KTEP Newscast: Recent Episodes
Aaron J. Montes
Newscast from Monday through Friday from the KTEP Newsroom. Hosted by Aaron Montes with direction from Angela Kocherga, KTEP News Director.
The El Paso Independent School District school board adopted an operational budget for the 2025-2026 year with a deficit of $6 million dollars, an $11 million dollar difference from previous projections. Parents in El Paso’s Southside criticized findings in the El Paso Independent School District’s equity assessment report. Two major bills involving religion in public schools are on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk awaiting action. SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded late last night during a test from its South Texas launch site.Listen more about these news topics by clicking the button below the title.This program originally aired on June 19, 2025
A federal judge in New York heard arguments about the future of Job Corps centers including one in El Paso. The El Paso Independent School District implemented a temporary hiring freeze for positions at is central office over concerns about budgeting this year.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar says she is among 45 Democratic lawmakers on a hit list belonging to a Minnesota shooter now in custody. The El Paso Police Department has released details about the armed man arrested at the No Kings Protest.
Demonstrations criticizing the Trump administration will continue tomorrow morning during the No Kings rally in East El Paso. Mayor Renard Johnson urged residents who plan on attending to practice peaceful methods during their protests.
A lawsuit filed by civil rights groups over Texas redistricting maps two years ago is on trial in an El Paso federal court. The city of El Paso held a ribbon-cutting ceremony after completing phase two of an expansion project at the Eastside Sports Complex.
Demonstrators in El Pasoans are joining protests across the country calling for an end to ICE raids at workplaces, courthouses and some neighborhoods. Attorneys with the El Paso Immigrant Defense Bar say the Trump administration’s expedited removal of immigrants from the country denies them full process under the law.
The Socorro Independent School District school board began its process to hire a permanent superintendent Monday night. Protests over recent immigration raids have spread from Los Angeles to cities across the country — including here in Texas.
The county commissioners court voted to approve the reduction of public bus service in Socorro after the city opted not to join the countywide program. Commissioners voted to ban the sale of fireworks with skyrockets and sticks in unincorporated areas of the county for the Fourth of July season.
In this week’s news roundup, KTEP News’ Angela Kocherga and Aaron Montes discuss the latest in a new law that would require Texas sheriffs and their offices to sign new agreements with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The El Paso City Council will consider a proposal to outline appropriate uses of reserve funds, also known as an unrestricted fund balance. The Texas legislature sent a version of Senate Bill 8 to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk over the weekend.
The El Paso Independent School District School Board accepted a voluntary separation agreement from superintendent Diana Sayavedra. The city and county of El Paso will open cooling centers as temperatures are expected to reach triple digits this weekend.
A regional transit service providing public transportation throughout the county will no longer operate in Socorro. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Justin Summons to head the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of allowing the AG’s effort to obtain records it seeks to investigate a faith-based non-profit. The El Paso Independent School District school board will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss superintendent Diana Sayavedra’s employment.
The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public admonition for District Court Judge Marcos Lizarraga. The action comes nearly four years after the TCJC began formal proceedings over 21 complaints filed against Lizarraga.
Tonight, the El Paso Independent School District school board will discuss superintendent Diana Sayavedra’s employment, according to an agenda item posted to EPISD’s website.
In this week’s news roundup, KTEP’s Angela Kocherga and Aaron Montes discuss what El Paso elected officials have to say about bail legislation moving through the state legislature. County officials are concerned about people’s rights and capacity at local jails.
A series of proposed laws changing rules around bail and eligibility of pre-trial release from jails has county officials concerned about people’s rights and the capacity to incarcerate suspects.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted in favor of higher water and sewer rates for residents connected to the East Montana Water System. The commissioners court voted unanimously to approve the rates.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar criticized Immigration Customs and Enforcement operations during a House Appropriations Committee Oversight hearing of the agency.
In this week’s news roundup, KTEP’s Angela Kocherga and Aaron Montes discuss the El Paso City Council’s decision to move the proposed site for a public safety complex that would house the police and fire department headquarters to airport property.
The El Paso border region is the largest area without a law school. A new feasibility study commissioned by the Texas legislature found a law school at the University of Texas at El Paso could fill a gap in legal services for this region but also the state.
County officials are hopeful a prolonged $21.6 million dollar project to widen Pellicano Drive in Far East El Paso will move along with a new interim initiative.
It’s now just over two months until Texas state lawmakers head to Austin for the next legislative session. And lawmakers can now file bills they hope will be signed into law next year. El Paso’s state representatives filed their own Tuesday.
The El Paso City Council postponed an item from their agenda over the El Paso Police and Firemen’s pension fund boards asking for a cost of living adjustment increase for retirees. The item sponsored by Brian Kennedy has already been postponed once.
The El Paso Police and Firemen’s pension fund boards are asking the city of El Paso to contribute an increase for retirees. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the request during next Tuesday’s meeting.
The runoff contest for the Mayor’s office is underway and Renard Johnson picked up two endorsements from his previous opponents. City Council representative Cassandra Hernandez and Steven Winters endorsed Johnson today.
Is immigration the third rail in American politics? KTEP News Director Angela Kocherga talks with Dr. Richard Piñeda, about the role that the border played in the current elections.
Are voters engaged in El Paso? News Director Angela Kocherga talks with Chair of the Department of Communications, Richard Piñeda about voter turnout.
One of the important races for El Pasoan is that of the District Attorney. News Director Angela Kocherga talks with News Producer Aaron Montes about some of the implications. They also discuss SB4 and cases against immigrants.
News Director Angela Kocherga talks with News Producer Aaron Montes about local races in El Paso. They discuss the mayor’s race as well as some of the propositions that are coming up.
Angela Kocherga talks with Lisa Wise, El Paso County Election Administrator about the voting process.
Election Day is tomorrow — and voter turn out in El Paso County through early voting was nearly 35 percent, according to figures from the county elections department.
Hospitals in Texas must begin asking patients for their citizenship status under an executive order that took effect today. That includes University Medical Center of El Paso, the largest public hospital on the Texas-Mexico border.
