The Cody Wardlaw Memorial Gymnasium was dedicated and opened in 1951. It was the home of the then Del Rio Wildcats. For over 50 years it would facilitate basketball games, volleyball games, weight-training sessions and other needs for student-athletes. But in 2004 when the new Del Rio Middle School campus concentrated student activities away from the gym, it’s doors were chained and windows boarded --- put out of use indefinitely.

For more than a month, city employees have been waiting and wondering if they are one of the 22 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees slated for layoffs. Pushback from City staff and the City Council has pressured City Manager Shawna Burkhart to create a version of the budget without layoffs. After at least 8 rounds of revisions and repeated public hearings, the City of Del Rio has updated their proposed 2025-2026 fiscal year budget yet again. The City Council delayed

The 2025 flash flood season has been Texas’ deadliest in over a decade, and it is only halfway through the storm. Risk of flooding peaks annually each summer, June through September. With two months of this deadly flood season still ahead of us, and the tragic 1998 Del Rio flood in our rearview mirror, there is a sense of urgency to reactivate the Emergency Warning Siren System. The City Council voted to approve the project but delayed funding until after the state’s special

Griner, Strickland, and Losoya are just a few examples of major street construction project slowdowns which have troubled Del Rio. Citizen complaints are piling up, all with the same question: “What is the delay?” Notoriously, some street improvements have taken years to start, and then once initiated, roadwork may drag out for months longer than expected. Incomplete projects are left untouched for long periods of time, and disrupted residents are left wondering why…

Look out for more cost increases on the horizon, by municipal and Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) service providers like American Electric Power (AEP). A Special City Council meeting was held to review the City of Del Rio Schedule of Fees & Charges on June 17, 2025. They are currently in revision and fees will be presented to Council for approval and adoption within the next several weeks. Finance Director Linda Coones explained why some fees are increasing 50% or 100% or more.

Brace yourself – water and wastewater service rates are officially going up. The average residential water bill will increase 21.8%. The average residential wastewater bill will increase 68%. Special conditions do apply. The City of Del Rio will implement these new rates for the 2026 fiscal year, providing an effective date of October 1, 2025. Such large percentages may sound alarming, but the average increase adds up to less than $25 additional cost per month.

Known nuisance property, located on the corner of East 1st Steet and the 300 block of Avenue J, has been linked to documented illicit activity for years. Without active trash or sewer service, garbage and waste repeatedly pile up. The city has cleaned up the lot quite a few times already, covering all associated costs. The most recent clean-up that took place on June 12, 2025, is a temporary fix. Due to increased public health and safety concerns, matters have now escalated t

County Judge Lewis Owens Jr. provided “Judge’s Comments” at the end of County Commissioners Court on 6/18/25. He spoke about the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, alleged misuse of funds, FBI inquiries, and potential cover-ups and corruption. During his statement, Owens called out, by name, two different owners of local news media businesses, as well as the City of Del Rio. Owens granted an in-person interview to Del Rio News Network on 6/20/25 to clarify some pressing de

The City of Del Rio City Council officially adopted its 2025 Water Master Plan, Wastewater Planning Actions, and Master Watershed Study/Storm Drainage Design Manual on May 27, 2025. This significant step was formalized through the approval of several resolutions, including R:2025-086 for the Water Master Plan, R:2025-087 for the Wastewater Planning Actions, R:2025-088 for the Master Watershed Study, and R:2025-091 for the Storm Drainage Design Manual. These documents are inte

On Friday May 16th, the entirety of the City of Del Rio government, from City Hall to Parks and Recreation (minus essential services like 911), shut down for a day of team-building activities and morale boosting ahead of the busy summer season. Dubbed ‘Staff Development Day’, the full schedule of events took place at Rotary Park and the nearby Casa de la Cultura.

The Del Rio International Airport Commission and The City of Del Rio are in active discussions with two distinct regional airlines to restore commercial flights. The identified airlines operate regional jets (ERJ-145s or CRJs) and offer essential interline agreements with major carriers, like United and American Airlines. The Airport Commission convened on May 19, 2025, presenting a clear and detailed picture of the proactive efforts and progress made over the last 2 years si

The City of Del Rio is considering enacting an ordinance, or local law, that would define how loud certain noises, like car mufflers or backyard music, can be before they’re considered a nuisance. The ordinance would also provide a clear guide for the enforcement of the code by officers. The City says its goal is to promote public comfort and health with the acceptance of this ordinance.