Month: May 2010

13-year-old Ricky Duran likes skateboarding and he likes the park. But his mother Patricia Cemato says her son has been having trouble sleeping after what they say happened on Friday at their neighborhood park off Rich Beem in far east El Paso. Ricky says he and some of his friends were playing a game and

Editor’s Note: Jaime O. Perez, El Paso County Chief of Staff and candidate for El Paso County Judge, has released the following opinion piece in opposition of those El Paso civic leaders advocating a revamping of the country’s marijuana laws. Marijuana Madness By Jaime O. Perez A guest column by well-known members of the progressive

The number of new AIDS cases reported this year is sharply above how many were reported last year. So far this year, there are 30 new AIDS cases reported to the Dept. of Health in El Paso compared to 19 in all of 2009. The HIV prevention specialist for the department told ABC-7 that more

Ten arrests and seven convictions for driving drunk. And yet, 50-year-old Samuel Casares was still driving. This weekend police arrested Casares for driving drunk – his 11th DWI. �@ District Attorney Jaime Esparza sat down with ABC-7 and said since Casares’s first several arrests in the ’80s the rules just weren’t as tough regarding drinking

In 2009, more El Pasoans were killed in Juarez than in El Paso. That’s according to some local leaders who have consistently urged the federal government to revamp U.S. drug policy. One of their ideas is to legalize marijuana, and this time, they have a different plan to get President Obama’s attention. El Paso City

“While debate on legalization is critical to better strategies and informed democracy, I do not believe legalization is the answer. We should reduce drug demand with better education and rehabilitation programs here in the U.S. and focus now on practical applications of “Beyond Merida ” to deal with violence in Juarez today. Presidents Obama and

The phrase “fast food wars” is nothing new. But since many are trying to save money these days, the fast food restaurants have taken notice, and are competing for your business. McDonald’s has a “Dollar Menu” with a variety of burgers, fries, and drinks for just a buck. Taco Bell has the “Two Dollar Meal

Irasema Coronado, Ph.D., associate provost at The University of Texas at El Paso, will be one of five individuals appointed by President Barack Obama to the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, UTEP announced on Monday. The commission, established in 1994 by the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), is

Studies find that women are marrying men with less education and income, according to a report on CNN.com. A Pew Research Center report this year noted a surge in women between the ages of 30 and 44 making more money than their husbands. Women made more money than men in 22 percent of married couples

Unless they’ve killed someone, teenagers can’t be locked up for life without the chance of parole. The ruling, by a 5-4 vote, comes today from the Supreme Court — which finds that a life sentence without parole for those young offenders would violate the Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling comes in

A baby can enrich your life, maybe even completing it. And when that baby needs extra help, or is born premature, the March of Dimes is there to help families. This weekend, the organization held its annual event to raise awareness about the health of babies. It’s the purest of sounds and sights – children

Three men were hospitalized after they were hit by a vehicle while reportedly changing a tire on the side of the road early Sunday morning. The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. on Gateway West near I-10 and Lee Trevino. Two of the men were discharged from Del Sol Medical Center Sunday morning, while a

Two teens hit by a car last week as they were trying to cross Doniphan Drive in Canutillo are both doing better, according to sheriff’s officials. 14-year-old Vanessa Gonzalez has been released from University Medical Center, while 14-year-old Cassandra Lopez is out of a coma and answering questions as investigators try to figure out what

It’s a new era for UTEP’s graduating class. More than 2,500 students walked across the stage as part of the university’s 124th commencement ceremony; it’s the largest graduating class in UTEP’s 96-year history. And now that they’re set to enter the job market, some graduates are worried, others are confident about their future. Nadia Abugalyon

Authorities say a 33-year-old woman was stabbed around 3 a.m. Sunday in East El Paso County. Sheriff’s deputies found her bleeding profusely at a Horizon City truck stop, but she told them the stabbing took place somewhere else. So far, she hasn’t been able to tell deputies exactly where it happened, except that it took

Surveillance drones will be patrolling the skies above far west Texas and parts of New Mexico beginning June 1st. The unarmed, unmanned aircraft will send real-time surveillance video of the border to federal law enforcement agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration had to approve the drone patrol request, and is considering whether or not to allow

Call it just what the doctor hadn’t ordered! An alleged mix-up at one Northeast El Paso pharmacy gave a man the scare of his life. Now, the pharmacy is apologizing, but it still isn’t enough for a couple looking for answers. That couple says their problems all began a little more than a month ago

He hired mariachis and even brought cake, but Socorro Mayor-elect Willie Gandara Sr. didn’t get to savor either. Just as Gandara was about to be sworn in at Friday afternoon’s city council meeting, there was an announcement. Incumbent mayor Trini Lopez wants a recount. Remember, only 18 votes separated Lopez and Gandara in last Saturday’s

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is endorsing Susana Martinez in New Mexico’s five-way primary race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. “Out of five candidates in this race, she selected me as the one that can deliver the results at the end of the day,” Martinez said. “It’s a positive when we get endorsements from all

It’s not unusual for designers to be inspired by the Big Apple. This time, the border is inspiring New York fashion. The design sister team of “Rodarte” recently showed off designs at New York’s fashion week that were inspired by the border and the violence happening in Juarez. “It’s interesting to do things that express

An ambush along the Porvenir Highway in Juarez left six men dead Friday. ABC-7’s news partners at XHIJ Channel 44 say gunmen killed the men in the Loma Blanca neighborhood in east Juarez. The men were riding in a van when they were attacked; the van then crashed into a kindergarten school. No children were

Facebook’s millions of users are a lucrative target for Internet criminals looking to steal passwords and more. To combat malicious attacks, phishing scams and spam, the online social network is rolling out new security features. You can ask to be notified by e-mail or text message when your account is accessed from a computer or

For the first time in The University of Texas at El Paso?s 96-year history, the university will offer live streaming video of commencement. Those who wish to view any or all of the three Spring 2010 Commencement ceremonies live online can go to www.utep.edu and click on the ?Commencement Webcast? link. ?We are providing this

Dona Ana County Sheriff’s investigators have charged and arrested a 30-year-old man with five counts of criminal sexual penetration in the second degree after meeting a 13-year-old girl on MySpace. Fidel H. Ramirez, 30, of the 730 block of Lariat in Las Cruces, was arrested on Thursday. According to sheriff’s investigators the girl reported the

Their love story started with fuschia fingernail polish and black leather. Therese Bur got her first glimpse of Sabrina Hill ? a tall, dark-haired woman decked out in leather gear and flashing those nails ? at about 2 a.m. at an Arizona gas station. She was intrigued. One date later, their future was sealed. That

It’s been five years since the government decided to reassign thousands of troops to Fort Bliss. As a result of BRAC, Fort Bliss received a combat division with four brigade combat teams and a combat aviation brigade. It was a move with big promises for the borderland and it appears BRAC will live up to

A boy was released from the hospital after undergoing brain surgery after a fight on a school bus, Jo Galvan, Las Cruces Public Schools spokeswoman said. The 8-year-old who district officials said shoved the 7-year-old was so traumatized by what happened that his family took him out of school. His mom said he was just

A 43-year-old U.S. Customs and Border Protection technician says she’s guilty of conspiring to smuggle marijuana and illegal immigrants into the country. Martha Alicia Garnica pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to charges of conspiracy to import more than 100 kilos of marijuana into the United States, conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants, three counts of

As summer approaches, the City of El Paso is taking steps to reduce smog. It’s not something new, but gas stations in the Sun City will switch to a different type of gasoline from June 1st to September 15th. The gasoline in question is less volatile, meaning it won’t vaporize as easily in air, and

Rock legend Lou Reed has written music about the wild side. Now, he’s preparing to put on a high-pitched concert exclusively for dogs, according to music magazine NME. The concert will be a part of Sydney’s Vivid Live festival on June 5 in Australia. The show will only be 20 minutes long due to pooches”