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.
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
PHARR — The City of Pharr has recently been named a finalist for a national award, according to a Monday release.
By Staff Report | Advance News Journal
McALLEN — Community leaders, local officials and international representatives gathered here at the convention center Friday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge.
Today's News
EDINBURG — A former Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District employee turned themselves into the authorities Wednesday after allegations involving an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student.
By Staff Report | Advance News Journal
A sweeping 2023 Texas immigration law that lets state authorities arrest and deport people suspected of having illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border can go into effect after a federal appeals court on Friday lifted a lower court's stoppage of certain provisions.
By Alejandro Serrano And Alex Nguyen | The Texas Tribune
The Pharr Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), will host Doing Business in Pharr, an upcoming business roundtable designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners better understand how to start and grow within the city.
By Special To The Advance
News
CBP seizes fentanyl in Presidio EL PASO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 22.4 kilograms of fentanyl at the Presidio, Texas Port of Entry on July 15.
Buoys that the federal government planned to install as anti- immigration deterrents drifted into the Rio Grande amid severe flooding, prompting officials to close several key bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border near Eagle Pass on Thursday and in Laredo on Sunday.
By Carlos Nogueras Ramos And Alex Nguyen The Texas Tribune
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.
A justice of the peace for 25 years, a dozen years as a PSJA ISD trustee before that, there was simply no denying that Contreras was the real deal when it came to honor and integrity. I have met a few like him, but I wish there were more.
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
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
A local Rio Grande Valley high school athlete recently signed their letter of intent to play at the next level. D’Angelo K. Llarza, along with friends and family, gathered last Wednesday at Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen to celebrate the Warrior’s step to play collegiate baseball at Crowley Ridge College.
Llarza played first base for the Warriors, as well as tabbed as a designated hitter.
He helped Nikki Rowe achieve a 22-12-2 record for the season.
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
EDINBURG — As July bounces into the halfway mark, two local organizations are helping the local community in preparing for the return to school.
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, along with Driscoll, will hold the sixth annual Back to School Expo on Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinbur g.
By P.j. Hernandez Advance News Journal
Opinion
Two weeks ago, I had to text somebody, but being a responsible driver (most of the time), I pulled over to the side of Pecan just opposite the McAllen post office.
I was headed westbound, and there’s a big pull-over lane, apparently so drivers who encounter breakdowns have somewhere to pull over without blocking traffic. My truck was still working, but I figured it would serve my purpose: I needed a place to park for a brief minute and text.
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
A number of people have voiced concern that the border wall will prevent animals from crossing the river. They believe this will particularly affect places like the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge by interfering with natural migration. That, of course, assumes that a significant number of migratory animals live in the area and that those animals are too large to be able to squeeze between the border wall’s bars.
By Tom Haughey Advance News Journal
One of the first interviews I ever did was with Lincoln Borglum. It never appeared in one of these columns but (instead) was televised to the Rio Grande Valley.
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
DONNA — Mary Bard, 80, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2026 at her residence in Donna.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Guadalupe Ibanez; three brothers, John, Alfredo and Richard Ibanez; and three sisters, Elvira Cano, Elida Muniz, and Rosa Palacios.
Mary is survived by her husband, Douglas T. Bard; a son, Douglas Steven (Tiffany) Bard; four grandchildren, David, Vivian, Gwen Maria, and Kati Riza Bard; brother, Joe Ibanez; and numerous nieces and nephews.
PHARR — Julio Muñoz, 61, passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at McAllen Heart Hospital.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Dario Jr. and Maria De La O’ Muñoz.
SAN JUAN — Aristeo Orta, 62, passed away, Monday, July 13, 2026 at his residence in San Juan.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Angel and Maria De Jesus Orta.
Aristeo is survived by the mother of his children, Maria Del Pilar Ceron; three children, Eriberto (Liliana) Orta, Omar Orta, Aridali Orta; and two grandchildren, Eliana Orta and Alyssa Orta.
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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