El Paso Times
EL PASO FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS
This year’s El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival will celebrate its 19th anniversary and is set for Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 26. Doug Pullen, program director, is excited to share some insights into what festival...
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‘DEGRADING AND CRUEL’
A new report from Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union details the degrading and cruel conditions in ICE’s massive detention center known as Camp East Montana in El Paso. “Human Rights Watch and the ACLU found that people detained...
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Brunch boom
El Paso is enjoying an uptick in the number of brunch places around the city. And since it’s summer, it seems like a great time to try out a new place, as brunch is all about being relaxed, unrushed, and enjoying a good meal with family or friends in...
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‘We really needed this’
Editor’s note: This article is published by the El Paso Times in partnership with the Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom that covers stories from Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico border. MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s improbable World Cup...
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Talarico rallies voters in race against Paxton
Democrat James Talarico brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the Borderland, calling on El Pasoans to join his fight against a corrupt and broken political system. “There is something happening in the great state of Texas,” Talarico said. “There is...
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Borderline impact
Nicholas Natividad’s great-great-great grandfather Juan Velarde was born in a land that, in his lifetime, would be claimed by four different nations. ● In what is now the desert Southwest, Velarde was born among the remnants of the Spanish empire and...
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Ceasefire falls apart as Iran buries slain leader
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.S.-Israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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Quintuplets celebrate their first birthday
El Paso mom Theresa Troia returned to Las Palmas Medical Center with her quintuplets to celebrate their first birthday. ● Doctors and nurses at Las Palmas Medical Center were thrilled to welcome the family back in June, one year after helping deliver...
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‘Tied together really since the beginning’
From a handful of troops providing safety to El Pasoans to a military powerhouse defending America’s front lines, Fort Bliss has played a major role in El Paso and U.S. history as it continues to expand its mission. “Fort Bliss and El Paso have been...
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Citizenship process ‘long, weird and winding’
Dave Nungsey sat alongside 20 other veterans and active-duty soldiers from around the world in a multipurpose room on Fort Bliss in a citizenship ceremony. It was the culmination of a process he had begun when he joined the military but had not...
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Red, white and new
El Paso baby Adalynn Skye Gurrola had a historic birth, coming into the world at 12:12 a.m. on July 4 at Las Palmas Medical Center. Adalynn Skye, who was born at 7 pounds and measuring 20 inches long, wore a patriotic onesie with an Uncle Sam hat and...
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‘It just feels so joyful’
El Paso celebrated America’s 250th birthday as thousands gathered at Convention Center Plaza for an evening of patriotic festivities, music and familyfriendly activities. The July 4 event brought together residents, visitors, military personnel and...
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A CHANGING LANDSCAPE
BOTTOM LEFT: The 828-foot former ASARCO stack hits the ground on April 13, 2013.
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SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
The 56 steps, cut from pink granite, ascend to a neoclassical temple that seems pluckedfromancientGreeceanddepositedonaKentuckyhilltop. Oneforeachyear of President Abraham Lincoln’s life. ● If the first eight steps, rising amid the site’s hickory,...
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Where to find firework shows for 4th of July
El Paso families will be able to celebrate both America’s 250th anniversary and Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, with plenty of pomp and patriotism. Families can kick off their Fourth of July by attending parades on the Westside and Eastside. Get...
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Heart behind the boom
For 23 years, Lourdes Falcon has spent her summers selling fireworks, turning a seasonal business into a family tradition that also supports organizations across El Paso. Falcon, a teacher at San Elizario High School, works alongside her brother, Edar...
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Ricardo Pepi’s inspiring journey to World Cup
Ricardo Pepi is absolute proof that a rose can grow in the desert. The striker for the U.S. Men’s National Team was born in El Paso in 2003 to parents who lived in a trailer in nearby San Elizario, his 16-year-old mother Annette and his 23-year-old...
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Prayer for ‘religious liberty’
SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico — Hundreds of people gathered at the base of Mount Cristo Rey to join a prayer pilgrimage up the sacred mountain that has been thrust into the national border security conversation. Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of...
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UTEP celebrates move to Mountain West Conference
UTEP’s celebration and pep rally in anticipation of its impending July 1 move to the Mountain West Conference was all about a look to the future, and much of that excitement had to do with a nostalgic past. Technically, the Mountain West is new ground...
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Hotels join commercial boom lining city’s edges
Two new hotels are on the rise in the West Towne/Cimarron area of far West El Paso, another sign of El Paso’s ongoing commercial development boom on the edges of the city. ● A new Residence Inn by Marriott is going up in a still-developing office park,...
