Politics
Politics news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
PoliticsMcAllen City Commissioner Voices Support for School Bond Proposal
McAllen City Commissioner Tony Aguirre has publicly expressed support for McAllen Independent School District Proposition A, a $335 million bond measure scheduled for a May 2, 2026, election.
PoliticsU.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map
Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map is officially cleared for use, after the U.S. Supreme Court formally overturned a lower court’s ruling Monday. In November, the high court allowed the map to be used temporarily. Monday’s ruling maintains that status quo permanently, ensuring the new lines will be used for the 2026 midterms and going forward.
PoliticsInside Valley Politics: School bonds and more on the ballot in May elections
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Mayoral races, city commissioner seats, school bond propositions and more are on ballots across the Valley. Early voting ends April 28, and Election Day is May 2. In Mercedes, incumbent Mayor Oscar Montoya is being challenged by Velda Garcia. Montoya was first elected in 2020 and re-elected three years later. Garcia
PoliticsSen. Cornyn Targets $240 Billion in Stolen Taxpayer Funds with New Anti-Fraud Bill
Texas Border Business WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Protecting American Taxpayers Act, a comprehensive legislative package to recover stolen funds, protect taxpayer dollars, and stop fraudsters that includes his Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act, which would establish a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
PoliticsTexas lawmakers to hold hearing after committee visited Camp Mystic
The Texas Senate and House General Investigating Committees will hold a hearing to listen to more evidence and testimony on the July 2025 flooding Monday.
PoliticsLocal politicians comment on White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Local lawmakers and politicians have commented on last night's shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel. As reported by The Hill, the suspect was identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, who is expected to be arraigned on Monday on two preliminary charges, which include using a
PoliticsBrownsville Mexican consulate sees increase in dual citizenship applications amid deportation fears
El consulado mexicano en Brownsville ha reportado un incremento significativo en las solicitudes de doble ciudadanía, ya que muchos residentes buscan protegerse ante posibles deportaciones. La preocupación por las políticas migratorias ha llevado a más personas a asegurar su estatus legal tanto en México como en Estados Unidos. Funcionarios del consulado están trabajando para atender la creciente demanda y ofrecer orientación a quienes buscan este beneficio.
PoliticsSheinbaum Inaugurates Train Connecting Mexico City with State of Mexico and Hidalgo
Mexico City — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the 'Felipe Ángeles' train this Sunday, which will connect the capital with the State of Mexico and Hidalgo in central Mexico. The train aims to improve access from Mexico City to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), reduce transportation costs for peripheral municipalities in the State of Mexico, and revive Buenavista in Mexico City as a national railway hub. “This train, which connects Mexico City to the State of Mexico and Hidalgo, will be named, starting today, the Felipe Ángeles train,” Sheinbaum stated during the opening ceremony of the project, which is part of her policy to revive passenger rail services. The route spans 41.6 kilometers between Buenavista and AIFA. In its initial phase, the journey will take approximately 60 minutes, though authorities expect to reduce it to 43 minutes as operations stabilize. The service will begin with four trains in circulation, one in reserve, and one in maintenance, with ten trains ready to be progressively added. Each train can accommodate 719 passengers, with an initial frequency of 30 minutes and a goal to reduce it to 12 minutes. During the first month, the trip between Buenavista and AIFA will have a promotional fare of 45 pesos (about $2.50), while trips to intermediate stations will cost 11.5 pesos (around $0.64). Final fares will be announced after this period. The project also aims to address daily mobility needs for municipalities in the State of Mexico, not just air passengers, as it connects with the Buenavista-Cuautitlán Suburban Train, Metro Line B, three Metrobús lines, Ecobici, Mexibús, and local public transportation in the country's most populous state. Sheinbaum defended the project as part of a socially-focused infrastructure vision. “We guarantee the right to food, the right to education, the right to health, and also the right to mobility,” she said. She added that the railway revival represents “the possibility for Mexicans to travel across the country at affordable prices and with the best possible transportation.” In addition to connecting with AIFA, Buenavista is set to become the starting point for new railway routes to Pachuca, Querétaro, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Guadalajara, and Celaya, according to Andrés Lajous, Director General of the Mexican Government's Agency for Integrated Public Transportation and Trains. The project includes six new stations equipped with elevators, tactile guides, luggage spaces, video surveillance, speakers, and universal accessibility in both stations and trains. “Today we tell the people of Mexico: we govern for the people. Mission accomplished, people of Mexico,” Sheinbaum concluded before cutting the ribbon.
