Mold Remediation in El Paso, TX

The newest — and much-anticipated — Albertsons will open its doors Friday, Dec. 6, in the Market at Darrington shopping center along Eastlake Boulevard. It's the ninth Albertsons grocery store in the El Paso area.

The grand opening will begin at 9 a.m. at the store with a ribbon cutting and the announcement of more than $100,000 community grants being awarded to nearly two dozen local schools and nonprofits.

“We’re thrilled to unveil this beautiful and highly upgraded Albertsons store to residents in Horizon City,” said Carl Huntington, president of the Southwest Division at Albertsons in a news release. “This upscale Albertsons will provide shoppers the finest selection of fresh foods along with a memorable experience each time they shop.”

Many local dignitaries will be on hand for the ribbon cutting, along with live music.

Albertsons, part of Albertsons Companies, Inc. and a leading food and drug retailer in the United States, is in the Market at Darrington, a project developed by River Oaks Properties.

More:New El Paso shopping centers sprout amid retail real estate boom

The 63,000 square-foot Albertsons supermarket is anchoring the 108,350-square foot The Market at Darrington center under construction on the Horizon City border.

Here is what to know about the opening of Albertsons.

When does the Albertsons on Eastlake open?

The Albertsons,13671 Eastlake Blvd., will open its doors at 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

Albertsons giving out $100 gift card, other freebies

The community is invited to attend and sample foods along with a chance to win prizes, free groceries, and Albertsons gift cards. As part of the celebration, the first 300 shoppers will receive a $100 gift card, following the ribbon cutting.

New Albertsons to feature expanded Starbucks area, sushi counter

The new store features a full service, drive-thru pharmacy, an expanded Starbucks and lounging area, designer floral department, and a produce section with great selection of local fruits and vegetables including a variety of topline organics. The meat department affords shoppers an assortment of fine cut meats, poultry, and seafood. In addition, the store will have an expansive wine and craft beer area along with a full-service sushi counter.

Other sections will include the popular Albertsons’ bakery, a deli and cheese department with ready-to-go salads and sandwiches daily.

What else is coming next to Albertsons at The Market at Darrington?

Other tenants at The Market at Darrington include Nusenda Credit Union’s first new branch building in El Paso, McDonald’s, Circle K, and Heartland Dental, a national dentistry chain, will be on pad sites on the edges of the center; national chains Buffalo Wild Wings, Earl of Sandwich, and Twisted Sugar

Who is getting grants from Albertsons?

To help welcome in this new store, Albertsons is investing in Horizon City by providing over $100,000 in Albertsons Foundation grants to schools and nonprofits including:

More:El Paso welcomes new stores for holiday shopping: Coach, Hello Kitty, Daiso

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com, @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on Instagram, eptmariacg on TikTok.

Sewage water in Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — El Paso Water is making strides toward completing a $52 million project aimed at preventing future wastewater disasters in the region.

The utility's board has approved the next phase of infrastructure improvements in a high-risk area of the Upper Valley.

In 2021 and 2022, El Paso Water released 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater into the Rio Grande due to pipeline failures.

Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Engineering, Operations, and Technical Services for El Paso Water, said the utility is now in the third phase of replacing dual pressurized wastewater pipelines that broke in 2020.

"We're completing phase three of the replacement of these dual pressurized wastewater pipelines," Trejo said.

The Frontera wastewater emergency in 2021, near Sunland Park and Doniphan, saw more than 10 million gallons of wastewater dumped into the river daily for five months after pipeline bursts.

Trejo successfully persuaded the board to allocate additional funds for a secondary, backup pipeline in the area.

"So we do feel a secondary pipeline is needed," Trejo said. "That's what we asked the public service board today, is their authorization to allow for the engineering and eventual construction of a secondary pipeline through the densely populated area to be installed, just in case."

The 2021 pipeline failures were largely due to deteriorating pipes, but Trejo noted that the utility is preparing for other potential issues.

"It's challenging, not only geographically, because of the mountains, but as the interstate railroads, transcontinental communication pipelines, natural gas pipelines, they're all trying to make their way through the Paso del Norte," Trejo said. "Any one of these entities could, by accident, hit the pipeline, impacting the river once again."

The utility plans to use fiberglass-reinforced pipelines to prevent the corrosion problems that contributed to past disasters.

"So we've gone from a material that was susceptible to corrosion to one that's completely inert to it," Trejo said.

El Paso Water's investment aims to protect the environment and the community, serving approximately 94,000 customers who produce 10 million gallons of wastewater daily.

RELATED: EPWater cleared of wrongdoing, $1.2 million fine withdrawn after Frontera Water failure

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Move over sci-fi movies — artificial intelligence is no longer just for robots taking over the world. UTEP is officially entering the AI game with a new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence launching in Spring 2025.

Think AI is just for coding wizards? Think again!

According to a press release from UTEP officials, this program is designed to prepare students to design, test, and maintain AI systems while tackling big questions like, "How can AI make our lives better?"

The demand for AI pros is booming, with salaries between $96,000 and $140,000. (I’m in the wrong field!)

