RGV Yearly Brief: 2025
Across the Rio Grande Valley, 2025 brought a mix of federal border activity, local public safety challenges, infrastructure movement, and community milestones that together shaped the region's year.
Border enforcement remained a defining thread throughout the period. The Rio Grande Valley Sector's Border Patrol operations drew national attention as arrest figures placed the sector at the top of the country among its peers in the early stretch of Fiscal Year 2026. That enforcement backdrop ran alongside separate federal activity in Donna, where government agencies formalized an agreement intended to move a land port of entry project forward — a development with long-term implications for cross-border commerce and movement in one of the Valley's smaller but strategically positioned communities.
Public safety pressures were felt in multiple cities. Donna saw two distinct and serious criminal cases draw law enforcement focus, while Harlingen dealt with a separate officer-involved shooting involving a wanted individual. At the same time, the Texas Medical Board took disciplinary action against a Harlingen cardiologist following a patient death, a case that touched on professional accountability within the region's healthcare system. Amid those strains, Donna's city government also faced internal disruption when council members voted to remove the city manager from the position.
On the infrastructure front, both Starr County and Weslaco saw road-related developments — one a significant highway project getting underway, the other a highway closure and reopening tied to a commercial vehicle accident. McAllen, meanwhile, closed the year on a lighter note, drawing residents and visiting celebrities alike to its holiday parade, a reminder that community life in the Valley continued to find its footing through an eventful year.
Top StoriesAcross the Valley
- RGV Sector leads nation in Border Patrol arrests so far in Fiscal Year 2026BorderReport · December 31, 2025
The Rio Grande Valley Sector led all Border Patrol sectors nationally in arrests through the early part of Fiscal Year 2026.
- Suspects identified in Donna homicide investigationValleyCentral · December 28, 2025
Authorities identified suspects in connection with a homicide investigation unfolding in Donna.
- DPS: Wanted man identified in officer-involved shootingValleyCentral · December 27, 2025
Texas DPS identified a wanted man involved in an officer-involved shooting in Harlingen.
- Man in custody after body discovered at Donna hotelValleyCentral · December 27, 2025
A man was taken into custody after a body was found at a hotel in Donna.
- Texas Medical Board disciplines Harlingen cardiologist after patient deathValleyCentral · December 22, 2025
The Texas Medical Board took disciplinary action against a Harlingen cardiologist following the death of a patient.
- TxDOT: Weslaco expressway reopens after cement truck rolls over, spills 50 gallons of fuelValleyCentral · December 16, 2025
A cement truck rollover that spilled fuel prompted a closure on a Weslaco expressway before the road was reopened.
- Donna council members vote to terminate city managerValleyCentral · December 16, 2025
Donna city council members voted to end the employment of the city manager.
- Major highway project underway in Starr CountyValleyCentral · December 11, 2025
A major highway construction project got underway in Starr County.
- GSA, CBP and the City of Donna Sign Donation Acceptance Agreement for Land Port of Entry ProjectGSA (.gov) · December 8, 2025
Federal agencies and the City of Donna signed a formal agreement to advance a land port of entry project.
- Celebrities and locals shine at McAllen holiday paradeValleyCentral · December 6, 2025
McAllen's holiday parade drew both local attendees and celebrity participants to mark the season.
McAllenMcAllen
- Final details underway for McAllen Holiday ParadeValleyCentral · December 5, 2025
- McAllen police hunt for Alamo man accused in shootingValleyCentral · November 19, 2025
- Look who’s comin’ to town: Cowboys great Michael Irvin to host McAllen Holiday ParadeMyRGV.com · November 8, 2025
- Danny Trejo to headline this year’s McAllen Holiday ParadeMyRGV.com · October 12, 2025
- Three Law Enforcement Personnel Injured After Horrific Shooting in McAllen TexasHomeland Security (.gov) · July 8, 2025
EdinburgEdinburg
- Edinburg elects Omar Ochoa as new mayorValleyCentral · November 4, 2025
- Garza: Zoho plans to manufacture on its 1,050-acre campus north of EdinburgRio Grande Guardian · July 17, 2025
- Not an ordinary hot dog: Edinburg eatery gives the all-American food a South Texas twistMyRGV.com · July 1, 2025
MissionMission
- Baylor Volunteers Join Texans on Mission for Texas Flood ReliefBaylor University · October 10, 2025
PharrPharr
- Pharr celebrates opening of Valley’s first IKEA on Oct. 1ValleyCentral · September 30, 2025
- CBP seizes more than $1.6 million in cocaine at Pharr International BridgeU.S. Customs and Border Protection (.gov) · September 24, 2025
- CBP in full bloom, seizes $7.6 million in methamphetamine found in a shipment of roses at Pharr International BridgeU.S. Customs and Border Protection (.gov) · August 14, 2025
- Pharr PD revealed 2-month-old died days before wellness checkValleyCentral · June 25, 2025
- Pharr police investigate death after wellness checkValleyCentral · June 22, 2025
WeslacoWeslaco
- Mid-Valley Airport in Weslaco receives $26 million in state funding for expansionValleyCentral · September 24, 2025
BrownsvilleBrownsville
- Fryer explosion sparks kitchen fire at Brownsville taqueriaValleyCentral · September 27, 2025
- Brownsville Texas Exes send off Austin-bound Class of 2029MyRGV.com · August 15, 2025
- Video - Use of Force Incident Brownsville, Texas May 13, 2025DVIDS · June 13, 2025
HarlingenHarlingen
- Annual ‘Hiring Red, White, & You’ job fair in Harlingen focuses on veteransValleyCentral · November 10, 2025
- Harlingen restaurant owner recounts aftermath of being detained by ICEValleyCentral · August 13, 2025
Starr CountyStarr County
- WATCH: 1st look at new border wall going up in rural Starr County, TexasBorderReport · July 18, 2025
- STC Starr County campus enters new eraSouth Texas College · June 11, 2025
- Rio Grande Valley victims of flooding and storm damage can get expert insurance helpTexas Department of Insurance (.gov) · May 30, 2025
The RGV News is an aggregator. We summarize headlines and link to the original reporting; all content remains the property of its publisher.