🍖 RGV BBQ Legend Named James Beard Semifinalist! 🏆🔥

A huge congratulations to George Watts III of GW's BBQ Catering Co. in San Juan, who has just been named a Semifinalist for the 2026 James Beard Awards (Best Chef: Texas).

The James Beard Awards are the 'Oscars of the Food World.' This year, George is the ONLY chef or restaurant from the entire Rio Grande Valley to make the list, putting San Juan on the national map alongside heavy hitters from Houston and Austin.

📍 Location: GW's BBQ Catering Co. 107 N Nebraska Ave, San Juan, TX

COLD FRONT BRINGING FREEZING TEMPS TO RGV THIS WEEKEND
National Weather Service Brownsville reports that a cold front is forecast to sweep through the Rio Grande Valley this weekend, ushering in much colder air starting Saturday afternoon. Residents across the region should prepare for temperatures that are expected to drop below freezing during the early morning hours on both Sunday and Monday.

📷 NWS Brownsville

Harlingen, Texas
HARLINGEN: $31M WATERWORKS DECISION ON THE TABLE WEDNESDAY

The Harlingen City Commission and Harlingen Waterworks are gathering for a 15-minute high-stakes joint meeting this Wednesday to vote on a massive $31 million investment into the city’s water and sewer infrastructure. This funding, spread across several bond series and agreements.

This meeting involves the approval of three distinct series of bonds and funding agreements, totaling $31,681,404:

Series 2026 (WLAF): $8.26 million for system-wide improvements.

Series 2026A (WLAF): $8.305 million for targeted infrastructure upgrades.

Series 2026B (EDAP): $25.116 million, representing the largest portion of the investment for sewer and waterworks expansion.

With a Regular Commission meeting scheduled to start just 15 minutes later, the city has a very narrow window to discuss the three major bond series and funding

Meeting Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, @ 5:30 PM.

📍 City Hall, Town Hall Meeting Room (2nd Floor), 118 E. Tyler Avenue, Harlingen, Texas

Rio Grande City, Texas
Back in August 2025, we shared the early permits for 7 Brew Coffee coming to town. Now, the City of Rio Grande City has officially welcomed 7brew and dropped some major updates on the timeline!

Here is the latest confirmed info:

Construction will start February 2, 2026 (New Date!)

The estimated timeline to build is 60 days. (Meaning we could see them open as early as April!)
$1.5 Million into the RGC community

The prefab stand is coming to East U.S. Highway 83, and with a 2-month build time, this location is going to pop up fast.

📸 City of Rio Grande City

San Juan, Texas
New Goodwill Opening in San Juan!

We’ve been watching the renovations at the former Walgreens building, and it’s finally official: Goodwill is opening its doors on Wednesday, February 12th!

Located right behind the H-E-B plus!, this spacious new location will be the perfect spot to hunt for hidden gems. The "Opening Soon" sign is officially up.

📍 824 N Veterans Blvd, San Juan, TX 78589 (Former Walgreens building)

South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island Awarded Historic $200M Coast Guard Project 🇺🇸🚤

The largest single construction project in the 235-year history of the U.S. Coast Guard is happening right here on South Padre Island.

The Coast Guard has officially awarded a $200 Million contract to completely rebuild and expand the SPI station.

This project isn't just an upgrade; it's a recovery. On April 20, 2025, a fire severely damaged the station's boathouse. Despite the destruction, crews were back on patrol the very next day.

Work begins immediately. Completion is set for Summer 2028.

📸 US Coast Guard

Mission, Texas
Mission Passes Strict New Rules on Car Washes!

Big changes have been announced regarding new car wash developments in Mission. On January 13, the City moved forward with a new ordinance aimed at managing locations for better water conservation.

There will be 🚫 NO NEW car wash built within 1 MILE of an existing one.

This ordinance was passed as a necessary water conservation measure due to ongoing drought conditions in the area.

CAMERON COUNTY CONFIRMS DATA CENTER NEGOTIATIONS EAST OF AIRPORT

Cameron County officials have officially confirmed they are conducting due diligence for a massive data center project proposed for 1,800 acres east of Valley International Airport. While County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. released a statement emphasizing that no "formal business proposal" or permitting applications have been submitted yet, Cameron County Economic Development Director Ramiro Aleman confirmed in a separate interview that county officials have been in discussions with the developers for several months. The statement also noted that the county has limited legal authority to restrict businesses that comply with state standards, though officials are reviewing environmental studies regarding water and energy consumption.
https://myrgv.com/local-ne...

