PHARR

Police arrested Armando Vera Jr., 28, from Donna, and 50-year-old Marcos Escobar of Edinburg for theft of petroleum product. Chief Deputy Johnny Gonzalez of the Pharr Police Department believes the uptick in recent fuel thefts are due to a cocktail of current circumstances. “It wasn’t detected until one of the cashiers actually went outside and was able to observe this person pumping this gas,” Gonzalez said. The chief deputy believes the device might’ve been created by someone who’s worked on gas pumps before. “There’s got to be that one person who knows how to make this device,” Gonzalez said.

Pharr police say the three men who were arraigned Thursday for burglary of vehicles were not connected with one another and committed the crimes on their own, according to a news release. Mark Medina, 17, is charged with two counts of burglary of a vehicle that occurred in the area of Linden and the 1400 block of Heritage Street. The release says detectives are still working on several burglaries that may be connected to either person, so additional charges are possible. “Detectives also recovered stolen property at one subject’s residence as well as a pawn shop,” the release said. Court records show that both Vela and Kilete have a history of burglarizing vehicles and have been previously convicted.

Commodities Integrated Logistics, which has been doing business in Pharr for 30 years, is building a new state-of-the-art facility called Queenstown Park. The company, which currently has over 1.15 million square-feet of warehouse space, is expanding its cold storage facility capacity by 10% by adding another 150,600 square-feet of space. Of that, 135,600 square-feet will be used for cold storage and 15,000 square-feet for office space. Victor Perez, Pharr EDC President/CEO, said the new facility is a $22 million investment. “We’re going to have more crossings through the Pharr bridge, which brings revenue to the city of Pharr.

A now former Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district teacher arrested and charged with having an improper relationship with a student two years ago is set to be arraigned Tuesday morning. The alleged victim, one of Garza’s students, managed to get away from him, identified him and then went to sleep in her aunt’s bedroom, a criminal complaint from Garza’s arrest states. A family member reported the incident to police, it says. Garza was previously scheduled to be arraigned in May, but his arraignment was delayed. If convicted of the second-degree felony, Garza could face between two and 20 years in prison.

Pharr police are investigating the daylight, armed kidnapping of a 46-year-old Mexican man who is an inspector at a border logistics facility.

EDINBURG — The oldest of the two Pharr brothers who are accused of beating their stepfather to death for allegedly sexually abusing their 9-year-old half sister pleaded not guily Monday morning. Alejandro Santos Treviño, 18, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His younger brother, 17-year-old Christian Treviño, is facing a capital murder charge. Alejandro is charged with that one count of aggravated assault because police say he wasn’t present during 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla’s final moments. After the second assault at the apartment complex, the trio stopped by Melendez’s residence, boarded Melendez’s white Ford F-150 and drove back to the Treviños residence where Alejandro stayed behind, the complaint stated.

The Pharr Police Department is urging the public to exercise caution when operating all-terrain vehicles in the wake of an accident that left a man seriously injured this weekend.

A 50-year-old Edinburg man accused of stealing around 700 gallons of diesel fuel turned himself in to police on Thursday.

A man suspected of stealing steel designated for border wall construction was formally indicted June 14 in McAllen.

HEADLINE: Pharr police ID suspect in diesel fuel theftBY ERIKA DE LOS REYES STAFF WRITERPharr police are asking for the public’s help finding a 50-year-old Edinburg resident who allegedly stole around 700 gallons of diesel fuel. An arrest warrant has been issued for Marcos Escobar who is accused of using a makeshift device to steal fuel from a Stripes convenience store located at 1901 N. Tesoro in Pharr. According to a release by the Pharr Police Department, Escobar used the makeshift device to steal 681 gallons of fuel which is valued at $3,534. Investigators with Pharr police have received one of the vehicles believed to have been used during the theft. Authorities are asking anyone with information on Escobar’s whereabouts to call the Pharr Crime Stoppers at (956) 787-TIPS.

