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Rain chances drop as Tropical Storm Bertha weakens

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Bertha was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday evening as it continued to push inland. The showers that swept across the Valley earlier have shifted south of the border, and southeasterly winds will keep flowing through the region. T...

ValleyCentralJul 24, 2026

space

SpaceX now targeting Friday for test launch of Starship

S paceX on Thursday afternoon announced that it was scrubbing its planned launch of Starship/Super Heavy from Boca Chica Beach. Now, the company is targeting Friday with a 90-minute test window opening at 5:45 p.m., SpaceX said in a media release. Flight 13 has been scrubbed twic...

MyRGVJul 23, 2026

government

San Benito to run criminal checks on board candidates

San Benito Mayor Pedro “Pete” Galvan S AN BENITO — Candidates for city boards are now facing criminal background checks following cases sparking residents’ concerns. As part of a new ordinance, the city will be running background checks through the Texas Department of Public Safe...

MyRGVJul 23, 2026

News

San Juan Municipal Court urges residents to take advantage of amnesty program

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — If you have any outstanding fines in the city of San Juan, now's your chance to resolve issues with the court without any additional penalties. The San Juan Municipal Court has extended its amnesty program through Aug. 31. During this time, resi...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

government

Former South Padre Island Mayor Barry Patel seeks return to City Hall

By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Former South Padre Island Mayor Barry Patel is seeking a return to City Hall, announcing this week that he will challenge incumbent Mayor Patrick McNulty in the Nov. 4 election. Patel, who served on the City Council beginning in 2...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

business

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

business

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

News

Laguna Madre athletes headed to Junior Olympics

By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS A handful of Laguna Madre athletes will be competing in the upcoming 2026 AAU Junior Olympics. This year the event will be held in Des Moines, Iowa and is set to commence this upcoming Wednesday, July 29 and run to August 8, 2026. ...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

News

Week two of men’s softball league in the books

By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS This past Wednesday, July 15, the Laguna Madre Men’s Softball League featured another night of spirited competition as the cheers and friendly jeers echoed throughout the park. After the first week of action, Cantu’s and Hopper Hau...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

space

Bill seeks to protect Boca Chica

Special to the PRESS U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has introduced legislation aimed at permanently protecting the name Boca Chica Beach while increasing transparency in the federal geographic naming process. The Hands Off Our Boca Chica Beach Act, introduced July 20, would officiall...

Port Isabel PressJul 23, 2026

government

Hidalgo County judge urges vigilance after screwworm detected in Starr County

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said county leaders continue to closely monitor the New World Screwworm after the first confirmed case in the Rio Grande Valley was recently detected in a newborn calf in Starr County. Cortez issued a state...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

Local

Moments in Time: They will fly again in speedier machines

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 23, 2026

government

San Juan Memorial Library to host free Narcan training

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The San Juan Memorial Library and Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department will host a free Narcan training on Friday. The free event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Attendees will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to properly ...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

News

Latest South Texas Healthy Living episode on NBC 23 to tackle arthritis

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Every month, South Texas Health System tackles a different issue in South Texas Healthy Living, a 30-minute program that airs on KVEO NBC 23. System Director of Marketing & Public Relations Tom Castaneda said the latest episode will explore the ...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

News

Valley Voices: Romeo Vaughn, Country Music Artist

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In the latest edition of Valley Voices, CBS 4's Marco Ramirez sits down with Rome Vaughn, country music artist from Santa Rosa, Texas. Vaughn moved to Nashville to jump-start his music career and has lived there for the past 10 years. But Vaughn...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

safety

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

space

SpaceX prepares for second attempt at Starship Flight 13

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — SpaceX is preparing for its second attempt at Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas. The second attempt of Starship Flight 13 comes one week after SpaceX scrubbed its first attempt on July 16. The 90-minute launch window will open at 5:45 p.m....

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

safety

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

government

'I was prepared': Starr County rancher recalls identifying screwworm in calf

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Starr County rancher is urging people to remain vigilant after discovering the first confirmed case of the New World screwworm in a calf. Starr County officials confirmed its first New World screwworm case on Sunday, prompting immediate safety...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

business

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

Local

Bertha may bring rain Thursday but heat isn't going anywhere

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Wednesday was hot. We completely smashed old daily climatology records for the three observation sites of McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville. Thursday will be hot too, but likely not record-breaking hot. There will be highs this afternoon reachi...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

News

Wild card in the forecast: Bertha could deliver Valley rain

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- Tropical Storm Bertha is set to continue a westward track toward Texas. The storm isn't expected to get stronger, but the eventual path will bring the remnants of the storm close enough to bring the Valley some rain Thursday night. A chance for...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

Local

Bertha, heat and a chance for showers this Thursday evening

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A little bit of everything is on tap for the Rio Grande Valley through Thursday night. Let’s start with Tropical Storm Bertha. The storm made landfall earlier today between Mississippi and Louisiana, surprisingly still as a tropical storm after ...

