Laguna Vista, Texas

Roloff Park is getting a major refresh! 🌳⚽ The Town of Laguna Vista is officially launching a $300,000 improvement project to revitalize its central community hub.

Supported by a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant, this project focuses on inclusivity and youth sports. The biggest addition is a complete overhaul of the soccer field, which will receive major leveling, drainage improvements, and new grass/irrigation to create a proper playing surface.

The scope also includes significant ADA upgrades, such as new accessible trail connections, wheelchair-friendly features for the playground and fitness stations, and renovated restrooms to ensure the park is welcoming to everyone. You can also expect new corrosion-resistant benches and tables designed to withstand the coastal weather.

Construction is scheduled to begin on January 15, 2026, with an expected completion date of December 15, 2026.

📍 122 Fernandez St, Laguna Vista, TX 78578

Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville is getting a premium indoor golf lounge! 🏌️‍♂️⛳ A new business called Hot 9 Golf is currently building out a high-tech simulator facility on W. Alton Gloor.

The project involves the renovation of Suites D & E at 3201 W. Alton Gloor Blvd . The facility will feature Full Swing simulator technology the same tech used by Tiger Woods for indoor practice. The build-out includes two main hitting bays and one private room, along with a lounge area.

Permits were filed on December 11, 2025, and construction is underway. The projected opening date is currently set for February 16, 2026.

📍 3201 W. Alton Gloor Blvd, Suites D & E, Brownsville, TX 78520

California vibes coming to McAllen! 🎸

The Santa Ana based indie-rock band Surely Tempo is bringing their "Dance While You Can" tour to the RGV! If you're a fan of garage rock and big melodic hooks, you don't want to miss this one.

Joining them are local favorites Cannon the Dealers and The Culture!

🗓️ Sunday, January 25, 2026
🕗 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 The Gremlin, McAllen (322 S 16th St)
🎟️ Tickets: $15 (General Admission)
🔗 https://www.tixtree.com/e/...

Pharr, Texas 🏥🏗️

UPDATE: The massive hospital we first reported back in January is finally officially under construction but the timeline has changed!

DHR Health has filed the final permits to begin vertical construction on the newly named DHR Forensic & Behavioral Hospital at 4800 N. Jackson Road.

Early announcements predicted a "Summer 2026" opening. The official state filing now lists a completion date of December 15, 2027, meaning the project is running about 18 months later than originally hoped.

📍 4800 N. Jackson Road, Pharr, TX 78577

After years of shortages that have devastated South Texas agriculture, the USDA just announced that Mexico has agreed to release 202,000 acre-feet of water to the United States starting next week. This deal brings immediate relief with deliveries starting now, while setting a strict deadline of Jan 31, 2026, for a full repayment plan on the "water debt." The administration made its stance clear, stating that if Mexico continues to violate its commitments, the U.S. will impose 5% tariffs on Mexican products.

Get ready, RGV! The 7th Annual 4EVA RGV Toy Drive is happening soon, and it features a huge special guest!

Join the fun and meet WWE Superstar Victoria Gonzalez (AKA Raquel Rodriguez), who will be the guest of honor! Hosted by prolifek.

This is a day of giving back and having fun, featuring:

🎁 FREE Toys

🍔 FREE Food

🎅 FREE Pictures with Santa!

Bring the whole family for this incredible event!

🗓️ Sunday, December 21st, 2025
⏰ Starts at 4:00 PM
📍 216 E I-2 Frontage Rd, Pharr, TX 78577

Elon Musk confirms SpaceX is going public!

The biggest company in the RGV is hitting the stock market. After years of keeping SpaceX private, Elon Musk has officially confirmed a report by Ars Technica’s Eric Berger that the aerospace giant plans to go public.

When asked about the report stating SpaceX is preparing for an IPO, Musk replied simply on X:
"As usual, Eric is accurate."
We went from "No IPO" to "Accurate" in 4 days.

https://arstechnica.com/sp...

The Brownsville City Commission voted unanimously to dissolve the LGBTQ+ Task Force.

City Attorney Will Trevino warned the commission that maintaining the Task Force puts the city at "grave risk of losing the $41 million in grants that we receive from the federal government".

To continue advocacy efforts, Commissioners approved the immediate creation of the "One City Committee," a new establishment designed to promote positive "human relations and equitable outcomes and opportunities in all aspects of community life" for all minority communities.

The State of Texas has officially launched a crackdown on local city budgets, and two of the Rio Grande Valley’s largest cities are directly in the crosshairs. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced today that his office is opening an investigation into nearly 1,000 cities across the state to determine if they have been illegally raising property taxes without following proper financial transparency laws.
🔗 https://www.texasattorneyg...

