National
National news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
NationalAppeals court rejects finding that Texas death row inmate Melissa Lucio is innocent
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has denied a lower court's ruling that declared Melissa Lucio innocent of her daughter's murder. Lucio, sentenced to death in 2008 for the 2007 death of her 2-year-old daughter Mariah, has spent 18 years on death row. The court questioned the validity of new evidence suggesting Mariah's fatal injuries were due to a blood disorder rather than abuse. Despite dissenting opinions from four judges, the court upheld the original conviction, stating that the evidence presented by Lucio did not sufficiently challenge the prosecution's case. Lucio's attorney plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
NationalGovernor Abbott Delivers Remarks At Lilly Groundbreaking In Houston
Governor Greg Abbott spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for Eli Lilly and Company's $6.5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing site at Generation Park in Harris County. This facility represents the largest investment in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing in Texas, projected to create over 600 high-paying jobs. Abbott emphasized Texas' leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing and its role as a hub for healthcare. The project has received a $5.5 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund and is part of the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation program. Local leaders, including Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, attended the event.
NationalMilitary Spouse Commission Holds First Meeting, Identifies Top Issues
The Military Spouse Commission convened its inaugural meeting at the White House, following its establishment by President Trump on August 3. The commission aims to advise on policies impacting military spouses and families. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of their roles. Key issues discussed included healthcare, employment, and housing. Members shared personal experiences, highlighting the need for improved access to healthcare and legislation to support spouse employment. The commission will meet monthly to tackle these challenges and work towards enhancing the lives of nearly 1 million military spouses in the U.S.
NationalTrump Highlights His 'Great Friendship' with Xi Jinping During White House Visit
WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump praised the 'great friendship' he has forged with Xi Jinping on Thursday, as the Chinese leader began his much-anticipated state visit. Although Trump has many thorny issues to address with the president of the United States' largest economic rival, he focused on his long-standing relationship with Xi as both leaders met with their advisors for opening remarks before formal talks. 'Since my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, in fact, based on mutual respect and the vital interests of our peoples,' Trump emphasized. Trump and Xi have no shortage of difficult matters to discuss when they sit down for private conversations.
NationalTrump disapproval highest in second term amid economic woes: Emerson College
President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating hits its highest mark during his second White House stint amid rising energy costs and economic woes, according to a new poll.
NationalPassenger Feels 'Trapped': Woman Experiences Nightmare During Flight Next to Man Masturbating
NEW YORK — A woman on a flight to New Jersey experienced a nightmare after, according to her account, the man sitting next to her began to masturbate. The 25-year-old United Airlines passenger told our sister network NBC News that she felt 'trapped' when the man started the obscene act during the Labor Day weekend flight. The woman stated that she asked flight attendants to change her seat, but they informed her that she had to return to her place for landing because the flight was full.
NationalJudge Orders White House to Restore Access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico
A federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from accessing the White House, ordering their immediate reinstatement. The ruling follows a lawsuit from the outlets, which argued the ban violated the First Amendment. Judge Timothy Kelly stated the media had met the legal requirements for a temporary restraining order, valid for 14 days. He criticized the vague criteria used by the White House for revoking press credentials and dismissed the government's claims of national security risks. The ruling comes amid a broader conflict between Trump and media he deems unfavorable.
NationalSheinbaum Avoids Confronting Trump After He Labels Mexico as the 'Epicenter' of Drug Trafficking
President Claudia Sheinbaum avoided confronting her U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Wednesday after he accused Mexico of being the 'epicenter' of drug trafficking and demanded regaining territorial control against the cartels. She noted that she could also question the U.S. for its illicit drug consumption and arms production. 'We could say, I could say: 'It's very difficult to live next to a country that has such a high level of illicit drug consumption.' Or I could say: 'It's very difficult to live next to a country that has so much arms production,' ' Sheinbaum stated. 'But I’m not going to say it. I’m not going to say it,' she expressed during her morning press conference. Sheinbaum's comments came in response to Trump's statements during the UN General Assembly, where the U.S. president claimed on Tuesday that Mexico is 'the epicenter of cartel violence.' Trump deemed it 'unacceptable' to share a 2,000-mile border with a territory that he claimed is 'controlled by enemy cartels.'