CAMERON COUNTY DATA CENTER UPDATE

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. released a statement today addressing growing community concerns regarding the potential construction of a data center.
The Judge confirmed that the County is conducting due diligence and reviewing studies on the environmental impacts of such facilities, specifically regarding water and energy consumption. While acknowledging that the County is in "constant communication" with various business prospects including data centers, Treviño stated that as of now, no formal business proposal or permitting applications have been submitted. He also noted that the County has limited authority to restrict businesses that comply with all applicable standards.

Two RGV Residents Just Claimed $1 Million Each! 💸

Two separate residents from the Rio Grande Valley have officially claimed $1 MILLION top prizes from the Texas Lottery.

A San Benito resident became an instant millionaire after purchasing a winning 'Instant Millions' ticket.
📍 Sold at: Stooky Mart (1608 E. Business 77, San Benito)

A resident from Rio Grande City also claimed a $1 Million prize, but they struck gold while out of town! Their winning 'Million Dollar Loteria' ticket was purchased in San Antonio.
📍 Sold at: H-E-B Food Store 427 (SW Military Dr, San Antonio)

Both winners chose to remain anonymous

Starbase, Texas — The transformation of the Rio Grande Valley from a quiet coastal region to a central hub of the U.S. military-industrial base was solidified Monday as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited SpaceX’s Starbase facility. Accompanied by Elon Musk and Senator John Cornyn, Hegseth outlined a vision where commercial innovation drives national security, backed by a confirmed $740 million federal infusion for defense-related work at SpaceX.

"There is nothing like this in America. There is nothing like this in the world," Hegseth stated regarding the Starbase launch site.

While the Secretary focused on national defense, new data highlights the profound economic shift occurring locally. Once frequently cited as one of the poorest regions in the nation per capita, Cameron County is seeing a rapid industrialization.

According to recent economic analyses, SpaceX’s operations now support approximately 24,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region. The physical footprint of the company continues to expand as well, with the construction of "Gigabay," a massive manufacturing facility designed to produce Starship rockets at scale.

The partnership signals a long term integration of private spaceflight and military capability. Musk closed the event by reiterating his broader goals, stating that the technology developed at Starbase is intended to "make Star Trek real," eventually allowing humanity to travel to other star systems.

For the Rio Grande Valley, the visit confirms that Starbase is no longer a temporary experiment, but a federally backed pillar of U.S. defense strategy.

Edinburg, Texas
The Hidalgo County Appraisal District (HCAD) is officially moving operations to a new facility in Edinburg. The district has registered a major construction project to renovate the 62,000-square-foot space at the Edinburg Town Center on Closner Blvd, which locals will recognize as the former Teleperformance location next to the Echo Hotel. The renovation is scheduled to begin this February and aims to be completed by September 2026, marking a significant shift from their current offices on Professional Drive.

📍 1701 S. Closner Blvd, Edinburg, Texas

McAllen, Texas

The Texas A&M College of Nursing officially launches its inaugural cohort in the Rio Grande Valley today, January 12, with 25 students beginning classes at the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM). This long-awaited expansion offers the same rigorous Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum and "Aggie Ring" available at the main campus, allowing local students to serve their community while staying close to home. The program is anchored by a major infrastructure investment, including the new $49.9 million Nursing Education and Research Building, which features a 10,000-square-foot clinical simulation center to help address the region's critical health care needs.

📸 Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen

Mission, Texas
The Mission City Council is considering a new ordinance that would significantly restrict where new car washes can be built in the city. If approved, the new rule would prevent any new car wash establishment from opening within a one-mile radius of an existing one, effectively putting a cap on how close these businesses can be to one another.

Several cities in the Rio Grande Valley and across the U.S. have already passed similar "anti-clustering" laws to stop car wash saturation.

McAllen, Texas (ETJ)
$1 BILLION MEDICAL POWERHOUSE HEADED TO WALLACE (SHARY) AND MONTE CRISTO
A massive $1 billion healthcare development is set to transform the northern outskirts of McAllen as the Texas General Medical Center prepares to break ground. Located at the intersection of Shary Road and Monte Cristo Road, this 300-bed acute care hospital will become a regional hub for advanced surgery and medical research. The project is expected to create 4,000 clinical and support jobs while anchoring a new surgical innovation campus. With construction beginning this year and a target opening in 2028.

