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Progress times Vol. 47 - #24
Friday, February 8, 2019
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Photo courtesy of La Joya ISD.
LJISD students performing at the Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center during the Elementary Music Festival held last year.
LJISD to offer access to FA education for students of all ages By Jamie Treviño For Fine Arts Director Ruben Adame, the newest FA-related development at LJISD will provide more opportunities to students. The La Joya Independent School District is hoping to enrich the education of their
students by implementing curriculum that highlights fine arts at all grade levels. While they have had successful arts programs at the high school level for years, recently the district has designated three elementary campuses specializing in fine arts, and starting next school
year (2019-2020), a middle school will also be rebranded. Currently, Emiliano Zapata Elementary is considered a Fine Arts Specialty School. According to a press release from the district, “curriculum at Zapata Elementary integrates academics and
fine Arts to allow children to learn and grow while enhancing each student’s artistic potential.” John F. Kennedy and Kiki Camarena Elementary schools are designated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), motivating students
to excel and become more “well-rounded.” Adame, who has been the La Joya ISD Fine Arts Director for four years now, says he feels supported by campus efforts towards FA education. “The district supports fine arts so much,” Adame said.
Mission to meet with TML about lawsuit against firefighter By Jamie Treviño
The struggle to get workers compensation for Lieutenant Homer Salinas is still ongoing. Salinas, who recently won an appeal against the Texas Municipal League’s initial denials of workers compensation insurance, was recently served with a lawsuit from TML under the city of Mission. Salinas was seeking $100,000 for four surgeries he underwent when he was fighting kidney cancer from Dec. 2017 through June 2018. TML initially denied covering Salinas’ cancer treatment, and the Texas Depart-
ment of Insurance appeals panel rejected TML’s denial of workers compensation. TDI ordered TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TMLIRP) to pay for the denied medical care, which Salinas paid for during treatment at M.D. Anderson in Houston. After four rejected appeals, and an order to pay Salinas’ workers compensation in full, TML issued the lawsuit seeking further discovery without notification to the city. According to a press release from Mission, “the city never instructed TMLIRP to file the appeal case.” See MISSION FIREFIGHTER
Pg. 12
Judge says Catholic Church must allow access to La Lomita Chapel property for border wall survey By Dave Hendricks Over objections from the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, surveyors will map the historic La Lomita Chapel property in Mission — an initial step required to build the border wall. The federal government requested access to the La Lomita Chapel property, which is located just yards from the Rio Grande, as part of preparations for the border wall. Bishop Daniel E. Flores refused, calling the wall “contrary to the faith in practice of the Catholic
Church.” Attorneys for the government responded with a lawsuit against the church and the city of Mission, which leases La Lomita from the diocese. During a hearing Wednesday morning, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane determined the diocese must allow surveyors to access the property. “I just can’t see that allowing a few people on to do some surveying is a substantial burden,” Crane said.
See LA LOMITA Pg. 12
La Lomita Chapel in Mission, TX.
Progress Times photo by Jamie Treviño.
Lt. Homer Salinas speaking to Mayor Armando O’caña following the special meeting held at city hall on Wednesday.
“It offers kids opportunities; kids in another district with our same demographics will probably not have the same opportunities that our kids have.”
See LJISD FINE ARTS Pg. 9
INSIDE
Campus Crime Stoppers
LJISD hosted this year’s Texas Crime Stoppers Conference, drawing representatives and student leaders from across the state. Check out the article for more information about the annual event.
See Pg. 5
City of La Joya Updates
After complaints about racist comments, Pharr didn’t follow recommendation to fire community events director By Dave Hendricks When city employees accused a manager of sexual harassment, Pharr transferred him from the Events Center to City Hall. The sexual harassment claims cost Pharr nearly $200,000, according to records the city released last month. Pharr, though, didn’t terminate Community Events Director Gary Rodriguez — the city asked him to supervise the Media Department. That decision backfired in March 2018, when all six members of the Media Department wrote letters to Human Resources, accusing Rodriguez of making inappropriate comments. Employees said Rodriguez referred to contract workers as “beaners,” called the custodian “Mexican lady,” and made other offensive comments through a hand puppet he called “Rocky.” After investigating the
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Gary Rodriguez Courtesy of the City of Pharr via YouTube
complaints, the city Human Resources director recommended firing Rodriguez. Pharr didn’t follow her recommendation. “At this time there are still unresolved matters in the cases surrounding Gary,” City Attorney Patricia Rigney said in a statement provided by City Manager Alex Meade. “It is my opinion that the city should not comment on these matters. Doing so could subject us to continued
or new litigation.” The Progress Times requested the Media Department complaints and resulting investigation in October 2018. Pharr refused to release the records and requested a decision from the Attorney General’s Office, which directed Pharr to release the documents last month. Rodriguez didn’t respond to a request for comment. Pharr hired Rodriguez in October 2008 to supervise the city television channel, which broadcast City Commission meetings and community news. He previously worked for Weslaco, Hidalgo County and local radio stations. Rodriguez served as the city spokesman and also assumed responsibility for the Pharr Events Center. Serious questions about Rodriguez surfaced in 2016, when four Events Center employees filed lawsuits against
See PHARR DIRECTOR Pg. 10
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The city recently opened the doors of their new city hall, and hired a new attorney that may complicate the current Housing Authority case. Find more information about what’s happening in La Joya, inside.
See Pg. 5& 8
Former McAllen Cop Pleads Guilty
Former investigator Ricardo Ruiz, Jr. plead guilty to making a false statement to federal agents last week. Dave Hendricks has the latest on the story and how McAllen PD reacted.
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