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Vice President cancels Port of Brownsville trip as Energy Secretary plans visit

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Vice President JD Vance canceled his visit to the Rio Grande Valley, but now another Cabinet member will come instead. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday morning that Secretary Chris Wright would visit the Port of Brownsville on Tues...

ValleyCentralAug 3, 2026

Commentary: Saronic brings opportunity

S aronic Technologies’ decision to build its Port Alpha shipyard at the Port of Brownsville is more than another economic development announcement. It is a signal that Brownsville is becoming a destination for sophisticated, technology-driven industries that once might have seeme...

MyRGVAug 2, 2026

Vice President to visit Port of Brownsville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Vice President J.D. Vance is making his first visit to the Rio Grande Valley. Port of Brownsville officials confirm to Valley Central that Vance will visit the port on Tuesday at noon. The event will be open to the public. The doors will open at...

ValleyCentralAug 1, 2026

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: Biggest stories of the week in case you missed them

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On this week's edition of ValleyCentral Weekend Report, Anchor Alexia Serrata breaks down all the news of the week. Starting with the biggest stories of the week, in case you missed them. Kicking things off with an update to a story we've been f...

ValleyCentralAug 1, 2026

Local nonprofit provides free baby supplies for Valley families

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — With grocery prices on the rise, a local nonprofit organization is helping Rio Grande Valley families on a no-questions-asked basis. Hannah's Foundation, a nonprofit located at 203 E. Business Highway 83, Suite 110, in Weslaco, was founded by An...

ValleyCentralJul 31, 2026

Data center permit request withdrawn as Brownsville considers moratorium

Southwest Key’s Casa Padre immigrant holding facility is pictured Monday, June 18, 2018, in Brownsville. An unidentified company seeking a special use permit to build a data center and cold storage facility at the now-vacant building withdrew its request on Wednesday, July 29, 20...

MyRGVJul 30, 2026

Port secures $330,000 BUILD Grant

By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS The Port Isabel–San Benito Navigation District has received a $330,000 BUILD grant for an engineering study connected to a proposed mobile boat lift project. Port Director Victor Barrera announced the award during the district’s July 16 re...

Port Isabel PressJul 30, 2026

Port Isabel EDC Coffee aims to spark growth

By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Local business owners, entrepreneurs and community members are invited to attend the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation’s upcoming Business Coffee, an event designed to foster collaboration and support economic growth th...

Port Isabel PressJul 30, 2026

Moments In Time: Port Isabel news from 1863

By Steve Hathcock Special to the PRESS Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regula...

Port Isabel PressJul 30, 2026

Richard Moore Outdoor Report: South Texas Sunrise

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — There is no better way to start the day than with a beautiful sunrise, and the Rio Grande Valley displays some of the most breathtaking imaginable. From the shores of South Padre Island to the senderos of Wild Horse Desert, sunrise offers daybre...

ValleyCentralJul 30, 2026

Public survey aims to bring recreation center to Harlingen

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Harlingen is calling on residents to participate in a survey to help bring a proposed recreation center to the Wilson Sports Complex. The survey is part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Local Parks Indoor Recreation Grant ...

ValleyCentralJul 30, 2026

Brownsville data center application withdrawn

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- What once was a Walmart and later a shelter for undocumented migrant children once again remains vacant. The unidentified company that filed a permit request to develop a data center near the Port of Brownsville has withdrawn its application. T...

ValleyCentralJul 30, 2026

TIFT drawing anglers from Texas and across the globe

T he bay waters and the offshore waters now wait beneath the boiling blue sky for the anglers and the boats and the fishing lines in Port Isabel. The anglers are gathering at Port Isabel for the Texas International Fishing Tournament. This is the 86th TIFT and it still draws moms...

MyRGVJul 29, 2026

Better Business Bureau warns of new phone scam

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Better Business Bureau is warning that scammers are impersonating well-known retailers, government agencies, or even law enforcement to obtain personal information. According to the BBB, the call starts off with the scammer claiming to be fr...

ValleyCentralJul 29, 2026

Food Bank RGV to distribute free produce in Raymondville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is preparing to distribute produce in Raymondville on Thursday at no cost. The one-day pop-up event is part of the bank's mission to assist families in need, take action against food insecurity, and support...

ValleyCentralJul 29, 2026

BROWNSVILLE ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE JOB OPENINGS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS

The City of Brownsville is currently hiring for a wide range of positions across several key departments, offering opportunities for individuals interested in public service, administration, technical fields, and hands-on work....

City of BrownsvilleJul 28, 2026

Texas Southmost College to offer Medical Aesthetics Injector Certificate Program

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A new program at Texas Southmost College will soon offer licensed healthcare professionals the opportunity to get certified in medical aesthetics injections. According to TSC, medical aesthetics is a branch of medicine that uses clinical procedu...

