Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
We begin today with breaking news from Central El Paso, where thick black smoke was seen rising from the Marathon El Paso Refinery late last night. The El Paso Fire Department confirms the smoke is from the refinery, and while the sight was dramatic, officials say the three active smokestacks are operating as part of standard procedure and no emergency response has been launched at this point. We’ll keep you posted if the situation changes.
Let’s shift to City Hall, where major legal news arrived yesterday. A federal court of appeals has ruled that Texas Senate Bill 4, a controversial measure that would have allowed local law enforcement to arrest people suspected of crossing the border illegally, is unconstitutional. El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez says this decision spares our county from the heavy costs and challenges of enforcing federal immigration law at the local level. Immigrant advocacy organizations in El Paso see this as an important moment for our diverse community and for local control of law enforcement resources.
Turning to our schools, many listeners may be worried about news of federal funding delays. El Paso’s five biggest school districts—including El Paso, Socorro, Ysleta, Clint, and Canutillo—were counting on over 19 million dollars in grants that have now been put on hold for review by the Trump administration. These grants fund programs from migrant and English language education to after-school enrichment, and the uncertainty has districts scrambling to develop contingency plans. In Canutillo, 30 education jobs are directly supported by these grants, and while programs are funded through August, the long-term outlook remains unsettled. Superintendents are calling this a political tactic that puts our most vulnerable students at risk.
Now, for those of us planning our day, expect a hot one. The high will hit 102 degrees with plenty of sun and just a slight breeze. Stay hydrated, check on neighbors, and remember the city is giving out free sandbags at sites around town to help us prepare for flood season, just in case those unpredictable Borderland storms roll in later this week.
Traffic is a major story again this morning as road construction continues across the city. If you’re heading west on I-10 near Transmountain or Redd Road, expect night lane closures for paving and barrier placement, with detours in effect. Loop 375 will also have shoulder and ramp closures between Fonseca, Customs, and Paisano. Give yourself extra time, especially in the evenings and overnight hours.
In public safety, there are several incidents to report. Four police officers were injured after a crash on I-10 west near downtown Monday afternoon, but all are expected to recover. A detective was assaulted during service of a writ in east El Paso, where a 63-year-old woman now faces charges. In far east El Paso, a DEA agent was involved in a shooting during a narcotics case, but officials have not released further details. We want to remind everyone that Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning of potential scams following recent flooding statewide. Be careful when hiring contractors and report suspicious activity.
On a brighter note, the UTEP rocket team continues to make us proud, winning big at an international contest, and Lamar Elementary in Central El Paso welcomes a new principal as the district gears up for the new school year. Our community also kicked off the Plaza Classic Film Festival with a tribute to Hollywood’s wartime legacy, drawing film lovers downtown to the historic Plaza Theatre.
Finally, in one of those only-in-El Paso stories, local firefighters are being thanked across Central Texas for their role in flood rescues, showing once again that Borderland spirit of lending a hand wherever we’re needed.
That wraps up our roundup for today. Thank you for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update. 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
続きを読む
一部表示