This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Ex-Astronaut Danny Olivas Promotes Voting in El Paso
Former NASA astronaut Danny Olivas will return to his hometown of El Paso on Monday, Sept. 28, to encourage young people to vote and participate in democracy.
Olivas, who graduated from Burges High School and UTEP, is a co-founder of Astronauts for America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to science, evidence-based decision-making, public service and the rule of law.
He will take part in a moderated “fireside chat” at 11 a.m. Monday in Room 150 of the Arts, Science and Technology Building at the El Paso Community College Valle Verde Campus, 919 Hunter Drive.
Olivas’ visit is part of the Astronauts for America “Vote for Freedom” college tour, aimed at encouraging young people to register, vote and become lifelong participants in constitutional democracy.
El Paso Elections Department Receives 12,000 Voter Records from DPS
The El Paso County Elections Department received about 12,000 voter records from the Texas Department of Public Safety this week that had not been mailed out to voter registrars since 2025.
State officials said some voter registration applications and updates submitted online through the DPS driver’s license portal were never sent to county voter registrars due to an error, adding that the system issue has been resolved.
The Office of the Secretary of State, whose elections division oversees Election Code, election, voting systems and more, became aware of the problem last week. Election officials flagged that they’d noticed a surge in “older” voter registration applications coming from DPS in TEAM, the state’s voter registration system, according to the Texas Tribune.
The El Paso County Elections Department in a statement said “voters should be confident that our staff is working diligently to ensure valid voter registrations and updates submitted in a timely manner before the deadline will be processed appropriately, despite the challenges and additional processing time that this backlog has created.”
More than 530,000 people are registered to vote in El Paso County as of Thursday, according to the Elections Department website.
The last day to register to vote in the November elections is Monday, Oct. 5. Election Day is Nov. 3, with early voting set for Oct. 19-30.
To verify your voter registration status and ensure your information is up to date, visit epcountyvotestx.gov or call 915-273-3597.
Socorro ISD Conservatorship Officially Ends After Two Years
Conservators have been removed from overseeing the Socorro Independent School District after meeting the state’s requirements, the Texas Education Agency announced Wednesday.
The TEA appointed conservators Andrew Kim and Michael Hinojosa in spring 2024 to oversee the district after a state audit found it had incorrectly graduated students and had significant governance, financial and operational issues.
Under the conservators’ watch, the SISD board hired James Vasquez as its permanent superintendent, laid off employees and cut programs to balance the budget. The board also established monitoring systems to prevent improper graduation and other academic compliance issues.
“TEA’s decision recognizes the hard work Team SISD has done to address challenges, strengthen systems, and build a stronger foundation for the future,” Vasquez said in a statement. “We are proud of the progress made, and we remain committed to continuing this work with discipline, transparency, and a focus on student success.”
Kim attended his last SISD board meeting in March, and Hinojosa attended his in June.
“I appreciate our partnership and collaboration with SISD’s Board of Trustees and staff in addressing longstanding challenges and the district’s commitment to sustained compliance moving forward,” Kim said in a statement. “Through newly established systems in budgeting, procurement and governance, SISD will be able to restore public confidence and better support its mission of serving students, families and its community.”
City Breaks Ground on Montwood Extension Project
The city broke ground Wednesday on the $18.2 million Montwood Drive extension in far East El Paso.
The 1.3-mile road extension from Shreya Street to Rich Beem Boulevard is funded by the $272 million voter-approved 2022 Community Progress Bond. The work includes a four-lane divided roadway with medians, curb and gutter, 12-foot shared use paths on either side, street illumination, traffic signals, landscaping and a storm sewer system.
El Paso Water will also install water and sanitary sewer systems along the entire 1.4 mile corridor connecting two existing dead ends at Shreya and Rich Beam while the construction is underway.
The city approved the contract Sept. 1 with International Eagle Enterprises Inc.
Construction is anticipated to be complete by spring 2028.
The city anticipates issuing $70 million from the Community Progress Bond that included park, street and climate action plan initiatives this fiscal year. About $39 million will be allocated for street projects in 2027. The city has spent about $21 million on street improvements through the bond program since 2023.
Work has been completed throughout the city including at Sunland Park Drive, Lee Treviño Drive, Shadow Mountain Road, Yarbrough Drive, Railroad Drive, Geronimo Drive and Schuster Avenue.
Ex-DACC Official on Team to Study Path to 3-Year Bachelor’s Degree
An educator with Borderland ties is among the 13 members of a statewide working group that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott created to develop a framework for three-year bachelor’s degrees.
Rigoberto J. Rincones Gómez, vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at Lone Star College, will bring his expertise in student success, workforce readiness and academic innovation to this team. Lone Star is based in The Woodlands, about 30 miles north of Houston.
Rincones’ prior assignment was as vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at New Mexico State University’s Doña Ana Community College.
The group will meet in person Sept. 30 at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s headquarters in Austin. Subsequent monthly meetings will be conducted virtually until the group delivers its report to Abbott at the end of December.
The governor said in a Sept. 16 press release that he wants the report to include recommendations about academic standards and requirements for three-year degrees, the most appropriate degree plans for high-demand occupations, and the necessary administrative and regulatory changes for statewide implementation.
The committee consists of faculty and administrators from two-year and four-year institutions and higher education systems across the state. The members have experience in instruction, administration, accreditation and workforce education.
Rincones has been a professor, researcher and administrator at two- and four-year public and private institutions for almost 30 years. He has a familiarity with accreditation and data strategic planning as well as a background as a scholar and administrator.
He said his main focus will be how the new model will work for students whose lives do not fit neatly into a traditional four-year degree.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the students,” he said during a phone interview.
In early March, the Commission on Colleges and Universities, formerly known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, said it would consider degree plans with reduced credit hours. The Commission oversees many higher education institutions in Texas.
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