The Brownsville
schools
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was ranked in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Global Universities list. UTRGV was ranked No. 1,153 in the Best Global Universities ranking, out of more than 2,250 universities from 105 countrie...
Local
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Heat-stress levels will be extreme this afternoon across the Valley due to a brutal combination of hot temperatures and high humidity. The dangerous heat has prompted the National Weather Service to issue an extreme heat warning for the entire V...
Local
BARCC and the City of Brownsville Wellness Team are hosting Reading Buddies on Saturday, giving children the chance to strengthen their reading skills while providing comfort and companionship to shelter animals....
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A suspect accused of killing three people in Alton is being arraigned this morning at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center. Alton police chief Mark J. Perez identified the suspect as Gaurav Chopra. He is charged with capital murder in conne...
space
File: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base ahead of the Starlink 9-10 mission on Nov. 8, 2024. Image: SpaceX SpaceX is preparing to launch its third mission this year supporting the National Reconnaissance Office’s...
government
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com The South Padre Island community is mourning the loss of longtime City Council Member John Kenneth “Ken” Medders Jr., whose decades of public service left a lasting impact on the Island and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Medder...
Local
By JACQI LEYVA-HILL Special to the PRESS For more than 30 years, members of the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Guild have been expressing their gratitude to military veterans one stitch at a time. The organization, founded in 1981, brings together quilting enthusiasts from communities a...
business
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...
business
By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR. Special to the PRESS The Port Isabel boys’ basketball team is in the midst of competing in Brownsville’s Valley Hoops summer program. On June 9th, the team was matched up against a familiar opponent, district rival Jubilee Brownsville. As the game got ...
government
By DIANTÉ MARIGNY editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com Cameron County Commissioners on Tuesday approved economic development agreements designed to encourage Saronic Technologies to establish a next-generation shipbuilding facility in Cameron County. County officials say the project, ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A strong subsidence pattern, where large‑scale sinking air warms as it compresses, is driving temperatures sharply upward across the Valley. This setup produces extremely hot conditions, with heat index values climbing even higher. Forecast hig...
space
WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Recent rainfall across the Rio Grande Valley has created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive, prompting local governments to begin spraying operations. Officials are urging residents to eliminate standing water around their homes as mosquito...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The loss of two young girls in a Harlingen house fire last year remains a painful reminder of how quickly fire can turn deadly. Now, the Harlingen Fire Department is taking steps to help prevent similar tragedies by taking part in the American R...
border
This file photo shows the Harlingen Interchange in the foreground as traffic flows. (Maricela Rodriguez/Valley Morning Star) UPDATE (12:16 p.m. Thursday): TxDOT officials said the closure has concluded and the flyover is reopened. ORIGINAL STORY: Motorists heading to McAllen from...
business
Fred Sandoval SAN BENITO — The city’s Economic Development Corporation is searching for a new director after Executive Director Fred Sandoval resigned days after resigning as city manager. In a meeting Friday, board members appointed Mario Palomo, the EDC’s assistant executive di...
government
Brownsville City Manager Alan Guard The Brownsville City Commission appointed current interim City Manager Alan Guard as its new city manager late Tuesday evening. The commissioners approved authorization to negotiate a two-year contract with Guard. He did not initially plan on a...
Local
Hot on the heels of the extreme rainfall that swamped much of the region early this week comes extreme heat, now that the low-pressure system partly responsible for all that rain has departed. The National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley office has issued a Heat Adv...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — City leaders in Harlingen are calling on residents to help with input on city projects and development. The city of Harlingen currently has more than 20 advisory boards and committees for residents to take part in. "We're encouraging all Harling...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Rio Grande Valley duo is ready to win gold in pickleball at the Special Olympics USA Games. Athlete Beatriz Marez will be joined by her unified partner, Eve Hinojosa, to represent Team Texas at the Games, which will be held in Minneapolis. Uni...
border
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hoes were a hot topic at the federal courthouse in Brownsville last week. Francisco Javier Palafox Jr., a man in his 40s from Brownsville, told Border Patrol he planned to visit “his friends and hoes.” When they searched his car, however, agents f...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — After recent rainy days, mosquitoes are coming out. To help residents protect themselves from bites, the Cameron County Public Health is providing free bug spray while supplies last. The department will distribute the bug spray at the San Benito...
