Mayor Richard Cortez

Does McAllen, Texas deserve notoriety as the most expensive place for Medicare recipients or is it just a convenient focal point of diversion for politicians who want to avoid the real issues?   The city of McAllen Texas has been in the unwelcome spotlight this month because of an article in the New Yorker Magazine by Atul Gawande discussing the fast raising costs of health care in the area. Dr. Gawande recently visited doctors and hospitals in the area after a review published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed McAllen area hospitals to be among the highest Medicare spenders.     Both ... Read Full Story

Here is a short slide show from yesterday's National Hispanic Heritage Month Donate Life Flag Raising Ceremony in McAllen Texas. Mayor Richard Cortez, members of the McAllen City Commission and TOSA representatives were all present to raise the organ Donor flag to honor the generosity of organ donors and their families. To register to be an organ donor in Texas please visit Donate Life Texas Please visit Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) to learn more about organ donation. Photo credit: Michelle Segovia, TOSA & Jose Esqueda Read Full Story

Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund 2008 Informational Workshop in McAllen presented by McAllen Chamber of Commerce. What : TFPF 2008 Workshop Where : McAllen, Texas When : May 15th from 7 - 8 pm. Cost : FREE Location : McAllen Chamber of Commerce 1200 Ash Avenue McAllen, TX 78505 Co-presented with the Rio Grande Valley Film Commission AFS Director of Artist Services Bryan Poyser will provide information about applying to the Fund and screen work samples from previously funded work. Filmmakers across the state of Texas are eligible to apply to TFPF, which has given out $830,000 in cash, goods and services to 243 film ... Read Full Story

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced $30 million in federal grants Tuesday to prevent drug-fueled violence from spilling into the United States from Mexico.Richard Cortez, mayor of McAllen, Texas, said violence is up sharply in small, rural areas Read Full Story

Video Report:Richard Cortez of the border city, McAllen Texas defends the safety of American side of border saying that the violence is in Mexico and has not touched the U.S. side yet. Read Full Story