Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for August seventh, twenty twenty-five. We start today with breaking news that’s shaken our Chihuahuita neighborhood. According to El Paso police, a man was stabbed late Tuesday night on East Ninth Street just blocks from the Paso Del Norte Bridge. Officials say an altercation led to Oscar Octavio Ortiz being arrested and charged with the murder of Rigoberto Cortes, age forty-six. Ortiz reportedly crossed into Mexico following the incident, but police apprehended him when he returned at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. Officers emphasize this appears to be an isolated incident, with no ongoing threat to neighbors. Anyone with more information is encouraged to contact the department.

Turning to city hall, El Paso County is proposing a higher property tax rate nearing forty-eight cents per one hundred dollars of value—the highest it can set without a public vote. At Monday’s commissioners’ meeting, officials explained this rate is needed to support vital services like law enforcement, courts, and infrastructure. Many El Paso homeowners are feeling the pinch as appraised values climb, and the county reminds us that those values are set by the Central Appraisal District, not county officials. On a hopeful note for some residents, the city council has approved an increase in the homestead exemption for seniors and disabled homeowners.

If you feel like your power bill has inched up, keep an eye on the El Paso Electric rate case. The city is heading into key hearings this week that could decide whether the utility’s rate hike request moves forward. City leaders are pledging to push back to keep rates affordable while balancing the need to modernize our grid.

Real estate has been heating up—median home prices in El Paso recently crossed two hundred sixty thousand dollars, and with new tax rates on the horizon, analysts expect sales to remain brisk through the summer. On the jobs front, the metro area’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly but remains lower than the national average, buoyed by steady hiring in healthcare and logistics.

It’s another scorcher across the Sun City. A heat advisory is extended through nine tonight, with temperatures expected to reach one hundred five degrees. We urge everyone to stay hydrated, limit outdoor time, and remember that heat safety is especially important for seniors and those without reliable air conditioning. Nights will remain warm, hovering in the mid to upper seventies, and unfortunately, no significant rainfall is in sight.

Let’s talk culture and fun for the week ahead. La Nube STEAM Discovery Center is celebrating its one-year anniversary this Saturday with a free community day downtown on Main Drive—expect interactive exhibits and surprise performances. At the International Museum of Art on Montana Avenue, the El Paso del Norte Proud Community Showcase kicks off Saturday afternoon, shining a spotlight on the creative spirit of our region. If you prefer music under the stars, Cool Canyon Nights wraps up for the summer in McKelligon Canyon tonight, featuring Sonora Skandalo in a rescheduled show.

For the sports fans, school is almost back and many EPISD elementary students will be adjusting to new campuses come Monday following the district’s recent closures and redesigns. Elsewhere, the Clint ISD has just approved a round of staff raises, which brings some good news for teachers and staff as the school year kicks off.

A quick business note: The long-stalled Pellicano Drive expansion project might finally see progress, pending a new agreement between county commissioners and contractors—a welcome development for commuters in the eastside corridor.

Wrapping up our pulse this morning with a local feel-good story. La Nube reports over two hundred seventy-five thousand visitors in its first year, inspiring curiosity and joy for families all across the border region. It’s a reminder of how El Paso comes together to create bright places for our young minds to shine.

Thank you for tuning in to Local Pulse. We always appreciate you joining us for your morning look at what matters in El Paso. Be sure 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 quiet please dot ai.

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