Berenice Garcia
@Berenice__G
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Rio Grande Valley reporter for @TexasTribune via @report4america . Formerly @MonitorNews . If the apocalypse comes, beep me.
McAllen, TX
Joined October 2010
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Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez responded to Gov. Abbott’s disaster declaration along the southern border:
“Apparently, Governor Abbott has information that we don’t have.”
#rgv
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McAllen city commissioners unanimously approved a mask requirement within public buildings the city owns and operates.
#rgv
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I’m thrilled to finally be able to share that I’ve joined the Texas Tribune to cover the Rio Grande Valley as a Report for America corps member.
Already, I’ve been having an amazing time working with this team and I’m excited for what’s to come.
I have the best team in the world, and now it's complete — for now. Welcome to the team
@Berenice__G
— and a belated official welcome to
@JessHuff16
!
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Despite cancellation of the event by the initial organizers, many still showed up at Edinburg city hall to protest the death of George Floyed and to stand in solidarity of the Black Lives Matter movement.
#rgv
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Current scene at the Bernie Sanders rally for Michelle Vallejo in McAllen. People are still trickling in.
#rgv
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This morning, Starr County Memorial Hospital welcomed staffing resources — 15 RNs, 6 certified nursing assistants, 6 respiratory techs, 1 nurse practitioner for the ER.
They came from San Antonio and will be in there for at least 21 days, according to county health authority.
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Here are some banners being prepped for the rally this afternoon protesting Trump’s visit to the RGV at
@LUPE_rgv
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The trial for former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina is about to get underway.
He’s facing 11 counts of illegal voting and one count of engaging in organized election fraud.
#rgv
📸:
@MonitorDelcia
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Final unofficial numbers from Starr County:
Joe Biden with 52% of the votes, Donald Trump with 46.99%
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This man didn’t want to answer whether or not he supports Trump.
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BREAKING: A jury has acquitted former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina.
He was found not guilty on a count of engaging in organized voter fraud and 11 counts of illegal voting.
#rgv
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Early votes finally out in Starr County for District 28 race:
Cuellar: 2,464
Cisneros: 835
Benavides: 125
#rgv
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The Starr County Health Authority states two patients were transferred to San Antonio. Says all hospitals in the RGV are on diversion status.
#RGV
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CBP guy: Anything to declare ladies?
Woman formerly known as my mother: Well, my daughter is still single.
😒
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Starr County Judge Eloy Vera announced he plans to issue a shelter-in-place order by the end of the week, just as Hidalgo County did yesterday.
"Our backs are to the wall," Vera said.
#rgv
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We’re back for Day 2 of the Molina trial.
Belinda Sagredo, an employee with the county elections department, is brought back in to continue her testimony.
#rgv
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Just got off the phone with the election judge in Starr Co. who confirmed the total votes were 4,942.
Elections administrator also told me via text he would contact the secretary of state's office to correct the numbers there.
It looks like these results may be based on some questionable numbers entered by Starr County. Local media says there were 4,942 votes in the primary there (see below), but SOS is showing 8,366. I've called Starr to try to figure it out.
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We’re about to begin Day 3 of testimony in the trial against former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina.
#rgv
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Just arrived at Edinburg city hall where in about 30 mins. council will meet and consider approving an ordinance outlawing abortions in the city.
Already there are people here on both sides of the issue.
#rgv
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Starr County Health Authority, Dr. Jose Vazquez, says the situation at Starr County Memorial Hospital is "unbelievable."
They haven't been to transfer patients out in the last two days and are now trying to transfer patients all the way up to New York.
#RGV
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BREAKING: Edinburg has elected a new mayor. With all precincts reporting Ramiro Garza Jr. received 52% of the votes, beating out current Mayor Richard Molina who received 47%.
#rgv
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Final results in Starr County for District 28, including early voting and election day:
Cuellar: 3,456
Cisneros: 1,308
Benavides: 178
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While knocking on doors this morning, former Congressman Beto O’Rourke is stopped by a Mission resident, Ralph Guerrero, asking why he should vote for Biden/Harris.
From his questions, it sounded like he was leaning right.
#rgv
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At a different neighborhood, a man who works for FedEx stopped to take a photo with Beto. He hadn’t voted yet but said he’d vote today.
#rgv
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Backed by LUPE Votes, Michelle Vallejo filed to run for U.S. District 15 on a progressive platform.
I spoke to her last week about why she decided to run.
Full story:
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A campaign finance report actually listed “propaganda” as the reason for an expense. 😂🤦🏽♀️
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In a speech to supporters, Vallejo concedes but tells voters they have a bigger fight ahead.
