Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patients
As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts. Full Story
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Berenice Garcia is a regional reporter covering the Rio Grande Valley. She works at the Tribune as a corps members with Report for America. She previously covered local government, crime, healthcare and general assignments for The Monitor in McAllen where she was born. Though she's spent the majority of her life in the Valley, she traveled east to attend New York University where she studied journalism and politics. While there, she interned at the New York Daily News, the Daily Beast and NBC News. When she’s not working, she enjoys fighting for her life at the gym. Berenice is based in McAllen.
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![Evangelina Yzaguirre, a cancer patient at DHR, receives food aid from the hospital food pantry program.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
Why two border counties are joining Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star after migration slows
The counties hope to access state money to help pay for some criminal justice work, such as prosecuting drug cases and overtime. Full Story
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![City lights in Mexico are seen in the background as migrants are registered by border patrol agents after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Roma, on March 5, 2022.]()
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South Texas bakery owners housed undocumented workers next to business before ICE raid, feds allege in hearing
Before federal agents arrested them, the couple who runs the bakery in Los Fresnos said they “knew this would happen one day,” a federal agent testified at court hearing. Full Story
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![A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge.]()
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ICE arrests South Texas bakery owners accused of hiring undocumented workers
Federal immigration agents raided the Los Fresnos bakery and detained eight workers before filing charges against the two owners. Full Story
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![Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos.]()
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Texas migrant shelters are nearly empty after Trump’s actions effectively shut the border
The shelters began seeing fewer people dropped off by customs and border agents following former President Joe Biden’s executive order limiting some asylum claims. Full Story
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![Jose Alfredo Ledezma, 35, of Honduras, holds a folder next to his wife and daughter outside of Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on Aug. 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Spring forward? Maybe not in Texas as lawmakers mull ending daylight saving time.
Lawmakers here and in Washington have long debated ending the practice of changing the clocks twice a year. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
“A lot of fear going on”: Texas immigrant community on edge during Trump’s first weeks
Across the state, immigrants and their loved ones are changing their daily habits as the Trump administration orders at least 1,200 daily arrests of undocumented people. Full Story
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![People gather at Memorial Park in El Paso on Jan. 29, 2025 to protest ICE raids and deportations.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Trump’s tariffs have even his supporters in Texas nervous
Trump has vowed punishing tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, which are Texas’ biggest international trading partners. Full Story
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![Trucks entering the United States after crossing the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville on Jan. 10, 2019,]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
A Rio Grande Valley doughnut shop was on the verge of closing. Then Donald Trump won reelection.
The Edinburg shop owner shared her support for Trump — and special pastries — on social media following the election, garnering a rush of customers. Full Story
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![Luz Ramos, 27, owner of Papy Donuts, prepares donuts that will be decorated with the President’s last name ‘Trump’ in Edinburg, Texas on Jan. 24, 2025.
Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a push for residents to lose weight and curb diabetes
In Brownsville, the city and local hospital have helped residents lose more than 23,000 pounds since 2008. Full Story
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![Pedro Mego, a medical doctor specializing in treating peripheral artery disease and helping patients prevent the need for limb amputations, poses for a photo at his clinic in Mission on Jan. 21, 2025.]()
Credit: Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune