PHARR — There was a seizure worth more than $2,781,000 in alleged cocaine here recently at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility.
By PJ. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
A recent case of the New World screwworm has been confirmed in the Rio Grande Valley.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
TxDOT is spreading awareness with its “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign — as part of Operation Slowdown — which will be until Aug. 2.
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
One of my favorite public officials, JP Robert “Bobby” Contreras, got some well-deserved recognition last Wednesday, July 15, at an official portrait unveiling ceremony. Hard to believe he’s been gone a year now.
Today's News
EDINBURG — The Board of Trustees for the local school district here voted in a split decision, 4-3, during a special-called meeting to name Angela Dominguez as the lone finalist for superintendent.
Dominguez, who has over 30 years of experience in public education, is currently serving as superintendent for Donna ISD. She has been a part of that district since Oct. 2021.
"I am deeply honored and humbled by the Board of Trustees’ confidence and grateful for the opportunity to serve the students, families, staff, and community of Edinburg CISD," she said in a Tuesday release by ECISD.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
McALLEN — The McAllen Police Department invites the community for it's annual National Night Out, which is today from 7-9 p.m.
The event will be located at McAllen Municipal Park, which is at 1921 N. Bicentennial Blvd and Garza-Chavez Community Network Center — which is located at 2901 Olga Ave.
The department said the event is crime, drug and violence prevention program that is held the first Tuesday of August. It gives the community to meet the officers who are part of the department.
At the event, there will be food and entertainment for the community.
By Staff Report | Advance News Journal
EDINBURG — A local pastor was arrested on multiple counts of indecency with a child on Monday.
The suspect, who was identified as 49-year-old Jorge Gonzalez Martinez, was arraigned and charged Tuesday with four counts of indency with a child.
A release by the city said that an initial police report was filed earlier this month. The alleged incidents are to have occurred between March and April of last year.
His bond is set at $300,000.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
News
EDINBURG — A local pastor was arrested on multiple counts of indecency with a child on Monday.
The suspect, who was identified as 49-year-old Jorge Gonzalez Martinez, was arraigned and charged Tuesday with four counts of indency with a child.
A release by the city said that an initial police report was filed earlier this month. The alleged incidents are to have occurred between March and April of last year.
His bond is set at $300,000.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
A recent case of the New World screwworm has been confirmed in the Rio Grande Valley.
The case was detected on July 18 in Starr County. As a result, Starr County Judge Eloy Vera also signed a Declaration of Disaster in a response to the screwworm fly.
As of press time, there are no confirmed cases in Hidalgo County.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez issued an official statement on Friday in response to the confirmed Starr County case.
By PJ. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
ISIS supporter admits to disseminating terrorist propaganda via social media HOUSTON — A 30-yearold Houston resident has pleaded guilty to concealing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and making false statements.
Anas Said is a pledged supporter of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and used various social media accounts to post, share, or disseminate ISIS propaganda.
Sports
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are hosting a Basketball Skills Camp during the first week of August.
Parents who have children from the ages of 6-14 still have the chance to register their aspiring players.
The camp will be a threeday event and it will also be co-ed. According to the organization, Joseph Blair — who is the head coach of the Vipers — will also be in attendance.
By Staff Report | Advance News Journal
The school year is right around the baseline corner for a lot of students in the Rio Grande Valley and the Vipers are looking to gear up to help with the occasion.
The local G-League team — along with Sonic Drive-In — has teamed up with the South Texas Literacy Coalition for the annual “Blocks for Books” campaign during the first week of August.
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
The UTRGV Football program is set to have an open practice to give fans the chance to see them in action. The open practice will be on Aug. 6 at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.
It is set to start at 3:30 p.m. but the gates open an hour prior. No pre-registration or tickets are required.
More so, the program is hosting a youth clinic for children who are in grades 2 to 5.
The clinic will be after the practice and will start at 5:15 p.m.
By Staff Report | Advance News Journal
Opinion
If you’re anything like me, as you get older you become more cynical or wary of people — especially on the road.
That’s why TxDOT is spreading awareness with its “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign — as part of Operation Slowdown — which will be until Aug. 2.
According to TxDOT, the organization will partner with law enforcement to increase patrols and stop drivers who are speeding or driving too fast.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
Too bad that U.S. Sen. John Neely Kennedy is from my home state of Louisiana simply because I hate to have any connection with the simpleton.
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
You can tell that a government is in trouble when it starts making threats against its own people as to what it will do if it loses power.
Iran’s leadership did exactly that last week. If the regime falls, it promises to unleash all its remaining missiles on its own people, city by city. Not only that, but it promises to escape to nearby Arab states where it plans to disrupt the workings of those states.
Why should that surprise us?
By Tom Haughey | Advance News Journal
Lifestyle
This week, Cinderella Pet Rescue is featuring two very good dogs in need of homes to call their own–Bistro and Cafe–big dogs with big hearts and lots of love to share with a person or family of their very own.
Both dogs are German Shepherd crosses, but each has an unusual colored coat.
Bistro, the good boy
Bistro was born in March, 2024. His main color is fox red, highlighted with black and white. Like a fox, he has a beautiful bushy tail.
By Cory Raymond | Cinderella Pet Rescue
The English pop-music group, The Beatles, has long been considered one of the most popular entertainment acts of all time.
By Chris Voss | First Christian Church
Absurdity in modern-day America is…
“The fact that the San Antonio Spurs managed to blow a 29-point lead last week as they lost the NBA championship to the NY Knicks?”
No, that’s not it.
“How about a guy like Texas AG Ken Paxton, who has enough baggage to sink a naval carrier, beat a relatively decent guy like John Cornyn in last month’s GOP primary?”
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
Obituaries
ALAMO — Juan Manuel Beltran, 86, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at his residence in Alamo.
Juan is survived by five children, Juan Manuel Beltran Jr., Ricardo Beltran, Lorena Almanza, Sylvia Pedroza, Claudia Beltran; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and five siblings, Isabel Beltran, Maria Luisa Flores, San Juana Beltran, Irene Beltran, Diana Flores and Pedro Beltran.
Joel Badillo, 64, passed away Thursday, July 23, 2026, at The Heights of Alamo.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Reyes and Aurelia Badillo; and brother, Mario Javier Badillo.
EDINBURG — Pablo M. “Meme Chiquito” Guzman, 58, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Pablo R. Guzman and Concepcion De Luna; numerous siblings; and his in-laws, Francisco and Maria Aleman.
Photo Galleries
SAN JUAN — The PSJA Bears, who are arguably the best team in the RGV, won their first postseason game against the Harlingen Cardinals on Thursday by the score of 13-0.
The second game is set for Harlingen on Friday. If there is a third game needed, it will be on Saturday in San Juan at 1 p.m.
The UTRGV Vaqueros (5-8. 0-3) took a regular season series against the Texas Southern University Tigers during a home stretch in Edinburg.
On Wednesday, the Vaqueros took the commanding win, 10-4. The night before that, they won 5-3.
This weekend, starting on Friday, UTRGV will host a Southland Conference three-game series against New Orleans University.
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