The Mexican Consulate in Brownsville and the municipalities of Harlingen, Mission, Pharr and Hidalgo will hold Grito de la Independencia celebrations on September 15 and 16 in the Texas Valley. In Brownsville the party will be Friday the 15th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Texas Southmost College Arts Center (80 Fort Brown St.), and each city will have events in its local auditoriums or parks.

Destiny Vélez, crowned Miss Puerto Rico 2015, was suspended indefinitely by the Miss Puerto Rico organization after posting critical comments about Muslims on Twitter. The announcement was made on the night of Saturday December 19, 2015 and the queen included an apology in the statement. Her Twitter account was closed, which is of interest to residents of the Valle del Río Grande.

Authorities from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office report that there is currently police activity in the south area of mile 10 of FM 491, within the city of Mercedes. The incident is developing and, according to the statement, more details will be provided as additional information becomes available.

Bobby Pulido, singer from Edinburg and son of fellow singer Roberto Pulido, announced on Wednesday his candidacy for congressman of District 15 in South Texas under the banner of the Partido Demócrata, currently occupied by Republican Mónica De La Cruz. Pulido, father of four children and with 30 years of musical career in 2026, seeks to represent the Valle del Río Grande in Congress.

On Sunday September 6, Cameron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 29000 Siesta Lane, Bayview, Texas, and found Dulce Vargas, 43, unconscious; she was pronounced dead. Her husband, Aldo Vargas, 45, said the argument turned physical and he was taken into custody as a suspect, charged with first‑degree murder. He was taken to the Carrizales‑Rucker Detention Center and his court appearance has not been scheduled.

The Brownsville Police Department is investigating two shootings that occurred Sunday night on Crestview Drive and Orange Street. On Crestview, a vehicle fired into the air before fleeing; on Orange Street, a group fired near an apartment complex, striking a structure, but no injuries were reported. Authorities continue to investigate the incidents.

Hidalgo County officials announced that Judge Richard Cortez signed an emergency order that sets a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., in effect starting the night of Monday March 23. Sheriff Eddie Guerra said the county police will enforce the curfew, and violating it can result in fines of $1,000 or 180 days in jail; shelter will be provided for people with disabilities and the homeless.

A federal judge sentenced Héctor “Jo Jo” Méndez, a former Mission police officer, to 25 years in prison after being found guilty in July of this year of conspiracy and drug trafficking. An FBI investigation that raided his home in July last year and found burned documents and cell phones revealed that it all began in the summer of 2012 when Israel Martínez bought a Ford Taurus with 15 kg of cocaine.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Cameron County authorities suspended the search for a man who disappeared while kayaking off South Padre Island after receiving an alert on Saturday afternoon near beach access point number 6. The operation lasted six hours without finding the paddler. They ask anyone with information to call emergency services immediately.