ron whitlock reports

SANTA ROSA, Texas - Although Rio Grande Valley sugar growers are upset that a 1944 US-Mexico water sharing treaty has been adhered to, they do not blame the head of the US section IBWC.

IBWC stands for the International Boundary and Water Commission. It is a binational entity that, among other things, governs the distribution of water along the Rio Grande.

“I would like to point out that the IBWC Commissioner, Dr. Maria Elena Giner has been the most communicative, the most supportive and the biggest advocate that South Texas has ever had in my history with them,” said Tudor Uhlhorn, chairman of the board of directors for Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., a co-operative comprising more than 90 sugarcane growing farms.

“At the IBWC she (Giner) has been fantastic in fighting for water for us. But she can only do what she can do without the proper support for the State Department. Their (the IBWC’s) ultimate bosses are the United States State Department. So without pressure from them (the State Department) on Mexico, she's pretty limited. But she's been great.”

Ron Whitlock Reports secured an in-depth interview with Uhlhorn soon after RGVSGA decided to close its sugar harvesting, grinding and milling operation at the end of the season. As a result hundreds of jobs will be lost and the Valley economy will take a $100 million hit. 

Uhlhorn said the decision to close the mill in Santa Rosa was a lack of reliable irrigation water. If Mexico had releasing water from the Conchos River Basin to the Rio Grande, as per the terms of 1944 treaty, Uhlhorn said, the sugar industry in the Valley could have been saved.

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

Editor's Note: Here is the in-depth interview Tudor Uhlhorn gave Ron Whitlock Reports.

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

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says his office can help cities in the Rio Grande Valley access funding for broadband infrastructure.

Or, more specifically, the Texas Broadband Development Office can. The Comptroller’s office oversees the TBDO.

On Tuesday of this week I was able to secure an exclusive interview with the Comptroller about broadband. In the interview, Hegar confirmed that the digital divide is more prevalent in the RGV. But, he said, help is at hand.

Hegar also spoke about broadband legislation currently moving through the Texas House and Senate. He said this legislation will help provide more funding for the TBDO.

The TBDO was established by House Bill 5 during the 87th Legislative Session. Two Rio Grande Valley leaders are on the committee. Alonzo Cantu was appointed by Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and Sergio Contreras was appointed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Here is my exclusive interview:

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., says he is pleased to hear Congress is finally going to consider compensating cities and counties for the loss of revenues caused by the coronavirus.

Sales tax revenues to expected to plummet because of the tailspin the economy is in. Without extra funding from the federal government, Treviño argues, essential services such as police, emergency management and public health will be at risk.

“It was very concerning to me why there was any hesitation on the part of Congress, whether it was the House or the Senate, and it appears it was on the Senate, that they did not want to consider the impact COVID-19 has had on local governments, cities and counties,” Treviño told Ron Whitlock Reports.

“The reality is that the local governments, cities, counties and the state, have expended a large amount of money in numerous areas, law enforcement, first responders, health, and the provision of regular government services to keep providing those services to our constituents.”

Treviño was alarmed at a recent comment by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that states be allowed to go bankrupt. 

“When there was discussion a few weeks ago about, oh, well, we will let the states go bankrupt, that to me indicated a lack of either concern or understanding of the reality of what local governments do. We do not want to stop providing police, fire protection, emergency response protection, during a pandemic, or at any time.”

Treviño is a former mayor of the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley - Brownsville. He said cities and counties do not want to cut back on other services, such as trash pick up. He said many services provided by local governments are likely taken for granted.

“Injecting additional money into the economic stream, keeping people in their jobs and providing, potentially, infrastructure projects is necessary,” Treviño said.

He argued that in the Valley, major infrastructure projects, such as improving roads, bridges, drainage systems and international ports of entry would go along way.

“I hope it happens soon because all of those potential possibilities are a win-win, both at the national, state and local level.”

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

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - In an exclusive interview with Ron Whitlock Reports, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño was told by a reporter that it took two hours to find and buy a gallon of milk. 

“And we do not even have a confirmed case yet. What is going to happen when we have a confirmed case?” Treviño asked, in response to the observation by veteran reporter Ron Whitlock.

“Everybody has to remain calm and be mindful. Having five gallons when you only need one every two weeks or a week and half, that is not what we should be doing,” the county judge said.

Whitlock had pointed out that he drove for two hours around Willacy County on Sunday looking for milk. He said he visited HEB, Dollar General and a few convenience stores. 

“I ended up with the last two gallons of milk in Willacy County. It took me two hours to get those last two gallons of milk. It was just like Beulah,” said Whitlock, remembering back to the famous hurricane of 1967. 

Due to the heavy floods, Whitlock, then a radio broadcaster, was the only reporter operating in the Rio Grande Valley for a week in the aftermath of Beulah. His title was news and public affairs director at K-RIO 910 AM.

“Let’s be positive, be prepared and not panic,” Treviño told Whitlock, referring to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Treviño gave an update on the number of potential cases of coronavirus in Cameron County. At a news conference last Friday, Treviño said two people had been tested and were found to be negative. Results were not yet in for the other two tests, he said. Monday’s update, was that there four tests that had come back negative and the results of five other tests were not yet known. 

“We’re going to see the numbers spike,” Treviño predicted. 

The interview with the Cameron County Judge came before the City of South Padre Island declared an emergency. Treviño spoke about the situation on South Padre Island in his interview with Whitlock. He has a news conference planned for Tuesday, March 17, 2020. 

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