The South Texas Book Festival, hosted by the McAllen Public Library, announced a rebrand as the South Texas International Book Festival for its edition in 2026, emphasizing a platform for cross‑border cultural exchange. The festival is scheduled for October 24, with kickoff events beginning September 19, including a local author showcase and a library‑wide “Read Around Town” series. Organizers note the program draws families from sister cities across the U.S.–Mexico border.

Texas has introduced an optional designation for deaf or hard‑of‑hearing individuals on driver’s licenses and state identification cards after the passage of House Bill 3132, a change advocated by Liza Lara of the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf to improve communication with law enforcement and other responders.

A 27‑year‑old McAllen man, Jose Manuel Lopez‑Silva, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for directing teenage drivers in a long‑term smuggling operation that involved several high‑speed pursuits, one of which resulted in three deaths, including a minor, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. The release said he recruited drivers as young as 14, used social media to coordinate pick‑up

The McAllen Public Library is celebrating Library Card Sign‑up Month in September by giving children who register a limited‑edition card featuring the mascot Marty the Cat and highlighting its wide range of resources and early‑literacy programs.

A 39‑year‑old man with schizophrenia was charged with homicide after stabbing his aunt, Anna Maria Hidalgo, in the chest and assaulting his grandmother, Guillermia Hidalgo; police entered the home, found the aunt unresponsive and arrested the suspect.

The McAllen International Airport runway and taxiway improvement project experienced a delay of roughly 1,000 days instead of the contracted 415 days, prompting a supplemental agreement that adds $977,987 for consultant KSA, with the city saying the cost will be covered by liquidated damages despite the mayor’s uncertainty.