The Brownsville
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Three very different sky stories are coming together now through next week — one from the tropics, one from space, and one riding in on desert winds. First, the updated NOAA hurricane outlook continues to lean toward a quieter-than-average Atla...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen City Commission met on Wednesday for its initial review of a draft proposing changes and regulations to its code of conduct about the public comment period at city meetings. A draft of the proposed changes was first presented at a ...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Nov. 3 general election is a little less than three months away and local elections administrators are beginning to staff up with poll workers for both early voting and Election Day. Poll workers are responsible for setting up polling locati...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Brownsville woman hopes to spread safety awareness after a portable charger exploded in her car and caused second-degree burns on her right arm. Katy Abete of Brownsville says the June 18 incident prompted about a month of physical recovery. A...
government
H ARLINGEN — After weeks of heated opposition, city commissioners are passing an ordinance setting conduct rules governing meetings’ public comment periods. The ordinance replaces a 20-year-old resolution imposing more restrictive rules, officials said during a meeting. “The city...
Local
The City of Brownsville has earned the Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas (GTOT) Certificate of Distinction for Investment Policy, recognizing its commitment to responsible financial stewardship and sound management of public funds....
government
H ARLINGEN — The city commission does not have authority to nullify a WaterWorks agreement potentially providing 4.7 million gallons a day of sewer water, while offering potable water as a backup, to a proposed 1,800-acre data center just outside of the city limits, City Attorney...
schools
T he Brownsville Independent School District and its roughly 33,000 students are heading back to classes on Monday with a new sense of optimism now that Timothy Cuff is the district’s new superintendent. Cuff was named the lone finalist for the job earlier this summer and started...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man was charged after he allegedly assaulted a Golden Corral employee in the rear parking lot Wednesday night, according to the Brownsville Police Department. William Lleo, 44, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second...
space
GRIMES COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday announced that SpaceX will construct a vertically integrated semiconductor fabrication plant in Grimes County. According to the Office of the Governor, the first phase of the Terafab project represents a capital investm...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral reveals what led to the arrest of a Rio Grande Valley attorney accused of theft. Karina Michelle Cerda, 36, was arrested on a charge of theft of property, a Class B misdemeanor, after a warrant was ...
Local
Redfish Recycling, in partnership with RDA Technologies, invites Brownsville residents to two free e-waste collection events to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted electronics....
schools
STAFF REPORT EDITOR’S NOTE: Coaches, please send corrections or results to ivan@themonitor.com. 38th Annual Yellow Jacket Invitational Carlos F. Traun Middle School Elsa, TX BOYS 5K INDIVIDUAL 1. Ryan Aguirre, Mission High, 16:18.74; 2. Rosbel Galvan, Edinburg Economedes, 16:32.8...
News
Roberto Baez is seen in this undated photo at Los Fresnos City Hall. (Courtesy: City of Los Fresnos /Facebook) T he city of Los Fresnos announced it has appointed Roberto Baez as city manager. According to a Facebook post published Tuesday, the city said Baez has already spent ti...
schools
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The first day of school is coming up and ValleyCentral is asking for back-to-school pictures! Whether it is your kids or yourself heading out for class, we want you to share it with us. Teachers and college students are also more than welcome to...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On the latest episode of Valley Storm Team, Meteorologist Lexie Walker and Forecaster Craig Verley dove into the science behind what sea breeze showers are and how they form when cool air from the ocean moves over the warm air on land. The risin...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — We will continue to see hot and humid conditions for the day. The combination of heat and humidity will also continue to make it feel like 105-110 across much of the Valley this afternoon. However, a few lucky folks might get a quick shot of rai...
