MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in El Paso, TX

Water scarcity, health disparities, other issues will foster AI collaboration between researchers, public and private sector.

EL PASO, Texas (April 23, 2025) – The University of Texas at El Paso has launched the AI Institute for Community-Engaged Research (AI-ICER), an interdisciplinary think tank designed to leverage artificial intelligence technologies to address pressing regional and national challenges. The institute was established with funding from The University of Texas System Regents' Research Excellence Program.

UTEP has launched the AI Institute for Community-Engaged Research (AI-ICER), an interdisciplinary think tank designed to leverage artificial intelligence technologies to address pressing regional and national challenges. The institute’s leadership includes (from left to right): Salamah Salamah, Ph.D., UTEP associate vice president for scientific computing and artificial intelligence; Thenral Mangadu, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., associate vice president for interdisciplinary research; Ann Gates, Ph.D., senior advisor to the provost for strategic STEM initiatives; Amar Gupta, Ph.D., research scientist at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory; Natalia Villanueva Rosales, Ph.D., UTEP associate professor of computer science; and Olac Fuentes, Ph.D., professor of computer science.

"This institute positions UTEP as a leader in responsible AI research while strengthening our mission as a community-engaged institution," said Ahmad M. Itani, Ph.D., UTEP vice president for research. "By integrating AI expertise with our existing research strengths, we're creating pathways for our students to develop skills that will be invaluable in tomorrow's workforce while simultaneously addressing the unique challenges facing our border region."

Led by Ann Gates, Ph.D., AI-ICER brings together approximately 30 faculty members from across all University departments. The institute aims to foster collaboration between researchers, public and private sector groups, and industry partners to identify common challenges, such as water security and Hispanic health disparities, and develop innovative solutions.

"The AI Institute represents a significant step forward in UTEP's commitment to apply cutting-edge technology to real-world problems that affect our border region and beyond," said Gates who is a professor in UTEP's Department of Computer Science and senior advisor to the provost for strategic STEM initiatives. "By bringing together diverse expertise from across disciplines, we're creating an environment where AI innovations can be developed responsibly and with community needs at the forefront of our work."

AI-ICER will operate through three thrust areas: efficient, secure, and responsible AI; AI for community impact; and AI education.

The institute will be housed in UTEP's Interdisciplinary Research Building with research activities taking place in labs and centers across campus. Students will play a critical role in the institute's work with opportunities for employment supporting research, training and K-16 educational components. AI-ICER will also offer extensive training for undergraduate and graduate students in AI and high-performance computing.

Cross-cutting areas include entrepreneurship, workforce development and policy, with plans to secure diverse funding sources to ensure long-term sustainability.

For more information about the AI Institute for Community-Engaged Research, visit aiicer.utep.edu.

About The University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications

Cities with the most expensive homes in the El Paso metro area

Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.

The typical home value in the United States was $359,741 in March, 1.2% higher than the year before.

High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of April 17, the

30-year fixed mortgage rate

sits at 6.83%.

Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the El Paso metro area using data from Zillow. Charts show the monthly typical home value since January 2018. All 13 cities and towns with data available were included in the list.

#13. Fabens, TX

- Typical home value: $147,989

- 1-year price change: +2.5%

- 5-year price change: +42.2%

#12. Westway, TX

- Typical home value: $164,278

- 1-year price change: +2.8%

- 5-year price change: +70.9%

#11. Sparks, TX

- Typical home value: $166,543

- 1-year price change: +2.5%

- 5-year price change: +47.9%

#10. Tornillo, TX

- Typical home value: $168,943

- 1-year price change: +0.4%

- 5-year price change: +40.6%

#9. San Elizario, TX

- Typical home value: $171,240

- 1-year price change: +3.9%

- 5-year price change: +59.6%

#8. Socorro, TX

- Typical home value: $200,626

- 1-year price change: +2.8%

- 5-year price change: +59.6%

#7. Anthony, TX

- Typical home value: $210,458

- 1-year price change: +2.1%

- 5-year price change: +58.5%

#6. Clint, TX

- Typical home value: $211,907

- 1-year price change: +2.6%

- 5-year price change: +55.7%

#5. Horizon City, TX

- Typical home value: $214,783

- 1-year price change: +2.2%

- 5-year price change: +57.9%

#4. Agua Dulce, TX

- Typical home value: $221,051

- 1-year price change: -1.5%

- 5-year price change: +41.7%

#3. Canutillo, TX

- Typical home value: $222,591

- 1-year price change: +0.7%

- 5-year price change: +52.2%

#2. Vinton, TX

- Typical home value: $225,877

- 1-year price change: +5.0%

- 5-year price change: +62.2%

#1. El Paso, TX

- Typical home value: $226,893

- 1-year price change: +2.1%

- 5-year price change: +55.2%

Preliminary data shows that “tens of thousands” of patients who were not “lawfully” in the United States were treated by Texas hospitals in recent months and the cost for their care is in the millions of dollars, according to a state employee testifying before lawmakers late Monday.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas hospitals last summer to begin asking all patients to disclose whether they were “lawfully in the United States.” Patients were told their answers would not jeopardize their access to health care but they were not legally required to answer.

