Board members, staff and contractor Rolando J. Perez Garcia of REA General Contractors broke ground Thursday on a new two‑story, 4,000‑square‑foot annex for the McAllen Heritage Center. The building will rise on the northeast corner of the center’s campus at Main and Chicago in downtown McAllen, with completion aimed for June 2027. The project is funded through collaborations with the city, local families and donors.

South Texas fortune‑teller Fernie Salinas celebrated the launch of his debut book, *The Joy of Tarot*, with a vibrant party at the historic Cine El Ray in McAllen. The event featured wrestlers, drag queens and community members, while Salinas, a former school principal, described the 300‑plus‑page volume as a love letter that demystifies tarot, offering clear explanations of all 78 cards and practical exercises.

The Monitor’s archive shows that after the September 11, 2001 attacks the Rio Grande Valley saw La Plaza Mall close, McAllen’s bus terminal cancel trips to Mexico, and a surge of drivers at gas stations fearing price hikes. Schools kept classes but dropped after‑school programs, the Bentsen Tower federal courthouse tightened security with U.S. Marshals on alert, and officials reassured residents that fuel prices would stay stable, a key concern for commuters.

Harlingen, Valley Baptist Medical Center‑Harlingen and San Benito will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Friday with public ceremonies. Harlingen’s Patriot Day service begins at 10 a.m. on the North Tarmac of Valley International Airport, while Valley Baptist will host a 9 a.m. stair‑climb at Medical Arts Pavilion Stairwell #23. Rio Grande Valley residents can attend the free events.

J&S Construction Management, a Valley‑based construction firm, announced a giveaway tied to the Netflix premiere of "Say a Little Prayer," which debuted on September 3. Three winners will receive a $650 staycation package that includes a two‑night stay at a McAllen hotel, a movie‑night snack bundle, a limited‑edition bracelet, a branded blanket and a jewelry box; the promotion is meant to thank the local community.

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.

The Texas Commission on the Arts officially designated Brownsville’s Mitte Cultural District as a “Texas Cultural District,” joining three other newly announced districts and bringing the state total to 61. The designation creates a new source of funding for nonprofit arts groups operating in the Mitte District, a benefit highlighted for local residents and cultural organizations.

The article describes the opening of the "Pharr: Packed with History" exhibit at the Pharr Memorial Public Library, where museum director Francisco Guajardo spoke about the city's agricultural and railroad past and guided visitors through crate labels, photographs, and stories illustrating early local development.

The article announces that the musical “Rent” will open on September 11 at the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville, describing its focus on marginalized groups and its origins in the 1990s.

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

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