What can Crossroads residents do to curb drug use, crimes?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Mexican drug cartel stories -- and the violence used to smuggle -- increasingly spill across the U.S. border. As the Advocate reported today, evidence of corrupt Mexican military -- and dangerous smugglers -- can be found regularly just south of Victoria. What ...

Victoria County personnel: Has the county withheld due OT pay?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

I received a very interesting letter, which I won't detail until I confirm the allegations made within it. If you have information you can share about withheld county OT pay, please contact me at gsemenza@vicad.com or 361-580-6519. I should stress ...

Hey, small business owners: Share your story with tens of thousands

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

The Victoria Advocate is publishing profiles of area small businesses and business owners. This, no doubt, is a great chance for tens of thousands of readers to learn more about the small businesses in the area. To partake in this ...

WITH VIDEO: Any 'Joe the Plumbers' in Victoria?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

If you watched the presidential debate tonight, you know both candidates campaigned to "Joe the Plumber.'" I couldn't help but think: Are there any "Joe the Plumbers," literally, in Victoria or the Crossroads? If so, how did you feel about ...

Are you retired and stalking your stocks?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

If you are retired and keeping a close eye on your investments, we want to talk to you. How are you managing your finances -- and blood pressure -- during today's economy? Experts often suggest we avoid monitoring 401ks daily ...

Your puppy fall ill or die from parvo?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

I talked to Adopt-A-Pet's Renee Wheeler today and she offered a scary warning: More puppies than usual are dying this year -- this week -- from parvo. I'm interviewing local veterinarians on Tuesday to learn more about this rash of ...

Does a border wall make Mexico a better neighbor?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

I toured the U.S.-Mexico border last week south of Mission and McAllen and received an up-close look at the border wall, which is being built in many stretches there. The wall is made of 18-inch concrete. Interestingly, the border wall ...

Border Blog, Day 2: Another canvass of the Rio Grande River

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Today, we spotted dozens of signs of recent smuggling from Mexico into the U.S.: an inflatable raft at the river bank, fresh trails, discarded clothes, toothbrushes and water bottles. We toured the Rio Grande River by daylight and visited hot ...

Border Blog, Day 1: Searching for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

MISSION -- Just north of Reynosa, Mexico, Mission is on Texas' front lines of drug and human smuggling. As I write this, it's after 2 a.m. on Day 1 of the Advocate's four-day trip to patrol along the U.S.-Mexican border. We are documenting ...

FLOOD PHOTOS: What memories do you have of the 1998 flood?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

I can't imagine what the streets and countrysides looked like -- how it felt to have your home flooded -- during the Great Flood of 1998. I moved to Victoria in 2003, five years after the devastating natural disaster. This ...

Wall Street woes keeping you from retirement?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Stocks plunged again this morning as news on Wall Street, even after the approved bailout, continues to be dreary. We want to know if anyone locally is remaining in the workplace longer than usual because his or her 401k or other ...

Missing candidates: Do you know how to find these people?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Election time is the last time I thought I'd struggle to find candidates who want to work for the public. Yet, I can't reach a number of folks in a nine-county area who want to earn your vote. Can you ...

Any presidential debate parties?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

If you or someone you know is gathering with friends to watch the presidential debate -- or you know of a debate-viewing party -- please let us know by calling 361-574-1222 or e-mailing us at newsroom@vicad.com by 3:30 p.m. Thursday. We want to ...

UPDATED w/ graphic photo: Obama slurs plastered on a truck.

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Scroll down to view a graphic photo of this documented case of racism. I wrote a story some weeks ago asking if South Texas is ready for a black president. This week, we received a photograph of a truck painted ...