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Wednesday, December 18, 2024 FREE
UTRGV celebrates 2,700 graduates over two days of ceremonies
Marking an unforgettable occasion, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley celebrated its graduates with a cascade of colorful streamers and the joyful melodies of UTRGV’s Mariachi Aztlán, honoring not only their academic achievements but also the start of their professional journeys – new careers and post-graduation plans.
More than 2,700 Vaqueros will don caps and gowns over two days of ceremonies during UTRGV’s Fall 2024 Commencement, which kicked off festivities on Friday with two ceremonies and will continue the celebration on Saturday at the same times. This year marks the first time all ceremonies are being held in one location – Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg – after previously taking place in both Brownsville and Edinburg.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey welcomed the first group of graduates, encouraging them to take pride in their accomplishments while acknowledging the love and support from their families and loved ones.
“You worked hard, and you earned this degree, but it’s not just your degree; you see all those people sitting around you – it’s their degree,” he said. “Keep your family in mind as you go forward. Your teachers from now on won’t be like the faculty here; it will be your experiences.”
Bailey expressed his eagerness to see them succeed and reminded them that they will always be part of the Vaquero family.
Dr. Luis H. Zayas, UTRGV provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs,
also extended his congratulations to the graduating class. He recognized the faculty that made an influence on each student.
“It is true what they said for centuries: teachers never know where their influence ends. Faculty, your influence is eternal, evidenced by the many graduates you have taught,” he said.
To conclude its first ceremonies of the weekend, UTRGV showered its graduates with a burst of colorful streamers, met with cheers and excitement from both graduates and their guests. Adding to the celebration, the award-winning UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán performed a special rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” as graduates exited the ceremony.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OF THE FUTURE
Michelle Campos, a UTRGV alumna from the College of Liberal Arts, made a significant career move, going from a bachelor’s degree in History to a bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
Today, in front of family, friends and loved ones who supported her through this intensive educational journey, she achieved her goal in the School of Nursing.
“I’m excited to start my career, start working and in a way get my life back. As a student, especially in such a rigorous and demanding course of study, you kind of put your life aside,” Campos said.
She expressed gratitude for her support
system – friends, classmates, instructors and family – who stood by her during her ambitious pursuit.
“As much as nursing school is a personal endeavor and a personal effort one does, one must understand that we cannot do this on our own,” Campos said.
Also graduating from the School of Nursing is Andrea Ramos, 20, of Harlingen. A UTRGV Math and Science Academy (MSA) alumna, Ramos participated in the Vaqueros MD Early Assurance Program, which allows students to begin their undergraduate education with conditional admission to the UTRGV School of Medicine upon graduation.
CHALLENGING AND REWARDING
Fellow UTRGV MSA alum Lea Thomas, who also participates in the Vaqueros MD Early Assurance Program, will celebrate her big day on Saturday with the College of Sciences, earning a degree in biology. A student in the UTRGV Honors College, Thomas, 20, learned to use her skills and knowledge to address pressing challenges.
Thomas, from Edinburg, plans to pursue a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at UTRGV as she readies herself to enter the UTRGV School of Medicine in 2026.
“I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude as I prepare to graduate,” she said. “Graduating in such a short time has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am proud of the work and determination that brought me to this point. UTRGV has provided me with not only an exceptional academic foundation but also opportunities that have solidified my career goals.”
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Honors student Jose Luis Tabarez Jr., from Corpus Christi, will be relocating to Dallas after accepting a full-time position as a highway engineer-in-training with Jacobs, an engineering firm.
The 22-year-old will graduate Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, along with a minor in Business Management.
GRADUATE CAPS OFF BIRTHDAY WEEK
For Noel Rangel of Brownsville, graduation is not only the culmination of a yearlong accelerated online program (AOP) but also the final celebration of his birthday week; he turned 28 on Tuesday. Graduation
day is the cherry on top of an exciting week.
A 2019 alumnus of the UTRGV College of Liberal Arts, Rangel is now a graduate of the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration. After five years of working for UTRGV, the outreach representative found his passion for promoting education.
“Higher education opens up many doors for students,” Rangel said.
As a first-generation college graduate, he acknowledges the challenges faced by first-gen students, but he said the key to success is perseverance.
“The hard times and long nights are small,” Rangel said. “They are just little pebbles in the road. You will succeed and overcome those moments.”
THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES
Friday’s ceremonies included graduates from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Health Professions, School of Nursing and School of Social Work. On Saturday, ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. with the College of Fine Arts, College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Graduates of the College of Education and P-16 Integration and College of Sciences will walk at 4 p.m.
Local Events
Santa at La Plaza Mall
Address: 2200 S 10th St, McAllen, TX
Santa Location: Grand Court, enter through East H&M Entrance
Page 4
Santa at
Address: 2200 S 10th St, McAllen, TX
Santa Location: Grand Court, enter through East H&M Entrance
Looking to add some holiday cheer to your season? Don’t miss the chance to meet Santa and take pictures at La Plaza Mall! Walk-ins are welcome every day until closing time, so gather your loved ones and create lasting memories with jolly old Saint Nick.
Important Details:
Multiple families are scheduled during the selected 15-minute time slots. Plan accordingly for your visit.
Exciting Winter Break Activities For Kids
TheCity of Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department is thrilled to offer an exciting lineup of activities for kids this holiday season with the Country Christmas Day Camp! Perfect for children aged 5-17, this winter break program will run from December 20, 2024, to January 6, 2025, at the Downtown Recreation Center, located at 1338 E. 8th St.
Why Join?
The Country Christmas Day Camp is the perfect opportunity for your children to create cherished memories, make new friends, and experience the magic of the holiday season in a safe and joyful environment.
How to Register:
Santa will be available for pictures at the Grand Court, accessible through the East H&M Entrance.
