Dina Arévalo

Texas

Reporter at The Monitor (McAllen, TX)

Tejana. Baylor alum. Award-winning professional question asker in the Rio Grande Valley #RGV working @mySA. I punch above my weight. DM for Signal.

Articles

South Texas city wants to keep $10M hotel plans a secret

1 week ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

The city of Edinburg is seeking to withhold records MySA requested regarding the $10 million development plans that Zoho Corporation, an Austin-based tech firm, has for the beloved Echo Hotel located in the heart of town. To that end, Edinburg is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton if the city can withhold the records. What is Zoho doing in the Rio Grande Valley?
'Saucy' chicken joint plans first move into this Texas region

1 week ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Fans of saucy wings and chicken “fingerz” rejoice, because Zaxby’s, the Atlanta-based franchise restaurant chain that promises a side of Southern hospitality with its signature sauces, is expanding into South Texas. The company is currently in the process of constructing a new location in McAllen in the Rio Grande Valley, next door to a Walmart Supercenter at 4012 N. 29th St. Company officials expect the restaurant to open on July 7.
Military vehicles deployed to South TX. Here's what to know

1 week ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Gloria Chavez, U.S. Border Patrol sector chief for the Rio Grande Valley sector, which spans more than 17,000 square miles across 19 counties from the banks of the Rio Grande to the Coastal Bend, announced the arrival of an unspecified number of so-called “Stryker” vehicles in the Valley via a post on X on Saturday, June 14.
Large fireball lights up night sky above northern Mexico, South TX

1 week ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Night owls in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo León were witness to a spectacular cosmic treat when what appears to be a meteor streaked across the sky this weekend. Social media was ablaze with videos and photos of the bluish-colored fireball soaring above Monterrey and the cities surrounding it. The fireball cruised across the atmosphere at about 2:10 a.m. CST, according to several reports posted by witnesses on the American Meteor Society’s (AMS) fireball self-reporting site.
South TX jailers blamed dying inmate's pain on Hot Cheetos, Takis

1 week ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

It wasn’t a joke. Lawyers for Hidalgo County admit that the county’s jailers blamed a female prisoner’s complaints of severe abdominal pain on spicy snacks but deny that the jailers were making jokes about it. The county also denies allegations that it delayed getting Melissa de la Cruz adequate medical care, which caused her death in April 2023.
South Texas taqueria owner says ICE raids forced them to close

2 weeks ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

As federal immigration officials ramp up raids across the country, the Rio Grande Valley — which is about 90% Latino — has not been immune to the crackdowns as agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies have been carrying out raids targeting job sites. What Rio Grande Valley locations have been raided by ICE? The agency added operations are often connected to investigations into human traffickers, money laundering, worker exploitation and other crimes.
South Texas hit with sudden storms, possible tornado

2 weeks ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Powerful thunderstorms moved through deep South Texas, knocking out power to tens of thousands, downing trees and damaging homes just as the sun was setting on Thursday, June 12. Early Thursday morning, forecasters had called for isolated showers and thunderstorms to move through the Rio Grande Valley, with the greatest threat being dangerous heat that would make outdoor temperatures feel like they were in the low 100s.
Costco reveals major renovation plans for South Texas store

2 weeks ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Budget and bulk shoppers in South Texas will soon find some new options to snack on as they load their carts with ginormous packs of toilet paper and bottled water. The food court inside the Costco Wholesale store located in Pharr in the Rio Grande Valley is about to undergo a $200,000 refresh, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records, which are subject to change.
South Texas sailor's family says Navy 'failed' to inform them she died

2 weeks ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

Unnamed sailor taken into custody after Resendiz’s body was foundAn unnamed U.S. Navy sailor “has been placed in pretrial confinement in connection with the death of Seaman Resendiz,” according to the NCIS news release. However, little else is known about the person who is now confined, including their name, gender, rank, and possible relation to Resendiz. NCIS declined to answer questions from MySA seeking more information about the detained person.
Here's why new Interstate 69 is a big deal for South Texas

2 weeks ago | mysanantonio.com | Dina Arévalo

One of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country is also one of the few areas of the United States to not be connected to its metropolitan neighbors by an interstate highway system. But that is slowly starting to change thanks to a mammoth investment by the Texas Department of Transportation.