Festivities are scheduled to begin with an Independence 4K Run at 7 a.m. kicking off at Archer Park, located at 101 N. Main St. in McAllen. Residents can enjoy music, food, games and artisans at the Freedom Festival, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PHARREven more food, fireworks and fun will be available in Pharr on Saturday, when the city will host its Independence Day Festival. HARLINGENFreedom Fest 2022 is scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Lon C. Hill Destination Park, located at 1216 Fairpark Blvd. Open to the public, the event promises fireworks at 9:01 p.m. to end the day’s festivities.

EDINBURG — A teeneager accused of helping two Pharr brothers beat a 42-year-old man to death in January pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and capital murder by terroristic threat. The male juvenile told police that Melendez and Alejandro exited the Dodge Charger and began beating Quintanilla as well. The Treviño brothers were indicted last Tuesday on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. We have a great judge, Judge Mancias. He has great experience in trying many cases, especially murder and capital murder cases.

Beginning Saturday evening, the I-2 and 1-69C Pharr interchange will be closed and drivers will be directed onto a new connector, DC4, Texas Department of Transportation officials said Friday. “Along both routes, there will be continuous movement; no traffic lights will be in place to stop the flow of traffic,” TxDOT said in the news release. Residents can get updates at DPJVTX.com, or call a project hotline at (956) 803-3560. The work is part of a $303 million interchange project that’s expected to be completed by late 2023. “Once completed, the interchange connectors will each accommodate two lanes of traffic and Interstate 2 will widen to 8 lanes, between Second Street in McAllen and Stewart Road in San Juan,” the release read.

The Pharr Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the suspects involved in a diesel theft scheme discovered Saturday, according to a news release issued Tuesday. Officers found a makeshift device after responding to a call from a clerk at a Stripes convenience store located at 1901 N. Tesoro in Pharr in reference to a suspected theft of fuel, the release said. Inside the fuel pump, officers found the makeshift device, which was being used to bypass the original system. It allowed the suspects to take gallons of diesel without the cash register recognizing the pump was being used. Police believe several people are involved in the scheme and have tracked down one suspected vehicle used, according to the release.

A judge on Wednesday afternoon reduced the $1 million bond for a 27-year-old Pharr woman accused of leading Progreso’s police chief on a chase following a drunk driving traffic stop and killing an 18-year-old Mercedes High School senior in a fiery Weslaco crash as a result.

Pharr police arrested a 45-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage family member after she made an outcry last week, according to a news release from the city of Pharr.

The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees approved a $6.04 million bid from Pharr-based D&F Industries last week for improvements to James “Nikki” Rowe High School’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees approved a $6.04 million bid from Pharr-based D&F Industries last week for improvements to James “Nikki” Rowe High School’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

A man died after shooting himself in the head at a shooting range in Pharr on Wednesday, police said.

A tip led police to a 19-year-old man who is accused of targeting four smoke shops in Pharr and other neighboring cities, according to a news release police sent Tuesday.

Pharr police on Sunday reached out to the public for help catching the suspect of a local vape shop robbery.

FURY Fighting Championship 61 is set to hit Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg on Sunday, May 8.

Border Patrol agents and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies found more than 50 people illegally in the country at a Pharr residence last Thursday, according to a criminal complaint.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating ex-President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization over the stated valuations of real estate assets.

The city of Pharr has appointed its police chief to be city manager. A news release Friday announced Andy Harvey, who will remain police chief, will also serve as city manager. The news follows a Thursday afternoon announcement that former City Manager Ed Wylie was stepping down from that position and instead will serve as a deputy city manager. The city charter requires the city manager to live within Pharr’s city limits and Wylie did not meet the requirement. “We are proud that he is taking on this new role as City Manager to continue steering Pharr in the right direction — towards the future,” Hernandez said in the release.

