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business

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: John Allen Rubio, murder trial and data centers

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On this week’s edition of ValleyCentral Weekend Report, Anchor Alejandra Yanez breaks down all the news of the week. Starting with the biggest stories of the week, in case you missed them. Convicted child murderer John Allen Rubio was found to b...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

safety

2 dead in 3-vehicle Brownsville crash

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Two people have died as a result of a three-vehicle crash in Brownsville at the intersection of Paredes Line Road and Ruben M. Torres Boulevard. A spokesperson for the Brownsville Police Department said all three vehicles were traveling southbou...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

business

BROWNSVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET OFFICIALLY MOVES INTO CANNERY PUBLIC MARKET

The Brownsville Farmers’ Market has officially moved into its new permanent home at the Cannery Public Market, marking a new chapter for the longtime community event and creating more opportunities for local vendors, small businesses, and residents....

City of BrownsvilleOct 10, 2026

safety

Argument turned violent: Victim stabbed multiple times in Donna, police say

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A man accused of stabbing someone during an argument at an apartment building in Donna is behind bars. Police were dispatched to the apartment building on the 2600 block of North Ave., shortly after 10 p.m. The suspect, Isaias Belmarez, is accu...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

business

Road closures in Pharr as Avocado Festival festivities begin

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Road closures are in effect around downtown Pharr as the city prepares for its annual Avocado Festival. The closures began Thursday and have progressed as the Avocado Fest nears. Several major roads will be closed, including U.S. Business 83 an...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

government

Cameron County beaches temporarily closed due to high tides

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Three Cameron County beaches will remain temporarily closed due to high tides and dangerous conditions in the Gulf indirectly caused by now-former Hurricane Isaias. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. announced the temporary closures Saturda...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

News

Photo Gallery: Weslaco East slips passed Harlingen South 24-17

Harlingen South ball carrier Luke Ramirez (8) fights off against Weslaco East defender Adrian Espino (53) in a District 15-5A DI game at Bobby Lackey Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Weslaco. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com) Weslaco East defender Uriel Oviedo (49) ce...

MyRGVOct 10, 2026

News

Photo Gallery: PSJA North Raiders dominate Los Fresnos, 41-3

PSJA North’s Mark Quintanilla, right up the middle against Los Fresnos defenders during a District 32-6A game at PSJA Stadium Friday Oct.09, 2026 in Pharr. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com) PSJA North’s Drayden Espinoza, right, runs past Los Fresnos defender Christopher Wals...

MyRGVOct 10, 2026

safety

Traffic rerouted after expressway crash in Harlingen

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- First responders are at the scene of a crash on the eastbound expressway lanes in Harlingen. ValleyCentral was at the scene and observed several agencies, including the Harlingen Police Department, the Harlingen Fire Department, the Texas Depar...

ValleyCentralOct 10, 2026

government

‘Dangerous for any level of swimmer’: Rough surf hits South Padre Island

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Rough surf and dangerous rip currents are creating hazardous conditions along the South Texas coast this weekend as Hurricane Isaias stirs up the Gulf. All Cameron County beaches are under red flag warnings, signaling high surf and dang...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

schools

'Bandtober': Valley bands prep for Pre-UIL weekend competitions

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — "Bandtober" is in full effect. If you’re not familiar, October is peak marching band competition season. This month, marching band students, directors and band parents will eat, sleep and breathe all things marching band every weekend for the en...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

Local

Rio Grande Valley Humane Society schedules pet clinics in Harlingen

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley Humane Society will hold two clinics in Harlingen this month to help all Valley pet owners protect their furry friends. The spay-and-neuter clinic will take place Oct. 17-19. The vaccine clinic will be held Oct. 31 from 9 t...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

News

Isaias strengthens into first major hurricane of the Atlantic season

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hurricane Isaias reached Category 3 status on Friday morning with sustained winds of 120 mph, making it the first hurricane and major hurricane of the Atlantic season. The storm has since weakened slightly as it moved toward the Florida Panhandl...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

space

SpaceX launches 21 data satellites for the Space Development Agency

A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the fourth Space Development Agency Tranche 1 mission. Image: SpaceX. SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday carrying a batch of data satellites for the U.S. military’s Space Development Agenc...

Spaceflight NowOct 9, 2026

News

City of Harlingen to continue mosquito spray operations

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of Harlingen Health Department's vector control team will spray for mosquitoes Friday through Monday. From 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., residents are asked to bring pets indoors and close windows and doors. Individuals are also being asked ...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

safety

City of Brownsville agrees on three-year pay increase, benefits for police

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of Brownsville signed a new three-year agreement with the Brownsville Police Officers' Association to strengthen law enforcement resources and the future of public safety. On Sept. 22, the Brownsville City Commission approved the Collec...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

schools

Clint Thomas Jr. set to make home debut at UTRGV

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Clint Thomas Junior saw some action on the road last week, but the training camp standout is ready for a bigger workload in front of a home crowd. Now, the matchup is not easy at all. Southeastern Louisiana is ranked 25th in the AFC — that's UTRG...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