NationalHackers Claim to Have 'Highly Sensitive Data' on Nearly All FBI Agents
The FBI is investigating an apparent breach of its employment website after a group of hackers claimed to have accessed 'highly sensitive data' on nearly all agents and job applicants. 'The FBI is aware of the claims regarding unauthorized activity affecting FBIjobs.gov and is currently investigating,' the agency stated in a release. The website, the main portal for candidates to learn about the FBI and start the job application process, remained down on Wednesday. A message circulating online from a hacker group known as ShinyHunters took credit for the attack. The message, directed at FBI Director Kash Patel and the deputy in charge of the FBI's cyber division, indicated that the group has 'compromised highly sensitive data on nearly ALL FBI agents and individuals who applied for a job with the FBI.' The claims could not be verified, and an FBI spokesperson declined to comment further. An email sent to an address associated with the organization did not receive a response. In their message, ShinyHunters stated they would give the agency a week to correct or retract what the group claims are false allegations in a May public service announcement from the FBI that described the organization as a 'cybercriminal group specializing in large-scale data leaks and extortion.' That announcement describes ShinyHunters as 'malicious actors' who often 'use real or exaggerated claims of access to sensitive or personal information to extort payments from victims,' harass or threaten victims, and 'may falsely claim to have sensitive or compromising information, including embarrassing photos or videos of victims, which often do not exist.' ShinyHunters expressed in their message to the FBI that they felt 'offended' by those characterizations and demanded that the agency retract those claims. The FBI has frequently been a target of cyberattacks. In March, the FBI revealed it was investigating 'suspicious activities' in an internal system containing sensitive information related to surveillance operations and investigations. Also that month, a pro-Iranian hacker group claimed to have hacked Patel's account and posted online what appeared to be old photographs of him, along with a resume and other personal documents dating back over a decade.
National‘I’m a f**king US citizen’: Man left injured after ICE mistakenly detained him, officials say
A U.S. citizen was mistakenly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Evanston, Illinois, on Sunday morning, resulting in various injuries. Local police responded to reports of an argument between two men around 9:49 a.m. and discovered the injured man on the ground. Authorities have confirmed the incident and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the mistaken detention. The man reportedly expressed his frustration, emphasizing his citizenship. This incident raises concerns about ICE's practices and the treatment of individuals during detentions.
NationalThe Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Recent Census Bureau data reveals that the median household income in the U.S. reached a record high of $87,460 in 2022, adjusted for inflation. While this figure shows a 3.0% increase for White households and 4.8% for Black households, incomes for Asian and Hispanic households remained unchanged. Despite a slight drop in the poverty rate to 10.2%, many families are still struggling financially. Rising costs in housing, childcare, and healthcare are major concerns, with parents spending significant portions of their income on childcare. The disparity between the highest and lowest income households continues to widen, highlighting ongoing economic challenges.
NationalCould AI End Humanity? Some Researchers Say Yes
For years, artificial intelligence researchers have warned about the ways technology could lead to humanity's demise: its bots could design an unstoppable disease, unleash a nuclear war, or turn the entire planet into paperclip factories, as suggested by a thought experiment. Debates within the AI industry and beyond about the plausibility of these apocalyptic scenarios have intensified since several executives supported the idea of slowing down technology development for safety reasons. Despite warnings about the possibility of humans losing control over technology, some suspect that the worst-case scenarios described by AI companies are more about validating the importance of their work than reflecting reality. 'These arguments simply don't hold up. I think they are science fiction and appeal to a certain childish style of thinking, and it's very tempting for cutting-edge labs because it helps them recruit a certain type of people,' said Juan Andrés Guerrero-Saade, a researcher at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne and a member of OpenAI's Frontier Risk Council.
NationalDelcy Rodríguez Tells UN There Will Be Elections and Thanks Trump for Dialogue
Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez stated during her speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that elections will be held in her country under equal conditions for all. She emphasized the political dialogue initiated with a sector of the opposition to move forward in this direction. Rodríguez did not specify a date for the elections but insisted that guarantees will be provided for all political forces. She highlighted that elections should be a solution, not a source of irreconcilable conflicts. During her 18-minute address, she noted that Venezuela has begun a 'democratic institutional transformation process' to build a freer and more reconciled country. Rodríguez also expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his willingness to resume diplomatic relations and cooperation with Venezuela. She asserted that both countries are working seriously to resolve existing differences through dialogue, focusing on energy relations, security promotion, the fight against transnational crime, and economic cooperation. Rodríguez defended Venezuela's historic rights over the disputed Esequibo region with Guyana and called for negotiations to resolve the long-standing controversy. She reiterated that the only way to resolve the Esequibo dispute is through the 1966 Geneva Agreement. Supporters of the government and authorities in Venezuela marched to back Rodríguez's participation in the UN Assembly, with officials declaring that she represents the voice of all Venezuelans and Latin Americans.
