Harlingen officials are planning a town‑hall meeting to consider Fluidstack’s request to discharge runoff from a proposed data‑center project into a city‑owned canal, with commissioners slated to vote on the request after hearing public input.

A 27‑year‑old McAllen man, Jose Manuel Lopez‑Silva, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for directing teenage drivers in a long‑term smuggling operation that involved several high‑speed pursuits, one of which resulted in three deaths, including a minor, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. The release said he recruited drivers as young as 14, used social media to coordinate pick‑up

The Hidalgo County Courthouse will reopen on Friday after being closed due to a car crash that damaged its main entrance, with temporary entrances set up for employees and the public while repairs continue on the main door.

The National Weather Service office in Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley issued a three‑month outlook that shows a slight tendency toward hotter‑than‑normal temperatures from September through November, with the highest confidence for September, and notes a 20‑50% chance that a wetter pattern could develop later in the season due to a strong El Niño, potentially increasing flood risk.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said the county is working to reopen the courthouse after it was closed when a driver crashed a car into the main entrance, and while engineers consider the building structurally sound, they are addressing egress safety concerns before resuming operations; the driver, 49‑year‑old Jesus Maria Alaniz Jr., is believed to have been intoxicated and faces DUI charg

City commissioners in Brownsville approved a resolution directing the city manager to begin the process of adopting a temporary 90‑day moratorium on new data‑center rezoning applications and permits, and to reactivate the Environmental and Conservation Task Force to advise on data‑center policies. The proposed schedule includes public hearings on Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, a final vote on Nov. 17, with t

San Benito’s city commission approved a $20 million general‑fund budget with a $20.9 million fund balance, while voting 4‑1 against Mayor Pete Galvan’s proposal to reduce the property‑tax rate from 70 to 69 cents per $100 valuation. Finance director Stephanie Sarrionadia noted a $1.5 million surplus and said each cent of tax generates about $114,000, emphasizing the need to maintain revenue for gr

The Donna ISD School Board appointed deputy superintendent Rebecca Castañeda as acting superintendent and said it will conduct a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent.

Mission Economic Development Corporation CEO Telco Garcia announced he will retire effective September 11 after more than 19 years of municipal service, will take several weeks off before exploring private‑sector opportunities, and indicated the board will manage the transition.

San Perlita ISD schools were temporarily closed after a rapid spread of COVID‑19 cases, but county health officials said the modest increase in cases is a normal seasonal pattern and not a major concern, noting that the virus is now less likely to cause hospitalizations and mainly threatens high‑risk individuals.

La Joya ISD superintendent Marcey Sorensen was granted a contract extension through June 30 2031 with an annual salary of $355,865, about $10,000 higher than her previous contract, and the agreement includes reimbursement for travel and other reasonable expenses subject to audit.

The Edinburg Human Resources Department sent a city‑wide email to employees on Friday with insurance premium quotes that showed large increases, but city leadership said the figures were incorrect and are preparing new rates. Mayor Omar Ochoa said he took full responsibility for the error, apologized to staff, and indicated that revised rates will be released soon, though no specific date was prov

The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office arrested Victor Manuel Castillo, 27, and Alejandra Maria Guevara, 23, for allegedly smuggling marijuana into the Carrizales‑Rucker Detention Center, with Castillo already in custody and Guevara taken into custody at a Brownsville residence.

The McAllen Public Library is celebrating Library Card Sign‑up Month in September by giving children who register a limited‑edition card featuring the mascot Marty the Cat and highlighting its wide range of resources and early‑literacy programs.

A video released by MyRGV.com shows a red BMW driven by 49‑year‑old Jesus Maria Alaniz Jr. crashing into the Hidalgo County Courthouse around 11:35 p.m., exploding in flames and causing extensive damage; Alaniz was hospitalized in critical condition and faces a DWI charge. County officials announced that the courthouse will remain closed to the public on Wednesday and Thursday while engineers asse

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

The article reports that the UTRGV football team drew a record crowd of 13,698 to Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, secured a 44‑0 shutout win, and details the parking, shuttle services and tailgating activities, highlighting Mayor Omar Ochoa’s tailgate that provided free tacos, drinks and other food to fans.

Developers of Fluidstack propose a data center campus covering hundreds of acres between Harlingen and Rio Hondo and are asking city commissioners to approve discharge of site runoff into a major canal near Valley International Airport, with Commissioner Daniel Lopez noting the 90‑foot channel may be insufficient for stormwater. Commissioners will meet in a closed session, and Fluidstack’s website

A 39‑year‑old man with schizophrenia was charged with homicide after stabbing his aunt, Anna Maria Hidalgo, in the chest and assaulting his grandmother, Guillermia Hidalgo; police entered the home, found the aunt unresponsive and arrested the suspect.

The article reports that Mission Police Union president Javier Lara was placed on indefinite suspension and effectively terminated after allegedly failing to submit evidence, with his attorney arguing the allegations are time‑barred; it also notes that the Texas Municipal Police Association warned the city of possible legal action over alleged retaliation and misconduct by Police Chief Cesar Torre

Four senior UPS drivers in Brownsville retired after long careers, with a ceremony held at the company’s distribution center that detailed each driver’s hiring dates and service history, and noted that UPS has offered buyout options as it downsizes.

The article reports that Brownsville approved a controversial $220 million deal with SpaceX to fund water‑infrastructure upgrades, which includes clauses to refund unused portions and restart payments if milestones are missed, and was tied to the disannexation of 444.45 acres approved at a special meeting; the upgrades aim to increase water capacity by up to 22.5 million gallons per day to address

A brush fire burned roughly 1,500 acres of farmland in northern Hidalgo County on Saturday, was 75% contained by Monday, and officials are investigating the cause while warning residents about the region’s dry conditions and urging fire‑prevention precautions.

The La Joya ISD school board extended Superintendent Marcey Sorensen’s contract through 2031, noting her leadership since 2024, previous salary terms, district academic improvements, balanced budgets, a financial integrity rating of A, and a 3% pay increase for employees.