🚨 RGV CONCERT ALERT! 🚨

Get ready for Humbe! He is bringing his tour to the Valley next spring! 🎤

🗓️ Sunday, March 22, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen, TX

TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS WEEK!

Pre-Sale: Wednesday, December 10 at 10:00 AM CST

General On-Sale: Friday, December 12 at 10:00 AM CST

Set your reminder so you don't miss out! Tag a friend you want to take! 👇

🎟️
https://www.ticketmaster.c...

Edinburg, Texas 🛍️
dd's Discounts is officially bringing its first location to Edinburg at The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.

The new $1.2 million project involves a complete interior renovation of the 30,092-square-foot junior anchor space at 313 East Trenton Road.

The renovation is scheduled to begin on February 16, 2026, with an expected completion date of June 16, 2026.

📍 313 East Trenton Road, Edinburg, TX 78539

Mercedes, Texas
The Nike Factory Store at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets is set to undergo a $400,000 interior renovation.

The project involves a complete refresh of the 15,705 square foot store, including the demolition and reconstruction of the fitting rooms, new high bay lighting, updated carpet and paint, and an extended cashwrap wall to speed up checkout lines.

The renovation is scheduled to begin on February 1, 2026, with an expected completion date of May 22, 2026.

📍 5001 E Expy. 83, Suite 120, Mercedes, TX 78570

McAllen, Texas
BAD BUNNY DANCE NIGHT! 🐰

Get ready to dance off the winter chill! The popular Un Invierno Sin Ti Bad Bunny Dance Party is taking over McAllen!

🗓️ Saturday, January 10, 2026
🕗 Doors open at 9:00 PM (typical club time) 📍 PRESI NIGHTCLUB, McAllen, TX (101 S 17th St)

Come celebrate the music of El Conejo Malo all night long!
Tag your biggest Bad Bunny fan friends! 👇

🎟️ https://posh.vip/e/un-invi...

Brownsville, Texas
DHR Health just officially announced they are expanding their Brownsville hospital.

They are adding 14,000 square feet of new space to the existing facility on N. Expressway 77.

What this means for you:

The expansion includes 6 new Emergency Room bays and 6 new surgical suites to handle the growing need in Cameron County.

They are also installing advanced MRI and CT technology right on site.

This project is set to create about 30 new medical jobs and construction will begin as soon as permits are cleared.

Starr County, Texas
After decades of planning, construction is officially set to begin this January on the massive State Loop 195 project in Starr County. This $240 million infrastructure investment serves as a critical relief route for US 83, designed to divert heavy commercial truck traffic away from the congested downtown business districts of Rio Grande City and Roma. Phase One, which carries an estimated cost of $62 million, will focus on connecting FM 755 to FM 3167 (Hospital Road), creating an immediate bypass option for local drivers. Future phases will eventually extend the loop all the way to Loma Blanca Road north of Roma, completing a full 17-mile corridor that promises to drastically improve safety and reduce commute times for residents in the Upper Valley.

📸 TxDOT PHARR

McAllen, Texas
New Spot "Cafe Rico" Permitted for 17th Street

While the city debates the future of the entertainment district, local investors are still betting big on downtown McAllen. We have confirmed that a construction permit has been filed for a new concept called Cafe Rico at 115 S. 17th Street.

Seeing a new "Cafe" concept (instead of just another nightclub) could signal a shift in the district's vibe.

We will keep you posted as construction begins!

Reik is coming to Payne Arena! 🇲🇽💔

Get ready to sing your heart out, 956. Latin pop icons REIK are bringing their 2026 Tour to Hidalgo for one night only!

📅 Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

📍 Venue: Payne Arena (Hidalgo, TX)

🎟️ Tickets: General Public sale starts TODAY (Friday) at 12:00 PM or use presale code CMNFAN.
🔗 https://www.ticketmaster.c...

From "Noviembre Sin Ti" to their new hits, this is going to be the ultimate date night (or heartbreak anthem night) of the spring.

Edinburg, Texas

Delivery is about to get even faster in South Edinburg! 🍕 A new Domino's Pizza is nearing completion at the Hopewell Mall Plaza area!

The 2,130-square-foot location, will be located at 4623 S Alamo Rd.

📍 4623 S Alamo rd, Edinburg, TX 78542

Edinburg, Texas
A new Little Caesars is officially opening on East University Drive! The project, located at 1624 E. University Dr., is nearing completion, and we have confirmed the official opening date is Monday, December 22nd!

The tenant finish out is set to be completed this month, bringing more Hot-N-Ready pizzas to the central Edinburg corridor.

