Featured Article
Chihuahua’s Highway of Doom?
by Frontera NorteSur
In addition to 14 dead, 46 people were reported injured. Sadly, the June 29 tragedy was but the latest in a series of fatal bus accidents that have haunted the stretch of the Pan American Highway between Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City in recent years.
Posted on July 2, 2008
Top Stories
Sun Metro seeking fare increases
Posted on July 2, 2008
The agency states in a news release that rising fuel prices are the main reason for the requested increases.
Simon raises question about Sanders, Foster business ties
Posted on July 1, 2008
The Farah question gets muddier, as Simon Properties raises the issue of a potential conflict for city Rep. O'Rourke, whose father-in-law Bill Sanders sits on Fosters' Western Refining board. O'Rourke says Simon is resorting to insinuations to kill the Farah property deal.
- Budget hearings
- A schedule of budget hearings, for the five of you out there who plan to attend.
- City manager confident: No tax hike
- The proposed increase comes to $26 million, of which $10 million will go for increased staffing and salaries in the police and fire departments, $10 million is for the new city health department and $4.2 million is coming from park and recreation fees that had been held in special funds.
- Closing in on "Capital of the Border" agency
- A winning bidder for the campaign might be presented to City Council by the end of July, and although the concept has generated enthusiasm, there's still a little question.
- Goodbyes
- Comments from readers responding to the news last week about Marcus Hunt's death.
- ACLU sues DHS for release of documents related to immigrant deaths
- The ACLU sues DHS for release of documents regarding deaths of immigrants in custody. Reports of allegedly sub-standard healthcare conditions facing immigrant detainees have proliferated in recent months as the number of incarcerated immigrants has soared.
- Friends, family remember Marcus Hunt’s love, passion, commitment
- He was remembered by friends for his winning smile, generosity and intelligence. They praised him for the quality of his friendship and the love of El Paso that brought him back to the city intending to make positive difference.
Archives
Budget hearings
Posted on July 2, 2008
A schedule of budget hearings, for the five of you out there who plan to attend.
City manager confident: No tax hike
Posted on July 1, 2008
The proposed increase comes to $26 million, of which $10 million will go for increased staffing and salaries in the police and fire departments, $10 million is for the new city health department and $4.2 million is coming from park and recreation fees that had been held in special funds.
Closing in on "Capital of the Border" agency
Posted on July 1, 2008
A winning bidder for the campaign might be presented to City Council by the end of July, and although the concept has generated enthusiasm, there's still a little question.
Goodbyes
Posted on June 30, 2008
Comments from readers responding to the news last week about Marcus Hunt's death.
ACLU sues DHS for release of documents related to immigrant deaths
Posted on June 30, 2008
The ACLU sues DHS for release of documents regarding deaths of immigrants in custody. Reports of allegedly sub-standard healthcare conditions facing immigrant detainees have proliferated in recent months as the number of incarcerated immigrants has soared.
Friends, family remember Marcus Hunt’s love, passion, commitment
Posted on June 30, 2008
He was remembered by friends for his winning smile, generosity and intelligence. They praised him for the quality of his friendship and the love of El Paso that brought him back to the city intending to make positive difference.
The open space taxation blues
Posted on June 30, 2008
After two years and $24,000 in legal fees, the Frontera Land Alliance was able to convince the CAD that Resler Canyon, despite being zoned for development, should not be taxed. On Tuesday, Council will consider creation of an open space zoning category meant to prevent such issues in the future.
Border Patrol chief: Cartel war likely to last
Posted on June 28, 2008
The El Paso sector Border Patrol chief, a UTEP professor and the special agent in charge of the El Paso FBI spoke about the cartel war in Juarez and Mexico.
FBI and Customs officials to discuss cartel war at Kinley's House today
Posted on June 28, 2008
Reyes role in abduction release draws more scrutiny
Posted on June 27, 2008
The office of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes issues a statement as questions mount about his efforts on behalf of a kidnapped Mexican national in Juarez.
