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.
EPCC Offers Free Narcan to Students, Employees
El Paso Community College students and employees will have free access to Narcan nasal spray as of Aug. 1 at its five campuses, the college’s Office of Emergency Management announced this week. The medicine will be given with no questions asked.
The FDA-approved drug can reverse the life-threatening effects of overdoses from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and morphine. Last year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration stated that chemical-based drugs such as fentanyl have created the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis the U.S. has ever faced.
According to a report from the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner, of the 75 deaths from a single drug in 2022, 18 involved fentanyl and three involved heroin. The report also included that of the 94 deaths that involved multiple drugs, 62 incorporated fentanyl and 15 included heroin.
Hector Padilla, EPCC Emergency Management director, acknowledged the community’s serious opioid crisis, and encouraged people to educate themselves on opioid use and how to use Narcan.
The medication is available at Valle Verde’s Writing Center, Mission del Paso’s Tutoring Center, and the libraries at the Northwest, Transmountain and Rio Grande campuses, as well as the Rio Grande Border Health Clinic, 1001 El Paso St.
From top left: El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino, Climate and Sustainability Officer Nicole Alderete-Ferrini, Deputy City Manager Dionne Mack and Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas have been named finalists for El Paso city manager.
Meet-and-Greets with El Paso City Manager Finalists
The city of El Paso is hosting a series of meet-and-greet events with the four city manager finalists, all of whom are top city employees: Robert Cortinas, chief financial officer; Mario D’Agostino, deputy city manager for public safety; Nicole Ferrini, community and human development director; and Dionne Mack, deputy city manager for quality of life.
The meetings are as follows:
5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, Nolan Richardson Recreation Center, 4435 Maxwell Drive
5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza
5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, The Beast Urban Park, 13501 Jason Crandall Drive
5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 12, Sylvia A. Carreon Recreation Center, 709 Lomita Drive
Residents will be able to individually meet each of the candidates at any of the four events. A short bilingual survey will allow them to provide feedback on their experience with each candidate.
The finalists will also later meet with a Citizen Advisory Committee Panel and a Community Leaders/Stakeholders Panel before they interview with the mayor and city representatives behind closed doors (executive session) during a special City Council meeting Monday, Aug. 19.
The future of the Downtown arena project at the current site in the Duranguito neighborhood will be discussed during a City Council meeting Jan. 3, 2023. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)
The city-owned Sun Metro property that houses Union Depot in Downtown El Paso is being considering as the future site of an amphitheater complex. (Cindy Ramirez/El Paso Matters)
City Council Introduces Ordinance on Downtown Arena
The City Council Tuesday introduced an ordinance calling for a special election to allow voters to decide whether to revoke the bonds for the long embattled Downtown arena. It’s the first of a two-step process required to put the proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot.
City Reps. Brian Kennedy, Art Fierro, Chris Canales, Joe Molinar and Henry Rivera voted in favor of the item. City Reps. Cassandra Hernandez, Isabel Salcido and Josh Acevedo voted against.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held Aug. 13, when the council will officially vote whether to put the item on the ballot.
The proposal will ask voters if they are “for” or “against” canceling “the city’s authority to issue the remaining $128,455,636 in general obligation bonds for the multipurpose performing arts and entertainment facility to be located in Downtown El Paso, which was approved by the voters in the city’s November 6, 2012 election, resulting in the revocation of the bonds.”
Also Tuesday, the council approved calling a Nov. 5 general election for the seats of mayor and city representatives in Districts 2, 3, 4 and 7, as well as five municipal court judges and a municipal court of appeals judge. The city also called for a special election to fill the unexpired term of District 1 currently filled by Kennedy to be held in conjunction with the Nov. 5 general election. Kennedy resigned to run when he officially entered the mayoral race July 11. A holdover provision allows him to remain on the council until his successor is sworn into office in January 2025.
A miner’s pick welcomes visitors to the University of Texas at El Paso. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)
New UTEP Grant Benefits Migrant Farm Worker Students
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that it awarded a five-year, $2.3 million grant to the University of Texas at El Paso’s High School Equivalency Program, which supports migrant and seasonal farm workers who want to earn a GED.
This year’s program enrolled 55 students ages 17 and older from far West Texas and Southern New Mexico. They will participate in rigorous equivalency courses during a 12-week period at several sites to include UTEP. Students also could take classes virtually or at locations near their homes.
The initiative will provide participants with financial and transportation assistance, necessary materials to include books, tutorial and other support, career orientation sessions, and guidance on how to enroll in college.
In a UTEP release, Norma Chacon, the program’s director, said participants are used to moving around so instructors often split courses and classes, and supply remote materials to keep students on task.
Additionally, the release states that the program has enrolled more than 3,000 students since its inception 52 years ago, and has a graduation rate of 70%.
El Paso Chamber Hosts Women in Business Conference
The El Paso Chamber is hosting the “Spill the Tea: A Celebration of Tradition & Legacy” Women in Business Conference at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center Downtown. The event will feature speakers, panel sessions and networking opportunities. The keynote speaker will be Laura Mc Gee, CEO and founder of Diversio, a platform that measures, tracks and aims to improve diversity, equity and inclusion through AI technology. She will discuss “Empowering Change: AI-Driven Inclusivity and Women’s Leadership in the Global Tech Landscape.” KVIA Channel 7 news anchor Stephanie Valle will serve as the master of ceremonies. Information and registration: epcwibconference.com.
The post EPCC offers free Narcan to students; meet city manager finalists at meet-and-greets appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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