Argentina vs. Spain: A World Cup Final That Will Speak the Language of Cervantes

Argentina will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup final this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match will be broadcast on Telemundo and Peacock. Argentina secured their spot in the final with a thrilling comeback against England, scoring two late goals from Fernández and Martínez after falling behind. Spain, meanwhile, advanced by defeating the tournament favorites, France, with goals from Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. Historically, the two teams have met 14 times in international tournaments, with each winning six matches and two ending in draws. This final will determine the champion.

Father and son arrested after holding two Forest Service employees at gunpoint

A father and son are facing federal kidnapping charges after they allegedly held two U.S. Forest Service employees at gunpoint in a trailer near Mount Shasta, Northern California. The employees were conducting routine operations in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest when they were captured on Thursday. They were released early Friday morning after being held for over 12 hours. The suspects, aged 49 and an adult son, surrendered with assault rifles and knives, and one claimed to have grenades. Authorities, including the FBI, were involved in the rescue operation, and thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident.

BPD: Man confessed to 8 downtown Brownsville burglaries

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man was arrested in connection with a series of burglaries in the downtown Brownsville area Brownsville police say Oscar Leonardo Urbina, 35, was charged with burglary of a habitation, a second-degree felony, and seven counts of burglary of a building, a state jail felony. He was arrested just after midnight on

Fairlife Halts Production in the U.S. After Cyberattack

Fairlife, the milk brand owned by Coca-Cola, has halted its production in the United States following a ransomware cyberattack that compromised parts of its systems. The company announced on Thursday that it detected unauthorized access, prompting a temporary shutdown of operations. Coca-Cola stated that product quality and safety remain unaffected, and operations in Canada continue as normal. The full extent of the attack is still unclear, but Coca-Cola is cooperating with authorities and cybersecurity experts to investigate and recover. Fairlife, based in Chicago, boasts over $3 billion in annual retail sales and offers a range of lactose-free products.

IDEA Public Schools teacher loses job due to DACA renewal delay

A teacher from the Rio Grande Valley lost her job at IDEA Public Schools after her DACA status expired while awaiting renewal. The termination letter was issued on June 30, 2026, due to lapsed work authorization. The teacher, who prefers to remain anonymous, submitted her renewal application in January but has yet to receive a response after seven months. IDEA Public Schools stated they adhere to federal law requiring valid employment authorization. They acknowledged the impact of immigration delays on individuals and families. The teacher, originally from Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, expressed her fears about leaving home without valid status.

Fighting to wake up: Mission man recalls race to bring intubated sister back across the border

Yadira Hernandez, a 35-year-old instructional aide from Mission CISD, is in critical condition at South Texas Health System in McAllen after suffering a medical emergency in Mexico. While visiting family in Chiapas, she developed flu-like symptoms and was later diagnosed with COVID-19 and the flu. After experiencing seizures, she was placed in a medically induced coma. Her family spent 24 hours coordinating her transport back to the Valley, incurring $22,000 in costs for an ambulance and helicopter. Mission CISD expressed support for Hernandez, highlighting her importance to the school community as she fights for her life in the ICU.

ValleyCentral Weekend Report: Campaign visits and new tech coming to RGV

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — On this week’s edition of ValleyCentral Weekend Report, Weekend Anchor Brian Svendsen breaks down all the biggest stories from the week.    Starting with the biggest stories of the week, in case you missed them. In a massive announcement this week, Seronic Technologies announced they will begin building a massive $3.2 billion facility at the Port of Brownsville. In another

Rain Expected to Clear Smoke from Canadian Wildfires for World Cup Final

Meteorologists predict that smoke from Canadian wildfires, which has blanketed the Northeast, will largely dissipate in New Jersey just in time for the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, thanks to incoming thunderstorms. On Saturday, air quality alerts remained in effect across much of the U.S. Heavy rain and thunder were reported at MetLife Stadium, where attendees were urged to seek shelter. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill warned of potential damaging winds and flash floods. Spain's training session before the final against Argentina was canceled due to storms. FIFA is closely monitoring the situation with local authorities.

Border buoys dislodged and floating down Rio Grande toward Laredo, Texas

At least 120 giant border buoys weighing about one ton each on Friday were floating uncontrolled down the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas, toward the South Texas border town of Laredo due to flooding in the region.

Two U.S. Soldiers Confirmed Dead in Jordan; One Missing

Two U.S. soldiers were killed in combat on July 17 while defending Jordan against an Iranian missile and drone attack, with another soldier reported missing, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The attack's specific location in Jordan has not been disclosed, and further details about the incident remain limited. Additionally, four other U.S. soldiers were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan but have since been released. Those with minor injuries have returned to their duties. CENTCOM stated that the identities of the deceased soldiers will not be released until their families have been notified, which will take 24 hours.

How Did Mauro Menéndez, Son of Aylin Mujica, Die? The Young DJ Passed Away in Barbados

Aylín Mujica and her ex-husband Osamu Menéndez are mourning the unexpected death of their son, Mauro Menéndez, a 33-year-old DJ known as Maahez. He passed away during a trip to Barbados while Mujica was filming Top Chef VIP in Colombia. Although the official cause of death has not been confirmed, reports suggest he suffered complications from pneumonia. Jessica Carrillo from Telemundo's Al Rojo Vivo indicated that Mauro had been ill but chose to travel. After experiencing severe breathing difficulties, he was hospitalized but unfortunately did not survive. Mujica has not yet commented, while Menéndez expressed his devastation on Facebook.