Santa’s Hours:
Program Details:
Dates: December 20, 2024 - January 6, 2025
Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Cost: $45 per child
This fun-filled camp promises to keep your kids entertained and engaged with a variety of festive and creative activities, including:
• Themed crafts and games
• Music and line dancing
• Pancakes with Santa
• Christmas caroling
• A winter wonderland scavenger hunt
• And much more!
Secure your child’s spot today by registering at https://bit.ly/3QSNcMI. Spaces are limited, so don’t wait!
Contact Information:
For more information, feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (956) 542-2064 or email us at Recreation@brownsvilletx.gov.
Join us this holiday season for a camp filled with fun, creativity, and holiday cheer. Let’s make this winter break unforgettable!
A Revamped Experience for Customers
The recent renovations at Erika’s Salon have transformed the space into a sleek, modern environment where clients can relax and enjoy a full range of beauty services. With updated decor, new furniture, and enhanced facilities..
Services Tailored to Enhance Your Beauty
Erika’s Salon specializes in a variety of services to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. The talented team provides professional treatments that include:
Microblading: Achieve the perfect brows with precision microblading, a semi-permanent technique.
& PEDICURE
Manicure and Pedicure: Indulge in meticulous nail care services, from classic manicures and pedicures to luxurious spa
Hair Dye and Cuts: Whether you’re looking for a bold new color or a chic haircut.
Organic Facials: Rejuvenate your skin with soothing organic facials designed to cleanse, nourish, and revitalize.
A Commitment to Excellence
The remodel reflects Erika’s Salon’s commitment to providing the highest quality of service in a beautiful and relaxing environment. The salon’s dedication to client satisfaction and attention to detail ensures that every visitor leaves feeling refreshed, confident, and well-cared for.
If you’re in Progreso, Tamaulipas, and looking to treat
High-speed rail efforts in Texas have gained some momentum.
say, has offered few clues about how he will approach high-speed rail during his second term — after the Biden administration backed federal financial support for expanding rail.
But in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature, anti-rail efforts will likely persist when lawmakers convene in January.
Some rail backers still see reasons for hope. For one, congestion on Texas roadways amid the state’s robust economic growth has become interminable. Combine that with an expected $20 billion budget surplus, and state lawmakers could be amenable to exploring rail options, said Peter LeCody, who heads the organization Texas Rail Advocates.
By Joshua Fechter, The Texas Tribune
“High-speed rail efforts in Texas have gained some momentum. The Texas Legislature and Donald Trump may change that.” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
The illusive dream of high-speed rail in Texas has become foggier as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office and state GOP lawmakers intent on throwing up roadblocks to rail return to Austin next month.
Over the last two years, high-speed rail ambitions in Texas showed signs of life. Amtrak revived and took the lead on a longmulled high-speed rail route between Dallas and Houston. North Texas transportation planners advanced the idea of extending that line to Fort Worth and Arlington. A glut of federal transportation dollars under President Joe Biden’s administration and increased congestion on Texas interstates pushed some local leaders to make the case for boosting even conventional passenger rail between the state’s major urban areas. Where those efforts will go during a second Trump administration remains to be seen. Trump, rail advocates and experts
“This might be a turning point where the Legislature is starting to wake up and smell the vehicle fumes,” LeCody said.
Some lawmakers are trying to lay the groundwork for a statewide high-speed rail expansion. A bill filed by State Rep. John Bucy, an Austin Democrat, would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to jumpstart a high-speed rail line between Dallas, Austin and San Antonio along the congested Interstate 35 corridor. The state agency would have to enter a comprehensive development agreement with a private company to build, maintain and operate the line, which would have to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour.
There are no immediate plans for such a train, Bucy said, and it’s not clear who would operate it.
Another Bucy bill would allow more state transportation dollars to be spent on high-speed rail as well as other modes of transportation like conventional passenger rail, bicycle lanes and walking paths. The Texas Constitution mandates that most of TxDOT’s budget must be spent on building and expanding freeways. If Bucy’s bill passes, Texas voters would decide whether to amend the constitution to allow a greater share of those dollars to be spent on transportation methods other than highways.
“We need to be able to move people,” Bucy said in an interview. “We need to give people other options.”
Still in question is the future of the longsought Texas Central high-speed rail line
between Dallas and Houston. The project, first pitched in 2009, would shuttle passengers at top speeds above 200 miles per hour — turning what’s now a 3.5-hour commute by car to a 90-minute ride by train.
The line would use the same technology used on Japan’s famed high-speed rail network, which connects that country’s major job centers. A 16-car train there can hold more than 1,300 passengers at a time.
Amtrak revived the project last year following a leadership exodus from Texas Central, which had struggled to acquire land necessary to build the line. The route between Dallas and Houston checks a number of boxes that make it ideal for high-speed rail, Amtrak officials have said — namely that it connects two of the country’s largest metropolitan regions and is flat enough to allow trains to reach the velocity necessary to make the journey relatively speedy.
High-speed rail proposals have long faced a steep climb in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature — where GOP lawmakers are hostile to passenger rail and have particularly sought to stop the Texas Central project. Texas Republicans — including Gov. Greg Abbott, who once heralded the Texas Central proposal — have sought to prevent state tax dollars from paying for high-speed rail and block efforts to seize the land needed to build it through eminent domain.
State legislators approved a law in 2017 intended to bar Texas Central from receiving state dollars to build high-speed rail.
“If the Texas Central line can be built without state or federal money, without taking private property, it’s fine with me,” said state Sen. Robert Nichols, an East Texas Republican who heads the state Senate Transportation Committee. “But the answer is ‘no, they can’t.’ … If it was an investment that would pay big dividends, that’s a whole different deal. That is not an investment that’s going to pay dividends. That is a big cost hole that is a bottomless pit.”
