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audience engagement and fact brief writing @elpasomatters📍el paso, tx | former: @texastribune @borderzine @latinoreporter @nowcastsa

[Martha Pskowski @psskow]

Border Patrol wrote Texas Parks & Wildlife in February, asking for access to Big Bend Ranch State Park and Seminole Canyon State Park for the border wall.

The letters say that if voluntarily agreements cannot be reached, the feds will use eminent domain.
https://t.co/3Jjcc4qkVu

[Martha Pskowski @psskow]

We got some good winter rain and now the mesquite are beautifully bright green. Also feat. a massive barrel cactus.

📍Franklin Mountains, El Paso

[Lauren McGaughy @lmcgaughy]

Lots of fall out from abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez.

El Concilio in Austin, the group which originally got East 1st Street renamed for Chavez in 1993, now wants the name reverted. They'll ask the city council to change it.

More reactions here: https://t.co/DW9CyFw4OM

[Joshua Fechter @JoshuaFechter]

Important visual from @Harvard_JCHS this A.M.:

A majority of renters in most of TX biggest metros are "cost-burdened," meaning they spend at least 30% of their $$$ on rent.

They're under similar pressure to renters in major metros in CA & NY.

[Travis Bubenik @travisbubenik]

Officials in Brewster County - home to Big Bend National Park - are set to vote next week on this resolution expressing "deep concern" with border wall plans for the Big Bend area. County commissioners meet on 3/10.

[Megan Fan Munce @meganfanmunce]

Checking in on journalism friends in Texas

[Martha Pskowski @psskow]

It’s hard to over-exaggerate the impacts border wall construction will have in Texas. Here are a few places in the path of the wall, according to CBP’s map.

[U.S. Consulate Tijuana @ConsuladoUSATJ]

There are reports of roadblocks and criminal activity in Tecate, Ensenada, and in Tijuana. U.S. Consulate staff have been instructed to shelter in place. Monitor local news. Inform your friends and family of your welfare and whereabouts.
For emergency assistance for U.S. citizens call (55) 8526 2561 from Mexico and [phone] from the U.S.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://t.co/xzbhd3x5i9 to receive timely updates on safety and security information from the Consulate.

[Colleen DeGuzman @acolleendg]

6 deaths in 6 weeks at Texas ICE centers.

Abuse and poor medical care has long plagued ICE facilities - but under Trump's second admin, they're becoming deadlier.

What to know about the conditions and concerns at ICE facilities.

w/ @lomikriel

https://t.co/9b5HFDcPDN

[El Paso Matters @elpasomatters]

Fact check: Do Texas voters have to cast votes for unopposed candidates? Here’s our latest fact brief, which we produce in partnership with Gigafact to correct misinformation and amplify factual information. https://t.co/CdIWBE0e7m

[Megan Menchaca @meganmmenchaca]

Editor of a major Ohio news organization says they have removed “writing” from certain reporters’ workloads.

Reporters collect facts and an “AI rewrite specialist” writes the article.

That article is then reviewed by editors + reporters before publication.

[Bob Moore @BobMooreNews]

Our @elpasomatters team will have an AMA shortly. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind. https://t.co/mu5OMYVSIe

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: U.S. military testing of anti-drone technology led to the El Paso airspace shutdown, people briefed on the matter said. https://t.co/A0oNbE8z8p

[Akela Lacy @akela_lacy]

Google handed ICE a student journalist’s bank and credit card numbers https://t.co/lUb3NefrxY by @jessica_m_wash

[Natasha Bertrand @NatashaBertrand]

Here’s what happened in El Paso per multiple people briefed

The Pentagon planned to use a high-energy, counter-drone laser without having properly coordinated with the FAA first about potential risks to civilian flights

The Pentagon has been testing this tech for a while now in more remote areas and FAA and Pentagon officials had been scheduled to meet February 20 to review potential impacts and mitigation measures for a test of the laser system

But for unclear reasons (perhaps there was a drone incursion, which happen multiple x per day) the Pentagon sought to deploy the system sooner around El Paso, prompting the FAA to impose the temporary flight restriction until proper coordination could occur. The 10-day restriction would have expired on February 21, one day after DoD and the FAA were set to meet.

The FAA did not tell the WH it was closing the airspace

https://t.co/aJh0bbDwpl

[philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_]

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — FAA says it has lifted temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, and all flights to resume.

[Bob Moore @BobMooreNews]

Here’s the latest. El Paso leaders are big mad over lack of communication from the feds. https://t.co/tVGoRhIxZO

[Axios @axios]

The FAA issued an unusual temporary flight restriction Tuesday night that halted air traffic in El Paso, Texas.

Here's how those restrictions typically work.

https://t.co/jiYWeRZVhE

[The Associated Press @AP]

BREAKING: A Trump administration official said the El Paso airspace closure was tied to Mexican cartel drones, but the Defense Department disabled the drones. https://t.co/nBMqbQKFEI

[Jorge Salgado | El Paso Photo | Video | Drone @SalgadoPhoto_]

Video: @BobMooreNews - @elpasomatters speaking on CNN on the FAA airspace closure here in El Paso.