on the most rugged and difficult terrain imaginable. And we did it against all odds. We may appear easygoing and gentle. But make no mistake, we are determined and tough.
A Message to Our Leaders
And that brings me to my second message, to all our leaders, federal and provincial – and to those who aspire to lead our country:
Start showing that determination and that tenacity. This is what Canadians want to see – this is what they need to see. This is what we call leadership. Canadians are ready to follow. You have to lead the way.
I know the spirit is there. Since Trump’s attacks, all political parties have come out in support of Canada. In fact, to my great satisfaction, even the Bloc Québécois is standing up for Canada!
But you don’t win a hockey game by playing defence alone. We all know that even if we meet one demand, President Trump will come back with another, bigger one. This is not diplomacy, this is blackmail.
We need a different approach. One that will break this cycle.
President Trump has accomplished one thing: he has unified Canadians more than ever before! All of our country’s leaders have come together in a determination to defend Canadian interests.
When I became Prime Minister, Canada was facing a crisis of national unity. The threat of Quebec separation was real. We acted to address that existential threat in a way that made Canadians, including Quebecers, stronger, more united, and even more proud of Canadian values.
Now there is another existential threat. And we must once again reduce our vulnerability. That is the challenge for this generation of political leaders.
And you won’t do it by using the same old approaches. Yes, telling Americans that we are their best friends and their closest trading partner is a good thing. So is the intense lobbying in Washington and state capitals, emphasizing that tariffs will also hurt their economies. As for retaliatory tariffs: when you are attacked, you must defend yourself.
But we must also play offense. Let’s tell Trump that we have border problems with the United States, too. Canada has strict gun control laws, but illegal guns are flooding in from the United States.
We need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of firearms coming into Canada. We also want to protect the Arctic. But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters and insists that it is an international waterway. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as Canadian waters.
We also need to reduce our vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States.
Let’s make it a national project to remove those barriers! Let’s strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together – for example, by creating a real energy grid across the country.
We also need to understand that Donald Trump is not only threatening us, he is also targeting a growing number of other countries and the European Union itself. He is just getting started.
Canada should quickly convene a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to formulate a plan to combat these threats. Every time Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. Let’s organize! To counter unreasonable, raw power, we need strength in numbers.
Canadians know me. They know that I am optimistic. That I am practical. And that I always speak my mind. I have made my share of mistakes in my long career, but I have never doubted the decency of my fellow Canadians – or my political adversaries.
The current – and future – generation of political leaders should remember that they are not each other’s enemies, but adversaries. No one has ever loved the harshness of the political arena as much as I have. But I have always understood that each of us is trying to make a positive contribution to making our community and our country a better place.
That spirit is more important than ever as we face this new challenge. They should keep that in mind.
I am 91 years old today and in good health. And I stand on the ramparts to help defend our country’s independence as I have done all my life.
Long live Canada!
I have two very clear and simple messages.
To Donald Trump, from one old man to another: wake up! What makes you think that Canadians would ever give up the greatest country in the world – and make no mistake, that is what we are – to join the United States?
I can tell you that Canadians value their independence. We love our country. We have built something here that is the envy of the world – in compassion, in understanding, in tolerance, and in finding a way for people of different backgrounds and beliefs to live together in harmony.
We have also built a strong social safety net – including public health care – that we are very proud of. It is not perfect, but it is based on the principle that the most vulnerable among us must be protected.
It may not be the “American way” or the “Trump way.” But it is the reality that I have witnessed and lived throughout my long life.
If you think that threatening and insulting us is going to change our minds, you really don’t know us. You don’t know that when it came to fighting two world wars for freedom, we signed up – both times – years before your country did. We fought and sacrificed enormously.
We also had the courage to say no to your country when it tried to drag us into a totally unjustified and destabilizing war in Iraq.
We built a nation on the most rugged and difficult terrain imaginable. And we did it against all odds. We may appear easygoing and gentle. But make no mistake, we are determined and tough.
Start showing that determination and that tenacity. This is what Canadians want to see – this is what they need to see. This is what we call leadership. Canadians are ready to follow. You have to lead the way.
