Month: February 2009

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo. “The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo. “The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO — Nearly five decades after the civil rights movement, groups like the Ku Klux Klan are still alive and well, according to experts, but their target is changing and their numbers are growing. “The truth is these hate groups do not distinguish between their hatred in minority populations,”

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO — Nearly five decades after the civil rights movement, groups like the Ku Klux Klan are still alive and well, according to experts, but their target is changing and their numbers are growing. “The truth is these hate groups do not distinguish between their hatred in minority populations,”

EL PASO, Texas — A municipal clerk rejected City Rep. Melina Castro’s petition for a place on the May 9 city elections ballot, Newspaper Tree reports. Castro needed to either obtain the signatures of 28 registered voters living in her district or pay $250 to obtain a place on the ballot. The clerk’s office rejected

EL PASO, Texas — A municipal clerk rejected City Rep. Melina Castro’s petition for a place on the May 9 city elections ballot, Newspaper Tree reports. Castro needed to either obtain the signatures of 28 registered voters living in her district or pay $250 to obtain a place on the ballot. The clerk’s office rejected

HOUSTON (AP) – Drivers in Texas are getting some relief at the pump as retail gasoline prices tumbled 8 cents this week. AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price for regular unleaded fell to $1.74 a gallon. The association attributed the decline to continued lower demand from drivers. The nationwide price for gasoline slipped

HOUSTON (AP) – Drivers in Texas are getting some relief at the pump as retail gasoline prices tumbled 8 cents this week. AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price for regular unleaded fell to $1.74 a gallon. The association attributed the decline to continued lower demand from drivers. The nationwide price for gasoline slipped

By ABC-7 Primetime Anchor Estela Casas Every day, we report on the economic turmoil gripping the nation. We report on people losing their homes to foreclosure and their jobs to cutbacks. But recently I had to report on my company’s effort to avoid layoffs. In a meeting, all ABC-7 employees learned that News-Press & Gazette

By ABC-7 Primetime Anchor Estela Casas Every day, we report on the economic turmoil gripping the nation. We report on people losing their homes to foreclosure and their jobs to cutbacks. But recently I had to report on my company’s effort to avoid layoffs. In a meeting, all ABC-7 employees learned that News-Press & Gazette

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama unveiled a multi-trillion-dollar spending plan Thursday that would boost taxes on the wealthy, curtail Medicare, lay the groundwork for universal health care and leave a string of deficits dwarfing any in the nation’s history. In addition to sending Congress his $3.55 trillion budget plan for 2010, Obama proposed more

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama unveiled a multi-trillion-dollar spending plan Thursday that would boost taxes on the wealthy, curtail Medicare, lay the groundwork for universal health care and leave a string of deficits dwarfing any in the nation’s history. In addition to sending Congress his $3.55 trillion budget plan for 2010, Obama proposed more

by ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO, Texas — At a meeting Tuesday, El Paso ISD officials approved changes to attendance boundaries for Westside and Northeast schools. As many as 500 students from Barron Elementary in Northeast El Paso may be moving to a new school. They are likely to be transferred to Tom Lea

by ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO, Texas — At a meeting Tuesday, El Paso ISD officials approved changes to attendance boundaries for Westside and Northeast schools. As many as 500 students from Barron Elementary in Northeast El Paso may be moving to a new school. They are likely to be transferred to Tom Lea

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila EL PASO, Texas — Everyone is trying to get a handle on just how many people have fled the bloodbath in Juarez for the safety of El Paso. On Wednesday, State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh told fellow members of the state legislature that 10,000 people from Juarez are now on this

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila EL PASO, Texas — Everyone is trying to get a handle on just how many people have fled the bloodbath in Juarez for the safety of El Paso. On Wednesday, State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh told fellow members of the state legislature that 10,000 people from Juarez are now on this

DALLAS (AP) – Achievement test scores at big-city school districts in Texas still lag far behind their suburban and rural counterparts but they’re making great strides and narrowing the gap, according to a report by an education think tank released Wednesday. A study of 37 of the nation’s largest urban school systems by The Brown

DALLAS (AP) – Achievement test scores at big-city school districts in Texas still lag far behind their suburban and rural counterparts but they’re making great strides and narrowing the gap, according to a report by an education think tank released Wednesday. A study of 37 of the nation’s largest urban school systems by The Brown

WESTWAY, Texas — A wanted man’s parents and girlfriend were arrested along with him Tuesday when they allegedly helped hide him from sheriff’s deputies. Sheriff’s officials said 18-year-old Rodolfo Cuellar was wanted on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Cuellar is believed to have been involved in a shooting incident in Westway,

WESTWAY, Texas — A wanted man’s parents and girlfriend were arrested along with him Tuesday when they allegedly helped hide him from sheriff’s deputies. Sheriff’s officials said 18-year-old Rodolfo Cuellar was wanted on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Cuellar is believed to have been involved in a shooting incident in Westway,

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Bones from an 11th body have been discovered on a mesa west of Albuquerque and police have determined the identification of a pregnant woman whose bones were discovered earlier this week. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz says the body of a pregnant woman was identified as Michelle Valdez of Albuquerque, who

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Bones from an 11th body have been discovered on a mesa west of Albuquerque and police have determined the identification of a pregnant woman whose bones were discovered earlier this week. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz says the body of a pregnant woman was identified as Michelle Valdez of Albuquerque, who

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama wants a significant “down payment” for overhauling the health care system: $634 billion over 10 years. A senior administration official says Obama’s budget calls for financing the overhaul by trimming Medicare spending and limiting tax deductions for upper-income earners. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the budget

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama wants a significant “down payment” for overhauling the health care system: $634 billion over 10 years. A senior administration official says Obama’s budget calls for financing the overhaul by trimming Medicare spending and limiting tax deductions for upper-income earners. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the budget

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court appeared poised Wednesday to rule that undocumented immigrants who use phony Social Security numbers to get work should not be considered identity thieves, even if those numbers belong to real people. The court seemed likely to reject the government’s argument that, under a 2004 law that metes out a

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court appeared poised Wednesday to rule that undocumented immigrants who use phony Social Security numbers to get work should not be considered identity thieves, even if those numbers belong to real people. The court seemed likely to reject the government’s argument that, under a 2004 law that metes out a

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal agents have rounded up more than 700 suspects in a wide-ranging crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating inside the United States. A law enforcement official familiar with the sweep said the arrests culminated in a series of Drug Enforcement Administration raids Tuesday night and Wednesday morning around the country. The official

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal agents have rounded up more than 700 suspects in a wide-ranging crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating inside the United States. A law enforcement official familiar with the sweep said the arrests culminated in a series of Drug Enforcement Administration raids Tuesday night and Wednesday morning around the country. The official

FORT BLISS, Texas — A Fort Bliss soldier who was attacked with a baseball bat in July 2008 has died, Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt confirmed. Pernell Robert Flowers II was the alleged victim of Deandrez Robertson, the Fort Bliss soldier charged with attempted murder who escaped from guards on post in December and was

FORT BLISS, Texas — A Fort Bliss soldier who was attacked with a baseball bat in July 2008 has died, Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt confirmed. Pernell Robert Flowers II was the alleged victim of Deandrez Robertson, the Fort Bliss soldier charged with attempted murder who escaped from guards on post in December and was