Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Sunday, August 24th. Let’s get you caught up with everything shaping our city this weekend.
We begin with breaking news on the roads. Traffic along I-10 is still being rerouted after a semi-trailer fire yesterday at the Fabens exit. The blaze shut down both eastbound and westbound lanes for several hours, and special traffic investigators are working to confirm the cause. If you’re headed east, expect delays along Alameda Avenue and the O.T. Smith exit as crews clear the site.
Turning to city hall, we’re watching the latest moves on congressional redistricting. Governor Abbott is set to sign new maps that redraw key boundaries across El Paso, keeping Fort Bliss and our airport under District 16 while shifting far east neighborhoods into the same district. Some city leaders, including State Senator Cesar Blanco, are raising concerns about minority representation, calling the changes a power grab after heavy pressure from former President Trump. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar says the move could shut out Democratic voices and reshape our representation for years to come.
On the jobs and real estate front, there’s fresh news for homeowners. El Paso County’s expanded homestead exemption means about two in every five homeowners won’t pay school property taxes. The exemption rises to $140,000, with a special increase for seniors and those with disabilities. And the proposed ordinance to ease restrictions on casitas could soon allow more families to build backyard homes and add affordable units throughout the city. All this signals new options for those looking to rent or invest.
Industrial construction is booming just outside El Paso in Socorro. Developers have broken ground on the Speedway Logistics center, a massive complex with more than 800,000 square feet of warehouse space. This puts our metro firmly on the map as part of Texas’s record-breaking growth in industrial development.
Weather-wise, we’re waking up to mostly clear skies with a light breeze. Highs are expected in the mid-90s, so outdoor events will stay warm but manageable. If you’re heading up to the Franklin Mountains or walking downtown, pack some water and plan for plenty of sun.
In local education, Socorro ISD has called for a possible tax rate election. If approved, it could generate nearly 49 million dollars per year for our schools but might mean changes to some homeowners’ property taxes. Meanwhile, UTEP students and staff are feeling the impact of the recent loss of that much-anticipated National Science Foundation grant, a blow to economic development but offset somewhat by new $118 million in campus maintenance funding.
For community events, tonight the KTEP radio fundraiser aims to cover federal funding gaps, and the ACLU is hosting a news conference at Fort Bliss about the new migrant detention center. If you’re heading out, keep an eye on city social media for last-minute venue details.
On the crime front, the El Paso Fire Department is dealing with internal issues after a lieutenant was arrested for intoxication assault in a car crash. There’s also ongoing investigation by El Paso Police into a death at the Jobe facility on Fred Wilson Avenue, with no further risk to the public at this time.
High school sports are heating up, with Irvin High School moving forward after an isolated classroom incident yesterday. Varsity teams from across EPISD are practicing for next week’s football openers, while local tennis fans are watching closely as 16-year-old Julieta Pareja prepares for her debut at the US Open. She’s not from El Paso, but her rising profile is inspiring young players across our region.
And here’s a feel-good story to end on—a close friend’s generosity has ensured that Hal Marcus’s iconic painting “El Paso Gracias a Dios” remains on display for everyone to enjoy, a powerful reminder of the spirit we share as a community.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s news. This has been El Paso Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
