Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Former foster youth in El Paso celebrated a milestone on Monday becoming the first in the state to complete a new program that helps them get jobs with the Texas Health and Human Services Nine former foster youth graduated from the Texas Works Paths to Success (TWPS) program marking the first group of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) teens to complete the five-week Health and Human Services (HHS) training the program aims to enhance economic self-reliance and housing stability for youth transitioning out of foster care into adulthood Graduates of the program are now eligible to begin careers with Health and Human Services where they will assist Texans in accessing medical and cash assistance benefits through programs such as SNAP The ceremony took place at the El Paso Community College Administrative Boardroom in East El Paso with DFPS Transitional Living Specialist Team Lead Gaye Vopat and HHS officials in attendance expressed her excitement for the graduates "It’s amazing for these young people," said Wegner "They’re going to become full-time state employees with benefits and a pension things these kids have likely never thought about having before." RECOMMENDED: Socorro ISD to discuss employee non-renewals at special meeting shared her enthusiasm about the opportunities the program has opened up for her "I'm honestly very excited," Monks said "This is opening up a lot of opportunities for me and my family." who spent six years in the foster care system including instability and difficulty building relationships Monks remained determined to create a better future for herself "I knew that I didn't want to be like the rest of my family and not a future for themselves," Monks said who Wegner said was two years in the making began interviewing candidates in January and started training in March The next course is scheduled for March 2026 RECOMMENDED: YWCA's 'Tent Talks and S'mores' brings camping joy to El Paso families Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox was hit by a white SUV shortly before 5 a.m in the popular off-roading desert site off Montana Avenue in eastern El Paso County sheriff's spokeswoman Priscilla Contreras said in a news release El Paso County crime: 'Get back' over house party fight turns deadly when man killed in truck stop brawl The investigation is being handled by sheriff's special traffic investigators and further details on the deadly incident have not been disclosed we know Red Sands will continue to draw large crowds," Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said in a statement "We want everyone to enjoy the area responsibly — look out for one another Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X El Pasoans might have felt some shaking from an earthquake A 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook El Paso, Texas, late Saturday, May 3, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake occurred around 7:47 p.m The earthquake struck at a depth of 6.3 kilometers and some strong shaking could be felt in the immediate area another earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 hit the same area Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso has reported 43 cases of measles with most linked to unvaccinated individuals Around a dozen cases involve children aged four and under an infectious disease specialist at Texas Tech El Paso noting measles is highly contagious and preventable Free measles vaccines are available at all City of El Paso community clinics Free Measles Vaccines -  Walk-In or by appointment no insurance needed.To schedule an appointment call (915) 212-6555 TX 79924Type – Walk-InMonday - Friday | 7:30am- 4:30pmSaturdays | 9:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m.Closed for lunch from noon to 1p.m TX 79912Type – Walk-InMonday - Friday | 7:30am- 4:30pmClosed for lunch from noon to 1p.m TX 79901Type – Walk-InMonday - Friday | 7:30am- 4:30pmClosed for lunch from noon to 1p.m TX 79907Type – Walk-InMonday - Friday | 7:30am- 4:30pmClosed for lunch from noon to 1p.m Free Measles Vaccines - No appointment or insurance needed Olivia Vara is a weather anchor and reporter KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KVIA-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information The Pentagon has created a second military zone in the El Paso area that U.S soldiers will patrol as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on people crossing the southern border illegally the military’s Northern Command said the latest military zone will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported that the area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock spokesman for the Joint Task Force – Southern Border “The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,” said Gen Last month, the Pentagon designated a 60-foot-wide strip of land along the New Mexico-Mexico border as a military zone. On Monday, federal prosecutors charged more than two dozen migrants with violating security regulations after the U.S. Army spotted the group approaching the area and alerted Border Patrol agents That charge is in addition to the charge of entering the U.S director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law and retired U.S said that for more than two centuries the federal government has prohibited the U.S in part because soldiers’ mission isn’t law enforcement the Trump administration has found an ingenious way of using the military for immigration enforcement without asking Congress for permission military is prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement an exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some cases “Using the military as part of border security reinforces the perception and the narrative that the nation is under some type of invasion,” he said “But the facts contradict the assertion of an invasion because the number of border crossings has been steadily dropping for some time now.” Department of Homeland Security reported encountering 1,627 migrants in the El Paso sector which includes all of New Mexico’s border as well as El Paso and Hudspeth counties in West Texas a policy analyst at the Hope Border Institute an immigrant rights advocacy group in El Paso said the “militarization of our border has long been of great concern here in the borderlands “This escalation is deeply concerning since it not only represents a further step in criminalizing migrants attempting to seek asylum at the border but has the potential to also affect humanitarian aid during a time when migrant deaths in the El Paso Border Patrol Sector have been soaring.” According to federal government data collected by No More Deaths, a migrant aid and advocacy group in Tucson at least 176 migrants died in the El Paso sector in 2024 The federal government documented one migrant death in the sector in 2014 Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership TX - KFOX14/CBS4 — El Paso Fire's Special Rescue team responded to a vehicle driving off the road on Transmountain Sunday afternoon It is unknown the condition of their injuries They will be transported by El Paso Fire's helicopter El Paso County Sheriff's deputies are diverting traffic from the summit to allow FSTAR to land near the Ron Coleman trail parking area This is a developing story; check back for updates RECOMMENDED:Sheriff's office investigates fatal rollover crash in far East El Paso Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox TX - KFOX14/CBS4 — Multiple people are wanted by police in connection to burglarizing a vehicle and stealing money from the owner The El Paso Police Department and Crime Stoppers of El Paso are seeking the community's help in identifying the suspects involved in this week's "Crime of the Week." The victim visited a Wells Fargo ATM located at 6960 North Mesa Street on April 24 just before 12 P.M the suspects watched and followed the victim to a Speedway Convenience store located at 4990 Doniphan Drive one suspect exited the SUV and broke a