Special to the NEWS ORLANDO, FLA.—Over the Memorial Day weekend, a group of talented young soccer players from San Benito showcased their skills on one of youth sports’ biggest stages, competing in the Disney Memorial Day Soccer Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Representing Hurricanes FC Academy of Brownsville …

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Abel Fonseca is a San Benito native, boxer, boxing coach, and a longtime Site Coordinator for the San Benito CISD ACE Program at Miller Jordan Middle School and Collegiate Academy. He can be reached at afonseca@sbcisd.net. Every town has its golden age, but few match the romantic, community-driven spirit of mid-20th-century San Benito. Long before …

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By RAY QUIROGApublisher@sbewspaper.com Voters returned to the polls on Tuesday, May 26, to decide the winners of joint primary runoff elections based on the results of the March Primaries. Early voting for the runoffs opened on Monday, May 18, and closed on Friday, March 22. According to Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza, about 50% …

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Special to the NEWS LOS FRESNOS, TX—Residents, students, and local school district officials here are mourning the loss of a young coach who was killed in an early-morning vehicle accident. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) identified the victim as 22-year-old Aaron Alejandro Garcia of Brownsville. According to DPS officials, the incident occurred on …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS Aurora Espinoza Villarreal has made San Benito her home for all 84 years of her life. On June 10, she’s celebrating another year, but not before the family plans a weekend party at her Wentz Street residence. When Villarreal’s answer to simple questions is “I’m ready to meet Jesus,” …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS Cyclist Matt King rode cautiously as he came upon the Sam Houston Boulevard along the Interstate-69 frontage intersection and stopped next to vehicles and San Benito CISD school buses Wednesday morning just after 7 a.m. Some motorists glanced at King and his cycling coach Joey Hasset, as they waited …

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Special to the NEWS MERCEDES, TX— After eight years as Superintendent of the South Texas Independent School District (STISD) and a career spanning more than 30 years in education, Dr. Marco Antonio Lara, Jr. has announced his retirement, effective May 31. According to STISD press release, since joining STISD in November 2018, Dr. Lara has …

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By ALBERT VILLEGASSpecial to the NEWS San Benito High School wrestling coaches believe that success on the mat this coming season begins with summer strength and conditioning. That’s the thought process for coaches Juan Caballero (boys’ team) and Kristen Longoria (girls’ team) as they announced the start dates for their summer strength and conditioning program. …

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By JACQI LEYVA-HILLSpecial to the NEWS Velma De Los Santos has been named the 2026 San Benito News Citizen of the Year for decades of volunteerism, civic leadership, and community service across San Benito and the Rio Grande Valley. A lifelong San Benito resident, De Los Santos graduated from San Benito High School in 1981, …

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Joe Rodriguez is a San Benito resident, a local citizen watchdog, and a former candidate for the San Benito City Commission. In December 2022, the House Ways and Means Committee released six years of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns, which showed he paid relatively little in federal taxes during and before his first term …

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