ValleyCentralJul 27, 2026

Sharyland Rattlers lead The Monitor’s All-Area Baseball honorees

Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer Meet The Monitor’s 2026 all-area baseball superlative winners and all-area teams, selected by the RGVSports.com staff from players across the Upper Rio Grande Valley. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JT REYNA, JUNIOR, PSJA HIGH PSJA High’s JT Reyna is The Monitor’s ...

MyRGVJul 26, 2026

New public boat ramp opens, first in 30 years

By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Boaters, anglers, city leaders and community members gathered Tuesday morning to celebrate the official opening of the Marisol Laguna Madre Boat Ramp, the first new public bayside access point built on South Padre Island in more t...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

Educators plan for AI

By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS Approximately 50 education leaders and representatives from organizations across the Rio Grande Valley gathered Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for the RGV AI + Education Leadership Collaborative at Point Isabel ISD’s new building at 101 Port Road...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Valley Raptors

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley is home to more than a dozen raptors or birds of prey, from tiny screech owls at only some eight inches in length to white-tailed hawks with wingspans exceeding four feet. Lurking in the shadowy depths of South Texas woodla...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

Brownsville evaluating permit for proposed data center

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — What was once a Walmart and later a shelter for undocumented migrant children could now possibly turn into a data center. An unidentified company has filed a permit request with the City of Brownsville to develop a data center at 7480 Padre Is...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Harlingen PD partners with TxDOT to crack down on speeding

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation is partnering with law enforcement agencies to crack down on speeding across the state. Operation Slowdown is an annual campaign by TxDOT to ramp up enforcement statewide and target drivers traveling at hig...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Nightly closures planned for westbound expressway lanes in Donna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A portion of the westbound expressway lanes in Donna will be closed overnight for pavement repairs, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The westbound lanes of Interstate 2 (I-2) are expected to have nightly closures between FM 4...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Food Bank RGV seeks donations, volunteers for flood-impacted Texas families

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is holding a food donation drive and seeking volunteers to support families recently impacted by heavy rain and flooding in Texas. According to a news release, the Food Bank RGV is requesting the following ...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visits McAllen

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — For the first time, a sitting secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce visited the Rio Grande Valley. Howard Lutnick was in McAllen on Monday to announce a $6 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). “You guys have the...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

TxDOT hosts event to collaborate with small business owners

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation Pharr District welcomed a group of local business owners during its annual outreach event on Monday. The annual event was geared towards small business owners, offering a chance to connect with local TxDOT ...

ValleyCentralJul 20, 2026

TxDOT: Lane reductions on International Blvd. in Progreso

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of lane reductions in Progreso this week due to irrigation crossing installation. From Monday through Friday, FM 1015 (International Blvd.) between US 281 (Military Hwy.) and the Progres...

ValleyCentralJul 20, 2026

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: Campaign visits and new tech coming to RGV

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On this week’s edition of ValleyCentral Weekend Report, Weekend Anchor Brian Svendsen breaks down all the biggest stories from the week. Starting with the biggest stories of the week, in case you missed them. In a massive announcement this we...

ValleyCentralJul 18, 2026

Brownsville seeks final public comment on downtown master plan

The city of Brownsville is asking the public for “final” input on its Downtown Renaissance Master Plan, according to a news release. The city intends to use the plan as a 5- to 10-year road map for future decisions on land use, infrastructure, economic development, housing and mo...

MyRGVJul 16, 2026

Laguna Madre Men’s Softball League opens season

By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS This past Wednesday, July 8 the Laguna Madre Sports Park officially kicked off its Men’s Softball League with an exciting opening night of competition. The league which features men of all ages, is made up of the following eight te...

Port Isabel PressJul 16, 2026

Local, state officials react to Saronic coming to the Port of Brownsville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Local and state officials are reacting to the announcement that Saronic Technologies, an Austin-based maritime defense company, is coming to the Port of Brownsville. Gov. Greg Abbott and Saronic Technologies on Thursday announced that the $3.2 b...

ValleyCentralJul 16, 2026

BROWNSVILLE LEADERS FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE AT ONE CITY SUMMIT

Community leaders from across Brownsville gathered at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for the second One City Summit, where discussions centered on strengthening education, workforce development, and economic opportunity through collaboration....

City of BrownsvilleJul 16, 2026

Saronic Technologies picks Port of Brownsville for $3.2 billion shipyard project

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Saronic Technologies and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced during a press conference in Austin on Thursday that Port Alpha is coming to the Port of Brownsville. "We are investing more than $3 billion to build out over 800 acres at the Port of Bro...

ValleyCentralJul 16, 2026

Saronic Technologies picks Brownsville for $3.2B ‘Port Alpha’

Austin-based Saronic Technologies has chosen the Port of Brownsville for its “Port Alpha” next-generation shipyard, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, who announced the news at Saronic headquarters in a Thursday morning press conference. The $3.2 billion project aims to “restore U.S...

MyRGVJul 16, 2026

TxDOT: Lane closures at Edinburg intersection due to wire installation

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of lane closures happening Thursday in Edinburg. The closures will be in effect at the intersection of State Highway 107 and Richardson Road throughout the day. Lanes will be closed to...

