It is official: Brandon "The Heartbreaker 💔 " Figueroa is a world champion once again!

In a stunning victory today, February 7, 2026, the Weslaco native traveled into enemy territory in Liverpool, England, and defeated the defending champion, Nick Ball, to capture the WBA Featherweight World title.

In a grueling fight that went down to the wire, Figueroa secured a dramatic 12th-round stoppage. He landed a crushing left hand that sent Ball to the canvas, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight with just seconds remaining in the final round.

Nick Ball was the defending WBA champion and was fighting in his hometown, making Figueroa the underdog going into the bout.

Edinburg, Texas

CHIPOTLE OFFICIALLY "COMING SOON" TO BUSINESS 281: The burritos are definitely en route to Edinburg! 🌯🥑 The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has officially released a "Coming Soon" announcement for the new Chipotle Mexican Grill at 4112 Business Highway 281.

This confirms the long-awaited project located at the busy intersection of Business 281 and Trenton Road. This spot places the new restaurant in a prime high-traffic corridor at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.

While the "Coming Soon" sign is up, construction has been tracking since permits were first spotted back in April 2025. The location is now also listed on the Chipotle website signaling an opening is imminent.

📍 4112 S Business Hwy 281, Edinburg, TX 78539

🌊 BIG PLANS REVEALED: Beach Park Seeking Approval for 3 Major Attractions!

South Padre Island’s "Beach Park at Isla Blanca" is planning a massive expansion to celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2026! We’ve obtained documents showing plans for electric go-karts, a floating obstacle course, and a giant racing slide.

Since the waterpark is located inside Isla Blanca Park, the approval process is a little different than normal. Here is the path they have to take before breaking ground:

Because Isla Blanca Park is owned by Cameron County, the waterpark must first get permission from the County Commissioners Court to add these new structures to the land. They are currently seeking this approval.

Once the County says "Yes," the project then moves to the City of South Padre Island. The park will submit official architectural drawings to the SPI Building Department to get the actual safety and construction permits.

What’s Proposed:

🏎️ Electric Go-Kart Track: A first for the park!

🧘 Floating Obstacle Course

🛝 4-Lane "Hippo" Slide: A massive new racing slide.

The project is currently in Step 1 pending approval from the County Commissioners. If they get the green light, they aim to have everything ready for the 2026 Summer Season!

🎤 RGV CONCERT ALERT: DOUBLE THE CARIN LEÓN! 🎤

The "Lion" is returning to the Valley! Carin León has officially announced TWO nights at Payne Arena for his massive "De Sonora Para El Mundo" tour! 🦁

Expect a night full of hits like "Primera Cita," "Según Quién," and "La Boda del Huitlacoche."

🗓️ Night 1: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
🗓️ Night 2: Thursday, May 21, 2026
🕗 Time: 8:00 PM
📍 Payne Arena, Hidalgo, TX

🎫 Night 1 Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.c...
🎫 Night 2 Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.c...

🔥 RGV CONCERT ALERT: KODAK BLACK IS COMING! 🔥

Get ready for one of the biggest names in hip-hop! Kodak Black is officially bringing his high-energy performance to the Valley!🎤

🗓️ Thursday, March 12, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Payne Arena, Hidalgo, TX

🎫 TICKETS GO ON SALE SOON! General public on-sale starts: Friday, February 6, 2026, @ 12:00 PM CST.

🎟️ 🎫 Find the ticket link here: https://www.ticketmaster.c...

Peñitas, Texas

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HOME DEPOT RISING AT PEÑITAS CROSSING: You can see the progress! 🚧📸 The massive new Home Depot in Peñitas is officially taking shape. The $20.2 million project is moving forward at the new Peñitas Crossing development off Liberty Blvd.

The site is being transformed into a 136,136-square-foot retail destination, featuring a main store of over 108,000 square feet and a massive 28,000-square-foot Garden Center. This location will serve as the anchor for the new retail hub, bringing major hardware convenience to the western express corridor.

Current construction is targeting a completion date of September 24, 2026.

📍 1901 Liberty Blvd, Peñitas, TX 78576

Weslaco, Texas

WESLACO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SET FOR $2.8 MILLION EXPANSION: A major upgrade is coming for Weslaco's youth! 🧒🏀 The City of Weslaco has filed permits for a significant expansion of the Boys & Girls Club Center at 300 N. Airport Drive.

The $2.8 million project involves the ground-up construction of a new 10,755-square-foot expansion building. This isn't just extra classrooms the scope specifically details a dedicated teen center, a new gymnasium, administrative offices, and specialized space for social support and family programs. This addition will sit on the existing campus (Suite B), significantly increasing the capacity and services available to local families.

Construction is scheduled to begin on April 6, 2026, with a target completion date of April 1, 2027.

📍 300 N. Airport Dr., Suite B, Weslaco, TX 78596

Edinburg, Texas

OFFICIAL: CAVENDER'S CONFIRMS NEW LOCATION ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE: It’s official, partners! 🤠👢 The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) has formally announced that Cavender's Boot City is coming to town. They are setting up shop at 2820 W. University Drive, taking over the high-visibility corner spot that formerly housed CVS Pharmacy.

