By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS San Benito High School student-athletes will once again be affected by the biennial University Interscholastic League (UIL) realignment when the school year begins next year. The UIL released the changes on Monday, Feb. 1. Fall sports such as volleyball, football, cross-country, golf, and tennis will be affected first, as …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS RIO HONDO, TX—Now that the University Interscholastic League has introduced its biennial realignment, local student-athletes will see minor changes across various sports. The Falfurrias Jerseys are no longer a district foe in football (District 16-3A, Division I). Weslaco IDEA Pike is gone from RHHS’s basketball (District 32-3A), but remains …

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Joe Martinez, Ed.D., is a Doctor of Curriculum & Technology, a U.S. Military Veteran, and a native of San Benito. Let’s face it, extreme cold weather affects us all. Right now, our nation has been plagued by extreme weather, and 16 states, including Texas, have been designated disaster areas in advance by the White House. …

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Special to the NEWS RIO HONDO, TX—Noe Alaniz Jr., a San Benito municipal judge, seasoned attorney, and community leader, announced last week his candidacy for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 1 in Cameron County. He is running to succeed longtime incumbent Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who is not seeking re-election. “With deep roots in …

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Special to the NEWS MERCEDES, TX—South Texas Independent School District (STISD), which has a campus in San Benito, opened enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year on Saturday, January 24. According to a STISD press release, enrollment forms must be completed online at www.stisd.net. STISD is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public school district. Students residing in Cameron, …

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Special to the NEWS RIO HONDO, TX—Earlier this week, the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office announced temporary adjusted operating hours at the city’s tax office. These changes have been approved by the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court and are intended to prioritize the safety of both staff and visitors while maintaining access to essential services. Effective …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS In three matches against Edinburg schools this year in non-district play, the San Benito Varsity Soccer Team has lost twice – both on Tuesday, including last week when the Greyhounds fell to the Economedes Jaguars, 1-0, and to Edinburg, 4-3. To the ’Hounds’ credit, however, the loss to the …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS The San Benito Lady Greyhounds secured their third win on the hardwood in District 32-6A play Tuesday, defeating the Brownsville Hanna Lady Eagles. The victory over Hanna, which is winless in district play, improved San Benito’s district record to 3-2 and put it in second place behind the Harlingen …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILLSpecial to the NEWS PORT ISABEL, TX—On Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, the Port Isabel–San Benito Navigation District held a special Pilot Board meeting, followed by a regular Board of Commissioners meeting, at the district administrative offices on Industrial Drive. The Pilot Board meeting opened with roll call, an invocation, and the Pledge of …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS The San Benito Wetlands are receiving a $750,000 grant after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Commission unanimously approved more than $21 million in funding for statewide entities during a regular meeting last week. San Benito, which will match the grant, received all the funds it requested, the …

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