Compromise struck on virus relief money for cities, county

June 3, 2020

Hidalgo County Commissioners went back to the drawing board Tuesday and split more coronavirus relief money with municipalities after weeks of criticism from more than a dozen mayors from across the county.

After criticism, Hidalgo County changes plan for federal COVID-19 relief funds

June 2, 2020

After criticism from the mayors of small cities, the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday abandoned a plan to provide small cities with less money per resident than large cities.

All cities in Hidalgo County — regardless of size — will receive $132 per resident for COVID-19 expenses, said county spokesman Carlos Sanchez. Hidalgo County will set aside $18 of the $132 as a "contingency" for future COVID-19 expenses.

Jury trials on hold in Hidalgo County due to pandemic can create backlog

June 2, 2020

As schools, churches and businesses find ways to adjust during the pandemic, so are courts. A high-profile trial was supposed to start this week. However, it was pushed back until further notice.

“It’s been stressful,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez. “It’s been difficult for all of us. In the sense, you know, dispensing with justice, but we’ve had good collaboration.”

Hidalgo County COVID-19 cases surpass 600

June 2, 2020

The total amount of COVID-19 cases has increased to 610 after 26 more people tested positive for the virus, the county announced Tuesday.

The rise in new cases is being attributed to an increase in testing following a state mandate to test two percent of the state’s population and all nursing home residents and their staffs.

COVID-19 testing capacity increased to 1,000 daily for UTRGV

June 2, 2020

 According to a release, UTRGV is increasing the number of COVID-19 tests it can process from 150 to 1,000 daily.

The release attributes this increase to an automated extraction machine called the Thermo Fisher Kingfisher Flex.