The Rio Grande Valley typically grows between 60 to 80 million acres of fresh produce annually, but that has declined over the years due to drought.
Berenice Garcia
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.
Posted in
State Government
Second screwworm case in Texas confirmed as Abbott expands state disaster declaration
A screwworm outbreak would threaten the state’s cattle industry and potentially increase already high beef prices nationwide.
Posted in
Guides
What to know about screwworm in Texas
The first case of New World screwworm in 60 years has been confirmed in Zavala County, near the Mexican border. The flesh-eating fly poses a threat to the state’s $15 billion cattle industry.
Posted in
Economy
First U.S. screwworm case confirmed in South Texas
Officials tested a sample from La Pryor in Zavala County at a lab in lowa, confirming the infestation, Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
Posted in
Immigration
Members of pro-immigration group hit by Trump crackdown on immigration
La Union Del Pueblo Entero has seen engagement at its 8,000-member organization drop off after the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
Posted in
Economy
Death at SpaceX’s Starbase prompts workplace safety investigation
SpaceX has had seven OSHA violations in the past year. Despite the worker’s death, the next rocket launch is scheduled for May 21.
Posted in
Immigration
Excessive heat suspected as cause of death after six bodies found in rail car near Laredo
Officials said one victim found in a Union Pacific car was from Mexico and another was from Honduras. Five men and a woman are among the dead.
Posted in
Immigration
More green, less steel: Laredo proposes alternative border fencing for Rio Grande waterfront
Laredo is working with federal officials to minimize the disruptions a potential wall could pose.
Posted in
Immigration
Once thriving, Laredo’s growth stalls under Trump’s immigration crackdown
The city’s economic growth has taken a dip, falling short of expectations amid a steep decline in international migration, among other factors.
Posted in
Economy
She won a $7M grant to teach Texans how to farm. Then the Trump administration yanked it over DEI.
Diana Padilla has spent a decade teaching Rio Grande Valley residents how to farm and was set to expand across the rest of the state, first in Kaufman County.
