El Paso Local Headlines: Measles Update, Gas Bills, and Fort Hancock Flight Limits

Public health: measles cases confirmed

City health officials reported new measles cases in El Paso, alongside additional cases tied to Camp East Montana. Contact tracing is underway, and officials urged anyone who may have been exposed to monitor for symptoms such as fever and rash and to talk with a health care provider before showing up in person.

Utility bills: El Paso keeps pressing on natural gas rates

After residents reported sharp jumps in monthly natural gas bills, the City of El Paso said it is continuing a legal challenge to a Texas Gas Service rate increase approved at the state level. The city is seeking a rehearing and says it is using the tools available to push for rates it considers fair and supported by analysis, while noting it does not set individual customer bills.

Border airspace: Fort Hancock gets a flight restriction

The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction over the Fort Hancock area for special security reasons, generally prohibiting aircraft operations in the defined area with limited exceptions for urgent missions such as medical or search-and-rescue flights that coordinate with air traffic control.

City Hall watch: license plate reader cameras on the agenda

City Council is expected to discuss whether to renew a contract for automated license plate reader cameras, a program that has drawn privacy concerns and debate over how the data is stored and used.

Housing: a homebuyer grant program update

The El Paso Housing Finance Corporation highlighted changes to its Mi Casa Homebuyer Grant Program, including an interest-rate adjustment that officials say could improve affordability for qualified buyers. The program is designed to help with down payment and closing costs through grant assistance.

Quick takeaways

• If you are unsure about your measles vaccination status, consider checking your records and getting guidance from a clinician.
• If your gas bill changed dramatically, review line items (delivery charge vs. gas cost) before calling your utility.
• Pilots should check current FAA notices before flying near the Fort Hancock area.

Sources

• https://kvia.com/news/top-stories/2026/02/26/4-measles-cases-confirmed-in-el-paso/
• https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/26/measles-el-paso-camp-east-montana-ice/
• https://kvia.com/news/2026/02/27/city-challenges-state-approval-of-texas-gas-service-rate-increase/
• https://kvia.com/news/2026/02/26/faa-issues-temporary-flight-restriction-over-fort-hancock-for-special-security-reasons/
• https://elpasoheraldpost.com/2026/02/26/el-paso-city-council-to-vote-to-stop-using-controversial-flock-cameras-next-week/
• https://kvia.com/news/top-stories/2026/02/26/homebuyer-grant-program-makes-ownership-more-affordable/
• https://elpasohfc.org/homebuyers-1