Month: February 2009

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila EL PASO, Texas — It’s pure joy for the family and friends of two former Border Patrol agents. Even though President Bush only commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, their families are still grateful they will soon come home. The wives of Ramos and Compean have been

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Celina Avila EL PASO, Texas — It’s pure joy for the family and friends of two former Border Patrol agents. Even though President Bush only commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, their families are still grateful they will soon come home. The wives of Ramos and Compean have been

Everyday, I realize more and more what an interesting and eclectic place the borderland is. I think what makes me appreciate El Paso more and more is being able to go out into the community and report on the different issues that come up in our border community, whether they be good or bad. I

Everyday, I realize more and more what an interesting and eclectic place the borderland is. I think what makes me appreciate El Paso more and more is being able to go out into the community and report on the different issues that come up in our border community, whether they be good or bad. I

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Veronique Masterson LAS CRUCES– The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley is in the hot seat after a spike in Distemper cases. A local family told ABC-7they are heartbroken after the puppy they adopted at the agency had to be euthanized. “I thoughtI was going to walk out of the vet

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Veronique Masterson LAS CRUCES– The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley is in the hot seat after a spike in Distemper cases. A local family told ABC-7they are heartbroken after the puppy they adopted at the agency had to be euthanized. “I thoughtI was going to walk out of the vet

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO — Texas’ chief executive will not necessarily refuse the Lone Star State’s share of the $787 billion economic stimulus package, a spokeswoman told ABC-7. As early as January, Gov. Rick Perry, was named as one of a handful of state chief executives who have reportedly said they oppose

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO — Texas’ chief executive will not necessarily refuse the Lone Star State’s share of the $787 billion economic stimulus package, a spokeswoman told ABC-7. As early as January, Gov. Rick Perry, was named as one of a handful of state chief executives who have reportedly said they oppose

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Abe Lubetkin LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Over a billion dollars are expected to be headed to the state of New Mexico, and officials in Dona Ana County want a piece of the action. Both the city of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County have sent in their wish lists. In Las Cruces,

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Abe Lubetkin LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Over a billion dollars are expected to be headed to the state of New Mexico, and officials in Dona Ana County want a piece of the action. Both the city of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County have sent in their wish lists. In Las Cruces,

DENVER (AP) – President Barack Obama has signed into law the most sweeping economic package in decades, a rescue plan designed to create millions of jobs and boost consumer spending. It was a major political victory for Obama, who took office less than a month ago. Obama said the government has begun the essential work

by ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell EL PASO, Texas — Many of us have friends and family living across the border, so how is the terrible violence there affecting our faith here in El Paso? “What’s happening across the border…really, it’s tragic,” said Deacon Jim Szostek, of St. Pius Catholic Church. “We hear these beheadings and

by ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell EL PASO, Texas — Many of us have friends and family living across the border, so how is the terrible violence there affecting our faith here in El Paso? “What’s happening across the border…really, it’s tragic,” said Deacon Jim Szostek, of St. Pius Catholic Church. “We hear these beheadings and

By ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt JUAREZ — The violence inour sister cityhas reached a new low with the recent murders of four children, including a three-year-old girl. Now, fed up with police and politicians,someare starting toturn to a higher power. The front page of Monday’s PM news magazine said it all:”Three more minors killed.” This

By ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt JUAREZ — The violence inour sister cityhas reached a new low with the recent murders of four children, including a three-year-old girl. Now, fed up with police and politicians,someare starting toturn to a higher power. The front page of Monday’s PM news magazine said it all:”Three more minors killed.” This

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Abe Lubetkin LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Why were kids jumping the fence to get into a Las Cruces skate park on a day when public schools were off? The skate park is open now, but earlier on Monday the only people skateboarding were actually trespassing. It all changed after ABC-7 asked one

By ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Abe Lubetkin LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Why were kids jumping the fence to get into a Las Cruces skate park on a day when public schools were off? The skate park is open now, but earlier on Monday the only people skateboarding were actually trespassing. It all changed after ABC-7 asked one

By ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell EL PASO — You can’t see it, but you sure can smell it! A strange odor at Brown Middle School in west El Paso has parents very concerned and school officials hustling to find the cause. Wednesday afternoon,some of thoseparents met with school officials to discuss whether or not their

By ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell EL PASO — You can’t see it, but you sure can smell it! A strange odor at Brown Middle School in west El Paso has parents very concerned and school officials hustling to find the cause. Wednesday afternoon,some of thoseparents met with school officials to discuss whether or not their

SANTA FE (AP) – The state Department of Health is adding seven conditions to coverage under the state’s medical marijuana program. Patients can apply if they have painful peripheral neuropathy, intractable nausea or vomiting, severe anorexia/cachexia, hepatitis C infection if that’s also receiving antiviral treatment, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better

SANTA FE (AP) – The state Department of Health is adding seven conditions to coverage under the state’s medical marijuana program. Patients can apply if they have painful peripheral neuropathy, intractable nausea or vomiting, severe anorexia/cachexia, hepatitis C infection if that’s also receiving antiviral treatment, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A fire caused about $42,000 in damage to a central Las Cruces duplex on Monday, Las Cruces fire officials said. No injuries were reported. Just after 7 a.m. Monday, firefighters were dispatched to a duplex in the 1600 block Ebony Avenue. The occupants were awakened by the smell of smoke and

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A fire caused about $42,000 in damage to a central Las Cruces duplex on Monday, Las Cruces fire officials said. No injuries were reported. Just after 7 a.m. Monday, firefighters were dispatched to a duplex in the 1600 block Ebony Avenue. The occupants were awakened by the smell of smoke and

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – Fewer people stayed in hotels and motels in 2008 with the poor economy and fuel costs high for much of last year. The Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau says the hotel occupancy rate in New Mexico’s second-largest community was 61.3 percent in 2008. That’s still higher than the national

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – Fewer people stayed in hotels and motels in 2008 with the poor economy and fuel costs high for much of last year. The Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau says the hotel occupancy rate in New Mexico’s second-largest community was 61.3 percent in 2008. That’s still higher than the national

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A South Carolina sheriff is not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott made the decision Monday. The photo showed Phelps smoking from a marijuana pipe at a University of South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A South Carolina sheriff is not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott made the decision Monday. The photo showed Phelps smoking from a marijuana pipe at a University of South Carolina

by ABC-7 Reporter Marissa Monroy EL PASO, Texas — Millions of dollars from President Barack Obama’s stimulusplan could be headed to the border to keep violencein Mexicofrom trickling over. The bloodbath across the border has continued day after day, month and after month. But now the federal government is hoping to put an end to

by ABC-7 Reporter Marissa Monroy EL PASO, Texas — Millions of dollars from President Barack Obama’s stimulusplan could be headed to the border to keep violencein Mexicofrom trickling over. The bloodbath across the border has continued day after day, month and after month. But now the federal government is hoping to put an end to

By ABC-7 Reporter Martin Bartlett EL PASO — A former member of the El Paso Independent School District’s Board of Trustees was in court Tuesday to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, but Salvador Marcos “Sal” Mena, Jr., showed up without an attorney, slowing down the process and frustrating the judge. Mena, who