Hospitals were expected to turn in their first months of data by March 1 but it has not been released publicly yet.

But during a House Public Health Committee hearing on a bill from state Rep. Mike Olcott, R-Fort Worth, that would formalize Abbott’s order into a regular annual report each year, a Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive answered lawmakers’ questions about what the agency has learned so far from the 558 Texas hospitals that have responded to Abbott’s order.

“The number of visits was in the thousands, the tens of thousands, and the costs were in the millions,” said Victoria Grady, director of provider finance at HHSC, “We should be finalizing the data by the end of the week.”

Several media outlets, including The Texas Tribune, have asked for the data following the hospitals’ first March 1 deadline set by Abbott’s office. Grady and Olcott detailed why there’s been such a delay in getting that first snapshot out into the public view.

“They actually got some data on like pieces of paper,” Olcott told committee members. Grady confirmed that the agency has had to, on occasion, manually input data on paper that was mailed into the agency from some hospitals into a spreadsheet. She also said she expects the data to be released by the agency later this week.

Abbott’s order told hospitals to begin collecting information in November 2024. But it’s not clear if the data collected by the 558 hospitals was just for that month or all months since then

Olcott said his bill, like one already passed in 2023 in Florida, is necessary because it would streamline the survey process and keep Texans informed about how their tax dollars were spent.

“Since 2005, we’ve had 181 small rural hospitals close primarily due to uncompensated care,” Olcott said. “The goal of this is simply to know what percentage of that uncompensated care are due to people here illegally.”

According to the Texas Hospital Association, hospitals in this state spend $3.1 billion a year on uninsured care that is not reimbursed. But a large portion of that is for American citizens who are uninsured in Texas. The state has one of the highest rates of uninsured residents in the nation, with more than 4 million without health insurance coverage.

Lynn Cowles, health and food justice programs manager at Every Texan, which advocates for better health care in Texas, testified on that fact.

“I think one of the big issues with this bill –– if it is intended to understand the problems of rural hospitals closing across the state –– is that the pool of uncompensated care is so large because of the amount of citizens who are uninsured in Texas,” Cowles said.

Disclosure: Every Texan and Texas Hospital Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.

Pope Francis passed away on Monday, April 21st. A day after celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. (KFOX14/CBS4)

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EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Catholics in El Paso gathered at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Monday to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis. Many expressed their sorrow and admiration for the late pope.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit to lead the Roman Catholic Church, died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that the pontiff passed away due to a stroke followed by heart failure. Just a day before his death, Pope Francis made an appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica to bless the city of Rome and the world, marking the end of Holy Week and Easter services.

"He lived a life that very few people can live. He was an excellent man," said one El Paso mourner.

Another added, "He's left a legacy and there's hope and our world needs it."

A local deacon from Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Socorro reflected on Pope Francis' humility and love for children and the poor.

He was very humble, a lovable man. He really loved children. And he, you know, he really blessed a lot of children. And especially the poor, because he was a man of humility," the deacon said.

Pope Francis was known for his advocacy for migrants and refugees, consistently emphasizing the dignity of every human being.

A woman who saw him during his visit to the borderland in 2016 remarked, "He left this mark. That's for sure. He left his mark with the migrants."

As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, his legacy of love, humility, and advocacy for the marginalized continues to inspire.

We need to move forward and continue with his beliefs, his pilgrimage, his journey," said one El Pasoan.

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis was celebrated for his humility, his advocacy for immigration, and his witness to the mercy of God.

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EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A golf club in El Paso hosted a program that helps veterans transition from active duty to civilian life through the camaraderie that golf offers.

The Butterfield Trail Golf Club hosted "Links to Freedom," a new program, which, according to organizers, is run by professional golfers and helps disabled vets return to normalcy after serving.

"It's an amazing deal to see some of our veterans and how they've transitioned and how they've become better people because of Links to Freedom," said Mike Whittler, the Links to Freedom Southwest Region Director. "A lot of the guys have 'spilled blood in the same mud' and next thing you know they have built a bond and a friendship."

Organizers said the program runs from six to eight weeks twice a year, once in the Spring and then again in the Fall.

Whittler said his very proud of the program, adding that so far none of the veterans enrolled in Links to Freedom has committed suicide.

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Avid golfer and retired First Sergeant Rex Hendrix, who has been coming to the program for two years now, said he has found it very helpful and wishes he had discovered it sooner.

"The army itself was a blessing and a curse," Hendrix said, referencing how much he struggled readjusting to everyday life following 22 years in the army.

Hendrix however credits the program with helping him in the transition as is inviting vets to join-- no excuses.

"You don't have to be good, you don't even have to own a set of clubs, they will provide clubs for you here," Hendrix said.

El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar attended Links to Freedom's press conference on Monday, where she met with vets.

To learn more about the program, visit www.LinksToFreedom.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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