Pharr City Manager Ed Wylie will be stepping down, according to a city news release that cites the city charter requiring residence within city limits. Wylie, who has served as city manager since 2019, will continue to work with the city in his new role as deputy city manager. Since then, he has served the city through numerous roles including assistant director of planning, planning director, assistant city manager, deputy city manager, and most recently city manager. “I appreciate the trust that Mayor Hernandez and the Pharr City Commission placed in me to serve as City Manager,” he said in the release. I know our next City Manager will do an exceptional job and I look forward to helping with the transition.”

The city of Pharr and the Texas General Land Office are reminding residents throughout the Rio Grande Valley that there is still funding available to help those impacted by the 2018-2019 floods.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection called the state inspections ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott “unnecessary” and said commercial traffic at the Texas-Mexico border has dropped 60% since they began.

Hidalgo County reported 167 new cases with 44 people hospitalized and one additional COVID-19 related death as of Tuesday. His death raised the virus toll to 3,893. Of the 44 people hospitalized with the virus, eight are pediatric patients and 12 are in intensive care units as of Tuesday morning. The 167 new cases raised the overall tally since the start of the pandemic to 198,816. According to the release the county also reported two new cases among schools’ staff and four among students.

Hidalgo County reported five new COVID-19 cases with one additional virus-related death as of Friday. According to the county news release he was not vaccinated. His death raised the toll to 3,891. According to the release, there were no new cases among schools’ staff, however there are six new cases among students. This leaves the death toll in the county at 2,227.

Pharr’s Main Event family entertainment center attracts so many people from Brownsville that Plano-based Main Event Entertainment decided to open one here. The Brownsville location will be only the second Main Event in Texas south of San Antonio. “Main Event was aware that there were so many residents of Brownsville going to the Pharr location, so that’s what really compelled them to develop this location, just knowing how many travel all the way to Pharr to check out Main Event,” Malekian said. “So it will be exciting to bring it to Brownsville.”The first Main Event opened in Lewisville, Texas, in 1998. Among the experiences that will be available under one roof at Main Event Brownsville are four lanes of VIP bowling, “hyperbowl,” miniature golf, laser tag, billiards, arcade games, a full bar and dining.

A 25-year-old Pharr woman pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on Wednesday. The FBI arrested Sarah Elisea Rubio on Oct. 18 on the possession charge and she was later indicted on that count and a count of distribution of child pornography. The FBI investigation into the woman began in 2020 when the agency learned she shared the child sexual abuse material in a chatroom called “Hurtcore STR” on the messaging application Kik. “The video ‘bmthgirl17’ shared to the group is approximately 1:36 long and depicts a prepubescent child and an adult male. In exchange for her guilty plea for the possession of child pornography charge, prosecutors will move to dismiss the child pornography distribution charge.

Prosecutors announced Thursday morning that they have elected to not to pursue the death penalty for a Pharr man accused of killing his brother while robbing him of $100.

“We want to his at least 12 feet, 6 inches this summer.”RGVCA Meet of Champions Girls Preliminary ResultsClass 6A Womens Results100 Meters Varsity – Finals1. 4:40.27a Mission11 Norma Torres9 Chelsea Ibarra10 Michelle Avila9 Yamilet CondesShot Put – 4kg Varsity – Finals1. 9 Desiree Keith 32-08.00 Harlingen SouthClass 5A Womens Results100 Meters Varsity – Finals1. 1:56.23a Sharyland Pioneer11 Briana Saucedo9 Whitley Sutton12 Katelyn Salazar11 Jainie Lopez11 Regina Beas12 Layla Estrada11 Rosse Osorio9 Alicia Rodriguez4×400 Relay Varsity – Finals1. 9 Vashti Perez 6-11.00 PR IDEA North MissionTriple Jump Varsity – Finals1.

Pharr police said a man who was allegedly driving drunk collided with a train overnight Wednesday.

Pharr native Mario Lizcano appointed to weight in on state law enforcement policies by Gov. Greg Abbott. Pharr native appointed to weigh-in on state law enforcement policies

Plus she is very well educated in city, school and county politics that left me speechless in awe of her. We live in the best country to have a family because of the social programs in place to assist women during pregnancy. A pregnant women in Texas without insurance has at her disposal Medicaid, CHIP, WIC and the Texas Pregnancy Network, to name a few services. The state of Texas has programs for women who are not pregnant as well such as the Healthy Texas Women program. When writing an opinion on abortion, call it what it is: the termination of a human life.

