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SportsCity of Brownsville to upgrade athletic fields at 2 city parks
The City of Brownsville is set to enhance six athletic fields located in Morningside Park and Brownsville Sports Park. The upgrades will involve rebuilding the foundations to improve drainage, adding new grass, and repairing or replacing outdated irrigation systems. Many of the fields have been in use for over 20 years, leading to issues with divots and degraded turf. Brownsville Parks and Recreation Director Sean De Palma emphasized the need for these improvements. Construction is anticipated to begin in November and will take approximately one year, with a total project cost of $500,000 funded by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.
CommunityBrownsville nonprofit opens new office at police department
Down By The Border, a nonprofit organization in Brownsville, has opened a new office within the Brownsville Police Department. This move aims to better support individuals with special needs, particularly children. Previously located in a law firm, the nonprofit faced challenges in training volunteers and meeting families. Vice President Angie Tejada emphasized that the new office will help bridge knowledge gaps for families navigating resources and answers related to special needs. The office is available for families by appointment only, providing a space to learn about specific conditions and access community resources.
Public SafetyJudge allows Weslaco cheerleader wrongful death lawsuit to move forward
A Hidalgo County judge has permitted the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a Weslaco cheerleader against an energy drink distributor to proceed. The distributor sought to pause the lawsuit while appealing a previous ruling that denied its request for dismissal. Larissa Rodriguez passed away in October 2025 due to an enlarged heart, linked to stress and high caffeine intake from Alani energy drinks. Her family is suing Glazer’s Beer and Beverage, LLC, which claims it only distributed the drinks. The judge confirmed that the lawsuit will continue, allowing both parties to exchange evidence as the appeals process unfolds, which may take 60 to 90 days.
Public SafetyBarricade suspect in custody after stabbing in Edinburg area: Sheriff
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A 27-year-old man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a woman and barricading himself inside a home in the Edinburg area, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to the call for a family disturbance involving a stabbing at the 10500 block of Hernandez Dr. on Thursday afternoon. At
Public SafetyCombes police searching for missing 74-year-old man
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Combes Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing person. Jose Jesus Lara, 74, was reported missing and last seen at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday. According to police, Lara has a medical condition that requires medication. Lara was last seen wearing light-colored jeans, a black
WeatherRain chances drop as Tropical Storm Bertha weakens
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Bertha was downgraded to a tropical depression on Thursday evening as it continued to push inland. The showers that swept across the Valley earlier have shifted south of the border, and southeasterly winds will keep flowing through the region. That sets the stage for a slightly hotter than-normal Friday, especially across the western Valley, where temperatures
Weather‘It’s going to rock my freaking world’: Fans wait another day for Starship launch
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Thousands of people gathered at Isla Blanca Park on Thursday hoping to watch SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 lift off, but weather had other plans. Less than two hours before the scheduled launch, SpaceX scrubbed the mission because of weather conditions, marking the second launch cancellation in a week. Despite
Weather‘It’s going to rock my freaking world’: Fans wait another day for Starship launch
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Thousands of people gathered at Isla Blanca Park on Thursday hoping to watch SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 lift off, but weather had other plans. Less than two hours before the scheduled launch, SpaceX scrubbed the mission because of weather conditions, marking the second launch cancellation in a week. Despite
Politics'According to Scripture, do not be afraid': Nun detained by ICE shares her story
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Sister Letty, a Nigerian-born Catholic nun, shared her story to ValleyCentral of the day she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers while walking to Sunday Mass. On June 28, Sister Letty was walking to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen like she has for more
Public SafetySan Juan Municipal Court urges residents to take advantage of amnesty program
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — If you have any outstanding fines in the city of San Juan, now's your chance to resolve issues with the court without any additional penalties. The San Juan Municipal Court has extended its amnesty program through Aug. 31. During this time, residents with outstanding warrants are urged to make arrangements with
WeatherSpaceX reschedules Starship 13th flight test due to weather
SpaceX has postponed the 13th flight test of its Starship rocket due to unfavorable weather conditions. Originally scheduled for Thursday, the launch is now set for Friday, July 24, with the launch window opening at 5:45 p.m. The primary goal of this test is to capture clear images of the Starship's heat shield during ascent at higher dynamic pressure. Residents of Cameron County should be prepared for a loud noise from the rocket's 33 Raptor engines during ignition.
PoliticsPublic input needed on road widening proposal in San Benito
San Benito officials are inviting public feedback on a proposal to widen Oscar Williams Road. The Texas Department of Transportation, along with Cameron County and the city, aims to expand the road between Business 77 and San Jose Ranch Road. Eric Davila, Chief Development Engineer for the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, emphasized the importance of public involvement in reviewing the project. A virtual meeting is set for Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m. Residents can find more details on how to participate.
