Newspaper Tree

Mexico's major election: Congress, state and local governments

Frontera NorteSur — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:27:58 -0600

Predictions abound of massive voter abstention, record protest voting and a victory by the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The election is Sunday (July 5, 2009).

Adventure at Mercado Mayapan con Fernie y los chapulines

David Crowder — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:12:20 -0600

My old friend and political combatant Fernie “The Attorney” Chacon called me last week with an invitation to join him at Mercado Mayapan for a plate of chapulines.

Tax free weekend misses the mark

Tim Holt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:26:05 -0600

Save for calculators, it looks like anything that has to do with digital learning is pretty much left out of the list. Surely Rick Perry wants parents to buy computers and other digital devices for their school kids. I wonder why technology is lacking from the TFW?

Reporting 101: Did I let a great scoop on Planned Parenthood get away?

Lisa Degliantoni — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:10:14 -0600

NPT smelled something wrong when Planned Parenthood abruptly announced its closure. We're digging, and we got a little nibble of something, but we're not there yet.

Bob Jones cries in pleading guilty to 6 counts; plea agreement puts 10-year cap on prison sentence

David Crowder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:43:02 -0600

El Paso’s former entrepreneur of the year, Robert E. “Bob” Jones, pleaded guilty in federal court today to six charges at a hearing that went according to script except for two surprises.

The Lion's Den: Political potpourri

Jaime Abeytia — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:38:31 -0600

I think Alfrank Catucci is right, more of the business of government should be decided over a couple of cold ones. There's less argument that way.

So Planned Parenthood closed. What's the back-up plan?

Vanessa Torres — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:21:54 -0600

Forgive my doubt—I’m sure everyone means well, but you know what they say about the road to hell. As it stands, all I’ve seen is a boiler plate letter that essentially says ‘sorry, we’re broke, not our problem anymore’ and a little back slapping for ‘running the abortionists out of town’.

Public Corruption 101: The archives

NPT Staff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:43:20 -0600

Get up to speed on the players and issues with NPT archives and other sources: Stories, primary documents and some reading about public corruption cases elsewhere to provide a little context.

Calendar of Events: 7.1.09

compiled Cassandra Yardeni — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:49:45 -0600

A selection of events in the next few days and beyond. For complete listings, check our calendar.

A Bob Jones guilty plea serves justice only if it leads investigators to Washington

David Crowder — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:22:20 -0600

Last month, we learned that Bob Jones was negotiating a guilty plea. It would save the government much time and money, but it could also mean the complete story -- including complicity or incompetence of federal agencies -- behind the biggest single scandal in El Paso’s history will go untold.

Bob Jones to plead guilty to new offenses and charges in last year's indictment

David Crowder — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:20:53 -0600

The former CEO of El Paso’s National Center for Employment of the Disabled, Robert E. “Bob” Jones, is scheduled to plead guilty to new and old charges at a hearing in federal court Thursday.

El Paso legislators can cough up cash to keep at least one Planned Parenthood clinic open

David Karlsruher — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:41:39 -0600

Make sure you contact your legislators (our delegation is flush with cash) and ask them how they can help save Planned Parenthood.

Critics see Planned Parenthood closure as reason for hope

Lisa Degliantoni — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:10:31 -0600

As El Paso loses all its Planned Parenthood clinics, its critics think the closures announced Friday are a trend in the right direction.

Avalan antiabortistas cierre de clínicas de Planned Parenthood

Lisa Degliantoni — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:03:30 -0600

Mientras El Paso pierde seis clínicas de Planned Parenthood, algunos grupos, de corte antiabortista, consideran que el cierre marca una tendencia en la dirección correcta.

Se quedan un mes sin lotería porque jugaban ¡con pennies!

David Crowder — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:19:31 -0600

La lotería —el tradicional juego mexicano— ha vuelto al Centro para Adultos Mayores Grandview ahora que el gobierno de la Ciudad retiró la prohibición que fue impuesta en mayo al juego similar “bingo” que se practica con monedas de un centavo, los famosos “pennies”, debido a que lo consideró ilegal el Departamento de Parques y Recreación.

Proposed 2010 city budget down 1 percent from taxes, fines, fees, and 2.3 percent overall

David Crowder — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:20:10 -0600

The proposed El Paso city budget for fiscal 2010 starting Sept. 1 shows a $3.6 million or 1.13 percent decrease in spending from last year’s $315.8 million in local taxes, fines and fees.

City asks police and fire unions to postpone Sept. 1 salary increases

David Crowder — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:33:17 -0600

El Paso police and firefighters will be asked to temporarily forego their pay raises in the next fiscal year to help the city balance a budget that will continue to take beating in the national recession.

The Lion's Den: A not-so-polarized community. Go Bulldogs!

Jaime Abeytia — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:12:01 -0600

Once again, baseball bought adversaries together, even if it was only for one night. It showed that it is possible to get our community leaders to pull or push in the same direction. Funny how kids have a way of teaching us things, isn't it?

Troops on the U.S. border? The proposal is little more than political salve, says Border Network for Human Rights director.

Sito Negron — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:45:33 -0600

"We have people who are entitled to be respected and protected and yes, the Constitution also applies to the border. That is something they don’t want to recognize." -- Fernando Garcia, executive director, Border Network for Human Rights.

Banned as gambling, penny Loteria is on again at Grandview center

David Crowder — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:31:26 -0600

Loteria’s back at the Grandview Senior Citizen’s Center now that City Hall has lifted a ban imposed in May on the bingo-like game played with pennies because the Parks and Recreation Department thought it was illegal.

Open letter to Planned Parenthood patients

from Planned Parenthood Center of El Paso, Inc. — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:07:38 -0600

The fiscal and administrative strain of providing high-quality health care under our current business structure and during this difficult economic time has become more than the organization can sustain.

Luther Jones' defense attacks indictment, wants to see search warrant affidavit and meet with witnesses

David Crowder — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:31:15 -0600

A routine hearing today in the federal corruption case against former El Paso County Judge Luther Jones and District Clerk Gilbert Sanchez followed a busy week of motions and counter motions pertaining to Jones in what is likely to be a difficult case for the government.

Biz Briefs 6.29.09: Non Profit Connection

Compiled NPT Staff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:26:31 -0600

Business briefs sent to NPT, posted in chronological order as they come in. Send your news to NPT@epmediagroup.com.

Yes, we're still here at www.NewspaperTree.com

Sito Negron — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:05:43 -0600

While the episode was embarrassing, and we took and are taking a well-deserved mocking, it is also inspiring. So many of you contacted us with various levels of concern, anger, sarcasm, and curiosity. Love us or hate us, you want your NPT!

Police Blotter 6.29.09; Child drowns; bank robbery; Socorro capital murder suspect still at large

Compiled NPT Staff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:22:21 -0600

News and notes from El Paso-area law enforcement, updated as they come in, with most recent on top. Pictured: Murder suspect Ricardo Zuniga, and drugs from CBP bust.