Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Friday, August 29th, 2025. We begin today with a major development just outside our city limits, as a new immigration detention facility—Camp East Montana—is quickly taking shape near Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport. Built under a 1.2 billion dollar Army contract, the massive 60-acre tent camp is expected to house up to 5,000 migrants. The project has drawn national attention and controversy due to limited information about the company running it and concerns over safety and transparency. Local Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is voicing her worry about standards and oversight, especially with such extreme summer heat in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Turning to city government, El Paso is set to launch a major drainage project next week, aimed at finally tackling flooding issues that have long plagued several neighborhoods. City officials say this will focus first on the areas around Riverside Drive and Alameda, where residents have dealt with repeated road closures during summer storms.

Speaking of the weather, it is already feeling warm this morning with mostly cloudy skies, and we are expecting a high of 98 degrees by this afternoon. The heat sticks with us into the weekend, but be ready for a shift Saturday through Monday as the Weather Team is warning of heavy rainfall that could impact outdoor plans—great news for our gardens, but not so much for picnics in Memorial Park. If you are headed out this evening, keep that umbrella handy just in case.

El Paso’s tech and public safety community is buzzing this week with word that our 911 district is rolling out artificial intelligence tools to improve emergency response. The county will now use AI to help transcribe and translate 911 calls, aiming to cut down wait times and get resources to those who need them faster. This is expected to make a noticeable difference, especially during high call volume times.

In neighborhood news, the real estate scene saw some big headlines. An El Paso man was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison after a massive fraud scheme that targeted over 70 victims across several city zip codes, highlighting the need for buyers to stay vigilant. On the brighter side, the job market showed a modest uptick with nearly 200 new manufacturing and logistics jobs set to open up near the Zaragoza industrial corridor this fall. Keep an eye on postings if you are in the hunt for work.

Looking at our school districts, congratulations go out to the Socorro Independent School District for making headlines twice this week—first with Superintendent James Vasquez being officially appointed at a salary of $285,000 and second, for approving a ten million dollar plan to help cut healthcare costs for district employees. On the sports front, high school football returns tonight with the annual Battle of the Claw between Eastwood and Bel Air, set to draw a full house over at the Sun Bowl.

Now for recent crime and public safety: Yesterday, a 16-year-old was arrested after a high-speed pursuit on I-10 led to charges of human smuggling involving four undocumented individuals. Police are reminding us to report any suspicious activity near the border. In a separate incident, authorities are investigating a tragic murder-suicide in an East El Paso neighborhood, while another arrest was made in a child injury case.

Before we sign off, we would like to share a feel-good moment. Local tattoo artist Alex Inostroza is gaining national recognition for his vibrant mural work inspired by the energy and history of El Paso. His project on Montana Avenue, featuring portraits of community elders, has become a new photo hotspot for residents and tourists alike.

Be sure to check in this weekend for wellness fairs at the Chamizal National Memorial, and remember, downtown parking will be limited due to preparations for next week’s Fiesta de Las Luces street party.

Thank you for tuning in and remember to subscribe for more news that matters to El Paso. 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.

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