HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — South Padre Island will soon begin dredging sediment to renourish its beaches and maintain the shoreline. The project will dredge about 400,000 cubic yards of sediment, with 300,000 cubic yards going to beach access 24-19. The city says the remaining sediment will be placed at Andy Bowie Park. The United States [...]

On Thursday, South Padre Island authorities, Texas game wardens, and police said two people were bitten by a shark and were injured, while two others sustained minor injuries. The bitten victims were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, and residents of the Rio Grande Valley were advised to stay out of Gulf waters because of the risk of further attacks.

South Padre Island officials broke ground Friday on the Paul Jibber Terheggan Wind and Water Sports Park, a $2.3 million project that includes a raised access road, two elevated parking areas and gear‑drop zones for riders. Council Member Joe Ricco said the city hopes to open the park by April, though inclement weather could delay the schedule.

Lucinda “Sandy Feet” Wierenga, a long‑time South Padre Island resident and sand sculptor, said ICE agents seized her friend and handyman Alfredo Mendez on Oct. 15 while he was driving her husband’s car on the island and transported him to Harlingen for processing. The agents stopped him at a traffic light, tailgated his vehicle and even asked if he was her husband’s brother, despite his lack of a criminal record.

The iconic Coconut Jacks Bar and Grill, built by Amy and Jack Salander and opened on March 23, 1990 on South Padre Island overlooking Laguna Madre Bay, has been demolished after more than three decades of operation. The concrete structure now sits empty as a national‑franchise‑styled seafood restaurant is slated to be built on the site, ending the beloved local surf‑community hangout.

A parking and mobility planner, Jon Forster of Fishbeck, presented the results of a study commissioned by South Padre Island’s City Council on Oct. 5. The analysis found a seasonal parking shortage and recommended a mix of paid parking and one or two parking structures, but Mayor Patrick McNulty said no action will be taken yet and public workshops will be held before any decision.

Port Isabel, TX (KRGV) — LabPadre says it needs more tests before deciding whether SpaceX launches are damaging homes in Port Isabel and South Padre Island.

South Padre Island, TX (KRGV) — Homeland Security Investigations is now working with South Padre Island after the city said its Economic Development Corporation was the victim of a cyberattack.

Sandcastle Days 2026 took place on South Padre Island from October 2‑4, where world‑class carvers built large hand‑carved sand sculptures that are now slowly eroding on the beach outside the island’s biggest bar. Organizer Lucinda “Sandy‑feet” Weirenga said rain forced a schedule shift but the artists, including her nephew Emerson Weirenga Schreiner, used spray‑glue and sealed work to protect pieces, keeping the event’s spirit alive.

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 dangerous swimming conditions. Art Hurtado, chief of the Cameron County Beach Patrol, warns [...]

Rattlers and Patriots Clash Two of the best teams are gunning for the top spot in their district. That is, simply, what we love to see in any sport. And that is certainly the case in tonight’s district matchup when the Mission Veterans Patriots host the Sharyland Rattlers at 7 p.m. What…

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 announced the attack at a regular city council meeting on Wednesday, reading from a prepared [...]

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — South Padre Island is distributing sandbags to residents and businesses on Saturday. Sandbags will be available until 4 p.m. at the Public Works Workshop located at the corner of West Venus and Laguna Boulevard. RELATED: Scattered showers continue through the weekend Residents may receive up to five bags, and businesses up [...]

The City of Port Isabel will hold a free public ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 317 E. Railroad Ave., to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 15 collapse of the Queen Isabella Causeway that killed eight people. Marketing director Valerie Bates said the program will feature a color guard, speakers, a panel discussion and a Texas Department of Transportation documentary.