McCreery Aviation Marks 80 Years as a Pillar of Regional Growth and Aviation Excellence

McCreery Aviation celebrated its 80th anniversary on April 10, 2026, at McAllen International Airport, marking a significant milestone in the Rio Grande Valley's aviation history. Founded in 1946 by Mac and Ardath McCreery in Mercedes, the company relocated to McAllen in 1948, evolving into a key player in regional aviation services. Current leader Bob McCreery emphasized the importance of community support and the company's commitment to quality service. The event brought together past employees, business partners, and local officials, all recognizing McCreery's enduring legacy and its integral role in the growth of McAllen and the surrounding area.

'We can finally make it official': 5x5 Brewing Co. continues partnership with LNF Distributors

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The locally owned 5x5 Brewing Co. announced it is continuing its partnership with L&F Distributors. As previously reported by ValleyCentral, the brewing company announced in late January that it would close its taproom on Feb. 28, with beer available in the market while it lasted. However, on Monday, the company announced it

Workforce Solutions Jobs Update, 5-4-26

Texas Workforce Solutions is hosting several job opportunities this week. A hiring event for 7-Eleven and Stripes will take place on May 6, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Workforce Solutions Mission, located at 901 Travis St., Ste. 7, Mission, TX 78572. Additionally, a job fair is scheduled for May 7, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Knapp Medical Conference Center, 1401 E. 8th St., Weslaco, TX 78596. For more job listings, visit www.workintexas.com.

Pharr International Bridge reports rising trade and nearing expansion completion

At the RGV Startup Week held at the Pharr Global Business Hub, Luis Bazan provided updates on the Pharr International Bridge's trade activity and infrastructure. He reported a 14-15% increase in cross-border traffic compared to last year, with the bridge facilitating 1.2 to 1.3 million truck crossings annually. Bazan noted that manufactured goods account for 75% of cargo value, while produce makes up 18%. The bridge expansion is over 90% complete and expected to be operational by May or June. Efforts are underway to enhance logistics through regional partnerships, including potential connections with air transport.

Gas prices continue to rise: national average climbs to $4.46 per gallon

The national average price of gasoline rose to $4.46 per gallon on Monday, as oil futures rebounded after three days of declines, increasing direct costs for consumers due to the war with Iran. U.S. crude jumped more than 4% to surpass $105 per barrel in midday trading, while Brent, the international benchmark, rose 5% to exceed $114 per barrel. Wholesale gasoline prices also surged by 4%. Since the war with Iran began in late February, the average price of unleaded gasoline has increased by 49%. The latest oil price spike occurred despite President Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday of a plan called 'Project Freedom,' under which the U.S. would 'guide' commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime passage typically sees more than 20% of the world's oil supply transit daily, but the war has halted that traffic.

Spirit Airlines Collapses: Trump Administration Reacts to Failed Negotiations to Save the Airline

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy and suspended all operations early Saturday morning following unsuccessful negotiations with the Trump administration to rescue the airline from its financial crisis. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated during a Saturday press conference that while there was potential for an agreement with the airline, "it had to be a good deal." He acknowledged that negotiations between the airline and the government broke down due to "a creditor issue." "The final decision on whether or not to strike a deal with the government rests with them," Duffy said. "From the government’s perspective, we don’t often have five hundred million dollars sitting idle in a reserve account to allocate for rescuing an airline. As a result, creative thinking was employed to find a solution. However, none of those options came to fruition." "They had filed for bankruptcy multiple times; their business model wasn’t working," Duffy added. "They couldn’t restore their financial health." In a statement, Spirit’s President and CEO, Dave Davis, said: "Continuing operations required hundreds of millions of dollars in additional liquidity—funds Spirit simply does not have and could not secure."

Will I Get My Money Back? Everything You Need to Know About Spirit Airlines' Abrupt Shutdown

Spirit Airlines, the low-cost carrier that revolutionized the industry with its provocative ads and deeply discounted fares, announced on Saturday that it is ceasing operations after 34 years. The airline, which operated hundreds of daily flights with its signature bright yellow planes and employed around 17,000 people, stated that it has 'initiated an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately.' All flights have been canceled, and customer service is no longer available, according to the company’s website.

Hidalgo County appraisal district to host property tax exemption clinics

Spirit Airlines is Shutting Down, Thousands of Employees and Travelers to Be Affected

Spirit Airlines is ceasing operations, a decision that will impact thousands of scheduled flights and nearly as many employees. The troubled low-cost airline has canceled all flights and announced an 'orderly liquidation' of its operations, effective immediately as of early Saturday morning. 'To our passengers: all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available,' the company said in a statement. 'We are proud of the impact our ultra-low-cost model has had on the industry over the past 34 years and had hoped to serve our passengers for many more years,' it added. Spirit, which has struggled to maintain consistent profitability since the Covid-19 pandemic, was attempting to emerge from its second bankruptcy in less than a year. However, those plans were derailed by skyrocketing jet fuel costs driven by the outbreak of war with Iran. Last month, Spirit sought financial assistance from the White House, and President Donald Trump initially appeared receptive. However, reports emerged Friday indicating that an orderly shutdown was imminent after negotiations between the company, its bondholders, and the White House apparently broke down. On its dedicated closure website, the airline advised passengers not to go to the airport and stated that all Spirit flights are canceled, directing them to a page where they can check refund statuses and next steps. At its peak in the mid-2010s, Spirit launched up to 28 new routes in less than a year and was valued at up to $6 billion. The airline attracted passengers with its 'bare fare' offers, where everything—from beverages to carry-on luggage in overhead compartments—came at an additional cost, while the base fare remained minimal.

SkyH2O, Water from the Air, visits the RGV

Texas Border Business By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business SkyH2O is in the Rio Grande Valley this week as part of its South Texas tour, meeting with regional stakeholders to present its atmospheric water generation technology and explore potential projects in the area. The company is not deploying systems at this time but

Bettcher Manufacturing to Expand Mission Operations with $3 million Investment and 50 New Jobs

Texas Border Business Texas Border Business Bettcher Manufacturing, LLC will expand its operations in Mission with a $3 million investment, expected to create 50 new jobs and generate an estimated annual economic impact of nearly $16 million, according to a report from Teclo Garcia, President and CEO of the Mission Economic Development office. Garcia stated,

Weslaco sees boom in retail development

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — New housing and retail developments have been breaking ground across Weslaco, and city officials and developers are crediting the city’s central location and quality of life improvement projects for the boom. Alex Velasco is one business owner who recently expanded to Weslaco. He started Fork to Fit in McAllen in 2018

Check out what's new at SpaceX with LabPadre: April 30

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Starting this week with our fabrication updates, in the early hours of Monday morning, Ship 41's nose cone emerged from Star Factory. A little less than two hours later, the article was taken into Mega Bay 2 as SpaceX prepped to start stacking operations on this latest Block III Starship. By

Texas Smashes Employment Records with 46,800 Jobs Added in March

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Texas’ skilled workforce as a magnet for business investment as the state set a new record of 14,403,500 total nonfarm jobs with a gain of 46,800 jobs over the month of March and a gain of 117,200 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026.

Pharr Showcases Growth Strategy and Workforce Pipeline at RGV Startup Week

At RGV Startup Week on April 30, 2026, local officials, educators, and economic development leaders presented a coordinated strategy to position the city as a center for business growth and workforce development in the Rio Grande Valley.

Trump: U.S. presents 'final proposal' to Spirit amid reports airline may shut down

President Donald Trump announced that the White House had presented Spirit Airlines with a 'final proposal' for a federal bailout aimed at saving the airline, amidst reports suggesting the struggling low-cost carrier is laying the groundwork to liquidate its operations. Separate reports from 'The Wall Street Journal,' 'The New York Times,' and 'Bloomberg News' indicate that Spirit is preparing for liquidation after the sharp rise in jet fuel costs made its planned exit from bankruptcy nearly impossible. A company spokesperson declined to comment on ongoing discussions but told NBC News that Spirit continues to operate as usual. Meanwhile, American Airlines issued a statement announcing immediate fare caps on its 'main cabin' tickets for routes where Spirit also offers direct flights to the same cities.

High gas prices eating into Texan budgets, fueling inflation

Commercial Flights Between the U.S. and Venezuela Resume This Thursday After 7 Years

After nearly seven years without direct flights between the United States and Venezuela, American Airlines is resuming its Caracas-Miami route this Thursday. This milestone not only eliminates layovers for travelers but also marks a significant step in the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, now focused on facilitating capital flows into Venezuela's mining and energy sectors. American Airlines, which has been a major player in the Venezuelan market for decades, will formalize the restart of operations with a flight departing Thursday afternoon from Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, serving Caracas, and returning Friday from Miami. Starting in May, the airline will operate two daily flights using an Embraer 175 aircraft, operated by Envoy, a subsidiary of American Airlines, with a capacity of fewer than 100 passengers. This resumption comes nearly seven years after the airline ceased operations in Venezuela, coinciding with the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two nations. These relations have now been formally reestablished following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces in January and the subsequent appointment of former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president.

Pharr Lands Major Semiconductor Investment with Avant Technology Expansion

Texas Border Business Texas Border Business PHARR, Texas — The City of Pharr is taking center stage in Texas’ booming semiconductor industry following Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement of a $4.83 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) to support Avant Technology’s expansion in the city. The project will bring approximately 250 high-skilled jobs to