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Brownsville police seek help after stolen car used for 'burger run'

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a person accused of stealing a vehicle before taking it for a "quick burger run." According to a news release, the male is a person of interest in the theft of a Kia Opt...

ValleyCentralJul 27, 2026

Third person arrested in connection with deadly shooting at San Juan H-E-B

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — San Juan police have arrested a third person in connection with a deadly shooting at an H-E-B parking lot in San Juan. Police arrested Ivory Ruiz, 24, on Thursday. Ruiz faces the following charges: Two men — 18-year-old Michael Anthony Lopez and...

ValleyCentralJul 24, 2026

SUV crashes into Mission barbershop, two people taken to hospital

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An SUV crashed into an EZ Hair Cuts barber shop in Mission on Friday, photos taken by the Mission Fire Department show. Mission Fire Chief Mike Silva told ValleyCentral that crews responded to a vehicle crashing into a building on Friday at a pl...

ValleyCentralJul 24, 2026

Missing 74-year-old man found dead in his home: Combes police

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 74-year-old man who was reported missing earlier this week was found dead in his home on Friday, according to the Combes Police Department Jose Jesus Lara, 74, was last seen on Wednesday afternoon at a local Stripes store. Family members repor...

ValleyCentralJul 24, 2026

Agent indicted for crashing into man during Harlingen ICE operation suspended

T he Border Patrol agent who is accused of crashing into a pedestrian who was “walking calmly in a non-threatening manner” during a immigration operation in Harlingen was suspended and placed on administrative duties in June. Raymundo Ramos Jr., 41, was charged with aggravated as...

MyRGVJul 24, 2026

Police seek to identify suspect vehicle involved in Edinburg hit-and-run

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Edinburg Police Department is working to identify a suspect vehicle involved in a hit-and-run that caused property damage on Thursday. Police described the suspect vehicle as a white four-door passenger car, which may have noticeable front-r...

ValleyCentralJul 24, 2026

LIST: Back-to-school giveaway events across the Valley

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Summer is almost wrapping up, and students are getting ready to go back to school. Several events happening soon will gift school supplies to help students start the new school year prepared. ValleyCentral has gathered a list of those events: Br...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

Rio Grande City police warn of scammers posing as officers in phone calls

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande City Police Department is warning the community about scam phone calls from people pretending to be employees of the police department. According to police, the callers are telling victims that they are under investigation and are...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

Weslaco Police Department invites community to Bike Rodeo & Water Wars event

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Weslaco Police Department is inviting the community to a fun-filled bicycle safety rodeo on Saturday at Judge Gilbert Garza Park. Children ages 8-15 will have the opportunity to learn all there is to know about bike safety alongside Weslaco ...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

1 killed, 1 hospitalized in wrong-way crash near Brownsville: DPS

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a wrong-way crash that left one person dead on Wednesday morning near Brownsville. According to DPS, the crash occurred at approximately 8:52 a.m. on FM 511, south of State Highway 48 in Cam...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Investigation underway after decomposed body found in Brownsville, police say

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An investigation is underway after a decomposed body was found in Brownsville on Tuesday, according to the Brownsville Police Department. At about 9:15 p.m., police responded to the 2100 block of Central Boulevard after a pedestrian who was walk...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Six academy cadets officially join ranks of McAllen Fire Department

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Six academy cadets officially joined the ranks of the McAllen Fire Department on Tuesday. After completing a nine-month academy, earning multiple certifications, and fulfilling their one-year probationary period, the graduates can now serve the ...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

Truck's exhaust causes 50-acre brush fire in Donna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A pickup truck's exhaust ignited a fire that engulfed 50 acres of land along Val Verde Road on Monday night, according to Donna Fire Chief David Simmons. Simmons said the truck was traveling southbound on Val Verde Road when it drove off the roa...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

Val Verde Road closed due to major fire in Donna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A major roadway in Donna is closed until further notice as a team of first responders work to put out a fire that broke out on Monday night. According to authorities, FM 1423, also known as Val Verde Road, is closed until further notice as crew...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

Hit-and-run rollover causes power outage in Edinburg

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Nearly 500 Edinburg homes and businesses are without power after a truck hit a utility pole. Edinburg police responded to a rollover hit-and-run accident at the 3300 block of North Sugar Road around 7 a.m. Police say a white Ford Maverick pickup...

ValleyCentralJul 19, 2026

New World Screwworm found in calf in the Valley

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Starr County officials have confirmed its first screwworm case in the western area of Starr County. Starr County Emergency Management spokesman Lenny Fuentes said the larvae was found in a baby calf. According to a social media post, Starr Coun...

ValleyCentralJul 19, 2026

BPD: Man confessed to 8 downtown Brownsville burglaries

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man was arrested in connection with a series of burglaries in the downtown Brownsville area Brownsville police say Oscar Leonardo Urbina, 35, was charged with burglary of a habitation, a second-degree felony, and seven counts of burglary of a ...

ValleyCentralJul 18, 2026

CBP officers arrest man wanted in Combes shooting investigation

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a man with multiple warrants out of Combes. German Tanguma was arrested on Thursday while attempting to enter the U.S. at the Hidalgo International Port of Entry. The Combes Police Department...

ValleyCentralJul 17, 2026

Multiple agencies respond to house fires in Starr County

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- First responders from Starr and Hidalgo Counties are working to put out a fire that broke out in a community near Rio Grande City. The Starr County Sheriff's Office reported that the fire broke out on San Eulogio Street. Rio Grande City Fire Ch...

ValleyCentralJul 17, 2026

Major vehicle crash closes road near La Gloria

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Starr County Sheriff's Office is on the scene of a major vehicle crash on North FM 755 by FM 1017 in La Gloria. According to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation, FM 755 is currently closed between FM 2294 and FM 1017. ...

ValleyCentralJul 17, 2026

Judge set bail at $1M for men connected to H-E-B shooting death

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two men accused of being involved in a deadly shooting at an H-E-B parking lot that occurred on Thursday in San Juan appeared before a judge Friday morning. After a bond hearing on Friday morning, a judge set bail at $1,000,000 cash surety for t...

ValleyCentralJul 17, 2026

Two men facing murder charges in San Juan H-E-B parking lot shooting: Police

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Two men are in custody in connection to a parking lot shooting that occurred Thursday morning at a H-E-B parking lot in San Juan. San Juan police Chief Leandro Sifuentes said the two suspects are facing murder charges. The two suspects, who hav...

ValleyCentralJul 17, 2026

Cameron County jailer arrested for assaulting handcuffed inmate

Angel De La Garza A Cameron County detention officer was arrested for assaulting a handcuffed inmate following an investigation by the sheriff’s office. Angel De La Garza was charged with assault causing bodily injury and official oppression after investigators found that he had ...

MyRGVJul 16, 2026

Judge denies motion in capital murder case

PRESS Staff Report A Cameron County judge has denied a defense request to suppress cell phone location evidence in the capital murder case against Rogelio Martinez Jr., who is accused in the 2023 fatal shooting of San Benito Police Lt. Milton G. Resendez. Martinez is charged with...

Port Isabel PressJul 16, 2026

Cameron County detention officer accused of assaulting inmate

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Cameron County detention officer has been accused of assaulting an inmate at the Cameron County jail. Angel De La Garza was arrested on Thursday and faces charges of assault causing bodily injury and official oppression, according to a news re...

ValleyCentralJul 16, 2026

San Juan police investigating shooting at H-E-B parking lot

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — San Juan police are investigating a shooting that occurred inside a car at the H-E-B parking lot Thursday morning. Police say the shooting happened at about 11 a.m. and that the occupant of the vehicle drove to a McAllen hospital for treatment. ...

ValleyCentralJul 16, 2026

Alton fire crews respond to call of illegal burning

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hidalgo County Commissioner Everardo 'Ever' Villarreal is alerting residents about the consequences of illegal burning after fire crews responded to an illegal burn call on Wednesday. Crews with the Alton Fire Department responded to the fire ne...

ValleyCentralJul 15, 2026

Body of man found in Donna, investigation underway

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Police are investigating after the body of a man was found in Donna on Wednesday. The body of a 34-year-old man was found off the 2400 block of Bonita St., according to Donna police Chief Gilbert Guerrero. Donna police say they received a call f...

ValleyCentralJul 15, 2026

Mission FD: Home damaged in morning fire, pet rescued

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A large portion of a Mission home sustained damage following a fire, according to the Mission Fire Department. At approximately 9:40 a.m. Mission fire crews responded to a structure fire in the Southwest area of Mission. According to Mission Fir...

ValleyCentralJul 14, 2026

City truck rollover crash causes closure on Interstate-69C in Edinburg

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The northbound lanes of I-69C are closed until further notice due to a rollover crash involving a city of Edinburg solid waste truck. The crash reportedly happened at 6:30 p.m. on Monday right before the Monte Cristo Road exit in Edinburg. Poli...

ValleyCentralJul 14, 2026

Woman hospitalized following bee attack in Lyford

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A woman has been taken to the hospital following a bee attack in Lyford, according to the Raymondville Fire Department. At approximately 10:50 a.m., the bee attack was reported after a resident was doing lawn care at a residence on Dario Street,...

ValleyCentralJul 13, 2026

Woman injured in rural Edinburg shooting, investigation underway

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is investigating an early Sunday morning shooting in rural Edinburg. According to a news release from HCSO, at approximately 12:10 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to shots fired in the 5100 block of South Raul...

ValleyCentralJul 13, 2026

Chase bank robbery in Brownsville under investigation, suspect in custody

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Police Department is investigating a bank robbery that was reported Monday morning. According to a news release from Brownsville police, a call regarding a bank robbery came in at approximately 9:45 a.m. at Chase Bank, located at...

ValleyCentralJul 13, 2026

Stolen truck chase ends in Mercedes, suspect at large

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted Pharr police in a vehicle chase from Pharr to Mercedes early Sunday morning, after a call about a stolen truck, according to the City of Pharr. At approximately 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the Pharr Police De...

ValleyCentralJul 12, 2026

Traffic stop in Cameron Co. leads to human smuggling arrest

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A traffic stop led to a human smuggling case in Cameron County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Juan Garcia, of Garland, Texas, was arrested and is facing four counts of smuggling of persons, according to a DPS news release....

ValleyCentralJul 11, 2026

Stolen vehicle pursuit ends in deadly crash near Edinburg: DPS

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A woman was pronounced dead on Friday after leading law enforcement on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle near Edinburg, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Pharr resident Crystal Ramirez, 32, died of her injuries sustained in the cr...

ValleyCentralJul 11, 2026

Palm tree sparks fire, damages two homes in Donna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A palm tree that came into contact with a power line started an electrical fire that spread to two homes, according to the Hidalgo County Fire Marshall. At approximately 2:20 a.m. on Thursday, fire officials responded to the 7400 block of Gene S...

ValleyCentralJul 10, 2026

Palmview Fire Department granted $250K for new truck

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Palmview Fire Department received $250,000 in community project funding to support its efforts. U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced the funding for the Palmview Fire Department on Wednesday at Palmview City Hall. The money will ...

ValleyCentralJul 8, 2026

Dozens arrested in Edinburg DWI enforcement wave

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Edinburg Police Department concluded its safety initiative aimed at cracking down on impaired drivers. The initiative was funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, granting the Edinburg Police Department to ramp up its patrols durin...

ValleyCentralJul 8, 2026

Weslaco Police offer free women's self-defense class

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Weslaco Police Department is hosting a free women's self-defense class. The class is taking place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 20, at the Weslaco Police Department, located at 300 S. Bridge Ave. The department hopes the class can help th...

ValleyCentralJul 7, 2026

Second arrest made in deadly hit-and-run crash involving bicyclist

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A second person connected to a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred in Edinburg last month surrendered to police on Tuesday morning. Edinburg resident Jezaie Luis Gonzalez, 17, has been charged with false report to a police officer, a class B ...

ValleyCentralJul 7, 2026

Traffic alert: Crash causes major backup on I-2 in Donna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Drivers in Donna are being advised to avoid the area of I-2 and Hutto Road as traffic is backed up due to a crash, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The crash took place on Tuesday morning, causing traffic to slow down from I-...