PoliticsTrump Cancels U.S. Delegation to Pakistan for Talks with Iran
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Donald Trump announced that he would no longer send U.S. envoys to Pakistan for discussions with Iran, shortly after Iran's top diplomat left Islamabad late Saturday. Trump told Fox News, 'They can call us anytime they want.' The White House had previously stated that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were set to travel to Pakistan's capital to attempt to revive ceasefire negotiations. On Saturday, Trump revealed that Iranian representatives made a new negotiation offer just ten minutes after he ordered the cancellation of his special envoys' trip to Islamabad for talks with Tehran. 'They gave us (yesterday) a document that should have been better, and curiously, immediately after canceling it, within ten minutes, we received a new document that was much better,' Trump said to reporters shortly before boarding Air Force One in Florida to fly to Washington. However, Trump indicated that the latest negotiation terms presented by Iran following the cancellation of Witkoff and Kushner's trip to Pakistan were still unsatisfactory. 'They offered a lot, but not enough,' he stated without elaborating further. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Pakistan Saturday night, according to two Pakistani officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Araghchi had met with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Iran's stance on negotiations, stating that Tehran would continue participating in mediation efforts 'until a result is achieved.' Iran has said the talks will be indirect. Islamabad was virtually shut down ahead of the planned discussions. Pakistan has been working to bring U.S. and Iranian officials back to the table since Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire earlier this week, responding to Islamabad's request for further diplomatic efforts. The White House announced Friday that Trump would send Witkoff and Kushner to meet with Araghchi. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry indicated that any talks would be indirect, with Pakistani officials relaying messages. The first round of talks in Pakistan, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, lasted over 20 hours and marked the highest-level direct negotiations between the former adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Araghchi and Trump's envoys held hours of indirect talks in Geneva on February 27 but left without an agreement. The next day, Israel and the U.S. launched military action. Tensions persist around the Strait of Hormuz. The price of Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, remains nearly 50% higher than when the conflict began due to Iran's control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes during peacetime. Iran attacked three vessels this week, while the U.S. continues to blockade Iranian ports. Trump has ordered the military to 'shoot and kill' small boats suspected of laying mines. On Saturday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would send minesweepers to the Mediterranean to help clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end. The disruption of shipments through the strait has had global trade repercussions, including impacts on the Panama Canal. Also on Saturday, Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport for the first time since the war began two months ago. Iranian state television reported flights to Istanbul, Muscat (Oman's capital), and the Saudi city of Medina. Iran partially reopened its airspace earlier this month due to the ceasefire. Casualties rise despite ceasefires. Since the war began, authorities report at least 3,375 deaths in Iran and over 2,490 in Lebanon, where new clashes between Israel and Hezbollah erupted two days after the war started. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel, and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. troops in the region, and six United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have also lost their lives. On Thursday, Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah for three weeks. The group has not participated in Washington-led diplomacy.
PoliticsUS Authorizes Venezuela to Pay Legal Fees for Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores
The United States has agreed to modify sanctions on Venezuela, allowing its government to pay the legal fees of attorneys defending Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a drug trafficking case in New York, according to a court document. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued amended licenses permitting payments under specific conditions, including that funds must be available to the Venezuelan government after March 5, 2026, and cannot come from Foreign Government Deposit Funds. This marks a shift in the strategy of the Department of Justice and the administration of former President Donald Trump, which had previously blocked access to these funds citing national security and foreign policy concerns. Maduro's defense, led by attorney Barry Pollack, had argued that the inability to pay legal fees violated the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to choose legal representation. Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York expressed skepticism about the prosecution's stance during a March 26 hearing, noting that the couple no longer posed a national security threat after their capture and transfer to the U.S. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were apprehended in Caracas on January 3 by U.S. special forces and are currently held in a federal prison in Brooklyn. Both have pleaded 'not guilty' to charges including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and cocaine importation. The formal trial is not expected to begin for another one to two years.
Voter turnout numbers: Early voting Day 4
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Unofficial vote totals from Hidalgo and Cameron counties show a slight increase for voter turnout on Friday for the fourth day of early voting. According to unofficial totals for Hidalgo County, 1,742 people voted on Friday, bringing the total to 8,115 votes since early voting began on Monday. Unofficial totals for [...]