window on the truck The vehicle is described as a newer model of the Ford Explorer Authorities urge anyone with information about the suspect to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso immediately at 566-8477(TIPS) or online at www.cselpaso.org and may qualify for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest RECOMMENDED: Wrong-way crash on I-10 near Mesquite leaves one injured, driver arrested for DUI Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — All lanes on Gateway North after McCombs were closed following a motorcycle crash in northeast El Paso A spokesperson with the El Paso Fire Department said one person was transported to the hospital via helicopter Cameras from the Texas Department of Transportation showed first responders and a helicopter landing near the scene The investigation has now been turned over to the El Paso Police Department The Texas Department of Transportation advised that all lanes on Gateway North after McCombs are closed and is asking drivers to seek an alternate route TX - KFOX14/CBS4 — El Paso County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a rollover early Sunday morning in far East El Paso the Sheriff's Office Special Traffic Investigations Unit was called out to take over the investigation identified as 53-year-old Bonifacio Chavez of Socorro was traveling southbound on South Ascencion Street in a white pickup truck A preliminary investigation indicates the truck veered off the roadway The initial investigation suggests that impairment and failure to wear a seatbelt were all factors that led to the rollover at the intersection of Perlite Drive and South Ascencion Street Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox by Julia Spencer Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A vacant lot at the corner of Myrtle and Noble streets in El Paso is now enclosed by a chain-link fence topped with razor wire others worry it may exacerbate issues in the neighborhood RELATED: Downtown El Paso residents outraged over crime hotspot as city struggles to find solutions El Paso City Representative Chris Canales acknowledged the challenges posed by the lot which has become a gathering place for homeless individuals and a hotspot for criminal activity "That's a really difficult situation for us because we can't violate that owner's private property rights," said Canales The lot's owner had previously resisted efforts to remove individuals from the property or secure it leaving law enforcement with limited options "It was basically like a free base right like when you played tag as a kid," Canales explained "They could stay on that lot the police couldn't enter and the owner didn't want them to be on the property." The recent installation of the fence was a collaborative effort between the city and the Opportunity Center for the Homeless Canales expressed optimism about the change I think we're gonna see a lot of that problem move out into the streets It might look like an escalation for a short time I think now the police department is gonna be much more open to placing a lot more of their resources here." Please get that through both of your heads City officials emphasize that the fence is just one step in addressing the issue and encourage residents to stay engaged through neighborhood associations and community meetings Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Crime Stoppers of El Paso distributes fugitives wanted by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and El Paso Police Department every week through the "Most Wanted" feature The attached fugitives are individuals whose attempts in locating them for one reason or another have been unsuccessful The agencies submit these fugitives to Crime Stoppers of El Paso which distributes them to the news media and offers the use of the Crime Stoppers hotline for information regarding the whereabouts of these fugitives Anyone with information on the location of any of these fugitives should call Crime Stoppers of El Paso immediately at 915-566-8477 (TIPS) or submit the information online at cselpaso.org is a non-profit organization that brings together the community Texas (KFOX14) — Deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office responded to a motor vehicle crash at Red Sands Sunday morning The incident happened at 15600 Montana Ave Preliminary findings indicate that a white SUV was off-roading in the area when it struck a 19-year-old man we know Red Sands will continue to draw large crowds," said Sheriff Oscar Ugarte "We want everyone to enjoy the area responsibly—look out for one another and help us prevent further tragedies." RECOMMENDED: El Paso Fire's Special Rescue team responds to vehicle off-road incident on Transmountain Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily to your inbox On Cinco de Mayo, folks ... whether they are Hispanic or not ... break out their sombreros and double down on Mexican food while they guzzle cerveza fria and tequila It's just like how everybody becomes Irish and orders whiskey on St On Cinco de Mayo, folks gather together to celebrate tequila ... and some battle that happened a long time ago in Mexico. Seriously, the day commemorates the battle of Pueblo during which Mexican forces ran off the French Kind of like Presidents Day here which is really just an excuse to close the banks and have mattress sales Only America goes nuts with the Cinco de Mayo partying party today with a clear conscience knowing that it's actually (kinda) good for you Here are a few other things tequila lovers should know: First of all, don't look like a tourist - learn how to select a tequila. Second, you can make your own but buying it ready made will get you drinking a lot sooner Nope. It's made from the Agave plant. It looks sorta cact-ussy but it's actually a succulent and only the heart is used for tequila. Fun fact: In Latin, agave means illustrious, admirable, and noble A few of the things a certain amount of tequila will quite likely make you feel that you are Other side effects may include feeling sexy you probably don't really sing and dance as well as tequila may lead you to believe I'm 50/50 on this one, I like it with and without "training wheels". It's really a matter of personal taste but, whether you do or not, you should at least know who did it first and why. For an El Paso spin on your tequila, try El Perro Grande On Cinco de Mayo, folks ... whether they are Hispanic or not ... break out their sombreros and double down on Mexican food while they guzzle cerveza fria and tequila. It's like how everybody becomes Irish and orders whiskey on St. Patrick's day but with better food.\nRead More On Cinco de Mayo, folks ... whether they are Hispanic or not ... break out their sombreros and double down on Mexican food while they guzzle cerveza fria and tequila On Cinco de Mayo, folks gather together to celebrate tequila ... and some battle that happened a long time ago in Mexico. Seriously, the day commemorates the battle of Pueblo during which Mexican forces ran off the French First of all, don't look like a tourist - learn how to select a tequila. Second, you can make your own Nope. It's made from the Agave plant. It looks sorta cact-ussy but it's actually a succulent and only the heart is used for tequila. Fun fact: In Latin, agave means illustrious, admirable, and noble I'm 50/50 on this one, I like it with and without "training wheels". It's really a matter of personal taste but, whether you do or not, you should at least know who did it first and why. For an El Paso spin on your tequila, try El Perro Grande Eight young students at Crystal Montessori School just signed their first-ever book deal and they’re not even in middle school yet these creative kids co-wrote a magical children’s book called La Historia de la Selva Mágica (The Story of the Magic Jungle) which will be published by local indie press Peanut Publishing A post shared by KTSM 9 News (@ktsmtv) Each student created an animal character, from colorful jungle creatures like jaguars, monkeys, and butterflies, and helped craft a story about friendship, courage, and understanding. The final result is a heartwarming tale where eight animals team up to befriend a creature they’re all a little scared of. It’s got a moral Loya Cuellar even gave the students a lesson in contracts before the big moment You’ve got to love a real-world learning moment with some major “wow” factor you’ll be able to grab your copy at Crystal Montessori or through Peanut Publishing’s Instagram we’re especially excited because we actually interviewed Peanut Publishing’s first author who wrote El Paso Placita: A Tour For A Little Señorita And now this new generation is stepping up and putting their stories into the world So big congrats to these young authors and to El Paso for nurturing such bright, creative minds! Check out photos of their publishing day with the red carpet rolled out by Peanut Publishing over at KTSM! Local students from Crystal Montessori are set to wow readers with their first book, 'La Historia de la Selva Mágica.' Discover their creative journey!