El Paso Times
Deck Plaza renamed after $20M donation
The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation is celebrating a massive gift aimed at bringing new life to Downtown El Paso. The foundation announced a $20 million donation from the Fred Loya family at a Wednesday, Oct. 14, news conference to advance the project,...
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Pope Leo recuperates after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery Oct. 13, to remove part of his right lung, the Vatican announced, marking the first major health scare of the pontiff ’s papacy. Doctors discovered a small lung nodule during a routine...
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Restaurant struggles persist
The struggles facing the restaurant industry show little sign of slowing down. October is beginning with a small wave of restaurants announcing their closures in both East and West El Paso. Over the past few months, a string of El Paso restaurants...
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See Vinton Steel’s $255M transformation rising
The Vinton Steel minimill’s $255 million expansion is underway. A giant steel structure and concrete columns are rising in the yard of the 64year-old facility located on 230 acres in El Paso County’s Upper Valley. It’s easily seen along Interstate 10,...
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REBRANDING NICOTINE
An ironic development emerging alongside the “Make America Healthy Again” movement is the portrayal of nicotine as a wellness and performance-enhancing product. Across social media, podcasts, wellness communities and tech startups, prominent wellness...
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HOME expansion
El Paso’s public housing agency, branded HOME, is on an apartment-buying spree. ● It’s acquired at least 13 private apartment complexes with just over 4,000 units in the last four years for more than $600 million, including seven in states far from El...
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Pike walking again after failed execution
Christa Pike’s attorneys said the turnaround in her health throughout the week has been “remarkable” but that she is concerned about how her murder victim’s family is doing and is struggling with the psychological aftermath of having survived a botched...
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FALL CORN MAZE SEASON IS HERE
El Paso families look forward to the fall season and getting lost in corn mazes and picking pumpkins. El Paso area has three main corn mazes for family fun: La Union Maze, Mesilla Corn Maze in Mesilla, N.M., and El Paso Farm Land on Nuevo Hueco Tanks...
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Marathon finally speaks on Aug. 4 fume incident
Marathon Petroleum officials told the public, for the first time, the story of what caused the 97-year-old refinery to release thousands of pounds of pollutants on the night of Aug. 4, creating strong odors and noxious fumes in surrounding...
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‘It’s going to be great for El Pasoans’
The exciting transformation of the Kress Department Store building into a vibrant entertainment hub is underway, with completion planned in time for Winterfest 2026. Officials with Paul Foster’s Franklin Mountain Investments provided a...
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‘I don’t trust him’
Tamara Berger is miffed at the backhanded praise President Donald Trump gave Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. “Let me tell you, it’s true, he may not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfectly...
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Usher, Chris Brown bring star power to Sun Bowl
Grammy Award-winning icons Usher and Chris Brown co-headlined their “R&B Tour” show on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Sun Bowl Stadium. The duo has been on their North American tour since mid-June, delivering epic sold-out shows produced by Live Nation. The R&B...
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BACK ON TRACK?
Ruidoso’s almost 80-year-old horse racetrack has been a major driver for the mountain village’s economy, and an important part of its identity. ● So, when Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino owner Johnny Trotter — a Texas horseman, rancher and feedlot...
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New York AG James will lead Cornell investigation
New York Attorney General Letitia James, the state’s top lawyer known for investigating President Donald Trump, will lead the Cornell University gangrape investigation, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the evening of Oct. 1. “New information has raised...
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Floods batter region
A drier day with a few possible mountain showers is forecast for the El Paso-Juárez area and Southern New Mexico recovering from heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Polo. The tropical moisture has moved out of the region, which will have...
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GECU Arena debuts at Haskins Center
El Paso’s largest indoor venue is getting a new name after the largest contribution in the history of UTEP Athletics: GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center. The name revision marks the first name change to the 49-year-old facility since the Special...
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Border reopens to Mexican cattle imports
SAN JERÓNIMO, Mexico — A sense of pride permeated the ranchers as they looked down at the first black steers crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. The ranchers, cattlemen and Mexican officials crowded the narrow orange-painted...
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$552M power plant gets nod if customers can avoid costs
El Paso Electric is close to getting state regulators’ approval for a $551.8 million, 366-megawatt power plant to be built for the Meta Platforms data center complex in far Northeast El Paso. The city of El Paso and others are opposing the McCloud...
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Escobar defends, Bauman eyes upset
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar is facing a new opponent in her reelection bid. Escobar, D-El Paso, has represented El Paso in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019, making this run her chance for a fifth term in the lower chamber. This time around,...