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Trump blames Iran for attack on ship
DUBAI – President Donald Trump blamed Iran on June 26 for an attack on a ship near Oman which he said had violated their ceasefire, after Tehran insisted it would control the Strait of Hormuz and warned Gulf states not to side with Washington. The...
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Artist Blast brings real life to museum walls
From bar scenes to bathroom encounters, an El Paso artist’s latest exhibition, “Blast: Trancazos de la Vida Real,” highlights aspects of everyday life that he says are often excluded from high art. ● Martin Zubia, who goes by Blast, said the title is a...
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Meta power plant plan faces opposition from city, others
El Paso Electric’s plan to build a $500 million power plant for the giant Meta Platforms data center complex under construction in Northeast El Paso has hit opposition. The city of El Paso, the Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel, representing...
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Providence stays in-house for new Memorial campus CEO
The Hospitals of Providence’s largest and oldest hospital has a new leader. Victoria Gonzalez, who has worked for the Providence network for 30 years, has been promoted to chief executive officer of the Providence Memorial campus, which includes the...
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Work continues on I-10 at Artcraft Road project
The construction on I-10 at Artcraft Road is moving along at a rapid clip. The Texas Department of Transportation is one year into the project and is currently executing work on several fronts, including utilities and storm drainage. Additionally,...
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El Paso Water selling 592 acres for $8.15M
El Paso businessman Stanley Jobe’s concrete supply company outbid El Paso Electric for 592 acres of vacant Northeast El Paso land being sold by El Paso Water. Jobe Materials, a large El Paso supplier of concrete, aggregates, and other construction...
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Shining a light on Mexico’s missing
Editor’s note: This article is published by the El Paso Times in partnership with the Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom that covers stories from Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico border. MEXICO CITY — On the outskirts of the Mexican...
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Next round of Iran peace talks on hold
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire that was set to begin at 4 p.m. local time June 19 after escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon complicated President Donald Trump’s efforts to reach a final peace agreement with Iran. Still, the next...
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New amphitheater opening pushed to ’27
The opening of the planned Sunset Amphitheater in Northeast El Paso has been delayed. VENU, the company behind the new concert venue, broke ground on the Sunset Amphitheater in November 2025. The amphitheater was slated to open in March 2026, but...
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El Paso, Juárez set to party for World Cup Mexico vs. Korea
World Cup 2026 fever is hitting the El Paso-Juárez Borderland. The cities of El Paso and Juárez are hosting separate public watch parties for the highly anticipated game between Mexico vs. South Korea at 7 p.m. MT Thursday, June 18, at Estadio Akron...
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‘Rightsizing’
The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees continued to specify jobs for “rightsizing” in a special session vote. The 5-0 vote held on Monday, June 15, at headquarters was the next step for the district to identify a bevy of oneyear...
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Sunú Taqueria Molino elevates tacos, tostadas
Restauranteur Yered Cantu is putting the same dedication, attention to detail and homage to his Chihuahuan roots into a new restaurant, named Sunú Taqueria Molino in Downtown El Paso. Sunú opened Thursday, June 11 - just in time for watching the World...
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Amazon opens West El Paso delivery hub
Amazon’s new delivery station in West El Paso is open — 41⁄2 years after the company opened its huge fulfillment center in far East El Paso County. The new multimillion-dollar facility at Interstate 10 and Paseo Del Norte Boulevard has added a fleet...
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Can World Cup unite neighbors at the border?
MEXICO CITY — In the Borderlands of Mexico and the United States, there are clear signs of a political, economic and social relationship slipping to an acutely low ebb. But as the World Cup games get underway, there is also a growing buzz of optimism...
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Big water problems need big solutions
When a drought turns into an urban water crisis, a city’s first step is often to limit lawn watering and launch a campaign to encourage everyone to conserve. It might raise water-use rates or offer incentives for installing lowflow devices. ● While...
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A special treat
Father’s Day weekend is coming up on June 20-21 - do you know how you’re making dad feel special? In El Paso, celebrating fathers can be as varied as treating him to a Chihuahuas game (with a beer) to bonding over picking fruit in La Luz, N.M. And it...
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El Paso High Class of 2026 graduates 381
El Paso High School handed out diplomas to 381 students at the historic R. R. Jones Stadium. Family and friends arrived hours before the ceremony on Friday, June 5, as graduates checked in at the school gymnasium, showing off decorated caps, stoles,...
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El Paso moves to rein in rally costs
Politicians making their way through El Paso along the campaign trail may soon be asked to pay up front. The El Paso City Council is set to take up a proposal from city Rep. Lily Limon on Tuesday, June 9, which would require politicians campaigning in...
