This is your Friday update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.

A Unique Program for El Paso Expats: Former El Pasoans who have moved to other communities are invited to apply for El Paso Everywhere, a three-day conference meant to reconnect expats with the people and projects transforming the region. The conference starts Sept. 15 (also known as 915 Day) and continues through Sept. 18. It will include visits to sites in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and Southern New Mexico. The two previous El Paso Everywhere classes had 18 to 24 participants. El Paso Everywhere is a project of Progress 321, a group that brings emerging leaders together with established trailblazers in the region. The conference is free to attend, but participants are expected to pay a $150 membership fee in Progress 321. More information on applying for the conference is available here.

Back-to-School Event: The Moms on Board nonprofit will have a back-to-school event Saturday at Ascarate Park. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon and features free school supplies, haircuts and COVID-19 vaccines for students. There will be a free school uniform swap and the first 400 families will get free backpacks. Students also can get a sports physical from Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare resident physicians. Monday is the first day of classes for the Clint Independent School District. Students in the El Paso, Socorro, Ysleta and Canutillo independent school districts start the new school year on Aug. 1.

El Paso Water Hauler Fine: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality commissioners on Wednesday approved the state agency’s settlement with El Paso Water for safety violations within its water haulers. The settlement, reached in October 2021, requires the utility to pay $7,728 in fines for outstanding violations first found in its water haulers in September 2020. The original fine totaled $9,660, but the agency deferred $1,932 on the condition the utility fixed the issues.