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Trump, Xi exchange toasts, gifts at dinner
Wild mushrooms are in their peak season across the United States in late September – and for a second time, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan were treated to the fungi at the White House. On the menu for the state dinner hosted by...
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Santa Teresa crossing reopens to Mexican cattle
SAN JERÓNIMO, Mexico — Cattle imports are once again entering the United States through the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, border crossing. Cattle imports resumed after 10:50 a.m. MT, Thursday, Sept. 24, after being halted for more than 16 months. Mexican...
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Voting machines tested ahead of Nov.
The El Paso County Elections Department is checking voting machines ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3, a process officials say is designed to verify the equipment’s accuracy and give voters a closer look at how it is tested. The department conducted a...
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NWS explains why storms seem intense
As rounds of rain and thunderstorms continue to sweep across the region, bringing bursts of heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and booming thunder, some may be wondering why the storms seem stronger and more intense than usual. High levels of moisture...
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Family, lowriders and Chicano pride at Lincoln Park
Lowriders from near and far rolled into Lincoln Park - El Paso’s Chicano Park for the annual Lincoln Park Day celebration. The event on Sunday, Sept. 20, celebrated El Paso’s Chicano culture and community with lowriders, live music, performances and...
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Las Espadas serves up churrasco
El Pasoans have eagerly been heading to Las Espadas Brazilian Restaurant which is in its soft opening over the past few days. The Brazilian steakhouse is exciting for El Pasoans who are familiar with churrasco, the Brazilian style of barbecue as well...
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Paxton, Talarico U.S. Senate race tests Texas political shift
The U.S. Senate battle in Texas is one of the most watched in the United States. ● The matchup between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton represents a key showdown for Texas voters. The seat is open after Paxton defeated sitting...
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Trump to face skeptical world leaders
WASHINGTON – When President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations a year ago, he touted the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites just months earlier as “totally obliterating everything” and said he had brought peace between Israel and...
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Huge crowds celebrate holiday in Juárez
Juárez knows how to party with a Mexico Independence Day celebration featuring the superstar grupero band Bronco, fireworks, a drone show and a crowd of nearly 40,000 in the border city’s Chamizal Park. ● The celebration of the traditional Grito de...
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New Pure Water Center part of El Paso’s survival plan
Decades of preparation have helped El Pasoans avoid the crisis Arizona, California and Nevada face over reductions in the water they can draw from the beleaguered Colorado River. But maintaining life in the Sun City has required challenging...
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Meta hires political insider to build El Paso trust
Meta Platforms has hired an El Paso political insider as its El Paso community engagement manager to help build trust in the company’s huge, 1 gigawatt data center complex rising in far Northeast El Paso. Meta officials are trying to reverse backlash...
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Out with the old
El Paso Water’s new $55 million headquarters is open. Demolition of its longtime headquarters, next to the new building, is underway and expected to be completed in October. The entire project cost is $70 million, including demolition of the old...
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Amazon fuels Wiwynn’s $1.6B factory expansion
Amazon.com data centers are fueling the recently announced expansion of Wiwynn Corp.’s data-server factory complex in Socorro, an El Paso suburb, creating thousands of jobs over several years. Officials with both companies took part in a ceremony...
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THE TIGHTEST RACE IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS
Texas heads into the fall campaign season with a governor’s race that looks more competitive than any in a generation. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, leads Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in most polls taken this...
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GOP attendees pledge allegiance to Trump
DALLAS – President Donald Trump had his supporters recite a pledge of allegiance to himself – and promise to vote in November – as he teamed with Vice President JD Vance on Sept. 10, the second and final night of the first Republican midterm...
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Are you ready for some football?
With a new football season, it’s time to go over the rules of what to bring to the Sun Bowl Stadium and what to leave at home. UTEP’s football season opens on the road against Oklahoma, followed by the Miners’ home opener against Texas Southern....
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Wiwynn to build $139M power plant in Socorro
The rapid growth of Wiwynn Corp.’s data-server factory complex in Socorro, an El Paso suburb, means it needs more electricity. So, the Taiwanese company plans to replace 13 portable natural-gas generators next to its 8-month-old factory with a much...
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Karol G electrifies Sun Bowl
Fans arrived in their “Tripicoqueta” outfits for Karol G’s concert at the Sun Bowl, bringing the colorful aesthetic surrounding the singer’s latest era to life. Warm oranges, pinks and yellows, mixed with earthy browns and neutrals, while floral prints...
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Oracle data center work continues amid court fight
Construction of the Oracle data center complex in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, an El Paso suburb, is forging ahead amid challenges that will be reviewed by the New Mexico Supreme Court. The high court set a Sept. 2 deadline for New Mexico officials to...
