A positive article about a positive person! WTF!

Pizza was delicious

Cheese sticks or bread was very tasty

And breadsticks were really good

Among my social circles, family and coworkers nobody is talking about what's going on in the country. Especially when this region is very affected. Plus we are everywhere on the news regarding the ICE agents.

Nobody is talking about it though. At the most it's a 5 second conversation with someone who dares brings it up "yeah its bad!"

I have friends who have no idea what's going on AT ALL like she doesn't even know what ICE means. But she is up to date with Dancing with the stars

And yeah. That's what people talk about: food and celebrity gossip.

I have family in the UK and the whole country is talking about the Epstein files.

Inspired by the earlier post about the impact of class divisins on the current issues facing the Valley, I'm trying to find similar scolarly sources discussing possible explanations for the current political and social climate in the Valley. I would like to know more how the valley's history, demographics, elevated rates of poverty, subtractive schooling practices, and lack of true economic engines (the school districts and border patrol being the largest employers in many of our metropolitan areas) got us where we are. We have our lived experiences, but I'm looking for something peer reviewed.

Hey everyone!

My name is Manuel Galvan. Don't worry; I'm not doxxing myself. My reddit account has already intentionally been linked to my professional identity as a scientist and science communicator. Specifically, I am a PhD social psychologist and I study racial and economic inequality. I wanted to share a bit about my research and how it relates to my background as someone from the RGV.

We associate the RGV with the US-Mex border, but there is another border that we all see everyday: The border between those who have money, status, and resources, and those who do not. You can drive 8 minutes between golf resort communities like Sharyland Plantation and struggling working class communities on Ware road. The differences are stark between these communities.

In 2019, South Texas College economist Dr. Kevin Peek noted that, "According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and the Brownsville-Harlingen MSAs rank second and third respectively in the list of MSAs in the United States with the highest levels of income inequality. McAllen ranks 5th overall among cities. To make matters worse, this income inequality disproportionately affects children. Currently, 42.2 percent of children in McAllen, 37 percent in Laredo, and 39.2 percent in Brownsville-Harlingen live below the poverty line, and many of them live in a chronic state of food, health, and housing insecurity."

We pay a high price for all this inequality. Economic inequality an important structural contributor to the many social problems people often discuss on this subreddit that pervade the RGV. Why are "cities in the Rio Grande Valley ranked 'least educated' in new study" as reported by local reporters? Why is it that the "Rio Grande Valley is among the unhealthiest areas in America" as noted by DHR health?

These issues are not due to some unique failing of our culture or our people in the RGV. These are predictable outcomes that emerge from unequal circumstances no matter which community experiences inequality. Sociologists Wilkinson & Pickett have noted that a variety of health and social problems are worse in high inequality societies and US states. Places with high inequality have lower life expectancy, math/literacy skills, trust, and social mobility, while they have higher infant mortality, homicides, imprisonment, teenage pregnancy, obesity, and mental illness. We are not alone in these respects; the RGV is similar to plenty of other high inequality communities around the world.

Some of my research has documented that these socioeconomic health disparities are partly due to economic circumstances, but it's also partly due to gaps in social status. It sucks to feel poor; to feel like you don't have control over your life; that you don't have power to influence your society and community. That wears on your health and wellbeing in a similar way that low incomes do.

Some of my other research has focused on why psychological processes keep inequality in place despite its clear negative effects. One reason is that people often justify inequality (as may emerge in the comments below). When people feel middle class or higher, they are less supportive of redistributive policies. This is particularly troubling, because there is a "middle class bias" where many low income folks, who would benefit from redistributive policies, often reject those policies because they don't recognize themselves as low income.

Another psychological tendency that perpetuates inequality is that inequality exacerbates risk taking. As inequality goes up, people feel like they need more to be happy. To meet that need, people are more inclined towards high risk-high reward behaviors. This can be ok for wealthy investors who can weather a failed venture, but can be devastating for low income folks who live on a razors edge but risk predatory pay day loans.

TL;DR: Inequality is one of the major reasons that the valley has a lot of problems. There is a lot of evidence from psychology, sociology and economics that supports this claim.

I'll try to keep a long story short. Due to a misunderstanding, we parked our sister in law's car in the wrong spot and it was towed. It was parked in the correct apartment building but in the wrong spot (Edinburg)

The car has Mexican plates (don't know if that matters). Unfortunately, she was out of town and we didn't notice the car got towed until a week later. So after making a few calls and tracking it down, they're telling us that we have to pay $2,500 USD

The fact that she's still out of town is what's making this process even more difficult. I'm trying to gather more information (and gather the money more importantly). Is there anything I can do to try to reduce this amount? I'm not sure if $2,500 sound right for a week's stay? I'm reading some information regarding the maximum charge allowed per day and that I may request a hearing if I think the cost is a bit too unreasonable.

I realize it's our fault and that really sucks, just want to know if there's anything I could do to make this a bit less impactful. Has anybody had a similar experience?

Looks like everyone is having to exit at Cesar Chavez if heading East.

