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.
UTEP’s $162.3M in Annual Research Expenditures Breaks Record
The University of Texas at El Paso set a record $162.3 million in annual research expenditures for fiscal year 2025, beating last year’s record of $158 million.
In a Tuesday news release, the university said the information was part of the National Science Foundation’s annual Higher Education Research and Development Survey. It was coordinated by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. The center released the information in late December.
Most of the university’s research during this period, which concluded Aug. 31, was concentrated in three areas: biomedical health sciences; advanced manufacturing and materials and industrial systems; and artificial intelligence, and cyber and data systems engineering.
Research expenditures are divided among direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include salaries for researchers and graduate assistants, and lab supplies that can be connected to a project. Indirect costs include utilities, research administration and expenses that cannot be easily tied to a single project.
Ahmad Itani, UTEP’s vice president of Research and Innovation, said the university keeps a strategic focus on research areas where it can make a unique contribution.
“Our growth in research capacity creates opportunities for students, drives economic development and positions UTEP as a leader in addressing complex societal challenges,” Itani said.
The news release stated that $73 million of the expenditures came from federal agencies. Some of the agencies and the amounts are the NSF, $22 million; Department of Health and Human Services, $17 million; Department of Defense, $16 million; and Department of Energy, $8 million. NASA, the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies provided additional funds.
Former Fabens ISD Employee Uses District Credit Card at Local Casino
A former Fabens Independent School District employee was found to have used the district’s credit card to give themselves about $41,000 in cash advances over several months, which they spent at a local casino.
The former employee, who has not been named by the district, allegedly rerouted the credit card statement to their district email and doctored it to remove records of the charges, said Nathan White, a presenter from the governmental audit firm Singleton Clark, during a Jan. 21 board meeting.
White said the charges were made between September 2024 and June 2025.
District leaders discovered the charges before the audit was conducted and “took immediate and appropriate action, and the employee separated from the district,” Fabens ISD media specialist Sofia Maciel said in a statement.
“Since that time, the district has implemented additional internal controls and safeguards to further strengthen financial accountability and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” Maciel said.
Maciel did not say if the district plans to take legal action against the former employee or if the misused funds were recovered, but noted there is an active investigation and the district will continue to work with law enforcement authorities.
Temporary City Tax Office Opens at Central Appraisal District
Homeowners looking for another place to pay their property tax bills can do so at a temporary office set up by the city at the El Paso Central Appraisal District, 5801 Trowbridge Drive through Feb. 2. Property taxes are due Jan. 31.
The office will be staffed by city tax office staff who will accept in-person payments. Staff members will accept money orders, personal or cashier’s checks, and cash. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Property owners must have their tax bills and only tax payments for the current year will be accepted at the temporary location.
READ MORE: How to navigate paying your tax bill
Other payment options are still available for those who do not want to pay their bills in person, including online, by phone and by mail.
To pay online, visit the city Tax Office website to search your property and pay your bill. Credit cards, debit cards or e-checks are acceptable forms of payment for this option.
Call 915-212-0106 and follow prompts to pay your tax bill by phone. Credit cards, debit cards and e-checks are acceptable forms of payment over the phone.
Sending the payment by mail is also available, but in order to avoid penalties the envelope must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 30. Mail personal checks, cashier’s checks or money orders to the city of El Paso Tax Office P.O. Box 2992, El Paso, TX 79999-2992.
Those interested in making payment plans can do so beginning Feb. 3 by contacting the city Tax Office at 915-212-0106.
City Offers Free Diabetes Screening
The city of El Paso Department of Public Health is offering free A1C tests in February to screen for diabetes. The A1C test measures average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, which can help identify prediabetes or diabetes. The test can also indicate how well a patient’s current diabetes treatment is working.
More than 15% of the population in El Paso live with diabetes, according to the El Paso Center for Diabetes. The health department will help those diagnosed with prediabetes make lifestyle changes to prevent development of type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed with diabetes can develop a management plan with their primary care physician.
Unmanaged diabetes can lead to life-threatening conditions from heart disease to kidney failure to death.
The health department recommends the screening for adults ages 45 and older and anyone with risk factors for diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists risk factors for diabetes that include obesity, having a parent or sibling with diabetes, low physical activity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and a history of gestational diabetes.
Diabetes screenings are available every Tuesday in February from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for people ages 18 and older.
- Feb. 3: Chamizal Community Center, 2119 Cypress Ave.
- Feb. 10: Galatzan Recreation Center, 650 Wallenberg Drive
- Feb. 17: Marty Robbins Recreation Center, 11620 Vista del Sol Drive
- Feb. 24: Rae Gilmore Recreation Center, 8501 Diana Drive
The post UTEP sets research expenditure record, Fabens ISD audit uncovers credit card misuse appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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