ValleyCentralJul 15, 2026

Scheduled water interruptions along Texas Boulevard in Weslaco

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Weslaco announced a portion of Texas Boulevard will experience a water interruption later this week. The scheduled water interruption will affect residents in Texas Boulevard to Iowa Avenue, and Frontage Road to Pike Boulevard. Inte...

ValleyCentralJul 15, 2026

Edinburg Vela’s Perez signs with Texas Rangers

Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer Former Edinburg Vela catcher Jaime “Mito” Perez signed a contract to join the Texas Rangers organization as an undrafted free agent on Monday, RGVSports.com learned. Perez, who spent four years at Tarleton State in Stephenville and this past season at G...

MyRGVJul 14, 2026

SSTASH in Mission ranked 41st best burger place in the world

MISSION — Somehow and someway, the Rio Grande Valley always finds its way on to the world stage. Either through politics, art, food or culture, our home, for better or for worse, makes a name for itself to the world. SSTASH, a burger restaurant just more than a year into their es...

MyRGVJul 14, 2026

Brownsville City Hall to undergo 15-month renovation project

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Preparations are underway to upgrade Brownsville City Hall, a major project estimated to last 15 months. The project will include upgrades to the city hall HVAC system, electrical service, and network infrastructure. The city of Brownsville is r...

ValleyCentralJul 14, 2026

Road work prompting night closures on Interstate 2 in Mercedes

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Texas Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of overnight lane closures happening this week in Mercedes. The overnight closures will be in effect on westbound lanes of Interstate 2 between Mile 1 Road and International Boulevard. ...

ValleyCentralJul 13, 2026

Local representatives pay tribute to late Sen. Graham

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Local U.S. representatives have published their reactions on social media following reports that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died from a "brief and sudden illness" Saturday night. The Office of U.S. Sen. Graham posted on X at 2:02 a.m. Sunday, sa...

ValleyCentralJul 12, 2026

Paxton campaign stops in McAllen for rally

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is heading to McAllen as a guest at the Rally in the Valley campaign event. The event is taking place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the University Draft House Townlake, located at 100 West Busines...

ValleyCentralJul 11, 2026

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: Continuing Coverage, deep dive and more

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On this week’s edition of Valley Central Weekend Report, NBC 23 Anchor Rudy Mireles breaks down all the biggest stories from the week. Starting with new updates on the Alton teen who is accused of killing three family members. During a hearing ...

ValleyCentralJul 10, 2026

Grant funding restored for Valley farm targeted by Trump admin over DEI

HARLINGEN — Diana Padilla is breathing a sigh of relief … sort of. Padilla, executive director of the nonprofit Holistic Organic Practical Education, or HOPE, is breathing a sigh of relief because she may soon receive the $7.5 million grant which the U.S. Department of Agricultur...

MyRGVJul 10, 2026

From the archives: The woman who provided shelter to Brownsville shrimpers

Nowadays, the Texas shrimp industry continues to deal with difficult obstacles, and more recently subsidized foreign imports. It adds to shrimpers’ troubles for an occupation already dangerous. The community recognizes shrimpers in certain ways, such as the annual Blessing of t...

MyRGVJul 10, 2026

TIFT returns to Port Isabel

Screenshot By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS The 86th annual Texas International Fishing Tournament (TIFT) will return July 29 through Aug. 2, bringing anglers, families, volunteers, sponsors and spectators to Port Isabel and South Padre Island. Organizers describe TIFT as...

Port Isabel PressJul 9, 2026

MOMENTS IN TIME: 1853: Trade boomed along the Rio Grande

Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South P...

Port Isabel PressJul 9, 2026

Public input sought on SPI access

By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS South Padre Island and surrounding Laguna Madre communities are included in a major statewide transportation planning effort as the Texas Department of Transportation seeks public input on its proposed 2027 Unified Transportation Program. ...

Port Isabel PressJul 9, 2026

‘Delightfully fresh’: Provecho y Salud in Harlingen

HARLINGEN — I look lovingly at a portrait of my girlfriend hanging on the wall. Her name is Frida and she has been my life partner ever since I saw the movie named for her starring Salma Hayek. Today my baby, my lovely Frida Kahlo, has joined me for a late afternoon dinner at Pro...

MyRGVJul 8, 2026

TxDOT to begin 3 month reconstruction project in Alton

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation has a three-month-long reconstruction project at FM 494 on Shary Road in Alton. According to a news release from TxDOT, the reconstruction project is planned on the east side of FM 494 and Mile 4 East of Al...

ValleyCentralJul 7, 2026

Brownsville’s BIG LIFT improvement grant deadline nears

The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation is reminding small-business owners in the city’s electoral District 1 that Friday is the deadline to apply for grants through BCIC’s new BIG LIFT facade-improvement program. Applications are being accepted on a staggered, by-distr...

MyRGVJul 7, 2026