ValleyCentralJul 23, 2026

business

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

government

$2M grant to fund street improvements in Mission

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A multimillion-dollar grant will fund street improvements in the city of Mission, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Tuesday. The Texas General Land Office approved $2 million in funds from the Disaster Recovery Reallocation Progr...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

Local

Valley Baptist Brownsville unveils new stroke care equipment

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Health care leaders joined at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville to celebrate a new program and equipment designed to treat stroke patients. The facility's new bi-plane imaging equipment will help specialists treat stroke patients more...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

News

Community aids in planting trees at Harlingen city parks

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department hosted a free community tree-planting event on Wednesday as part of its ongoing initiative to improve the quality of life at its city parks. The tree-planting session was held at Pendleton Park, one ...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

business

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

Local

Food Bank RGV to distribute free produce in Peñitas

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) - The Food Bank RGV will be hosting a free mobile produce distribution on Thursday, July 23rd. The one day only event will be held at Faith Fellowship Bible Church in Penitas beginning at 9 AM until supplies last. Participants will need a picture ...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

safety

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

safety

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

News

Gov. Abbott appoints Region One ESC Senior Director to state committee

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed a senior director for the Region One Education Service Center to the Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee. Celina Perez of San Benito will serve on the state committee that advises the Texas Hea...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

safety

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

business

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

Local

Record heat continues as Tropical Storm Bertha approaches area

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Wednesday will likely mark day three in a row for some record high temperatures to be tied or broken during the afternoon. With mostly sunny skies, most everyone will break into the triple digits, except Brownsville and the coast. The "feels lik...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

government

City of Brownsville approves pay raise proposition for November ballot

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Brownsville City Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to modify a proposition that would potentially increase pay for city elected officials. Proposition A is one of several proposed amendments that will be on the ballot of the special e...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

News

'Let's stay prepared': City of Alamo hosts sandbag distribution

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Alamo is reminding residents that preparation is key before a storm is in the forecast. Several locations across Alamo serve as sandbag distribution centers. "Being prepared today can make all the difference tomorrow," the city of A...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

News

The Valley is on the wrong side of Tropical Storm Bertha

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- When you're on Bertha's bad side, you can get burned or at least medium rare. Tropical Storm Bertha will be too far north to impact the Valley in any traditional way, but her position puts the Valley on her western flank, where the air is sinki...

ValleyCentralJul 22, 2026

space

Addiction recovery nonprofit launching Valley mission

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A nonprofit organization aiming to help people overcome addictions across the nation is launching its operations here in the Valley. Transformations Program USA is set to open a recovery home in Harlingen to help anyone across the Rio Grande Val...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

safety

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

Local

Pet of the week: Bernard the kitten

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A very special guest stopped by our studio on Tuesday. Along with Brownsville Animal Regulation Care Center adoption specialist Jordan Wally, anchor Alexia Serrata got to say hello to a very excited furry friend named Bernard. Wally explained th...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

safety

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

government

Pharr and TCEQ host Texas drought and hurricane workshop

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of Pharr and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) partnered up to host the Texas Drought and Hurricane Preparedness Workshop on Tuesday. The workshop took place at the Jose "Pepe" Salinas Recreational Center located at 1...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

Local

STAY COOL THIS JULY WITHOUT WATCHING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL CLIMB

Summer in Brownsville means your air conditioner is working harder than ever. The good news is that a few simple changes around your home can help you stay comfortable while keeping your energy bill under control....

City of BrownsvilleJul 21, 2026

News

Movie Talk: The massive scale and scope of Christopher Nolan and The Odyssey

DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN STARING MATT DAMON, TOM HOLLAND, ANNE HATHAWAY, ROBERT PATTINSON, ZENDAYA, MANY MANY OTHERS ★★★★☆ HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Massive-scale movies have been part of Hollywood's DNA since the beginning. "Lawrence of Arabia." "Gone with the Wind...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

business

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

News

South Padre Island officials celebrate opening of Marisol Boat Ramp

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — South Padre Island officials celebrated the grand opening of a $3 million boat ramp Tuesday morning. According to the city, the Marisol (Laguna Madre) Boat Ramp is the first public bay access development constructed in 30 years. The ramp feature...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

schools

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY BRINGS FREE FAMILY FUN AND RESOURCES TO BROWNSVILLE

The City of Brownsville’s Department of Health, Wellness and Animal Services invites the community to celebrate the start of a new school year at a free Back-to-School Block Party on Thursday, August 6, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at 655 E. St. Charles St....

City of BrownsvilleJul 21, 2026

News

Record heat continues as the Valley stays clear of Tropical Storm Bertha

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — We have two big weather stories: the heat and hot temperatures with the possibility of breaking, if not tying, records, but also Tropical Storm Bertha in the northern Gulf. Tropical Storm Bertha Tropical Storm Bertha is the second tropical storm...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

schools

UTRGV football takes the stage for Southland Conference Opening Drive media day

HOUSTON, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley football team is participating in the Southland Conference Opening Drive media day on Tuesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Watch the livestream in the video player above. UTRGV foot...

ValleyCentralJul 21, 2026

space

SpaceX launches Starlink mission from California a day after last-second abort

The Starlink 17-39 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 21, 2026. Image: SapceX. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two dozen Starlink V2 Mini broadband internet satellites to its massive low Earth orbit constellation ...

Spaceflight NowJul 21, 2026

safety

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