\nRead More A post shared by KTSM 9 News (@ktsmtv) Each student created an animal character, from colorful jungle creatures like jaguars, monkeys, and butterflies, and helped craft a story about friendship, courage, and understanding. The final result is a heartwarming tale where eight animals team up to befriend a creature they’re all a little scared of. It’s got a moral So big congrats to these young authors and to El Paso for nurturing such bright, creative minds! Check out photos of their publishing day with the red carpet rolled out by Peanut Publishing over at KTSM! or Ciudad Juárez and feel like you’ve been inhaling the Chihuahuan Desert lately The Borderplex region is experiencing its dustiest season since the Dust Bowl the period of devastating dust storms that hit North America a century ago NASA’s Aqua satellite captured an image of the airborne dust from low-Earth orbit on April 27 The swaths of airborne particles are part of an ongoing set of storms pummeling the Borderplex the transnational area that includes southern New Mexico The imaged storm is just the latest in a string that is yeeting dried-up lake beds and parched soil into the southern skies This year’s drought-exacerbated dusty season is “truly exceptional—one for the record books,” said Thomas Gill, an environmental scientist at the University of Texas at El Paso, in a NASA Earth Observatory release Gill has tracked dust activity across the planet (and the Borderplex specifically) for decades The event imaged above is the tenth “full-fledged” storm of the year—a full-fledged event being a storm that reduces visibility to less than half a mile That’s more than five times the average of 1.8 storms per year—and makes 2025 the worst dust season since 1936 You can blame it on a climatic cocktail of drought and record-breaking wind March was the windiest month the region has seen in over 50 years and the area is in “the worst drought we’ve seen in at least a decade.” My allergy clogged sinus is thanking its lucky stars it isn’t in the Southwest right now But dust storms aren’t just an eyesore. The events contribute to traffic accidents and raise the risk of cardiorespiratory problems, and may worsen the spread of Valley Fever Gill and his colleagues estimated that dust storms rack up over $150 billion in damage nationally each year NASA’s satellites and modeling tools are helping scientists monitor and better understand how dust travels—and way up in the atmosphere the particles can traverse significant distances One March storm sent particles all the way to Greenland an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland who is based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center the Borderplex has accrued 28 dusty days—already exceeding the annual average of 22 over the last quarter-century—and more dust is in the forecast for the region this weekend you may want to hold off on cleaning your windows ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A family affair: An El Paso man his wife and eight others were arrested in Albuquerque in connection with human smuggling and money laundering pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to transport and harbor illegal aliens and to launder money coordinated the illegal transportation and harboring of undocumented immigrants throughout New Mexico Avalos and Hardin received numerous money transfers from smuggling operations and paid others for related expenses Avalos conspired with Hardin and others to launder the proceeds from these activities They deposited "illicit funds" into multiple bank accounts using the money for personal benefit and concealing the source of the funds Avalos admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly participating in the "conspiracy for their shared benefit" followed by three years of supervised release at his sentencing Avalos and the other eight co-conspirators were indicted on May 18 Hardin pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to launder proceeds and was sentenced to two years of probation pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants Twin brothers Dario Rey Gamboa and Diego Rean Gamboa also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy Nancy Orellana-Recinos pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting eluding examination or inspection Orellana-Recinos was sentenced to time served and received a notice to appear for immigration proceedings Walker received a 21-month prison sentence and Adam Guerrero were each sentenced to time served Texas– Yolanda Tinajero stood up in court and walked over to the man who killed her brother She wrapped her arms around him while he hunched over into her embrace "I feel in my heart to hug you very tight so you could feel my forgiveness She had just offered her impact statement at the end of the case involving the man who in 2019 killed 23 people and injured dozens at a Walmart in what's considered one of the worst attacks on Hispanics in the U.S Judge Sam Medrano allowed her to approach the gunman after she said it would bring her peace whose husband Ivan Feliberto Manzano was murdered during the attack bringing an end to one of the most painful moments of this largely Hispanic city that borders Ciudad Juárez Patrick Crusius was sentenced to 23 consecutive life sentences after he pleaded guilty to capital murder and nearly two dozen aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges in state court The gunman drove more than 650 miles from his home in Allen to this city and opened fire on shoppers at a Walmart on Aug The Texas gunman targeted people he thought were Mexicans Crusius published an online screed saying his actions were a response to the "Hispanic invasion of Texas." In 2023 a federal judge sentenced him to 90 consecutive life sentences, after he pleaded guilty to hate crimes and firearms violations She did not look at him during her impact statement "It is not up to me to make you answer for your sins But no one walks away from answering to God," Gonzalez said "I have no more room for hate in my heart."  