PoliticsLet’s Do It! FDA to Fast-Track Review of 3 Psychedelic Drugs Following Trump Order
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that it will fast-track the review of three psychedelic drugs being developed to treat mental health conditions, including depression. This move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the FDA and other federal agencies to accelerate research and ease restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic substances that remain illegal under federal law. The FDA has issued priority review vouchers to two companies studying psilocybin—the active ingredient in magic mushrooms—for treatment-resistant depression. A third company received a voucher for methylone, a drug related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA did not disclose the names of the companies in its press release. “We owe it to our nation’s veterans and all Americans suffering from these conditions to urgently evaluate these potential therapies,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement. The recent measures on psychedelics reflect growing popular support for these mind-altering substances among Trump supporters, including combat veterans and followers of the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In July, Kennedy told Congress that his department aimed to make psychedelics available for hard-to-treat psychiatric conditions within a year. Key allies of Kennedy, including Calley Means, a former campaign team member and current senior health advisor, have publicly advocated for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. The FDA’s special treatment of psychedelics is likely to reignite scrutiny of its Priority National Voucher program, which accelerates drug reviews. Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the program, alleging that vouchers have been awarded to companies politically favored by the White House. Separately, the FDA has authorized initial trials of a drug related to ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic derived from an African shrub, for alcohol use disorder. Ibogaine is known to cause dangerous heart rhythms but has been adopted by combat veterans as a treatment for trauma and addiction. Florida-based pharmaceutical company DemeRx is leading the research on a metabolite of ibogaine, which reportedly lacks the hallucinogenic effects and risks of the original compound. During a White House event on psychedelics last Saturday, political allies of Trump were credited with elevating these drugs to the top of his agenda. Podcaster Joe Rogan, who attended the event, shared that he texted Trump about ibogaine, and the president responded: “Sounds great. Want FDA approval? Let’s do it.” Rogan’s endorsement of Trump days before the November 2024 election was seen as pivotal to his victory. Earlier this week, Rogan revealed on his show that he learned about ibogaine from his friend Ed Clay, a mixed martial arts trainer and entrepreneur who organizes retreats using the substance in Mexico. Most psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, are classified as Schedule I substances, meaning they are considered high-risk drugs with no accepted medical use. For decades, pharmaceutical companies avoided these substances due to the challenges of studying drugs that are federally illegal. However, dozens of small pharmaceutical firms, many backed by Silicon Valley investors, have recently joined the race to secure FDA approval for various psychedelics. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel, a political donor to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, has invested in AtaiBeckley, a company researching MDMA and other psychedelic compounds.
PoliticsYour District, Your Voice: District 2 Town Hall, April 28th
Texas Border Business McALLEN, Texas – City Commissioner Dist. 2 Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora and The City of McAllen invite residents to attend a public town hall meeting to discuss key community topics, including water supply, infrastructure, transportation, illegal dumping, voter awareness, animal welfare, parks and recreation, and state-level policy concerns. This meeting provides residents the opportunity
PoliticsU.S. to Allow Firing Squads to Expedite Federal Executions
The U.S. Department of Justice will adopt firing squads as a permitted method of execution as part of efforts by former President Donald Trump's administration to intensify and expedite federal death penalty cases, officials announced Friday. The Justice Department is also reinstating the use of single-drug lethal injections with pentobarbital, which were used to carry out 13 executions during Trump's first term—more than under any modern president. President Joe Biden's administration had removed pentobarbital from federal execution protocols over concerns about unnecessary pain and suffering. The measures are part of a broader push to increase and accelerate federal executions following a moratorium during Biden's presidency. Only three inmates remain on federal death row after Biden commuted 37 sentences to life imprisonment, though Trump's administration has authorized seeking death sentences for 44 defendants so far. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, "The previous administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to seek and carry out the maximum punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers. Under President Trump's leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing up for victims." Firing squads had not previously been included in federal execution protocols, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. Currently, five states—Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah—permit executions by firing squad. The pentobarbital protocol was introduced by former Attorney General Bill Barr during Trump's first term to replace a three-drug cocktail used in the 2000s, the last time federal executions were carried out before Trump's presidency. In the final days of Biden's administration, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland rescinded the pentobarbital lethal injection policy after a government review of scientific and medical research found "considerable uncertainty" about whether its use causes unnecessary pain and suffering. In 2020, under Barr's direction, the Justice Department published a rule in the Federal Register allowing federal executions by lethal injection or "any other form prescribed by the law of the state where the sentence was imposed." Several states permit alternative execution methods, including electrocution, nitrogen gas inhalation, and firing squads. A report released Friday by Trump's administration criticized Biden's handling of the issue, claiming the previous administration "got the standard and the science wrong." The report argued that Biden's findings failed to address "overwhelming evidence" that pentobarbital causes rapid unconsciousness, preventing the experience of pain. Currently on federal death row are Dylann Roof, who committed the racially motivated murders of nine Black worshippers at Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the perpetrator of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 congregants at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, marking the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