Former El Paso prosecutor Loretta Hewitt testified in court that the District Attorney’s Office had possession of privileged recorded conversations between the Walmart shooter and his attorneys for years.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued an El Paso doctor for providing gender transition treatments to children.
The El Paso County District Attorney’s Office asked a state appeals court to delay or limit a scheduled hearing in the Walmart mass shooting case this Thursday. The shooter’s attorneys have asked the court to deny the DA’s request.
The El Paso County Elections Department reports over 10,000 people headed to the polls today in the eighth day of early voting. That puts the overall number of early voters solidly over 100,000 with about 21 percent turnout.
With just 11 days left until the Nov 5th election day both presidential candidates made high profile trips to Texas.
The state’s motion for continuance is denied... State district court judge Sam Medrano denied prosecutors’ request to reschedule a hearing related to the Walmart mass shooting case.
The number of migrants arriving at the southwest border has declined sharply. Former President Trump is being criticized for making derogatory remarks about a funeral for murdered Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen.
Nearly 18 thousand El Pasoans turned out on the first day of early voting Monday. El Paso County has five propositions on the ballot.
It’s the first day of early voting in In El Paso any voter can choose to cast a ballot at any of the 33 early voting centers.
Two vehicle chases after alleged human smugglers ended in crashes on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. One chase ended on Interstate 10 near UTEP after a car struck two other uninvolved vehicles.
Mexico's first woman president Claudia Sheinbaum took the oath of office today in front of that country’s Congress. And a huge crowd gathered in downtown Mexico City to celebrate her inauguration.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court renewed its disaster declaration, a formality needed to recover expenses made over jail space for Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star arrests. The county has spent an estimated $13.4 million dollars processing and jailing people under the border security initiative.
A federal judge in El Paso denied the nonprofit Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center’s request for a restraining order against the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
A border nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance for migrants is suing the Texas Attorney General’s office. Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso is asking for a restraining order to block A-G Ken Paxton’s effort to obtain information from client’s files. A new Congressional caucus charged with finding solutions on immigration reform introduced its first resolution on Thursday. The El Paso County Commissioners court approved an agreement with Emergence Health Network that will provide mental health services to inmates deemed incompetent to stand trial. The agreement will allow EHN mental health professionals to provide therapeutic and psychiatric support to more than one-hundred county inmates. And, Both former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are looking to win over Latino voters.
The El Paso Police Department reports that overall crime is down about 3 percent compared to the last fiscal year. Data provided by EPPD show a 30 percent drop in the amount of homicides recorded this year compared to 2023.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court and City Council put their support behind an effort to develop a design for a downtown deck park over Interstate 10 this week.
A trial in the Walmart mass shooting case may not begin until Summer 2026, according to a scheduling order released today by District Court Judge Sam Medrano. The order says jury selection in the case, which could take months, will start next November.
KTEP’s Aaron Montes spoke with El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez about what penalties individuals face for threatening schools. And, what is being done to deter others from making threats.
Federal planners with the General Services Administration recommend the Bridge of the Americas port of entry be renovated with the removal of commercial traffic as part of the design.
El Paso officials denounced Governor Greg Abbott’s characterization of the city as quote “ground zero” for a Venezuelan gang.
Federal officials say a small device that converts firearms to machine guns is rapidly spreading across Texas. And they warn anyone making, selling, or using the device faces prison time.
Today is National Voter Registration Day. And, in El Paso, a recorded 517,616 are registered to vote. If you have not registered, you can still do so by person or by mail until October 7th.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025 budget that includes increased cost for jail operating expenses, elections and court costs. The county is anticipating a $500,000 dollar cost for the Walmart mass shooting case trial and expects it to take place next year.
Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded not guilty today to charges of drug trafficking and orchestrating criminal activity including murder plots and torture. Unlike at a hearing in El Paso, Zambada was brought into the court on his feet and held by U.S. Marshals, according to the Associated Press.
The gunman in the Walmart mass shooting case made an appearance in a packed courtroom today. But five years after he carried out the attack, the state has still not set a trial date.
The El Paso City Council voted to enter settlement negotiations with the city’s chief auditor. Edmundo Calderon filed a lawsuit last year against the city alleging he was harassed and intimidated over an he was conducting on gas credit cards used by the City Council.
An El Paso judge has approved a 90-day injunction sought by the county attorney’s office to close the Downtown Gateway Hotel. Under the order, all residents inside the building must vacate by Thursday at 10 a.m.
Attorneys for the gunman who carried out the Walmart mass shooting in El Paso are asking the court to dismiss his capital murder indictment – or remove the death penalty. The request comes days before a hearing.
U.S. prosecutors have filed a new request to transfer alleged drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada known as El Mayo to New York. It’s a request Zambada’s attorneys are now on board with, according to court documents from the U.S. Western District Court of Texas.
Alleged drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada known as El Mayo will be staying in Texas. At least for now. A federal judge has denied a request to move Zambada’s court proceedings to New York where he also faces charges.
El Paso County District Attorney Bill Hicks along with state and federal law enforcement agencies warned against making threats toward schools during a press conference today. Hicks said threats will be investigated and prosecuted for third degree felony offenses for making a terroristic threat.
Members of the League of United Latin American Citizens, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and county elected representatives denounced early morning raids ordered by the Texas Attorney General’s Office in South Texas.
We're learning more details about the deadly shooting by a school district police officer at Franklin High school last week. The El Paso Independent school District Police Department says the shooting last week was justified.
A coalition of law enforcement agencies from the federal, state and local governments arrested a large group of alleged members from the Chuco Tango gang today. Federal agents were seen raiding a residence in the Upper Valley as part of the effort.
Tonight, the city of El Paso hosts its first of nine community meetings about the proposed Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center. The proposed project is on the November ballot for voters to decide if the city should build the facility or cancel it.
The City Council cheered after unanimously approving a contract with newly appointed city Manager Dionne Mack today. The agreement puts Mack’s base pay at $350,000 and makes her eligible to receive pay increases available to other employees including service time.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved supporting an agreement with the Metropolitan Planning Organization to pursue a grant for a proposed downtown deck park project.
El Pasoans with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas insurance coverage could lose in-network access to more than 200 doctors.
