The Mission Police Department announced it has received a $1.2 million state grant through Operation Lone Star to enhance border‑related crime response and public safety. Chief Cesar Torres said the money will fund officer overtime, new radios, and the installation of two Skywatch towers that provide a bird’s‑eye view for monitoring the community. The grant requires no local match and will be spent during fiscal year 2027.

Starting Sept. 15, a federal rule will end the “duration of status” for F‑1 visas, setting a four‑year limit on study programs and requiring students to keep the same major or reapply for a visa. UTRGV biology senior Anoushka Mitra, who came from India on an F‑1 visa and aims to graduate in 2028, said the change worries Rio Grande Valley students about remaining in the U.S. to complete their degrees.

Anoushka Mitra, a 21‑year‑old biology major at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, worries the new federal rule will limit her ability to stay in the U.S. after graduation. Effective Sept. 15, the rule replaces the “duration of status” system for F‑1 visas with a four‑year cap, preventing students from extending their stay or changing majors without a new visa.

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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.

La Villa is targeting run-down and abandoned properties for demolition under a new city ordinance aimed at removing safety hazards and improving neighborhood appearance.

Metro McAllen has launched a new $3 bus route connecting the downtown Central Bus Terminal directly to the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge to provide a safer, affordable transit option.

La Villa officials announced a plan to replace their 40‑year‑old water‑treatment plant, which would cost $14 million, and have applied for state grants to cover the expense. On Wednesday the city commissioners approved a backup strategy, and Administrator Antonio “Tony” Barco said the council authorized a loan application through the Texas Water Development Board to fund interim repairs that should keep the facility operating for a few more years while grant efforts continue.

The city of Mercedes has partnered with Compudopt to collect and refurbish used or broken electronics for local residents in need of digital access.

The family of a Weslaco teen who died after drinking Alani Nu energy drinks is urging the 13th Court of Appeals to allow their wrongful death lawsuit against product distributors to move forward.

Cameron County commissioners voted to partner with Brownsville on a 25-year reinvestment zone aimed at expanding housing near I-169 to support growth from SpaceX, LNG, and tech developments.

A 73-year-old Rancho Viejo cyclist hit by a driver in Brownsville returned to Valley Regional Medical Center to thank the doctors, nurses, and therapists who saved his life.

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.

An Alton grand jury has indicted 19-year-old Gaurav Chopra on capital murder and evading arrest charges following the June 16 shooting deaths of his parents and grandmother.

Five Brownsville ISD campuses and a local medical clinic were placed under security restrictions as Brownsville police searched for an auto theft suspect near Hortencia Boulevard.