Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Sunday, January 19, 2025.
We're starting with some breaking news from the past few days. On January 14, a tragic traffic accident occurred at the intersection of Gateway North and Sean Haggerty, resulting in the city's third traffic death of 2025. Cody Lewis Vaughn, a 31-year-old from northeast El Paso, was waiting at a red light when his Hyundai Elantra was rear-ended by a Chevrolet Silverado, pushing him into oncoming traffic where he was hit by a Toyota RAV4. The El Paso Police Department's Special Traffic Investigation Unit is still investigating the incident.
Moving on to our job market snapshot, we have some positive news. The El Paso cybersecurity job market is rapidly expanding, with a projected growth rate of 22% by 2024. Professionals in this field can earn an average salary of $112,199, with top performers making up to $168,226 annually. Major sectors like government, healthcare, and finance are driving demand, and the University of Texas at El Paso offers robust programs with an 85% job placement rate.
In other economic news, El Paso employment increased by an annualized 0.8% from August through November, with education and health services experiencing the largest gains. However, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6% in November, slightly higher than the state and national averages.
At City Hall, the El Paso City Council recently approved a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a grant to fund the El Paso Central Business District Phase IV project. This project aims to reconstruct and improve a 1.8-mile stretch of roadway in Downtown El Paso, including sidewalks, storm sewers, and bicycle improvements.
In real estate news, the City Council also approved a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Agreement with 914 W. Yandell Dr., LLC, which will bring a new infill development project to the area. The project requires a minimum investment of $638,000 and will receive economic incentives from the city.
Looking ahead to the weather, today is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of 58 degrees. However, we're expecting a cold front to move in by tomorrow, bringing temperatures down into the mid-40s.
In new business activity, we have a few openings to report. A new coffee shop is set to open on Montana Avenue, and a local boutique is expanding its operations to a new location on Mesa Street.
Upcoming community events include the El Paso Symphony Orchestra's performance at the Plaza Theatre on January 25, and the El Paso Zoo's Zoo Lights event, which runs through January 26.
In local school achievements, the El Paso High School basketball team won their recent game against Coronado High School, and the University of Texas at El Paso's engineering program was recently recognized for its excellence in research and innovation.
Finally, in our crime report, the El Paso Police Department is investigating a murder that occurred on January 1 in the 10300 block of Hollyhock. Officers responded to a reported stabbing and found one victim deceased. The investigation is ongoing.
This has been El Paso Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