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El Pasoans express concern with border wall at Mount Cristo Rey
SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico — The sun had barely begun to rise above the Franklin Mountains as people began arriving in the parking lot at the base of Mount Cristo Rey for their morning hike. By mid-morning, families, hiking clubs, and individuals were...
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Forecast for D-Day changed history
To go or not to go? June 2026 marks 82 years since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s chief meteorologist, Group Capt. James Martin Stagg, made one of the most important weather forecasts of all time. Defying his colleagues, he advised the general to...
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‘My mind quiets when I’m painting’
The Dream Monster was first born when its creator was in first or second grade, a six-legged dinosaur with the same sleepy eyes and goofy smile everyone recognizes today. “I always had like really bad allergies,” Matthew Jay Martinez, an El Paso...
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Fort Bliss unit cases colors
A long-running military mission at Fort Bliss is taking on a new role, as Joint Task Force North shifts from border support to a broader effort targeting drug cartels. The change was formalized Wednesday, June 3, during a ceremony at Fort Bliss, where...
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Where to celebrate America 250 in El Paso
El Pasoans can join the rest of the country in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary this summer. City leaders, in partnership with Destination El Paso and Fort Bliss, are planning a variety of events, including concerts, children’s activities, a...
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Rights groups take ICE to court
Civil rights groups are suing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on behalf of four detainees held at Camp East Montana over “horrific” human rights abuses. The lawsuit naming the massive immigration detention center in El Paso was filed on...
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‘An amazing night’
The WBA women’s boxing lightweight championship is staying in El Paso. El Paso’s Stephanie Han defeated Albuquerque’s Holly Holm by majority decision in front of a capacity crowd of more than 7,000 on Saturday, May 30, at the El Paso County Coliseum....
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LET IT FLOW
The annual release of water from Elephant Butte Dam is underway, sending stored water first into Caballo Reservoir and then into the Rio Grande toward El Paso. An initial release of 600 cubic feet per second began at 7 a.m. from Caballo Dam on Friday....
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Cannabis legalization spurs innovation
Innovation in health care saves lives. But not all health innovations have enough evidence to actually benefit patients. Barriers to innovation are often higher in illicit or restricted markets, including cannabis, stem cells and cryptocurrencies....
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‘SOMEWHERE’ MAKES DEBUT
It’s been two years since Borderland singer-songwriter Javier Martinez released new Tale of Giants music. That drought ends Friday when his new song, “Somewhere,” drops across musical platforms, including a new video on YouTube, starring El Paso...
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Trump-endorsed Paxton prevails in TX
President Donald Trump’s purge of Republicans who have dared to defy him reached a new height on May 26 with the ousting of Texas Sen. John Cornyn. A four-term pillar of the GOP establishment, Cornyn once climbed to his party’s No. 2 leadership post...
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El Paso region considering stricter rules for data center development
El Paso County Commissioners Court questioned representatives from El Paso Electric about any potential impacts from the development of data centers in the region. El Paso Electric and El Paso Water officials presented reports about infrastructure...
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What’s new in El Paso: Fire stations, park upgrades
A new Horizon City Police Headquarters, renovations to El Paso fire stations, and a vibrant new lighting and decorations coming to Pueblo Viejo Park in the Lower Valley are among the latest in local municipal projects. Here’s a roundup of some of the...
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Rural hospitals close in increasing numbers
Some Pennsylvania hospitals are being pushed beyond the brink of closure. Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park closed in April 2025, Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland closed in May 2025, and Heritage Valley Kennedy Hospital, formerly the Ohio Valley...
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‘It was unbelievable’
BTS is now the biggest show to take over Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso. And for Jorge Vazquez, executive director of the Special Events Center, the impact is, in some ways, yet to be seen. Yes, 48,000 people each night of two concerts, May 2-3, had a...
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‘We honor those who have fallen...’
The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector commemorated fallen agents ahead of Memorial Day weekend and the anniversary of the founding of the agency. The solemn ceremony on Thursday, May 21, remembered the 161 agents killed in the line of duty since the...
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Visiting Elephant Butte State Park
ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. — With a little imagination, the flat-topped butte protruding from the dammed waters of the Rio Grande in Sierra County is said to resemble an elephant. Resemblant or not, Elephant Butte is iconic, the namesake of a town, dam and...
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Seeing double
For the smallest patients at Las Palmas Medical Center, life as newborns comes with the beeps and hums of equipment in the neonatal intensive care unit. Fortunately, it also includes the compassion and meticulous care of twin nurses, Krystal and...