Local

Coalition seeks to prevent domestic violence in the Valley

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley District Attorney Coalition held a press conference Friday morning to bring awareness about domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the coalition came together to educate the community about avai...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

safety

Boil water notice issued for Del Mar Heights customers

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Military Highway Water Supply Corporation issued a boil water notice for Del Mar Heights' customers who receive water from East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation on Friday afternoon. According MHWSC, the ERHWSC had an emergency waterline br...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

border

‘Immigration Songs’: Saint Patrick’s Battalion play debuts in Brownsville

D uring the U.S.-Mexico war 180 years ago, hundreds of U.S. Army regulars who were natives of Ireland deserted and joined the other side, in part due to brutal punishment and other forms of mistreatment, including anti-immigrant prejudice, they’d suffered in the U.S. Army of the ...

MyRGVOct 9, 2026

government

SPI Economic Development Corporation admit to cyberattack

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A federal investigation is underway after the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation fell victim to a cyberattack that resulted in an unauthorized transfer of funds to a fake account. South Padre Island Mayor Patrick McNulty announc...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

government

City of La Grulla lifts boil water notice

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of La Grulla announced Friday that it has lifted its boil water notice. The update comes almost a week after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the city's public water system to tell customers to boil water before dr...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

News

South Pole Illuminated Festival returns to McAllen with 'Wild Bright' event

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — McAllen officials gathered Thursday to unveil the "Wild Bright" event happening at the McAllen Convention Center next month. Opening Nov. 27, the event will bring millions of lights, hundreds of giant wildlife-themed lanterns, a food court, the ...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

News

Covered basketball court opens at Harlingen's Dixieland Park

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Harlingen officials gathered at Dixieland Park on Thursday for the grand opening of the first city-owned covered basketball court. Located at 2501 Dixieland Road, the new court offers a covered space for year-round community use. "So this projec...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

News

Hurricane Isaias heads north as the Valley enjoys a sunny weekend

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) – The main weather story across the U.S. right now is Hurricane Isaias. The storm will strengthen as it moves north, aiming for the coastline of Alabama and Florida's Panhandle before making landfall in the early hours of Saturday morning. The Tex...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

schools

Week 7: Thursday night high school football highlights

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Valley Sports Central has your Thursday night highlights for week seven of high school football. Sports Director Megan Murray captured highlights from Richard Flores Stadium in Edinburg for the Weslaco vs. Vela game. From Tom Landry Stadium in M...

ValleyCentralOct 9, 2026

News

Men’s Softball Regular Season Concludes

(The Bandidos Cesar Ochoa at the plate during Bandidos versus Brew Crew game. Sept. 30, 2026. Picture by Constancio Martinez Jr) By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS The Laguna Madre Softball League wrapped up its regular season this past Wednesday, Oct. 30. Entering ...

Port Isabel PressOct 9, 2026

government

SPI Candidates to face voters at Oct. 12 forum

By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre. com Candidates seeking two seats on the South Padre Island City Council will have an opportunity to address voters during a public candidate forum Monday, Oct. 12. The South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce will host the forum from 5...

Port Isabel PressOct 9, 2026

business

Phase III of SPI pickleball courts completed

South Padre Island’s Southern Pickleball Courts at 610 Padre Blvd. have undergone Phase II I improvements, including an A DA-compliant restroom, hydrati on station, shade structure an d perimeter fencing. (Photo Courtesy/ City of South Padre Island) By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@porti...

Port Isabel PressOct 9, 2026

safety

Martinez found guilty of capital murder in SBPD Lt. Resendez’s shooting death

B ROWNSVILLE — Jurors on Thursday found Rogelio Martinez, the 21-year-old man accused in the fatal shooting of San Benito police Lt. Milton Resendez, guilty of capital murder. It took the jury three hours and 15 minutes to hand down the verdict that culminated the four-day trial,...

MyRGVOct 9, 2026

News

Emails show Harlingen kept water contract talks out of ‘public arena’

H ARLINGEN — Emails show a data center developer’s official questioned whether discussions surrounding a Harlingen WaterWorks agreement could be kept “out of the public arena,” while the agency’s officials moved talks into a closed-door session. The emails stem from a September 2...

MyRGVOct 8, 2026

government

Brownsville data center moratorium passes first vote

B ROWNSVILLE — The City Commission got one step closer to temporarily halting potential data center development in the city on Wednesday. It unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would pause permitting of data centers within Brownsville’s boundaries. The vot...

MyRGVOct 8, 2026

Local

BCIC amends strategic plan to align priorities

T he Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation has amended its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan with the goal of refining strategies around pathways to entrepreneurship, community health/well-being, downtown revitalization, partnerships, communications and “impact measurement.” The o...

MyRGVOct 8, 2026

government

Weslaco attributes fiscal responsibility to lowering tax rate

Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez T he city of Weslaco is among the few cities across the Rio Grande Valley to lower its property tax rate for fiscal year 2026-27. Weslaco’s new tax rate will be .6678 per $100 valuation, an almost 2-cent reduction from last year’s .6867 rate. This is...

