Latest news with #RenardJohnson
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Party's over: El Paso's Memorial Day holiday ends with dozens of DWI arrests
El Paso law enforcement arrested 42 people suspected of drunken driving over the Memorial Day weekend, authorities said. El Paso Police Department officers, El Paso County Sheriff's Office deputies, El Paso Constables and Texas Department of Public Safety state troopers stepped up patrols looking for drunken drivers over the holiday weekend. Law enforcement officers arrested 38 people on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and four minors for driving under the influence between Friday, May 23, to Monday, May 26, authorities said. The arrests came after El Paso city officials and law enforcement held a news conference Tuesday, May 13, announcing the increased patrols targeting drunken drivers. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said "enough is enough," when he announced the crack down. Here is a breakdown of the arrests: 12 driving while intoxicated arrests 1 minor driving under the influence arrest 1 minor in possession of alcohol arrest 4 possession of a controlled substance/marijuana arrests 9 outstanding warrant arrests 72 traffic citations issued 10 driving while intoxicated arrests 1 minor driving under the influence arrest 6 outstanding warrant arrests 70 traffic citations issued 8 driving while intoxicated arrests 1 possession of a controlled substance/marijuana arrest 1 criminal mischief arrest 4 outstanding warrant arrests 21 traffic citations issued 8 driving while intoxicated arrests 2 minor driving under the influence arrests 4 possession of a controlled substance/marijuana arrests 30 traffic citations issued Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@ or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso's Memorial Day holiday ends with 42 drunken driving arrests
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mayor, others fight back against DWI heading into holiday weekend
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson joined with other local elected officials, law enforcement and community advocates on Monday, May 19 to bring attention to the rising toll of drunk driving in the El Paso region. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has launched a multi-agency DWI Task Force to help fight back against the scourge of drunk driving. The Sheriff's Office said it made 48 arrests in one recent two-day period. 48 arrests made by DWI Task Force over 2 days in El Paso County The coordinated effort, through the task force, brought together law enforcement from every municipality in El Paso County, including the El Paso Police Department, along with Texas State troopers and constables, the Sheriff's Office said. In 2024, the City of El Paso recorded 1,337 DWI offenses, averaging more than 25 per week, the Mayor's Office said. 'Drunk driving is not a city problem or a county problem – it's a community emergency that demands a united front,' Johnson said. 'The data is alarming, and the human cost is unacceptable. I'm proud to stand with leaders across the Borderplex to say: Enough is enough. We're calling not only on those who drink and drive, but also on those who see it happening to step in, speak up, and stop it. You could save a life.' Johnson was joined by County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso Chief of Police Peter Pacillas, El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, District Attorney James Montoya, City of Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz, Jr., City of Socorro Chief of Police Robert Rojas and Brig. Gen. Rory Crooks, deputy commanding general of operations for the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss. The group was also joined by Lupe Hernandez Lucero, founder of SoberStreets Movement, who lost her child in a DWI crash. 'It is almost impossible to express the anguish a parent feels when they lose a child,' Hernandez Lucero said. 'But when that child is taken by an incident that is completely preventable, you have no choice but to speak out and advocate so that no other parents undergo the same loss. My hope is that people will become more responsible for themselves, their friends, and their family members — whoever they are drinking with — and take a stand against driving while intoxicated. It is never OK and there is never a reason.' 'Driving while intoxicated is a threat to the safety of our community, and while enforcement remains a critical tool, we recognize that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem,' said Pacillas, El Paso Police chief. 'Real change will come through prevention, education, and strong community partnerships. Our commitment is to stop impaired driving before it starts — because every life lost to a preventable tragedy is one too many.' 'I'm incredibly proud of our sheriff for collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to reduce the number of individuals driving under the influence. As a mental health professional, I've witnessed firsthand the devastating impact a DWI-related death can have on a family. At the same time, the long-term consequences of a DWI conviction — such as challenges in obtaining scholarships or employment — are equally profound,' said Samiengo, the county judge. 'Every DWI is a choice that puts lives at risk. I'm grateful to our law enforcement agencies for partnering with us as we spearhead DWI enforcement efforts across El Paso County,' said Ugarte, who launched the DWI Task Force. 'We're sending a clear message: if you drive drunk, you will be arrested.' 'It's not a crime to partake in adult beverages. It's what someone chooses to do after they become intoxicated,' said Montoya, the district attorney. 'Drinking and driving is a choice, and it can lead to fatal consequences. My office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to hold those who choose to drive drunk accountable.' The El Paso Police Department's and El Paso County Sheriff's DWI Task Forces will continue to operate on high alert throughout the holiday weekend and will take steps to fully prosecute anyone found to be driving while intoxicated, the Mayor's Office said in its news release. The City of El Paso and the El Paso Police Department urge all residents to take an active role in preventing drunk driving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City introduces international nonstop flight to Chihuahua, Mexico