The long-awaited Pharr interchange project is about 40% complete as of Friday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Hidalgo County reported five more deaths related to COVID-19 Monday along with 3,276 more cases of the virus. Meanwhile, the DHR Health Vaccine Clinic announced it was moving from Pharr to Edinburg beginning Tuesday. The county’s latest fatalities were from Weslaco, Mission, McAllen and an undisclosed location, three of them women and two men. First and second doses are available for adults and children as young as 5 years old. Cameron County reported 122 more cases of COVID-19 Monday and seven more deaths related to the virus.

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district trustees were briefed Monday on two redesigned campuses designed to meet a demand in industry training and — perhaps most importantly — bolster enrollment.

The Pharr Police Department and Tropical Texas Behavioral Health announced Friday that the Department of Justice awarded a $550,000 grant for the agency’s mental health unit.

The Pharr Police Department and Tropical Texas Behavioral Health announced Friday that the Department of Justice awarded a $550,000 grant for the agency’s mental health unit.

The two Pharr brothers accused of killing their stepfather last month had their bonds reduced after their attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus for each of them.

The two Pharr brothers accused of killing their stepfather last month had their bonds reduced after their attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus for each of them.

The Pharr Police Department is currently seeking two suspects accused of stealing money out of an ATM Monday morning, according to a news release. Police responded to an ATM alarm and arrived at the NAFT Credit Union on Sugar Road in Pharr about 1:03 a.m. Monday. One subject is described as heavy set, wearing a gray hoodie, black pants, black shoes, a red cap and black gloves. The second subject is described as having a thin build, wearing a black hoodie, black pants and shoes with white gloves. Pharr police are urging anyone with information regarding the theft to come forward and contact them at (956) 402-4700 or Pharr Crimestoppers at 787-TIPS or 1-800-648-TIPS.

A 20-year-old Pharr man is scheduled to be arraigned this week on an indictment charging him with murder over the fatal shooting death of a 19-year-old woman at a drive-thru last October. A grand jury indicted Juan Jose Treviño on Jan. 27 and his arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday morning. A probable cause affidavit for his arrest alleges that Treviño went to the drive-thru wanting to fight other men. After a verbal altercation, sheriff’s investigators allege Treviño shot at several people as he drove away from the drive-thru. “Witnesses stated Juan Jose left the northbound on … La Homa Road and they then heard gunshots coming from the north side,” the affidavit said.

The officer approached one of those people, Juan Carlos Toscano Guzman, and began talking to him, according to the complaint. “During the conversation, Officer Salinas noticed that several tanker trailers on the property did not have hazard placards and notified dispatch,” the complaint states. The Pharr Fire Department responded and they noticed crystallization around the barrels and in a clear plastic hose hanging across a chain-linked fence, according to the complaint. Police and firefighters tested the liquid substance within the barrels and it turned out to be positive for methamphetamine. The DEA says in the charging document that 700 gallons of liquid methamphetamine can be converted to approximately 5,727 pounds of meth.

Following reports of credit card skimmers by two police departments last week, the Pharr Police Department announced that it arrested two people officers say were caught red-handed at gas pumps swiping credit cards.

Following reports of credit card skimmers by two police departments last week, the Pharr Police Department announced that it arrested two people officers say were caught red-handed at gas pumps swiping credit cards.

Prosecutors announced Thursday morning that they'd rather take a 23-year-old Pharr man to trial then let him plead guilty to a judge for allegedly killing a teen after driving drunk and crashing into an apartment complex.

Pharr city commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the city, McAllen, Edinburg and San Juan fire departments during a commission meeting Monday afternoon to coordinate emergency response in the vicinity of the interchange construction.

One of the companies being considered previously built a 3-mile barrier that is at risk of falling into the Rio Grande.