Latest news with #ElPasoCountyCommissionersCourt
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
County bans sale, use of some fireworks in unincorporated areas for July Fourth
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted on Monday, June 9 to prohibit the sale and use of some fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the County for the July Fourth season. County commissioners voted to prohibit the sale and use of fireworks classified as 'skyrockets with sticks' and 'missiles with fins,' commonly known as 'sticks and fins,' in the unincorporated areas of El Paso County. Unincorporated areas include parts of the County that are outside city limits and are not governed by municipal governments such as those of El Paso, Socorro, Horizon City, or San Elizario. El Paso County commissioners to look at possibly banning some types of fireworks 'This targeted restriction was adopted as a precautionary measure in response to ongoing extremely dry conditions across the region. According to the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), El Paso County has reached a level of 710, which indicates elevated fire risk and meets the threshold for implementing restrictions,' the Countuy said. County officials said this is not a blanket ban on fireworks. Many types of legal fireworks remain permitted, allowing residents to continue celebrating the holiday with family and friends – safely and responsibly. 'The (Commissioners) Court acknowledges that these decisions can impact local small businesses that rely on seasonal fireworks sales, and the decision to implement restrictions was not made lightly. County officials stressed that public safety remains the top priority, but they remain mindful of the challenges that small business owners face during this critical sales period,' the County said in its news release. The Commissioners Court urges residents and vendors to exercise caution and good judgment during the Fourth of July season, emphasizing that personal responsibility is key to preventing dangerous fire incidents and protecting the community, the County said in its news release. 'This includes keeping our neighborhoods free of debris and trash that may accumulate during the 4th of July festivities,' the County said in its news release. The legal fireworks sale period is June 24 through midnight on July Fourth. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County creates arts committee, pilot program in each precinct
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved during its meeting on Monday, May 5 the formation of an arts committe and pilot arts program for each precinct. The County is also taking steps to move forward with creating an arts master plan. County Commissioner David Stout's office made the announcement. 'Arts are critical for a healthy community. We have amazing creative talent in El Paso. The County is here to engage with them and support their efforts,' Stout said in a news release. 'Especially in a community that doesn't have a lot of capital investment from outside, public art is an efficient, cost-effective way to invest in ourselves.' Stout's office said there are several benefits to having a public art program — improving local sentiment and supporting tourism and travel to the area. A 2017 study by America for the Arts said that El Paso sees an annual $103.4 million economic impact from the arts and the arts supports the equivalent of 4,000 jobs. The impact produces millions of dollars in combined revenue for restaurants, bars, hotels and motels, transportation and government, Stout's office said. The El Paso County Arts Advisory Committee is being established as a pilot committee to provide advice to the County Commissioners Court and the County's chief Administrator to advance and enrich the arts and cultural activities and policies within El Paso County. This includes developing and implementing an arts master plan, Stout's office said. El Paso County was put aside at least $100,000 for the arts master plan and $55,000 for each precinct and $55,000 countywide for arts programming, Stout's office said. Monday, the County contracted with the El Paso Community Foundation to manage the arts programming. Further, the County is procuring an agreement for an arts master plan, which the arts committee will have a role in developing, Stout's office said. 'This action today is the result of discussions that began during Covid, when the arts became essential for people who were staying home and staying safe, but artists themselves were not able to work publicly,' Stout said. 'I am proud of our administration for developing policy to address both the economic and community development aspect of public art, and grateful to the Court for ongoing support and for the vote today.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Countywide polling program backed by El Paso County commissioners
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved a resolution on Monday, March 24 supporting the continuation of the Countywide Polling Place Program. This program allows voters to cast their ballots, similar to early voting, at any voting center on Election Day. 'Vote centers have been popular among El Paso County voters since first used in the November 2020 Presidential Election,' said Lisa Wise, El Paso County elections administrator. 'El Paso County voters have come to rely on the convenience and choice that the Countywide Polling Place Program offers. In our most recent Presidential Election, 60% of voters who voted on Election Day chose to vote outside their precinct. That's an increase from 27% in the November 2020 Presidential Election,' Wise added. The program also allows voters with disabilities to cast their ballots at a vote center that best suits their needs, the County said in ints news release. The resolution further supports the use of electronic pollbooks, emphasizing that eliminating them would limit transparency and hinder the ability for voters, parties, and candidates to perform their own audits and reconciliation during elections, the County Elections Department said. 'The El Paso County Commissioners Court supports the continued use of countywide polling places and electronic pollbooks, recognizing their importance in making voting more accessible, secure, and efficient for all residents,' the resolution states. 'It would be devastating if the program were discontinued, creating mass confusion across the County. Our office has received positive feedback since the introduction of the program, and voters love the convenience of voting at a location of their choice, whether it's located near their place of employment, favorite shopping spot or their home,' Wise added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
El Paso County joins legal battle against Trump's push to end birthright citizenship
El Paso County joins legal battle against Trump's push to end birthright citizenship El Paso County is joining the fight against President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal immigration status. The El Paso County Commissioners Court approved on Monday, Jan. 27, filing the suit, which argues that Trump's order — entitled "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship" — violates the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. and subject to its jurisdiction, and conflicts with the Immigration and Nationality Act. 'This executive order is a direct challenge to constitutional principles that have defined who we are as a nation,' El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez said in a statement Wednesday, Jan. 29. 'Joining this legal fight is essential to protect the rights of children in our community and to ensure no family faces unjust barriers to opportunity.' Trump announced his order on birthright citizenship on the first day of his second term and immediately faced pushback. The following day, 18 states filed suit, and within the week, a federal judge blocked the order. For Sanchez, the order's implications could be dire. 'This order threatens to deprive vulnerable children of healthcare, food assistance, and other basic needs,' Sanchez said. 'It also risks creating a permanent underclass in our society, harming education outcomes, public health, and local economies. This is something we cannot allow to happen." More: Inauguration Day on Texas border: Despair, delight as President Trump moves to stop mass migration Trump's order, however, if allowed to stand, would become effective 30 days after it was signed on Jan. 20 and only affect people born after that date. The order effectively makes new exceptions for birthright citizenship to include the following: A person whose mother "was unlawfully present in the United States" and whose "father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth;" A person whose "mother's presence in the United States at the time of said person's birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting the United States under a Visa Waiver Program or on a student, work, or tourist visa)" and whose "father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth." The suit calls for a nationwide injunction to stop the order. 'Protecting our community means fighting against policies that undermine fairness and equality,' Sanchez said. 'We will continue to stand firm in our commitment to justice and to the well-being of El Paso families.' Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@