NationalU.S. Cooperation with Mexico Without Intervention, Ambassador's Offer
MEXICO CITY – The United States wants to expand its role in Mexico's security, but 'not as an interventionist,' said Ambassador Ronald Johnson on Wednesday, advocating for deeper cooperation to confront cartels. During the fifth Binational Convention of the American Society of Mexico (Amsoc), the diplomat emphasized that Mexican sovereignty also means freeing communities from the control of criminal organizations within the country. 'The United States wants to see a Mexico that is sovereign against malicious external interference, but also a Mexico that is sovereign and free from internal interference by criminal organizations and transnational cartels,' Johnson stated. Johnson assured that Washington seeks to 'do more' alongside the Mexican government 'as good neighbors' to make both countries safer and more prosperous, especially as President Donald Trump's administration has increased pressure on cartels by designating them as foreign terrorist organizations. Johnson defended this decision, noting that it allows for the use of new tools against criminal structures, particularly targeting their finances. 'We are changing the way we confront the cartels as well. We are going after the entire network,' he said, listing traffickers, financiers, shell companies, facilitators, and other actors that enable these organizations to operate.
NationalZuckerberg Defends AI Amid Regulation Alerts, Calls It 'Superintelligence'
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of tech company Meta, defended on Wednesday the idea that 'empowering people' with artificial intelligence, rather than concentrating its control in a few hands, is the best path toward a safe future, despite acknowledging that this notion has become, in his words, 'surprisingly controversial.' During his keynote address at Meta Connect 2026, held at the company's campus in Menlo Park, California, Zuckerberg also used the term 'superintelligence,' which was mentioned by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, who announced that the United States will officially replace the term 'artificial intelligence' with 'superintelligence' in its official documentation and rejected any 'globalist scheme' to regulate its development at the UN. Zuckerberg used the term 'superintelligence' at least twice during his speech: when describing the 'highest purpose' of technology as creation rather than automation, and when projecting that Muse, Meta's personal AI agent introduced two weeks ago, will be a first step toward 'personal superintelligence' for billions of people. The entrepreneur defended an optimistic view of technology, stating that building is 'an act of love,' through which, he said, his company expresses its understanding of the world.
NationalHarvey Weinstein is sentenced to 15 years in prison for 2006 sex crime in New York
NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for a felony sex crime in another #MeToo reckoning. Weinstein’s sentencing for sexually assaulting one-time TV production assistant Miriam Haley followed a legal odyssey spanning more than six years after his 2020 conviction was overturned. A jury
NationalIRS Draft Includes Citizenship Question on Form 1040 for the First Time
Taxpayers are accustomed to the routine questions on Form 1040, the annual federal tax return used by most filers, covering topics from marital status and wages to deductions and credits. However, next year's form may include a very different question regarding citizenship and work authorization. The IRS has released a draft of Form 1040 that adds a single question for taxpayers—and their spouses if filing jointly—about whether they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or legally authorized to work in the country. The yes or no question appears below the marital status section, in a box titled 'other information.' 'When filing your return, are you, and your spouse if filing jointly, a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a legally authorized foreigner to work in the U.S.?' the form states. The draft has not been finalized, but if the question remains in the final version, it would be the first time the IRS directly asks Form 1040 filers about their citizenship or work authorization. The form would be used for filing tax returns for 2026 during the 2027 tax season. Telemundo Digital reached out to the IRS to inquire about the reasoning behind the proposed question and how the information would be used, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
NationalFederal Indictment Issued for Ex-Utah Postal Worker Over Discarded Primary Ballots
A former U.S. Postal Service worker, Damon Matai Seei, 34, from Payson, Utah, has been indicted for allegedly discarding approximately 300 mail-in ballots intended for voters in Eagle Mountain, Utah. The indictment, unsealed on September 16, charges Seei with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail. He reportedly threw the ballots into a dumpster located in a church parking lot. U.S. officials emphasized the importance of ballot integrity and the seriousness of the crime, which undermines the electoral process. Seei's next court appearance is set for November 30, and the investigation was conducted by the USPS Office of Inspector General and Homeland Security Investigations.
NationalCongress Members Visit Texas Detention Center to See Venezuelan Injured by ICE
Two Texas congress members visited the detention center in Pearsall, Texas, intending to meet with Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, the 28-year-old Venezuelan who, according to authorities, was shot during an incident involving an ICE agent in Austin. Congress members Joaquín Castro and Greg Casar aim to learn firsthand about Garcés Pérez's health status and seek answers regarding the circumstances of the incident that occurred on Sunday while the migrant was working as a DoorDash delivery driver. According to his attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, the bullet remains lodged near his spine, and following the shooting, he lost mobility on the left side of his body. She also reported that he was transferred back to a hospital on Monday after experiencing difficulty moving one of his arms, although he later returned to ICE custody.