Jeremiah and Maria Luisa Yzaguirre, 47, of Harlingen, were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit health fraud by billing Medicare roughly $14 million for power‑wheelchair parts and repairs that were never provided. Jeremiah received more than nine years in prison and Maria nearly seven years; they were ordered to pay $9,248,976 in restitution and a $25,000 fine. The scheme affected 37 Medicare beneficiaries.

Dr. Antolin Llorente testified Tuesday that Rogelio Martinez, 21, convicted of killing San Benito police Lt. Milton Reséndez, had more than 75 interactions with Child Protective Services starting at four months old. He also said Martinez was hospitalized at Edinburg’s DHR Health at age 12 for depression, received intermittent antipsychotic medication, and suffered brain damage from abuse, neglect and malnutrition, which the doctor said impaired his developing brain.

RJ Mitte, a 34‑year‑old disability‑rights activist and president of the Mitte Foundation, died in Brownsville. The Mitte Cultural District announced his death, noting his leadership in promoting arts, inclusion and the recent designation of the area as a Texas Cultural District. Residents will note that his loss removes a key figure in Brownsville’s cultural and philanthropic community.

Physicians Dr. Muhammad Khan and Dr. Ameer Hassan at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville and Harlingen performed a world‑first bilateral Onyx 12 MMA embolization to treat a subdural hematoma on Aug. 21. The procedure uses a low‑viscosity liquid embolic glue to block blood vessels causing the bleed, and the doctors said it brings advanced care directly to patients in the Rio Grande Valley.

Santos Ramos, a 76‑year‑old Harlingen resident, recounts how a follow‑up call after a routine mammogram led doctors to discover breast cancer early, allowing her to become a survivor. Her experience is highlighted during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when the National Breast Cancer Foundation promotes early detection, and she joins others such as 62‑year‑old Melanie Smith, who was diagnosed on September 29, 2001.

On Tuesday evening, local officials, healthcare workers and community leaders gathered in McAllen to celebrate the opening of Texas Oncology‑McAllen West, the newest clinic in the region’s cancer‑care network. Dr. Guillermo Lazo, a medical oncologist and hematologist, highlighted that the facility expands local treatment options, aiming to spare Valley residents from traveling far for exams and diagnoses.

The Harlingen Independent School District announced that health insurance costs will rise for many employees as the board adopts a $21.2 million self‑insured plan with higher employee deductions, discussed at a special meeting on Sept. 16. The new Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Essentials HMO and Blue Choice PPO plans take effect Jan. 1, after a $5.3 million shortfall in the 2025‑2026 fiscal year. A key point for Rio Grande Valley residents is that employee premiums will increase under the new policy.

Eighty‑year‑old Arturo Gómez, a retired mechanic in Rio Grande City, says he and his wife must turn off the air‑conditioner after 9 p.m. to afford the $600 electric bill. They use a fan and endure heat that makes their three dogs “follow me around with their tongues out” when the A/C is off. Rising electricity costs and temperatures have forced seniors to choose between paying the bill and buying food.

The piece reports that the Rio Grande Valley is among the first U.S. regions to adopt hemodiafiltration (HDF), an advanced dialysis method that removes larger toxins, and provides statistics on kidney disease prevalence and transplant wait‑lists in Texas.

San Perlita ISD schools were temporarily closed after a rapid spread of COVID‑19 cases, but county health officials said the modest increase in cases is a normal seasonal pattern and not a major concern, noting that the virus is now less likely to cause hospitalizations and mainly threatens high‑risk individuals.

Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville installed bi‑plane imaging equipment to treat stroke patients on site, reducing the need for hour‑long transfers to Harlingen and enabling faster, more precise thrombectomy procedures.

The Weslaco Fire Department and Knapp Medical Center have launched a grant‑funded Community Healthcare Program that offers home visits and follow‑up calls to patients in Weslaco and Progreso who meet specific medical criteria, with the pilot year being fully covered by a $100,000 grant.