Newspaper/Media 
Red Rock, a 1,350-pound Limousin steer, handled by Knippa sixth-grader Easton Parker, won Uvalde County Junior Livestock Show’s grand champion title for market steer Jan. 23 at the Uvalde County Fairplex. Parker got Red Rock last March, and since then has spent hours halter-breaking, grooming, feeding, and practicing with his steer. In just four years, Parker has handled two grand […]
SWTX extends president’s contract
Southwest Texas College’s board of trustees extended President Hector Gonzales’ contract through 2029 and granted him a $16,820 raise during his yearly evaluation, pushing his salary above $300,000. This is Gonzales’ fifth raise since 2023, and his salary increased from $226,000 to $316,000 in that three-year time frame. Last year, Gonzales told the Leader-News that SWTX was gradually raising his […]
Carry God’s presence into 2026 and walk forward in faith
Pastor's ColumnWe are a few weeks into 2026 with a new year ahead of us. What will it bring and where will it take us in life as individuals, a community and a nation? No one really knows. Some of you may have already had some challenges this year, however, we can still navigate this year with confidence. Here are some […]
Runyen tells EOC rain chances may improve by fall
Meteorologist Jason Runyen predicted a potential shift to El Niño conditions in late 2026, which could bring wetter weather, while discussing seasonal outlooks with Uvalde County Emergency Operations Center volunteers Jan. 15. Runyen, the warning coordination meteorologist from the National Weather Service based in New Braunfels, detailed the NWS’s role, tools and resources. He spoke of the Storm Prediction Center, […]
UIL realignment districts to be announced Feb. 2
At 9 a.m. on Feb. 2, the University Interscholastic League will release new district alignments for football, basketball, and volleyball for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. New districts for other sports will be released later this spring. In December of 2025, UIL released the new cutoff numbers for each of the six classifications. With 1,205 students, Uvalde High School […]
La Pryor ISD getting major upgrades
Construction is well underway for 10 new elementary school classrooms and a multipurpose hall at La Pryor Independent School District, the largest building project the rural school has seen in decades. Superintendent Cody Miller said the new buildings will almost double the property value of the district, which has an enrollment of roughly 400 between the elementary and secondary school. […]
Refugio R. Garza
Refugio Rojas Garza, 75, of Uvalde died on Jan. 21, 2025, at Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Uvalde. He was born Dec. 2, 1950, in Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico, to Simona (Rojas) and Heliodoro Garza. He is survived by two sons, Refugio “Cuco” Garza and wife, Veronica, and Daniel Garza and wife, Edie, all of Uvalde; three sisters, Martha Ramirez, […]
Candidate filing open for UCISD board of trustees
FREEFive seats on the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees are open this year, and hopefuls can file for a spot on the ballot by 5 p.m. Feb 13. As of Feb. 9, no candidates had turned in their application, according to the board’s administrative assistant Mikka Sanchez. Filing began Jan. 14. The final day to declare write-in […]
Newspaper selected for second RFA reporter
The Uvalde Leader-News has been selected to receive a second Report for America corps member who will join the editorial team this July for a two-year assignment. RFA announced its 2026 newsroom partners on Jan. 20, following a rigorous application process. The 70 new positions will boost RFA corps members to more than 200 nationwide by this summer. The Leader-News […]
Coyotes travel this week for District 27-4A basketball
The Uvalde Coyotes will be on the road for a pair of District 27-4A basketball games this week. They will take on the Pleasanton Eagles on Feb. 3 and will go up against the Devine Warhorses on Feb. 6. Varsity action for both dates will get underway at 7 p.m. Pleasanton and Devine won in district competition against the Coyotes […]
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