Native El Pasoans were on stage at the Democratic Convention last night. A federal judge in Texas rejected Tuesday a new rule that would have banned noncompete clauses nationwide.
El Paso’s congresswoman Veronica Escobar will speak during today’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. She is one of four co-chairs of the convention. Escobar is expected to speak on the border and immigration in her remarks to delegates from across the country.
The El Paso and Ysleta Independent School District released the Texas Education Agency’s unofficial annual ratings for 2023. YISD scored an 86 or B+ and EPISD earned a 77 or C under the TEA’s new accountability rating system.
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser broke a tie between the City Council today that would’ve delayed the hiring of a new city manager until February during today’s meeting. At least half of the City Council supported waiting until next year.
Far East El Paso city representative Isabel Salcido announced her candidacy for mayor, marking the third member of the City Council to get in the race.
An El Paso Independent School District internal audit report says student absences at five campuses last year could cost the district over $3 million in state funds. Among five schools, Franklin High School accounted…by far…for the most quote unverified absences with 40,362.
The El Paso City Council has officially placed the downtown multipurpose performing arts and entertainment center on the November ballot. The project is one of the three signature projects from the 2012 Quality of Life Bond initiative.
The city of El Paso is one step closer to adopting next year’s tax rate…which will be a 5.7 cent reduction from last year. The City Council held a public hearing on the rate during its meeting today.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted to send a bond proposal to voters in the November General election. The bond initiative worth $324 million includes five propositions to improve parks, the courthouse, annex facilities, the county coliseum, animal shelter and a new facility for the Medical Examiner.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is requiring public hospitals report costs for medical care provided to undocumented migrants. The governor says he’ll use that information to get the federal government to pay those bills.
This upcoming Tuesday, the City Council will introduce a lowered tax rate for fiscal year 2025… one that will not have an additional impact on homeowners’ tax bills.
Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael El Mayo Zambada’s case will be moved from El Paso to New York. His attorney says his understanding is the case will be transferred to the Eastern District of New York.
Human rights groups, immigrant advocates and policy experts say Operation Lone Star and federal policies are leading to more migrant deaths. They detailed the dangers in a new report released today (Tuesday).
El Paso students are back in school. It was the first day back for El Paso Independent School District and Socorro Independent School District today. Ysleta Independent School District’s first day back from summer break was last Monday.
Five years after the Walmart mass shooting - relatives of the 23 people killed and survivors injured in the attack are waiting for the state of Texas to prosecute the case.
Taxable value for El Pasoans’ homes and commercial spaces rose over the last year, according to new figures from the El Paso Central Appraisal District. Preliminary data show the taxable value of homes rose by nine percent and over 12 percent for commercial properties.
KTEP’s Angela Kocherga spoke with Celeste Nevarez Chief of Clinical Services at Emergence Health Network about the fifth anniversary of the Walmart mass shooting.
The city of El Paso’s Sun Metro will replace 32 of its buses with new low emission ones and construct four new bus canopies with a grant from the federal government. The city formally accepted the grant today that is worth $30.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration.
The city of El Paso’s proposed Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center project is headed to the November ballot for a vote. The City Council in a 5-3 vote introduced an ordinance placing the proposed center on the ballot.
Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada’s lawyer says he was kidnapped and put on a plane to the U.S. He was arrested at the Santa Teresa airport last week.
Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada appeared in federal court today and entered a plea of not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges. Zambada faces drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges related to running a criminal enterprise.
The Socorro Independent School District board of trustees approved a new incentive program called All In, aimed at improving attendance at its schools this year.
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego signed a disaster declaration Tuesday evening… a step toward asking Governor Greg Abbott to cover mounting costs over jail space for Operation Lone Star arrests.
A new hearing in the state Walmart mass shooting case is scheduled for September. Prosecutors and the North Texas gunman’s attorneys have been at odds on when a trial could be held.
El Paso County is asking the governor to help cover the mounting cost of using local jail space for Operation Lone Star arrests. County Commissioners unanimously voted Monday to move forward with grant requests.
The global technology outage created delays for border residents at international bridges.
El Paso’s top Democrat says she is standing with President Joe Biden for his re-election campaign.
El Paso County is funding a $1.3 million study of the Tornillo Port of Entry in the Far East reaches of the county.
The El Paso City Council voted to begin the process of having the proposed Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center back on a ballot in November. The center is one of three signature projects envisioned from the 2012 Quality of Life Bond Initiative.
A district court decision that prevented the closure of a Catholic nonprofit in El Paso is now being appealed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The city of El Paso narrowed down its search for a city manager to four people and two alternates. Each of the four finalists all work for the city of El Paso today.
District 1 city representative Brian Kennedy declared his candidacy for mayor today. Kennedy’s candidacy triggers the state’s resign to run law, which requires an office holder to vacate their position if they seek another office more than a year and 30 days prior to the end of their term.
The city of El Paso projects an increase of $26.3 million of revenue for fiscal year 2025. And, the city expects to use $14.8 million of that money to pay for investments in the police and fire departments.
The Biden Administration chose El Paso’s Sun Metro as a recipient for $30 million in grant money to replace older buses with low-emission ones. The grant is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is providing $1.1 billion in funding to 117 other communities across the country in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
The city of El Paso’s budget office is proposing a four-cent reduction in the tax rate for fiscal year 2025. Till Wednesday, the council and city department heads will discuss the budget for next year in a series of meetings.
A District Court Judge has denied an attempt by the Texas Attorney General’s office to shut down Annunciation House.
KTEP’s Aaron Montes spoke with Betsy Keller, El Paso County’s chief administrator about possible debt issuances and a proposed bond measure in November to fund county projects.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved pulling $2 million from American Rescue Plan Act funding from projects to pay for a shortfall in first-time water and wastewater projects in the Northwest.
Plans to renovate the Bridge of the Americas port of entry in South Central are down to three options. The $650 million project is at its environmental impact assessment stage with residents concerned about the quality of air near the port and commercial traffic.
The El Paso Independent School District’s board of trustees adopted a budget worth $542 million for the 2024-2025 school year. The budget includes $18 million dollars in deficit spending primarily over maintenance of buildings, construction and technology.