IDEA Public Schools teacher loses job due to delay in DACA renewal

A teacher from the Rio Grande Valley lost her job at IDEA Public Schools after her DACA status expired before her renewal was processed. The termination letter was issued on June 30, 2026, citing lapsed work authorization. The teacher, who prefers to remain anonymous, submitted her renewal application in January, but after seven months, she is still waiting. IDEA Public Schools stated they adhere to federal law regarding employment authorization and acknowledged the impact of immigration delays. The teacher, originally from Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, expressed concern about her immigration status and the fear of leaving her home.

Former teacher remembers Nahomi Rodriguez, whose 2016 death remains unsolved

Former teacher Lali Betancourt recalls Nahomi Rodriguez, who graduated in 2016 and was last seen at a Harlingen McDonald's before her remains were discovered in 2017. The investigation into her death remains unresolved, with Harlingen Police Department's Jacob Perez now leading the case. New technology is being utilized to retest evidence, and District Attorney Luis Saenz expressed optimism about recent developments. Miguel Angel Flores is the only person of interest, currently imprisoned for unrelated charges. A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest, as Betancourt hopes Nahomi is remembered for her dreams, not just her tragic end.

Sullivan City cracks down on cemetery violations affecting over 100 burial plots

Sullivan City is addressing cemetery violations as over 100 burial plots have unauthorized alterations. City Manager Richard Ozuna reported that some families have added items like benches that encroach on adjacent plots. The city has issued 36 warning letters, with 21 families complying. Each plot is restricted to 3.5 feet by 9 feet, including one headstone, and seven concrete plots have also been identified as violations. Families have one week to rectify the issues before facing fines of up to $500. A banner has been placed at the cemetery to remind residents of the regulations. Resident Francisco Garza expressed frustration over encroachments affecting visits to his mother-in-law's grave.

McAllen man survives after 5-foot metal rod pierces his windshield on the expressway

A McAllen resident, John Montemayor, narrowly escaped injury when a 5-foot metal rod pierced his windshield while driving on the expressway near La Feria. Montemayor was traveling at 60 mph when the rod, which had already been struck by two other vehicles, came dangerously close to his face. He managed to pull over safely with only minor cuts from the shattered glass. Montemayor emphasized the importance of securing items while driving, as unsecured loads can lead to serious accidents. The Texas Department of Transportation warns that failing to secure loads can result in fines, especially if injuries occur. Montemayor plans to turn the rod into a cross as a reminder of his close call.

Cowboys pro bowler Kavontae Turpin connects with RGV youth at camp in McAllen

Dallas Cowboys player Kavontae Turpin visited McAllen on Friday to train local youth football players. Partnering with RGV Prime Sports and Events, he engaged in drills with the young athletes, emphasizing the importance of connection and mentorship. Former UTRGV player Eddie Lee Marburger also participated, highlighting the significance of giving back to the community. RGV Prime Sports founder Karla Puente noted how impactful it is for kids to meet athletes in person, inspiring them to pursue their dreams in football. Turpin expressed joy in seeing the kids' excitement and shared his insights to help them improve their game.

Day 2 highlights from Pony League World Series in McAllen

Fighting to wake up: Mission family recalls race to bring intubated sister back across the border

Yadira Hernandez, a 35-year-old instructional aide from Mission CISD, is in critical condition at South Texas Health System in McAllen after suffering a medical emergency while visiting family in Chiapas, Mexico. Diagnosed with both COVID-19 and the flu, she was placed in a medically induced coma following seizures. Her family spent 24 hours coordinating her transport back to the U.S., incurring $22,000 in costs for an ambulance and helicopter. Mission CISD expressed support for Hernandez, emphasizing her value to the school community. Her brother, Roman, remains hopeful for her recovery and is thankful for the assistance received during this crisis.

Former Hidalgo County district clerk now in county jail after federal charge dropped

Omar Guerrero, the former Hidalgo County District Clerk, was transferred to county jail after a federal escape charge against him was dropped. This decision was made by a federal judge on July 17, 2026, following a motion from prosecutors citing 'the interest of justice.' Guerrero is currently facing multiple charges, including two counts of sexual assault of a child and three counts of drug possession, with no bond listed. He was previously arrested in June after 13 years on the run, having fled to Mexico shortly after being charged with drug possession and sexual assault in 2013.

Mission doctor convicted of misdiagnosing thousands of patients seeking to have sentence vacated

Jorge Zamora-Quezada, a rheumatologist from Mission, TX, convicted of misdiagnosing thousands of patients in a $240 million healthcare fraud scheme, is seeking to vacate his sentence. After serving one year of a ten-year sentence, he filed a motion on July 1, arguing that new medical evidence shows the government’s claims were incorrect. He contends that modern diagnostic criteria support his patients' diagnoses of rheumatism and related autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the Texas Medical Board cleared him of wrongdoing. Zamora-Quezada is requesting a new trial if his conviction is not vacated. Prosecutors have 45 days to respond to his motion.