Community
Community news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
CommunityLupillo and Christian Nodal Join Telemundo's Celebration 'El Mundial es Nuestro'
Telemundo announced the addition of regional Mexican music stars Christian Nodal and Lupillo Rivera to 'El Mundial Es Nuestro,' the ultimate celebration for fans that will kick off its coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The special will be broadcast live from the iconic Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 7, at 9 PM/8 C on Telemundo. It will also be available simultaneously on Peacock and the Telemundo app. Nodal and Rivera join previously announced artists, including Carlos Vives, David Bisbal, David Garibaldi, Elena Rose, Emilia, Grupo Frontera, Low Clika, Luis Fonsi, Natalia Jiménez, Wisin, Xavi, and Yahritza y Su Esencia.
CommunityPharr Proclaims June 2026 as “Responsible Fatherhood Month”
The Pharr City Commission has officially declared June 2026 as 'Responsible Fatherhood Month' to honor the significant contributions of fathers and father figures in the lives of children and families. This proclamation emphasizes the positive impact of engaged fathering, which includes emotional support and stability for children. Pastors David Magallan and Luis Cabrera were present to discuss the importance of strong father figures in fostering healthy families. Pastor Magallan expressed gratitude to the city for supporting this initiative, which aims to strengthen family bonds and enhance community well-being.
CommunitySouth Padre Island’s Beach at Isla Blanca Park Named One of USA TODAY’s 10 Best Beaches
Isla Blanca Park Beach on South Padre Island has been named one of the top beaches in the U.S. for the third consecutive year by USA TODAY's 2026 10Best Beaches list. This recognition highlights the beach's white sands, turquoise waters, and vibrant culture, making it a premier destination for outdoor activities. The selection process involved nominations from travel experts followed by votes from readers nationwide. Kelly deSchaun, CEO of Visit South Padre Island, expressed pride in the recognition, emphasizing the island's appeal as a tropical getaway with diverse attractions for all visitors.
CommunityNoticias Telemundo Launches 'Un Día A La Vez', New Podcast Hosted by Julio Vaqueiro
Noticias Telemundo announced on Wednesday the premiere of a new podcast, Un Día a la Vez. Hosted by presenter Julio Vaqueiro, the podcast will feature in-depth interviews with influential Latinos who are impacting culture, politics, sports, and business. It will also explore relevant stories for the Latino community. The guest of the first episode is Mexican actor and director Diego Luna, who discusses his new film México 86, set to premiere on Friday. The dramedy explores Mexico's efforts to host the 1986 World Cup and is being released just days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
CommunityGroundbreaking held for renovations at Weslaco Mayor Pablo Peña Park
Weslaco officials held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday for renovations at Mayor Pablo Peña Park. The planned upgrades include a new paved road, improved picnic areas, a new monument, a concession stand, and an updated park sign. These enhancements aim to improve the experience for families, visitors, and residents. According to a city social media post, these improvements demonstrate Weslaco's ongoing commitment to enhancing parks and public spaces for the community. The park will remain open during construction, allowing residents of all ages to continue enjoying the area.
CommunityPotential Brownsville shipyard project sparks community debate
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — At the Cameron County Commissioners Court meeting held Tuesday, a long and often heated public hearing about possible tax breaks for a maritime defense technology company ended with no decision made. ValleyCentral first reported in February that Saronic Technologies is considering Brownsville as the site of a $3.2 billion shipyard project
CommunityLocal coffee shop celebrates five-year milestone by giving back
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- For the past five years, a local coffee shop has done more than serve coffee. It has faithfully served the 956 community. 956 Coffee Co., owned by Valley natives Eddie and Lori Muniz, first opened its doors in 2021. From the beginning, the couple had a vision to serve others with
CommunityFood Bank RGV distributing free produce in Los Indios
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Food Bank RGV is distributing free produce in Los Indios on Wednesday morning. The “pop-up” one-day-only offering will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., or until supplies last, at the Diamantina Ortega-Bennett Community Center at 309 E Heywood St. in Los Indios. A picture ID and proof of address are requested. The organization also asks that only two families
CommunitySip & Paint: A Midsummer Night of Firefly Fun at the Edinburg ACE, June 5th & 6th
The Edinburg Cultural Arts Division and the Edinburg Arts Foundation are hosting a Sip & Paint event titled 'Firefly Fun' on June 5 and 6, 2026, at the Edinburg ACE Center, located at 315 W. McIntyre St. This creative experience will feature guided acrylic painting sessions led by local instructors Kyra Chape and Gaby Rico, catering to all skill levels. Each session lasts about four hours, starting at 12 p.m. and ending with the last session at 6 p.m. Attendees must be 21 or older, and advance registration is recommended due to limited seating. Admission is $25 plus tax.
