Good morning, this is El Paso Local Pulse for Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

We're starting off the day with some significant updates from around our city. Yesterday, the El Paso City Council approved 18 changes to the city's noise ordinance after years of debate. These amendments aim to balance the social vibrancy and economy with the quality of life for residents. The changes include modifications to the amplified sound permit, which allows businesses or venues to increase sound levels. Initially, the proposal exempted venues with a seating capacity of 7,000, but this was reduced to 2,500 at the request of council members to benefit local businesses and venues[1].

Moving on to the job market, our local economy continues to show strength. According to the latest data from the Dallas Fed, El Paso employment increased by an annualized 3.9 percent from July through October, with professional and business services experiencing the largest gains. The current unemployment rate in El Paso is 4.5 percent, slightly higher than the state and national averages. This is great news for our community, indicating a strong and growing economy[2].

In other news, the holiday season is in full swing, and our local businesses are gearing up for the festivities. The City of El Paso is marking Small Business Saturday and inviting the community to shop local at The Market at WinterFest. This is a great opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs and find unique gifts for your loved ones.

On the political front, the recent runoff elections have brought new faces to the El Paso City Council. Incumbent Northeast city Rep. Joe Molinar was defeated by business owner Cynthia Boyar Trejo, and former city Rep. Lily Limón is headed back to City Council. Three first-time members of council were also elected in other runoffs. The new City Council, led by Mayor-elect Renard Johnson, will take office the first week of January[3].

Looking at the weather, today is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 61 degrees. It's a great day to get out and enjoy some of the holiday events happening around the city. Tonight, the City of El Paso will hold a ball drop at San Jacinto Plaza on New Year's Eve at midnight, so mark your calendars for that.

In real estate news, there haven't been any major announcements recently, but we're seeing steady activity in both commercial and residential markets. If you're planning to buy or sell a home, now is a good time to get in touch with local real estate agents.

On the business front, Sunflower Bank in Downtown El Paso is back with their annual model train display, adding to the holiday cheer. However, some businesses in Horizon City are expressing frustration due to construction impacting sales[5].

In community events, Texas Tech Health El Paso invites the community to their campus for a holiday lighting event. Additionally, Buy El Paso Day is a citywide event encouraging residents to shop at local businesses, with over 70 participating locations.

In local school achievements, fall 2024 graduations are underway, and we wish all graduates the best in their future endeavors.

In a feel-good community story, the Las Cruces Police Department is set to graduate six cadets from its 54th Academy, a testament to the dedication of our law enforcement officers.

Finally, in today's crime report, two men dressed in all black aggressively robbed a Northeast El Paso convenience store, prompting a call for public assistance from Crime Stoppers. The El Paso Police Department is investigating and asks anyone with information to come forward[4].

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