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Officials defend using temporary containers, cruise ship as lodging at Asian Games
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — The Olympic Council of Asia is attempting to quell complaints about lodging for athletes and officials at the Asian Games, which includes the use of converted wooden containers. The OCA said Friday that all “17,000-plus athletes and officials” that registered...
safety
Fireworks, 2 anthems and a full house: Bills beat Lions in 1st regular-season game at new stadium
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — In opening the Buffalo Bills' new stadium, rookie coach Joe Brady was more interested in seeing his team put on a clinic rather than a show. Turns out, Brady got to see both in a 41-31 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night in the Bills' first ...
Local
Increased participationin civic organizationsa welcome development
La Unión del Pueblo Entero reports that membership, and participation are up in the Rio Grande Valley, especially among younger residents. Leaders of the community activist group say more people attended LUPE’s membership summit in August, forcing it to move the event from ...
News
Photo Gallery: Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots hold off Los Fresnos Falcons, 35-31
Mission Veterans Memorial’s Roman Reyna, left, drags Los Fresnos Aaron Saldana, right, as he lunges for a score during a game at Tom Landry Stadium Thursday Sept.17, 2026 in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com) Mission Veterans Memorial’s Fabian Ruiz, right, with a cat...
News
Rain chances unlikely to bring meaningful relief as drought worsens
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The showers in the Thursday forecast stayed mostly offshore, as the atmosphere across the Valley remained relatively dry due to lingering Saharan dust and pockets of dry air. A similar setup is expected on Friday, with rain chances remaining at...
parks
Angel Reese has 30 points and 10 rebounds to help the Dream rout the Sun 103-59
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Angel Reese scored 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and had 10 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream rout the Connecticut Sun 103-59 on Thursday night in the first WNBA game following a nearly three-week break for the FIBA World Cup. A key member of the winnin...
News
With mentors like Christan McCaffrey and Matthew McConaughey, Bijan Robinson just gets better
Bijan Robinson can do it all on the football field as one of the NFL’s best all-around running backs. The Atlanta Falcons’ All-Pro is impressive on camera, too. Robinson studied acting in college and has looked like a natural in a few television roles, including a Colgate commerc...
News
LSU QB Sam Leavitt upgraded to 'questionable' on the SEC injury report for the Mississippi game
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was upgraded to “questionable” Thursday night on the Southeastern Conference injury report after initially being listed as “doubtful” for Saturday's game at Mississippi. The change increases the probability that Leavitt will be under center when No. 7 ...
government
CFP issues statement clarifying how committee can respond to Michigan-Western Michigan result
The College Football Playoff says it can’t change the outcome of any games played during the regular season but notes that its selection committee relies on various measures beyond wins and losses. The CFP issued its statement on Thursday, following the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivi...
safety
Authorities seize about 92 pounds of cocaine at Harlingen airport
T wo people were arrested Wednesday morning after attempting to smuggle nearly 92 pounds of cocaine through the Valley International Airport in Harlingen. Tamya Jones and Shmair Williams were attempting to board a flight from Harlingen to Houston when the baggage inspection revea...
parks
Spice of Life: Leo’s Grill brings exotic flavor to Brownsville
I ndian cuisine has officially arrived in Brownsville. Thank Leo and Latha Titus, who opened Leo’s Grill in Port Isabel less than two years ago to rave reviews and just recently launched a takeout location next to 7th & Park coffee/bike shop at 1554 E. Seventh St. in Brownsville,...
government
Harlingen votes down proposed half-cent tax hike; passes $72M general fund budget
H ARLINGEN — The city’s property tax rate won’t be going up this year. Amid some residents’ opposition to a proposed half-cent tax hike , commissioners voted 4-1 to keep the tax rate at 0.5260 per $100 valuation, two weeks after the board proposed the first tax rate increase in s...
parks
Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes turn focus to new season by opening preseason camp
Barely three months had passed since the Carolina Hurricanes finally punched through a playoff roadblock to win another Stanley Cup when it was time to turn their attention forward to another season. The confidence and experience gained from that run? Invaluable. Dwelling on it b...
library
Ex-ICE agent appears in court after detainment in Minneapolis
Christian Castro A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent made his first appearance in court Thursday after he was booked in the Hennepin County Jail the day prior. Christian Castro was working with ICE when he was accused of shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Vene...
Local
'I know I will get cured': Valley teen battles cancer for a second time, 65 diagnosed yearly
MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — At 16 years old, Brianne Valdez is facing cancer for the second time. The teenager is once again undergoing treatment after doctors discovered another tumor just months after she finished her first round of chemotherapy and radiation. Despite the ...
safety
Man arrested at Hidalgo port with over 600 images of child sexual abuse
Hidalgo Port of Entry is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy: CBP) A call to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline led to the arrest of a man who had more than 600 videos of child sexual abuse material at the Hidalgo port of entry on Tuesday. Jose...
schools
New initiative aims to connect Valley students to construction industry opportunities
T here will be acronyms. Rio Grande Valley Linking Economic and Academic Development (RGV LEAD) are teaming up with the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association (RGVBA) with a memorandum of agreement to establish the RGV LEAD Architecture and Construction Workforce Pipeline Initiat...
News
Quinn Hughes isn't sweating contract talks with the Wild, doesn't see the season start as a deadline
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Quinn Hughes unwound after an especially eventful hockey season with the usual retreat to his lake home in Michigan, soaking up the summer with his brothers and their friends. Hughes would prefer if everyone would relax about his contract situation, too. As...
government
Week 4: High School Football Scoreboard
government
'History is being made': RJ Mitte talks new state designation for Brownsville's Mitte Cultural District
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — New opportunities for artists and creatives could come as a new state designation brings more funding and resources to Brownsville. The Texas Commission on the Arts officially designated the Mitte Cultural District a Texas Cultural District. The...
safety
Traffic redirected in Harlingen after tractor-trailer flips over: Police
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A tractor-trailer flipped on the southbound expressway in Harlingen, causing traffic delays and detours, police said Thursday afternoon. The curved southbound expressway near Valle Vista Mall is closed as crews work to clear the scene. Harlingen...
News
Bail set for ICE officer accused of lying and assault in non-fatal shooting in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal immigration officer charged with shooting a Venezuelan man during the immigration crackdown that roiled Minneapolis early this year made a brief first appearance Thursday before a Minnesota judge, following months of legal and political battles over w...
schools
Watch live high school football games on ValleyCentral+
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — ValleyCentral is partnering with school districts across the Rio Grande Valley to bring live high school football games to our viewers at the click of a button. ValleyCentral is the only news station in the region to bring you live broadcasts fr...
News
NHL star Alex Ovechkin says he's 'for peace and love' after appearing in ad for Putin-aligned party
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin said Thursday that he is all “for peace and love" after the Russian hockey star appeared in an ad for a party aligned with Vladimir Putin during the offseason. The video for the United Russia party came to light this week, days before Ovechkin'...
News
New poll shows Hinojosa ahead of Abbott for first time, Talarico leads Paxton
ReconMR/Siena finds Gina Hinojosa up 4 points on the three-term governor while James Talarico leads Ken Paxton by 6.
schools
Rio Hondo community celebrates renovated Bobcat Stadium
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Hondo community gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate the newly renovated Bobcat Stadium. The Rio Hondo Independent School District broke ground on the $6 million sports complex renovation in June. "It's truly a blessing just to see th...
parks
Harlingen seeks input for improvements at soccer complex
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department is applying for a grant to improve the city's soccer complex — and it needs input from area residents. Harlingen Parks Director Juan Mendiola is asking the community to complete the survey with sugge...
News
US Olympic gold medal-winners asking for trades shakes up the NHL landscape
What happened in Milan did not stay in Milan. It may have changed the course of NHL history. Since the U.S. won gold at the Olympics in February, three members of that team asked for a trade and another was the subject of serious trade talk that did not materialize. Brady Tkachuk...
Local
Gulf Cartel lieutenant sentenced to 12 years in prison
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A high-ranking member of the Gulf Cartel who provided drug smugglers with more than 13,000 pounds of marijuana is headed to federal prison. Cleofas Alberto Martinez Gutierrez reported to Samuel “Metro 3” Flores Borrego, the plaza boss in Reynosa. ...
News
UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into conduct in football program concludes
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Investigators looking into conduct within Bill Belichick's North Carolina football program examined a range of allegations tied to potential drug use, inappropriate relationships and NCAA rule violations. They talked to the six-time Super Bowl-winning coa...
News
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson to make an appearance on 'Law & Order: SVU' this fall
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson will make a guest-starring appearance on “Law & Order: SVU” this fall. NBC announced Thursday that Brunson will appear in the season’s fifth episode, which is scheduled to air Nov. 5. Details on Brunson’s exact role weren’t revea...
parks
Caitlin Clark’s Nike signature shoe arrives Oct. 1, with 'Caitlin Blue' and 'Warning Code Yellow'
Caitlin Clark doesn't have much longer to wait for her first signature shoe to come out. They will be available starting Oct. 1 in the U.S. and a week earlier in China. “I’m just super excited,” she told The Associated Press in Germany last week. “I look down at my feet and I’m, ...
News
Real Betis keeps flying in La Liga with 1-0 win over Getafe. Crete, Salzburg win in Europa League
Real Betis continued its flying start to the Spanish league season with a 1-0 victory over Getafe on Thursday. Abde Ezzalzouli scored at the end of the first half after a video review confirmed he didn’t handle the ball in the build-up. He connected on a low shot from the center ...
News
Knicks pause ticket sales after mistake caused them to be listed at prices too high
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks said Thursday they are pausing ticket sales after a mistake caused them to be listed for amounts that were too high. The NBA champions put individual game tickets for the 2026-27 season on sale this week. The get-in price for the Oct. 20 season...
News
NFL says teams can't sign Zxavian Harris and Dae'Quan Wright after they attempted to play for LSU
NEW YORK (AP) — Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright are ineligible to join any NFL teams this season after they attempted to return to college and play for LSU, the league said in a memo sent to each NFL team. Harris was a defensive tackle and Wright played tight end for Mississip...
News
Editorial: Congress could soon decide if disabled vets entitled to full retirement
A fter much delay, the U.S. House of Representatives soon should debate whether military veterans receiving disability benefits should receive full retirement benefits as well. On Tuesday a 218th House member signed a petition to force a reluctant Speaker Mike Johnson to place on...
government
Video shows Messi pointing his finger at MLS commissioner Don Garber during postgame exchange
MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi pointed his finger at MLS commissioner Don Garber on multiple occasions while speaking with him after Inter Miami’s game with Cruz Azul on Wednesday. Postgame video showed Messi pointing at Garber and speaking to him before walking away. He then appears ...
business
Commentary: Short‑term economic forecast
T exas and its metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions are projected to see notable economic expansion from 2025 to 2030 despite national and global uncertainties and significant headwinds. The pace will be uneven and likely backloaded to the later segments of t...
News
Pulisic left off US roster by Pochettino, 16-year-old Sullivan among 13 who could make debuts
NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Pulisic is out and 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan is in. Mauricio Pochettino picked 13 newcomers Thursday for the first roster of his second term as U.S. coach, dropping the team's top star and picking a forward who could become the youngest American nationa...
News
More young people are getting involved with South Texas civil rights group amid Trump’s immigration crackdown
By Berenice Garcia | The Texas Tribune P HARR — Kimberly Trujillo became a card-carrying member of La Unión del Pueblo Entero only two months ago. But already, she’s stepped into a leadership position for one of the organization’s most important events. The 24-year-old Brownsvill...
News
SpaceX pushes back target date for Starship 14 test flight
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — SpaceX pushed back the target date for its next launch by several days and is now eyeing Monday, Sept. 28, for its Starship 14 test flight. The flight is still pending regulatory approval. SpaceX previously announced that it expected to launch i...