That opposition appears likely to persist next year. Republican legislators have introduced proposals to further enshrine obstacles to high-speed rail. A bill filed by state Rep. Cody Harris, a Palestine Repub-
lican, would forbid state lawmakers from appropriating funds to pay for anything related to high-speed rail operated by a private entity.
Another bill, by state Rep. Brian Harrison, a Waxahachie Republican, would reverse a 2022 Texas Supreme Court decision allowing Texas Central to seize land necessary to build the Dallas-to-Houston line — a decision that alarmed East Texas landowners in the route’s projected path.
“I am committed to protecting my constituents’ private property rights from the forced taking of their land for this wasteful boondoggle project,” Harrison said in a statement.
Just how those GOP proposals would affect the Texas Central line’s development now that Amtrak has taken the lead on the project — or the development of other highspeed rail lines — isn’t clear.
How the Texas Central line could be built without state dollars is difficult to imagine, rail advocates and experts said. The projected cost of the Dallas-to-Houston route is more than $30 billion, up from an earlier $12 billion estimate — money that would have to come from federal and private sources.
“This project needs tens of billions of dollars and we don’t appear to be close to that,” said Eric Goldwyn, program director at the Marron Institute of Urban Management at New York University.
Andy Byford, senior vice president of high-speed rail development at Amtrak, said in November that officials are still figuring out how exactly to pay for the project, which hasn’t gained federal approval.
Byford told reporters earlier this year that Texas Central has acquired about 30% of the land needed to build the line but has maintained that acquiring the remaining land through eminent domain would be a last resort.
Officials pursuing a high-speed rail route connecting Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth hope to do so entirely with private dollars. Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, said he expects private rail operators like Brightline — which owns a route that runs from Orlando to Miami and is pursuing a high-speed route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas — will take interest if the route gains federal approval. Such a project would reduce congestion and improve safety on freeways while sprouting economic development in the form of housing, offices and restaurants
near stations in each city, Morris said.
Separately, Morris said he plans to push state lawmakers to create a new state agency solely focused on high-speed rail efforts.
Another mystery is how Trump will approach passenger rail during his second term.
In his first term, Trump canceled more than $900 million in federal dollars to help pay for California’s beleaguered high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco, funds that Biden would later reinstate. Vivek Ramaswamy — an entrepreneur Trump tapped to lead an effort alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk to slash government spending and pare federal regulations — this week called for ending federal support for the California line, which he dubbed a “wasteful vanity project.”
Trump struck a different tone on the campaign trail this year, openly wondering why the United States doesn’t have highspeed rail of its own.
“They go unbelievably fast, unbelievably comfortable with no problems, and we don’t have anything like that in this country. Not even close,” Trump said during a conversation with Musk hosted on the social media site X. “And it doesn’t make sense that we don’t, doesn’t make sense.”
Outside of high-speed rail, state and local officials are looking for ways to ease congestion on Texas’ increasingly busy interstates and give Texans another way to move around the state.
Using federal dollars, TxDOT is examining how to boost passenger rail service on an existing Amtrak route from Houston to San Antonio. State transportation planners also are studying how to reinstate a conventional Amtrak line between Houston and Dallas, a separate effort from the high-speed project.
Amid robust growth along the Interstate 35 corridor, officials in Travis and Bexar counties have restarted efforts to boost passenger rail frequency between the Austin and San Antonio regions.
Boosting any kind of passenger rail isn’t enough to ease overall congestion, Goldwyn said, adding that state and local officials should also back efforts to make urban areas more walkable and easier to traverse by bicycle or public transit.
Passenger rail “is one tool we can use to help solve that problem, but we need to do a lot of other things as well,” he said.
Disclosure: Texas Central has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/10/texas-high-speedrail-trump-legislature/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Class of 2024: Deaf graduate overcomes challenges
By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
Ina sea of caps and gowns at this weekend’s UTRGV Fall commencement ceremonies, one graduate stands out for transforming what could have been a barrier into a beacon of hope and possibility.
Deaf since birth, Giselle Lozano is not only earning her degree in Criminal Justice but is also inspiring countless others to believe no dream is out of reach.
Driven by a desire to “protect my family and my community from any dangers out in the world,” Lozano pursued Criminal Justice to better understand and contribute to a system that safeguards communities – a mission shaped by her own life experiences.
“Being a deaf person, you encounter challenges throughout your academic experience,” Lozano said. “There is a difference in the way that you learn because you cannot hear your professor teach the lessons; however, with the help of all the interpreters, I was able to be just as successful as my peers.”
Lozano, an Edinburg native, said her academic journey at UTRGV included accommodations such as interpreters, assigned note-takers and extra time on assignments. She also found strength in her family’s unwavering encouragement.
“They have always encouraged me, believed in my abilities and provided emotional support during challenging times,” she said.
For Lozano, being deaf has not only influenced her education but also shaped her perspective on the criminal justice system as a whole. She believes that communication barriers in law enforcement, legal and correctional settings can limit fairness and
opportunity.
“My identity as a deaf individual has shaped my belief in the importance of accessibility and inclusivity,” she said. “I’ve experienced how communication barriers can limit opportunities and fairness, which has motivated me to advocate for equal treatment for people with disabilities.”
Looking ahead, Lozano remains open-minded about her exact career path, considering roles with U.S. Customs or Border Patrol, as well as victim advocacy and policy work. She hopes to leverage her experiences to improve communication access for others – particularly those with disabilities – navigating the justice system.
“I think I could make the biggest difference in victim advocacy and policy work,” she said. “Whether it’s working directly with victims or helping shape policies to make things fairer and more accessible, I want to create real change.”
