PHARR — It was as if the full moon was a stadium spotlight of its own — shining focus on both 6A football teams during a Friday night in the Rio Grande Valley.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines said many cities and counties can reduce property taxes due to increased sales tax revenue as local governments will receive $1.3 billion in sales tax allocations for September, 7.6% more than in September 2025.
Today's News
EDINBURG — There was a bit of a wake-up call late in the night Sunday as local police and fire departments responded to a single-vehicle collision at the Hidalgo County Courthouse at 11:35 p.m.
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
The City of Mercedes released an announcement Friday stating that its city manager — Alberto Perez — has resigned.
By P.j. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced that his agency is pausing construction work in Big Bend National Park while he conducts an “on-the-ground evaluation,” reversing course after heavy machinery had begun moving dirt.
By Gabby Birenbaum | The Texas Tribune
News
Here are the latest headlines around the state.
Medicaid funding restored to Texas hospitals Nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals will be restored after a nearly year-long stalemate between the state and the federal government ended, the Texas Standard reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott hailed the end to the impasse.
By Gary Borders Texas Press Association
Man sentenced after traveling with minor while in possession of child abuse material BROWNSVILLE — A 33-year-old Brownsville man has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child pornography.
Jose Jaime Baeza Jr. pleaded guilty Aug. 5, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Baeza to serve 180 months in federal prison at a hearing Sept. 9, to be immediately followed by life on supervised release.
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines said many cities and counties can reduce property taxes due to increased sales tax revenue as local governments will receive $1.3 billion in sales tax allocations for September, 7.6% more than in September 2025.
These allocations are based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly.
By Staff Report Advance News Journal
Sports
PHARR — It was as if the full moon was a stadium spotlight of its own — shining focus on both 6A football teams during a Friday night in the Rio Grande Valley.
By P.J. Hernandez | Advance News Journal
Jakobsohn’s 3 total TDs, defense’s 3 INTs help Vaqueros remain perfect at ‘The Vack’
EDINBURG — It’s good to be home. That was the sentiment here post-game after a tooth-andnail contest against McNeese State (1-3, 0-2) here at the Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium with over 13,000 people in attendance.
The Vaqueros (2-2, 1-1) took the win, 27-10, to earn their first Southland Conference victory of the season.
By P.j. Hernandez Advance News Journal
PHARR — The PSJA Southwest Javelinas made program history Thursday night as they capped off a perfect non-district slate this season.
By P.j. Hernandez Advance News Journal
Opinion
It can be extremely difficult for outsiders to determine the degree of devotion (or lack thereof) that individuals have for a particular cause or individual.
Let’s look at an obvious example from Scotland.
By Tom Haughey Advance News Journal
I’ve had a love/hate affair with cats over the years, but mostly I love them; except for the one that used to visit my backyard at night back in the old days.
We didn’t seem to get along. Probably had something to do with her baring her fangs at me and hissing every time we come into contact with one another. Call it bad chemistry.
By Gregg Wendorf Advance News Journal
Republicans this year are counting heavily on the impact of their convention on the viewing public. Unfortunately, however, nobody seems to know how many were watching the event.
By Tom Haughey Advance News Journal
Lifestyle
Over the years, when you hear of clever ways people made money, don’t you often think, man, I wish I would have thought of that.
Post-it notes, for example. Stuff like that, which people buy in bulk once it’s invented. Ideas just waiting to be found, floating around in the ether.
Do these rich inventors just sit around, trying to think up this stuff, or does it just come to them in a dream?
By Gregg Wendorf | Advance News Journal
In the Old Testament book of Daniel, the third chapter, is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
These three young Jewish men were captive in King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire, which existed 600 years before the birth of Jesus. The king sent out a royal decree that all his subjects would bow down and worship the idol the king had made of himself. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the idol of the king.
By Chris Voss | First Christian Church
This week, Cinderella Pet Rescue is featuring two active senior dogs, Mabella and Brandi.
We’d like to remind our readers that even though a dog grows older, their ability to love whole-heartedly doesn’t.
Both Mabella and Brandi have lots of loving years left in them and each would be a great companion to a person or family looking for a very good dog.
Meet Mabella
By Cory Raymond Cinderella Pet Rescue
Obituaries
EDINBURG — Daniel Ozuna, 71, passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at South Texas Health System Edinburg.
He is preceded in death by his father, Silvestre Ozuna; and brother, Rolando Ozuna.
Mr. Ozuna is survived by his mother, Jesusa Ozuna; four siblings, David Ozuna, Diana (Ricardo Ochoa) Ozuna, Criselda (Joe G.) Perez, Esperanza (Jeff) Holton; numerous nieces and nephews; and sister-inlaw, Rosa Ozuna.
Isabel Treviño, 73, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. She is preceded in death by her parents, Guadalupe and Trinidad Treviño; siblings, Gilbert Treviño, Jessie Treviño, Lupe Treviño, Freddy Treviño; sisters-in-law, Ester Treviño and Lolli Treviño.
Amalia M. Mariscal, 87, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026, at her residence in San Juan.
She is preceded in death by her great grandson, Felix Jeremiah Morales, and granddaughter, Alma Leticia Rivera.
Photo Galleries
PHARR — The PSJA North Raiders hosted the Lyndon B. Johnson Wolves out of Laredo here at PSJA ISD Stadium on Thursday.
The Raiders looked to be victorius as they took the scrimmage, 42-7.
Both squads look to start their seasons next week. The Wolves will take on Laredo Nixon on Friday.
The Raiders will travel to Laredo to take on the United Longhorns the same day.
SAN JUAN — The PSJA Bears, who are arguably the best team in the RGV, won their first postseason game against the Harlingen Cardinals on Thursday by the score of 13-0.
The second game is set for Harlingen on Friday. If there is a third game needed, it will be on Saturday in San Juan at 1 p.m.
The UTRGV Vaqueros (5-8. 0-3) took a regular season series against the Texas Southern University Tigers during a home stretch in Edinburg.
On Wednesday, the Vaqueros took the commanding win, 10-4. The night before that, they won 5-3.
This weekend, starting on Friday, UTRGV will host a Southland Conference three-game series against New Orleans University.
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