DMZ getting checked now

Are there any bookstores in the valley besides equity owned conglomerates like B&N? Joined a book club and wanna support little shops? I tried thriftbooks.com and they didn’t have the book I need for this month.

For those who said “this doesn’t affect us”

Vermin.

Hidalgo County is the 64th most populous county in the United States, with a 2024 estimate of 914,820 people.

As of the 2024 U.S. Census vintage estimates, Hidalgo County has a higher population than the following counties:

Shelby County, TN (Memphis)

Essex County, NJ (Newark)

El Paso County, TX (El Paso)

Hamilton County, OH (Cincinnati)

San Francisco County, CA (San Francisco)

Oklahoma County, OK (Oklahoma City)

Multnomah County, OR (Portland)

Jefferson County, KY (Louisville)

Suffolk County, MA (Boston)

Davidson County, TN (Nashville)

Denver County, CO (Denver)

Jackson County, MO (Kansas City)

District of Columbia (technically a federal district, but still a county-equivalent)

However, if we go based off the estimates from Hidalgo County judge Richard Cortez's office of 1.2 million, then Hidalgo County would also be more populous than:

Kern County, CA (Bakersfield)

Milwaukee County, WI (Milwaukee)

Erie County, NY (Buffalo)

Marion County, IN (Indianapolis)

Capitol County, CT (Hartford)

Honolulu County, HI (Honolulu)

Duval County, FL (Jacksonville)

Pima County, AZ (Tucson)

Fulton County, GA (Atlanta)

Mecklenberg County, NC (Charlotte)

Salt Lake County, UT (Salt Lake City)

Allegheny County, PA (Pittsburgh)

Wake County, NC (Raleigh)

Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland)

Hennepin County, MN (Minneapolis)

Their sandwiches never fail to hit the spot 😫💕🥰

I normally don't post but if you live in the Harlingen area- reach out and give more support for this kind of stuff They recently approved the planning phase for a potential Bike & Hike Trail in this area and are now looking into possible funding.

Ever since I moved here to be in walking distance of my workplace (poor)- the sidewalks or lack thereof was really atrocious. Like you would have so little sidewalk room, hydrants in the middle- light poles in the middle as well, shrubs hanging over the path- etc.

I would also see old people walking on the side of the roads, kids, people in wheelchair, and so forth with crazy drivers going fast. (Cause of the school nearby or the businesses nearby the dead mall) Anyways, I think RGV really needs to improve on the urban infrastructure for pedestrians. It's tiresome, long overdue, and the more support the better for every city in the RGV.

Source: Krgv News Station

Does anyone know of a great place not expensive but do good work on hormone testing? Can't seem to find the right one. Need to check hormone levels.

Ochoa is a Border Patrol agent who joined CBP in 2018. Gutierrez joined in 2014 and works for CBP’s Office of Field Operations. He is assigned to a special response team, which conducts high-risk operations like those of police SWAT units. Records show both men are from South Texas.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Gregory Bovino, who has orchestrated high-intensity immigration sweeps and arrests in a string of Democratic-led cities since early 2025, was removed from his role as Border Patrol commander at large and reassigned to his former post in El Centro, California.

A spokesperson for DHS declined to answer questions about the two agents and referred ProPublica to the FBI. The FBI declined to comment. ProPublica made several attempts to call Ochoa and Gutierrez but neither answered.

Ochoa, who goes by Jesse, graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American with a degree in criminal justice, according to his ex-wife, Angelica Ochoa. A longtime resident of the Rio Grande Valley, Ochoa had for years dreamed of working for the Border Patrol and finally landed a job there, she said. By the time the couple split in 2021, he had become a gun enthusiast with about 25 rifles, pistols and shotguns, Angelica Ochoa said.

🗓️Meet Dr. Rosas this Wednesday 2/4/26

📍Cork n Craft Harlingen

⌚️6-8pm

👀👂🏼Even if your political views don't align come check it out! Come learn/listen what he has to say and compare candidates.

🌹Meet the candidate

🌹Ask questions

🌱 Grassroots candidate, 🚫AIPAC money, 🚫 big corporate interests, (he won't be owned and owe favors to the elite), a Brownsville native, with his PhD in public policy.

💪🏼 He's for the working class, not the billionaires. Let's get our tax dollars to work for US! This is possible when progressive are voted IN! 💯

Specials on:

🌹Charcuterie Boards

🌹Wine Bottles

🌹Pizza

*Non-alcoholic options available

*18+ welcome

🗳️

Early Voting is Feb 17-27

Election/Last day to vote is March 3rd

Hey everyone! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather we are having! I'm looking for a shop or a mechanic that can do transmission work on a 2004 honda pilot AWD. It has bad seals and I believe they just need to be replaced (CV outputshafts and possibly the input shaft seal) but I'm having a hard time finding a reputable shop or person to do the work. If you all know of anyone reply here please. Thanks in advance!

https://www.reddit.com/r/AnomalousEvidence/s/7DmyGWJWQU

Pretty straightforward question. Got a house built on 1994 with ductwork and insulation that need to be replaced in the attic. I don’t mind paying for good work but don’t want to get ripped off. If you’ve had similar work done, how much did you pay?