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New Mexico cannabis sales top $2.2 billion
The cannabis industry in New Mexico continues bringing in big dollars for the state. Since medical cannabis became legal in April 2022, and especially after the boom of recreational cannabis in April 2024, New Mexico has raised more than $2.2 billion...
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Grid United aims to connect El Paso to Eastern power grid
Grid United, a Houston company backed by a Houston billionaire, has begun the years-long process of connecting El Paso Electric’s Western power grid to the Eastern grid, providing a new electricity stream for this region. The 5-year-old company has...
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Celebrating UTEP graduations in photos
The University of Texas at El Paso celebrated the Class of 2026 at four spring commencement ceremonies over the weekend. Among the total of 3,180 degrees conferred on Saturday and Sunday, May 1617, include: ● Liberal Arts 824 ● Education 287 ●...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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Trump leaves Beijing with few victories
BEIJING – President Donald Trump left China on May 15 with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise on his host, Xi Jinping. Trump’s visit to America’s main strategic and...
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‘I feel like I missed so much’
Years after war left him battling PTSD and avoiding crowds, Orlando Romero is preparing to step into one at a UTEP commencement that marks a deeply personal comeback. ● As the University of Texas at El Paso holds its commencement Saturday and Sunday,...
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‘An affront to religious liberty’
The Trump administration is seeking to seize sacred land owned by Diocese of Las Cruces along the New Mexican border with Mexico. The federal government is looking to strip 14.2 acres of land from the Catholic diocese through eminent domain at the...
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Do we still honor César Chávez?
El Paso County has approved changing a mural honoring César Chávez, as two area school districts have begun the sometimes emotionally charged process of dropping the late labor leader’s name from schools. ● For decades, Chávez had been hailed as a...
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Cookie shop, lounge and diner among new businesses opening
El Pasoans who remember Elmer’s fried chicken might want to head to Elmer’s Dinner, which recently opened in Central El Paso. Management at Elmer’s Dinner, at 1730 Montana Ave., said the restaurant is owned by different owners but has the same menu...
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AI-integrated cameras raise alarms
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States. ● Few could have predicted that they would one day also double as nodes for surveillance. ● In thousands of towns and cities across the United States, automatic license plate readers have...
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Visiting lawmakers say El Paso ICE detention center raises concerns
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig felt a wave of emotions as she walked through Camp East Montana on her first visit to the sprawling immigration detention center in El Paso. Craig was not allowed to speak with anyone during her nearly two-hour oversight visit....
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Trump says Iran ceasefire holds
President Donald Trump is brushing away concerns that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement is finished after the two sides launched strikes on each other that he called a “trifle.” “They trifled with us today. We blew them away. I call that a trifle,”...
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Mother’s Day brunch
BMaybe keep the mom coupons, but make plans to take her out for Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, at a great brunch place. Here are five of my favorite brunch places in El Paso. When is Mother’s Day this year? Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 10. Mexican...
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Detainee diagnosed with ovarian cyst as care concerns grow
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig has confirmed that medical staff at ICE’s El Paso service processing center have confirmed that her detained constituent, Andrea Pedro Francisco, has a large ovarian cyst after a ultrasound was performed. Craig announced the...
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Most Texans oppose state’s push to ban THC products
With election season in full swing, medical marijuana legalization could be a winning strategy for candidates in Texas. A new study from Fabrizio, Lee and Associates found “overwhelming support” among Texans for legalized medical marijuana and for the...
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‘It gets us all together’
This may have been the 11th official Borderland Jam, but artists have been painting in that same spot since the mid-1990s. Back then, they’d show up with backpacks full of spray cans, searching for walls where their work would get the most...
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BTS ARMY takes over El Paso
Crowds of ARMY of all ages and cultures formed lines outside the Sun Bowl, trading freebies and gathering at the Glory Field fan party ahead of the first BTS show. The first BTS concert in El Paso was Saturday, May 2, at the Sun Bowl Stadium, where...
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‘We are moving these cases’
Protesters gathered outside the Downtown courthouse for an explanation for why drunken drivers are getting lenient sentences in El Paso County. ● Their protest signs targeted El Paso District Attorney James Montoya. ● “We don’t need more bars,” a Sober...
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Site of deadly 2025 floods will not reopen this year
Camp Mystic, the summertime retreat for young girls where dozens died last summer in a flooding event investigators determined could have been avoided, will not reopen this summer. The 700-acre private Christian summer camp for girls located on the...
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Sol Summit organizers plan Downtown festival
Organizers of the Sol Summit, a new entertainment event by the El Paso Community Foundation, are looking forward to a successful event this weekend. Never mind that Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, will be one of the busiest weekends in May, with...
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