Good morning, McAllen.

Cameron County opened a new kayak launch at Olmito Nature Park today as part of phase two of an eco-tourism project that also includes fishing piers and bird-watching spots.

Visitors must bring their own kayaks, and county officials plan to offer rentals later.

Villita Avocados in Pharr paused shipments from Michoacán after USDA inspectors withdrew over security concerns & now relies on its Jalisco facility while warning shortages may occur if the pause continues into next week, though prices will remain steady for 10 days.

Texas shoppers can take advantage of the annual Sales Tax Holiday, which runs through midnight Sunday, to save 8.25% on qualifying back-to-school items priced under $100 (online orders must meet the price threshold including shipping).

Financial experts advise making a list to avoid impulse buys.

Edinburg and its Economic Development Corporation will break ground on a $7.2M dual-purpose facility on Monday, Aug.

10 at 10 a.m. at Ebony Hills Golf Course, located at 300 W. Palm Drive, that will feature a Workforce Resource Center and a golf clubhouse with four simulators, with construction completing in summer 2027.

At the annual Technovate conference, 2,500 McAllen ISD educators learned how to use AI, videography, and podcasts to improve classroom learning (aiding future lessons) as the district embraces digital tools.

South Texas College expands its Construction Management program to the Mid — Valley Campus in Weslaco this fall so local students can overcome transportation barriers and access trade education closer to home.

Sixty RGV police officers gathered in Pharr Friday for a four-hour sign language training session hosted by the Disability Chamber of Commerce RGV + officers will participate in mock scenarios on Saturday to build real world experience communicating with community members who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have autism.

Senan Orthodontic Studios abruptly closed without notice and locked its doors, leaving patients with unfinished treatment and lost money; the office did not reopen on July 20, and affected patients have filed police reports and are seeking legal advice to obtain refunds & complete their orthodontic care.

Weslaco is set to get a Blue Zones Ignite Readiness Assessment as part of a regional effort to improve health outcomes.

The evaluation — which will include a community keynote and listening session on September 1 at Knapp Medical Center Conference Center — will help guide long-term changes.

STHS Edinburg earned the U.S. News and World Report Best Regional Hospital for Community Access award for the third year, one of just 73 nationwide and the only one in the Rio Grande Valley, and it recently opened a new $105 million patient tower to boost care for underserved communities.

Midtown Pharr has secured I-956F approval from USCIS, the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley under the strict EB-5 guidelines.

Open EB5 will use this approved method for MidTown Brownsville II — a 168-unit multifamily development on 7 acres planned to start later in 2026.