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso introduced an international nonstop route to Chihuahua, Mexico, on Tuesday, April 29. The City says this marks the first nonstop commercial flight to a Mexican destination in over a decade, 'underscoring the City's ongoing commitment to expanding international air service for our community.' The flight is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026, and the flight will 'enhance El Paso International Airport's current offerings, which include international charter, cargo, and general aviation flights,' the City said. 'El Paso has long prioritized re-establishing direct commercial air service to Mexico,' El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said. 'This new route not only strengthens the enduring business and cultural connections between El Paso and Chihuahua but also brings us closer to the people, families, and opportunities on both sides of the border.' TAR Mexico will be the carrier for this route, the City said. Tony Nevarez, director of El Paso International Airport, said: 'Today is a momentous occasion for both our airport and the community. International connectivity is essential to our region's economic vitality, and we're thrilled to welcome TAR Mexico as a partner in delivering on our strategic vision.' To learn more about this flight, click here: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City adopts ‘international' agenda to improve relations, spur trade
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has adopted what it is calling its first 'International Policy Agenda,' the City said in a news release on Monday, April 14. This historic policy provides 'a strategic framework to guide binational collaboration, attract foreign direct investment, and modernize critical City-owned infrastructure, including international bridges and trade corridors,' the City said. 'El Paso is a global gateway, and this agenda formalizes our commitment to leading on issues that matter across borders — from economic growth and infrastructure to public health and climate resilience,' Mayor Renard Johnson said. 'With more than $145 billion in annual trade flowing through El Paso and over 1.4 million monthly pedestrian and vehicle crossings, the International Policy Agenda positions the City to better manage growth, promote safety, and enhance competitiveness on a global scale.' The agenda outlines three core goals, according to the City: Strengthening international partnerships with Ciudad Juárez, the State of Chihuahua, and the Government of Mexico through joint trade missions, shared programming, and data-driven collaboration; Improving border infrastructure for trade and mobility, including feasibility studies and modernization projects for the Ysleta-Zaragoza, Paso del Norte, and Stanton ports of entry— many of which are City-owned assets; and Facilitating trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) through incentive programs, site readiness efforts, and targeted prospecting with regional business organizations. 'El Paso's international assets are key to our long-term success,' City Manager Dionne Mack said. 'This agenda ensures we are not only maximizing the value of our City-owned infrastructure, but also taking concrete steps — like coordinating trade missions, developing shared FDI strategies, and advancing port modernization plans — that will drive economic opportunity for generations to come.' For more information, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UTEP opens manufacturing, aerospace center
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The University of Texas at El Paso opened its new $80 million Advanced Manufacturing and Aerospace Center on Friday, April 11. The AMAC building was dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than 300 people, including El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, the University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife and UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken. Here are what some attendees said: 'In the 29 laboratories housed in this building, our faculty and students will advance discovery and drive innovation that contributes to our national defense and economic growth,' UTEP President Heather Wilson said. 'We are grateful for the investment from UT System and the Board of Regents in the future of our students and our community.' 'The Board of Regents and the whole UT System are deeply committed to the success of UTEP,' Eltife said. 'AMAC is just one of the many long-term investments we have made in UTEP and in El Paso, and we look forward to continuing this strong support.' 'UTEP is a national leader in aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing,' Milliken said. 'This new building is just a small part of UT System's commitment to UTEP excellence and growing El Paso's role in both the advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries.' 'UTEP is a critical partner in providing both the research innovation and top-tier engineering workforce needed to grow El Paso's economic frontiers,' Johnson said. 'The AMAC further solidifies El Paso's emerging leadership in advanced manufacturing and bolsters the region as a significant aerospace hub.' The AMAC building will house UTEP's Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, both part of UTEP's College of Engineering. The Keck Center contains 'one of the world's most comprehensive collections of additive manufacturing equipment in an academic setting, with more than 70 state-of-the-art advanced 3D printers,' UTEP said in its news release. The Keck Center has ongoing research and development projects with more than 100 industry partners and 10 federal agencies, including the Army and Air Force Research Labs, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. The Aerospace Center has conducted 'pioneering research' with NASA, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies in areas like propulsion, unmanned aerial vehicles, spacecraft design and the fusion of artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced materials science to accelerate discoveries for space, defense and industry, UTEP said. The AMAC building was funded by the UT System Board of Regents and construction began with a ground-breaking ceremony in the fall of 2022. The Bhutanese-style building was designed by architectural firm Ayers Saint Gross and built by Sundt Construction in collaboration with UTEP's Planning and Construction Department. Fifty UTEP alumni were among the more than 1,000 people involved in the construction effort. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
