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Few details divulged after Sun Metro hub explosion; Measles outbreak reported in West Texas [1]
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Date: 2025-02-14
This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Details Lacking in Sun Metro Maintenance Hub Explosion, Fire
El Paso city leaders Thursday declined to share details about the origin of a major explosion and fire that broke out Tuesday at a Sun Metro maintenance facility on Montana Avenue east of El Paso International Airport.
The cause of the fire will be under investigation for “a couple weeks,” El Paso Fire Chief Jonathan Killings said.
During a Thursday afternoon news conference at the site, Killings also said the city would not comment on the status of the eight Sun Metro employees who were injured in the explosion and subsequent blaze. Five Sun Metro maintenance workers were taken to a hospital, and two of them – employees German Garcia and Anthony Ortiz – were transported to receive burn care in Phoenix, according to GoFundMe pages for both men.
Sun Metro altered bus routes after the fire, and it remained unclear Thursday when buses would return to full operation. Riders can learn about the bus route changes on Sun Metro’s website.
“We have to assess the situation, make sure we have maintenance facilities and maintenance personnel and the other resources ready to put those buses on the street,” said Anthony DeKeyzer, the city’s director of mass transit. “In the near future, we’re going to continue to increase services until we can get back to full service.”
Killings said there were “a number of mixed chemicals” inside the maintenance hub during the fire, but strong winds Tuesday dispersed hazardous emissions from the blaze into the open desert air adjacent to the Sun Metro facility. Downwind evacuations were unnecessary, Killings said.
The El Paso Department of Public Health on El Paso Drive, Feb. 5, 2025. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)
Measles Outbreak Reported in West Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in rural Gaines County, about 250 miles east of El Paso. As of Feb. 11, 24 cases were identified within two weeks with some requiring hospitalization. All the cases, mostly children, were unvaccinated.
A community needs a vaccination rate of 95% to prevent measles from spreading, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the 2023-24 school year, El Paso County kindergarteners had a measles-mumps-rubella vaccination rate of 96%, according to state data. By comparison, only 82% of Gaines County kindergarteners were vaccinated for measles – among the lowest rates in Texas.
The measles cases in Gaines County are the first reported in more than 20 years, according to the South Plains Public Health District. Houston and Lubbock health officials also reported measles cases in January, the Texas Tribune reported.
El Paso’s last measles outbreak was in 2019, the El Paso Times reported. The six people were infected with measles linked to an outbreak earlier that year in New York City’s Orthodox Jewish communities, which tend to have low vaccine coverage.
Measles is a contagious respiratory virus that spreads like the flu. It can be serious, and even fatal, for children.
The two-dose MMR vaccine is one of seven vaccines required for Texas students beginning in kindergarten, though families may request an exemption. Statewide, vaccination rates have fallen for Texas kindergarteners and have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
In El Paso, the schools with the highest percentage of students with vaccine exemptions were Jesus Chapel School, a private Christian school, and Vista del Futuro Charter School. Both are located on the Eastside.
Though uncommon, some children may have a medical condition that prevents them from receiving certain vaccines. Herd immunity – when the majority of a population is immune – can protect vulnerable people who can’t get the vaccine.
El Paso’s community clinics offer immunization for children. Visit the El Paso Department of Public Health’s website for more information on measles.
UTEP, EPCC Report Year-over-Year Bump in Spring Semester Enrollment
The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College reported increases in their spring 2025 enrollment compared with last year.
UTEP said its 23,861 students is a record and represents a 5% increase from last year. Additionally, the university said that it also saw bumps of anywhere from 4% to 12% in enrollment of undergraduates, and new undergraduates and graduate students.
The institution said one of the main reasons for the bigger numbers is undergraduate persistence, which reached a record 89%.
EPCC announced that its spring 2025 student enrollment went up 5% from last year, and that included increases in the number of first-time college students as well as students in dual-credit, early college and PTECH (Pathways in Technology) programs.
The college reported 23,820 students this semester compared with 22,755 a year ago. This was the third straight increase in spring enrollment, and it eclipsed the 22,922 students who attended when the COVID pandemic lockdown started in March 2021.
Fabens, Clint ISD Teachers Receive Milken Educator Award
Two teachers from the Fabens and Clint school districts have been recognized for their work and dedication to their students with the Milken Educator Award and a $25,000 cash prize.
Joshua Marmolejo, an automotive teacher at Clint High School, and Nancy Chavira, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Johanna O’Donnell Intermediate School in Fabens, were surprised Feb. 7 with the award in front of a crowd of students at their respective schools.
Joshua Marmolejo, an automotive teacher at Clint High School, received the Milken Educator Award in February 2025. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation) Nancy Chavira, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Johanna O’Donnell Intermediate School in Fabens, received the Milken Educator Award in February 2025. (Courtesy Milken Family Foundation)
Marmolejo helped create the first automotive technology program at Clint High School, where students can obtain certifications or associate’s degrees, along with their high school diploma. He is a member of the school’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School advisory committee, the homecoming planning team, and participates in community and administrative meetings.
Chavira teaches in a 50/50 dual-language classroom where students learn in both English and Spanish. She is also the school’s yearbook coordinator, is a science fair committee member, and has taught during fall and summer intersessions.
The Milken Educators Awards has recognized over 3,000 teachers since it was founded in 1987 and has been considered the “Oscars of Teaching.”
Award recipients have spent their cash prize however they choose. In the past recipients have used it to pay for their children’s college, to go back to school to continue their education, to finance field trips, establish scholarships and adopt children.
The honorees will be able to attend the Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April and get mentorship opportunities with other senior award recipients.
Chair of City Financial Audit and Oversight Committee Appointed
City Rep. Josh Acevedo will serve as the next chair of the city’s Financial Audit and Oversight Committee.
Josh Acevedo.
The city’s Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon will report directly to Acevedo and the committee before making recommendations to the City Council. The FOAC is made up of the chief internal auditor, the city manager and four members of the City Council approved by the council.
The new members of the FOAC are city Reps. Alejandra Chavez, Ivan Niño, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha and Acevedo along with City Manager Dionne Mack. Members serve one-year terms and meetings are held at least quarterly. The FOAC elected Acevedo as chair during its Wednesday meeting. It is Acevedo’s second term on the FOAC.
Former city Rep. Brian Kennedy previously served as chair of the FOAC after spearheading an effort to change the reporting structure of the board in the May 2023 City Charter amendment election.
The change approved by voters removed oversight by the city manager directly to the chair of the board and City Council. The FOAC serves as an advisory board that then reports recommendations and audit findings to the City Council for possible policy changes.
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https://elpasomatters.org/2025/02/14/el-paso-news-sun-metro-fire-measles-outbreak-milken-awards-fabens-clint/
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