CommunityImprovements made to Freddy Fender memorial
SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of San Benito is honoring hometown icon Freddy Fender with improvements to a memorial site where the late singer is laid to rest. Fender, born Baldemar Garza Huerta, was laid to rest in 2006. Since his passing, the San Benito community and visitors have paid their respects to
CommunityAmerican Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region Names Carmen Watkins as CEO
The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region has appointed Carmen Watkins as its new CEO, leveraging her extensive experience in community advocacy and disaster response. With nearly 20 years of involvement with the Red Cross, Watkins has been instrumental in recovery efforts after major disasters like Hurricane Katrina. She has held leadership positions in various civil rights and nonprofit organizations, including the NAACP. Watkins aims to enhance community preparedness and volunteer engagement in her new role, emphasizing the importance of volunteers in disaster readiness. For more information on volunteering, visit www.redcross.org.
CommunityRGV Partnership Pushes Regional Water Agenda
During the RGV Connect Water Forum on April 15, 2026, in Brownsville, Paco Sanchez, President and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration to tackle water issues in the Valley. He described RGV Connect as a platform for business leaders, officials, and community members to identify priorities and shape advocacy efforts in Austin and Washington, D.C. Sanchez noted recent state initiatives to enhance water funding and highlighted the impact of water shortages on agriculture, citing the closure of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Mill as a significant economic loss. The forum aimed to address shared regional priorities and gather input for future legislative strategies.
CommunityCity of McAllen to host FIFA World Cup watch party
The City of McAllen is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by organizing a community watch party. Scheduled to take place outside the McAllen Convention Center at Oval Park, the event aims to bring together soccer fans from the Rio Grande Valley to celebrate the tournament. McAllen City Manager Isaac Tawil expressed enthusiasm for the occasion, highlighting the opportunity for the community to enjoy food, drinks, vendors, art, and culture. The watch party is free and open to everyone, fostering a festive atmosphere as the World Cup approaches in just 10 days.
CommunitySouth Padre Island residents express concern over AEP Texa mobile skid impact
Residents of South Padre Island are expressing concerns over a proposed temporary transmission station, or mobile skid, to be installed by AEP Texas. Larry Floyd, a local resident, highlighted that the site is near a high-density residential area and wetlands, affecting about 250 residents within 300 feet. AEP Texas aims to use the mobile skid as a backup during upgrades to the North Padre Island Station, which is transitioning to a gas-insulated substation. City Manager Randy Smith acknowledged the residents' worries but emphasized the urgency to prevent power outages, especially with the upcoming July 4th holiday. The mobile skid is expected to be in place for about 18 months.
Community"My heart is going to burst!": Caeli before hearing who would be eliminated from LCDLF
The surprise! On a night when Team Tierra hoped to turn the tables on the Guerreros de la Luz and eliminate one of the three contestants on the chopping block, they were shocked to find that Caeli, their most recent ally, became the fifteenth resident to say goodbye to the popular Hispanic television reality show. With surprised faces and nervous laughter, the group, who call themselves 'Spartans' just ten days before the finale, watched as Verónica del Castillo, the only one of the four celebrities who joined La Casa de los Famosos just over four weeks ago, descended the stairs. Verónica's return caused great excitement among the Guerreros de la Luz, who, as is customary, knelt in the yard to pray in a circle. 'We visualized that Verónica was going to return and the butterflies flew!' summarized Horacio Pancheri when all the Guerreros were called by La Jefa to the confessional to hear their reaction to Caeli's elimination.