This investment is a major win for the University Drive corridor, transforming a vacant building into a flagship western wear destination. The grand opening is targeted for later this year, bringing new jobs and plenty of boots to the heart of Edinburg.

📍 2820 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539

🤠 COUNTRY MUSIC ALERT: Randall King is coming to the 956! 🤠

Get ready, RGV! The neo-traditional country star Randall King is bringing his raw, honky-tonk sound to Los Fresnos! Known for modern anthems that feel like '90s classics, this is a show you won't want to miss.

🗓️ Saturday, February 21, 2026
🕤 Concert starts at approximately 9:30 PM 📍 Los Fresnos Rodeo Grounds (500 E Ocean Blvd, Los Fresnos, TX)

🎟️ Concert-Only Tickets: $22.00 (Pre-sale price) Note: This ticket grants access to the arena floor for the performance.
🔗 https://www.etix.com/ticke...

Tag your favorite dancing partner and get your boots ready! 👢✨

Brownsville, Texas

IDEA BROWNSVILLE CAMPUS SET FOR $18 MILLION EXPANSION: A major upgrade is coming to one of Brownsville's established charter campuses! 🏫🚧 IDEA Public Schools has filed permits for "Phase III" of their IDEA Brownsville campus located at 4395 Paredes Line Rd.

The $18 million project involves the construction of a new classroom building and a gymnasium at the existing campus. This "Phase III" expansion creates approximately 27,000 square feet of new educational space, likely designed to support growing enrollment or to add dedicated athletic and academic facilities for their College Prep students.

Construction is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, with a target completion date of April 30, 2027.

📍 4395 Paredes Line Rd, Brownsville, TX 78526

🚨 CONFIRMED: Bath & Body Works Coming to Edinburg! 🚨

It looks like Edinburg is finally getting its own spot for candles and body care! We’ve spotted two major confirmations that Bath & Body Works is opening at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.

The company has officially posted a job listing for a "Retail Store Manager" specifically for the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.

In addition, a construction permit has been filed for an interior remodel of a 3,306 sq. ft. space at the center.

Once we get additional details we will be sure to share them with you. Potential opening date 06/01/2026.

📍 427 E Trenton RD, Edinburg, Texas 78539

Weslaco, Texas

WESTGATE H-E-B SET FOR $4.5 MILLION RENOVATION: The "Westgate H-E-B" is about to get a major upgrade! 🛒🏗️ H-E-B has filed permits for a massive $4.5 million renovation of their store at 310 N Westgate Drive (Store #485 ).

This project is significantly larger than a standard refresh, involving a comprehensive interior remodel of the 61,954-square-foot store. While specific department changes aren't listed, a budget of this size usually brings new flooring, updated refrigeration, expanded "Meal Simple" sections, and a modernized checkout area to bring the older store up to current standards.

Construction is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026, with a target completion date of January 11, 2027.

📍 310 N Westgate Drive, Weslaco, TX 78596

Weslaco, Texas

CONSTRUCTION MOVING FAST ON WESLACO SAM'S CLUB: The dirt is flying at FM 1015 and Barbee Drive as crews make rapid progress on the new Sam’s Club! 🏗️🛒 This massive 168,000-square-foot warehouse represents a $24.5 million total investment into the community. With site work advancing quickly, the project is currently on track to welcome shoppers by late summer 2026. Initial reports have the project timeline completing by August 2026.

📍 FM 1015 & Barbee Drive, Weslaco, TX 78596
📸 Weslaco EDC

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez issued a strong statement today regarding the recent installation of razor wire in the county.

In the release, Judge Cortez criticizes the physical barriers as temporary measures that do not address the root causes of immigration issues. He argues that the current system focuses too much on "keeping people out" rather than creating legal pathways, and notes that these installations often happen without local input, creating anxiety in the community.

Mission, Texas

UPDATE: SIGNS ARE UP FOR BUFFALO WILD WINGS GO! 🍗🛑 It looks like the "Sauce is Boss" is arriving sooner than expected! While the initial permits listed a March start date, signage is already up at the new Buffalo Wild Wings GO location on Griffin Parkway.

This "GO" model is designed specifically for takeout and delivery. The project is taking over a 1,500-square-foot suite in the plaza.

📍 126 East Griffin Parkway, Mission, TX 78572
📸 Mary Rodriguez

Harlingen, Texas
The Harlingen City Commission voted unanimously to implement a 180 day moratorium on the opening and expansion of smoke shops to allow the city to review its current zoning and safety ordinances. While a specific permit for a new smoke shop was also on the agenda for the January 21 meeting, the commission ultimately decided to table that request for six months to ensure it complies with the new standards being developed during the moratorium period.

The moratorium was introduced to address the rapid increase of smoke shops within city limits. City officials noted the need to study how these businesses impact public safety and to establish clearer guidelines regarding their proximity to schools and residential neighborhoods. The 180 day pause gives the Planning and Development department, along with the Police Department, time to draft updated regulations.