11 a.m.: This story has been updated to include that the St. Louis Encephalitis virus has been diagnosed in El Paso.
This is your Friday update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.
Border Patrol Sector Chief Headed to Rio Grande Valley: U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector Chief Gloria Chavez will be the new border patrol chief for the Rio Grande Valley Sector, the agency announced this week. Chavez, who is from Brownsville, said it has always been her goal to lead the Rio Grande Valley sector, which is her home. Chavez has 27 years of border security and law enforcement experience. She was assigned to the El Paso Sector in the summer of 2019 as the interim chief. She became the permanent border patrol sector chief a year later. Her first day in South Texas will be on Oct. 9. Her El Paso replacement has not been named.
William Beaumont Medical Center Bus Connection: Sun Metro is now providing direct bus service to the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center in far East El Paso. The service began Aug. 31 and provides weekday service by appointment or specific routes. "At Sun Metro, we value El Paso's active military and veteran community," said Ellen Smyth, chief transit and field operations officer for the city of El Paso. Sun Metro customers may visit www.SunMetro.net or call the Customer Service Center at (915) 212-3333 during regular business hours to learn more about the new service to the military hospital. LIFT customers should call (915) 212-0100.
Register to Vote Concert: Austin Texas Musicians and Arching Dog Productions are gathering in El Paso this weekend to host "Músicos Unidos Para Votar," a free concert as part of a statewide effort to get people to register to vote. The free concert will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lowbrow Palace, 1006 Texas Ave. With one of the lowest voter registration rates in Texas, the El Paso region is primed to make a huge impact in November's gubernatorial race, organizers said. This event is free with either proof of voter registration or by registering to vote on site.
St. Louis Encephalitis Virus in El Paso: El Paso confirmed mosquitoes carrying the St. Louis Encephalitis virus were found in the 79925 and 79907 ZIP codes. The city also reported multiple cases of West Nile virus in the past month. While most people infected with either virus don't show symptoms, people over the age of 60 and who have certain underlying health conditions are at the highest risk of serious illness. The city is asking residents to report areas of standing water and mosquito breeding by calling (915) 212-6000.
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