[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6454311,"mediaKeyId","5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af","parentId",5861622,"title","Residents urge restoration of county-run free Internet in colonias; commissioners note legal limits","audioSeconds",3061,"startMs",329000,"endMs",3390000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af&start=329&end=3390","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af/thumbnail_329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6454311/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Residents-urge-restoration-of-county-run-free-Internet-in-colonias-commissioners-note-legal-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454311-2476d73a9f32f3993aa3c40646451784/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770958&Signature=OWt~GEdJxXn0s0mHDoBt5zEaRWTqElyXbrt8Cx3vCHiuL~QaWx9szDWr5pLbAYLTJA73XC1Sz21Uu20nT6sP78m7BNsEfmdTveyZJp3c2RWC0z3nw9nazGRb7fOyIJrfGjQ9ZGqfuxGwz7gjLj49N2SePPHOax0aITqR0bMXaUo7vnBW2P5UBc6ZqNrwwpRxtPGXQEdi1K2O6dH31bXq7pzrjcDZRZd7wQG9JIMr9s43jUtDVPsN-m8WTnIAgit3~0j6T5dmnrkVvR4ZgoJ8u33RpPWzkFkNUQQrSNRtRJrCcAwbYOPd33AV8UtuZkGocWzb1OI7j~HsWYccf0HrlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hidalgo","date","2025-09-30T00:00:00Z","article","Residents from multiple colonias and community groups told the Commissioners Court that a county-supported free‑Internet service that operated during the pandemic has been disconnected and should be restored. Speakers said the loss prevents students from doing homework at home, creates travel burdens to libraries or other access points, and harms residents who lack private broadband.

\"Free Internet should be a right and is a necessity,\" resident Laura Garcia told the court during the open‑forum comments. Multiple speakers described children doing homework outside of homes and parents who used county Wi‑Fi to finish GED programs or access medical and social services.

Tanya Chavez of LUPE (La Unión del Pueblo Entero) urged the court to release maps and plans identifying where public Wi‑Fi had been provided and called for continued partnership with local providers and advocacy for congressional funding. She said the county’s pandemic-era investment directly helped students during school closures.

Commissioner Eric Cantu responded that the county’s original broadband work was funded using federal COVID relief dollars, and he said repeatedly that Hidalgo County currently lacks explicit statutory authority to operate an Internet service. \"The issue is that a county doesn't have the authority to provide Internet,\" he told speakers, noting that COVID funds temporarily allowed the county to deploy broadband access during the emergency but that the county cannot simply fund an ongoing public‑ISP function without state authorization or different funding mechanisms.

Court staff and commissioners discussed limited paths forward: continuing to support community resource centers (CRCs) and county-operated sites that can offer access, helping link residents to existing city libraries and Boys & Girls Club locations that provide Wi‑Fi, and supporting local providers' efforts to expand rural coverage. Commissioners asked staff to provide lists of service locations and to keep working with local providers and Congress members on broadband funding.

No vote was taken; the comments were part of open forum and do not carry regulatory force. Commissioners said the matter will require legal or legislative solutions if the county is to provide direct broadband service over the long term.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hidalgo - Commissioner's Court","oneSentenceSummary","Residents urged Hidalgo County to restore a pandemic-era free Internet program serving colonias; commissioners said the county lacks statutory authority to run an ongoing Internet service without legislative change.","taxTitle","Hidalgo County, Texas","taxId",2708,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454319,"Hidalgo County Drainage District reports $44.3M sale, keeps borrowing capacity for future projects",210,562000,772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af&start=562&end=772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af/thumbnail_562000.jpg","/articles/6454319/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Hidalgo-County-Drainage-District-reports-443M-sale-keeps-borrowing-capacity-for-future-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454319-e7e23d0b5badbdea40a5895d730896b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770958&Signature=Fo8Ihd~0UDhbSAV2SFLFF3dm4Q5~T8U3wHqSu2BFcAdT1ZDT67PCQES2mPz6CyT9jf-GAORl-RmNXoDyyw15rAlfqUCZFxD5S12mSPSolvqSpRztSCspefbFftdqfbNBZs6QYsiV9vl2WGff3kJmeBaj9UuXcPZtdP50WK11R-v8Q7~t5TKBcgnfy6qeazw5es4YT5rIPU7n6k9vQ3nrS5LiEgBysk1KBJkaCl-CATLRgT1InrpsGWAnspYJ5VkZ51UEnVsqqW-sUa~aMOt3Cbj-VtpqaEAqQ5Ea2S82QfSoDjzViLPhMKJ5odr6eMhdwLNhcii~TlfXP7q5cQ1EJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bobby Villareal, the district’s financial advisor, told the Hidalgo County Drainage District board that the district sold three bond series this month — a refunding, a taxable series and a tax-exempt new-money series — and closed roughly $44.26 million in bonds as part of the district’s 2023 bond authorization.