BusinessWeslaco road project cuts sales at coffee shop; city admits not properly notifying businesses
A coffee shop owner in Weslaco, Mina Reyes, reports significant customer loss due to road construction on Sugarcane Drive. Reyes claims sales have dropped by 80 to 90 percent since the project began two weeks ago, forcing her to cancel cultural events. She was unaware of the construction until she arrived at work, having not received any prior notification from the city. The city acknowledges that businesses were not properly informed about the $520,000 street improvement project, which started on July 6. City officials are now working to enhance their notification processes for future projects.
PoliticsValley nun speaks out following ICE detainment, fights removal to third country
Sister Letty, a nun from the Rio Grande Valley, held a press conference at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen after being detained by ICE in June. Her attorney announced that she faces a final removal order following an asylum denial but has been granted protection from deportation to Nigeria under the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Although ICE is considering deporting her to a third country, Sister Letty has complied with all legal requirements since 2019 and holds a valid work permit. She expressed gratitude for community support and hopes for a favorable resolution during her upcoming ICE check-in.
CommunityElsa police hide rubber ducks in city parks to get kids outside
The Elsa Police Department has initiated a fun summer project to encourage children to play outside by hiding rubber ducks in city parks. Each day, officers hide three ducks, and kids who find them can exchange them for gift baskets. Rosie Rangel, a local mother, expressed her desire for her children to experience outdoor play, similar to her own childhood. Participants aged 3 to 15 can also enter a raffle for a chance to win a $150 Walmart shopping spree. Families have until July 28 at 4 p.m. to turn in the ducks they find, promoting outdoor activity in the community.
Public Safety4 house fires hit Starr County in two weeks; fire chief warns of electrical risk
Starr County is facing a troubling rise in house fires, with four incidents reported in just two weeks. The most recent fire devastated the Rodriguez family's home on Redwood Road, where they had lived for 40 years. Francisco Rodriguez recounted the harrowing escape, which was complicated by his wife's medical condition. Firefighters from multiple departments responded, and Fire Chief Manuel Muniz noted that electrical issues may be a contributing factor to these fires, especially during the summer heat. He emphasizes the importance of having an escape plan and smoke detectors in homes. The investigation into the cause of the Rodriguez fire is ongoing.
HealthHidalgo County judge urges vigilance after screwworm detected in Starr County
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said county leaders continue to closely monitor the New World Screwworm after the first confirmed case in the Rio Grande Valley was recently detected in a newborn calf in Starr County. Cortez issued a statement on Thursday praising the actions taken by local, state and
NationalOne Month Later: The Pain and Devastation Left by the Earthquakes in Venezuela
One month after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, the death toll exceeds 5,300, and the number of missing persons remains unknown. Dozens of families are still searching through the rubble for their loved ones as criticism of the response from Delcy Rodríguez's government increases. The latest figure, provided on Wednesday by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, is 5,398 dead and 16,740 injured. Unidentified victims are being buried in several newly opened mass graves at a municipal cemetery in La Guaira state, according to several witnesses who spoke to EFE earlier this month. The government has not provided data on the missing, but the citizen initiative 'Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela' reports over 29,000. According to unconfirmed figures received by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs last June, the number of missing persons due to the earthquakes could rise to 50,000.
HealthSan Juan Memorial Library to host free Narcan training
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The San Juan Memorial Library and Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department will host a free Narcan training on Friday. The free event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Attendees will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to properly administer Narcan to reverse an overdose. Narcan is a
HealthInvestigation Underway for New Cyclospora Outbreak in the U.S.; 72 Infected
U.S. federal health authorities are investigating a new outbreak linked to the cyclospora parasite, which causes acute diarrhea. As of Wednesday, the outbreak has affected 72 people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet identified which products are connected to the illnesses, nor have officials indicated where the cases are located. 'This is an active investigation, and authorities are working together to determine the specific cause of the illnesses in this group,' the Department of Health and Human Services stated in an email on Thursday. This week, federal authorities indicated they are still focused on Taylor Farms lettuce as the source of a separate outbreak affecting several states. The company announced last week the recall of iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Meanwhile, the Latin American country announced on Thursday that no cyclospora was detected in the lettuce or water at the Taylor Farms facility, which operates in the central state of Guanajuato. The Health Secretariat stated in a release that tests conducted by the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) returned 'negative results for the detection of Cyclospora Cayetanensis and for the presence of fecal coliforms and within the physicochemical parameters according to national standards.' The study results were announced after a visit by Mexican health authorities to the Taylor Farms facility from July 18 to 20, during which ten samples of iceberg lettuce were collected: five whole samples present at the establishment and five samples of finished product, such as chopped, washed, and disinfected lettuce, according to the statement. During the visit, four water samples were also taken for microbiological and basic physicochemical determination. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, usually when agricultural products have been irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes an intestinal illness characterized by 'frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,' according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Federal and state health authorities have been investigating separate clusters of cyclospora cases, including one traced back to Taylor Farms. Food safety tips include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Experts note that cooking can eliminate the parasite and recommend cooking vegetables to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit.