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.
Café Piro Named Among Best Chef Finalists in James Beard Awards
The owners and chefs of Café Piro, a food truck turned restaurant in Socorro, have been named finalists for Best Chef: Texas in the 2026 James Beard Awards – regarded as one of the nation’s highest culinary honors.
Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla opened the eatery at 9993 Socorro Road in 2023, naming it after Gabe’s ancestors: the Piro Tribe, which established villages in Socorro. Café Piro features a menu that honors the Piro heritage and serves as a cultural and artistic space.
The Padillas entered the culinary world with a food truck named Casa del Humo before opening for their brick-and-mortar restaurant.
The couple now heads to Chicago in June for the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony. Four other restaurants are finalists for the award in the Texas region.
Café Piro and two other El Paso area chefs – Andrés Pablos from Accá and Danny Calleros from Ardovino’s Desert Crossing – were nominated as semifinalists for the award in January. Taconeta was named a semifinalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category.
City Opens New Community Health Clinic in Central El Paso
The Department of Public Health opened its fifth community health clinic at the Medical Center of the Americas at 4240 Alameda Ave. in Central El Paso.
The $9 million project, funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant, is expected to serve about 10,000 people a year, according to a city news release.
The 10,500-square-foot facility offers programs including HIV prevention, sexual health services and tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Veerinder Taneja, public health director, in the news release said community clinics are “vital components of our department, addressing one of the community’s greatest needs — access to care. These clinics provide preventative screenings and ensure individuals receive necessary medical treatment.”
Tierra del Este Trail Now Open on Far Eastside
The Tierra del Este Trail in far East El Paso is now open to the public. The $1.1 million trail begins at Holly Springs Linear Park, 14541 Holly Springs Ave.
The new 1-mile, 11-foot wide trail, which connects to existing trails along Rich Beem Boulevard and John Hayes Street, features pedestrian and bicycle paths, mile markers, collapsible bollards, ADA ramps and dog waste stations.
The city held a ribbon cutting Thursday for the project, which was funded by the city’s quality of life bond approved by voters in 2012.
The completion of the trail comes after the City Council last summer voted to cancel other planned trails and transfer funds into the Tierra del Este Trail.
Two other trails are in the works, including the $860,000 Mountain to River Trails System and the $1.7 million Montana to I-10 Paved Trail.
Sun City Lights Coming to Lower Valley’s Pueblo Viejo Park
Pueblo Viejo Park, at 233 N. Zaragoza Road in the Lower Valley, will be the site of the city’s next Sun City Lights installation. The program aims to identify and enhance iconic city corridors with lights, public art and signage.
The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a $667,000 construction contract for Keystone Contractors and Engineers for decorative lighting features, a pavilion, benches, new landscaping and a rock wall monument sign in the theme of folklorico dresses. The total project budget is about $1.2 million.
Construction will begin this spring and is expected to be completed by fall.
“The image of a folklorico skirt dancing through that area with this illumination is going to be just very beautiful,” said city Rep. Lily Limón, whose district the park is located within. “It is certainly in a very strategic area.”
Sylvia Carreon, president of the Mission Valley Civic Association, said during the City Council meeting she supports the project but not the location because it faces the least populated area around the park.
“Everything is beautiful. It’s just the location where they’re going to put it. I hate to say I don’t think it’ll be a waste of money, but I don’t see how many people will actually get to visit this area,” Carreon said.
The project was planned for Zaragoza Road and Texas State Highway 20, but the city could not get approval to build along Alameda Avenue, which is part of the state highway.
The city has completed several other Sun City Lights projects since the program was launched in May 2016, including Kern Place on Cincinnati Avenue and Paseo de Las Luces at the Paso del Norte Bridge.
Information: Elev8ElPaso
EPCC Replaces César Chávez Day with Institutional Holiday This Year
El Paso Community College students and employees were given Thursday, April 2, off this year to take the place of the scheduled observance of César Chávez Day on March 31.
The EPCC Board of Trustees voted 6-0 during its monthly meeting March 30 in the college’s Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Blvd. Board Chairman Brian Haggerty was absent for the vote taken after a one-hour executive session.
The change was a result of the March 18 directive by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to not celebrate the Chávez holiday due to reports of misconduct by the late labor leader who died in 1993. The Texas Legislature designated March 31, Chávez’s birthday, as a state holiday in 2000.
SEE ALSO: Borderland reassesses César Chávez legacy amid abuse allegations
Carmen Olivas Graham made the motion to change the off day to maintain the college’s same number of holidays for the 2025-26 academic year. She later added that the date only applied to this year.
The college already had scheduled Friday, April 3, as an institutional holiday. There will be no classes or student services on either day. Classes will resume Saturday, April 4, and college offices will reopen Monday, April 6.
At the same meeting, the board voted 6-0 to approve lower tuition prices by up to $50 for about 20 courses in EPCC’s Children’s College. These classes are for students ages 3-16. The institution hopes that the lower prices will increase enrollment in the courses in art, cooking, language, athletics, and dog obedience.
The courses are meant to be fun, build skills and introduce children to a college-going culture. Prices will range from $48 to $95.
The new prices will go into effect this summer, said Blayne Primozich, associate vice president of Workforce and Continuing Education.
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