Crusius accepted a plea deal offered by the El Paso District Attorney James Montoya in return for not pursuing the death penalty Montoya said a majority of the families of those killed and survivors asked him to bring this case to a close Judge Medrano said: "Your name and your hate will be forgotten." Medrano told the gunman he failed to divide the city "The community you tried to break has become a symbol of resilience of humanity enduring in the face of evil," he said "This community will always remember those whose lives you stole had her statement read in Spanish and in English "Es un monstruo que debe pagar aquí en la Tierra He is a monster who must pay here on Earth," her statement read The case came to a close after victims and relatives offered statements over two days The El Paso County Sheriff's Office will now transfer custody of the gunman to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said his client suffers from a mental disorder that makes it difficult for him to be able to separate reality from delusion He said it was not an excuse but his client became isolated and began listening more to online chatter about immigration and erroneous claims about "an invasion" of the United States Crusius did not offer any apology on Monday Spencer said: "We offer our deepest condolences." Become an NPR sponsor The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in Texas in 2019 pleaded guilty Monday to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border Patrick Crusius attends a sentencing hearing with Judge Sam Medrano in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue during in El Paso Patrick Crusius stands up to listen to the charges from Judge Sam Medrano in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue for his sentencing in El Paso A person reacts during a hearing for Patrick Crusius in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso Judge Sam Medrano speaks during a hearing for Patrick Crusius El Paso District Attorney James Montoya talks to media outside the 409th District Court after Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty in the death of 23 people in the Aug A heavy security presence is seen outside the El Paso County Court House on the day Patrick Crusius is set to plea guilty to the Aug 2019 Walmart Mass shooting that left 23 dead Patrick Crusius enters the Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue for his sentencing in El Paso Patrick Crusius stands up to listen to the charges from Judge Sam Medrano in the 409th district Commissioners Courtroom at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue during his sentencing in El Paso Family members await the start of the sentencing for Patrick Crusius at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso Patrick Crusius is sentence to life in prison at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso A person reacts during a hearing for Patrick Crusius at the Enrique Moreno County Courthosue in El Paso Families embrace as they leave the 409th District Court after Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty in the death of 23 people in the Aug Family members leave the court after a hearing for Patrick Crusius at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso El Paso District Attorney James Montoya walks outside the 409th District Court after Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty in the death of 23 people in the Aug A woman is reflected in a picture as she looks at a makeshift memorial at the scene of a mass shooting at a shopping complex Tuesday photo Texas state police cars block the access to the Walmart store in the aftermath of a mass shooting in El Paso The statements by victims’ relatives and survivors that began Monday afternoon could continue through Wednesday “I have no more room for hate in my heart,” Gonzalez said a white 26-year-old community college dropout kept his head up and eyes trained ahead on those who spoke Many expressed hope he would reflect on his actions in prison said she had been shopping for snacks to resell across the border when Crusius opened fire which was read by someone sitting beside her in court dancing person,” but now she is afraid every morning when she awakes She now uses a cane to walk and wears a leg brace to keep her left foot from dragging But she also granted Crusius forgiveness “because what would be the point of forgiving what was easy to forgive?” Crusius drove more than 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) from his home near Dallas to carry out the shooting on Aug to take innocent lives and to shatter a community that had done nothing but stand for kindness sons and daughters,” State District Judge Sam Medrano said “Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away remember this: your mission failed,” he continued Medrano sentenced Crusius to life in prison without the possibility of parole “We offer our deepest condolences,” Crusius did not explicitly apologize Monday for his actions Crusius also pleaded guilty Monday to 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon which were enhanced with violence and prejudice findings in relation to the 22 people who were injured but survived the shooting He was sentenced to 22 additional life sentences on those counts “Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on God’s time,” Spencer said particularly the dangerous and false narratives surrounding immigration being repeated in political discourse,” Spencer said The attorney said Crusius was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder “His thinking became increasingly divorced from reality,” he said but as part of the explanation for the inexplicable,” he said She lamented that her husband lost the chance to teach his son to drive and shave or to give away his daughter’s hand in marriage my daughter was 5 and my son was 9,” she said in her statement to the court “The only thing that I wanted was for them to not grow up with hatred in their hearts.” entered a guilty plea to capital murder and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on April 21 he stared straight ahead as the El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya read out the names of the nearly two dozen people killed in the massacre District Court Judge Sam Medrano told the gunman that as he spends the rest of his life in prison you traveled nine hours to a city that would have welcomed you with open arms He will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole as part of a deal that allowed him to avoid the death penalty Montoya said last month that he was offering Crusius the deal in an effort to bring the case to a close for the victims' families Crusius has already received 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to federal hate crimes and weapons charges in 2023 Federal prosecutors declined to pursue the death penalty On the morning of the attack, the gunman, who drove nearly 700 miles from Allen, Texas, to El Paso began shooting at shoppers in the Walmart parking lot He continued into the store and shot nine people to death in a bank inside the store He killed another nine people in the aisles of the supermarket He turned himself in to a Texas Department of Public Safety state trooper He admitted to law enforcement that he carried out the attack to stop what he claimed was the invasion of Hispanics into the United States and Mexican citizens were killed in the attack Minutes before the shootings, he posted writings online in which "he characterized himself as a white nationalist, motivated to kill Hispanics because they were immigrating to the United States," according to the Justice Department as his target to dissuade Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants from coming to the United States." Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This article is part of Running Out, an occasional series about Texas’ water crisis. Read more stories about the threats facing Texas’ water supply here EL PASO — It all starts with a flush of a toilet Wastewater travels underground through this arid city’s pipes to a wastewater treatment facility where it goes through multiple treatment steps to filter out contaminants Membranes filter out contaminants at high pressure Ultraviolet light and chlorine disinfect the water Behind this effort is El Paso Water, the utility that serves 220,000 homes, businesses and government agencies in far West Texas. The Pure Water Center which is expected to be fully operational in 2028 is the agency's latest attempt to use every drop of water and make it drinkable — a solution the city sees as essential for its future El Paso has become a national leader in water innovation — pioneering brackish groundwater desalination This advanced water purification system will deliver 10 million gallons daily in a city that used roughly 105 million gallons per day last year Some say it will be the first direct potable reuse or “toilet-to-tap” facility in the country Other cities have reused wastewater