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Iran aims to tackle its economic issues
DUBAI – Iran said it will step up efforts to tackle problems created by the U.S. sanctions that are crippling its economy, while a senior Iranian official warned of a “painful response” if it comes under further attack. Six months after U.S.-Israeli...
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‘Perfect landscape’
Aquarter of all immigrants detained by the Trump administration are held in Texas’ 27 detention centers, data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows. ● The more than 16,000 detainees highlight how the Lone Star State is at the heart of the...
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Massachusetts mom’s trial ends in hung jury
Editor’s note: This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother charged...
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Karol G in concert at Sun Bowl Stadium
El Paso fans are gearing up for the Colombian star Karol G concerts Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6, at the Sun Bowl Stadium. ● Karol G is bringing her “Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour” to El Paso, with Becky G as a special guest. ● Becky G appeared as...
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Voters on suspense list can still cast ballots
Millions of Texas voters have been added to the state’s Voter Suspense List, but what does that actually mean? More than 1.2 million voters, or roughly 6.5% of the state’s 18.6 million registered voters as of March 2026, have been added to the Voter...
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Gina Hinojosa campaigns in El Paso
By the time Democratic candidate for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa finished her daylong campaign swing in El Paso, she made it clear to voters that Gov. Greg Abbott’s tenure needs to end. Hinojosa’s packed schedule was more than a chance to address top...
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UTEP tops NMSU before sellout crowd
UTEP’s 2026 home volleyball opener was fitting for a championship program. The Miners, who are in their first year in the Mountain West Conference, were celebrating the 2025 Conference USA title and NCAA Tournament team with banner unveilings. In...
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EPISD schools go from ‘F’ to ‘B’ in 2026 TEA ratings
On the heels of the El Paso Independent School District receiving a “B” in statewide accountability scores from the Texas Education Agency, superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk said there is still room for improvement. The 2026 report using A-F...
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‘IT’S A RELIEF’
Aswirl of dust, rocks and excitement filled the desert air as the first two dozen cattle trotted across the U.S.-Mexico border. ● The rhythm of hooves from the white, brown and black cattle echoed along a strip of cement beside the border fence, mixing...
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Colleges confront decline in reading
Anyone who has spent time on a college campus lately has probably heard laments from faculty about their students’ reading habits, or rather nonreading habits. Such complaints are more than an unfounded nostalgia for a bygone age. Reading – not just...
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Most booked restaurants in city
Wondering where El Pasoans are making dinner reservations these days? OpenTable has a fresh list of El Paso’s mostbooked restaurants. The reservation platform released its latest rankings on Aug. 6, highlighting the El Paso restaurants diners are...
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El Paso targets DWI hot spots ahead of holiday
Driving while intoxicated in El Paso remains “a serious and persistent problem,” which tends to increase during the Labor Day holiday as summer comes to an end, law enforcement and state traffic officials said. The DWI problem was tragically...
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Mexico begins exporting cattle to U.S. again
AGUA PRIETA, Mexico — Mexican cattle exports into the U.S. resumed through the Douglas, Arizona, port for the first time in more than a year after a suspension tied to the spread of New World screwworm. The first cattle began the journey into the U.S....
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Record start for UTEP
Another fall semester at the University of Texas at El Paso means another first day of classes as thousands of students flock to campus. After announcing another record class of incoming freshmen and surpassing 27,000 in total student enrollment, UTEP...
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TCEQ probes pollution emmissions at refinery
An equipment breakdown at the El Paso Marathon oil refinery in early August resulted in the release of much more pollution than previously reported. The breakdown on the night of Aug. 4 resulted in the release of 31,100 pounds, or 15.6 tons, of 33...
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WATER WATCH
The massive Meta data center rising in Northeast El Paso has brought concerns about water access to the forefront of many citizens’ minds. When the El Paso City Council voted against renegotiating Meta’s contract in early June, many public cries...
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Iran vows ‘devastating’ response to threat
DUBAI – Iran said on Aug. 21 that its response to any new U.S. threats would be “devastating” after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. Washington prepared for...
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Abbott takes aim at EPISD
It did not take long for Gov. Greg Abbott to blame El Paso Independent School District’s financial exigency on ‘bloated’ bureaucracy and poor taxpayer accountability during his stop in the city. Abbott announced a new education initiative to cut...
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HIGH SEASON
Summer sales have spelled big money for New Mexico’s cannabis industry. As of June 2026, the state has officially surpassed $2.35 billion in cannabis sales — more than $1.7 billion in adult-use recreational sales and nearly $643 million in medical...