Increased construction costs has the county considering different ways to pay for water and wastewater projects in communities in Northwest El Paso County. Next week the El Paso County Commissioners Court will look at various infrastructure and programming funds to pay a shortfall of $2 million on the water and wastewater projects.
A county criminal court judge dismissed 82 “riot participation” charges against migrants for allegedly damaging and destroying fencing installed by the Texas National Guard on the border.
The University of Texas at El Paso’s Aerospace center has a new director. UTEP hired Shery Welsh to lead the center. Welsh has 37 years of federal service in aerospace science and engineering, She’s the former director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
A second person has died in connection to the wildfires near Ruidoso. New Mexico Police said a person was found in the driver’s seat of his burned vehicle. The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire have spread just over 24,000 acres of land.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency, and officials in Ruidoso ordered nearly 8,000 residents to immediately evacuate Monday evening. Shelters have been set up for both people and pets and livestock fleeing the fire.
A state judge heard arguments from the Texas Attorney General office about its attempt close a Catholic nonprofit that provides temporary shelter for migrants in El Paso. President Joe Biden is expected to announce new protections for undocumented spouses of American citizens on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Updated proposals from the U.S. government’s plan to modernize the Bridge of the Americas no longer include tearing down the county coliseum. According to county commissioner David Stout, the decision now gives the county the ability to plan to renovate the facility.
The region is under an excessive heat warning today. The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority is closer to restarting construction on the busy Pellicano Drive in Far East El Paso.
Immigrant rights groups and El Paso-based Las Americas Immigrant Rights Advocacy Center sued the Biden administration today. Their lawsuit challenges President Joe Biden’s executive order granting him power to limit asylum protections for migrants who cross the border between ports of entry.
The El Paso City Council voted unanimously to address public concerns over health and environmental conditions in South Central’s Chamizal neighborhood. Residents called on the council to take action on the investigation into a major fire that broke out at a recycling plant along Paisano in May.
A county criminal court judge dismissed over 50 “riot participation” charges against migrants for allegedly damaging and destroying fencing installed by the Texas National Guard on the border. Judge Ruben Morales’ decision came before a jury trial scheduled for 14.
It is Day 2 of the Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso. Dozens packed into a room and heard several speakers denounce Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s push for a school voucher program.
Texas Democrats arrived in El Paso this week for the party’s biennial convention. They’ve been in the minority for three decades, but seemed confident their grassroots efforts will eventually bolster their ranks in Texas politics.
A coalition of government agencies and nonprofits are encouraging El Pasoans to stay safe as hot and dry weather is expected to continue. Enrique Duenas is Public Affairs Manager for the El Paso Fire Department.
President Joe Biden introduced a new executive order giving him power to limit asylum protections for migrants who cross the border between ports of entry.
Mexico has elected its first woman president. Claudia Sheinbaum is the projected winner according to early results and exit polls. There was a huge turnout for an election that holds special significance for women.
On Tuesday, the El Paso City Council is scheduled to vote on approving an application with the United States Department of Defense. The Texas Education Agency has unveiled new textbook and instructional materials designed for use in state public schools.
U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and Mayor Oscar Leeser welcomed an award of $2 million in federal funding for city projects.
Former county commissioner Vince Perez is set to become the next state representative for Texas’ House District 77. The position represents a large portion of the Lower Valley, Central, Downtown and the West Side.
Today is election day. Voters will decide on candidates for a state representative seat, District Attorney, sheriff and a Constable precinct in the Democratic primary runoff election.
The University of Texas at El Paso made its formal proposal to the county requesting a bond worth $99 million in debt be sent to voters to improve the Sun Bowl. UTEP officials say the money would be used to improve the facility to attract large entertainment attractions.
The city of El Paso is projecting a revenue surplus of $2.2 million by the end of the 2024 fiscal year in June. Both revenues and expenses are up compared to this time last year, according to data from the city of El Paso’s budget office.
City representative Brian Kennedy will get to keep his seat despite his comments that he is seriously considering a run for the Mayor’s Office this November.
A salary above $300,000, a vehicle allowance and comprehensive health plans are some of the incentives Chicago-based recruiter Baker Tilly is using to attract candidates to fill the vacant El Paso city manager role.
Early voting for the Primary runoff election begins today. Several democratic party races are being decided in a runoff including district attorney, Sheriff, and the District 77 State Representative seat.
Budgeters at the Ysleta Independent School District are anticipating an almost $14 million shortfall for next year's budget. Among challenges, the school district is adjusting to declining enrollment and a reduction in state and federal funding.
El Paso County pressed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to require an annual audit of emissions at the Western Refining Plant in South Central El Paso. The county’s proposal would be included in Marathon Petroleum’s federal operating permit, which is under review by the TCEQ this year.
Just over 140 riot participant charges against migrants face dismissal after public defenders argued against the cases in two hearings this week. Judge Ruben Morales is expected to make his decision soon.
Higher education leaders are telling Texas Senators how they’re complying with a state law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at public universities and colleges. Before today’s hearing, a group of UT Austin students, faculty and staff marched from campus to the Texas Capitol to express their opposition to the law.
El Paso is home to a new federal landmark that honors the history of bracero workers. The site in Socorro was the primary hub for thousands of workers who arrived from Mexico to provide critical labor in the U.S. during World War two through 1964.
City Council voted to rezone land near Rio Bosque wetlands park. That change allows a temporary cement mixing plant to operate permanently near the wetlands Rio Bosque is home to migratory birds and a research site.
El Paso City Council approved having builders pay more of the cost for water and sewer lines for new housing developments. After several hours of testimony, the council voted 5-3 to impose an impact fee for homebuilders.
We now know the cause of death of the man taken into police custody after he was wandering into traffic on Alameda last month.
More problems with water service for residents of Santa Teresa and Sunland Park. The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority or CRRUA has issued an outdoor watering ban. Customers are also told to conserve water in their homes taking shorter showers for example.
The El Paso Independent School District is planning to close several schools in response to a sharp decline in enrollment. Superintendent Diana Sayavedra told El Paso Matters the district doesn’t know how many of its 76 campuses will be affected.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration is expected to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The Associated Press reports the agency is moving to downgrade cannabis from a schedule 1 to a schedule 3 drug - like ketamine and codeine.
It’s the last day of Early voting in the May 4th election. Polls close at 7pm. Local voters will decide two bond proposals.
It’s happening again. There are long lines for commercial trucks at some border crossings connecting El Paso and Juarez . TX DPS vehicle safety inspectors are not allowing trucks to exit U.S. Customs cargo facilities in a timely manner.
Police arrested four people after responding to a possible threat placed on schools in Far East El Paso County and an investigation is underway.
The Central Appraisal District’s top administrators are encouraging El Pasoans to protest their property valuations if residents feel they don’t reflect the value of their homes.
The NAACP El Paso Branch called on the city of El Paso to immediately and thoroughly investigate the death of a man who died after an arrest by police.
El Pasoans pay the lion’s share for new water and wastewater lines that serve freshly built developments along the city’s fringes. The costs largely are reflected on monthly water bills
El Paso County District Attorney Bill Hicks announced he sought indictments for 140 migrants charged with “riot participation.” The decision came after a judge on Monday said the state of Texas did not have enough evidence to charge 140 migrants with the class B misdemeanor.
A judge said the state of Texas did not have enough evidence to charge 140 migrants with “riot participation.” The migrants were part of a group that climbed over temporary border fencing set up by the state of Texas on April 12.
The El Paso County Commissioners court postponed its vote to extend a contract with an outside attorney and environmental expert reviewing Marathon Petroleum’s applications for operation with the state and federal government.
The El Paso Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons unit is investigating the death of a man following his arrest. Multiple officers responded to a call Sunday afternoon about a man walking in and out of traffic.
The El Paso Independent School District school board unanimously voted in favor of appointing businessman Jack Loveridge to fill a trustee vacancy.
Juries sentenced two men and one woman to life in prison without a chance for parole for charges of capital murder. The cases are part of separate jury trials that finished over the last three weeks.
The El Paso City Council approved a $4.76 million dollar purchase of the former Bonham Elementary School from the El Paso Independent School District. The city will repurpose the property and 13-acres for a new police department central regional command center.
A coalition of elected officials, business owners, and nonprofits are urging the Biden administration to expand work for long-term undocumented immigrants.
Just over one-hundred people were at the El Paso Community College campus in Far East El Paso for a viewing party of the partial solar eclipse. Students, children, parents and grandparents put their solar eclipse glasses on to look at the moon that slowly hid more and more of the sun’s rays on the Earth.
The El Paso City of Council will vote on whether to approve the purchase of the former Bonham Elementary School on Tuesday. The sale is valued at $4.76 million dollars for the property and 13 acres on Cielo Vista Drive.
The city’s proposed multipurpose performing arts and entertainment center is back on the City Council’s agenda for next Tuesday. City planners are waiting on a decision from the council on where to designate a new location for the project.
Attorneys for the state of Texas and the Biden administration were back in court today arguing over the legality of a state law that permits local and state law enforcement officer to arrest someone suspected of being in the country illegally.
Attorneys for the state of Texas will be in a federal appeals court in New Orleans Wednesday to make their case for why Texas’ controversial immigration-enforcement law should go into effect.
More than 200 migrants are facing charges for being part of the crowd that knocked down a chain link fence at the border. The migrants then rushed past Texas National Guard soldiers to reach Border Patrol and turn themselves into agents.
El Pasoans have until Sunday to provide feedback on the search for city manager candidates. Recruitment firm Baker Tilly is looking for input for the community before conducting a national search for the city’s new executive.
The city of El Paso’s finance office is not recommending any issue of debt this year or for next year’s budget… meaning less need to increase the tax rate for fiscal year 2025.
A federal appeals court denied on Tuesday night the state’s request to reinstate SB4. Texas initially sought to have the law active while a pending lawsuit moved through the courts. The groups who sued the state are celebrating the appeals court’s ruling.
A Border Patrol Canine team from El Paso is credited with helping capture a fugitive who had evaded law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
The El Paso City Council approved an updated process for hiring a search firm to seek out candidates to fill the permanent city manager position. The Human Resources Office expects to begin advertising for the service towards the end of the month.
Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks. Terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York.
A group led by Republican Irene Armendariz-Jackson announced a recall effort for city representative Cassandra Hernandez at City Hall today. The group says it is nonpartisan.
Next year’s presidential election in Mexico may be a historic one as the two frontrunners are women. On Wednesday, Mexico’s governing political party Morena chose Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City as its candidate next year.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fined the El Paso Water utility $2 million for the improper discharge of 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater into the Rio Grande in 2021.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s updated 10-year plan includes $326 million for highway projects in El Paso County. Among the big ticket projects are the Downtown Interstate 10 widening project that will get $83 million extra dollars from the state.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and ten other members of the Texas Democratic Delegation are asking the Department of Justice for a comprehensive investigation of the border shooting involving a member of the Texas National Guard.
Two El Paso police supervisors were arrested Wednesday on charges of alleged sexual harassment against two women officers. Both were supervisors in the Crime Scene unit.
The search for a new El Paso city manager may last until next Spring. On Tuesday, the council scrapped hiring a search firm in a 5-3 vote.
The El Paso City Council unanimously approved rolling out a new pilot program that will monitor complaints about short-term rentals around town.
A shooting by a member of the Texas National Guard assigned to Operation Lone Star in El Paso is under investigation by state authorities. The gunfire wounded a man standing on Mexican side of the Mexican side of border – near the Bridge of the Americas.
The city of El Paso Ethics Review Commission denied a request from Central-East city representative Cassandra Hernandez to reconsider a letter of reprimand the board gave her several weeks ago.
El Paso County is closer to adopting a budget and tax rate for the 2024 fiscal year. A public hearing on the rate was held Monday at the courthouse.
El Paso County is now backing a request to the federal government for $362 million to fund a proposed Interstate 10 expansion project at Downtown.
El Paso County officials are proposing a gun buyback program with the hopes of taking guns off local streets and out of the hands of teens. The county made their proposal to county commissioners who voted in support of the effort during today’s meeting.