The sale included a refinancing that lowered interest costs and a taxable tranche for revenue-generating projects, Villareal said. He told the board the market timing — moving sales to Monday and Tuesday before a Federal Reserve action — likely saved the district “probably 500 to 600,000 in interest by just moving it over a couple days.”

The presentation explained the district previously received voter authorization of $195 million in 2023; after the latest issuance and anticipated Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) participation the district has about $90 million remaining under that authorization for future projects. Villareal said the debt service schedule was structured so the district should not need to raise the tax rate for these sales, and that the tax-exempt series was structured out to 20 years while the taxable series was short-term.

Commissioners asked about capacity to borrow and project delivery. Villareal said market capacity and the district’s structure would likely allow “another couple 100,000,000” in borrowing capacity without raising the tax rate, though staff noted that construction capacity limits mean projects cannot all be delivered simultaneously and that engineering and project management resources will constrain the pace of work. The board discussed coordinating issuance timing with project readiness and with state grant or loan programs to avoid holding cash and paying extra interest.

No vote or formal action was required for the presentation. The board’s general manager and project staff said they will continue to coordinate issuance and project schedules with engineers and precinct staff.

Villareal and the financial team credited district staff and advisors for preserving rating levels and achieving favorable market reception: the sale drew three to four times more orders than bonds offered, helping reduce interest costs.","Bobby Villareal, the district’s financial advisor, told the Drainage District board the district sold three series of bonds totaling about $44.26 million and preserved roughly $90 million of voter-authorized capacity for future drainage projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454315,"Hidalgo County Head Start earns national Program of Excellence recognition; seeks $36M in federal and state funding",5649,1641000,7290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af&start=1641&end=7290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af/thumbnail_1641000.jpg","/articles/6454315/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Hidalgo-County-Head-Start-earns-national-Program-of-Excellence-recognition-seeks-36M-in-federal-and-state-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454315-fc141db930a31da62601d2040b8dbb4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770958&Signature=PeFHXMPiPB5Ek~SIgEgiCMv7kVgzM4tL7AQJWYsaEXZXrWr6VDJ-xSb7nRDNLrJ9d5WyHQqG3C3ZzsCn5NwpAA5ZR6aW7MG0tIYd2XtVswLiDB5jNCi3we6o~-~~1r5V59AUpwxMt-YbaF1fFBOPPdyicxLGEABQqNkIweMPtZvkQXckf8zRjYoV6viMC91BvMP5Bs0O-71jHCmyXDJNSVzL3HJ~ts6ooeRyUiJJEF0S0Qi7fpkf6VDNZ1JKLmrmIcgD2wxAcuP0SlWyL9L5gAFfNDKGwG2Q~5enal0snlX5LK2BdA41GIvaPJfAcxub2MgEM3057m41-sDU8XHU9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hidalgo County Head Start has been designated a Program of Excellence, the county’s executive and Head Start staff told commissioners, a national recognition that carries a five-year accreditation and is awarded to a small number of programs each year.

Irma Peña, Head Start executive director, told the court the designation recognizes program quality after a rigorous peer-review process; Hidalgo County’s program serves about 2,720 students, employs roughly 744 staff and partners with eight independent school districts. Peña thanked staff, parents and department directors for the achievement.

Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring the program’s recognition and also approved the Head Start program’s FY2026 funding applications. The Head Start director told the court the program submitted a continuation application to the Administration for Children and Families for $33,000,009.58 and a U.S. Department of Agriculture food-and-nutrition application for about $3,000,004.71 for nutrition support, per the materials presented.

Commissioners voted to approve related policy items and memoranda of understanding with local school districts to set classroom limits (maximum 24 four‑year‑olds and 20 three‑year‑olds in the classrooms identified in the MOU), and they approved items formalizing case‑management procedures and reporting to federal databases as required by Head Start rules.

Court members congratulated program staff and parents in the chamber; multiple officials and partner organizations — including medical and support-group representatives — spoke in favor of continuing and expanding access to Head Start services.","Hidalgo County Head Start received a five-year 'Program of Excellence' designation and asked Commissioners Court to approve continuation funding applications totaling roughly $36 million for FY2026. Court approved the proclamations and funding submissions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454303,"Hidalgo County Public Health Lab earns CAP accreditation with zero deficiencies, medical director says",191,6309000,6500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af&start=6309&end=6500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af/thumbnail_6309000.jpg","/articles/6454303/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Hidalgo-County-Public-Health-Lab-earns-CAP-accreditation-with-zero-deficiencies-medical-director-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454303-627d4fdc06317abf538db95c6f191c53/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770958&Signature=jcFc1G99PN1Bw0NDj9UKG~cWitv7sG9E2Fa657RB-ta1mt1ZOpMcY8FVhA-fc8mFacgihGScbGuaMFx6UNOWax7fJ2h816qs4aJDTPZKMySQnUR5FrOFiLV3w17azIR1fWlOBGflEOFFYA~4ZpwIRzkYnyoRKdP0FY2gDNMl3k-aN~mkN0oUFWtxe1QOBY9RJepD1rTDLF2-RL7zHTF099QrNrCUiVDRMzzI2pvC7ZHhda4TC28JMgGt3yUCtHc0OJWvNs7cfQk3p~VVCNta-GSzQDbvUyRauF1thHwEbVaJOMOBLXF-~Tx~56FTce8zI~t4v5g4hE3dRIQjzvwVJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hidalgo County’s Public Health Laboratory announced to the Commissioners Court that it successfully passed a College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspection on Sept. 9 and received accreditation with no deficiencies.

