The US Southwest and West are experiencing severe drought – in some cases, perhaps, the worst ever recorded. Some begin to foresee the return of the great Dust Bowl of the 1930s, but in most parts of the country there is not yet enough concern about this to change water usage practices much, if at all. More...
Arts & Culture
Poetry: Syrian
by Serenity Garcia // March 7, 2014
A poem by Serenity Garcia. More...
Business & Technology
NAFTA's Bad Apples
by Kent Paterson, Frontera NorteSur // March 3, 2014
Facing ruin, apple producers in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua are mulling an anti-dumpring complaint against U.S. imports. Ricardo Marquez Prieto, president of the Chihuahua Regional Union of Fruit Growers, charged that unfair competition from Mexico's partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) threatens the viability of the local apple industry. More...
Government
Impact fees spur debate over who should pay for new growth
City council to vote on proposed fee increase on Tuesday, March 4
by Alberto Tomas Halpern // February 27, 2014
A political battle over who should pay for new growth is brewing at city hall. On Tuesday, March 4, city council will vote on whether to increase impact fees for water and wastewater. The vote comes as the result of an El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) plan to expand a water treatment plant that the utility says is needed to service new growth expected over the next five years. More...
From the Tree
From the Tree: Talent + Opportunity + Place = Success
Newspaper Tree is economic development; investigative reporter position open
by Emanuel Anthony Martinez // February 28, 2014
“You don't get more talent, more opportunity, and places that accelerate both, without information and engagement,” Colletta said, adding, “If a city doesn’t have a talent strategy, it doesn’t have an economic development strategy.” At Newspaper Tree that is our purpose. Information. Engagement. Development. More...
Government
The fall of El Chapo
by Kent Paterson, Frontera NorteSur // February 27, 2014
Contrary to speculation that the elusive Guzman was hiding in Central America or the outback of Mexico’s Sierra Madres, the man named by Forbes magazine as one of the richest individuals in the world was reportedly nabbed overnight by Mexican marines at a modest hotel in the Pacific resort city of Mazatlan, Sinaloa. He was then quickly transferred to Mexico City. More...
Education
Press Conference: EPISD responds to reports of Bowie, Jefferson consolidation
Superintendent Juan Cabrera says there are "no plans" to close schools
by Juan E. Cabrera, El Paso ISD // February 21, 2014
"Thank you for being here today. First of all, I want to reassure our community that this news story was created based on an employee mistakenly sending notes from a brainstorming session. There are no plans in place to close schools. We were exploring all options new and old that have might have been reviewed." More...
Government
Mayor Leeser releases city manager “profile”
City council is expected to select a new city manager in May
by Alberto Tomas Halpern // February 19, 2014
Mayor Oscar Leeser released today a city manager “profile,” which will serve as a job description guiding the hiring process for the city’s next top administrator. More...