The federal government is winding down its first phase in planning for a $650 million project to improve the Bridge of the Americas international port of entry.
A hearing is set next month in the Walmart mass shooting case. This time in state court. The gunman from North Texas was turned over to state custody after he was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in federal court last month.
The number of COVID-19 cases in El Paso is on an upward trend along with other cities across the United States, Europe and Asia.
El Paso’s Congresswoman Veronica Escobar reintroduced her bill H.R. 5204 or the Climate Adaptation Plan Act of 2023.
The city of El Paso’s proposed 2024 budget will fund an extra police academy, improve facilities and help pay for quality-of-life projects. City officials presented the budget at today’s City Council meeting and during a special presentation.
Texas governor Greg Abbott sent state troopers to El Paso in December as part of Operation Lone Star. That’s the governor’s nearly $10 billion border enforcement effort.
The city of El Paso is planning a new memorial dedicated to the 23 victims of the 2019 Walmart mass shooting. A new circular plaza will replace a temporary memorial at Ponder Park.
Just outside of Odessa, there’s a small national natural landmark identifying one of the only known asteroid craters in the country. About 60,000 years ago, when woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers roamed the Earth, an asteroid slammed into what is now known as West Texas
There’s growing concern about more drownings in Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. Two bodies were pulled from the river this week. One was stuck in the buoy barrier created by the state of Texas to stop migrants from crossing.
El Paso is remembering the 23 people killed four years ago Thursday in a mass shooting targeting Latinos. There are several events to honor the victims’ memory.
El Paso is honoring the memory of the 23 victims killed in the Walmart mass shooting four years ago tomorrow. There are several remembrance ceremonies happening.
A group of elected officials and business owners from the Texas border made a long-shot pitch Tuesday to the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott.
DPS is investigating an early morning chase by a state trooper that ended with a crash. Nine people were transported to several hospitals. According to DPS, six of the people injured in the crash are migrants, and one is a child.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is leading a new effort to track drugs seized along the U.S.-Mexico border. The DEA and other federal agencies have established a new lab at the El Paso Intelligence Center on Fort Bliss.
Next week will mark the 4th year since the 2019 Walmart mass shooting that killed 23 people. The gunman in the attack told police he was looking to kill “Mexicans” and stop the quote “Hispanic invasion of Texas.”
The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico visited Juarez to get a first-hand look at the situation on the border. Ambassador Ken Salazar met with local, state, and federal officials in Mexico during his trip.
A federal judge struck down the Biden Administration’s new asylum policy for migrants Tuesday. The rule, which was implemented on May 12, disqualifies most people petitioning the government for asylum if they have not sought the protection in another country first.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas today over the installation of a floating barrier meant to stop migrants from swimming across the Rio Grande.
Texas has raised the amount a bottle of water costs inside its prisons for inmates by 50 percent in the last month. The price hike comes as 100,000 inmates struggle to endure the state’s deadly heatwave in facilities that lack air conditioning.
The city of El Paso’s Ethics Review Commission will resume a hearing today over a public complaint about District 3 city representative Cassandra Hernandez’s alleged use of a city-issued gas card.
Wednesday was the hottest day of the year, according to the National Weather Service of El Paso. Acting Senior Forecaster Connor Dennhardt said El Paso saw 111 degree heat today.
El Paso City Council representatives will no longer be able to use gas cards, according to city officials. City Council members turned in their cards last week.
The Border Network for human rights annual report includes alleged civil and human rights abuses by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
El Paso broke its old record of 23 consecutive days of triple-digit heat and is currently at 29. The National Weather Service expects the extreme heat to continue and the city could experience more days where the temperature is 100 degrees plus.
The parents of children killed in mass shootings in Florida and Texas made a stop in El Paso on Wednesday. Their visit is part of a cross-country tour to raise awareness about the need to address mass shootings in the U.S.
Two migrant teens have died after crossing the border into the U.S. near the El Paso area this year. A teenage migrant girl from Guatemala died at an El Paso hospital on Monday. On Sunday, El Paso Catholic Bishop Mark Seitz tweeted that a migrant boy, likely in his teens, died.
The U.S. federal government transferred custody of the 2019 Walmart mass shooter to the state of Texas today. The transfer comes days after a federal court sentenced him to 90 consecutive life sentences.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted in favor of accepting a new grant worth just over $2 million from the state of Texas today. The money is designated to pay for expenses related to the 2019 Walmart mass shooting case, including services for victims of the crime.
Just outside of Odessa, there’s a small national natural landmark identifying one of the only known asteroid craters in the country.
More pets go missing during the fourth of July holiday than any other time of the year. So far this year, 7000 lost pets have entered the overcrowded shelter.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has halted new CBP One asylum appointments at the Laredo border crossing. The Associated Press reports this comes after authorities were warned migrants were being extorted in the Mexican city of Nuevo Laredo.
Human smugglers attempted to use vans painted to look like FedEx delivery trucks. Border Patrol agents stopped the so-called cloned vehicles in west El Paso.
The borderland is closer to getting another port of entry. The mayor of Sunland Park says there’s a major development in the effort to bring a new border crossing to that city.
The El Paso County Commissioners Court decided to approve a short-term revenue bond plan to begin the purchase of a surgical center in East El Paso.
Next Monday, the El Paso County Commissioners Court will consider a proposal to use revenue bonds to purchase a surgical hospital on the East Side.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar says she is initiating talks to try and move truck traffic away from the Bridge of the Americas.
The state of California is investigating how migrants processed in El Paso ended up on charter flights to Sacramento and whether any laws were broken. The flights took place last Friday and on Monday.
The state of California is investigating how migrants processed in El Paso ended up on charter flights to Sacramento and whether any laws were broken.
As local governments prepare for next year’s budget planning. The Central Appraisal District is reporting the taxable value of properties within the county rose by $6 billion compared to last year.
A new study by the University of Texas at El Paso and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger found 35 percent of the city’s residents faced food insecurity last year.
A coalition of El Paso business leaders, law enforcement, elected officials and immigrant rights groups are calling on the federal government to expand immigrant work visas.
