El Paso Daily Local Headlines: Airspace restrictions, Meta data-center delay, warm start to March

Top local headlines

Border-area airspace restrictions after drone incident near Fort Hancock

Federal aviation officials imposed flight restrictions over a stretch of border-area airspace near Fort Hancock after a U.S. Border Patrol drone was brought down during a counter-drone response inside military-designated airspace. The affected area sits about an hour southeast of El Paso, and the restrictions are expected to remain in place into late June.

Local border experts say the episode underscores how quickly small drones can trigger big disruptions, even when commercial airports remain open. Officials have emphasized coordination between agencies to avoid impacts to emergency flights and day-to-day aviation activity in the region.

If you fly small aircraft or operate drones, double-check active restrictions before heading out.
Expect continued scrutiny of counter-drone testing and safety procedures along the border.

County pauses action tied to proposed Meta data center agreement

El Paso County leaders postponed a scheduled vote tied to a proposed data-center project linked to Meta, saying they want more information before moving forward. The item was pulled from an upcoming agenda and is expected to return at a later meeting once staff complete additional review.

For residents, the key near-term takeaway is procedural: the project’s related agreement changes are not advancing this week, and the next public discussion will come with a new posted date.

Warm, dry start to March raises fire-weather concerns

Forecasters expect continued warm and very dry conditions around El Paso, with temperatures reaching the 80s and light winds. That combination can increase fire risk, especially in grassy and desert-edge areas, and it can push monthly temperature records.

UTEP track and field turns a page with a program first

UTEP’s track and field program is now led by its first woman head coach, Francesca Green, who took over last summer after a long run of male head coaches. Green brings two decades of experience from a major collegiate program and says she plans to raise expectations while building a positive, athlete-focused culture.

Sources

https://kvia.com/news/2026/02/27/retired-u-s-border-patrol-chief-in-el-paso-says-counter-drone-system-will-aid-border-area/
https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/texas-airspace-closed-drone-laser-pentagon-us-border-mexico
https://hoodline.com/2026/02/el-paso-county-slams-brakes-on-meta-s-massive-data-hub-deal/
https://www.weather.gov/epz/php/aviation/aviationdiscussion_fetch.php
https://kvia.com/sports/2026/02/28/uteps-first-female-track-and-field-coach-aims-to-get-program-back-on-track/