Starbase, Texas
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to deliver his third major "Arsenal of Freedom" speech at SpaceX's Starbase on Monday, January 12, 2026. Hegseth has been using this nationwide tour to promote a "wartime footing" and a move toward rapid, commercial-first defense manufacturing. Tomorrow's visit will see him address the SpaceX workforce and leadership, likely including Elon Musk, to emphasize the facility's critical role in American "peace through strength".

Mission, Texas

🌮👑 Eddie’s Tacos (filed as Eddie's Taqueria) has filed permits to build a brand-new ground-up restaurant on Griffin Parkway.

The $1,344,576 project involves the new construction of a 3,251-square-foot standalone restaurant.

Construction is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026, with a target completion date of August 21, 2026.

📍 1730 W Griffin Pkwy, Mission, TX 78572

Harlingen, Texas

HARLINGEN RESIDENTS UNITE AGAINST POSSIBLE DATA CENTER

A wave of concerned citizens dominated the public comment section of the January 7 City Commission meeting to oppose a rumored AI data center project. Citing fears of secret land deals and non-disclosure agreements, speakers warned that the proposed facility could consume millions of gallons of water daily and threaten the local power grid. Residents urged city leaders to reject what they termed "extraction sites," arguing these projects would offer few permanent jobs while putting the community's health and resources at significant risk.
Among the speakers was Dr. Etienne Rosas, a candidate for Congress in Texas’ 34th District, who argued that Harlingen is already a water stressed community where residents and farmers face rationing while a single data center could guzzle over a billion gallons annually. He cautioned that such projects often privatize profits while socializing losses, leaving taxpayers to fund the infrastructure needed to support them.

Despite the impassioned testimony, the Mayor and Commissioners were unable to respond to the speakers' concerns or questions, as the Texas Open Meetings Act prohibits officials from discussing items not listed on the official agenda.

Edinburg, Texas
Residents in Edinburg took the opportunity at Tuesdays Commission meeting to voice that they do not want data centers in their city. During the public comment session, speakers Joe Rodriguez and Marilyn Lara urged the council to reconsider development, citing serious concerns about increased cancer risks, grid instability, and water scarcity in the Rio Grande Valley. Drawing comparisons to the "Colossus" supercomputer in Tennessee and the environmental impact of Starbase in Brownsville, residents questioned who would bear the financial liability for potential grid failures and emphasized that the promise of tech innovation should not come at the expense of community health.
Despite "closed-loop" cooling claims, fears remain that data centers will tap into the scarce RGV water supply, alongside concerns of rolling blackouts and rate increases to support the crypto/AI load.
Notably, because this feedback was delivered during the public comment section, the City Council was legally restricted from responding to the speakers during the meeting.

IT’S OFFICIAL: The 2026 UTRGV Football Schedule is Here! 🏈

Mark your calendars, RGV! The 2026 schedule just dropped, and it is packed. 🗓️🔥

🚨 THE BIGGEST NEWS: We are taking the 956 to the 210! 🚗💨 Sept 5 vs. UTSA at the Alamodome. Start planning the caravans now!

Harlingen, Texas

After years of planning, Harlingen is officially building its gateway to the Arroyo! 🛶🌊

The City has filed permits to construct the long-awaited McCullough Park Kayak Launch at the intersection of Ed Carey Drive & S. 25th Street.

Construction is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026, with a target completion date of December 31, 2026.

📍 Intersection of S 25th St & Ed Carey Dr, Harlingen, TX 78550

Donna, Texas

DONNA WALMART GETTING A FACELIFT: The Supercenter on Salinas Blvd is about to get a major upgrade! 🛒🏗️ Walmart has filed permits to begin a $2,000,000 renovation of its Donna location.

The project involves a comprehensive refresh of the store at 900 N Salinas Blvd.

Construction is scheduled to begin on April 24, 2026, with a target completion date of July 30, 2026.

📍 900 N Salinas Blvd, Donna, TX 78537

Mission, Texas
Get ready, Mission! Teriyaki Madness is officially opening its doors THIS FRIDAY!🥣🔥

If you’ve been waiting for this one, here is everything you need to know to snag the deals:

📅 WHEN: This Friday, January 9th
⏰ TIME: Doors open at 10:00 AM
📍 WHERE: 118 E. Griffin Pkwy, Mission (Corner of N. Conway & Griffin, right next to H-E-B)

The Top 20 Alcohol Sellers in the RGV for 2025

The numbers are in from the State Comptroller.
We dug into the official 2025 data from the State Comptroller, and we have the results for you.

Twin Peaks McAllen takes the crown as the undisputed King of the 956, selling over $3.4 Million in alcohol alone.