The Texas legislature allocated $65 million to initiate the construction of a comprehensive cancer center on the Medical Center of the Americas campus in South Central El Paso. Construction may happen as soon as next year.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for a special session of the Texas legislature. He made the announcement late on Monday night after legislators completed their scheduled time in Austin.
Many military service members get relocated to new bases every few years. That can cause headaches for military spouses with professional careers, because they may be forced to get re-licensed before they can work in their new states.
The state of Texas is closer to creating its own border and immigration police. A bill to do that advanced in the Texas Senate early this morning (Wednesday).
It’s been a year since a gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde killing 19 children and two teachers. He injured many more. It’s the deadliest mass shooting at a school in Texas history.
With the regular session of the Texas Legislature in its final week, the House and Senate have yet to agree on one of the governor’s top priorities: property tax relief.
Governor Greg Abbott today (Friday) outlined plans to punish people who cross the border between ports of entry.
In Juárez, federal immigration authorities revealed a new migrant processing facility replacing an older building where a fire killed at least 40 migrants.
The city of El Paso’s Financial Oversight and Audit Committee wants a more detailed review of what the city gives away in tax breaks to both hometown and newer businesses.
Water from New Mexico is making its way into El Paso’s Rio Grande. This year, it’s made up of late rainfall and winter runoff. According to El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 officials, that water will be available by Wednesday for irrigable land.
It’s been a few days since the pandemic health policy Title 42 ended. Under it, the U.S. government conducted over 2 million migrant expulsions between 2020 and this year.
There were concerns a large influx of migrants would request asylum at the border as soon as Title 42 expired. But in El Paso and Juarez, the night scene was calm and orderly.
The end of the pandemic health order Title 42 is hours away. It expires at midnight Eastern time that’s 9:59 here in El Paso. This is a watershed moment for the southern border.
The city of El Paso is opening two vacant middle schools as emergency temporary shelters for migrants arriving at the border. Migrants are being released by Border Patrol after they’re processed.
Today, we start with an update on how immigration authorities are responding to the presence of hundreds of asylum seekers in Downtown El Paso. Hundreds of migrants lined up to get processed at the Downtown Border Patrol facility.
The El Paso City Council voted to extend Mayor Oscar Leeser's state of emergency on Monday in response to the arrival of thousands of asylum seekers at the border.
City officials say around 12,000 to 15,000 asylum seekers may cross the border over the weekend and into Monday. Waves of migrants have already made their way into El Paso over the last two weeks.
The city of El Paso’s auditor says council representative Cassandra Hernandez and former representative Claudia Rodriguez’s use of a city gas card appears quote excessive.
The Biden Administration is sending about 1,200 U.S. troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. The decision by the president to send troops to the border comes as more waves of migrants arrive in El Paso.
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser has declared a state of emergency effective today as large numbers of people cross the border. The order will allow the city to tap into federal funding to provide temporary shelter for migrants.
President Joe Biden’s administration announced the U.S. government is looking to set up immigration processing centers in Colombia and Guatemala.
Early voting is underway in El Paso for the May 6 election. About 11,700 city of El Paso residents have cast ballots so far through three days of early voting.
A lead organizer in the We Build the Wall group that constructed a private fence along the border in Sunland Park was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison Wednesday.
The city of El Paso is one step closer to establishing a municipal ID program. The City Council voted unanimously to have city staff prepare a report on the feasibility and potential benefits of such a program within 120 days.
El Paso’s city government extended an emergency ordinance for 30 more days that allows its employees to assist nonprofits in caring for asylum seekers.
The El Paso City Council will consider a $9.4 million deal for 15 properties with the Texas Tech Board of Regents on Tuesday. The properties are on El Paso and Colfax Streets in South Central El Paso.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ visit to El Paso went with little fanfare and no discussion between local leaders, according to County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.
El Paso is celebrating President Joe Biden's designating Castner Range as a national monument. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga has details.
According to court documents, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer faces an indictment on three federal charges. A federal court unsealed the indictment against Miguel Angel Delgado Jr. this week.
A noncommissioned officer selected to take a top job at Fort Bliss won’t be settling into the role after all. The 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss announced late Thursday that Samuel Rapp, a Command Sergeant Major, would no longer be named the senior enlisted leader at the post.
The El Paso City Council set a goal to raise its minimum wage for employees to $15 an hour by the end of the fiscal year 2026. The vote was passed unanimously, with five city representatives being in favor. Three members of the council were absent at the time of the vote.
Cary Westin, a retired Army Colonel, will be El Paso’s interim City Manager starting in July. The City Council named Westin to the position on a 7-1 vote, with East Side Representative Henry Rivera casting the lone dissenting vote.
El Paso’s U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar says billions of dollars in federal funding from the president’s 2021 infrastructure bill will make its way to Texas in order to improve roads, bridges and highways.
U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar of El Paso says she supports President Joe Biden’s proposed nearly $7 trillion budget for fiscal year 2024.
Along the border, feminist groups joined others around the world in a day dedicated to demanding equality for women. In Ciudad Juárez, demonstrators held memorials and marches for women who were murdered, kidnapped or experienced assault.
Earlier in the day, mothers of the disappeared in Juarez placed a pink cross on the banks of the Rio Grande facing the U.S. The group “Ni una mas” organized the ceremony to show solidarity with migrant women who have disappeared, been murdered or victims of trafficking.
Two U.S. citizens abducted in Matamoros, Mexico, have been found dead. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed the deaths during his morning press conference.
The FBI is looking to hire more agents and is hosting a diversity recruitment event in El Paso this week. Jeffrey Downey is the Special Agent in charge in El Paso. The FBI wants to hire more women and minorities. According to the FBI About 23 percent of agents are women and about 20 percent are racial or ethnic minorities.
The Department of Justice pushed back on a lawsuit that challenges the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. Potential presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will be in Texas the next couple of days, including a stop in Houston tonight.
A series of crimes involving teens over the last several weeks has prompted discussions about curtailing youth from engaging in such activity. Social media, mental health and access to guns are some of the topics law enforcement and elected policymakers discussed on Wednesday night in East El Paso.
