Police Blotter 1.6.09: Gun runners

compiled by NPT Staff

News and notes from El Paso-area law enforcement, updated as they come in, with most recent on top. Pictured: Guns seized in an ICE-led investigation.

Posted on January 6, 2009

City debt policy

NPT Family Tree: Blogging El Chuco

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Event Calendar

"Legalizing the types of drugs that are being smuggled across the border is not an effective way to combat the violence in Mexico, and I would not support efforts in Congress that would seek to do so.” -- U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes' comment on the council's resolution.

Police Blotter 1.6.09: Gun runners

Posted on January 6, 2009

News and notes from El Paso-area law enforcement, updated as they come in, with most recent on top. Pictured: Guns seized in an ICE-led investigation.

Guzman, Sambrano plead guilty to conspiracy in South Texas corruption case: Both were indicted in March on charges of conspiring to defraud the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District by giving things of value to school board members in an effort to bribe them for their votes.
Reyes statement on Panetta: “If Leon Panetta is the final choice for Director of CIA, I look forward to his quick confirmation and to working with one of the most loyal public servants this country has known.” -- U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, chairman of House Intelligence.
Police Blotter 1.5.08: Guzman, Sambrano plead guilty in South Texas; Wanted; Crime Stoppers: News and notes from El Paso-area law enforcement, updated as they come in, with most recent on top. Pictured: Jaime Dominguez, wanted for assault.
County OKs Byrd's affordable housing proposal; hears Big League Dreams raised its price: County Judge Anthony Cobos had serious reservations about the program but voted for it with two changes: the program will sunset, or effectively end, unless the county renews it by Sept. 30, and a member of Commissioners Court will sit on the committee that reviews bids on properties.
The consensus: UTEP's Tier 1 status is most important shared legislative goal: El Paso's six-member legislative delegation appeared shoulder-to-shoulder at a news conference this morning in which they said that while each member has individual goals, and the shared goals are many, getting UTEP to Tier 1 university funding status is at the top of the list.
Straus claims 94 votes -- including the El Paso delegation -- and the Texas House Speaker's gavel: “I’m honored to be supported now by 94 of my colleagues to serve as the next speaker of the Texas House of Representatives." -- state Rep. Joe Straus (R-San Antonio).
Restaurant Assn President Jackson to run for mayor: In case you weren't sure, it's full-on election season, with a new filing for mayor. Fred Jackson, president of the El Paso Restaurant Association, becomes the third person to file papers to run for mayor.

Opinion

Eating the napkins

Posted on January 5, 2009

Even as our kids eat the napkins, there is the food for the buffet. The price for this 21st century Library of Alexandria? Free. Zippo. Nada. All you have to do is go there and download.

A Year of War, Recession and Repression

Posted on December 31, 2008

Many people in the borderlands will say good riddance to 2008. On both sides of the border, war, recession and repression were words that will almost certainly stand out in the writings of future historians recapturing a tumultuous year.

A self-serving cover-up by the state of Texas: Having employees review their supervisors’ decisions will only produce the result the supervisors want, especially when decisions were made at the highest level of the Department and in consultation with the Governor’s office (something the report also glides over).
Be the only person in the world who can do it: The term “expert” has got to be redefined in education. Expert has now got to include the ability to apply the knowledge beyond just knowing something. Expert has to equal problem solver.
Latter Day Protest? Proposition 8 and Sports: Former UTEP great Bob Beamon almost never made it to Mexico City in 1968. He had his track scholarship at UTEP revoked because he refused to compete at BYU. With huge support for Proposition 8, the question now is whether this latest tale of social conflict and the Church of Latter Day Saints will once again spill onto the athletic field.
U.S. embarrased by plight of Mexican journalist?: An op-ed writer in the L.A. Times writes about the case of reporter Emilio Gutierrez Soto, of El Diario del Noroeste.
As generations shift, El Paso is fertile ground for expats: A massive transition in the leadership and decision making base is occurring throughout our city, and you can position yourself effectively here during 2009 through 2012 while the nation adjusts to a new presidential administration and a period of dramatic economic flux.
Christmas letters: Some letters to NPT regarding Christmas.
Letter to Obama, regarding the Border Wall, from the Lipan Apache and other Indigenous Peoples: To ensure security, peace and prosperity for Indigenous peoples of the Texas-Mexico border region, as well as all Indigenous communities of the southern border, we are urging the Obama-Biden Transition Team to commit to the following in healing our communities.

Politics

Castro votes yes, then no, and the complex issue of city debt beats on

Posted on January 5, 2009

City Rep. Byrd noted aloud that Rep. Castro was voting for her project but against the bonds to finance it. That pointed observation led Castro to reverse her vote, and the episode provided a window through which to view the issue of city spending. Debt, investment, or a bit of both?

Smithee out, Straus in, Craddick somewhere in between

Posted on January 6, 2009

With Straus now a shoe-in, speculation is mounting in regard to the new pecking order in the House.

