Good morning, El Paso.

The Diocese of El Paso will hold its annual Blue Mass today at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church on Pebble Hills Blvd in East El Paso to honor first responders with prayers for their safety, and Bishop Mark J.

Seitz will be available for questions after the service.

Ranchers cheered when 101 black steers crossed the border on Sept.

24 after a 16 month pause due to screwworm concerns. Mexican officials & Texas cattle feeders said new health protocols supported the reopening as 430 cattle marked the first day of resumed trade.

Former NASA astronaut Danny Olivas visited EPCC on Monday at its Valle Verde Campus to encourage students to vote during a fireside chat and discussion with student leaders (Astronauts For America) as part of the VOTE FOR FREEDOM initiative.

Socorro ISD will place Proposition A on the November ballot to raise $49 million for school funding; if approved, homeowners with properties valued at $250k will see their bills increase by about $10 monthly, and the funds will support staff, programs, and district improvements.

Socorro opened emergency evacuation shelters at three sites today at 3 p.m. MST amid heavy rain, and the local fire department has five water rescue crews ready to assist residents if conditions worsen.

El Paso County Public Works is offering free sandbags to rural residents available 24 hours at Road and Bridge Warehouse sites in Montana Vista (14698 Van Lane), Fabens (1331 N Fabens Street) and Canutillo (191 Canutillo Avenue); residents may take up to five free bags per household.

Two administrative law judges recommended that the Public Utility Commission approve the $551.8M power plant for Meta’s data center as long as customers are protected during a five-year bridge period — final approval could allow construction near Northeast to start, taking about 10 months.

El Paso Water announced that the sandbag site at Blackie Chesher Park (9292 Escobar Drive) opened at noon Monday and stayed open until 8 p.m. Officials required a valid ID, did not accept repeat customers, and reminded residents to load sandbags into their vehicles.

During health inspections from Sept.

14–18, two local Mexican restaurants received failing scores. The Rose Garden Restaurant scored 61 on Sept. 16 and Emilianos Pizza and Mexican Food scored 60 on Sept. 17, and both must fix violations to avoid closure.

UTEP Athletics received a $29.1 million gift from GECU on Sept.

28 to improve the Don Haskins Center and boost student-athlete recruitment — the arena will be renamed GECU Arena for 15 years. The donation is the largest ever for UTEP Athletics and the second largest in university history.