The El Paso City Council issued a letter of admonition for Northeast city representative Joe Molinar. The vote came on Tuesday after the council voted to give the city manager 120 days notice of termination of his employment.
After eight years, the El Paso City Council moved to terminate City Manager Tommy Gonzalez’s employment. He’ll receive a 120 day notice before he leaves his position, in accordance with his contract with the city.
The El Paso Electric Company reported many power outages across the city Monday. Over the weekend, an estimated 39,000 electricity customers lost power during a strong wind and dust storm.
The El Paso City Council will once again discuss city manager Tommy Gonzalez’s contract next week. The council’s agenda only describes discussion and acting on the city manager’s employment agreement.
The 16-year-old accused of using a handgun to kill and injure others at Cielo Vista Mall last week is charged with murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He's been referred to the county Juvenile Probation Department.
Law enforcement within the region say there is a growing trend of threats toward El Paso Schools. During a multi-agency press conference on Tuesday, police and local prosecutors affirmed threats towards schools will be dealt with seriously.
The White House introduced a new immigration policy Tuesday, One that would place limits on asylum seekers’ eligibility to petition at the border. The new rule will require migrants to first seek asylum at other countries they cross on route to the U.S. or to try other lawful ways to immigrate.
The El Paso Police Department announced a 16-year-old allegedly fired a handgun at Cielo Vista Mall last week. The fatal incident claimed the life of a 17-year-old and also resulted in the injury of another teen.
El Paso police say a “random” encounter led to a shooting at Cielo Vista Mall that killed one person and injured three others. The gunfire in a food court happened when the mall was full of shoppers Wednesday night.
Nurses, researchers and health agencies gather in Austin this week to address maternal mortality and morbidity in the state.
The US Ambassador to Mexico visited the border Tuesday and made a stop at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. The Ambassador said New Mexico’s busiest border crossing is key to modernizing trade.
El Paso County is looking for state support to initiate a spaceport development in an Eastern part of the region. County commissioners approved adding the project as a new legislative value for the Texas Congress on Monday.
El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks says a former prosecutor tried to prevent the widow of a Walmart mass shooting victim from crossing into the U.S. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has agreed to settle wrongful termination claims with former employees who reported him to the FBI.
The Texas Department of Public Safety made its pitch to budget writers in the state Senate, asking that they continue funding state-based border security efforts.
The accused gunman in the Walmart mass shooting case entered a guilty plea in federal court to 90 criminal charges, including hate crimes. Patrick Crusius faces life sentences for each count.
El Paso County Attorney Joanne Bernal will be at the president’s State of the Union Address tonight. She was invited by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar. Bernal says among the things she’s listening for is a response to the police killings of young men.
Veronica Escobar, the U.S. Representative for El Paso, guided fellow House Democrats for a visit on the border this weekend. Fellow Texas representatives Sylvia Garcia and Greg Casar joined Democrats from Washington, Georgia and New Jersey on the tour.
The city of El Paso’s Ethics Review Commission determined city Rep. Brian Kennedy did not violate the ethics ordinance on his first day in office. Kennedy is a former CEO of the El Paso Sports Commission that operates the county coliseum.
The Village of Vinton has begun the search for a new municipal court judge. The man who held the job, Roger Rodriguez, described as a legal advisor by the former District Attorney, no longer holds the job.
The El Paso City Council voted 7-1 to direct city administrators to begin implementing a policy that would make abortion investigations a low priority for the police department.City staff and attorneys will begin reaching out to municipalities across the state that adopted similar policies to incorporate in El Paso.
The number of encounters between border patrol and migrants in the El Paso area were the highest they’ve ever been between October and December last year, according to U.S. federal data.
El Paso bid a final farewell to Police Chief Greg Allen this afternoon at funeral services. The chief was laid to rest at Evergreen East Cemetery after a last radio call where his family was presented with a flag.
During her last court appearance before resigning as District Attorney Yvonne Rosales pleaded the 5th rather than risk being removed from office. She refused to answer questions about allegations of incompetence and misconduct. Among the questions: what was Roger Rodriguez’s role with the DA’s office?
Texas is one of 20 states suing the Biden administration over a program that allows migrants from other countries to come to the U.S. temporarily. El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal will not seek re-election this year.
The accused gunman in the Walmart mass shooting will appear in federal court next month, according to a new filing. Patrick Crusius, the 24-year-old from North Texas is expected to plead guilty to federal charges stemming from the shooting three years ago.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar has announced 25 million dollars in new federal funding for several community projects. For the seventh time, a jury trial was canceled in the case involving Sam Morgan, a former Northeast City Council rep.
The city of El Paso will allow its 30-day disaster declaration to expire over the weekend. The number of migrant crossings into El Paso have dramatically fallen this month compared to December, according to city data.
Today, the Border Network for Human Rights and nearly 40 advocacy groups denounced Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s December letter alleging unnamed nonprofits were aiding and smuggling migrants into El Paso. Abbott called on the Texas Attorney General to investigate the baseless allegations.
Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against accused Walmart shooting gunman Patrick Crusius. The man from North Texas allegedly drove to El Paso and shot and killed 23 people with a rifle three years ago.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams spent two days in El Paso to talk to city officials, humanitarians and with immigrants at the Downtown Sacred Heart Church. Mayor Adams’ visit also included a stop along the border fence to see a spot where migrants cross frequently into the city limits.
Several Texas climate advocates are calling for the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to strengthen its new rules on methane. The EPA released a proposal in November to cut methane pollutants from oil and gas industries.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar says she’s concerned political rhetoric about the border could lead to more violence. El Paso Water customers can expect an increase in bills each month for water, wastewater and stormwater charges.
The El Paso Public Service Board threw out a proposal that would make developers pay a greater share of new water infrastructure costs in sprawling parts of the city. El Paso Water officials estimated the fee would have saved existing customers about $549 in future rate increase costs over 10 years.
A rare bipartisan group of U.S. Senators continues a tour of the southwest border. Texas Senator John Cornyn is leading the delegation with Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.
A rare bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is on the border in El Paso meeting with local leaders, community organizations and law enforcement. Senator Ted Cruz criticized President Joe Biden after he visited only one Texas border city to discuss mass migration at the border.