As graduation approaches, Lozano feels both proud and reflective.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I stayed resilient through the challenges I faced,” she said, acknowledging that her family is equally thrilled by her accomplishment.
Lozano hopes her story will inspire other deaf students and professionals. “No dream is too big. Your disability doesn’t define your potential – you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”
This weekend, as Lozano crosses the commencement stage, she not only marks the end of her undergraduate journey but also steps into a future defined by possibility and purpose. In doing so, she exemplifies UTRGV’s mission, demonstrating that higher education – and the world beyond – can be a more inclusive space for all.
OPINION
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
Trump won’t be able to deport 12 million immigrants — not even close
President-elect
Donald said in his first post-election TV interview that he will deport everyone who is illegally in the United States, which would amount to more than 12 million people. But mark my words: that will not happen.
There are practical, legal and economic reasons why Trump won’t be able to come even close to deporting the millions of people he has promised. Nevertheless, he is likely to continue using his inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric as a rallying cry to keep his supporters fired up during his four years in office.
In his interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump was asked by interviewer Kristen Welker, “Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next
four years?” The president-elect’s answer was, “Well, I think you have to do it.”
Trump added that he will start by deporting immigrants with criminal records, but doubled down on his promise to deport anyone without legal immigration documents. That will also include legal residents or citizens who don’t want to be separated from their undocumented relatives, he said.
Trump’s designated border czar Tom Homan claimed there are 1.5 million immigrants with criminal records, although official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency data say the number is closer to 660,000.
Most immigration experts say Trump may be able to marginally increase the average number of deportations in recent years, but nowhere near the more than 12 million he’s promising.
To put the numbers in perspective, Trump deported 1.5 million immigrants during his four years in office. President Biden is expected to end his term having deported a similar number of people, not counting expulsions during the pandemic era under a now-defunct Title 42 emergency order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Most immigration experts are skeptical that these numbers will skyrocket during Trump’s second term.
Andrew Selee, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, told me that “We’re likely to see an increase in deportations, but nowhere near the many millions that president elect has talked about.” Selee estimated that there may be “a few hundred thousand more deportations, but not millions.”
Among the reasons Trump is unlikely to be able to expel all undocumented immigrants:
First, if the past is any indication, Trump’s campaign promises should be taken with a grain of salt. Trump started his first presidential campaign on June 16, 2015, promising that he would build a wall along the 2,000 mile border, and that “I will have Mexico pay for that wall.” But neither of these two promises materialized during his presidency.
Trump only built 3 new miles of border wall — the rest was repairing existing structures — and Mexico never paid a cent for them, according to the fact-checking site Politifact.
Second, deporting more than 12 million undocumented people would be incredibly expensive. According to an American Immigration Council study, it would cost at least $315 billion, “and that would be a highly conservative estimate.”
The figure doesn’t even take into account the cost of building mega-prisons for more than 12 million potential deportees. To put the problem in perspective, the current prison population in the United States, including federal and local jails, is 1.9 million, the Council said.
Third, deporting all undocumented immigrants would have a huge economic cost in the United States, because much of the construction, agriculture and hospitality industries rely on undocumented workers.
If they are expelled from the country, labor costs would go up, and everything from groceries to housing would become more expensive. The removal of all undocumented
construction, agriculture and hospitality workers from the country could reduce the U.S. gross domestic product by $1.7 trillion, according to the Council study.
Fourth, there would be huge legal hurdles to deport all undocumented immigrants because the Constitution guarantees due process to all individuals living in the country, including undocumented immigrants. This means that each case must be heard in court, which can sometimes take years. There is a backlog of 3.7 million pending immigration cases.
Last, but not least, public sentiment on immigration may veer against Trump’s draconian measures.
Growing numbers of Americans will realize that Trump’s claim that there is an “invasion” of undocumented migrants is misleading. There was, indeed, an increase in the influx of unauthorized migrants in 2022 and 2023, but the numbers fell by 60% in 2024, according to ICE figures.
Trump has conveniently failed to mention that his bogus “invasion” no longer exists. And he has failed to mention the many studies showing that undocumented migrants on average commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born Americans.
My biggest fear is that Trump, who has said that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” will use unauthorized immigrants as political fodder to energize his base. The net result of his “largest deportation” plan will probably be hurting the U.S. economy and helping normalize racial hatred.
New Senior Center Opens in Brownsville
The City of Brownsville opens its new Brownsville Senior Center, located at 519 E. Madison Street, to better meet the needs of senior citizens in the community. The center will serve as a resource and recreational center, operated by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, offering services to educate, engage, and entertain the elderly population.
“The Brownsville Senior Center is a welcoming space that is dedicated to serving residents aged 60 and older, ensuring that they have social, recreational and physical needs met in one location,” said John Cowen, Jr., Brownsville City Mayor. “This is a great opportunity for us as a City to better meet the needs of our elderly population. The Commission, City leadership and I are very supportive of the Brownsville Senior Center as this is a testament to our commitment to improve the quality of life for this specific group of residents.”
“The Senior Center aims to foster community connections and encourage seniors to embrace an active and fulfilling lifestyle,” said Helen Ramirez, ICMA-CM, AICP, Brownsville City Manager. “The Brownsville Senior Center will serve various needs of our community. It will serve our senior citizen population, but it will also serve our veterans as there is an agency partner to the City housed there that offers utility assistance to veterans. The Center will in addition, offer cooking classes, nutritional education, various wellness programs, and so much more.”
“The opening of the Brownsville Senior Center creates a place where our seniors can find support, build friendships, and
enjoy activities that enrich their lives,” said Sean De Palma, Parks and Recreation Department Director. “We are proud to provide this space for connection, wellness, and community. We look forward to serving our community here.”
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has been working to create a resourceful, engaging program for seniors. One that allows them to connect, stay active, and truly thrive. The center’s goal is to help them get out of their homes, foster friendships, and ensure they feel valued and engaged in Brownsville.
