Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Friday, May 16. We start today with a big development at the courthouse: An El Paso judge has dismissed charges against several people who crossed the border and were accused of violating military rules. That decision made waves throughout our city yesterday, as it could impact future border enforcement and how local courts handle similar cases.
In Austin, state lawmakers raced to pass new bills before their deadline. A few measures that could affect us here made it through, like stricter limits on who can be released from jail without cash bail and a proposed repeal of the old state ban on gay sex, which has long been unenforced. At the same time, other bills about juvenile detention and farmland protections did not make the cut, so we will keep watching the impact on our region.
Turning to our local government, City Hall has been busy. The council this week paused the expansion of Pellicano Drive for now, but they did launch a new citywide clean-up event, bringing dumpsters to neighborhoods for easier spring cleaning. They are also considering dropping late fees at our public libraries, a move that would be great news for readers across town.
Let’s talk weather. It is a warm start this morning and we expect highs near 90 degrees today under mostly sunny skies. This is perfect for outdoor events, but do bring water if you are heading out. The forecast for this weekend stays sunny and hot, with temperatures nudging into the low 90s.
If you are looking for things to do, the next few days are full of options. Starting today, El Paso Community College celebrates spring commencement at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center, congratulating hundreds of graduates and their families. This weekend also brings the first-ever Go Topless in El Chuco off-road festival to East El Paso, offering music, food, and family-friendly fun. The community is also excited about The Shack opening its fifth restaurant location in west El Paso, adding more buzz to our dining scene.
In the job and real estate markets, hiring remains steady across healthcare, education, and logistics, though competition is up for entry-level roles. Home prices have ticked up slightly, with the average listing now in the mid 230s, but more open houses are popping up from Horizon City to the Upper Valley.
For schools, Anthony ISD just installed a new advanced surveillance system, boosting safety and saving district dollars. On the sports front, local high school baseball and softball teams are gearing up for playoff runs, bringing energy and pride to our neighborhoods.
On the crime front, a few serious incidents overnight: police arrested a registered sex offender accused of stalking a Pebble Hills High School student, and a suspected Barrio Azteca gang member was picked up in Central El Paso for drug and assault charges. Officers also report a successful rescue after a Horizon woman escaped an alleged kidnapping.
Finally, we end with a feel-good note. At a recent music camp in El Paso, young girls wrote and performed their own songs in just 11 days, proving once again the talent and creativity thriving in our community.
This has been El Paso Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI