Meatless in South Texas: Thousands flock to vegan festival in Rio Grande Valley
From brisket to carne asada, Texas is known for meat, making this annual gathering in a small Rio Grande Valley town stand out. Full Story
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Berenice Garcia is a regional reporter covering the Rio Grande Valley through a partnership 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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![Attendees and non-profit organizations are seen at Vegan Fest in Elsa, Texas on May 11, 2024.
Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
With indictment, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s deep South Texas ties will again be tested
Cuellar was expected to cruise to reelection. Now he’ll need to rely on support from local and national Democratic leaders to help him overcome scandal. Full Story
![U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, speaks at a GOTV rally with former President Bill Clinton for Democratic congressional candidate Michelle Vallejo in Edinburg on Nov. 7, 2022]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Tarrant County DA wants Crystal Mason’s illegal voting conviction reinstated
A Texas appeals court recently overturned Mason’s five-year prison sentence for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election while on supervised release for federal tax evasion. Full Story
![Crystal Mason in Fort Worth on Sept. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Is the ocelot, the endangered South Texas wildcat, making a comeback?
Conservation groups found a sign of hope, but scientists say it's too soon to celebrate. Full Story
![The ocelot subspecies Leopardus pardalis albescens, found in South Texas, is classified as endangered.]()
Credit: Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 2022, ©Chase Fountain -
South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — again
With the hottest days still ahead, local leaders have declared emergencies. And farmers are lobbying for the U.S. government to pressure Mexico to release water. Full Story
![Mike England surveys a field on his farm near Mercedes on April 18, 2024. England had to destroy 500 acres worth of sugar cane he'd grown because of drought in the Rio Grande Valley.]()
Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune -
A South Texas candidate sues his town for records he says will prove his opponent's corruption
Rio Grande City officials called Ediel Barrera’s requests “vague or ambiguous.” Full Story
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Some South Texas school employees could be barred from holding elected office after fraud investigation
A state-appointed board of managers overseeing the La Joya Independent School District is set to consider the policy this week. Full Story
![The Texas Education Agency has replaced the entire school board of La Joya Independent School District.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
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