Newspaper Tree

NPT Wednesday Brief: Bob Jones and the feds; city asks police, fire unions to stall pay raises; Planned Parenthood: Critics glad, ideas for money; troops on the border?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Lomas de Poleo: ‘Ongoing low intensity war’

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El Paso-centric info and commentary from the Center of North America on the NPT blog:

-- County ethics issue not over; hearing today on Escobar, Cobos complaints

-- City budget meeting schedule (for Lisa Turner and the other person who attends)

-- Shapleigh, Quintanilla, and the Socorro party continues at the Capitol

-- El Paso sweats, but not as much as Phoenix

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From our friends over at ABC-7, The Joe Battle traffic battle

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Go to the NPT home page for new stories that are not included in this newsletter. Also, check regularly for updates and new stories, as well as videos, polls, and our extensive archives.

Opinion

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

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.

Posted on July 1, 2009 • read more »

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

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

Posted on July 1, 2009 • read more »

News

Critics see Planned Parenthood closure as reason for hope
by Lisa Degliantoni

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

Posted on July 1, 2009 • read more »

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

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.

Posted on July 1, 2009 • read more »

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

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.

Posted on June 30, 2009 • read more »

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

"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.

Posted on June 30, 2009 • read more »