Local
Young creators and aspiring paleontologists are invited to unleash their imagination at the Brownsville Public Library System's upcoming hands-on crafting event, where cardboard dinosaurs and colorful insects come to life....
space
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — If you were caught up in traffic Wednesday morning between Brownsville and any city heading north, there’s a reason for it. A Texas Department of Transportation spokesman said SpaceX is moving a massive tank from the Port of Brownsville to McGre...
government
The Brownsville City Commission recognized community achievements, reviewed resident feedback, and received updates on several strategic initiatives during its June 16 meeting....
Local
Residents are urged to take precautions as dangerously hot conditions persist across Brownsville, with heat index values expected to reach 113 degrees today....
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — While the system responsible for the recent rainfall and flooding has pushed north along the Texas coastline, drier conditions are anticipated for the next several days. Unfortunately, this means mugginess and dangerous/extreme heat indices. Hig...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- One person is in custody after police say two people were found dead inside a residence in Alton following a disturbance call on Tuesday night. Officers with the Alton Police Department responded to the call shortly after 9 p.m. at a residence ...
government
Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr. and the City Commission have selected Alan Guard, ICMA-CM, CGFO, to serve as Brownsville’s next City Manager. The decision was made during the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting on June 16, 2026....
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Brownsville City Commission named Alan Guard as its new city manager on Tuesday night. The city manager position is one of the several roles that Guard has served in the city of Brownsville. Guard formerly served as the Brownsville deputy c...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The recent rain from a tropical low-pressure center left behind a soggy soil across deep South Texas, creating the theme of high-humidity for the next couple of days. As water evaporates, out of the soil, humidity will increase. Meanwhile, the ...
Local
WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A day after several inches of rain fell across the Rio Grande Valley, city crews in Weslaco spent Tuesday cleaning up storm debris and working to reduce the risk of additional flooding if more rain moves into the area. Public works crews cleared d...
government
Cameron County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to approve a 95%, 19-year tax abatement for a military and commercial AI technology company to build a $3.2 billion “Port Alpha” shipyard at the Port of Brownsville. Over 30 people shared public statements at the meeting in supp...
safety
A 25-year-old man on Monday reached a plea deal with prosecutors over his role in a street race that ended in a one-vehicle crash that killed a Brownsville ISD security officer. Jose Reyna III pleaded guilty to collision involving death, court records show. In exchange for his pl...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Emergency Management opened an iSTAT damage survey for June 14 severe weather and flash flooding. Residents, businesses, or agricultural property impacted by the severe weather are encouraged to fill out the survey here. ...
government
Brownsville Navigation District Secretary John Reed Brownsville Navigation District Secretary John Reed highlighted a long list of projects underway or planned at the Port of Brownsville during the State of the Port luncheon on June 11. Reed has served on the BND Board of Commiss...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — R&B artist Baby Bash and the rock band Fuel are among the notable artists coming to a new festival at the Cameron County Amphitheater on South Padre Island. The inaugural Seltzer Island festival is taking place on Saturday, June 20, from 4 p.m. ...
Local
SAN BENITO — For his family and fans, the opening of the Freddy Fender Museum keeps alive the spirit of one of the Rio Grande Valley’s biggest legends. After years of planning, city officials worked with Fender’s family to open the museum on Saturday, when country star Rick Trevi...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Multiple power outages were reported as heavy rainfall moved across the Rio Grande Valley on Monday. At the peak of the storm, American Electric Power Texas reported that about 4,000 customers lost power. However, AEP Texas Director of Communica...
space
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites 8, 9, and 10 are encapsulated inside a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket payload fairing ahead of launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: AST SpaceMobile / SpaceX AST SpaceMobile is bouncing back from the loss of its BlueBird 7 satellite ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A boil water alert impacting residents in Palmhurst has been lifted, the Sharyland Water Supply Corporation stated on Tuesday. The alert was first issued on Friday, affecting approximately 48 customers along Glasscock Road, Cynthia Lane and Eas...
government
Mayor John Cowen, Jr. has joined the Mayors for Parks Coalition, a national bipartisan coalition managed by City Parks Alliance that advocates for increased federal investment in city parks and green spaces....
