Week of Sept. 7-12, 2026

Only have a minute? Listen instead Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Kudos for Edinburg This letter celebrates the city of Edinburg, its dedicated staff and our mayor and council for the remarkable improvements in the downtown district where I live. Yes, parking around the square currently is congested and frustrating, but this is a temporary inconvenience. Once the downtown parking garage and the courthouse demolition are complete, accessibility will improve dramatically. What's happening downtown is energizing. My husband and I have enjoyed flamenco lessons, 10‑week senior art classes, and Sip‑and‑Paint workshops at the Edinburg Arts and Cultural Events Center — programs that promote fitness, creativity and community connection. In late July, we attended Joan Kasofsky's vibrant one‑woman art show at Booktanicals, a soothing new addition to downtown. Before the exhibit, we dined at Tridente across the street, enjoying delicious dishes and drinks. Just a couple of miles away on Sugar, Viña Artworks recently showcased 11 local artists in a diverse exhibition. The expansion of art venues and cultural offerings has transformed Edinburg into a leader rather than a laggard. Bravo to our city of Edinburg for investing in the future and revitalizing downtown and the surrounding with the infrastructure and vision it deserves. Diane Teter Edinburg Who are real communists? President Donald Trump often accuses Democrats of being 'communists.' However, MAGA uses communist methods like repression of dissent, purging of government officials and exiling folks to Siberia-type places like the CECOT prison in El Salvador. MAGA actively pursues government control of the economy. MAGA politicizes the court system in order to make decisions in favor of the party. MAGA installs its party leader and his close cronies in dictatorial power as the 'vanguard' of the new proletariat. Trump positions MAGA as the true parent of young Americans by claiming, like Vladimir Lenin, that he does more for workers than their parents ever did. MAGA uses communist Cheka-style goon squads like his private army ICE force. ICE goes after new immigrants and long-time citizens alike and aims to interfere with local government and elections. MAGA gathers lists of good citizens like Josef Stalin did in order to harass opposition voters. MAGA demeans the Christian religion, especially Catholics and non-evangelical Protestants, aiming to harass them for their belief in an authority higher than Donald J. Trump. MAGA's essential communism explains why Trump is so chummy with communists like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Kimball Shinkoskey Woods Cross, Utah We welcome your letters and commentary. Submissions must include the writer's full name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters of 200 words or fewer will be given preference. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters may be mailed to P.O Box 3267, McAllen, Texas 78502-3267, or emailed to [email protected].