“I know it could be hard to accept in our hearts sometimes that we are not necessarily seeing the numbers we want to see but I truly, truly feel it like a calling to keep fighting.”
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Following Miguel A. Garza's indictment on bribery, we looked at his ties to politicians. We found he'd worked for TX15 Candidate Ruben Ramirez, Commissioner Ellie Torres, former Mayor Richard Molina, and former City Councilman Jorge "Coach" Salinas.
#RGV
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Starr County Judge Eloy Vera announced he had tested positive for the COVID-19 antibodies but tested negative for the disease through the RT-PCR, nasal swab, test.
“This means at some point, I was exposed to the virus and my body successfully fought it.”
#rgv
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About 86% of hospital beds are in use in the Rio Grande Valley.
#rgv
We're now displaying hospital capacity across the state. The percentage of hospital beds in use shows the strain the coronavirus can put on hospitals.
The state reported 5,102 Texans hospitalized with the coronavirus today.
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Here are the final results for the night.
Garza barely edged out Molina but both will head into a runoff next month.
#rgv
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The city of Mission has a new mayor.
Norie Gonzalez Garza received 56% of votes in today’s runoff to defeat current Mayor Armando O’Caña who received 44%.
#rgv
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The city of La Joya announced today they will no longer house ICE detainees at their jail/detention center.
#rgv
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Amid water shortages impacting South Texas farmers, a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers are demanding appropriators withhold funds from Mexico until it lives up to its end of a 1944 water treaty. Story by
@matthewichoi
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During a news conference, Dr. Jose Vazquez, who resigned as the county health authority, called out Starr Co. Commissioner Eloy Garza who voted against paying him for his services.
"Time and events will judge you in your position."
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Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, along with local mayors, issued a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott requesting that he return emergency management authority to local jurisdictions.
#rgv
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Apologies for lack of updates this morning. The jury has been deliberating since ~9 a.m. and that’s pretty much it.
Given the option to break for lunch or order in, the jury will be ordering lunch.
That’s the latest.
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We’re back for Day 7 of the trial for former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina. The attorneys were handed copies of the charge that will be read to the jury. It’s long.
📸:
@MonitorJoel
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An insight into how things are going to tonight, here is Mayor-elect Javier Villalobos with Mayor Jim Darling.
#rgv
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Starr County is reporting that of the 23 COVID-19 test results that have come back, all were negative.
More results are expected tomorrow. A total of 85 tests were conducted during the first three days of testing.
#rgv
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Dr. Jose Vazquez, the Starr County health authority, said he met today with U.S. Army Major General John F. King.
This after Gov. Greg Abbott's office announced this morning that Rio Grande City would receive U.S. Navy Rural Rapid Response Teams.
#rgv
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The four county judges of the Rio Grande Valley sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott this morning requesting he return emergency management authority to local jurisdictions.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera and the mayors there had sent a similar letter to Abbott last week.
#rgv
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Nurses from other parts of the state will be sent to a hospital here in Hidalgo County to respond to the rise in hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
The hospital that will receive those additional nurses has not been named.
#rgv
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Day 5 of the trial for former Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina is expected to get underway shortly.
The defense will begin presenting their case today.
#rgv
📸:
@MonitorJoel
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At a news conference happening now, Starr County Health Authority Dr. Antonio Falcon announced the county had 85 new cases of COVID-19.
This is a 100% increase from the 44 cases the county was averaging per week in recent weeks.
#rgv
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Before meeting with different legislators, the RGV groups take photo with the Valley legislators and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
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The candidate suing Rio Grande City over public information requests, won his election today. His attorney, who was running for mayor, also won his race. He defeated Mayor Joel Villarreal who was first elected to office in 2015.
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Javier Villalobos was sworn-in this evening as the new mayor of McAllen.
Our photographer
@MonitorJoel
, captured these small moments including now-former Mayor Jim Darling leaving his office with his wife Sandra, after the ceremony.
#rgv
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In light of the injunction on S.B. 8, the one abortion clinic in the Rio Grande Valley is working to resume services “as soon as possible,” according to Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health.
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BREAKING: Judge temporarily suspends Daniel J. Garcia from the Rio Grande City school board.
#rgv
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Vallejo’s currently on stage. Reiterates she’ll fight for Medicare-for-All; better, union, jobs; and women’s right to choose.
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Four people were booked into the Starr County jail last night for violating the emergency management plan.
#rgv
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Sentencing for Leo Lopez Jr., the former Rio Grande City municipal judge who pleaded guilty to bribery, was scheduled for Monday but has been canceled once again.