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cameron County Commissioners approved a tax break for Saronic Technologies, an Austin-based maritime defense technology company, during a Tuesday court meeting. The company is considering the Port of Brownsville as the site of a $3.2 billion shi...
business
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation is now accepting applications for the BIG LIFT Small Business Improvement Grant Program in District 1.
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A judge on Monday set bail at $100,000 for a San Benito man arrested over the weekend on a child sex charge. The Cameron County Sheriff's Office issued an alert last week urging the public to be on the lookout for Jesus Estaban Escobar, who was ...
space
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral details what led to a deadly neighbor dispute in Rio Grande City over the weekend. Jose Luis Falcon was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, on Monday. A judge set bail at $2 million. Accordi...
Local
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday issued a disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties, including all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley. Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy were included in the governor's declaration as severe storms swept throug...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An overnight fire at Wellington Plaza in Brownsville is under investigation, according to the Brownsville Fire Department. On Monday at approximately 9:30 p.m., fire units responded to Central Boulevard and Price Road regarding visible smoke in ...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — While our rain chances will be slowly and gradually decreasing as we head through the afternoon, we can still expect to see some scattered showers and thunderstorms, which could include heavy rainfall. That is why the National Weather Service ha...
News
WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — William Valdez, a resident of Secluded Acres in Harlingen, is no stranger to flood waters. “When the rain came in in 2019, I already knew we were going to get hit," he said. "The canal broke off right here, right next to my house, and along the ca...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Multiple power outages have been reported in Hidalgo County following heavy rainfall and storms moving across the county, according to outage maps from American Electric Power Texas and Magic Valley Electric Cooperative. According to the Valley...
government
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has issued a Local State of Disaster for Cameron County due to the heavy rainfall and flooding. According to a news release from the Cameron County Judge, portions of Cameron County could receive between fi...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Monday morning marked the beginning of the significant rain event that had been anticipated for several days. The city of Weslaco recorded nearly five inches of rain in just four hours, highlighting the intensity of this system. Additional roun...
safety
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A second man was arrested in connection with an aggravated robbery investigation where a couple was attacked while purchasing gold, according to an updated news release from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. Brandon Vasquez, 24, was charged w...
Local
The National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley office has issued a flood watch for all of Deep South Texas from Monday through Wednesday morning, and local municipalities have responded with sandbag distributions. HARLINGEN The city of Harlingen will be distributing p...
Local
The National Weather Service Brownsville/RGV office announced Monday morning that a flood watch remains in effect for all of South Texas through Wednesday morning. Meteorologists predicted “numerous flash flood likely Monday and Tuesday,” made possible in part by lingering deep t...
space
Naomi Mitchell Carrier and Roseann Bacha-Garza dedicate the Texas Historical Marker honoring the 16,000 black troops who were sent to the RGV and fought in the last battle of the Civil War and remained to stabilize the border through 1867. SpaceX can be seen in the background of ...
business
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Valley International Airport on Monday announced the return of seasonal nonstop service between Harlingen and Chicago O'Hare International Airport through American Airlines. The new route will operate every Saturday from Dec. 19, 2026, through J...
schools
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — School districts across the Valley have canceled summer school classes and activities scheduled for Tuesday due to expected heavy rains and possible local flooding. According to the Valley Storm Team, rain totals will average 3-6″ for the Valley...
News
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of La Feria opened a safe shelter for residents on Monday afternoon. The shelter, located at 1001 Pancho Maples Dr., opened at 5 p.m. on Monday and will remain open until 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The shelter will provide sleeping cots for the...
