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.
Friday is Last Day of Early Voting in Primary Runoff Elections
The last day of early voting for the primary runoff elections is Friday, May 22. Voters can cast early ballots at any of the 38 polling sites in El Paso County. Hours vary.
As of Wednesday, 2% of voters had cast early ballots for the runoffs following a record turnout during the March primaries. In 2024, 3.2% of voters cast early ballots in the primary runoffs that included district attorney, sheriff and state representative races. Overall, 5% of voters cast ballots in those elections.
On this year’s local runoff ballot, Republican voters will decide between Manuel Barraza and Adam Bauman for the GOP nomination for El Paso’s 16th Congressional district. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Veronica Escobar in November.
On the local Democratic ballot, voters will decide between Frances Maldonado and Christina Montes for judge of County Court at Law No. 2; and between Bernando Cruz and Enrique Holguin for judge of the 168th District Court.
Five justice of the peace seats are also on the Democratic ballot.
None of the Democratic candidates face GOP opposition in November.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day on Tuesday, May 26. Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county.
Follow elpasomatters.org on Election Day for results.
El Paso County Jails to Work With ICE Under State Requirement
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will apply for grant funding through Senate Bill 8 that requires sheriffs in large Texas counties to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The law, which took effect in January, requires Texas counties to apply for grant funding for one of three programs with varying levels of cooperation with ICE. The county has until December to apply for up to $120,000 in grant funds that will pay for personnel, jail housing, training and equipment.
The Sheriff’s Office will opt for the jail enforcement model that allows local jail staff to help with certain immigration enforcement duties, such as serving immigration warrants to people already in custody, said Chief Emmanuel Soria during a presentation at the Commissioners Court meeting Monday.
“(It’s) the least intrusive based on the immigration aspect of it,” Soria said, adding it is similar to what the Sheriff’s Office is already required to do.
The other two options for participation are the jail enforcement model that would require detention officers to identify immigration violators in custody and place them into immigration proceedings at time of their release, or the task force model that would require deputies to engage in immigration enforcement while out in the field.
The Sheriff’s Office could be sued by the state if the county does not apply for the funding by the Dec. 1 compliance deadline.
Part of the compliance requirements are that the county must request the funds annually if ICE declines the grant application, the grant funding must be used within two years and a compliance report must be submitted every April of even years and will be enforced by the Texas Attorney General.
Annunciation House to Host Voice of the Voiceless Awards
Annunciation House, a network of migrant shelters in the Borderland, will honor three El Paso community members with its Voice of the Voiceless Awards on Saturday. The awards honor “who have demonstrated exceptional courage, advocacy, and commitment to justice in the border region,” the nonprofit said in a news release.
This year’s honorees include:
- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar — Voice of the Voiceless
- Bishop Mark J. Seitz — Teacher of Justice
- Cristina Coronado — Witness on the Border
The awards dinner begins at 5 p.m. at St. John Paul II Catholic Church’s Amistad Hall, 518 Gallagher St., with a program titled “The Path from Violation to Voice.” Dinner will follow from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The event returns after a six-year hiatus, organizers said.
Tickets are $60. The venue is weapons-free and attendees may be subject to bag checks. Clear bags are encouraged.
Rooted in Catholic teaching, Annunciation House since 1978 has advocated for dignity, justice and compassion at the border while offering hospitality to migrants.
Information: Voice of the Voiceless
UT Regents OK UTEP Special Events, Deferred Maintenance Requests
The increase in big-time shows at University of Texas at El Paso venues led the institution to request the University of Texas System Board of Regents transfer $5 million from the Road Show and Special Events Revenue to the group’s maintenance and operations budget.
The regents approved the request as part of its consent agenda during its quarterly meeting Thursday in Austin.
Jorge Vazquez, executive director of the UTEP Office of Special Events, did not respond to a question about the reasons behind the application. Vazquez’s office oversees the Don Haskins Center, Sun Bowl Stadium and Magoffin Auditorium.
A UTEP spokeswoman sent a statement that the request was made in anticipation of increased revenue over the original fiscal year 2026 budget related to auxiliary activities.
“For institutions that have an annual budget between $250 million and $1 billion, UT System rules require budget adjustments greater than $5 million be approved by the Board of Regents,” the statement read.
The Sun Bowl Stadium has hosted two successful high-profile acts in the past year. Coldplay and BTS performed at two sold-out shows in June 2025 and May 2026, respectively. The stadium is scheduled to host Latin star Karol G in September and Usher and Chris Brown in October.
At the same meeting, regents amended their Capital Improvement Program to unlock more than $118 million of Permanent University Fund Bond Proceeds to address deferred maintenance in education and general facilities at UTEP.
Stanley Joshua, assistant vice president of facilities management, did not respond to several questions about how the money would be used.
A UTEP spokeswoman sent an email response that the board had allocated those resources during its August 2025 meeting. At the time, a UTEP news release stated the funds would be used for “life and safety concerns, upgrades to high-value research facilities, restoration of building exteriors and core mechanical systems.” It also included that the university’s main maintenance concerns were roofing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC issues.
During an August 2024 regents’ meeting, UTEP President Heather Wilson presented the university’s master plan, which included a mention of deferred maintenance. She said staff evaluated every campus building and determined that the institution faced $341 million in deferred maintenance. This was before the demolition of several structures to include the Liberal Arts and Academic Advising Center buildings.
“We didn’t get into this problem overnight,” she told the regents at the time. “We’re not going to get out of this problem overnight.”
Eastwood Wins Region 19 Girls Flag Football Title, Advances to State
Eastwood High School captured the Region 19 girls flag football championship Wednesday night, earning a berth in Texas’ inaugural high school girls flag football state tournament.
The Troopers won two games during the final day of the tournament at the Socorro Independent School District Student Activities Complex II to claim the regional crown. Eastwood first defeated defending Region 19 champion Americas High School 12-6 in the Houston Texans bracket championship game, ending the Trailblazers’ bid for a repeat title.
In the Dallas Cowboys bracket championship, El Dorado High School shut out Parkland High School 14-0 to advance to the title game. The Aztecs then faced Eastwood in the regional championship, where the Troopers pulled away for a 26-0 victory.
Eastwood’s win sends the program to the inaugural girls flag football state championship, scheduled June 14-15 at the University of North Texas in Denton. El Dorado also qualifies by virtue of its berth in the regional title game.
READ MORE: El Paso girls flag football players chase titles while Texas weighs the sport’s future
The state championship event is a recent development. The Cowboys and Texans announced joint sponsorship of the event in April, creating a first-of-its-kind statewide championship as momentum continues building around girls flag football in Texas.
While the sport has expanded rapidly in the El Paso area and other parts of Texas, it has not yet received official sanctioning from the University Interscholastic League, which governs interscholastic competition in the state. Last year, UIL opted to continue studying participation trends and long-term sustainability rather than immediately adding girls flag football as an officially sanctioned sport.
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