On Tuesday, agents of the Customs and Border Protection Office arrested José Manuel Azpeitia Castillo at the Hidalgo entry port while he was crossing from Mexico to the U.S., after a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On his phone they found 600 videos of child sexual abuse and Telegram chats about minors. Valley residents will want to know that the arrest took place in Hidalgo.

RGV LEAD and the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association signed a memorandum to launch the Architecture and Construction Supply Chain Initiative, which will connect students with the Valley's construction industry in the 2026‑27 academic year. The program includes site visits, internships and will begin in October, extending through May of the following year. The fact that most interests residents is the October start.

Mayor Óscar Montoya of Mercedes announced on Monday that the city will hire an executive search firm to find a new city manager, after the resignation of former manager Alberto Pérez, effective August 14. Fire chief Javier Campos has been appointed interim manager while the search continues. The measure aims to ensure continuity of projects and services for area residents.

Cameron County began work on the expansion of Old Alice Road, a $31 million project that will convert 4.9 miles from two lanes to four lanes with a left turn lane, plus sidewalks and shoulders. The construction, which started on Monday, aims to improve connectivity and safety for residents, workers and emergency services between Los Fresnos and Brownsville. According to the county, the work is scheduled to be completed in March 2029.

Marco Cantu MISSION – Marco Aurelio Cantu, 72, passed away on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Edinburg. Joshua Colunga EDINBURG – Joshua Colunga, 19, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at his home. Guadalupe Davila EDINBURG – Guadalupe Davila, 54, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at McAllen Medical Center. Nancy Fears MISSION…

September 11-12 The City of Edinburg hosts the 12th Annual South Texas International Film Festival at the Edinburg Arts, Culture, and Events Center, 315 W. McIntyre St. This year’s festival spotlights 31 standout independent works. Events range from the red-carpet opening night to a red-carpet awards gala, with a pitch competition and workshops between. Admission…

September 11 – The Mission Fire Department invites the community to the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Mission Central Fire Station, 415 W. Tom Landry St. September 11 – The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2026 Latina Leadership Conference will be held at the Mission Event Center in Mission. Registration…

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.

A developer, Fluidstack, has launched the $4 billion first phase of a 1,100‑acre data‑center project east of Valley International Airport between Harlingen and Rio Hondo. The company offered Harlingen $20 million for a storm‑water discharge permit and $7 million to widen the 90‑foot canal, while commissioners consider a town‑hall meeting. Rio Grande Valley residents will note the massive data‑center plan.

Harlingen school trustees are using a state disaster‑relief program to raise the district’s property tax rate by about 3.17 cents for one year, from 0.9182 to 0.9499, to pay for repairs after the March 2025 flood. City commissioners are also proposing a half‑cent increase, from 0.5260 to 0.5310 per $100 valuation, with a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

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.

Program claimed to have paid fraudster after repeated warnings EDINBURG — The Hidalgo County Head Start Program allegedly paid an imposter masquerading as a representative of its food service provider $235,457.20 in 2024, continuing to pay the fraudster even after being alerted about the likely theft. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office arrested…

An unrepaired leaking roof on a 35-year old building may have caused the Mission Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) house of cards to fall. The Mission city council will decide on Tuesday whether to conduct a comprehensive financial audit of the MEDC and the move comes just as its CEO Teclo Garcia announced his…

The Dinsburg school board met on Tuesday and voted unanimously to issue a request for qualifications for an independent forensic audit, amid a $15 million deficit in the proposed next‑year budget. Board members Leticia “Letty” Garcia, David Torres and President Xavier Salinas also approved soliciting public bids for the sale of a 113.35‑acre property originally slated for low‑ and moderate‑income housing development.

East Point Energy said its 100‑megawatt battery storage plant on a six‑acre site off Grimes Street and Loop 499, south of Valley International Airport in Harlingen, is ready to power the grid and can serve up to 80,000 homes for two hours. Officials said the plant will bring $19 million in tax revenue over its 20‑ to 30‑year life, was built with fire‑department training, and Rep. Janie Lopez urged more battery projects.

The Mission City Council held a public hearing on its preliminary budget on Tuesday afternoon, during which resident Manuel Pescador confronted Mayor Pro Tem Ruben Plata about using his phone while speaking. Council members, including Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza and City Attorney Eden Ramirez Jr., addressed the complaint and clarified that no tax increase is being considered, with the final budget vote scheduled for Sept. 15.

On Sept. 1, Cameron County commissioners approved the 2026‑2027 budget and kept the property‑tax rate at about $0.42 per $100 valuation. The $265 million budget, a rise of over 8 percent, starts Oct. 1, and the board also reviewed Border Patrol agent Omar Vidal’s request to test a hidden rescue beacon at EK Atwood Park’s Beach Access 5, which commissioners said lacked agency markings.

Harlingen Independent School District announced that Superintendent Veronica Kortan will serve under a new contract extending to June 30, 2029, with a salary of $260,100, up from $255,000. The agreement adds a $700 monthly transportation stipend, a $200 phone and internet allowance, and a $1 million term‑life insurance policy, while retaining benefits. Kortan, who was appointed in March 2025 after a two‑month internal search, will continue leading the district through its financial recovery.

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.

Connie Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to the Rio Grande Valley after the 2008 financial crisis, opened Café Ngon two months ago at 700 W. Ferguson Avenue in Pharr, offering authentic Vietnamese coffee, food, snacks, sugar‑cane refreshers and ramen. The cafe’s simple menu features pictures for each item, and its location next to the highway makes it easily accessible for Valley residents seeking a new coffee spot.

Melody Saldana sued the city of Edcouch, its election officials and mayor, alleging they prevented her from appearing on the November 3 ballot for the Place 1 city‑commission seat currently occupied by Alderman Joel Medina Jr. She says her application was rejected for alleged 2018 tickets despite offering payment, and she was barred from filing until the last day of the July 18‑August 17 filing period, prompting the lawsuit after a Facebook post on August 26.

The Brownsville Independent School District and the Flight Academy of South Texas (START) announced on Friday a CTE aviation pathway for BISD students. Senior Camilla Olvera flew a Tecnap P‑Mentor trainer from the airport’s historic Hunt Pan Am hangar to South Padre Island and back, showing a program that will start with a private‑pilot PPL requiring at least 40 flight hours. START plans a 60,000‑sq‑ft hangar for the flight school and an aviation‑mechanic school.

Eighty‑year‑old Arturo Gómez, a retired mechanic in Rio Grande City, says he and his wife must turn off the air‑conditioner after 9 p.m. to afford the $600 electric bill. They use a fan and endure heat that makes their three dogs “follow me around with their tongues out” when the A/C is off. Rising electricity costs and temperatures have forced seniors to choose between paying the bill and buying food.