I know the spirit is there. Since Trump’s attacks, all political parties have come out in support of Canada. In fact, to my great satisfaction, even the Bloc Québécois is standing up for Canada!
But you don’t win a hockey game by playing defence alone. We all know that even if we meet one demand, President Trump will come back with another, bigger one. This is not diplomacy, this is blackmail.
We need a different approach. One that will break this cycle.
President Trump has accomplished one thing: he has unified Canadians more than ever before! All of our country’s leaders have come together in a determination to defend Canadian interests.
When I became Prime Minister, Canada was facing a crisis of national unity. The threat of Quebec separation was real. We acted to address that existential threat in a way that made Canadians, including Quebecers, stronger, more united, and even more proud of Canadian values.
Now there is another existential threat. And we must once again reduce our vulnerability. That is the challenge for this generation of political leaders.
And you won’t do it by using the same old approaches. Yes, telling Americans that we are their best friends and their closest trading partner is a good thing. So is the intense lobbying in Washington and state capitals, emphasizing that tariffs will also hurt their economies. As for retaliatory tariffs: when you are attacked, you must defend yourself.
Reducing our vulnerability
But we must also play offense. Let’s tell Trump that we have border problems with the United States, too. Canada has strict gun control laws, but illegal guns are flooding in from the United States.
We need to tell him that we expect the United States to act to reduce the number of firearms coming into Canada. We also want to protect the Arctic. But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters and insists that it is an international waterway. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as Canadian waters.
We also need to reduce our vulnerability in the first place. We need to be stronger. There are more trade barriers between provinces than between Canada and the United States.
Let’s make it a national project to remove those barriers! Let’s strengthen the ties that bind this vast nation together – for example, by creating a real energy grid across the country.
We also need to understand that Donald Trump is not only threatening us, he is also targeting a growing number of other countries and the European Union itself. He is just getting started.
Canada should quickly convene a meeting of the leaders of Denmark, Panama, Mexico, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to formulate a plan to combat these threats. Every time Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. Let’s organize! To counter unreasonable, raw power, we need strength in numbers.
Respect for our adversaries
The challenge is not to wait in fear for Donald Trump’s next move, but to build a country and an international community that can resist him.Canadians know me. They know that I am optimistic. That I am practical. And that I always speak my mind. I have made my share of mistakes in my long career, but I have never doubted the decency of my fellow Canadians – or my political adversaries.
The current – and future – generation of political leaders should remember that they are not each other’s enemies, but adversaries. No one has ever loved the harshness of the political arena as much as I have. But I have always understood that each of us is trying to make a positive contribution to making our community and our country a better place.
That spirit is more important than ever as we face this new challenge. They should keep that in mind.
I am 91 years old today and in good health. And I stand on the ramparts to help defend our country’s independence as I have done all my life.
Long live Canada!
Sunday, January 12, 2025
IS GUERRA BUILDING AN EMPIRE OUT AT THE PORT OF B'VILLE? HAS ERIC GARZA FOUND A HOME AS PORT POLICE CHIEF?
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Before that, the rumor mill had begun to grind out rumors that Dietrich was romantically involved with one of Guerra's cousins and that the couple had been seen together in public events.
Some public entities, like the City of Brownsville and – most recently – the Cameron County Sheriff's Department, have been considered sieves of inside information.
Que no se diga el Brownsville Independent School District (BISD).
For the most part, it is disaffected employees who are given no outlet for what they consider to be favoritism, unfair treatment, or who honestly believe that there is wrongdoing going on in their workplace that the public should know about.
Until Eric Garza left office at the beginning the year, the sheriff's department was the number one leak factory, and the scuttlebutt emanating from the CID, the jail, patrol, etc., was more like a torrent than a leak. With the local newspaper now just an advertising cash cow and published only two or three times a week, the preferred media for the information have been social media, this one included.
Now we're hearing that out at the Brownsville Navigation District (the Port of Brownsville, AKA the Golden Ditch), its chair Esteban Guerra has started to build a personal empire by surrounding himself with family and political allies and putting them on the port's payroll.
