Good morning, Edinburg.

Hargill community volunteers are seeking new toy donations for the parade and Sleigh with Santa celebration at a park on Saturday to help local children receive a gift at Christmas.

Resident Carmen Garcia (contact after 2 p.m. at 956-207-4193) asks residents, businesses, and supporters to donate in the coming days.

Families can join the Edinburg World Birding Center's Christmas Stocking Program on Saturday, Dec.

20 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will paint and decorate felt stockings while supplies last, and admission is $2 plus the general admission fee at 714 S. Raul Longoria Road.

Mark E. Garcia, president and CEO of FTZ 12, explained in an interview with RGG Business Journal how the zone supports companies across Hidalgo County and may soon serve Willacy County.

Garcia said joining RioPlex will boost its global marketing efforts.

Edinburg CISD confirmed that all campuses and facilities will close for Christmas break from Dec.

22 through Jan. 2 with staff returning on Jan. 5 and classes resuming on Jan. 6; the district also cancelled its Dec. 23 board meeting to help families plan ahead.

PSJA Early College High School hosted its 4th Annual Roaring Bears Christmas Gift Event on Wednesday, Dec.

17 for special needs students +teachers picked a student for a personalized gift while the dance and cheer teams boosted the festive spirit+.

Demolition of the old Hidalgo County Courthouse began Wednesday and is set to finish by September.

Meanwhile, a new $6.3M downtown parking garage will be completed by November, so residents and visitors should expect heavier traffic + noise near the courthouse square.

Local farmers have long struggled with reduced water from the Rio Grande and may see relief as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a deal with Mexico to deliver over 200,000 acre-feet of water later this week + water quality and timing concerns remain.

DHR Health's Level 1 Trauma Center hosted a luncheon on Dec.

2 (at Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance) to honor trauma survivors, their families and first responders. The event brought healthcare professionals together to share stories of resilience and healing.

At an event on Friday, Dec.

12 at Victoria Palms inn & Suites in Donna, real estate developer Mark Hanna said Placer.ai data shows Donna is set to build a powerhouse economy. It was the final C&I tour of 2025 before the program is revamped as RGV Connect in 2026.