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.
El Paso Aerospace Firm Partners With AI Company to Develop Drone Systems
An El Paso aerospace company is partnering with an artificial intelligence company to develop advanced flight computers for drone and anti-drone technology.
ARC Aerospace and Defense Systems of El Paso and SiMa.ai of San Jose, California, announced the partnership Thursday.
The partnership comes amid a Pentagon initiative to increase U.S. drone production and procurement and expand counter-drone defenses.
“Our mission through this partnership is to build a much-needed domestic supply chain for defense hardware and software – designed and produced in Texas – keeping the United States at the forefront of drone technology and effectiveness,” Ahsan Choudhuri, ARC Aerospace co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “By strengthening this foundation at home, we can provide our nation with the capability needed to achieve drone dominance, protect U.S. security, preserve innovation, and ensure long-term technology independence.”
Over 600 El Paso Students Awarded Private School Vouchers
More than 600 El Paso County students have been awarded state funds to pay for private or home school for the 2026-27 school year through the state’s new voucher-like Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, according to data released by the Comptroller’s Office.
The program establishes flexible education savings accounts for students to pay for tuition and school-related expenses.
Nearly half of the vouchers awarded to El Paso County students went to those in the El Paso Independent School District (300). Socorro ISD students received 135; Ysleta ISD students received 63; Canutillo ISD students received 56; and Clint ISD students received 37.
Over 42,600 Texas students have been awarded grant funding, including those who applied in the program’s top-priority tier, which includes students with disabilities living in households at or below 500%of the federal poverty level and their siblings.
More than a quarter of those students plan to attend homeschool, and 74% plan to attend a private school.
Fifty-three percent of the students awarded vouchers previously attended public school, excluding pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students, and 63% have a documented disability, the data shows.
The Comptroller’s Office plans to hold a lottery this week to determine which students in the second-priority tier will receive award notifications.
EPPD to Apply for License Plate Reader Grants Despite Flock Concerns
The El Paso Police Department will apply for grant funding for license plate readers after the City Council debated over the Flock Safety program for more than two hours Tuesday.
The department has been using about 150 automated license plate reader cameras made by Flock Safety citywide since last summer. The company has been under scrutiny for concerns about sharing data with other agencies, including federal immigration authorities.
The City Council voted 5-3 to move forward with the grant application without specifying Flock Safety as the provider of the equipment. City Reps. Alejandra Chavez, Cynthia Boyar-Trejo, Deanna Maldonado Rocha, Ivan Niño and Art Fierro voted to allow the department to move forward with the grant. City Reps. Josh Acevedo, Chris Canales and Lily Limón voted against it.
The department intends to continue using the same company.
In March, Canales and Limón led an unsuccessful effort for the city to end its use of the Flock Safety cameras for privacy concerns.
RELATED: Do El Paso area police departments utilize Flock license plate readers?
The grant application is for $693,000 with a cash match by the city of $138,000. The department may switch vendors if Flock Safety changes its terms and conditions.
Flock Safety has maintained it does not share data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any sub-agency of the Department of Homeland Security, but the data can still be used for investigations through other partnerships, according to the Immigration Policy Tracking Project.
Former El Paso Times President and Texas Media Leader Dies at 65
Lilia Castillo Jones, the only woman to serve as president of the El Paso Times, died Monday, April 27, at her home in Seguin, Texas. She was 65.
Castillo Jones served as president of the Times, the paper’s top leadership position, from 2016 to 2017. She left El Paso when Gannett, the owner of the paper, eliminated the president role as local newspapers across the country struggled with declining readership and revenue.
Before coming to El Paso, Castillo Jones served as publisher of the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen, Texas. She also held advertising sales and leadership roles at the San Antonio Express-News and Dallas Morning News for more than three decades.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 7, 2026, at St. James Catholic Church in Seguin, followed by the recitation of the rosary at 10:30 a.m. and the Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Private family interment will follow later in the Lopez Family Cemetery in the Loma Alta community near San Diego, Texas.
Survivors include her son, Ezekiel “Zeke” Edward Jones; brother, Edward Castillo Jr.; sister, Judy Castillo; niece, Zoe Allena Castillo-Ross; numerous cousins, other family members and friends.
Public Meetings on Regional Transit Plan Continue in May
A series of public meetings seeking input on long-range transportation planning in El Paso will continue in May, offering residents additional opportunities to weigh in on projects that could shape travel in the region for decades.
The El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization is gathering feedback on its Draft 2052 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. The plans outline priorities for roads, public transit, pedestrian infrastructure and other mobility needs based on projected population and economic growth.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled:
- 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 2: Sunland Park Multi-Generational Center, 4700 McNutt Road
- 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6: Rio Vista Community Center, 901 N. Rio Vista Road
- 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13: Nolan Richardson Recreation Center, 4435 Maxwell Ave.
The meetings are part of an ongoing outreach effort that began in late April.
Officials say public input will help guide decisions on future investments in transportation systems, including efforts to address congestion, safety and regional growth. Residents can review proposed projects and provide feedback at any of the remaining sessions.
UTEP, Astroscale to Collaborate on Research to Benefit Space Ecosystem
A Denver-based company created to address space sustainability plans to work with the University of Texas at El Paso Aerospace Center to enhance what it does to service orbiting satellites that benefit commercial and national security interests.
Tahara Dawkins, director of policy at Astroscale U.S., said that the initial plan is to focus on research that will solve some issues the company faces in its efforts to inspect, transport and refuel satellites to extend their lifespans, as well as to remove space debris.
Dawkins said the company, founded in 2019, plans a “slow and steady” approach to its efforts in El Paso. She said there would be no financial investment, but expected the company would spur job growth. She said it was too early to estimate the numbers.
“We’re going to kind of develop the research, see what it is, where the needs are, and then bring the jobs in,” she said before a company presentation made in UTEP’s Texas Western Hall.
Speakers talked about the importance of the Astroscale mission to keep space safe and usable by satellites that are used for everything from weather forecasts to GPS tracking. The company will work out of the city’s Innovation Factory near El Paso International Airport.
During a “fireside chat” with Dawkins, Shery Welsh, Aerospace Center executive director, said the center wanted more partnerships to integrate with companies and government.
Dawkins said that there also was no estimate of the numbers of students who would participate. The company wants to involve faculty first, but it knows the students will play a role.
“The students are incredibly motivated,” Dawkins said.
The post El Paso aerospace firm partners on drones; 600 students awarded vouchers appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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