for drinking they send it to a reservoir or river where it blends with surface water and then treat it again before it reaches taps El Paso’s facility will be the first to send purified water straight into the distribution system — pipe to pipe vice president of operations and technical services at El Paso Water said the utility gained public support and eased the “ick factor” by educating residents on how the project maximizes the city’s existing water supply “A lot of cities pay money to bring water to their community through reservoirs or investing in water importation We owe it to our customers to develop our current water,” Trejo said As Texas faces mounting water challenges, with lawmakers searching for solutions to an impending water crisis — including transporting water from water-rich areas to dry ones through pipelines — some water experts say El Paso's approach could serve as a blueprint for other cities where communities get little to no rain and have limited water resources to tap into occupies a unique geographic and hydrological position Nestled in the far western corner of Texas it sits at the headwaters of the Rio Grande within the state where the river first enters Texas after flowing through Colorado and New Mexico and to the northwest the state of New Mexico El Paso’s water challenges are deeply interconnected with its neighbors making water management a complex balancing act between three governments and multiple agencies El Paso relies on two main water sources: groundwater from its aquifers and surface water the Hueco Bolson and Mesilla Bolson supply about 55% of the city’s water supply fed by snowmelt from Colorado and stored in New Mexico’s Elephant Butte Reservoir before being released downstream to farmers and cities supplies about 40% (in a year without drought) Both supplies are shrinking and becoming increasingly unreliable Experts warn that this freshwater supply may only last a few more decades at current usage rates. Elephant Butte is at historic lows, sometimes holding just 6% of its capacity is predicted to dwindle to about eight weeks this year This has city leaders juggling as they determine how much water to suck out of its aquifers While some border towns are just now beginning to face severe water constraints, El Paso has been grappling with that for decades. Unlike other parts of Texas, where massive reservoirs were built after the devastating drought of the 1950s to store rainwater for dry years El Paso’s dry climate — where annual rainfall averages less than 9 inches — reservoirs have never been a viable option for El Paso director of the Water and the Environment Research Center at Texas Tech University said El Paso has become one of the most progressive water utilities in the country They're thinking 50 years or even 100 years down the road,” Walker said “There are so many other water utilities that benefit from El Paso Water leadership because they're willing to to spend the extra work to figure things out the first time.” Inside the utility’s water center, or TecH2O there’s a timeline of the city’s water history A black and white photo from 1892 shows the city’s first water supply plant — a small building and water pipe bursting with water flowing into a canal the city relied almost entirely on groundwater from the Hueco and Mesilla Bolsons city leaders recognized that groundwater alone wouldn’t be enough the Rio Grande Project was developed to manage and distribute river water each year for irrigation El Paso’s pioneering efforts in water reuse began in the 1960s when the city started using treated wastewater for irrigation the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant was treating wastewater to drinking water standards using ozone disinfection — one of the earliest examples of advanced water reclamation in the country That treated wastewater was used to replenish the aquifer (Today it’s sold to El Paso Electric Company for cooling towers for customers who purchase water-efficient toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush as opposed to older toilets that use as much as six gallons per flush “This time was a massive change in the way people thought about water and used water,” said Jennifer Barr As the city’s water challenges intensified El Paso continued to diversify its water portfolio it opened the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant a large inland desalination facility capable of producing at max capacity 27.5 million gallons of fresh water daily from brackish groundwater The city has also embraced aquifer recharge storing treated water underground for future use It also reuses treated wastewater for irrigation or to replenish and maintain the Rio Bosque Wetlands a 372-acre nature preserve located near the U.S.-Mexico border along the Rio Grande The city has also secured additional water rights from nearby Dell City treating and transporting the water 90 miles to the city will be expensive The water from the city would need to be desalinated the utility has delivered more than 180,000 acre-feet of recycled water for irrigation and industrial use helping to reduce the amount of groundwater pumped from aquifers That’s enough to supply water to 1 million Texans for a year Recycled water — 80,000 acre feet — has also been used to recharge the Hueco Bolson Aquifer Meanwhile, the city's conservation programs have cut water use by 40% since the 1970s. Without these efforts, the utility estimates it would need to produce an additional 35,000 acre-feet of water each year to meet current demand. Although the city has a drought contingency plan in place to manage water shortages it hasn’t implemented mandatory water restrictions since 2003 — when a severe river drought forced residents to limit outdoor watering to once a week Generations of El Pasoans have developed what Trejo, with the water utility, calls a “high water IQ,” shaped by constant drought and the unpredictable Rio Grande. Many grew up with the utility’s smiling mascot, Willie the Waterdrop which some residents remember from when they were young “The generation that grew up having to be very water conscious are now the adults in the room,” Trejo said This long-standing awareness helped El Paso gain public acceptance for its new toilet-to-tap project El Paso Water launched an outreach campaign They put together a 30-minute presentation that walked residents through the city’s history of water reuse and broke down the advanced treatment process the utility visited 30 community organizations The discussions weren’t one-on-one but held in group settings where residents could ask questions and voice concerns The region was just coming off the severe 2013 drought when El Paso had only six weeks of surface water left and had to ask residents to cut back That fresh memory underscored the need to prepare for the future The utility’s message was simple: “toilet-to-tap” was a logical next step the groundwork had already been laid for community buy-in An initial survey in 2013 showed 84% of residents approved the concept — proof While “toilet-to-tap” may sound unappealing utility experts emphasize that advanced treatment removes pharmaceuticals shower or toilet is so thoroughly purified that minerals are added back for taste the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality authorized El Paso Water to begin construction of the advanced purification facility in October 2024 The utility broke ground earlier this year As water supplies dwindle nationwide, other cities are watching. Two Arizona cities are already exploring similar systems “When you're the first one to do something novel and unique executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University “But once that first entity goes through and figures it all out are looking to implement direct reuse projects as part of their water supply planning for the future Trejo says this approach offers a smarter alternative to expensive new reservoirs or water pipelines “Everything is about recycling — except water why not reuse what we already have?” he