Veronica Cuate, the lab manager, and Dr. Martha Luna, the lab’s medical director, presented the accreditation and said CAP’s inspection goes beyond federal CLIA requirements by emphasizing ongoing quality improvement, patient and employee safety and higher levels of proficiency testing. \"We received 0 a perfect score, 0 deficiencies, which is absolutely unheard of, especially for a lab first time,\" Dr. Luna told the court.

County officials and staff congratulated the laboratory team and noted the accreditation supports reliability of testing for public‑health surveillance and clinical testing in the region. Presenters said the lab’s mission includes serving low‑ and moderate‑income families and ensuring accurate results for community testing needs.

Commissioners and staff posed no questions that affected the accreditation; the presentation was accepted and the court joined in recognition of the staff’s work.","The county’s public health laboratory passed a College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspection on Sept. 9 with zero deficiencies, lab leaders told Commissioners Court. The lab plans to keep providing accessible testing for low- and moderate-income patients.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454306,"Commissioners approve county order banning roadside sale of live animals in unincorporated areas",103,6697000,6800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af&start=6697&end=6800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5861622-dfe351847cf29c4352dd0bb250e927af/thumbnail_6697000.jpg","/articles/6454306/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-county-order-banning-roadside-sale-of-live-animals-in-unincorporated-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454306-efb5b36ec3ab07d6e36775e131dfcf4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770958&Signature=jTjo2S3bU564Jn4eMnLL3GPLZObPXJYRQhtS9oeWqvPkq1HQ5Em~WgevFI89i7zIiO60nq4O6sktVVl9lQGvchRlxOZQWGb2LXy1lUzzCeC2~GChX-bNVV8u1qqEK1jIwxlCd3iC3fV0k-QyCq0ZujE4AvtZqltc6RMOaJcoyJoF8~0KcxmJN9VqnNcFVByh7rG7y~NzatwjA-Fv1dMQ0pMI0ovP5U-WzAKRCYIjyd0vHyvdZJTrs4W2xaWJTKuDKtM8T7Qr2k18Iga0iT9b62-8LXD7k8PTOg0EDYRl4oKRgGFYfsAHQ4r~rxURk1~lW1CWhZKQcfVJcVfuqRa5zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved an order prohibiting the roadside sale of live animals within the county’s unincorporated areas after staff presented changes to the state statute that removed a prior speed‑limit limitation.

County staff told the court the statutory change eliminated language that had limited enforcement to roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or greater; the revised statute therefore allows counties to address vendor activity on easements and rights‑of‑way more broadly. The order passed on a voice vote; court staff clarified the rule applies to unincorporated roadside locations and parking‑lot sales adjacent to roadways, not necessarily enclosed flea‑market facilities within incorporated cities.

Speakers representing animal‑welfare organizations had urged the court to take county‑level action and emphasized spay/neuter and affordable veterinary services as longer‑term solutions to reduce stray animals. Paws for Help and other groups presented letters of support signed by multiple city councils and businesses, and the court approved the order with a motion and voice vote.

The order directs county staff and law enforcement to implement the prohibition within the unincorporated county and coordinate with municipalities and community partners on outreach and enforcement. Commissioners said educational and sterilization efforts should be paired with enforcement to reduce the overall number of animals needing placement or care.","Following an update to state statute, Hidalgo County Commissioners approved an order prohibiting roadside sale of live animals in unincorporated areas to address animal welfare and public-safety concerns. The court clarified the order covers sales on right-of-way and roadside parking areas, not enclosed flea markets inside city limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge restoration of county-run free Internet in colonias; commissioners note legal limits

Hidalgo County Drainage District reports $44.3M sale, keeps borrowing capacity for future projects

Hidalgo County Head Start earns national Program of Excellence recognition; seeks $36M in federal and state funding

Hidalgo County Public Health Lab earns CAP accreditation with zero deficiencies, medical director says

Commissioners approve county order banning roadside sale of live animals in unincorporated areas