CommunityReports of cat deaths spark concern in McAllen neighborhood
MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A social media post from U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez is drawing attention to reports of multiple cat deaths in a north McAllen neighborhood. In a post shared on his campaign page, Gonzalez said at least five cats have been found dead in the Fox Run subdivision since January. The congressman urged
CommunityUpload a photo of dad for Father's Day
Harlingen, Texas (ValleyCentral) — To celebrate dads and father figures across the Rio Grande Valley, ValleyCentral is accepting photo submissions. Upload a photo of you and pops to show him just how much you love and appreciate his sacrifices. Here at ValleyCentral we know how much dads do for their communities because we see it
CommunityPride Month Kicks Off: How the Celebration Began and Where It Will Be Commemorated in 2026
Pride Month has begun across the United States and other countries, with parades and parties in large cities and small towns to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals. This year's rainbow-filled festivities come as President Donald Trump's administration pushes policies to roll back transgender rights and limit the recognition of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Jordan Braxton, co-chair of USA Prides, an organization of LGBTQ+ Pride groups, notes that events have always been rooted in protest. The first Pride celebrations emerged as a protest following the violent police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York on June 28, 1969, which sparked public protests and catalyzed the gay rights movement. To commemorate the first anniversary in June 1970, marches were held in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Now, events take place in major cities, suburbs, and small towns worldwide. President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in the U.S. through an executive order in 1999, a tradition continued by Democratic presidents. Many celebrations now carry a sense of defiance. Pride parades and street fairs lead the celebrations, but there is more to it. Events in San Francisco include a golf tournament and a human rights summit, while the Twin Cities of Minneapolis feature a bar crawl, and Central Alabama Pride in Birmingham hosts a singing competition. This year's major events include Los Angeles on June 14, Chicago on June 20 and 21, San Francisco on June 27, and New York on June 28, with events also taking place in cities like Paris, Rome, Sao Paulo, and Tokyo. Although these events have existed for over 50 years, this year marks only the sixth formal Pride celebration in Haddon Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Philadelphia, with a parade scheduled for Thursday and a community night on Friday. Isis Petrie Williams, president of Haddon Township Pride, stated that 2,000 to 3,000 participants will include local high school bands, youth sports teams, and many people handing out candy. 'We decided to have a radical expression of joy, acceptance, and love, centered on visibility and community connection,' she said. Some policy changes have not been favorable for the LGBTQ+ community. For years, policies across the U.S. generally reflected greater acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals, such as in June 2015 when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In recent years, several policies have reversed course. In March, the Supreme Court ruled against a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children in Colorado, stating it violated free speech protections. During last year's Pride Month, the Supreme Court allowed Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender children to remain in effect. This decade, most Republican-controlled state governments have passed similar restrictions on gender-affirming care, banned transgender women and girls from participating in female sports, and restricted which bathrooms transgender individuals can use in schools and, in some cases, other public places. Trump has signed executive orders to advance some of these same policies at the federal level. One of these policies faced a setback when a court ruled on Monday that the military's ban on transgender soldiers is illegal. Some sponsors have withdrawn from celebrations. Last year, several major corporations stopped funding Pride events. Braxton noted that this year, some investment firms are reducing their support, following the lead of companies like Anheuser-Busch and Walmart, which did the same last year. 'It's all due to Trump's DEI policies. Corporations fear that if they sponsor a Pride event, this administration will subject them to scrutiny, which is completely sad,' she expressed. However, she indicated that at smaller events, local businesses have increased their sponsorships. This has been true for Haddon Township Pride in New Jersey, where Williams said the Coast Guard is the only major national sponsor to have pulled out in recent years, while local hospitals, restaurants, law firms, cafes, and other businesses are contributing.
CommunityMcAllen Public Library Kicks Off Summer Reading Challenge, June 6th
The McAllen Public Library is launching its Summer Reading Challenge with a Renaissance Faire on June 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Main Library, located at 4001 N 23rd St. This free event, suitable for all ages, will include a live performance by The Player’s Studio, crafts, games, snacks, and family activities. Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite fantasy characters. The theme for this year's reading challenge is 'Unearth a Story,' running from June 1 to July 10. The program aims to engage the community in reading and creative activities throughout the summer.