said Trejo said he is disappointed that water recycling is not more part of the water strategy discussions at the Capitol “Communities will need to have funding,” Trejo said “If the state is not going to include water recycling in the discussion Bureau of Reclamation awarded El Paso $3.5 million in 2019 for the facility’s design It later committed an additional $20 million in 2022 to support construction The total project cost is currently estimated at $295 million The utility says it continues to pursue additional state and federal funding According to recommendations in the state water plan, Texas could rely on direct potable reuse for 62,000 acre-feet per year by 2070 — enough to supply 372,000 people annually El Paso has approached water management with preparation rather than panic forward-looking mindset has helped build the trust with the public needed to take bold steps driven by vision Trejo’s advice to other utilities: Start preparing now Disclosure: El Paso Electric Company and Texas Tech University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here The grinding path to justice for the most lethal mass shooter to ever appear in a U.S. courtroom came to an end Monday when Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to murdering 23 people and wounding 22 others in an anti-Hispanic assault on an El Paso Walmart in 2019 “The community you tried to break has become a symbol of resilience of humanity enduring in the face of evil,” 409th District Judge Sam Medrano said to Crusius after sentencing him to 23 life terms in prison “This community will always remember those whose lives you stole – their names Crusius was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for capital murder and life in prison for each of 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon The capital murder and aggravated assault sentences will be served concurrently While the hearing was focused on a horrific hate crime from 5 1⁄2 years ago both the prosecution and defense spoke of anti-immigrant rhetoric that lit the fuse for Crusius’ explosion and continues to animate political and media conversations “While Patrick claimed in his manifesto that his views predated the then-President (Donald Trump) and that political figures were not to blame he also explicitly stated the attack was a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas echoing the language used by political figures,” defense attorney Joe Spencer told the court Patrick believed he was acting in the direction of the president at the time seeing it as his duty to stop the invasion because that’s what he believed the president was telling him.” Spencer had first spoken of the influence of Trump’s rhetoric in a March interview with El Paso Matters The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment at that time and hasn’t responded to a request for comment about statements in court on Monday District Attorney James Montoya also cited anti-immigrant rhetoric in his remarks to the court But he urged the community to focus on those whose lives were torn about by the 2019 attack “There’s a lot to say about the defendant and the hateful ideology that motivated him and that there are other public figures and elected officials that espouse and promote this ideology,” he said “But my sincere hope is that for the rest of this proceeding this afternoon in the next few days and moving forward that the focus can remain on the 23 lives that were taken from us far too soon.” Montoya also took the unusual step of criticizing actions taken by his predecessor, Yvonne Rosales, and her associates. Rosales resigned in 2022 while facing a legal proceeding to remove her from office and specifically the family of Gerhardt Alexander Hoffmann for the gross and abominable misconduct by one of my predecessors and her representatives acting as representatives of the state of Texas and their manipulation and terrorizing and frankly the revictimization of Mr Hoffmann’s family during the pendency of these proceedings,” Montoya said El Paso Matters could not reach Rosales for comment An investigation ordered by Medrano found that then-Assistant District Attorney Curtis Cox and Roger Rodriguez, a private attorney working for Rosales, had retaliated against the family of Hoffmann because they refused to participate in an effort to attack Medrano and a former prosecutor in the case Crusius — in an orange and white jail jumpsuit and shackled — said little during the hearing other than pleading guilty and providing brief answers to Medrano’s questions about whether his guilty plea was voluntary and that he understood his rights Montoya read the names of each of the 23 people killed in the attack The hearing was conducted amid intense security both inside and outside the county courthouse People attending the hearing had to go through multiple security screenings before being allowed in the courtroom Montoya decided last month to no longer pursue the death penalty While state and federal prosecutions of cases are now complete and the families who lost loved ones face lives that have been horrifically altered More than 100 family members of those slain by Crusius were in the makeshift courtroom set up in the county commissioners’ meeting space to accommodate a large crowd Patrick Crusius afflicted a wound on our community that may never fully heal He brought violence and terror to a place of peace shattering lives and forever changing the landscape of El Paso,” defense attorney Spencer said to everyone who’s sense of safety was violated as you begin the rest of your life locked away The community you tried to break has become a symbol of resilience of humanity enduring in the face of evil.” attack on the Cielo Vista Walmart killed 23 people The gunmen in the five more lethal killings — in Las Vegas; Orlando Texas — took their own lives or were killed by law enforcement mass shooter to have to answer for his crimes in a courtroom he posted what he called a “manifesto” on a website frequented by white nationalists that outlined his racist motivations Spencer said his client had a long history of mental illness and had become radicalized by reading white nationalist websites on platforms like 4Chan and 8Chan He has made similar statements at his client’s federal sentencing and in media interviews “This explanation of a severe mental illness and toxic political environment does not justify or excuse the horrific violence that Patrick committed He bears responsibility for the choices he made and the devastation that he caused,” he said In addition to his guilty pleas to state charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, he also pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal hate crimes and weapons charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in federal prison Federal prosecutors also opted not to seek the death penalty against Crusius Crusius likely will head to the Texas state prison system to serve his sentences spokespeople for the federal and state prison systems told El Paso Matters People whose lives were upended by Crusius will face him as they deliver victim impact statements starting Monday afternoon More than 40 victims have asked to give statements Medrano has said he will allow victims to speak as long as they want and will continue the hearing throughout the week if necessary to allow everyone to speak 12 people who lost loved ones or were wounded in the shooting shared what are called victim impact statements Dozens of other victims are expected to testify Tuesday victims spoke of how the gunman upended their lives most of which were delivered in Spanish with English translation “I need a support device because my foot is hanging loose and in order to provide support to my foot “This affects me and it impacted my times of fellowship with my children because I’m not able to run as I did before when I played ball with them We would run playing tag and I’m not able to run anymore.” Adriana Zandri spoke of what her family lost when Crusius murdered her husband He’s not going to be