Programming at the Brownsville Senior Center includes exercise classes such as line dancing, Tai Chi, and Tu Salud Sí Cuenta. Wellness and nutritional workshops, arts and crafts, lotería, and themed social events are also part of the lineup.
The Parks and Recreation Department is operating the Brownsville Senior Center Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, as of December 12th. Residents interested in learning more are invited to come by the center or call Senior Program Coordinator, Laura Hollbrook, at (956) 551-2314.
Parks and Recreation Department staff say they have future plans to implement a community garden at the Bike Barn, which across the street from the center, and at some point start offering hot meals for seniors. Additionally, the South Texas Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Association shares the facility, offering support to veterans.
The Brownsville Senior Center operates entirely through grant funding, without relying on City funds.
Ready for the next mission
Class of 2024: U.S. Army veteran and future physical therapist prepared to help others in new chapter of life
By Alvaro Ayala
ForArturo Montoya, 29, his scholarly path at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley began after serving in Afghanistan, where he was inspired by physical therapists during his recovery from a foot injury.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” Montoya said. “When I broke my foot, I spent a lot of time with the physical therapists in our unit, and seeing how they operate was fascinating.”
The Palmview, Texas native, who served in the U.S. Army, will cross the stage this Friday at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, joining more than 2,700 fellow graduates in four ceremonies on December 13-14.
Montoya will earn his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy. He said the road to graduation was met with challenges, but he overcame them with the support of family, friends and UTRGV’s Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC), which helped him complete his mission.
As a first-generation college student, Montoya said the MVSC helped him navigate college life – such as completing FAFSA applications, registering for classes and billing information.
“They literally walked me through the door to get into UTRGV and made sure I was taken care of,” Montoya said.
Recently, Montoya was honored during an MVSC event where he was presented with an honorary stole to commemorate his student-veteran status.
SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT DECISION
Montoya joined the military on a “spur of the moment” decision after some time spent at community college. Seeking a challenge, he walked into a military recruiter’s office, and within two months, he was at basic training at Fort Moore (Fort Benning) in Georgia, followed by two deployments to
Afghanistan.
“It was surreal,” Montoya reflected. “One moment, you’re admiring the breathtaking Afghan mountains, and the next, you’re discussing your mission and role.”
After fulfilling his duties, Montoya was honorably discharged due to a broken foot and returned home in March 2019. He then decided to go back to school and finish his associate degree at South Texas College, however his transition to civilian life was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After completing his associate degree online, Montoya enrolled at UTRGV in Spring 2022 to pursue a physical therapy degree and begin his quest to help others recover and return to their normal lives and activities after an injury.
“Seeing people return to their daily lives is rewarding,” he said. “It makes me feel like I’m giving back.”
REDISCOVERING A PASSION
In addition to his academic pursuits, after returning home from the military, Montoya rekindled a middle school hobby: DJing. Following the pandemic and while completing his associate’s degree online, he practiced on a Pioneer DJ controller, finding solace during uncertain times.
“That helped me get through,” he said, crediting friends from the DJ community for encouraging his passion.
Today, Montoya is a prominent figure in the local scene, curating events with Upbeat Entertainment to showcase artists from Chicago, Austin, and Los Angeles.
Montoya plans to continue his DJ duties after graduation while also focusing on applying to physical therapy programs across the state in pursuit of a master’s degree.
Returning to school was the best decision he ever made, Montoya said. The icing on the cake has been the love and support he received from UTRGV, friends and loved ones to get him here.
“It’s been a fun time, and I appreciate UTRGV for being able to help me and other fellow student-veterans complete this milestone,” he said. “Not a lot of people get to say they graduated from a university.”
Fall Season in Review: Men’s Soccer
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s soccer team saw plenty of good things this fall season that can be used to continue the build for the future.
The Vaqueros finished the season with four wins and five ties, four of those ties came in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play. If the Vaqueros could have flipped those ties into wins, then it could have been a different story at the end of the season.
No matter the outcome of the matches or of the season, the Vaqueros played throughout the season with confidence.
“When you look at the season, you look at in two-folds,” UTRGV Head Coach Bryheem Hancock said. “You have the non-conference and conference play. I thought this year there were a lot of opportunities for us. We had four ties in conference play, and you look back at it and any of those matches could have turned into a win. Going into the final four matches of the regular season, I thought the guys were confident in the way they were playing and when you look at the stats, except for the scoreline, most games we controlled it, and the guys feel that way too. I think the hard two parts in the game of soccer is scoring goals and conceding
goals. For us, that will be a big focus in the offseason.”
The Vaqueros showed flashes of how good they could be early on in the season as they opened the season with a win at Lindenwood, but they really showed their grittiness against one of the best teams in the country in No. 16 SMU.
The Mustangs grabbed a 3-0 lead after halftime but the Vaqueros two goals in the span of five minutes and had a chance to tie the match before falling. It was a great experience for the squad knowing they could compete with one of the best and that will be something that will give confidence for next season as well.
“We have a lot of guys coming back and who have now played a season, who showed a lot of improvement from last spring, and now it’s about taking that last step to get the scoreline to indicate what we have shown in the last year or year and a half. We played a team that is still in the NCAA’s Elite 8 in SMU. We were down at the half at their place, in a hostile environment. We came back and got two and could have easily tied the match at the end. That indicates that we have improved a ton from last season and that’s what we need, just to improve and the scoreline will show that.”
Francis and Torre were rewarded for their efforts this season as they took home WAC honors. Francis was named to the AllWAC Second Team while Torre was named to the WAC All-Freshman Team.
