Journalist · 4 articles indexed on The McAllen
Omar Zapata is a bylined journalist whose reporting appears on The McAllen. We aggregate Omar Zapata's work from trusted local sources with full attribution, linking back to the original publisher. To learn more about how we select and review stories, see our editorial standards.
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EDINBURG — Gisela Saenz got the nod. In a board meeting Tuesday night, the Edinburg CISD school board voted to appoint Saenz interim superintendent. Saenz formerly served as La Joya ISD’s superintende
In a meeting on June 17, the La Joya ISD school board voted to adopt a balanced budget for next school year with 3% employee raises, increasing starting teacher pay and continuing Pre-K services to st
Mission native Dulce Leal Rodriguez’s passion for art has led her to compete in “The People’s Artist,” a nationwide competition in which the winner gets $25,000, a feature in Artforum Magazine and to
McALLEN — With our summer weather being as unpredictable as ever, sometimes all you want is a good simple burger. There’s no food more synonymous with summer than hamburgers, an American classic. Mayb
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
Ja Morant is headed to Portland, after the Trail Blazers and Memphis completed a trade Monday night that sees the Grizzlies starting anew and gives the two-time All-Star a chance to revive his career. Portland sent forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies as part of the deal. It’s a...
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — José Canale wasn’t in the starting lineup in either of his previous two appearances for Paraguay in this World Cup. He made his first start a memorable one. Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay...
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sportsbook operators anticipated this year's World Cup would set betting records because the major elements were aligned. The world's most popular sporting event is being played in North America, so U.S. audiences can see the games live while the sun is out or in the early evenin...
MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Community members are sharing stories of compassion and service after a Valley nun and registered nurse was briefly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while walking to Sunday Mass. According to the office of Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz,...
NBA free agency in 2010: Everyone waited for LeBron James to make a decision. NBA free agency in 2026: Everyone is waiting again for James to make a decision. James was the biggest domino to fall in the NBA's offseason player movement period 16 years ago when he decided to join Miami, and he may ...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The South Texas Independent School District Science Academy Dragons are now national champions after competing at the 2026 Esports Series Championship in Orlando, Florida. The games were held June 25 through the 28 at Full Sail University and brought together th...
LONDON (AP) — Anticipation is building at Wimbledon for Serena Williams’ first singles match in nearly four years. The 44-year-old Williams is scheduled to play an opponent less than half her age, 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia, in the third match Tuesday on Centre Court — the patch of grass...
LONDON (AP) — Defending champion Jannik Sinner had to come back from a set down twice and regain his composure following a worrisome tumble to the grass in a five-set victory over 50th-ranked Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday. A month after his French Open meltdown, the ...
HOUSTON (AP) — With Brazil trailing for much of the game and with extra time looming, Gabriel Martinelli came through in a big, big way at the World Cup. Martinelli entered the game as a second-half substitute and put an end to Japan’s near-upset on Monday, scoring the winning goal late in injury...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The South Texas Ecotourism Center in Laguna Vista is hosting a summer series that allows guests to visit the facility after hours at no cost. After Dark 2026, the latest series by the South Texas Ecotourism Center, welcomes guests to explore the facility for a n...
The NFL's Detroit Lions on Monday released cornerback Terrion Arnold, only days after his arrest over allegations that he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men who prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of having stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him. The team made the...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Cameron County Sheriff's Office says its Prisoners at Work Program continues to keep the community and local cemeteries clean. According to the Cameron County Sheriff's Office, on Monday morning, workers cleaned up two cemeteries located in the county. One c...
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — U.S. captain Tim Ream says his teammates all recognize the golden opportunity in front of them to make their nation's best World Cup run in their home tournament over the following days — and hopefully weeks. Yet instead of feeling amplified pressure under the raised expecta...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A beloved Italian restaurant located in the heart of the mid-Valley was recently recognized for its 60-year milestone of service and hospitality, according to a news release from the Mercedes Economic Development Corporation. Over the course of 60 years, Cortino...
The South Texas border town of Laredo is taking extra precautions after a case of New World screwworm was found in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande. Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño said Saturday that every animal entering the city's public animal shelter is now being inspected for cut...
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders says he feels like his old — and younger — self again a year after undergoing surgery to remove his cancerous bladder. “I consider myself cancer-free," thanks to robotic surgery that also reconstructed his bladder using part of his intestine, Sand...
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic witnessed a marriage proposal in the crowd at Centre Court during his Wimbledon first-round match Monday and was quick to ask for an invitation to the wedding. After Djokovic won the first set against Wu Yibing of China, one man in the crowd took the opportunity to po...
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty or Las Vegas Aces will make history on Tuesday in the Commissioner's Cup championship as the winner will become the first franchise to win the in-season tournament twice. There have been five different winners in the five years of the tournament. Las Vegas was...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 5-year-old child who was ejected from a vehicle during a rollover crash on the Alamo expressway earlier this month is in stable condition, according to the Alamo Police Department. The child sustained severe head trauma and was in critical condition following ...
LONDON (AP) — Wimbledon's strict rules about all-white clothing didn't prevent Naomi Osaka from making another fashion statement as she walked onto the grass at the All England Club on Monday. Osaka, who has made a habit of creating a buzz with her creative outfits at recent Grand Slam tournament...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of McAllen is seeking input from residents who live, work, visit and invest in the downtown entertainment district during an open house scheduled for Monday evening. City officials say the open house — scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McAllen Chamber o...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Now that summer break is underway, it’s a perfect time to start knocking out all the exciting summer activities available in the Rio Grande Valley. One of the most fun and iconic ways to spend a hot summer day is at Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island. To cel...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Farah Mazid Saddah is a writer and a poet whose work explores identity, resilience, and the transformative power of the human spirit. Throughout her journey as an author, she has published five books: "Princess of the Tide", "Belong to the World", "The Global Ro...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The city of Harlingen was recognized as an All-America City by the National Civic League on Sunday. The National Civic League, an organization whose goal is to advance inclusive civic engagement, named Harlingen a recipient of the 2026 All-America City Award, wh...
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Viktor Hovland got all the validation he needed Monday that his game was on track again, and a whole lot more. He beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the Travelers Championship, had both parents from Norway watch him win for the first time and even did the “row” with the...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — No major injuries were reported after three vehicles caught fire in rural Cameron County over the weekend. According to the Los Fresnos Fire Department, at approximately 1:09 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a vehicle rollover with multiple vehicles on fire...
Australian striker Sam Kerr is joining Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer league after spending the past six-plus seasons with Chelsea. Gotham announced signing Kerr on Monday to a deal that will keep her with the team through 2030. The move marks a return to the NWSL for Kerr, who previous...
Chris Johnson, one of nine players in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season who made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years with the Tennessee Titans, revealed in a television interview aired Monday that he has ALS. Johnson, 40, spent 10 seasons in the league and [...]
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man accused of smuggling nearly 500 pounds of marijuana through Starr County pleaded not guilty last week. David Garcia, 27, of Zapata waived his right to arraignment on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty. The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Garcia afte...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A death investigation is underway after a man was found on a driveway in Rancho Viejo Monday morning, according to Rancho Viejo police Chief Arturo Huerta. At about 7:30 a.m., Rancho Viejo police responded to a home on the 700 block of Zapata Ave regarding a man...
Editor's note: The video above is from previous coverage. HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In a statement on Sunday, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen said the city's priority is safety following the recent shutdown of several businesses in the Midtown Entertainment District. According to Mayor Cowe...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A broad ridge extending over the eastern lower-48 will enforce the same weather conditions all week long, and the Fourth of July holiday weekend is just on the horizon. Right now the data shows a similar weather pattern with sunshine, minimal rain chances, hot ...
Pete Alonso played his 500th consecutive game this week, although if he wanted that to seem impressive to local fans, he probably picked the wrong city to play in. Alonso, of course, joined the Baltimore Orioles this past offseason. Their franchise record for consecutive games is also the big lea...
ATLANTA (AP) — Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar that poured a fortune into soccer and infrastructure experienced unceremonious exits from the World Cup, proving that big money doesn’t guarantee success on the sport's biggest stage. Saudi Arabia is out at the earliest point. Again. Botto...
BOSTON (AP) — Sonny Gray was almost overloaded with reasons to celebrate. As if taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning and reaching 2,000 career strikeouts weren't enough, his brilliant outing Sunday night for Boston came against the rival New York Yankees — a team Gray once pitched for and ha...
BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran singled home the winning run to cap a three-run rally in the 10th inning after Boston blew a two-run lead in the ninth, and the Red Sox finished a four-game sweep of the rival New York Yankees with a 5-4 victory Sunday night. Boston starter Sonny Gray took a no-hitter [...
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Nelly Korda moved within three strokes of the lead as she made the turn in the final round of the Women's PGA Championship, before three sharp shots gave her a birdie on the 10th hole. Winning a third straight major to start the season was within reach for Korda on this [...]
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler made an 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole Sunday and pumped his fist with more emotion than he showed all day, just for the right to return Monday at the rain-delayed Travelers Championship to face a sudden-death playoff against Viktor Hovland. The final ro...
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Haeran Ryu recovered from a rough start to secure her first career major title, winning the Women's PGA Championship by two strokes over Ina Yoon on a windy Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Ryu shot a 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275 and become the sixth South Kore...
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Multiple fire department agencies responded to a major house fire in Edinburg on Sunday, according to the Edinburg Fire Department. At approximately 1 p.m., dispatch received a call regarding a lot of black smoke in the area off of Kyle Street in Edinburg. When ...
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