Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why one Chamizal elementary school matters more than ever now
Coming up: Christmas Eve Services at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John on the El Paso Patch calendar
Coffee in hand, El Paso? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why one Chamizal elementary school matters more than ever now
- Why UMC El Paso’s CEO is getting nearly $1.5 million
- How El Pasoans can get free winter care for community cats
Also on today's calendar: Christmas Eve Services at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in El Pasofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in El Pasofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 74 and low of 46 degrees.
- Wednesday: Variable cloudiness, temps: high: 73, low: 50.
- Thursday: Times of sun and clouds, with a high of 78 and low of 49 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. EPISD's Douglass Elementary state rating turnaround highlights gains, gaps in school accountability (elpasomatters.org) — Families in South-Central El Paso are seeing big changes at Douglass Elementary, which improved its state accountability rating even as it absorbed students from closed EPISD campuses like Zavala. The story details test-score gains, ongoing achievement gaps, parent concerns about staffing and safety, and how future enrollment from renovated Ruben Salazar Apartments could further reshape the last remaining elementary school in the Chamizal neighborhood. 
2. UMC El Paso CEO Cintron to collect nearly $1.5 million after pay raise, bonus (elpasotimes.com) — University Medical Center of El Paso’s CEO Jacob Cintron just received a 14% raise and large bonus, bringing his compensation close to $1.5 million. The UMC board says his pay reflects hospital growth, new clinics, and voter-approved bond projects, even as the public hospital relies partly on local tax dollars. Comparisons with other Texas public hospital CEOs show similar high executive pay trends.
3. Mutt Monday: El Paso Animal Services accepting more cats in TNR program (ktsm.com) — El Paso Animal Services is opening more appointments for its free Trap Neuter Return program, giving residents a way to help manage community cats this winter. Local cat caretakers can schedule online, bring in outdoor cats for surgery and vaccines, then return them to their neighborhoods. The agency says expanding TNR now helps control kitten season before it begins.
4. El Paso adjusts holiday trash and recycling schedule (kfoxtv.com) — Holiday trash and recycling schedules are changing in El Paso, so residents whose gray bin pickups fall on Dec. 25-26 or Jan. 1-2 will instead see collection on the following Saturdays. Blue recycling bins will skip those make-up days, while the Greater El Paso Landfill and Citizen Collection Stations close for the holidays and reopen Jan. 3. Residents can also drop off live trees and cooking oil for free at collection stations.
5. Quintana sworn in for another term as Vinton mayor (ktsm.com) — Rachel Quintana has been sworn in for a second term as mayor of the Village of Vinton, just outside El Paso, and is pushing ahead on two big quality-of-life projects. The village is working to turn land near City Hall into a park and community center and to finally pave long-rough Quejette Road.
📸 Around El Paso
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in El Paso
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Christmas Eve Services at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John
Cathedral of St John, 318 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque
8:00 pm
Wednesday December 24
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- VALENTINO KHAN - 360 Set Experience @ 11:11 in El Paso, TX // Saturday 12.27.25 // 18+
11:11 EP TX , 9740 Dyer St , El Paso
8:00 pm - Last Sunday Hike - Schaeffer Shuffle
West Cottonwood Spring Trailhead , 2900 Tom Mays Access Road , El Paso
8:30 am - First Day Hike - Mundy's Gap
Franklin Mountains State Park FranklinMountainsStatePark Map&Directions
9:00 am - First Day Hike - Upper Sunset & Tom Mays Trails
Franklin Mountains State Park FranklinMountainsStatePark Map&Directions
10:00 am - Lantern-lit Mine Tour
Franklin Mountains State Park FranklinMountainsStatePark Map&Directions
8:30 am - Prospect Mine Tour
Franklin Mountains State Park FranklinMountainsStatePark Map&Directions
11:00 am
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Thursday January 1
Sunday January 4
📣 El Paso Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in El Paso, TX
Regus - El Paso - Wells Fargo Plaza , Wells Fargo Plaza , 221 N Kansas St Suite 700 , El Paso
9:00 am - (BID) Businesses in Development Academy – Get Government Contracts 101
Chayo Apodaca Community Center , 341 N Moon Rd , Socorro
10:00 am - Story Time & New Parent Support
Mickelsen Community Library , 2 Sheridan Rd , Fort Bliss
9:00 am - Bird Tour: Christmas Bird Count
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site HuecoTanksStatePark&HistoricSite Map&Directions
8:00 am - High Tea at The Dome Bar
Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection , 10 Henry Trost Ct , El Paso
11:00 am - Jesús Trejo Comedy
The Garrison , 420 E San Antonio Ave , El Paso
7:30 pm
Tuesday December 23
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Did anyone lose a puppy?
we are currently holding onto him. a nice couple found him wondering the street a little while ago and we are trying to help find his owners. No… (Nextdoor Americas) - We found our baby!
I just want to say THANK YOU for being such a great community for pet owners 🩷🩷🩷 (Nextdoor Sun Ridge North)
- TradeJobsWorkforce posted a job opening for British Airways Baggage Handler in El Paso. Apply here.
- Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. posted a job opening for Produce Clerk in El Paso. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near El Paso here.
Ok El Paso! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.