Francis finished the season with points (10) and goals (4) while leading the team in shots (30), shots on goal (16) and finished fourth on the team with two assists. Torre finished tied for the team lead in goals (4), finished fourth in points (9) and second in shots (30) and shots on goal (12).
Both were a key to the Vaqueros’ success offensively and Coach Hancock is excited to see what they can accomplish in the future.
“Their awards speak for themselves,” Hancock said. “They are players that we expect to come in every day and show up. They did that. We expect for them to have bright futures moving forward and if they continue that and the guys around them continue to improve as a whole then it could mean great things for us next season.”
While there were several games that could have turned into wins, there was one game that really encompassed who the Vaqueros really were this fall.
The 5-1 win over Air Force had a little bit of everything. It showed the Vaqueros resilience, tenacity, and offensive capabilities.
The Vaqueros really put a focus on building their chemistry in the spring and it really showed in the fall. UTRGV scored 22 goals this season across 10 different goal scorers and recorded 20 assists after recording just nine the season before.
UTRGV found different ways to score, which made it harder for teams to defend and prepare for. Junior KG Sukati, sophomore Keaviano Francis, and freshman Pablo Torre tied for the team lead with four goals while Sukati, Francis, and sophomore Jaime Carrillo tied for the team lead with 10 points each.
Carrillo led the team with six assists with senior Cesar Baltazar and junior Kimito Fritz each added three assists of their own.
“I think it’s a lot better because teams can’t gameplan for one or two guys,” Hancock said. “When you have multiple guys that can step up and are confident in front of the goal, then it’s harder to defend that. It’s easier to zero in on one or two guys. That helped us a lot with our balance of how we were able to play. We would build at times, sit back of the line and transition, we were direct at times. I think we had a lot of different ways to score goals and that was a big reason why we had a lot of different scorers this season.”
“There were several moments we could look back on,” Hancock said. “I think that match against Air Force, a team that you know prides itself in outworking others in any conditions. A 12 p.m. match. It’s easy to go through the motions in that type of game against a team that is going to come with a lot of energy, be very physical, and not quit until the end and to see, after facing a little bit of adversity in the beginning with the PK, the guys respond with five goals. It felt like it could have been 10. It was an enjoyable moment that showcased what the team is capable of and what we could see more of in the future.”
The fall season saw bright spots all throughout the season, but Coach Hancock is confident that the Vaqueros can take that next step.
It will be important to build on the good things from the fall and make them better in 2025.
“We have to continue improve in our development first,” Hancock said. “Then it’s about recruiting and bringing in guys at certain positions to continue to compete with the group that is here. We need to strengthen our togetherness. That team bonding aspect that was a big improvement last season and we saw that correlate to how we played in matches. We can’t let that slip and we need to continue to improve that as much as the development of each guy that is here in the program.”
Men’s Basketball Beats Northern New Mexico Women’s Basketball Defeated by Lamar
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s basketball team beat the Northern New Mexico College Eagles 72-60 on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Senior Cliff Davis led the Vaqueros (64, 1-1 SLC) with a season-high 21 points with a season-high six three-pointers while also grabbing five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Senior K.T. Raimey scored 14 points while recording five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Freshman Jaylen Washington scored a career-high eight points and dished a career-high six assists in 18 minutes off the bench.
Jesus Mendoza led the Eagles with 15 points while adding four rebounds and one assist. Tahj-Malik Campbell scored 14 points with seven rebounds and three assists.
The Vaqueros came out firing as they took an early 11-0 lead that saw the ball move seamlessly between the Vaqueros as they scored five baskets on four assists. Five different Vaqueros scored on the run, forcing a timeout by the Eagles.
After the timeout, the Eagles clawed back and took the lead using a 17-5 run. The Vaqueros and Eagles started to exchange baskets as Washington and junior Howie Fleming Jr. used their speed to create opportunities and sink layups at the net. Fleming continued to find his way into the paint as he scored another three points at the line after drawing fouls on layup attempts.
With the Vaqueros leading 25-24, senior K.T. Raimey went on a personal 7-0 run
sparked by a converted and-one layup and capped by another physical drive. Raimey then used the extra attention inside to find freshman RJ Nance who sunk a three-pointer from the corner to give the Vaqueros a 35-26 lead.
In the final minute of the half, the Eagles and Vaqueros traded baskets with Davis and Nance each hitting a three-pointer to extend the lead to 41-31.
Davis drilled back-to-back three-pointers to start the second half and force an early timeout by the Eagles.
With the Vaqueros leading 47-36 at the 16:56 mark, both teams turned up the intensity on the defensive end as only seven points were scored, all free throws, over the next 7:02. Davis broke the streak of free throws as he hit his fifth three-pointer of the game to extend the Vaqueros lead to 54-38.
With the Vaqueros leading 57-44, Davis hit his season-high sixth three-pointer of the game and Raimey tipped a pass from the Eagles before taking it to the hoop with a behind-the-back finish to extend the lead to 62-44.
The Vaqueros remained in control as the Eagles did not get within single digits the rest of the game.
Up next, UTRGV will host Southern Utah in a non-conference game on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tickets are available for purchase at UTRGVTickets. com. A clear bag policy is in place for all fans at UTRGV facilities.
Fans can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via Southland International.
TheUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s basketball team was defeated by the Lamar (LU) Cardinals 69-44 on Saturday in a Southland Conference game at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Graduate student Kade Hackerott led the Vaqueros (4-6, 1-1 SLC) by scoring 10 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing a team-high four assists. Freshman Gianna Angiolet also scored 10 points while dishing three assists and recording a team-high two steals.
Jacei Denley led the Cardinals (5-3, 1-0 SLC) with a game-high 18 points while adding two rebounds and two assists. Kamryn Wilson scored 12 points while R’Mani Taylor scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds.
