Good morning, El Paso. The weekend is getting closer! We have things for you to do, as well as what’s going on in the city.

In today’s Border City Buzz:

• EPISD Struggles With Attendance

• Guided Painting Class

• High School Graduation Dates & Times Announced

Let’s get to it.

Around Town

Bob The Goat Memorialized 🐐

A memorial has been created for Bob, a beloved goat that roamed Franklin Mountains State Park. Wildlife enthusiasts mounted Bob’s cleaned horns as a tribute.

Bob, a familiar sight for hikers, passed away in August during a Texas Parks and Wildlife relocation effort tied to reintroducing native bighorn sheep. It is believed he died from a combination of old age and stress.

EPISD Struggles With Attendance 🏫

Coronado High School is grappling with a major attendance issue that has led to significant financial consequences for the El Paso Independent School District.

A recent audit revealed over 11,500 unexcused absences in the first semester, resulting in a $700,156 loss in state funding. Ninth-grade students have the highest rates of absenteeism, a trend identified over the past two years, according to Superintendent Diana Sayavedra.

The issue has sparked debate among parents and officials. Some parents argue the school’s attendance procedures need improvement, while others point to broader challenges, like the state’s heavy reliance on attendance metrics for funding.

EPISD is implementing control systems and working to understand the reasons behind student absences. Officials emphasize that addressing this issue will require more than policy changes—it will take a community-wide effort. Get to school kids!

High School Graduation Dates & Times Announced 🧑‍🎓

El Paso School District has announced the graduation dates and times for their high schools. You can view the upcoming schedule here. It’s getting close!

Things To Do

Guided Painting Class 🎨

Join Margin Notes Bookbar for a guided painting class on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 7460 Cimarron Market Ave, El Paso, TX.

Open to ages 18+ and all experience levels, the $40 fee includes materials and instruction. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase. Arrive 10 minutes early for check-in.

No outside food or drinks are allowed. Refunds are not offered for cancellations within 24 hours of the event, but full refunds will be provided if the class is canceled. Reserve your spot here, and enjoy a creative evening in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere!

Liberty Flames at UTEP Miners Womens Basketball 🏀

The UTEP women’s basketball team (8-6, 1-2 CUSA) will face Liberty (10-5, 3-1 CUSA) in their CUSA home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Don Haskins Center.

UTEP is looking for its first win against Liberty, having lost both matchups last season. Tickets are available at 915-747-UTEP or UTEPMiners.com/Tickets.

Music & Art 🎶

Enjoy a free performance of Bach's Lunch: The Art of Klezmer on January 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the El Paso Museum of Art.

Featuring clarinetist Jim Logan, pianist Dominic Dousa, and special guest Zuill Bailey, this event combines captivating music with stunning art in the EPMA galleries.

Weather

Thursday

⬆️ 63 ⬇️ 44 | ⛅ | 0% chance of rain

Friday

⬆️ 60 ⬇️ 39 | ⛅💨 | 1% chance of rain

Saturday

⬆️ 60 ⬇️ 30 | ☀️ | 0% chance of rain

Sports

High School Basket Scores 🏀

Here are the basketball scores from Tuesdays games:

Boys

Austin 54, Irvin 48
Canutillo 59, Jefferson 46
Ysleta 50, San Elizario 44
Franklin 57, Coronado 49 (OT)
El Paso High 69, Burges 56
Hanks 47, Bel Air 42
Chapin 73, Andress 44
Eastlake 54, Montwood 40
Riverside 54, Fabens 51
Mountain View 58, Clint 49
Americas 47, Del Valle 42
Eastwood 52, Socorro 38
Bowie def. Harmony Innovation
Anthony 53, Harmony Science 52
Parkland 41, Horizon 35

Girls

Franklin 66, Coronado 31
Chapin 45, Andress 25
Americas 60, Del Valle 9
San Elizario 34, Ysleta 32
Hanks 42, Bel Air 40
Eastwood 65, Socorro 20
Montwood 46, Eastlake 31
Riverside 67, Fabens 19
Austin 30, Irvin 27
Burges 64, El Paso High 26
Canutillo 44, Jefferson 12
Parkland 41, Horizon 24

High School Soccer Scores ⚽

Here are the soccer scores from Tuesdays games:

Boys

San Elizario 2, Austin 1

Girls

Eastwood 2, Americas 0
Clint 4, Harmony Science Academy 1
Franklin 1, Chapin 0
Mountain View 2, Irvin 0
Burges 2, Hanks 0
Del Valle 3, Pebble Hills 1
El Paso High 6, Parkland 0
Montwood 3, Andress 1
Bowie 10, Fabens 1

Thank YOU!

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