Crunch Fitness in Pharr has reopened after the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts closed the gym for unpaid taxes. The facility resumed operations on Friday, Sept. 11, following a payment agreement that settled $398,133.76 in delinquent taxes accumulated from September 2019 to July 2025. A Comptroller spokesperson confirmed the gym can now serve its members again.

Fluidstack has broken ground on a $4 billion data center campus in Cameron County near Harlingen, promising over 2,500 jobs, closed-loop water cooling, and full property tax contributions.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Vendors from across Texas arrived in Harlingen on Thursday morning ready to set up for Frontera Fest. Instead, they found an empty venue and a festival that had been canceled. Some vendors say they are now out thousands of dollars in merchandise, travel expenses and other costs. Marilu Rodriguez, owner of Powder [...]

The Cameron County permit leaves Harlingen out of the project. The city loses a 20 million investment and there are concerns about drainage.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — New York-based Fluidstack announced it has begun construction of a $4 billion data center campus in Cameron County. As previously reported by ValleyCentral, the facility will be built on more than 1,000 acres east of the Valley International Airport and west of the Port of Harlingen, near Rio Hondo. The company estimates [...]

Fluidstack has broken ground on a $4 billion data center campus in Cameron County near Harlingen, promising over 2,500 jobs, closed-loop water cooling, and full property tax contributions.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Better Business Bureau Rio Grande Valley is advising consumers regarding a misleading Facebook post. According to the news release from the BBB Rio Grande Valley, the post is claiming that Habitat for Humanity is offering free roof installation, replacement, or repair services for seniors over the age of 50; however, when [...]

A developer, Fluidstack, has launched the $4 billion first phase of a 1,100‑acre data‑center project east of Valley International Airport between Harlingen and Rio Hondo. The company offered Harlingen $20 million for a storm‑water discharge permit and $7 million to widen the 90‑foot canal, while commissioners consider a town‑hall meeting. Rio Grande Valley residents will note the massive data‑center plan.

Palm Valley Animal Society broke ground on a $6.1M climate-controlled expansion in Edinburg, adding three buildings and preparing to consolidate its facilities by 2028.

East Point Energy said its 100‑megawatt battery storage plant on a six‑acre site off Grimes Street and Loop 499, south of Valley International Airport in Harlingen, is ready to power the grid and can serve up to 80,000 homes for two hours. Officials said the plant will bring $19 million in tax revenue over its 20‑ to 30‑year life, was built with fire‑department training, and Rep. Janie Lopez urged more battery projects.

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — As data centers expand across the country — including several projects planned for the Rio Grande Valley — concerns over how much water they use are growing. The facilities are designed to store and process massive amounts of information, including the computing power behind artificial intelligence. Jacob Garza, a principal engineer with [...]

Connie Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to the Rio Grande Valley after the 2008 financial crisis, opened Café Ngon two months ago at 700 W. Ferguson Avenue in Pharr, offering authentic Vietnamese coffee, food, snacks, sugar‑cane refreshers and ramen. The cafe’s simple menu features pictures for each item, and its location next to the highway makes it easily accessible for Valley residents seeking a new coffee spot.

A Brownsville shrimp captain says an unidentified underwater object off Boca Chica Beach destroyed $12,000 in gear, suspecting SpaceX debris as the U.S. Coast Guard reviews the report.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Have a bucket, a pozole pot or a favorite popcorn tub? You're in luck, Cinemark has brought back "Bring Your Own Bucket" in celebration of National Popcorn Day! Cinemark is letting movie and popcorn lovers get creative and bring a clean bucket of their choice, up to 400 ounces, and enjoy the [...]

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — McDonald's launched its Texas bundle meal on Sept. 1, featuring collectible cups designed by Texas-based artist Avery Orendorf, with different areas of Texas and the 956 Valley is one of them. The meal includes 10-piece spicy or regular Chicken McNuggets, medium fries and a medium drink, plus one of the collectible [...]

Labor Day cookouts are costing more this year as high beef prices, drought, and inflation press family budgets and local Rio Grande Valley grocers.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has seized a Pharr Crunch Fitness gym for nonpayment of taxes, according to Kevin Lyons, an agency spokesperson. The Crunch Fitness building, located at 500 N Jackson Road in Pharr, had a notice taped to the door on Friday stating: "The State Comptroller's Office has seized [...]

The Texas Comptroller closed Crunch Fitness in Pharr over $398,133.76 in delinquent taxes accumulated between 2019 and 2025.