Public Safety

City of La Feria opens safe shelter

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of La Feria opened a safe shelter for residents on Monday afternoon. The shelter, located at 1001 Pancho Maples Dr., opened at 5 p.m. on Monday and will remain open until 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The shelter will provide sleeping cots for the community. Officials advise residents to bring

McAllen launches new emergency notification system

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of McAllen announced Monday the launch of a new emergency notification system that will provide residents with real-time alerts via phone and email. The new alert system is powered by Everbridge and will deliver real-time alerts for emergencies, including weather, traffic, public safety incidents, evacuation and other disruptions. Residents can

Alamo mother admits to witnessing husband strike child with horse whip: Sheriff

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A mother was arrested and charged in connection with an investigation accusing her husband of striking a child with a horse whip, according to an update from the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. Maria Munoz Coria, 25, of Alamo, was charged with failure to report a felony with serious bodily injury, a Class

Man arrested on murder charge in connection with deadly neighbor dispute in Rio Grande City

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man has been arrested on a murder charge in connection with a deadly neighbor dispute, according to Rio Grande City police Chief Jose Solis. Jose Luis Falcon was arrested on a charge of murder, a first-degree felony, on Saturday, Starr County jail records show. According to Chief Solis, a neighbor dispute

City of Harlingen unveils high-water rescue vehicles

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — With the entire Rio Grande Valley under a flood watch through Thursday, the city of Harlingen appears to be prepared for any emergency events, unveiling video of four high-water rescue vehicles on Monday. According to the city, the vehicles will help first responders assist those in flooded areas during severe weather

WATCH: People rescued from flooded Weslaco neighborhood

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — People and pets are being rescued from a Weslaco neighborhood on Monday as the area experiences flooding following heavy rainfall. Video shows Weslaco emergency crews assisting people from a neighborhood on Paisano Lane. Earlier Monday, Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez signed a disaster declaration for the city, which will allow access to

Blow to Drug Traffickers in Sinaloa: 11 Suspected Members of Criminal Groups Arrested

MEXICO CITY – Mexican security forces arrested 11 suspected members of criminal organizations in the state of Sinaloa on Monday during several operations that resulted in the seizure of firearms, narcotics, and explosive devices. In a statement, the federal Security Cabinet announced that among those detained was Iván ‘N’, alias 'El 24', identified as the regional leader of a criminal organization, although no further details were provided. Various media outlets in Mexico, citing anonymous sources, suggest that this criminal organization is led by Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, known as 'El Chapo Isidro'. Alongside Iván, three others were arrested in Culiacán, the state capital, and in the municipality of Mocorito, where authorities seized two vehicles, four long guns, one handgun, eight magazines, and a tactical vest. Additionally, in the town of El Rosario, four more individuals were arrested, including a minor and a foreign national, with authorities confiscating a Barrett rifle, 11 long guns, 158 magazines, 835 cartridges, five tactical vests, and four ballistic plates. As part of the enhanced security measures in Sinaloa, elements from @Defensamx1, @SEMAR_mx, @SSPCMexico, @FGRMexico, and @GN_MEXICO_, in coordination with state authorities, conducted simultaneous actions that led to the arrest of 11 members of criminal cells. In another operation, one individual was arrested in the town of Ranchito de los Gaxiola, along with three others (one of them foreign) in the coastal city of Mazatlán. These last detainees had ten long guns, cartridges, ballistic plates, and seven kilograms of opium gum in their possession. The operations also seized 250 kilograms of substances used to manufacture methamphetamines. According to authorities, these actions impact the benefits of organized crime, estimated at 110 million pesos ($6.40 million), and are part of the 'reinforcement of security' in Sinaloa.

McAllen Launches New Everbridge Emergency Alert System

McAllen has introduced a new emergency alert system powered by Everbridge to enhance public safety communication. This system will deliver real-time notifications about weather, traffic, public safety incidents, and evacuations directly to residents' phones, emails, and other devices. Mayor Javier Villalobos emphasized the importance of timely information during emergencies, stating that the system strengthens the city's connection with its residents. Citizens can customize their alert preferences and enroll by texting 'McAllen' to 888777. Registration is quick and free, although standard message rates may apply. The city encourages residents to follow official social media for updates.

Smuggler who dumped sick migrant on the side of the road pleads guilty

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A smuggler who dumped a sick migrant in a rural part of Starr County pleaded guilty on Monday. Elias Vasquez, 35, of Roma wrapped the migrant in a blanket and left him on San Julian Road, which connects Escobares to rural parts of Starr County. “Guilty,” Vasquez said Monday morning, when

WATCH: Car catches fire after crash on La Feria expressway

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A vehicle caught fire after being involved in a three-vehicle crash on Monday morning on the eastbound expressway, according to the La Feria Police Department. At approximately 9:31 a.m., authorities received a call about a vehicle that lost control on the highway. Two other vehicles passing through traffic swerved to avoid

Texas DPS Graduates Newest Trooper Academy Class

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) celebrated the graduation of 69 new Texas Highway Patrol Troopers from Recruit Class D-2025 at Great Hills Baptist Church last week. This marks the 181st graduating class for the department. Texas State Senator Pete Flores delivered the keynote address, encouraging the graduates to uphold the values of integrity and service. The recruits underwent 30 weeks of rigorous training, totaling over 1,198 hours, covering various law enforcement topics. They will begin their duties across Texas on July 5, continuing the proud tradition of serving their communities.

Texas State Securities Board Warns Fraudsters Targeting Seniors Will Face Enforcement Action

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) has issued a warning about the rising threat of financial fraud targeting seniors, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. The agency highlights that financial exploitation is a prevalent form of elder abuse, with fraudsters employing various tactics, including investment scams and impersonation fraud, to steal retirement funds. TSSB urges seniors and their families to stay vigilant, report suspicious activities, and consult trusted advisors before making investment decisions. The agency remains committed to protecting Texas investors through enforcement actions and public education on fraud prevention.

