morgan lamantia

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - State Sen. Morgan LaMantia believes homeowners and businesses based along the Texas Gulf Coast are having to pay too much for property insurance.

Because of the threat of hurricanes and severe storms, regular insurance premiums are very high. So, the Sate of Texas provided an alternative way to have property along the coast insured. 

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the insurer of last resort, offering windstorm and hail insurance to home and commercial property owners who cannot get this coverage in the regular market due to the risk of catastrophic hurricanes.

LaMantia, D-South Padre Island, spoke about TWIA at a 88th Legislature Update Luncheon hosted recently by Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. She admitted that efforts to put more money into TWIA - so that property insurance rates along the coast could drop - had failed during the recent legislative session. 

LaMantia said: “We also worked on the cost of living. TWIA is a huge issue for our areas on the coast. And it's another cost that the rest of the state doesn't have. And we're trying to bring those costs down and, no, we weren't as successful as we wanted to be in really reestablishing how TWIA is funded.”

LaMantia said the Legislature will revisit the issue next session. 

“And so it is something we will continue to work on next session. Because when your wind insurance costs are higher than your property taxes… it is a huge burden not just for our families and homeowners, but for local businesses and for other businesses that can't come into our community as well.”

LaMantia said the State of Texas should do more to help homeowners and businesses based on the coast. 

“With so much tourism going on in our coastal communities, that benefits the rest of the state. We need the rest of the state's help funding TWIA and bringing those costs down for us as well,” she said.

Here is an audio recording of everything Sen. LaMantia said at the Brownsville Chamber event.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

WESLACO, TEXAS - Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is one of 25 organizations nationwide and the only one in Texas to be awarded a U.S. Department of Labor’s $3 Million Nursing Expansion Grant.

The grant will be used to develop professional pathways to nursing.

On July 27, a check presentation ceremony was held by VIDA at the Knapp Medical Conference Center in Weslaco. In addition to VIDA leaders the event was attended by stakeholders and partners involved in the initiative. 

“This event served as a platform to highlight the positive impact we have collectively made in our community through our collaboration and shared vision of providing our Rio Grande Valley with a highly skilled and highly educated workforce,” VIDA President and CEO Felida Villarreal told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.

The audio story below features the analysis and observations of Villarreal, Ana Garcia, the South Texas district director for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, state Sens. Juan Hinojosa and Morgan LaMantia, Julian Alvarez, a senior vice president for Lone Star National Bank, and Edward Serna, executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

HARLINGEN, Texas - A candidate for state Senate District 27 has told Rio Grande Valley healthcare professionals and executives where she stands on key issues in the race.

Attorney Morgan LaMantia spoke at a campaign fundraiser hosted by Dr. Victor Gonzalez, MD, the incoming president of the Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society. The event attracted doctors, nurses and healthcare administrators from the across the Valley. 

“I am running because it is time for the next generation of leadership to pick up the torch. I am running because there is so much to love about this community. But it has some challenges, like education, economic development, higher paying jobs and healthcare,” LaMantia said. 

LaMantia paid tribute to the Valley’s healthcare industry.

“You know, we got hit with the pandemic just like everyone else but you saw how the healthcare community here pulled together and pooled all their resources to try to keep us all safe and healthy and get us better when we did get sick,” LaMantia said.

“And what we need to do is make sure they have the support and make sure everyone here gets the healthcare they need and that we fix those nursing shortages and staffing shortages that you all have.”

LaMantia said: “Just seeing what the community was able to do, the doctors and the nurses that are here. They pulled together to show how this community is. And with just little bit of support we have the highest potential.”

This is the first time LaMantia has sought elected office. She is running in the Democratic Party primary and has three opponents in the race. SD 27 is open because the longterm incumbent, state Sen. Eddie Luico, Jr., is retiring at the next election.

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.