there to teach my daughter how to play basketball He is not going to be present to give my daughter’s hand in her wedding ceremony He’s not going to be able to teach my son how to shave or how to drive,” she said Her son was 5 and her daughter 9 when they lost their father “The only thing that I wanted was for them to not grow up with hatred in their hearts because the day they begin feeling hatred toward you is when their life will be over,” Zandri told Crusius said she granted forgiveness to Crusius “because this is what Jesus taught me: To forgive the unforgivable because what would be the point of forgiving that which is easy to forgive.” whose grandmother Gloria Irma Márquez was killed in the attack also forgave the man who inflicted so much pain on so many people “I know that forgiving does not bring the victims back you did not kill a person of a different color We are all broken here and in the hopes of healing very deep pain,” Marquez said Monica Arciniega said forgiveness was out of the hands of people “When you see the pain that you have caused and you think you are able to repent He alone can forgive you because here on Earth I don’t know if you deserve to be forgiven,” she said Texas (KFOX14) — An earthquake was felt across the Borderland Saturday evening A 5.3 earthquake was reported 50 miles near Carlsbad around 7:47 p.m. Texas (KFOX14) — May standard election unofficial election results are in AUSTIN — When San Antonio Harlan's Tate Taylor shifted into hypersonic speed in the final 30 meters of the Class 6A boys 100 meters at the UIL State Track and Field Championships there was a strong feeling he had just hit a gear no high school athlete had ever shown before in the greatest high school 100 ever run After a few moments filled with anticipation The scoreboard flashed 9.92 seconds with a legal wind of 1.1 meters per second ahead of Duncanville's Brayden Williams 10.01 and the junior Taylor became the new national record holder Williams became the third fastest 100 runner ever in a race where 10.18 was fifth (the old state record was 10.13) and 10.33 didn't score points The old high school record of 9.93 was set last year by Florida sprinter Christian Miller who set the national indoor 200 record in March "I was telling him before I got in the blocks I'm part of history already because this race was really fast.' I was telling myself to have fun who had run a wind-aided 9.82 earlier this year Then Taylor accelerated into a gear that that drew gasps and shocked yells from the large crowd it truly was a gear unlike any shown in a high school race "I know Brayden is an incredible starter," Taylor said When he hit the line all eyes turned to the scoreboard and when the 9.92 came up "I felt maybe 10 flat," Taylor said of what he expected to see He later doubled back and won the 200 in 20.14 Williams was philosophical about his wind-legal personal record "It feels amazing knowing history was made," he said Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X Ryan Garcia made his much-anticipated return to the boxing ring in New York's Times Square but it was not the comeback he had hoped for Rolando “Rolly” Romero delivered a powerful performance Friday night knocking Garcia down in the second round and securing a victory by unanimous decision who had been out of the ring for a year due to a suspension following a failed drug test The loss has cast doubt on a planned rematch with Devin Haney Ryan Garcia pulled up to Times Square in a Batmobile Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Mexican Restaurant in Central El Paso is having a "Cinco de Mayo" sale to raise funds after the restaurant was vandalized with rocks Paseo del Sol Mexican Restaurant will be selling red enchiladas and chicken flautas from 9 a.m with the mission to raise $3,000 to pay for repairs for their windows This comes after the Mexican restaurant became the target of a seemingly random act of vandalism where half of the restaurant's windows were smashed with rocks the plates will sell for $8 each and will include a drink-- either tea or agua fresca The owner said the promotion is only valid for dine-in Paseo del Sol is located at 4201 Alabama St. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInEL PASO COUNTY (KKTV) - UPDATE: A missing 12-year-old boy out of El Paso County was found safe according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help finding a missing 12-year-old boy Donald Cooper is described as a black male Deputies said Cooper was last seen near Sproul Junior High School in the Security area of unincorporated El Paso County on Thursday around 1:30 p.m He was wearing a light blue hoodie with black and white Adidas shoes Anyone who sees Cooper is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 719-390-5555 Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A crash has been reported on I-10 and Raynolds in Northwest El Paso According to the Texas Department of Transportation closing the right two lanes heading westbound RECOMMENDED: Mexican citizen charged with smuggling after arrest near Fort Hancock canal Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — New mural in downtown El Paso celebrates Mexican culture and a rapper from the Borderland a new mural was unveiled that depicts rapper musician and recording artist from El Paso wearing a colorful and ornate denim jacket "popping" with Mexican iconography The mural was made possible by a collaboration between the City of El Paso and Michelada Fest a new festival celebrating anything and everything "michelada," which is set to debut this Saturday with Krystall as its host let me know that they wanted me to be part of their festival to make a mural in my honor," Krystal said The mural depicts Krystall wearing a straw hat and a blue denim jacket that spells her name in the back and features the iconic symbol of La Virgen de Guadalupe It's a jacket that is proudly Mexican adding that it was handmade by an artist from Mexico City "It just means a lot to me," Krystall said "It's made with Mexican hands-- so that's important The mural was made by El Paso muralist Tino Ortega who said he was overwhelmed with emotion about the opportunity "I feel really great and honored and privileged," Ortega said represents more than just the Borderland; it is a glimpse into the future of culture "It's about embracing not just the roots of El Paso," Ortega said "Is a melting pot to where the culture is headed." You can catch Krystall performing music from her new album "Morningside Heights," which is slated to be released June 27 You can also follow El Paso muralist Tino Ortega on Instagram to see more of his work Michelada Fest will be held Saturday at the intersection of E Despite being centered on a drink that is typically made with beer with children 12 or under entering for free For more information, visit www.michefestelpaso.com RECOMMENDED: TNA Wrestling returns to El Paso with star-studded lineup El Paso District Attorney James Montoya announced in a news release In an unrelated case, a judge sentenced Victor Hugo Escobedo, 53, to seven years in prison on one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon Almanza's ex-wife went to his apartment on Sept 2023 after he did not respond to her calls and text messages covered in blood in his apartment at the San Montego Apartments She called 911 and reported the incident to police She told officers the front door of the apartment was broken open Officers found that the door appeared to be kicked in as footprints were visible outside the door Almanza had "numerous large slashes and lacerations all over his body and there was a large amount of blood spread around the apartment," the affidavit states Almanza previously reported a burglary on Sept where his door also had been kicked open and some property had been stolen Officers used the apartment complex's surveillance video to identify Castillo as the suspect was seen walking toward the apartment the night of Sept Castillo was seen leaving the apartment and appeared to conceal an item in a bundle of