Child advocates have seen changes in the ways cases of abuse have been reported to authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the majority of children haven’t returned to schools for in-person learning — ...
After months of waiting for an appointment and a 45 minute bus ride, Verenice De La Mora received the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine at the Border Agricultural Workers Center on March 12. “I was ...
El Paso will receive its largest shipment ever of first dose COVID-19 vaccines this week. The increase in vaccine availability comes as new infections continue to be near the lowest levels in months, though still ...
By JC Navarrete/KVIA-ABC 7 The area once referred to as the “Golden Horseshoe” district in downtown El Paso is now marred by uncertainty brought on by policies meant to slow the spread of the pandemic. ...
By Sara Sanchez/El Paso Inc. Here on the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso’s informal economy, made up of workers who cross to the United States every day to do everything from cut lawns to work in ...
When COVID-19 reached the Southwest last March, library systems faced multiple challenges. The impact on Texas and New Mexico libraries has varied when it comes to budget cuts, furloughs and the level of services provided. ...
National polling has shown that Republicans express far more hesitancy than Democrats on whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost half of the people who support former President Donald Trump say they won’t get vaccinated. ...
El Paso continues its encouraging COVID-19 trends, with new cases, hospitalizations and deaths all in decline. On Saturday, El Paso reported 88 new COVID-19 infections, the first time we’ve been below 100 new daily cases ...
By Viridiana Solano/Univision 26 Many family activities and traditions changed with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such is the case of the Solano family, who gathers every Sunday in front of the computer to ...
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniela would cross the border every day from her home in Ciudad Juárez to attend the University of Texas at El Paso. “It was a normal crossing. I only had to ...
As the spouse of a nurse who works with COVID-19 patients, Ricardo “Richie” Sanchez is frank in his summary of this year. “Extremely stressful, excruciatingly stressful at times,” he said, but also “very humbling and ...
A year after the U.S. border was closed to all non-essential travel, the pandemic has underscored an informal economy that many fronterizos prefer not to talk about even as they struggle to adapt to a ...
When Mexico’s president traveled to the White House last summer, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar urged President Donald Trump to put discussion of a binational coronavirus response plan at the top of the agenda. But that ...
El Paso County recorded just over 1,000 new weekly COVID-19 cases this past week, the lowest number in six months. More than 110,000 El Pasoans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Most coronavirus trends remain ...
By Rocío Gallegos, Verónica Martínez, Gabriela Minjares/La Verdad Land crossing restrictions imposed by the United States on its border with Mexico by COVID-19 disrupted the dynamics of students, tourists, buyers, formal and informal workers, and ...
Before COVID-19 reached the Borderland and El Pasoans’ lives were turned upside down, mental health providers began anticipating what the pandemic’s impacts for the community could be. El Paso mental health experts braced for how ...
One year ago, I remember telling my friends that this all seemed like a science-fiction film. It’s hard enough for us to comprehend the loss of one person. It’s nearly impossible to understand the loss ...
Nathaly Gonzalez crosses from El Paso to Ciudad Juárez a couple times a week. She brings groceries to her grandparents — they prefer the bulk foods sold on the U.S. side. She visits her brother ...
Nearly a third of El Pasoans surveyed have coronavirus antibodies, according to preliminary study results released Monday — the highest rate of the six parts of the state studied. Twenty-nine percent of residents surveyed in ...
By Lauren Villagran/El Paso Times Ricardo Samaniego keeps a cartoon on his desk of four people in a sinking boat. Two are frantically scooping out buckets of water on one side, while the other two kick ...
On March 13, 2020, the first confirmed COVID-19 case in El Paso was reported. Two days later, the first case was found in Ciudad Juárez. On March 21, 2020, the United States and Mexico agreed ...
A unique binational news collaboration will begin publishing stories this week about significant issues facing El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. The partnership, called Puente News Collaborative, will begin with a two-week series of stories that ...
Javier Gutierrez, 48, was discharged from El Paso’s University Medical Center on Wednesday, 133 days after being admitted for treatment of COVID-19. He is going to a rehabilitation hospital initially before heading home. His wife, ...
By Marissa Martinez/Texas Tribune Texas’ statewide mask mandate has ended as of March 10. Businesses are also now allowed to operate at full capacity as long as the hospitals in their region haven’t been treating ...
By James Revels When COVID-19 arrived last year, the previous administration had no plans to combat it, because they ignored scientific warnings and advice. As a result, the nation struggled to combat this deadly virus. ...
As members of the Medina family walk through their shuttered auto body shop in Central El Paso, the memories come flooding back. For 41 years, the Medina family owned and operated Superior Body and Paint ...
El Paso hit a series of COVID-19 milestones — both encouraging and tragic — in the week that Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he was ending most COVID-19 restrictions in the state. The number of ...
On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced a near-complete reopening of the Texas economy. Looking at the COVID-19 data and analyzing the risks and benefits, I disagree with this position. Just as we are a month ...
By Patrick Svitek/Texas Tribune Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he is ending Texas’ statewide mask mandate next week and will allowall businesses to operate at full capacity. “It is now time to open Texas 100%,” Abbott ...
Binational News Partnership
The Puente News Collaborative is: La Verdad in Ciudad Juárez; and ABC 7, El Paso Inc., El Paso Matters, El Paso Times, Univision 26, KTEP public radio and Borderzine.com as part of the multimedia journalism program at UT El Paso.
Pandemic at the border: Indepth reporting that looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the resulting restrictions on border crossings has affected life in our region this year.
2021 School Board Election info
The first day of early voting for the 2021 EPISD and SISD school board elections is April 19. Election day is May 1. We have you covered with info on how to vote and answers from the candidates
Borderland Coronavirus Updates
Become a Supporting Member
El Paso needs a nonprofit, member-supported digital news organization that dives into the complex issues shaping our region – and serves as a catalyst for solutions-oriented conversations. You can help by becoming a member of El Paso Matters today.
To donate, go to epcf.org/epmatters.
Tips, Submissions
Do you have a story tip you’d like El Paso Matters to pursue? A press release you’d like to share? A commentary you’d like us to publish? Send your ideas or submissions to news@elpasomatters.org.
This past week proved that El Paso has not escaped the COVID-19 crisis. The number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths increased over the past week, even as more El Pasoans were vaccinated against the ...