Guerra, who has made no secret that he would like to occupy the Cameron County judge's seat now held by judge Eddie Treviño, has made inroads toward that goal by making himself appear indispensable to congressman Vicente Gonzalez in the last congressional election in his run at House District 34 against Mayra Flores.
But even before that, Guerra has been very, very busy trying to get his allies elected at the city and the county and to influence the races that send local candidates to Austin and to Washington, D.C.
But charity begins at home, and Guerra took a highly active part in getting port commissioner Ernesto Gutierrez elected to the BND board, and cementing his hold on that board. Then, when former Port Police chief Oscar Garcia "retired" in 2022, Guerra – with a majority of the commission – placed William Dietrich, a retired Brownsville P.D. commander, as "interim" chief.
They made the usual noises and paid lip service (and a national head hunter firm) to conduct a national search and spent thousands looking for a permanent chief of at the port police, and predictably choose Dietrich from among all the other applicants despite his reputation among his law enforcement colleagues and prosecutors as a surly, authoritarian bully with little to no people skills.
Then came the "retirement" of former Port CEO Eddie Campirano. They made the usual national search noises and spent thousands looking for a port director. Hugely qualified applicants from all over the United States and other countries sent in their resumes and visited the port for interviews.
Among the applications was none other's than that of retired police commander – and Guerra's BF – from Brownsville, one William Dietrich.
Well, after the national "dog and pony show" search for port director to replace Campirano was concluded, the majority of the board agreed that Dietrich, who had spent his life chasing crooks and fighting crime, was the perfect candidate to lead an international port of entry without the benefit of maritime cargo experience, international law, or maritime commerce. Based on such flimsy qualifications – and with a reputation for being an unrepentant hothead – Dietrich was chosen nonetheless.
All that was supposedly rumor, but turned out to be borne out by facts. What the chairman wants, the chairman gets. And what happens if you don't kowtow to Guerra's political directives? Ask Beto Torres, who ran against Guerra's wishes in the last election, and he'll give you a mouthful about political and commercial retaliation doled out to Guerra's "enemies." https://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2024/11/at-port-of-brownsville-chairman-guerra.html
Now the port has no police chief, with Julio Romo, a port police lieutenant, viewed as "interim" police chief. Can we expect another "nationwide search" for police chief before Guerra's wishes are carried out?
About the only political contest that Guerra's candidate lost was the one where he supported former county sheriff Garza over eventual winner Manuel "Manny" Treviño, and he made no bones of his support of his opponent by openly bragging before Treviño's supporters that Garza would mop up the floor with the Primera police chief.
Not only that, but Guerra had let it be known that he was eyeing making a run against county judge Treviño's for his seat. This, coming out when Gonzalez was nurturing Democrat unity to beat Flores, did not go over well and reached the ears of eventual congressional winner Gonzalez, who sought to tamp down the tempers on both sides of the issue.
And if you pick up the next copy of Port Matters, don't be surprised to see either Guerra or Dietrich featured in every other article spreading the good news that the current commissioners and port administrators are the best thing that has happened out there since sliced bread. We've never had it so good as under this crew, the publicly-paid de facto propaganda organ gushes monthly.
Here's Steve handing out an award. Here's Dietrich announcing some wonderful statistic. Next thing we'll hear is that Noah's Ark made a landing at the port and that Noah imparted his blessings on the undeserving, awe-struck natives.
So why is it that local longshoremen – the workers actually loading and unloading cargoes and making everyone but themselves rich – are the lowest paid longshoremen in the entire Gulf coast and the Eastern Seaboard? Is the Brownsville port the port that works, but for everyone else but the workers?
Romo, the "interim" port police chief, has been seen representing the BND at some public events, but the rumor mill is once again grinding out its product and the latest tidbit is that the rejected sheriff Garza will find a home at the port's police chief position, elbowing out Romo.
Will this also turn out to be borne true by upcoming events?
If we were Romo, we wouldn't get too comfy at the Port Police Department seat.
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