Juarez Cartel Leader Reported Dead + More Local News

Juarez Cartel Leader Reported Dead

A man believed to be a leader of the Juarez drug cartel is reported dead following a weekend gun battle. Rafael Chavira Renteria is said to have died after a shootout between rival gangs in Benito Juarez. Renteria, also known as "El Borrego" or "The Lamb," was reportedly the second-in-command of the powerful drug and crime syndicate. Officials have not officially identified any of the bodies found Sunday.

City To Raise Property Tax Bills, Offer Relief To Seniors & the Disabled

El Paso is raising its property tax rate, but will offer some relief for senior citizens and the disabled. The city council voted in favor of increasing tax bills about $40 a year to help fund firefighter pay increases and voter approved bond projects. The increase that is passed along to most everyone else will not affect seniors and the disabled, who will instead get a cut of about $40 on their bills. Council also passed the next city budget yesterday, approving nearly $845 million in spending for the fiscal year that begins Sept. 1.

4 Arrested For Selling Pirated Music At Swap Meet

Three men and one woman are facing charges of piracy after being arrested last weekend at the Bronco Swap Meet El Paso Police and the Recording Industry of America coordinated an investigation into illegal music sales being conducted at the swap meet on Alameda Avenue. Sergio Hernandez, Benito Almaraz and Jesse Rojo, all from El Paso, and Karla Delgado of Juarez were each charged with a felony for selling the pirated music. Investigators say they will continue working with the music industry to catch counterfeit music sales in this region.

El Paso Ranks Near The Top For Sport's Minor Leagues

El Paso is one of the best sports cities in America, at least, when it comes to sports' minor leagues. The "Sports Business Journal" recently finished ranking more than 200 U.S. cities by how their minor league teams perform, and El Paso came in 11th overall. The ranking is impressive considering El Paso has just one minor league franchise, the Chihuahuas, while many of the other cities on the list have multiple operations across several sports. The Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa leeds this year's list, followed by Toledo, Ohio.