Local
The City of Brownsville is advising motorists of upcoming roadway improvements on Morrison Road and Pablo Kisel Boulevard that will require temporary street closures....
border
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Cameron County have sparked emotional reactions across the Laguna Madre area after videos circulated on social media showing agents detaining individuals, includi...
space
By JAQUI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PARADE A new luxury photography experience is bringing flowing gowns, professional styling and beachside portraits to South Padre Island. SPI Luxury Beach Events by Nadia has launched its South Padre Island Flying Dress Experience, offering clie...
business
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com LOS FRESNOS, TX—A local family got an unexpected visitor last week when they discovered a 10-foot American alligator swimming in their backyard pool. Jacob Reinbolt, an alligator expert, educator and licensed nuisance alligator tr...
business
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Construction is officially underway on three new pickleball courts at Joe Buck and Mary Jo Camp Island Legends Park, expanding recreational opportunities as the sport continues to grow in popularity on South Padre Island. City off...
Local
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...
Local
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A newly renovated pediatric intensive care unit is now open at Driscoll Children's Hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. The $9 million investment marks a new milestone for the facility, allowing healthcare leaders to treat more patients in critic...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Thanks to the showers and thunderstorms that some of the Valley encountered this past weekend, rainfall totals in McAllen have already reached two inches for this month so far. As we look at the percent of normal rain over the past 30 days, we ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A Peñitas man was sent to federal prison for receiving and distributing approximately 56,000 files child pornography, according to the U.S Attorney's Office. Jesus David Gutierrez, 29, was ordered to nine years in prison and pay $6,000 in resti...
border
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin visited the Rio Grande Valley border on Tuesday and met with border law enforcement agents and viewed new border wall and border buoys put in the Rio Grande....
business
Brownsville's Historic Battlefield Trail is gaining national recognition, and the community has the opportunity to help it earn a place among America's most celebrated trails....
Local
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Fans and athletes across the Rio Grande Valley are invited to a free special open practice and youth clinic with the Vaqueros football team. The two-in-one event will be held on Thursday, just weeks before the Vaqueros prepare for their sophomor...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of Harlingen Planning and Development Department is reminding residents about the importance of obtaining a permit before starting a project. The reminder comes after several residents were told by local construction companies that they...
space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A SpaceX rocket that launched a pair of lunar landers slammed into the moon as predicted on Wednesday after drifting off course for the past year, scientists reported. Although no one observed the actual 5,400-mph (8,700-kph) collision, a telescope in ...
space
S paceX recently issued its Starbase impact report for the second quarter of 2026, meant to highlight the ways the company is “driving growth in the Rio Grande Valley.” The report leads with scholarships the company has funded, intended to “spark curiosity in science, technology ...
Local
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Federal prosecutors may partner with the state to investigate whether two hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley promoted birth tourism. Questions about Mission Regional Medical Center and Knapp Medical Center surfaced in July, when photos of a billbo...
government
The Brownsville City Commission held its second Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Workshop on Aug. 4, reviewing the City's proposed budget, major capital improvement projects, and economic development initiatives....
government
S AN BENITO — After more than five hours behind closed doors, city commissioners couldn’t reach in a decision in the appointment of San Benito’s next city manager. In a heated meeting, Mayor Pete Galvan walked out during discussions as commissioners considered two finalists — int...
space
City Commissioner Delia Cavazos-Gamez H ARLINGEN — City Commissioner Delia Cavazos-Gamez’s probe into questions surrounding a dirty political mailer seems to be getting closer to the source. About eight months after launching the probe, her attorneys have tracked the mailer’s pub...
Local
D riscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley is expanding its pediatric critical care services, adding 15 more beds to its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, or PICU. Through a more than $9.1 million investment, the freestanding children’s hospital in Edinburg will be transforming...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday approved modifications to regulations on smoking in public places. The modifications were made to Ordinance Number 2026-1813, Chapter 54, Health and Sanitation, Article VI, which pertains to smoking in ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Anticipate lots of sunshine throughout Wednesday with highs climbing to the upper 90s and low 100s. Southeast winds at 5 to 15mph. Wind gusts and the rest of the week will be between 25 and 30 mph. The humidity is still a big factor in the forec...
business
B ROWNSVILLE — The mariachi singers in their black attire and bold white stitching make my arrival a joyous one and an uplifting one. The first thing I see and hear when I enter La Gardenia Restaurant and Bar is the mariachi group engaged in festive singing and playing a song cal...
space
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to deliver three of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Block 2 satellites into low Earth orbit on Aug. 5, 2026. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update Aug. 5, 6:09 a.m. EDT (1009 U...
schools
Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer EDINBURG — Over the next three weeks, RGVSports.com will take you inside fall camp with the UTRGV Vaqueros as they prepare to kick off the 2026 season against UT Permian Basin in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Vackar Stadium in Edinbur...