MyRGVOct 8, 2026

safety

Man accused of improper student relationship in Starr County

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Starr County Sheriff's Office investigators arrested a man accused of being involved in an improper relationship with a student. Francisco Contreras Jr. was booked into the county jail on Wednesday on a charge of improper relationship between ed...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

Local

Cannery Public Market opens as new wellness hub in Brownsville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday welcomed the Cannery Public Market to Brownsville. The Cannery Public Market is the city's newest hub centered on health and wellness. A partnership with the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley will bring a f...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

border

Valley mother of slain Border Patrol agent speaks at San Antonio Trump rally

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The mother of a slain Border Patrol agent who was killed during a failed robbery attempt in Willacy County 12 years ago took the podium at President Donald Trump's rally in San Antonio on Wednesday. Marie Vega, who said she's from La Feria, is t...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

safety

Jury deliberating in accused San Benito cop killer’s trial

B ROWNSVILLE — Jurors who are deciding the case of a 21-year-old Brownsville man of fatally shooting a San Benito police officer following an hourslong pursuit three years ago began deliberating at 11:10 a.m. Thursday. The deliberations come on the fourth day of testimony in the ...

MyRGVOct 8, 2026

safety

Jury finds Rogelio Martinez guilty of capital murder

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — After deliberating for nearly five hours, a Cameron County jury on Thursday found Rogelio Martinez guilty of capital murder for the shooting death of San Benito Police Lt. Milton Resendez during a 2023 police chase. The jury began deliberating...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

News

Valley Storm Team: Drought conditions improve & our weekend outlook

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — This episode of Valley Storm Team brings members of the team together to talk about the drought, the hurricane, and our weekend. Recent rains have made a dramatic improvement in our drought conditions across the Valley. We are still seeing some ...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

safety

Athletes of the Week: Francisco Gomez and William Taylor

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — While many teams took some R&R with a bye last week, our Valley High School football players still delivered plenty of action and stellar performances. Two partners in crime from Sharyland stood out to earn our Athletes of the Week. A mystery is...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

border

Rio Grande Valley expects drier weather as Isaias nears

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) - Hurricane Isaias will continue to get stronger out in the Gulf, and even though it will stay very far away from the Rio Grande Valley, we will still get some impacts from it. The current forecast brings the hurricane inland near the Alabama/Flor...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

government

Week 6 Team of the Week Winner: Brownsville Hanna

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The votes are in for our Week 6 Team of the Week. Brownsville Hanna earned the top spot with 441 total votes, or 47% of the vote. Brownsville Pace came in second with 283 votes, or 29% of the vote, and Mercedes came in third with 234 votes, or 2...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

News

Family member breaks silence after judge rules Rubio competent for execution

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A family member of the children slain by their parents, John Allen Rubio and Angela Camacho, finally broke the silence during a court hearing on Wednesday. It was a sudden and intense moment in the courtroom. Just after State District Judge Noe...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

government

Brownsville advances proposed 90-day moratorium on data centers

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Brownsville City Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to advance a second and final reading of a proposed 90-day moratorium on data centers. The final reading will take place on Nov. 4. The Nov. 4 reading will determine whether the cit...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

Local

Stretch of rain coming to an end, dangerous Gulf conditions

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The recent stretch of daily showers and steady rainfall is near its end across the Rio Grande Valley. Thursday will likely be our last meaningful chance for showers and a few rumbles of thunder before drier weather takes over. The best rain wil...

ValleyCentralOct 8, 2026

Local

Cannery Public Market to open its doors in Brownsville

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A new facility focused on food, health, and wellness will open its doors in Brownsville this week. The Cannery Public Market is the city's newest approach to providing the community with wellness resources. The facility will serve as a food pan...

ValleyCentralOct 7, 2026

safety

Defense, state rest in accused San Benito cop killer’s trial

Rogelio Martinez Jr., 21, attends his death penalty trial Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at the Cameron County Courthouse 404th state District Court in Brownsville. Martinez is charged with the killing of San Benito police Lt. Milton Resendez. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) B ROW...

MyRGVOct 7, 2026

government

Brownsville pushes forward data center moratorium process

B ROWNSVILLE — The City Commission on Tuesday moved closer to voting on a 90-day data centers moratorium after holding the second of three public hearings. Commissioners will hold the final hearing on Wednesday, along with the first of two votes on the ordinance enacting the mora...

MyRGVOct 7, 2026

News

Boil water notice lifted in Lyford

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Lyford announced on Wednesday that it has lifted its boil water notice. Lyford residents are no longer advised to boil their water before use. The city of Lyford issued a precautionary boil water notice on Monday after a main water ...

ValleyCentralOct 7, 2026

safety

Brownsville firefighters touring schools for Fire Prevention Week

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Brownsville Fire Department crew members are touring school campuses to keep students informed about fire safety. Fire crews visited Perez Elementary School on Wednesday to demonstrate how to respond during a fire emergency. "We're here to teac...

ValleyCentralOct 7, 2026