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🌱 Patch AM: How a near-death scare sparked 12,000 gifts for sick kids

Happening soon: END-TRE 2025 on the Harlingen Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 24th Patch AM
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Coffee in hand, Harlingen? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a near-death scare sparked 12,000 gifts for sick kids
  • What’s new at the 2026 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo?
  • How is Harlingen’s ICE office tied to this deportation showdown?

Also on today's calendar: Campana Sobre Campana; Christmas in Mexico.

Find out what's happening in Harlingenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Harlingenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Wednesday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 83 and low of 65 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 82, low: 65.
  • Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 84 and low of 67 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Former South Texas Health System patient rounds up thousands of toys for annual drive (valleycentral.com) — Harlingen readers might be inspired by 16-year-old Isaac Garza, who just delivered 2,089 toys to a South Texas Health System hospital as part of his annual Isaac’s Angels Toy Drive. After surviving Kawasaki disease as a child, he’s spent a decade collecting more than 12,000 gifts from drop-off sites across the Rio Grande Valley to brighten patients’ holidays.
   

• Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo unveils 2026 lineup (valleycentral.com) — Harlingen families planning spring outings can look ahead to the 2026 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo in Mercedes, which promises new attractions, more rodeo seating, and free parking. Organizers are adding picnic tables, more Blast Pass kiosks, and fresh music and entertainment acts, with adult tickets going on sale for $10 while supplies last.
   

• Appeals court blocks Trump admin's deportation flights in Alien Enemies Act immigration suit (foxnews.com) — A high‑profile federal court fight over the Trump administration’s use of a wartime law to deport Venezuelan nationals now includes input from a regional ICE director based in Harlingen. While the D.C. Circuit kept a lower court’s block on the deportation flights in place, Harlingen’s ICE office is involved in sensitive declarations as officials weigh invoking the state secrets privilege.
   

📸 Around Harlingen

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Harlingen

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★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 27
  • END-TRE 2025
    ENTRE Film Center, 415 W Jackson Ave, Harlingen
    6:00 pm

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Other local events

📣 Harlingen Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • 12/22/2025 Posted 3:50 P.
    M. The Distribution & Collection Department is currently repairing an Emergency Waterline break on: San Roman Road. The water outage is affecting… (Nextdoor )
  • A small grayish dog was wandering on La Cana in Palm Valley.
    The dog is safe in a spare kennel. Please call me at 956-463-3535 to pick up your little loved one. (Nextdoor Palm Valley)
  • Quick Quack Car Wash posted a job opening for Team Member in Harlingen. Apply here.
  • Sonic Drive-In posted a job opening for Cook in Harlingen. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harlingen here.

🗞 Nearby News

Donna

  • NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ:NEXT) Receives Consensus Rating of "Hold" from Analysts (marketbeat.com)
  • Trump administration installing 900-mile wall of buoys in Rio Grande (washingtonexaminer.com)
  • One of Texas' oldest restaurants is a literal hole in the wall (mysanantonio.com)

Edinburg

Ok Harlingen! 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: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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