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 …

Continue reading

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 …

Continue reading

Special to the NEWS BROWNSVILLE, TX —Two owners of Abby’s Bakery in Los Fresnos were sentenced last week following the discovery of illegal aliens at their business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. After a three-day trial on August 13, 2025, the jury deliberated for about three hours and found Leonardo Baez-Lara, 56, and Alicia …

Continue reading

Special to the NEWS BROWNSVILLE, TX—Edelmiro “Eddie” Garcia, Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector, informed property owners this week that 68,725 final statements for the 2025 tax year were mailed for personal property and real estate accounts, totaling $162,240,237.21 in unpaid accounts. According to a press release from the Office of the Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector, approximately …

Continue reading

NEWS Staff Report Earlier this week, the City of San Benito announced that it will take control of the monthly downtown market days event, typically held mid-month in the historic Robertson Street District. As previously reported, City officials discussed adopting market days during the January 6 San Benito City Commission regular meeting. Event organizers, who …

Continue reading

By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS Various sports seasons for San Benito and Rio Hondo high schools are well underway. Tuesday was a busy day for varsity basketball teams, as wins and losses determined their standings in the district. San Benito boys’ and girls’ hoops teams are just getting started in district play, so their …

Continue reading

By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS San Benito High School female athletes in both wrestling and powerlifting showed their grit in competition last week and earned top honors. The SBHS Lady Greyhounds captured consecutive district dual titles in wrestling after competing against numerous Rio Grande Valley teams. Last Saturday at Weslaco High School, the 16-6A …

Continue reading

By JACQI LEYVA-HILLSpecial to the NEWS Esmeralda Cantu-Castle, of Brownsville, the mother of slain U.S. Navy sailor Angelina “Angie” Resendiz, is continuing her statewide reform mission after her daughter’s death — and says she is running for Texas House District 37 to strengthen her advocacy and serve local families. Cantu-Castle recently spoke to members of …

Continue reading

By JACQI LEYVA-HILLSpecial to the NEWS Patricia Avila, executive director of the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum in San Benito, has been appointed to the Texas Folklife Board of Directors, an honor she says carries deep personal meaning rooted in family, music, and cultural pride. “Being appointed to the Texas Folklife Board …

Continue reading

By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS The City of San Benito recently began rehabilitation work on the Freddy Fender water tower, marking the first phase of a two-tower water infrastructure improvement project throughout the city. According to a City of San Benito press release, the project supports the city’s ongoing commitment to reliable water systems …

Continue reading