ValleyCentralJul 7, 2026

City of McAllen reports crime rate down by 21%

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of McAllen is reporting that it "recorded its lowest crime levels in four decades," according to the latest crime data from city officials. In a newly released Texas Department of Public Safety Uniform Crime Report, data shows a 20.4% d...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

Driver of SUV dies week after crashing into pole

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A driver involved in a two-vehicle crash that caused his SUV to hit a pole died on Sunday, according to an update from the Brownsville Police Department. Abel Barrientos Jr., 26, died at the hospital on Sunday, a spokesperson with the Brownsvill...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

Judge denies bail for Alton man accused of killing family

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 19-year-old man being held without bond after being charged with capital murder of multiple persons and attempt to commit capital murder in connection with a June 16 Alton shooting appeared for a hearing on Monday morning. Gaurav Chopra, 19, o...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

Fire officials: 10 vehicles on fire in Edinburg junkyard

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Approximately 10 vehicles are reported to be on fire at a junkyard in Edinburg, according to city officials. At approximately 1:30 p.m., the dispatch received a call about a fire at a junkyard on the 7300 block of East Owassa Road in Edinburg. A...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

Burglary at UTRGV Stadium under investigation, suspects still at large

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The University of Texas Rio Grande Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred at the UTRGV Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg after the Fourth of July, police announced Monday. According to UTRGV police, two male juvenile...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

2 adults charged after teen who drank 'directly from bottles' prompts 911 call

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 911 call regarding minors consuming alcohol resulted in the arrest of a man and woman on July 4, according to the McAllen Police Department. Jeanett Garza, 43, and Jose Garza, 44, were each charged with two counts of furnishing alcohol to a mi...

ValleyCentralJul 6, 2026

Discounts on fireworks ahead of July 4th festivities

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Fireworks stands in the Rio Grande Valley are prepared to celebrate big for America's 250th anniversary. ValleyCentral spoke with Jonathan Villanueva, a sales representative at a firework stand location on Business 83 and Milano Road in Weslaco....

ValleyCentralJul 3, 2026

Sister of man accused of killing San Benito police lieutenant testifies

BROWNSVILLE — “You put my kids in danger.” Speaking in Spanish, those are the words 20-year-old Katherine Darlene Martinez told her 18-year-old brother on the day he and his co-defendant lead police on a chase from South Padre Island across Cameron County that resulted in the fat...

MyRGVJul 3, 2026

Southern Wave cruise service celebrates 20 years on SPI

By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS South Padre Island visitors looking for an evening on the water can enjoy dinner, music and bayfront views aboard the Southern Wave Catamaran, with fireworks cruises adding another option during the summer season. Celebrating 20 years in b...

Port Isabel PressJul 3, 2026

Harlingen mulls setting meeting conduct rules; violators could face arrest

HARLINGEN — Rules of conduct might be governing residents speaking up at city meetings. Earlier this week, commissioners held off on considering a proposal setting conduct rules whose violations could lead to residents’ removal and arrests. During discussion, City Commissioner Da...

MyRGVJul 3, 2026

Father charged in high-speed rollover crash: Alamo police

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A father accused of being behind the wheel during a high-speed rollover crash involving a tractor-trailer in Alamo was charged on Thursday. Francisco Davila Jr. was charged with four counts of child endangerment. A judge set bail at $200,000, a...

ValleyCentralJul 2, 2026

Multiple crashes slow down traffic on Alamo expressway

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Multiple crashes slowed down traffic on both eastbound and westbound lanes of the expressway in Alamo on Thursday morning. According to the Alamo Fire Department, several people from different crashes were taken to the hospital with non-life-thr...

ValleyCentralJul 2, 2026

Mission police to crack down on firework use, DWIs on Fourth of July

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Fourth of July is around the corner, and the Mission Police Department is reminding the community about a city ordinance that prohibits the use of fireworks within city limits. Arturo Flores, Public Information Officer with the Mission Polic...

ValleyCentralJul 1, 2026