From designing self-driving cars to improving healthcare, UTEP’s AI students will be shaping the future. And don’t worry — this isn’t a snooze-fest. You’ll explore everything from the ethics of AI to creating your own algorithms to potentially outwit ChatGPT.

UTEP President Heather Wilson calls this a game-changer for the university, saying:

“AI is reshaping the world, and UTEP is ahead of the curve.”

And if you’re worried about AI taking over your job, Salamah Salamah, chair of the Computer Science Department, reassures us:

"AI is a tool, not a replacement."

Students who are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence can learn more here. Those who wish to explore AI in graduate school can take advantage of UTEP’s existing master’s degree in artificial intelligence.

Texas-El Paso vs Louisville Prediction

This Wednesday, Otis Frazier and the UTEP Miners will travel to KFC Yum! Center to face Chucky Hepburn and the Louisville Cardinals in a non-conference clash. Get our free NCAAB Picks all season long! The Miners enter the game with a 6-2 record, coming off an impressive 88-72 victory over Seattle on Saturday. Frazier has been a standout for UTEP, contributing with his scoring, rebounding, and defensive energy to lead the Miners to their strong start.

UTEP has thrived on balanced scoring and defensive pressure, and Frazier will be crucial to their effort against a Louisville team looking to bounce back. The Miners will aim to continue their efficient offensive play while using their physicality to disrupt the Cardinals’ rhythm.

The Cardinals, sitting at 5-4, are looking to recover from a 76-65 loss to Duke on Sunday. Hepburn has been a steady presence for Louisville, combining his scoring ability and court vision to orchestrate the offense. Despite the setback against Duke, Louisville has shown flashes of potential and will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage.

For Louisville, containing Frazier and improving on defensive consistency will be key. Hepburn will need to lead the way, with contributions from the supporting cast to secure a bounce-back win against a confident UTEP squad.

Texas-El Paso vs Louisville Pick Analysis

This matchup highlights Frazier’s all-around game for UTEP against Hepburn’s leadership for Louisville in what promises to be a competitive battle. While the Miners bring momentum and a strong defensive identity, the Cardinals’ home-court advantage and offensive depth may give them the edge. Take the Miners to keep this one close and to cover the spread. Final Score Prediction, Louisville Cardinals win 74-69.

Betting Trends for Louisville vs Texas-El Paso

Texas-El Paso

UTEP are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of UTEP's last 6 games on the road.

Louisville

Louisville are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games.

Louisville are 5-12 SU in their last 17 games.

Our Free NCAA Basketball Pick for Louisville vs Texas-El Paso

UTEP Miners +15

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EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Meet the second game show contestant from El Paso who represented the 915 on national TV.

Bel Air High School graduate, proud El Paso business owner, book author and dog lover Lili Gutierrez never wanted to nor thought she would ever be in a televised game show, but after doing a casting video, she suddenly found herself battling 99 contestants for the grand prize of $250,000 on the second season of the Fox hit game show The Floor hosted by Rob Lowe.

"I had never even seen The Floor," Gutierrez said. "...but something in me-- I don't know-- intuition told me that I was going to get on there."

Gutierrez owns Float + Calm Spa in east El Paso, and in true honor of her business, Gutierrez said that when she received the call she was to fly out to Ireland to be in the show, she said she was excited but also "really calm."

Gutierrez said she was surprised when she started meeting the other contestants on the show.

"So you had actors, you had writers, you had people that just knew about, like, producers that were in the show business," Gutierrez said. "So, I was a little surprised about that, and then it made me feel like, 'Oh wow, these are like really special people.'"

However, the biggest surprise to Gutierrez came when she realized that she wasn't the only contestant representing the 915 area code.

RELATED: El Paso native battles 100 foes for $250k on The Floor, hosted by Rob Lowe

"I was like 'What?'" Gutierrez said, before realizing that, "of course [there] would be [another El Pasoan], because we're so special, and our community is so special."

Despite her love for the Sun City, Gutierrez hesitates to talk so much about it, as she likes the city's "hidden gem" status.

Each contestant on the show has a category they excel at. As a self-described dog lover, author of a book on dogs and Instagram username "lilispuppys," Gutierrez's specialty was "puppies."

Speaking about furry four-legged friends, Gutierrez said, "They're just angels. They're angels to us as humans."

Follow Lili Gutierrez on Instagram if you would like to know more about her experience on the show or buy her book "Wag Te Ching: The Walk of the Dog" or her Spa's Instagram account if you're interested in booking a relaxing appointment.

Don't forget to watch The Floor on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on KFOX14.

If you are unfamiliar with the mechanics of the game show, according to The Floor's website, this is how it works:

Contestants must stand their ground on a massive, interactive LED game floor of squares, each representing a different trivia category. The first challenger, selected at random, must choose one of his or her neighboring opponents to go head-to-head in an epic quiz duel in the opponent's category. The winner takes over the loser's square, gaining valuable ground as they expand their territory, while the loser exits the game. The winner must then choose whether to go on the offensive to dominate more of the board or let The Floor choose a new challenger. The contestant who gains full control over The Floor takes home a life-changing grand prize.

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