Category: Opinion

Historic times call for historic measures

Longtime readers of our newspapers will notice some slight differences this week and in the foreseeable future. For the first time in our history, we’ve combined the editorial and advertising content of our two publications, the San Benito News and the Port Isabel-South Padre Press; so we sincerely hope you enjoy reading about some of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/04/10/historic-times-call-for-historic-measures/

Helping your kids through coronavirus social distancing

Of course, we’re scared. That means it’s time to be gentle and compassionate with ourselves and others. Can you imagine how scared our kids are? Their routines have been disrupted and they miss their teachers and friends. They have less control over their lives than we do! We have a special opportunity here to demonstrate …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/04/03/helping-your-kids-through-coronavirus-social-distancing/

Cameron County consolidates carelessly

The Port Isabel-South Padre Press and our sister publication, the San Benito News, have been reporting as the pandemic spreads throughout the Rio Grande Valley, namely, on the precautions Cameron County, San Benito, Laguna Vista, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island have taken. Both newsrooms are dependent on the Cameron County Public Health department’s press …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/04/03/cameron-county-consolidates-carelessly/

Letter to the Editor–Kick Them. Kick Them. Kick Them

To The Editor, I am not a fan of the school board president but I would not sign a petition to remove him based on a DWI or being an alleged drunk. If a doctor was caught and charged with a DWI or being drunk, would he be disqualified to practice being a doctor? If …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/11/08/letter-to-the-editor-kick-them-kick-them-kick-them/

Rey Avila: A life of service, a life of achievement

By RAY QUIROGA INSIDE SCOOP publisher@sbnewspaper.com We have a poor habit of posthumously recognizing people for their contributions to community and society instead of honoring them when they’re alive. I’m happy to say, however, that Rey Avila was served much better. Throughout his many years of involvement with the preservation and recognition of Conjunto Music, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/10/17/rey-avila-a-life-of-service-a-life-of-achievement/

We’re Better Than Michael Vargas, Right?

By RAY QUIROGA publisher@sbnewspaper.com I wonder if the apologists of embattled SBCISD School Board President Michael Vargas would be so laissez-faire regarding the board president’s recent DWI arrest if someone they know or love fell victim of Vargas’ actions and decision on that early fateful morning of July 5th when, according to Harlingen Police, Vargas …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/08/09/were-better-than-michael-vargas-right/

Letter to the editor: Infrastructure Issues

I have visited your city for the past 21 years straight. My wife is from San Benito. Her mother and siblings still live there. I was just there over the 4th of July holiday. I visited San Benito, Harlingen, Brownsville and South Padre Island. But here’s my concern of your city based on my observations. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/08/04/letter-to-the-editor-infrastructure-issues/

The tale of the comfortable bus: What Jack has in store for us this week

The Inside Scoop Ray Quiroga publisher@sbnewspaper.com   The question is, “Why?” Why did Superintendent Nate Carman, after supporting air travel for the chess program last year, decide it wasn’t in the students’ best interest this year? What changed? It wasn’t so much the $17 grand in airfare. Of course we know now that students K-12 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/04/19/the-tale-of-the-comfortable-bus-what-jack-has-in-store-for-us-this-week/

‘Cleanup on isle 13, please’: How Jack’s In It to Win It

by RAY QUIROGA I won’t pretend to understand the thought process of the top SBCISD administrator and certain members of the school board. Their actions often defy logic, and border on recklessness, to say the least. My only guess is that Dr. (Nate) Carman, the district’s current superintendent, waltzed into town less than two years …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/04/12/cleanup-on-isle-13-please-how-jacks-in-it-to-win-it/

You Don’t Know Jack: Inside Garcia’s Termination

By RAY QUIROGA publisher@sanbenitonewspaper.com The Inside Scoop There are a number of interesting details surrounding the events leading to last week’s termination of Jack Garcia — the now-former San Benito CISD After School Program Director. To review, Garcia, who had been employed by the district for 22 years — 20 with the afterschool program,16 years …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/04/05/you-dont-know-jack-inside-garcias-termination/