After the devastating attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent 25 years since, here is what our so–called leaders, from both sides of the aisle, have learned:
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
After the devastating attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent 25 years since, here is what our so–called leaders, from both sides of the aisle, have learned:
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
Hidalgo County is shamefully short of sheriff’s deputies, based on the national average — 2.4 sworn officers per 1,000 residents.
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
Despite record high prices for diesel, it’s time for a chuckle
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
EDINBURG — The Rio Grande Valley Vipers recently announced that the organization will host open tryouts ahead of the 2026-27 season — which is also the 20th in organization history.
EDINBURG — There was a bit of a wake-up call late in the night Sunday as local police and fire departments responded to a single-vehicle collision at the Hidalgo County Courthouse at 11:35 p.m.
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
The City of Mercedes released an announcement Friday stating that its city manager — Alberto Perez — has resigned.
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced that his agency is pausing construction work in Big Bend National Park while he conducts an “on-the-ground evaluation,” reversing course after heavy machinery had begun moving dirt.
By Gabby Birenbaum | The Texas Tribune
(The Center Square) — A Zapata County judge, his family members and campaign staff were served with search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into voter fraud in the Texas border county.
By Bethany Blankley The Center Square
Here are the latest headlines around the state.
Hospitals could lose $27M daily in Medicaid funding With the state’s new fiscal year beginning on Sept. 1, Texas hospitals are expected to lose $27 million per day in additional Medicaid funding, according to the Texas Standard. The shortfall follows the Trump administra tion’s withholding of approval for about $9.8 billion in three programs under the Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program (CHIRP).
By Gary Borders Texas Press Association
McAllen smuggler sentenced for conspiracy that left three dead
A 27-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to prison for his role in a long-term alien smuggling scheme that involved several high-speed pursuits.
Jose Manuel Silva-Lopez pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2025.
By Mcallen —
The UTRGV Vaqueros football squad traveled up north to the Alamodome to take on the University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners on Saturday.
UTSA (1-0) took the win in commanding fashion, 45-16, to hand the Vaqueros (1-1) their first loss of the season.
The game did come with much anticipation as the region, including students of UTRGV, local fans and more, organized their efforts to attend the soughtout game. According to local reports, 33,403 people attended the matchup.
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
Region 2 TAAF Regional Records Tiny Tots (6-under) girls
50-Meter Dash | Daisy Escalante | Edinburg | 8.64 | 2025
100-Meter Dash | Sienna Perez | Weslaco | 16.04 | 2021
50-Meter Dash | Andres Ureste | Pharr | 8.00 | 2026
100-Meter Dash | Andres Ureste | Pharr | 15.46 | 2026 *Ureste won 2 state gold medals in the
50 & 100 meter races.
EDINBURG — The Rio Grande Valley Vipers recently announced that the organization will host open tryouts ahead of the 2026-27 season — which is also the 20th in organization history.
The tryout is set for Edinburg at the DHR Health Sports & Wellness Center on Saturday.
The team encourages aspiring participants to bring their “game” and skills to see if they can earn future opportunities.
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
If you’re like most people, you probably can’t wait until the election campaigns are over and Election Day rolls around.
By Tom Haughey Advance News Journal
A lot of things drive me crazy. Over the years, they must have added up, because by now, I’m probably certifiable.
One of the big crazy-makers has been Social Media. In a nutshell, it gives all the crazies in the world a public platform on which they can spout either their insanity or lies as they pertain to local politics. Worst part is, too many people automatically believe what they see posted on, say, Facebook.
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
I was recently listening to a Christian radio station, and I was struck by how much prowar propaganda it had on its airwaves. The craziest dude on the air, who sometimes appears on CNN, Scott Jennings, said we already won the Iran War, so the president should declare victory.
I’m thinking, what happened to this poor guy’s brain?
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
In the Old Testament book of Daniel, the third chapter, is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
These three young Jewish men were captive in King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire, which existed 600 years before the birth of Jesus. The king sent out a royal decree that all his subjects would bow down and worship the idol the king had made of himself. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the idol of the king.
By Chris Voss | First Christian Church
This week, Cinderella Pet Rescue is featuring two active senior dogs, Mabella and Brandi.
We’d like to remind our readers that even though a dog grows older, their ability to love whole-heartedly doesn’t.
Both Mabella and Brandi have lots of loving years left in them and each would be a great companion to a person or family looking for a very good dog.
Meet Mabella
By Cory Raymond Cinderella Pet Rescue
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
ALAMO — Sandra Alonso, 54, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at South Texas Health System Heart in McAllen.
She is preceded in death by her father, Lucio Solis; and a brother, Lucio Solis Jr.
Sandra is survived by her husband, Ernesto Alonso; daughter, Ashley Michelle Alonso; one grandchild; mother, Ana Maria Alonso; sister, Esmeralda Gomez; and numerous nieces and nephews.
EDINBURG — Servando Olivarez Treviño, 83, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at South Texas Health System Edinburg.
A laborer and rancher who spent many years working the land with strength, perseverance, and pride. He was never afraid of a long days work and understood the meaning of sacrifice and providing for those he loved.
“Rancho San Jose, tierra que lo vio nacer.”
ALAMO —Martina Villanueva, 83, died Saturday, September 5, 2026, at South Texas Health System in McAllen.
She is preceded in death by her son, Leonardo Valdez.
PHARR — The PSJA North Raiders hosted the Lyndon B. Johnson Wolves out of Laredo here at PSJA ISD Stadium on Thursday.
The Raiders looked to be victorius as they took the scrimmage, 42-7.
Both squads look to start their seasons next week. The Wolves will take on Laredo Nixon on Friday.
The Raiders will travel to Laredo to take on the United Longhorns the same day.
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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