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.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Another unseasonably hot day unfolded across the Rio Grande Valley, and while no records were broken, temperatures once again climbed well above what’s typical for early September. McAllen topped out at 104°F compared to its normal of 96°, Harlingen reached 100°F against an average of 94°, and Brownsville hit triple‑digit heat [...]

The UTRGV volleyball team will have its first home game on Tuesday afternoon after starting the 2026 season with back-to-back tournaments on the road.

Crowds packed South Padre Island on Labor Day, bringing a late-summer boost to local businesses as visitors flocked to the beach to close out the season.

A Brownsville shrimp captain says an unidentified underwater object off Boca Chica Beach destroyed $12,000 in gear, suspecting SpaceX debris as the U.S. Coast Guard reviews the report.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A traffic switch is scheduled in Edinburg, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The traffic switch is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on SH 107 from Sharp Road to Cesar Chavez Road, according to a news release from TxDOT. The traffic has been scheduled for construction work. Motorists driving [...]

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man stabbed his father outside their home, according to the Brownsville Police Department. The stabbing took place at the 100 block of Candlewick Ct. A preliminary investigation revealed that a man stabbed his 71-year-old father outside their home. Both were transported to a local hospital, police say. Galveston Road and Candlewick [...]

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Nightly closures have been scheduled in the Donna and Weslaco area, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. According to a news release from TxDOT, all eastbound lanes of I-2 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. starting Sept. 8, through Sept. 18, between FM 493, also known as Salinas [...]

A 71-year-old man and his son were hospitalized Monday evening following a stabbing outside their home on Candlewick Court, according to Brownsville police.

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — It's Week 2 of High School Football and ValleySportsCentral has nominated three high school football teams to claim the title of Team of the Week! The nominees for Week 2 are Harlingen High, Weslaco High and McAllen High. Here are some recent highlights of this week's nominees. Harlingen High Harlingen High got [...]