🌱 How McAllen meat prices are squeezing both shoppers and BBQ joints
Hello McAllen! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How McAllen meat prices are squeezing both shoppers and BBQ joints
- Meet the new STC mariachi bringing fresh energy to McAllen
- How safe is McAllen compared with other Texas border cities?
Also on today's calendar: Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mostly cloudy and windy, with a high of 91 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Saturday: Breezy in the morning; cloudy, temps: high: 89, low: 63.
- Sunday: Some rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 71 and low of 65 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. While beef prices soar, business owners try to limit the struggle for Valley families (valleycentral.com) — Rising beef prices are hitting McAllen shoppers and restaurant owners hard, with brisket costs more than doubling since a local pitmaster started his business. Black Diamond BBQ and Jessie’s Meat Market are both struggling to keep prices low, as drought, cattle shortages, and halted Mexican cattle imports drive up costs for Valley families. 
2. STC Introduces Campus's First Student Mariachi Group (texasborderbusiness.com) — South Texas College in McAllen has launched its first-ever student mariachi ensemble, giving local students a new way to study and perform this regional tradition. The 13-member group, Mariachi La Tradicion del Valle, is led by instructor Marcos Sanchez and includes experienced Valley musicians who hope to strengthen cultural pride and musical opportunities in McAllen.
3. McAllen reviews annual crime report (valleycentral.com) — McAllen’s police chief says the city ended 2025 with its lowest crime levels in 40 years, capping 19 straight years of reductions. At the 2026 Annual Crime Report Luncheon, he compared McAllen favorably to other major Texas border cities, highlighting local officers, city leaders, and residents as key reasons for the city’s strong safety record.
4. Venezuelan doctor released 1 week after being detained by Border Patrol (valleycentral.com) — A Venezuelan family-medicine resident based in the Valley was released from detention in McAllen about a week after being stopped at the Sarita checkpoint. His attorney and supporters say he’d been stuck in visa limbo, and are now urging attention to others they believe are unjustly detained while he reunites with family and patients.
📸 Around McAllen
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
McAllen
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Be Like Blippi Tour
McAllen Performing Arts Center, 801 Convention Center Blvd, McAllen
2:00 pm
Saturday April 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Payne Arena , 2600 N 10th St , Hidalgo
8:00 pm
Friday May 1
📣 McAllen Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Peque-Cuentos
Lark Branch Library , 2601 Lark Ave , McAllen
11:00 am -
Palm City Tattoo Expo
McAllen Performing Arts Center , 801 Convention Center Blvd , McAllen
12:00 pm -
IMAS Gingerbread Challenge
International Museum of Art & Science , 1900 W Nolana Ave , McAllen
3:30 pm -
Friday Fish Fry
Enchanted Valley Ranch Inc , 721l Ford St , Mission
4:00 pm -
Senior Sunset
Juarez-Lincoln H S Sebastian, TX 78574
6:00 pm -
Bravo! VSO Gala
McAllen Convention Center , 700 Convention Center Blvd , McAllen
6:00 pm -
UTRGV Baseball vs Southeastern
UTRGV Baseball Stadium , 920 N Sugar Rd , Edinburg
6:30 pm -
Varsity Baseball @La Feria Lions
La Feria Early College High School - La Feria I.S.D , 901 N Canal , Hidalgo
7:00 pm -
⚾Huskies v Mission Veterans
Juarez-Lincoln H S Sebastian, TX 78574
7:00 pm -
Theatre: Mariela in the Desert - Edinburg
UTRGV Albert L. Jeffers Theatre , Arts & Humanities , Edinburg
7:30 pm
Friday April 17
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please vote !
Great cause ! Blessings https://thesupermom.org/2026/maria-rubio (Nextdoor Emerald Valley) - Hello my name is Hotrod I am the owner of Hotrods Family Kitchen located at 2508 E Main Ave Alton, Tx.
We are a new food truck here in the 956. We are farm to table. We use all local ingredients. Such as our beef comes from England cattle company in… (Nextdoor Las Banderas)
- Community Dental Partners posted a job opening for Front Office- Insurance Coordinator (Bilingual) in Mcallen. Apply here.
- City of McAllen, TX posted a job opening for Police-Custodian in Mcallen. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near McAllen here.
Ok McAllen! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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