I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been pushed.
#rgv
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Here at the Michelle Vallejo election watch party, Vallejo is expected to arrive in a few minutes. Meanwhile, supporters have been partying.
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Mark (
@RGVReagan
): I have a template for public information requests.
Me: Oh, can you send that to me?
Mark: It's in my head.
😑
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Trial’s on a short break and meanwhile, Cameron County just announced the Rio Grande Valley’s first confirmed case of monkey pox.
#rgv
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Since this story posted this morning, the clinic’s been dealing with a surge of calls, which is good! — according to the doctor leading the study.
Will be providing more info. on this soon.
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In Floresville today where State Rep. Ryan Guillen is set to make an announcement with Gov. Greg Abbott. Guillen, a longtime Democrat, is expected to announce that he is running as a Republican.
Guillen’s District 31 includes Starr County.
#rgv
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The
@CityOfMissionTX
council just approved resolution publicly opposing citizenship question on 2020 Census.
#RGV
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Edinburg City Manager Ron Garza announced his resignation, will be leaving in a few months to take a position with UTRGV.
#rgv
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“Officially, local law enforcement will say the murder case is an ongoing investigation, but when pressed about who was leading it, three agencies pointed the finger to one another.”
#rgv
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A look at more signs being set up for the press conference. Julian Castro is expected to arrive here around 12:30 p.m.
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I would be remiss to not give my red stapler some love on the 20th anniversary of
#OfficeSpace
“If they take my stapler then I’ll set the building on fire.”
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Garza is done.
The jury will now begin deliberations.
Judge says they can choose whether to continue today or pause to continue deliberating tomorrow morning.
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The Edinburg city council is set to consider an ordinance banning abortion w/in city limits during a meeting this Tuesday.
This comes after the Hidalgo Co. District Attorney said his office would not prosecute violations of this ordinance.
#rgv
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The Texas Supreme Court declined to review the case of the Mission election contest, granting a victory to current Mayor Armando O’Caña.
The contest was filed by former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, challenging the results of the June 2018 mayoral runoff election.
#rgv
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Starr Co. results from early and absentee votes just announced:
Henry Cuellar: 1,591
Jessica Cisneros: 358
#rgv
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Javier Villalobos and Veronica Whitacre will head into a runoff election which is scheduled for June 5.
#rgv
These are the total unofficial results including early votes, election day and mail-in/provisional votes.
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Following a lengthy, combative discussion, the Palmview city council approved, by a 3-2 vote, the purchase of another ambulance for their EMS to assist the influx of calls due to COVID-19.
#rgv
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Mission City Council votes to postpone municipal elections until November. The vote was four to one with Mayor Armando O'Caña opposing.
#rgv
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Starr County is ordering the use of masks when out in public.
The order goes into effect on Sunday.
#rgv
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Anti-abortion activists have continued to urge the Edinburg city council to pass an ordinance banning abortion in the city.
But in a statement issued today, Hidalgo County DA Ricardo Rodriguez said his office would not prosecute violations of the ordinance, if approved.
#rgv
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The respite center is seeking to expand their downtown operation but is facing an uphill battle after the McAllen P&Z board voted to recommend disapproval of their conditional use permit request.
The McAllen commissioners are set to consider the request during today's meeting.
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Texas Bar confirmed Thursday morning that the fine and probated suspension of the Starr County DA was over the indictment of Lizelle Herrera who, in 2022, was charged with murder because she sought a “self-induced abortion.”
#rgv
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So in conclusion, vacation (especially one during which you can completely disconnect) is great and no one should be shamed from taking one.
Excited to get back to work tomorrow.
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Molina is incredibly emotional, embracing attorney Carlos A. Garcia after the verdict is read.
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Congrats to my former co-worker
@kristianreports
for his first-place win for feature series at the APME awards.
His well-deserved win was for his coverage of a Salvadorian father and son’s journey to DC.
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Here's the founder and CEO of Whole Woman's Health which runs the clinic in McAllen, the only abortion clinic in the RGV.
TRO granted. Judge ruled Texas can’t enforce the pre-Roe abortion ban. We Can resume Abortion care in Texas.
@WholeWomans
@WWHAlliance
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My mom just whispered to me “Do you want a free Whopper?” Like we were talking code in a spy movie. I don’t know what’s happening.
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Zero positive test results reported today from Starr County. Total number of positive cases stands at 5.
Total number of negative cases from tests administered at their drive-thru testing facility grows to 363.
#rgv
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Sullivan City just issued a statement regarding the loss of Commissioner Gabriel Salinas during last night’s standoff in Mission.
#rgv
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