Destiny Vélez, crowned Miss Puerto Rico 2015, was suspended indefinitely by the Miss Puerto Rico organization after posting critical comments about Muslims on Twitter. The announcement was made on the night of Saturday December 19, 2015 and the queen included an apology in the statement. Her Twitter account was closed, which is of interest to residents of the Valle del Río Grande.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A free produce distribution event will be held in San Benito on Wednesday. The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley will host the pop-up event. Attendees must show a photo ID and proof of address to receive the free produce. Produce will be distributed from 9 to 11 a.m., or [...]

The article reports that Dr. Pat Burchfield, director of the Gladys Porter Zoo, described the opening of phase two of the El Mundo Huasteco y Totonaco exhibit, which adds species such as ocelots, howler monkeys, cotton‑top tamarins, white‑faced saki monkeys and prehensile‑tailed porcupines, and noted that the animals have begun using the new outdoor habitats, including an ocelot named Iggy crossin

RIO HONDO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A second data center project is moving forward in the Rio Hondo area, drawing concerns from residents who worry about the impact it could have on water and other local resources. New York-based company Fluidstack is planning an artificial intelligence data center campus on a nearly 18,000-acre site between Harlingen and [...]

Alamo’s Sgt. Fernando De La Rosa Memorial Library is seeking local artist submissions for its upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit. Art deadline: Sept. 14.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A local influencer is highlighting the Rio Grande Valley's most haunted locations and the history behind them. Karla Paola, also known as Karla's Paradise on TikTok and Karla's Haunted Files on Facebook and Instagram, began her paranormal content creation journey in October 2025. "I've always had a love for the paranormal, [...]

A BMW traveling southbound on Closner Boulevard in Edinburg crashed into the front entrance of the Hidalgo County Courthouse around 11:35 p.m. on Sunday, causing extensive structural damage and leading to the courthouse’s closure on Monday while repairs and cleanup began.

Harlingen officials announced a plan to revamp municipal lighting and seek International Dark Sky Community certification, aiming to cut light pollution, protect wildlife and promote eco‑tourism, with the effort requiring homeowners and businesses to transition to downward‑directed fixtures but no new regulations have been enacted yet. The city commission said the designation would improve public