📍 1624 E. University Dr., Edinburg, TX 78542

McAllen, Texas
We’ve received a lot of questions about the new medical facility on Pecan & McColl. “Wasn’t it supposed to be MD Anderson?” 🤔

Here is the full breakdown of what just opened in our backyard.

This is the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center a massive $151 million investment owned and operated by UTRGV.

UTRGV officially engaged MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide "advisory services". That means the world’s #1 cancer experts helped design the clinical operations and recruit the doctors.

The doors are open now! The facility has already begun a soft launch for select services. However, it will continue rolling out new departments over the next few months and is scheduled to be fully operational by Q1 2026.

📍 Address: 1400 N. Commerce Center St., McAllen (Between Jackson & McColl)

McAllen, Texas
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos issued a blistering statement today following another fatal tragedy involving minors and alcohol on 17th Street. He did not mince words, blaming "negligent operators" for compromising public safety and calling current safeguards "insufficient."

The City is now demanding immediate intervention from the State of Texas. The Mayor stated that McAllen has done everything in its power—revoking permits and filing lawsuits—but is being blocked by state laws from doing more. He is calling on the TABC to intensify enforcement immediately and for the Legislature to finally untie the hands of local cities so they can impose stricter curfews and age limits. "Incremental measures are not enough," he warned. It is time for change.

McAllen, Texas
The Monitor has found its new home. We have confirmed that the newspaper's new office will be located at the Trenton Crossing Shopping Center (7600 N 10th St) in McAllen.

The move comes after the paper sold its large Nolana headquarters to UTRGV earlier this year. The new location, which is undergoing a finish out, solidifies the paper's shift to a digital first, streamlined operation.

Brownsville, Texas

Another Ulta is coming to Brownsville! 💄 The beauty retailer is planning its second city location at the Strawberry Square shopping center on Boca Chica Blvd. This one had us really debating on whether it was accurate🤔. The reason being is that this filing is only for a 40-foot facade renovation to upgrade the exterior but it does show it’s for Ulta.

Work on the exterior is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, with an expected completion date of June 1, 2026.

📍 2921 Boca Chica Blvd, Ste 13, Brownsville, TX 78521

Weslaco, Texas

Weslaco Palm Plaza is getting a massive new anchor! 🤠 Cavender's Boot City is officially opening its first location in Weslaco. The new $1.2 million project involves the interior finish-out of a 15,630-square-foot space.

The renovation is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, with an expected completion date of December 31, 2026.

📍 1025 N. Texas Blvd. Ste 9A-9B, Weslaco, TX 78596

The RGV just produced two finalists for the most prestigious Freshman award in the nation!

Two UTRGV football players have been named finalists for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS Freshman Player of the Year.

Freshman wide receiver Tony Diaz and freshman linebacker Jaiden Haygood are among only 25 finalists nationwide. This award has previously been won by stars like Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.

Tony Diaz (WR): Led the Vaqueros with 11 touchdowns and 875 receiving yards.

Jaiden Haygood (LB): Led the team with 102 tackles and had six games with double-figure tackles.

The recipient will be announced on December 3. Let's go, Vaqueros! Show some pride for our local talent!🧡

Weslaco, Texas

Weslaco, get ready to join the brew crew! ☕ 7 Brew Coffee is officially bringing its drive-thru experience to the city for the first time. The new $1.25 million project involves the construction of a 541-square-foot pre-fabricated shop at 905 N. Texas Blvd.

Construction on the new drive-thru only stand is scheduled to begin on February 23, 2026, with an expected completion date of July 31, 2026.

📍 905 N. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX 78596

🔥 RGV CONCERT ALERT! 🔥

Panter Bélico is coming to the Valley next spring! 🎤

🗓️ Saturday, March 21, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Payne Arena, Hidalgo, TX

Don't miss out! Tag a friend who needs to go! 👇

🎫 Secure your tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.c...

The UTRGV Vaqueros dominate East Texas A&M with a 33-14 victory!

Starbase, Texas
The official details are out on the new centerpiece of Starbase.

SpaceX is moving forward with the $250,000,000 Gigabay manufacturing facility in Cameron County. The official TDLR filing confirms the massive factory will span 700,000 square feet and is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2026.

CEO Elon Musk has described the facility as a "gigantic Borg cube," designed for building and storing rockets and fulfilling his goal of producing as many as 1,000 Starships per year.

South Padre Island, Texas🥞
The island's only Denny's, located at 1100 Padre Blvd, is scheduled for a major renovation. The project involves a complete interior and exterior remodel of the existing restaurant to freshen up the look.

Work is scheduled to begin on December 18, 2025, with an expected completion date of July 1, 2026.

📍 1100 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, TX 78597