El Paso Matters

Richard Parker, El Paso author and journalist, has died at 61, just days after the release of his book, “The Crossing: El Paso, the Southwest, and America’s Forgotten Origin Story.” Parker dedicated his career to examining the political, social and historical forces shaping the American Southwest. His latest book, which was the recent selection of the El Paso Matters Book Club, centered on the city’s significance in American history and the lasting impact of the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting. Read more about his life and legacy:https://lnkd.in/gk7kYvEX ??: Diego Mendoza-Moyers

Canutillo ISD is weighing layoffs and program cuts as the district continues to operate under a growing budget deficit, faces declining enrollment and struggles with rising costs. School board trustees are exploring the elimination of elementary music classes, Pre-K 3 and Montessori education, along with a hiring freeze and staff reductions. Read more about how these decisions could impact students and staff: https://lnkd.in/grkkiUCb ?? : Claudia Silva ??: Corrie Boudreaux / El Paso Matters

We published the first episode of a new podcast for El Paso Matters, where I interview my colleague Priscilla Totiyapungprasert about the ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas. We're looking to continue our mission of providing free, in-depth news, but now in the audio space. I'm hoping our pod will offer smart commentary and analysis about El Paso news and fill a gap in our city's media/information environment. Feel free to follow or subscribe on any major podcasting platform!

David Leonard Wood is scheduled to be executed March 13 for killing six girls and young women in Northeast El Paso in 1987. Barring last-minute court action, Wood will die 32 years after his conviction, the most time any Texas inmate has spent on death row before being executed. His attorney filed a new appeal with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday, Feb. 21, saying there’s evidence that Wood is innocent, and that he had ineffective counsel in his 1992 trial. He also has a separate appeal before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Texas Attorney General’s Office, which is representing the prosecution in appeals, hasn’t filed a formal response to Wood’s latest appeals. But the state has long maintained the evidence proves Wood’s guilt and the death sentence should be carried out. Read more about the legal wranglings leading up to the scheduled execution of the man who became known as the desert killer: https://lnkd.in/gCfqcDXi This is the second of our two-part series by El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore.

??? Book Club Lovers, what a weekend! ??? On Friday, Feb. 28, we teamed up with Chrysalis and the Papagayo Project at El Paso Community College to present “Getting Started in Fiction,” a writing workshop taught by Luis Jaramillo, author of "The Witches of El Paso" at EPCC’s Rio Grande Campus. About 30 writers of all skill levels joined us for abstract exercises designed to spark creativity and build storytelling skills. And on Saturday, March 1 at Barnes & Noble, over 70 of you joined us to explore "The Witches of El Paso" and hear Jaramillo share his creative process and the personal inspirations behind his enchanting stories. Check out the full recap: https://lnkd.in/g9_6xrxv ??: Corrie Boudreaux and Angela Saavedra

After nearly 40 years, El Paso mother Marcia Fulton is preparing to watch the state of Texas execute the man convicted of killing her daughter, Desiree Autumn Wheatley, and five other young women. Our in‐depth report follows Fulton’s journey through loss, resilience and a relentless pursuit of justice. Discover how a mother's enduring love has shaped her fight for resolution in one of El Paso’s most horrific crimes. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gygMud2Y Coming Wednesday: Convicted killer David Leonard Wood mounts a last-ditch appeal to stop his execution. Story and Photo: Robert Moore

A major $500 million renovation of the Bridge of the Americas has been delayed due to a federal lawsuit and a 45-day pause by the Trump administration. The project aimed to modernize the decades-old port of entry and reroute diesel-fueled commercial trucks to reduce pollution in nearby neighborhoods. But now, funding and the future of the plan hang in the balance. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQ9wvE4h ??: Diego Mendoza-Moyers ??: Corrie Boudreaux / El Paso Matters

As the West Texas measles outbreak continues to spread, the city of El Paso (The City of El Paso Texas) is encouraging people to get the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as a preventive measure. The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday the first death in the outbreak, an unvaccinated school-aged child who was hospitalized in Lubbock. As of Friday, Texas and New Mexico health officials have confirmed more than 150 measles cases altogether that originated from an undervaccinated community. ?? Haven’t gotten the measles vaccine for you or your child – or unsure? Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5aFtBpk ??: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert ??: Corrie Boudreaux / El Paso Matters

For weeks, no one in El Paso has been able to say what will happen under the Trump administration to a planned ~ $500 million renovation of an international crossing in the heart of the city, which was approved under the Biden administration and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. After years of protests, community organizers from the Chamizal neighborhood adjacent to the Bridge of the Americas seemingly notched a win when federal officials agreed last year to halt commercial trucks from crossing at the bridge as part of the renovation, in order to alleviate pollution in the low-income area. Meanwhile, the newly-appointed administrators of the General Services Administration -- the federal agency overseeing the renovation of BOTA -- have said they expect to cut spending and staffing levels at the agency significantly. The GSA previously expected to begin awarding construction bids in August, but the timeline now is unclear. Our story in El Paso Matters:

Did a new sports stadium add to Socorro ISD’s financial problems? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDRuKfAg ??: Robert Moore ??: Corrie Boudreaux / El Paso Matters