Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Ricardo González Jr., 38, and Pedro Ismael García, 24, charged with homicide for the deaths of Mario Morales Jr. and María del Socorro Farias, after an investigation that began on February 3 in Peñitas when a brush fire uncovered two bodies. Co‑defendants Alejandro López and Juan Antonio Alvarado face homicide charges, but the state will not seek the death penalty against them.

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On September 16, Mexico’s Independence Day was celebrated and, from September 15 to October 15, the Rio Grande Valley observes Hispanic Heritage Month. At the Dr. Abraham P. Cano Freshman Academy in Harlingen, the Spanish class led by Berenice Carmona completed projects about Miguel Hidalgo’s “Grito,” while local restaurants offered typical dishes such as ropa vieja and Puerto Rican empanadas.

On a humid Thursday morning, Ana Carolina “Caly” Fernández, with her nephew Saúl and promoter María Treviño of the Casa del Amor y la Justicia, drove a U‑Haul truck loaded with food to a colonia of 165 residents in rural Hidalgo County, where neighbors fearful of ICE’s presence waited outside their homes to receive the delivery.

Mayor Omar Ochoa of Edinburg announced on Facebook Thursday that the city has revised employee health‑insurance premiums after earlier quotes showed steep hikes. The updated rates, released before the enrollment period beginning Monday, Sept. 7, cap the largest increase at $90 a month, with some plans seeing virtually no change, down from previously reported increases of up to $400. The city said it will cover part of a $2 million cost gap.

Christian Joel Maldonado Pacheco, de 25 anos, foi apresentado à juíza Janet Leal na Detenção Carrizales‑Rucker, onde recebeu prisão preventiva sem fiança por quatro acusações de homicídio qualificado e três de abandono e risco a criança. Segundo o xerife Manuel Treviño, ele se entregou após ligar para o 9‑1‑1 por volta das 3 h de domingo, na rodovia 819, bloco 3200, fora de San Benito, e foi apreendido sem incidentes.

Edinburg police chief Jaime Ayala announced his retirement, effective Oct. 30, after five years leading the department. Ayala, who began his career as a volunteer reserve officer in Edinburg and spent 32 years with the Arlington Police Department, will return to North Texas to be with his family. He highlighted the city’s 2025 homicide‑free year and a 16 % drop in major crimes.

The Mission Economic Development Corporation appointed its financial officer, Joe Salazar, as acting chief executive officer effective Wednesday, two days before former CEO Teclo Garcia’s retirement on August 31 after more than 19 years of municipal service. Salazar, a Mission resident with 15 years of public‑sector finance experience, will oversee daily operations while the board searches for a permanent CEO, continuing the organization’s economic‑development projects and partnerships.

In rural Hidalgo County, a group of 19 women gathered for a 12‑week Strengthening Families class, a faith‑based program aimed at helping parents in colonias heal trauma and improve parenting. Participants discussed recent ICE vehicle sightings in the colonias, with one woman urging others to keep headlights and brake lights fully functional to avoid drawing attention, as the organization has recently seen about 238 arrests.

A suspect was taken into custody Sunday as the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation of a quadruple homicide that took place on the outskirts of San Benito. The killings occurred in the 3200 block of Road 810, and the suspect’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon, followed by a news conference, according to Sheriff Manuel Treviño.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Drug Enforcement Administration announced Thursday that agents in McAllen seized over 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of cabbage. "This major seizure is part of a Homeland Security Taskforce Investigation, conducted jointly with HSI, FBI, CBP, USB, and TXDPS," the DEA Houston office posted on social media. The [...]

Progress Times’ Game of the week: Pioneer vs Grulla After losing key players through the first two weeks of the season, the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks are focusing on building up and getting healthy before district play begins in two weeks. Progress Times spoke with Pioneer head football coach Eddie Galindo. In an…

Lady Lobos dominate Lady Patriots in district opener The Palmview Lady Lobos volleyball team completed the latest step in their program maturation in their Tuesday night district opener after winning the final three sets against the rival Mission Veterans Lady Patriots (21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-21). The now 17-6, 1-0 Lady Lobos will carry…

Harlingen held a ceremony on Friday morning on the tarmac of Valley International Airport to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Guest speaker Mansur Plumber, who was a block away from the towers when they fell, recounted his experience while the event honored the victims and the courage of first responders. The gathering took place at the airport in the Rio Grande Valley.

A district court judge in Edcouch, Texas denied Melody Saldana’s request for a temporary injunction, ruling against her effort to appear on the November ballot for Place 1 alderman. The judge found Saldana had not shown irreparable harm after she was barred because of an unpaid 2018 ticket, and questioned her credibility regarding a recorded phone call. This means the city’s debt requirement kept her off the ballot.

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.

Cyndi Beltran has been appointed the inaugural chief of staff for the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, beginning this month. In the role she will support the leadership team, coordinate strategic initiatives and oversee executive events. Beltran brings a decade of experience at four Rio Grande Valley law firms and ten years with the Texas A&M School of Public Health.

The Mission City Council voted 4‑1 on Tuesday to continue negotiations on a meet‑and‑confer agreement with the Mission Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 3609, after a two‑hour executive session. Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza cast the sole vote against further talks. The council will consider the agreement again at a special meeting later that day, with public comments from supporters and opponents.

Educators in Rio Grande Valley school districts say the statewide cellphone ban is yielding positive results after its first full year. Obed Leal, principal at Rivera Early College High School in Brownsville ISD, notes better student behavior and focus, while English teacher Kimberly Kizer reports that pupils now write notes by hand, boosting study skills and memorization. Deputy Superintendent José Valdez added that parents have welcomed the law.

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.

The City of Port Isabel will hold a free public ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 317 E. Railroad Ave., to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 15 collapse of the Queen Isabella Causeway that killed eight people. Marketing director Valerie Bates said the program will feature a color guard, speakers, a panel discussion and a Texas Department of Transportation documentary.

Lendary founding Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was born and raised in the South Texas border town of Mission. But it's a fact not everyone is aware of.

A federal judge on Thursday recommended that border wall construction near the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge remain paused until trespassing claims against the government’s construction contractors are resolved.