clothing He was carrying an object wrapped inside the shirt with a bladed edge sticking out More: El Paso man arrested in Lower Valley apartment murder case Surveillance video from a nearby apartment complex allegedly showed Castillo with blood on his hands and forearm an officer spotted Castillo jaywalking on Alameda Avenue and arrested him after a short chase Castillo was arrested on suspicion of murder to one count of murder as part of a plea agreement with state prosecutors Garcia of the 384th District Court sentenced Castillo to 45 years in prison More: Details of fatal stabbing by El Paso man who previously burglarized victim's apartment Castillo waived all of his appellate rights as part of the plea agreement Almanza was brutally killed with no apparent motive,” Montoya said in a statement “His killer was apprehended thanks to the outstanding investigative work by the El Paso Police Department and the witnesses who were willing to provide information My office is committed to working tirelessly to ensure that dangerous defendants are removed from our community." Assistant District Attorney Enrique Esparza prosecuted the case Escobedo kidnapped a woman and her 2-year-old daughter at gunpoint Sept from the Cielo Vista Mall parking lot in East El Paso had just finished placing her daughter in a rear safety seat in her truck in the parking lot of Cielo Vista Mall Escobedo displayed a black-and-yellow handgun and ordered the woman to get in the truck El Paso Police Department officials said in 2024 She was made to go into the bank to withdraw $5,300 as Escobedo stayed in her truck with the daughter He made the woman drive him back to the mall parking lot where he stole the woman's money and cellphone before leaving the scene El Paso police identified Escobedo as the suspect using fingerprints lifted off the woman’s truck More: El Paso man arrested in kidnapping of mom, toddler in Cielo Vista Mall parking lot to one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon as part of a plea agreement Baca of the 346th District Court sentenced Escobedo to seven years in prison on each count Escobedo waived all of his appellate rights as part of the plea agreement “Despite his lack of prior criminal history this was a case that clearly warranted a sentence of imprisonment,” Montoya said in a statement “A mother witnessing her young daughter being threatened at gunpoint by a complete stranger is unthinkable and can shatter the sense of safety not just for the victim Assistant District Attorneys Elena Esparza and Jesse Mende prosecuted the case for the district attorney's office Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT by Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced plans to modernize the Bridge of the Americas port of entry in El Paso selecting "Alternative 4," which involves a multi-level upgrade within the current boundaries and excludes commercial truck traffic This decision follows extensive community input and support from local leaders who have expressed concerns about truck emissions contributing to poor air quality in border neighborhoods emphasized the importance of community involvement in the decision-making process "We had to ensure that the Community voices were heard otherwise I think it would have been business as usual we generated enough support to produce an alternative action #4 which would eliminate the commercial trucks from Puente Libre," said de Aztlan The GSA stated that redirecting commercial traffic to other ports will help alleviate congestion and pollution in central El Paso "I know for a fact and my family has told me that sometimes it can take up to two hours just sitting there if it does make that difference the commute is a little bit shorter and they're not polluting as much that will make everything better," said Vargas Statement from County Commissioner David Stout: RECOMMENDED:Bridge of the Americas to eliminate commercial traffic, modernization plan moves forward highlighted the impact on children's health "One of the things that matters to us it's one of the biggest points is children's health they're the ones most impacted by public health and by the contamination from diesel trucks they're more sensitive to all those things," she said some express concerns about the implications for truckers "I’m worried about the truckers that have to cross on the outskirts at night They could be targets just because of what they are carrying." with full construction expected to begin in early 2027 and project completion slated for 2030 Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox by Melissa Herrera is the May 2025 Uniform Election and El Paso voters are preparing to cast their ballots in several significant races across the county Both the Socorro Independent School District and the El Paso Independent School District have multiple board seats up for election Board officials hold many responsibilities and also make major decisions that impact the district Trustees are in charge of determining a district's budget and also have the power to fire or hire a district's superintendents In the Socorro Independent School District four of the seven board member seats are on the ballot the current trustees for districts three and five are not seeking re-election and have been absent from board meetings since June following their arrests SISD board members will be tasked with finding a new superintendent since former superintendent Dr Nate Carman was placed on administrative leave due a conflict of interest The district is currently under the leadership of Interim Superintendent James Vasquez after he stepped in April 2024 SISD trustees voted 3-2 to lay off up to 300 employees after a nearly five-hour meeting aimed at addressing a $38 million budget deficit has impacted several of the district's fine arts programs and resulted in larger classroom sizes The layoffs faced significant backlash from parents and other concerned community member who opposed the decision Meanwhile, the El Paso Independent School District has four out of its seven board seats on the ballot EPISD trustees voted 4-3 to shut down eight elementary schools as part of their Destination District Redesign intended to address a projected $32.2 million deficit and declining student enrollment will see six schools close next school year with two more following in the 2026-2027 school year The decision has also faced backlash from the community with several groups hosting several protests to voice their disagreement Board positions in both districts last four years Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County held a ribbon-cutting and reopening of the Mario Navarro Skatepark in Horizon City The ceremony marked the completion of a key recreational project identified in the county’s 2021 Parks Master Plan aimed at enhancing park facilities and expanding access to outdoor spaces across the region partially funded by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant includes major upgrades to the skatepark and adjacent basketball court New features now available at the skatepark include a grind ledge and hipped bank - designed for skaters of all levels and abilities “Mario was a person who was very involved in our community who spent a lot of his personal time teaching children how to skateboard He lost his life in a work-related accident a couple of years ago but we wanted to make sure his legacy wasn’t forgotten,” said Commissioner Iliana Holguin “It was amazing and exciting to know something that he loved so much that we’ll be able to honor him He would always take me to the skate park,” said Mia Navarro This project reflects El Paso County’s ongoing commitment to investing in safe inclusive recreational spaces that serve youth The Mario Navarro Skatepark is now open to the public offering a refreshed space for outdoor activity For more information on El Paso County Parks & Recreation, visit www.epcountyparks.com. RECOMMENDED: Wet N' Wild Waterworld opens this weekend for this season Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.