The Vaqueros struggled to break the press from the Cardinals in the first which led to an early 15-2 lead. Junior Charlotte O’Keefe stopped the run with an and-one layup and freshman Madison Huhn drilled a buzzer-beating midrange jumper to help the Vaqueros close the first on a 5-0 run.
Hackerott kept the run going in the second half with a layup off a nice entrance pass from Angiolet. The Cardinals
responded with a 10-2 run to take a 25-11 lead. Both teams exchanged baskets as the Cardinals entered the half with 30-17 lead.
The Cardinals pushed their lead to 4417 early in the half before the Vaqueros responded with back-to-back 3-pointers by Angiolet and freshman Kayla Lorenz which fueled an 18-6 run to close the third quarter. The run featured a three-pointer and a floater from Lorenz and a three-pointer from Hackerott and Huhn that brought them within 15 at the end of the third.
The Cardinals outscored the Vaqueros 19-9 in the final frame to put the game away.
Up next, the Vaqueros will host the UTRGV Holiday Classic, a four-team multiple team event featuring Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Kansas City, and Eastern Michigan. The Vaqueros will take on Eastern Michigan in their first matchup on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Fans that bring a new or gently used coat on Dec. 19 will receive free admission. All other fans can purchase tickets at UTRGVTickets.com. A clear bag policy is in place for all fans at UTRGV facilities. Fans can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via Southland International.
UTRGV Athletics Graduates Six After Fall Semester
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is proud to announce that six student-athletes graduated on Friday and Saturday at the fall semester commencement ceremonies at Bert Ogden Arena.
“We are proud of these student-athletes for their hard work and commitment,”
UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “This weekend’s graduates have been, and will no doubt continue to be, great ambassadors for the university in the community. Our young people have bright futures ahead of them. We congratulate them and are excited to now call them alumni!”
2024 Fall Graduates Women’s Basketball
Brianna Sanchez, Bachelor of Arts in English
Tierra Trotter, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Men’s Soccer
Oneeko Allen, Bachelor of Business Administration in Management
Jason Robles, Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (business administration, management, and marketing)
Women’s Soccer
Abbie Bailey, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Volleyball
Perris Key, Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
UTRGV professor awarded NSF grant to enhance medical sensor reliability
By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
Li Zhang, a professor in the UTRGV Department of Computer Science, has received a $260,000 grant for research aimed at improving the reliability of deep learning models that analyze time-series data from medical sensors, crucial in modern healthcare applications like patient monitoring and diagnostics.
The grant, from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under its Computer and Information Science and Engineering Minority Serving Institution Research Expansion program, supports a project titled “Collaborative Research: CISE MSI: RDP: III: Towards Robust and Human-Aligned
Deep Learning for Medical-Sensor Time Series.”
“To make time-series deep learning models more reliable, the project aims to understand the role of patterns in sensor time-series data on AI decision-making,” Zhang said. “We seek to answer three key questions: Do AI models use these patterns to make decisions? Do these patterns lead to misleading conclusions? And how can we correct AI when it relies on misleading patterns?”
ADDRESSING SPURIOUS CORRELATIONS
Time-series data often contain spurious correlations – patterns that may mislead
AI models into making incorrect decisions. These inaccuracies can undermine the robustness of deep learning models, particularly when generalizing to new patients in complex environments.
The project will:
Identify Input Confounders: Examine various levels of time-series data – point, segment, and structure – to understand spurious correlations with target labels.
Design Mitigation Strategies: Develop knowledge-editing techniques to locate and correct neuron groups responsible for these spurious correlations.
Apply to Medical Applications: Test the
approach in monitoring Parkinson’s disease and detecting falls in the elderly.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
Zhang leads the project at UTRGV in collaboration with Na Zou from the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Houston and Kaixiong Zhou from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University. The project, which began on Sept. 1, 2024, will continue through 2027.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
A significant aspect of the project focuses on education and outreach, particularly within the Hispanic community in South Texas.
“We have been trying very hard to provide research opportunities to our local students, especially within our Hispanic student community,” Zhang said. “This is an excellent opportunity for our students to get exposed to cutting-edge interdisciplinary work at the intersection of AI and healthcare.”
The project has already begun hiring local undergraduate and master’s students, positioning them for impactful careers in the future, Zhang said.
“Grants like these allow us to hire and train our students, support them to attend conferences, and attract strong long-term collaborators,” Zhang noted. “These are valuable steps toward establishing a Hispanic student community pursuing AIbased healthcare research.”
A VISION FOR ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE
Zhang believes the broader impact of the research on society will ultimately help provide alternatives to rising healthcare costs.
“With the rising cost of healthcare and an aging population, this technology will potentially provide a low-cost and improved solution for real-time monitoring in athome care,” he said. “Our goal is to build technology that not only advances healthcare but also helps reduce costs, making quality care more accessible to all.”
DHR Health Expands Sports Medicine Team with Dr. Jimmy Gonzales
DHRHealth is proud to welcome Dr. Jimmy Gonzales, a double board-certified physician in family medicine and sports medicine, to our team. Dr. Gonzales specializes in non-surgical treatments, including joint injections, and focuses on correcting muscle imbalances and weaknesses. He provides care to people of all activity levels, from those with everyday injuries to athletes seeking specialized treatment. His expertise encompasses a wide range of orthopedic and sports injury services, such as injury prevention and treatment for arthritis, concussions, sprained ankles, stress fractures, and torn ligaments. Dr. Gonzales’s goal is to help patients return to their normal activities safely and as quickly as possible. Dr. Gonzales graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University in College Station. He earned his medical degree and completed a surgery internship at UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He later completed a family medicine residency at Baylor Scott & White in Temple and a sports medicine fellowship at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Lubbock.
