Month: May 2010

Miss Texas Kelsey Moore is a born competitor. She plays on UTEP’s volleyball team and now, she is vying for the crown of Miss USA. “I’m there to compete, and I’m there to have fun,” Kelsey, 19, said of the pageant. “I’m really good at visualizing and this is what I’ve been doing for the

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the El Paso port of entry made four marijuana seizures Thursday, including one bust where the drugs were found concealed in beer and soda cans. “Smuggling organizations will use every imaginable concealment method to try to get narcotics through our international ports of entry,” William Molaski,

The Department of Homeland Security will deploy advanced imaging technology (AIT) units to the El Paso International Airport to strengthen security, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes announced Friday. The airport is one of 28 nationwide that will receive the body scanners this summer. The units were made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that

Portland’s loss could end up El Paso’s gain. Ballparkdigest.com is reporting that the Portland Beavers, a Triple-A team, are considering moving their team to the Sun City. Jim Paul, who owned the El Paso Diablos from 1975-1999, is skeptical the move will happen. “This is a very speculative story by a couple of computer nerds

A newly renovated air strip could help propel Las Cruces toward an economic boost. It’s the newest runway in the state, and one pilot hopes it will pave the way for new business. “It’s just an exceptional benefit for the city and for the airport,” explained Doug Newton, with Adventure Aviation. The pilot gave ABC-7

You may have seen the signs around town pushing for a ‘yes’ vote in the El Paso Independent School District’s upcoming tax ratification vote. They belong to a group called ‘El Paso for Education Excellence,’ a political action committee, or PAC, made up of private citizens using private donations to get the tax proposal passed.

They came by the busload. Demonstrators from Dallas and Odessa protesting Arizona’s new immigration law stopped in El Paso Thursday evening to pick up a few of their Sun City friends. Attorney Domingo Garcia, President of the Dallas League of Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, organized the “freedom ride.” Garcia is paying for the charter

El Paso County will soon not allow residents to register their vehicles if they owe delinquent fines or fees in hopes raising taxes can be avoided and a $10 million deficit can be covered. Residents must pay the County Tax Assessor before they renew their registration stickers. However, state law allows a county to refuse

In case you haven’t heard, two UTEP students – Miss New Mexico and Miss Texas – are competing to become the next Miss USA. 23-year-old Rosanne Aguilar is an experienced titleholder in beauty pageants. The Miss New Mexico USA winner says she’s prepared her whole life to be crowned the next Miss USA. “It’s definitely

Bailey Fincher, the 2-year-old boy who nearly drowned on Sunday, has died, according to El Paso Police officials. He was pronounced dead at Providence Memorial Hospital just before 2 p.m. Thursday. Bailey was found unconscious in a pool by his mother on Sunday evening in the 900 block of Vereda del Valle. The Drowning Prevention

After 40 years, the United States’ war on drugs has cost $1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of lives, and for what? Drug use is rampant and violence even more brutal and widespread. Even U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske concedes the strategy hasn’t worked. “In the grand scheme, it has not been successful,” Kerlikowske told

In early March, the U.S. Government stopped deporting large numbers of deportees into Ciudad Juarez due to the ongoing drug cartel violence in the city. But Ciuadad Juarez Migrant Shelter director, Dominican Brother Gerardo Arias, and others working with migrants say that even with the rampant violence, discharging deportees into Ciudad Juarez is not an

Less than 30 percent of University of Texas at El Paso undergraduates complete their coursework in six years. The number of students who graduate in four years is even more dismal. “We’ve got a 4 percent graduation rate for four-year students, we have to improve that,” State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, said. “It’s one

It will be another night of recovery for two teens hit by a car in Canutillo. ABC-7 can tell you one is in stable condition – but the other is in coma. The two 14-year-olds were hit while walking across Doniphan. “I could not believe it. It was like in, like a movie scene,” said

A new cigar and tobacco business getting ready to open at 2285 E Lohman Avenue in Las Cruces was damaged by a fire late Tuesday night, according to the Las Cruces Fire Dept. Four engine companies, two truck companies and a Battalion Chief from the Las Cruces Fire Department responded to the fire shortly after

The City of El Paso wants to see if a mass transit terminal would be a good fit at part of Asarco’s old smelter site. City representatives approved a study on Tuesday that will cost about $500,000 to check the feasibility of a terminal on Asarco land. The terminal may include light rail and bus

Help the Anthony, New Mexico Marroquin triplets get to Harvard by donating to the Marroquin Triplet Harvard Fund at www.Womensinterculturalcenter.org. Donations can also be made by calling 575-882-5556 or sending them to 303 lincoln street, Anthony, New Mexico 88021. Donations must specify they are for the Marroquin Harvard Fund.

The University of Texas at El Paso is anticipating the largest spring commencement in the University?s 96-year history. In spring 2009, 2,474 students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. So far, 2,336 of the 2,549 graduating students have confirmed their participation in UTEP?s 124th Commencement and more are expected to register by the

A preliminary investigation into a fire that killed two boys and left their father badly burned has revealed it was accidental in nature, according to El Paso Fire Dept. officials. The fire happened in the early morning hours of April 11 at the Krupp Memorial Housing Complex in east El Paso. Neighbors said Gilbert Sifuentes

Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a man who Las Cruces Police believe may have had inappropriate sexual contact with an 11-year-old girl. Las Cruces Police are searching for Antonio Hernandez, 41, of the 3800 block of N. Fork Arc., for

It’s getting warm outside and the kids will be out of school soon. No doubt, more of them will be spending time going swimming. That also means parents need to be more careful. A 2-year-old little boy nearly drowned Sunday in a pool at an Upper Valley home. Police say he was reaching for a

With a vote of 5-1, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees agreed to ask taxpayers to shell out a little more to keep the district out of a $6-8 million budget shortfall for the 2010-2011 school year. EPISD wants the tax rate to go from $1.23 to $1.36 for every $100 of

The brutal violence in Juarez has reached a new low. It’s one that has many questioning if there is any respect left for mankind along the streets paralyzed with fear and murders. It seems that even a place of worship isn’t safe in Juarez. It was during a wedding ceremony over the weekend that three

It’s not quite stealing candy from a baby, but it’s pretty darn close. For several months, thieves have been stealing bicycles and tricycles from the Child Crisis Center of El Paso, an organization with a mission to protect children from abuse and neglect. “If you could only hear the story of some of the children

UTEP forward Jeremy Williams is one of 11 NCAA Division I players who will tour China as part of the “Reach USA” team from May 14-31. The team will play nine games against squads from the Chinese Basketball Association. Since its inception, the organization has visited 16 different countries on five continents. Joining Williams on

A Clarksville, Tenn. man allegedly stole several cases of beer from a gas station and then took the beer back minutes later to try and exchange the warm beer for cold ones. The clerk told police the man was drunk. Read the full story here.

First came the red light cameras. Then came the cell phone ordinance. And if those were not already enough to worry about behind the wheel, drivers will soon have to watch out for mobile speed vans. The City of Las Crucesplans to make speed cameras mobile ? putting speedsters at risk for getting caught anywhere

Golfweek has released its Best Municipal Courses list for 2009-’10 and the Butterfield Trail golf course in El Paso was ranked No. 3. The Butterfield Trail golf course was designed by Tom Fazio. This is the first time the golf course has made Golfweek’s list. Another Southwest golf course that debuted on the list was

El Paso company Charlotte’s, Inc. Was placed on probation for five years and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine for federal structuring violations. Charlotte’s, Inc., represented by its owner Melissa O’Rourke, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to a one count Information charging the company with structuring transactions involving more than $630,000 in order to evade financial

Las Cruces Police have arrested the man they say is responsible for intentionally causing an automobile crash on Saturday evening. Leonard Calvillo, 19, of the 2100 block of Desert Drive, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of intentional child abuse. At about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May