News
Texas' Sarkisian says he could have 'better' handled postgame interview that spawned fake videos
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday he should have “better” handled his postgame interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the win over Ohio State, and acknowledged the testy exchange led to the creation of fake videos and an apology from star quart...
parks
Statewide beach cleanup campaign seeks South Padre Island volunteers
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Volunteers are needed for a statewide beach cleanup campaign taking place in the Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. The Adopt-A-Beach Fall Coastwide Cleanup will take place at 25 locations statewide, including three in the Rio Grande Valley. Accordi...
business
BBB Rio Grande Valley warns of fake job offers
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Better Business Bureau Rio Grande Valley on Thursday urged job seekers to watch out for unexpected job offers. According to the BBB, people are using fake employment opportunities to steal money and personal information from job seekers. The...
Local
Valley Storm Team talks drought, rain and autumn
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Some areas of the Rio Grande Valley have officially earned an "exceptional" title — and not in a good way. Due to the very dry conditions that have persisted, the recently released drought data indicates some areas of the Valley have entered the...
News
Spying scandal is still haunting Southampton as Wrexham's celebrity owners have a dig
Another week, another taunt as Southampton continues to be dogged by its conduct in the “Spygate” soccer scandal. This time, the jibes are coming from Wrexham’s famous co-owners. Ahead of a match between the teams in England’s second-tier Championship on Saturday, Ryan Reynolds a...
News
Rain is in the forecast but don't expect a washout
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A surge of moisture from the Gulf as high pressure weakens could bring daily showers and non-severe thunderstorms. The ample surface moisture could mean a lot of rain in a short time, so localized, minor flooding can't be ruled out. This threat ...
News
Another popular squishy toy for kids recalled over 'risk of serious injury or death'
It's what is within the toys that causes concern, according to federal regulators.
News
Lewis Hamilton denies he's sought to replace any staff at Ferrari as his F1 title bid fades
MARANELLO, Italy (AP) — Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he has “never asked” for any of Ferrari's staff to be replaced and praised their dedication after some tense radio exchanges over team strategy in recent Formula 1 races. Hamilton's denial follows a report Tuesday in Italian ne...
government
Talarico neck and neck with Paxton in new Texas Senate poll
Democrat James Talarico, a state lawmaker, and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton remain deadlocked in the Texas Senate race less than seven weeks out from Election Day, according to a new poll released Thursday. The Hill/Emerson College Polling survey found 47 percent of sta...
government
Week 3 Team of the Week Winner: Edinburg Vela
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The votes are in for the Valley Sports Central Team of the Week. Our Valley Sports team nominated three local football teams to claim the title of Team of the Week. Nearly 1,500 viewers cast votes for their Team of the Week pick. Here are the r...
News
Burna Boy to headline halftime at the NFL's first regular-season game in Paris
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Burna Boy is returning to Stade de France for another historic moment, headlining halftime at the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris. The Grammy-winning Nigerian star will perform Oct. 25 when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at Stade d...
News
US Open runner-up Ben Shelton withdraws from Laver Cup and is replaced by Brandon Nakashima
LONDON (AP) — U.S. Open runner-up Ben Shelton withdrew from the Laver Cup and will be replaced by 16th-ranked Brandon Nakashima on Team World, organizers announced Thursday. No reason was given for Shelton’s withdrawal but he's slated to play Davis Cup for the United States in th...
News
English cricket club gets points deduction after pitch is damaged by heat and Bollywood filming
LONDON (AP) — Storied English cricket club Leicestershire faces relegation after it was docked 27 points for the poor state of its playing surface, despite the head groundsman arguing that the conditions were due to extreme heat and a Bollywood film shoot just days before a game....
News
Klopp wants to 'reclaim the flag' as Germany coach as he calls up 44 players for his first games
Jürgen Klopp said he wants to help spread national pride in Germany as he announced a super-sized first roster as national team coach with an appeal to “reclaim the flag.” Klopp is aiming to reconnect German soccer fans with their team after yet another World Cup failure. With a ...
News
WNBA returns after a 3-week World Cup break, with 4 games left and seeding at stake
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is set to resume it season Thursday after a nearly three-week break for the women's FIBA World Cup. It will be a sprint to the finish with each team having four games left. While the playoffs teams are set, their positioning is still up from grabs. With o...
News
Baker Mayfield doesn't need extra motivation facing the Browns
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield doesn’t need extra motivation after a turnover-filled performance in Week 1. His former team provides it anyway. Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in their home opener after starting the season with a ...