Celebrating the Holidays in a Heart-Smart Way
For the past nine years. Dr. Gonzales has held leadership roles at the UTRGV School of Medicine, including serving as Interim Chair for the Department of Family & Community Medicine and Program Director for the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. He has also been the team physician for the RGVFC Toros, RGV Vipers, and the UTRGV Athletics Team. His research and publications make him an expert in evidence-based care.
Dr. Gonzales believes every patient is unique and deserves a treatment plan that fits their specific needs and goals. “I like to involve my patients in the decision-making process. I provide them with clear information about their diagnosis so they can make confident, informed decisions. Treatment plans are not one-size-fits-all— they’re tailored to each patient’s goals and abilities.”
Dr. Gonzales is now accepting patients at the DHR Health Family Medicine Clinic located at 1601 East Sprague Street in Edinburg. To schedule an appointment, call (956) 362-8383. DHR Health accepts a variety of medical insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare.
The holidays bring fun, food, and festivities, but also stress, overindulgence, and skipped healthy habits – a recipe for heart trouble, especially for those with cardiac conditions. Research shows heart attacks peak at the end of December. Keep the cheer alive with these heart-smart tips:
Eating and Drinking
• Cut salt. Use herbs and spices instead of salt. Swap chips for veggies.
• Limit fats and sugar. Choose lean proteins, avoid fried foods, and savor small dessert portions.
• Don’t skip meals. Eat regular, nutritious meals to curb unhealthy snacking.
• Pre-party snacks. Eat raw veggies or fruit to avoid overindulging at events.
• Stay hydrated. Drink water and limit alcohol. Opt for mocktails or seltzer.
Exercise
• Schedule it. Treat workouts like appointments.
• Move together. Take walks or play active games at gatherings.
• Buddy up. A friend can help you stay motivated.
• Do what you can. Short sessions, yoga, or taking stairs still count. (Consult your doctor if needed.)
Managing Stress
• Say no. Avoid overscheduling; prioritize meaningful events.
• Handle social stress. Step away to recharge if gatherings feel overwhelming.
• Self-care. Eat well, exercise, and enjoy relaxing activities.
• Sleep well. Stick to your routine, limit naps, and avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed.
Enjoy the season without sacrificing heart health. Stay mindful, keep healthy habits, and embrace self-care to make the most of the holidays.
Ken Paxton sues New York doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills to Texas woman
By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune
“Ken Paxton sues New York doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills to Texas woman” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit accusing a New York doctor of prescribing abortion drugs to a Texas resident in violation of state law.
This lawsuit is the first attempt to test what happens when state abortion laws are at odds with each other. New York has a shield law that protects providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions, which has served as implicit permission for a network of doctors to mail abortion pills into states that have banned the procedure.
Texas has vowed to pursue these cases
regardless of those laws, and legal experts are divided on where the courts may land on this issue, which involves extraterritoriality, interstate commerce and other thorny legal questions last meaningfully addressed before the Civil War.
“Regardless of what the courts in Texas do, the real question is whether the courts in New York recognize it,” said Greer Donley, University of Pittsburgh professor who studies these kinds of laws.
In this case, Paxton accuses Dr. Margaret Carpenter of mailing pills from New York to a 20-year-old woman in Collin County. The woman allegedly took the medication when she was nine weeks pregnant. When she began experiencing severe bleeding, the lawsuit says, she asked the man who impregnated her to take her to the hospital. He had not been aware she was pregnant or seeking an abortion, according to the filing.
The lawsuit does not say whether the woman successfully terminated her preg-
nancy or experienced any long-term medical complications. Mifepristone and misoprostol, the medications Carpenter is accused of sending, are more than 95% effective if taken before 10 weeks of pregnancy. Texas’ abortion laws prohibit criminalizing or otherwise going after the person who undergoes the abortion.
Paxton is asking a Collin County court to block Carpenter from violating Texas law, and order her to pay $100,000 for every violation of the state’s near-total abortion ban. Violating Texas’ near-total abortion ban comes with up to life in prison, fines of at least $100,000 and the loss of a provider’s Texas medical license. Donley stressed that, based on the complaint, Carpenter did nothing illegal based on her home state’s laws.
Carpenter is not licensed to practice in Texas, according to the complaint. She is the founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, a national group that helps doctors in states with shield laws provide
telemedicine consultations and abortion pills to patients in states that have banned abortions.
The group was founded after the overturn of Roe v. Wade by Carpenter, Dr. Linda Prine, and Julie Kay, a former ACLU lawyer who successfully argued the case that overturned Ireland’s abortion ban. They support doctors who want to become “shield providers” by advising them on licensure, data security, pharmacy contacts and legality.
Carpenter also works with AidAccess, an international medication abortion provider, and helped found Hey Jane, a telehealth abortion provider. Neither Carpenter nor Kay immediately responded to a request for comment.
This battle has been looming since red states banned abortion and blue states passed shield laws, with many providers knowingly taking on the risk of becoming the test case. In February, John Seago, the president of Texas Right to Life, told the New York Times that they were waiting for the “right case.”
“We can definitely promise that in a prolife state like Texas with committed elected officials and an attorney general and district attorneys who want to uphold our prolife laws, this is not something that’s going to be ignored for long,” he told the newspaper.
Now that this case is here, lawyers who closely study these laws say this is exactly the type of situation New York’s shield law is designed to combat.
“The New York shield law exists to prevent Texas from having any ability to get someone in New York who is following New York law into Texas court in any way,” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University.
Cohen said New York’s law requires the state to refuse to order Carpenter to comply with Texas’ court orders, which effectively will leave Texas no defendant to bring this suit against.
“He might go forward to try and get a default judgment, and then they’ll have to try to enforce it,” Cohen said. “But really, we don’t know what he’ll do then.”
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-paxton-abortion-pill-mail-lawsuit/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.