THE TOP 20 LIST:

Twin Peaks (McAllen) — $3.41M

Clayton’s Beach Bar (SPI) — $2.84M

Longboard Bar & Grill (SPI) — $2.59M

Oak Texas Bar & Grill North (McAllen) — $2.58M

Yard House (McAllen) — $2.34M

Hidalgo Arena (Hidalgo) — $2.29M

Howling Rabbits Beer Works (McAllen) — $2.20M

Buffalo Wings & Rings (McAllen) — $2.20M

Tequila Sunset (SPI) — $2.14M

Suerte Bar & Grill Uptown (McAllen) — $2.13M

Oak Texas Bar & Grill South (McAllen) — $2.11M

Margaritaville Beach Resort (SPI) — $1.95M

Quarterdeck (SPI) — $1.90M

Louie's Backyard (SPI) — $1.80M

'76 Bar and Kitchen (McAllen) — $1.75M

Lucky Barrel (Brownsville) — $1.71M

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina (McAllen) — $1.70M

Tipsy Tavern (Harlingen) — $1.68M

Bar Louie (SPI) — $1.66M

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina (Brownsville) — $1.62M

Enjoy being "Puro 956" while you can... a new area code is coming. 📱

It’s officially 2026, and this might be the last full year that the Rio Grande Valley/Laredo is exclusively "The 956."

According to the latest federal reports (NANPA), the 956 area code is projected to officially exhaust (run out of new numbers) by early 2027.

What this means for us this year: State regulators are expected to announce the new "Overlay" area code sometime in 2026 to prepare for the switch.

If you have a 956 number: You keep it.

After the numbers exhaust you will likely get the new area code (whatever they decide to call it).

If you got a "956" tattoo not sure what to tell you.

There are already threads online predicting the new code could be 449 (unconfirmed!), but we won't know for sure until the state makes the official announcement.

CBP Officers in Laredo intercepted over 67 pounds of undeclared chorizo this week.

CBP Officers & Agriculture specialists with
the Laredo Field office intercepted 67.5 Ibs of chorizo concealed by a U.S. citizen known for agricultural violations. According to CBP, pork from Mexico poses significant risk for introducing foreign animal diseases & severely impacting U.S. agriculture.

McAllen, Texas – We have confirmed the very first construction permit for McAllen’s massive "Boeye Reservoir" redevelopment! 🏗️🌊

While the fancy water amphitheater and hotels are coming later, the project is officially kicking off with a Commercial Center on S. 23rd Street.

This building will serve as the retail "Gateway" to the new district, likely housing the shops and restaurants that will anchor the entrance. While details are still scarce (no official timeline just yet), we are monitoring this closely and will update you as soon as we see more movement.

This is just the beginning of the 70-acre transformation of 23rd & Expressway 83.

📍 1901 S. 23rd St, McAllen, Texas

Mission, Texas

COFFEE WARS: The "Sharyland Showdown" is officially on! ☕🥊 7 Brew Coffee has filed permits to open its first location in Mission, landing right on the busy Shary Road corridor.
This new location will be near the Panda Express.

The $1.25 million project involves the construction of a 541-square-foot drive-thru coffee stand at N. Shary Road.

Construction is scheduled to begin on March 23, 2026, with a target completion date of July 30, 2026.

📍 N. Shary Rd, Mission, TX 78572 (Sharyland Corridor)

McAllen, Texas

FIRST IN THE VALLEY: The wait is finally over. Nordstrom Rack is coming to the RGV! 🛍️👠 Nordstrom Rack has filed permits to open its first-ever store in McAllen, anchoring the Las Tiendas Shopping Center.

The $3,600,000 project involves the major renovation of a 30,561-square-foot retail box at 700 E Expressway 83.

Construction is scheduled to begin on May 7, 2026, with a target completion date of December 7, 2026, aiming for a Holiday 2026 grand opening.

📍 700 E Expressway 83, McAllen, TX 78503

The RGV FTP Alliance (FTPA) is hosting a massive Candidate Forum in McAllen! This is your chance to hear directly from local leaders and candidates about border policy, health access, and the economic future of our region.

The evening kicks off with LIVE MUSIC followed by a no-script, no-filter dialogue with local candidates.

🗓️ Sunday, January 18, 2026 🕓 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Cine El Rey, McAllen, TX (311 S 17th St)

Featured Musical Performances:

Amani

Niccale

Orpheus Bloom

Hypnoticss

🎟️ Admission is FREE, but registration is required! Scan the QR code on the flyer or use the link below to secure your spot.