PoliticsDeaths of U.S. Agents in Anti-Drug Operation Stir Debate Over U.S. Involvement in Mexico
MEXICO CITY – The deaths of two U.S. agents and two Mexican nationals during an anti-drug operation in the state of Chihuahua have reignited debate over the presence of U.S. agents operating in Mexican territory. President Claudia Sheinbaum defended national sovereignty and strict adherence to legal frameworks on Friday. Diplomatic tensions have escalated in recent days, with Sheinbaum demanding an explanation from Washington regarding the participation of U.S. agents in the operation in Chihuahua, a state bordering the U.S. Security analyst David Saucedo noted that the incident highlights a growing trend of unilateral actions by U.S. agencies without prior notification to Mexico’s federal government, driven by concerns over potential information leaks to criminal organizations. Saucedo explained that agencies like the CIA, FBI, and DEA have long conducted intelligence, investigative, and tactical support operations in Mexico, often under discreet coordination with Mexican authorities. However, in recent years, Washington has reduced intelligence sharing with Mexico’s federal government, citing risks of information falling into the hands of organized crime. Information obtained from extradited cartel leaders, particularly those linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, has enabled U.S. agencies to identify clandestine labs, trafficking routes, and institutional protection networks without fully sharing data with Mexico. Sheinbaum reiterated her stance on Friday, emphasizing that foreign agents must operate within Mexico’s constitutional and legal frameworks. She stated, 'Sovereignty is non-negotiable. Cooperation and coordination must always adhere to our laws.' She also stressed that any collaboration with foreign agencies must be authorized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and reported to the federal Security Cabinet. Saucedo noted that Sheinbaum’s position has political implications, bolstering her nationalist rhetoric and public support. However, he predicted that the institutional demands would not fundamentally alter the practical cooperation between the two nations. He argued that bilateral security relations are driven more by pragmatism than formal legal agreements, and covert U.S. operations in Mexico are likely to continue despite the public debate over sovereignty and legality. While he dismissed the likelihood of a major diplomatic crisis, Saucedo acknowledged that the incident adds to existing tensions between the two governments on issues like migration, security, and trade.
PoliticsTexas Approves SB4 Allowing Arrests for Illegal Entry
HOUSTON – Texas achieved a significant victory on Friday with the implementation of SB4, one of the nation's strictest immigration laws. After a lengthy legal battle, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law can take effect. SB4 classifies illegal entry and reentry into the United States as state-level crimes and grants police the authority to arrest individuals suspected of violating federal immigration laws. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton shared the news on the social media platform X, stating, 'My office has secured another major victory for Texas by defending SB4 before the Fifth Circuit.' Paxton emphasized that the decision strengthens public safety and law enforcement in the state. The ruling marks a new chapter in the legal debate over state authority in immigration matters and could set a precedent for similar initiatives across the country.
PoliticsTexas AG Blocks Federal Gun Sale Rule, Citing Executive Overreach
Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a landmark legal victory for gun owners, preserving an injunction that prevented enforcement of a Biden Administration Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) rule that unlawfully sought to violate Americans’ constitutional right to privately buy and sell firearms.
PoliticsOfficer Positioned Near Showers: Woman Reports Conditions at Migrant Detention Center
Hilda Torres, who has been detained for nearly six months, has raised concerns about hygiene, health issues, and privacy at a migrant detention center. One of her main complaints involves the lack of privacy during showers, where she claims an officer—often male—is stationed nearby, making the experience uncomfortable. Torres has also reported problems with water temperature and stomach issues affecting detainees. Through letters to her family, she has detailed her experiences, including an incident where a guard allegedly stared at her while she showered. Management and Training Corporation, the operator of the facility, responded to TELEMUNDO 40, stating that privacy standards are met with 5-foot shower walls and that officers are not stationed near bathrooms or showers during use. They also claimed the average shower temperature is 102°F and denied hygiene issues, asserting regular cleaning and pest control measures. Activists and Torres' family have called for government intervention, with groups like Brown Berets RGV urging inspections of detention centers. Recently, Congressmen Vicente González and Joaquín Castro visited detention centers in South Texas, documenting conditions and pledging action.
PoliticsAbbott Taps New Members for EMS, Higher-Ed Disability Council, and More
This week, Governor Greg Abbott selected multiple qualified candidates to serve on behalf of Texans. Image for illustration purposes