Shapleigh: Texas in recession by May. Here’s how to fix it...: Ten quick questions for El Paso state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh. Just press play.
New Sun Metro terminal on the agenda for Dec. 16, 2008: District 8 city Rep. Beto O'Rourke's latest newsletter contains some highlights of next week's City Council agenda. See what he picked out as key issues.
The Inner Loop: Rick Gammon strikes back: "Alright, since my name has been plastered and blasted all over the airwaves for the last 36 hours, time to clear some things up." -- Constable Rick Gammon, writing about the county turning down his request to use unmarked vehicles.
Pickett: It's down to Solomons and Craddick: The speaker candidacy of Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton (a good friend and the Austin roommate of El Paso’s District 79 Rep. Joe Pickett) is gaining momentum, after his open letter to House parliamentarian Terry Keel calling on him to quit his post on Friday.
The Inner Loop: Fund-raisers: Three fund-raisers for your holiday calendar. Go and eat some free food, and snoop on who talked to who and, more importantly for the political types, who was hitting on who and with whom did they leave (even at 11 a.m. in the morning)!
The Inner Loop: Wilson's good, but she's not funny: The mayor and City Council turned in City Manager Joyce Wilson’s Performance Evaluation for 2008, and, surprise, they all agree on one thing: Wilson needs “more humor” at work.
Cobos was in D.C., but what for?: Reyes’ office denied that the subject of Cobos' meeting with the congressman was U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton or the investigation. It was about a job. That is, if there might one for him in D.C.

Features

Media Watch: "The Mouth" silenced, but perhaps not for long

Posted on January 5, 2009

Paul Strelzin, affectionately known as "The Mouth" and a fixture in El Paso media for years, is off the air on KHRO 1150 as of Monday.

All that glitters, in a Copper Canyon mega-development

Posted on January 5, 2009

Instead of good fortune, leaders of the Raramuri community of Bacajipare allege they’ve been the target of death threats and bullets because of an escalating land conflict related to the planned Divisadero-Barrancas Adventure Park.

New Year's Resolutions: From protecting El Paso to getting that divorce, NPT's friends on Facebook have a lot to do starting tomorrow.
Media Watch: It might be the fault of Time Warner or Viacom, but we know who's going to pay: Time Warner and Viacom arguing over fees? One way or the other, consumers will pay more, and in the meantime, might miss a few shows.
Media Watch: Fans warned to stay in El Paso, and other Sun Bowl coverage: What they're writing about the game and El Paso.
Will the Border Wall Stand?: Buoyed by changes coming to Washington, border wall opponents are stepping up their lobbying of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team to ensure the fencing is halted and even reversed.
Even with advanced age, Christmas lights my fire: That little wreath with its red bulb – that was Christmas for me. That little red bulb made me glad and happy. I was home once again.
At Christmas, Cobos and crew come together: More satire, this time compliments of the Avocadoan.
Media Watch: KTSM claims HD ratings boost: A news release from KTSM touts the impact of being the first local station to broadcast in HD. Meanwhile, ABC-7 is testing DTV.

Culture

Stiff fingers on the walk Downtown

Posted on December 19, 2008

While waiting for my coffee (with a shot of espresso, just to top it off), I checked out the bulletin board. El Paso once again is in the midst of an artistic bubbling up.

Felipa's Top 10 movies of 2008

Posted on December 23, 2008

Felipa Solis recommends her top ten movies of 2008, right in time for the holidays.

LA by EP: Top 10 Albums of 2008: Sleepercar and two fistfuls of best albums of the year.
An El Paso Hero is Born: From the dusty Chihuahua desert, a unique new superhero is born: Spiralmind. The creation of two El Pasoans, Spiralmind makes his debut appearance in the first issue of the eponymous comic book series launching in January 2008.
Calendar of Events 12.18.08: Between the signings, the shopping and the shows, there is plenty do to around town this week.
Noteworthy Art at UTEP’s Union Gallery: Each artist was invited to consider the idea of the controversial border wall as a point of departure, and the results are multifaceted and full of postmodern experimentation.
LA by EP: Got "Milk"?: One of 2008’s best films is trying get to El Paso, but your help is needed to make it happen. And you should, because things like this still happen: Last week, a 31-year-old Ecuadorean immigrant was beaten to death in Brooklyn after a group of men saw him walking down the street arm-in-arm with his brother, called out anti-gay epithets, and proceeded to attack them.
Calendar of Events: 12.11.08: A full week of art, music and holiday shopping in the Sun City.
LA by EP: On Improving the City: For years by my friend—and many others like him— had just decided at one point in his youth to write off El Paso as a Podunk, dried-up hole with nothing to offer, especially in the case of an artist. I believed that once, too.

Sports

Pitt and Oregon State to come to Sun Bowl

Posted on December 8, 2008

The University of Pittsburgh has accepted an invitation to play in the 75th annual Brut Sun Bowl, according to Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas.

Fantasy football rant

Posted on December 3, 2008

Please accept my sincerest apologies for not producing a fantasy football rant during the week of Thanksgiving. I was busy organizing the Matt Cassel fan club in Boston. Obviously this was before he turned into the Britney Spears of NFL quarterbacks on Sunday.

Like two moons, tequila and football, together again: If you like football, and you like tequila, and you want to show some hometown pride, make your way to Dolphin Stadium for a game this year.
Coronado cheerleaders rock in Colorado: In cheerleading, girls may stand out individually, but everyone is needed to put up a stunt and bring it down. Spectators never see just one cheerleader on the sidelines, just like they never see one defensive tackle on the line.
Sun Bowl survival kit: Want to get to the game? Here's how. Also, rules for tailgating, where to get cash, when to stop buying beer, and so on.
State Reps file legislation for new state session: Filing bills is the easy part. What makes a difference is if and when they start moving through the process.
Charlando con la Gringa online: La gringa's chat room
EPCC Live stream: City Council meeting streamed live
Haskins Viewing, Memorial Announced: Events honoring the late Don Haskins.