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Area school districts get A-F ratings from state
The latest round of school accountability scores was released by the Texas Education Agency, and borderland districts ranged from B+ to F. The 2026 report using A-F accountability ratings shows that 61% of the state’s roughly 9,000 public school...
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‘IT’S ALMOST SPIRITUAL’
Grammy award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists Santana and The Doobie Brothers brought their Oneness Tour to the Don Haskins Center Aug. 16. Santana, whose sound is almost instantly recognizable, brought his hits spanning more than five...
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Where are ‘Flock’ cameras in El Paso?
Flock cameras continue to spark controversy across the country over potential violations of privacy and constitutional rights. El Paso city leaders approved the use of more than 150 Flock cameras, so here is a guide to what you need to know about the...
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‘It’s no secret that there is pushback’
Seeking to make the El Paso area a data center hub was a major element of the Borderplex Alliance’s economic development plan released in summer 2025. Detailed plans to recruit data centers and their suppliers are one chapter in the 176-page “2030...
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U.S. tells Iran it will step up pressure
LONDON – Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Aug. 14 after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely. A senior Iranian source said...
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El Músico Tequila mixes tequila, music
When the world is on lockdown, you can lament what you’re missing or have lost, or you can start fulfilling a dream. El Paso native Jaime Cabrera found renewal and a new goal. On Saturday night, people in the Borderland can taste Cabrera’s dream:...
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DHS drops plan for ICE detention center in Socorro
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar announced that the Department of Homeland Security will no longer consider three warehouses in Socorro for use as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. The properties have been transferred to the General...
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Opening soon
The managers of the soon-to-open Las Espadas Brazilian Restaurant, at the base of the PNC Bank at 6044 Gateway Blvd., have started the hiring process. Alex Danielli, who is Brazilian and the Chief Operations Officer, said he and Jorge Ibarra, CEO and...
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Family at the heart of ‘Olmo’
“Olmo,” a coming-of-age movie about a Mexican American teenager filmed and set in Las Cruces, is getting solidly good reviews after opening in limited release nationwide. The dramedy revolves around a 14-year-old boy named Olmo (played by Aivan...
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Faith unites San Lorenzo devotees across the border
On both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, Catholic communities gather each August to celebrate San Lorenzo. In Clint, Texas, the tradition has continued for more than a century at San Lorenzo Catholic Church, where thousands gather for the annual...
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‘Bite-sized bond’
For the El Paso Independent School District, maintaining 71 schools for an estimated 48,000 students is no easy task, especially when many structures are over 50 years old. To deal with the bevy of infrastructure improvements, the district is...
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New Trump orders curb birthright citizenship
President Donald Trump is making another bid to curtail birthright citizenship after the Supreme Court ruled his earlier effort was unconstitutional, announcing a pair of executive orders limiting who qualifies for automatic citizenship and cracking...
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12 restaurants worth a visit
El Paso has experienced a good wave of new restaurants this year, that range from burgers and Mexican fare to steakhouses and Italian. ● Many of the restaurants, like Portillo’s on the far East Side, started with grand openings and giveaways. Taco...
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Flood relief in sight
One result of El Paso’s historic, devastating floods in 2006 is a huge stormwater pond nearing completion in Northeast El Paso. The Will Ruth Pond, near Dyer Street, will be the largest of almost 500 ponds in the El Paso Water stormwater system. It’s...
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All-female school builds ‘champions’ in STEAM
Before even stepping foot onto the Young Women’s STEAM Research & Preparatory Academy, bright pink rails and its proud female warrior emblem already emanate that it is a different kind of school. At the helm of the all-female academy, which runs from...
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Parents share hopes, hugs as kids start school year
For thousands of El Paso Independent School District students returning to classes, seeing welcoming staff and teachers ready to guide them to their new classrooms was the first step. The cacophony of tears, laughter and surprise at seeing old friends...
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Books, goals and new roles
As the first day of classes beckons at El Paso Independent School District, families and students look to another term at schools that have changed due to financial strain. ● EPISD Superintendent Brian Lusk knows all too well that the legal and...
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‘BUT WHY YOU?’
For many educators and support staff, August is a time of preparation for the new school year, but for 205 downsized El Paso Independent School District employees, there are only conundrums. ● Although the reason was financial exigency rooted in...
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Attack sparks fears wars could merge
WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States insisted that leaders in Kyiv are not playing “a game of chess” with their recent drone strike on an Iranian ship and have no interest in leveraging their conflict with Russia into a wider, global...
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