Owners of Dominican nightclub where 236 people died to be tried for involuntary manslaughter

Brothers Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo that collapsed in April 2025, resulting in 236 deaths and 180 injuries, will be tried for involuntary manslaughter, as requested by the Public Ministry, rather than for voluntary manslaughter, as sought by the plaintiffs, according to a decision made by Dominican justice on Monday. The measure, which sends the case to the trial phase (a key stage in the criminal process), was adopted by Judge Raymundo Mejía of the First Instruction Court of the National District, who upheld the legal qualification presented by the Public Ministry and rejected the plaintiffs' request to escalate it to voluntary manslaughter, arguing that the owners were aware of the building's deterioration. Judge Mejía also confirmed the coercive measures against the defendants, which include economic guarantees, periodic reporting, and a prohibition on leaving the country. Additionally, the judge ordered the immobilization of the defendants' assets amounting to up to $8.3 million as a precautionary measure. Following the ruling, the Jet Set Justice Movement, which groups survivors and families of the deceased in the tragedy, expressed in a statement their 'institutional respect for judicial decisions,' but deemed the court's ruling insufficient at this stage of the process. During the reasoning, the magistrate stated that the defendants did not intend to cause the tragedy; however, the movement questioned this conclusion and asserted that voluntary manslaughter with eventual intent—the legal reclassification that this group advocated—'does not require direct intent to kill, but rather assesses whether, knowing of a serious, foreseeable, and avoidable risk, one decided to continue acting despite the possibility of the outcome.' The collective reiterated that it will continue to support the families and survivors 'in the pursuit of proportional, serious justice in accordance with the magnitude of the damage caused.' Alcides Acosta, who lost a brother and sister-in-law in the tragedy, described the judicial decision to maintain the charge of involuntary manslaughter as 'biased.' 'We will continue to fight, we will keep pushing,' Acosta stated to the media, although he argued that it is a 'game of egg and stone' because, according to him, the judge 'does not feel the pain' of the victims. According to the Public Ministry's investigation, for years Jet Set, a symbol of nightlife in Santo Domingo, 'operated with systematic and serious negligence in the maintenance and structural adequacy of its facilities, putting the lives of its customers and employees at risk.' The tragedy occurred in the early hours of April 8 last year, while hundreds of people were enjoying a performance by Dominican merengue artist Rubby Pérez, who also lost his life in the incident, along with one of the musicians from his orchestra. Among the deceased were former Major League Baseball pitcher Otavio Dotel, designer Martín Polanco, and a son of former Senate President and Dominican Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella. It was also reported at the time that eighteen Venezuelans, three Hispanic-Dominicans, two French nationals, one Haitian, one Colombian, one Costa Rican, one Italian, and one Kenyan had died.

Sharyland Water Supply issues boil notice for some customers

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Sharyland Water Supply Corporation has issued a boil notice for about 48 customers. The notice comes after a water outage that was "presumably caused by contractors who damaged a water main", according to the Sharyland Water Supply Corporation. The affected area, shown in the map below, is on Glasscock Road

Mother Arrested for Failing to Report Alleged Child Abuse in Alamo

The case began when an officer responded to a report of possible child abuse after receiving information from a school counselor at IDEA School in Alamo. The counselor indicated that a student had revealed that one of their siblings had allegedly been assaulted by their stepfather. During the investigation, authorities determined that the alleged abuse occurred on May 9 at a residence located in the 100 block of East Minnesota Road. According to the victim's statement, the stepfather repeatedly struck them with a horse whip on the legs, thighs, back, abdomen, and arms. Authorities arrested 47-year-old Romeo Maldonado, who was charged with injury to a minor, a third-degree felony, and after appearing before a judge, his bail was set at $250,000. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the victim's mother, identified as 25-year-old María Muñoz Coria, allegedly witnessed the assault and was aware that her husband had been physically abusing the minor. Furthermore, authorities reported that Coria did not report the incidents to the authorities despite knowing about the situation. As a result, she was arrested on June 12 and charged with failing to report a felony that resulted in serious bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Her bail was set at $5,000. The investigation is ongoing.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Southbound Right Lane Closure on 10th Street in McAllen, June 15-26

Motorists in McAllen should prepare for a lane closure on 10th Street from June 15 to June 26, 2026. The southbound right lane will be closed from about 880 feet north of Fullerton Avenue to 150 feet south of the 10th Street Bridge. This closure is part of the Traffic Control Phase 3 for the McAllen Lateral Channel Improvements project. Drivers are advised to expect delays, reduce speed in the area, and consider alternate routes. For inquiries, contact the Engineering Department at (956) 681-1150.

TRAFFIC ALERT- Frontage Road Closure in Weslaco

The eastbound frontage road of I-2 in Weslaco is currently closed between Westgate and FM 88 (Texas Blvd) due to water covering the roadway. However, the main lanes of I-2 remain open and unaffected by this closure. Drivers are advised to check DriveTexas.Org for updates on road conditions and closures.

Progreso Becomes Second City to Declare Local Disaster Due to Flooding

The announcement was made by municipal authorities following their first Emergency Management meeting, where current conditions were assessed, resources were coordinated, and response plans were reviewed to address the needs of residents. In this regard, the mayor signed a Local Disaster Declaration for Flooding, a measure that will allow the city to position itself to receive potential federal assistance through FEMA, state support, and other resources related to insurance processes, if available. With this measure, Progreso joins Weslaco, which also declared a disaster due to the heavy rains and flooding affecting the Rio Grande Valley.