Op-Ed: The Los Ebanos Ferry “El Chalán:” A Marker of Present Community
The Los Ebanos TX ferry, also known as “El Chalán” by community members, is the only functioning international ferry in the U.S. El Chalán is not only a historical marker of the past, it is a current and significant mode of transportation and evidence of a thriving borderland.
COMMENTARY: IN SCHOOL BOARD BATTLES BIG MONEY WINS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
In 2022, our public schools have become a political battlefield. From limiting what students can read to restricting the topics teachers should teach, issues involving K-12 education have taken on heightened political importance.
COMMENTARY: DELIVER MELISSA LUCIO FROM DEATH
Most of us know the bible story: an innocent person sentenced to death by the state and crucified for crimes that didn’t occur. Melissa Lucio, an innocent Harlingen mother, will be executed by the state in 10 days– even with lots of questions about her open case.
SEVEN MONTHS IN, THIS IS HOW SB8 IS AFFECTING THE RGV
SB8 has been in effect since Sept. 1, which is a six-week abortion ban in Texas. Before the bill, it was difficult to get an abortion in the state but not impossible. After the ban, more and more uncertainty followed those who sought one.
COMMENTARY: IGNORING THE ELEPHANT, IMPERIALISM AND IMMIGRATION
One of the ugliest images of 2021 was the Border Patrol horsemen attack against dark skin Haitian immigrants in the river near Del Rio. Evoking painful parallels to centuries of state violence against Black and brown bodies in this part of the country and elsewhere.
COMMENTARY: ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
Juan Trey Mendez III is setting precedence. The Brownsville mayor currently faces criticism from the community for his recent distorted bully pulpit methods against local activist Rebekah (Bekah) Hinojosa, but the question remains, was this personal?
BORDERS REOPENING, TRAVELERS RETURN TWO YEARS LATER
In November of 2021 the U.S.-Mexico border reopened its doors to non essential travelers, an important element of border culture, which had been missing for almost two years. Read more from Elsa Cavazos about what that means for local families.
WESTERN WARFARE: WORDS MATTER, TEXAS MASCOTS ARE DUE FOR SERIOUS REFLECTION
Those of us that like sports live it deeply in Texas. For better or for worse, it forms part of our identity. The Valley itself has an impressive appetite for sports but some of the mascots locally and in the state continue the legacy of racism and hate.
BEYOND THE SHADOWS, THE MUSIC AND EXPERIENCE OF TWIN TRIBES
With their goth post-punk sound and aesthetic, Twin Tribes masterfully transports the listener into a darkwave landscape that is nostalgic yet unfamiliar.
SPACE EXED, A FORCED REBRANDING
The Rio Grande region experienced a forced rebranding through the myth of the Magic Valley. Despite demographic and political changes, market forces like SpaceX continue to dictate the regional identity through arts and culture.