Lomas de Poleo lawyer killed in Chihuahua City
Posted on June 27, 2008
The lawyer working for residents of the Lomas de Poleo community in regards to their land dispute was shot and killed in Chihuahua City June 20. Police said the investigation was ongoing, they have no suspects, and the motive is unknown.
Police: No further investigation into death of Marcus Hunt
Posted on June 26, 2008
Police are waiting for a complete autopsy report, but said they do not consider the death suspicious.
Five audits at HACEP still under way
Posted on June 26, 2008
An opinion issued by the Texas Attorney General states that documents requested by Newspaper Tree from the El Paso housing authority are public record and should be released. The documents shed a little more light on the scope of the audits and investigations taking place.
Marcus Hunt autopsy complete but cause of death still pending
Posted on June 25, 2008
"It does not mean that the autopsy was inconclusive or that that the cause of death is undetermined. In order for all those test results to come in, it could be anywhere from two to three months.”
Salmonella found in tomatoes in El Paso
Posted on June 25, 2008
The first case of Salmonella related to tomatoes in El Paso County has been reported.
Farah Building proposal not dead, but Council just raised the bar
Posted on June 24, 2008
If taxpayers are going participate in the retail development of the old Farah site, then City Council doesn’t want just another mall or pretty shopping center with the same old stores but something special, unusual, innovative and new to El Paso.
Marcus Hunt, businessman and civic leader, dead at 36
Posted on June 24, 2008
Marcus Hunt, a businessman and philanthropist from one of the city's most prominent families, died Tuesday morning in La Jolla, Calif. Officials said Wednesday the cause of death remains undetermined.
Historic breakdown: Council rejects Valenzuela home in Austin Terrace
Posted on June 24, 2008
Supporting West Central Rep. Susie Byrd's recommendation siding with the landmark commission and neighbors and against the Valenzuelas were West Side Rep. Ann Lilly, East Central Rep. Emma Acosta and Eastridge/Mid-Valley Steve Ortega.
Northeast Rep. Melina Castro and East Side Rep. Rachel Quintana voted against the neighbors' appeal.
East Valley Rep. Eddie Holguin was absent from the meeting and South-West Rep. Beto O'Rourke left before the vote.
Parra to change plea in child porn case
Posted on June 23, 2008
A federal grand jury indicted Parra in early February on child pornography charges, which investigators said came up in the course of the public corruption inquiry. Parra initially pleaded not guilt to the pornography charges, but a change of lea date has been set for July 14.
Concerned Taxpayers for Recall Come Up Short -- But Just Barely
Posted on June 20, 2008
Max Smart would have held up two fingers, very close together and said, "Missed it by that much."
Providence Memorial CEO Irene Chavez leaves abruptly
Posted on June 20, 2008
Irene Chavez, 56, one of only a few women in the country to head a major hospital, was promoted to CEO from chief operating officer last August after holding that post for five years.
Recall petition drive will fail but initiative effort won’t, supporter says
Posted on June 19, 2008
Mayor John Cook will face re-election, not recall. But there still are other strategies in the works, including a potential initiative election to put the stormwater district under the control of City Council.
Another Guilty Plea in Public Corruption Case: Lobbyist Tony Dill
Posted on June 18, 2008
An El Paso lobbyist who asked not to be named predicted two weeks ago that charges against Tony Dill would not be long in coming and likened him to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pled guilty to federal charges two years ago.
Secret Government? Shapleigh Says TCEQ Attempting to Hide Collusion With Industry
Posted on June 18, 2008
On March 4, 2008, TCEQ delivered an 18-page brief to the Texas Attorney General arguing that the records are confidential. On May 16, 2008, the OAG ruled that Senator Shapleigh is entitled to the agency's records, which would show how often and with whom at the TCEQ lobbyists and lawyers from Asarco met.
Shapleigh: Use 1980s Mafia-Fighting Strategy Against Cartels
Posted on June 16, 2008
"Border communities, such as El Paso, have the most to win or lose by the right or wrong approach to border security. And, with fellow Texans, our expertise must inform the right approach,” said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, in urging officials to fight the cartels the way authorities fought the Mafia in the 1980s.