Local
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The weather pattern across the Rio Grande Valley through the weekend will focus on heat and humidity, with the heat index taking center stage each afternoon. Daytime highs are expected to climb into the mid to upper 90s, but when combined with ...
schools
Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer EDITOR’S NOTE: This story continues our position-by-position look at the top returning high school football players in the Rio Grande Valley. Follow the series in the coming weeks as we count down to the release of our annual Top 30 players list. The 20...
government
The Brownsville City Commission held a special workshop Tuesday to give the public a closer look at proposed regulations that would govern future data center development within the city....
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The San Benito Police Department seized approximately seven pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop, according to a news release. Daniel Cruz Cardenas, a Mexican national, is charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance PG1, a fir...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cameron County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $3 increase to the entry fee for county beaches. Effective Oct. 1, day passes to Isla Blanca Park, Andy Bowie Park, E.K. Atwood Park Beach Access No. 5, Cameron County Beach Access No. 3 and Cam...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — En el nuevo episodio de Behind the Flavor, el conductor gastronómico Ismael Martínez, pasa por Brownsville para visitar el restaurante mexicano Letty's Cafe. Letty Robles, dueña del restaurante mexicano Letty's Café, abrió sus puertas en 2019 y ...
business
B ROWNSVILLE — U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright delivered brief remarks and took questions from media at the Port of Brownsville administration building on Tuesday. It was originally planned as a double billing, with Wright meant to accompany Vice President J.D. Vance to Browns...
border
A little church just past a strip of border wall in the Rio Grande Valley once served as a resting point for slaves seeking freedom in Mexico. Recently, with the help of a life-long historical researcher, Hidalgo County leaders ensured its place in history. Last month, on July 7,...
business
The only Rio Grande Valley facility to earn the distinction, STHS Edinburg ranks No. 30 among Texas hospitals Delivering advanced care, driving positive outcomes and meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the Rio Grande Valley have helped South Texas Health System (STHS) Edinbu...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Months after an immigration officer was arrested in Harlingen on charges relating to a Minneapolis shooting, a county attorney is asking the Texas governor to extradite the man to face court proceedings in Minnesota. In a letter dated July 30, H...
business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, meeting with lawmakers and industry leaders at the Port of Brownsville. Vice President JD Vance was set to visit the Port of Brownsville alongside Secretary Wright bu...
business
A new Dollar Tree is coming to Brownsville. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation registration filed Tuesday , the new store will be located at 1325 Ruben M. Torres. The $700,000 project’s scope of work includes a new 9,839-square-foot building shell to be c...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Donna Utilities Department will conduct an emergency water leak repair Tuesday afternoon. Beginning at 1 p.m., water service will be temporarily interrupted on the 400 to 500 blocks of South 7th Street and South 8th Street as crews complete ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Grupo Frontera frontman and Edinburg native, Adelaido "Payo" Solis III, has been recognized in Forbes Mexico's 30 under 30 list. Forbes Mexico featured Solis on its front cover on social media, stating that this edition is "second generation, th...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral)-- As the summer is winding down, three of the biggest cities in the upper Valley are holding their Police Departments National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug 4th. A National Night Out is an annual community-building event campaign that promotes police-...
government
Tropical Texas Behavioral Heath on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Edinburg. Tropical Texas Behavioral Health announced it is working on constructing a new facility in Harlingen to increase services to the Cameron County area. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com) T ropical Te...
schools
As students across Brownsville head back to the classroom, the Brownsville Public Library is helping families start the school year with confidence by providing free, on-demand access to professional tutors through Tutor.com....
space
By MARCIA DUNN | AP Aerospace Writer C APE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A drifting SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon after launching a pair of lunar landers more than a year ago. The rocket’s upper stage will unintentionally slam into the moon on Wednesday, carving o...
