Month: January 2011

ABCNews Rape is only really rape if it involves force, according to the new House Republican majority as it now moves to change abortion law. For years, federal laws restricting the use of government funds to pay for abortions have included exemptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, with another exemption covering pregnancies that

Several changes in the tax laws this filing season could affect how much you receive in your return, or even when you can file. Those who received unemployment benefits can no longer write off $2,400. “The entire amount is taxable,” said Terry Hansen with Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. Some other changes could affect teachers. The

The University of Texas at El Paso welcomes the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 31, at Magoffin Auditorium. Napolitano will deliver remarks that highlight the Department of Homeland Security’s unprecedented efforts to secure the Southwest border. The event is the second in a yearlong series of discussions

A week after the first riots began, no sign of relief, only strengthening reform efforts. Some supporters, in our own backyard. Soliman Oushy, a pre-med student at New Mexico State University, has extended family and friends in Egypt, thrust right in the middle of the paralyzing political unrest. Soliman said, if he was not in

The American Red Cross offers these tips to help people stay safe and prepare for plunging temperatures. “There is usually an increase in home fires during cold spells like this because of the use of space heaters and alternative heating sources,” said Mark Matthys, Red Cross El Paso executive director. “There are steps people can

El Paso Police have identified the sixth homicide victim of the year as Adrian Cardenas, 28, of El Paso. Cardenas was killed in the parking lot of a gas station in the 5300 block of Dyer at around 2:20 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. El Paso Police’s Crimes Against Persons division has asked that anybody

El Paso Police have released the identities of the mother and daughter who were stabbed to death on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. They have been identified as Amalia Flores, 58, and Jovana Flores, 20, both of the 11500 block of Pratt in East El Paso. Their bodies were found inside the home.

Las Cruces Police arrested a man late Saturday evening after he allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with a hunting knife. Victor Manuel Pinedo, 24, of the 1800 block of Alameda Boulevard, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a household member and battery against a household member. Las Cruces Police said that on

The El Paso Police Dept. identified the 37-year-old man killed in a traffic collision Sunday night as Haasan Amin, of the 200 block of Shadow Mountain. The accident occurred at about 9:11 p.m. Sunday near the 6300 block of N. Mesa. Amin was traveling south in a 1997 Honda Accord on North Mesa when the

Henry Cavill, the star of Showtime’s “The Tudors,” has been cast as iconic superhero Superman in a film to be directed by Zack Snyder, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures confirmed in a statement Jan. 30. “In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am

Update: El Paso Police have identified the man that was stabbed to death on Friday at the Rescue Mission as Joseph Anthony Powell, 22. Clarence Roper has been charged with murder. Previous Story: El Paso Police have charged a 50-year-old man in the stabbing death of a man at the Rescue Mission of El Paso

The StormTRACK Weather Team has issued a First Alert due to the possibility of snow and bitterly cold temperatures later this week. An arctic cold front will push through the region tomorrow afternoon, plummeting temperatures for the rest of the week. Also, an upper-level low will tap into Pacific moisture, which in turn could give

ABCNews Allstate said its press release on zodiac signs and accident rates apparently led to some confusion about whether “astrological signs are part of the underwriting process.” It is not, the company said in a statement on Jan. 29, 2011. “We deeply apologize for any confusion this may have caused,” the statement said. Click here

A Northeast El Paso family is coping with the devastating deaths of three young children and their grandmother. Sunday morning, the last surviving grandchild from the fire, 10-year-old Eboney Jones, was taken off life support, according to her mother, Camille Jones-Sanchez. “It’s hard for me to let them go but they’re in a better place

Shopping for a new pet? You may soon be able to buy one from the unlikeliest of places – the City of El Paso – just months after city leaders ended sales of dogs and cats at pet stores. This has El Paso’s animal rescue groups pretty upset because those plans mean moving pet adoptions

The El Paso Fire Department was called to a warehouse fire on the city’s east side Saturday afternoon. A fire department spokesman said more than 50 firefighters were called to battle the blaze in the 11300 block of James Watt Drive. The building’s sprinkler system activated, but was unable to reach the fire due to

MediaNews Group, which publishes The Denver Post, The Salt Lake Tribune, the El Paso Times and nearly 50 other newspapers, may be merged with newspaper companies including Freedom Communications Inc, the Wall Street Journal recently reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Affiliated Media Inc, the parent of MediaNews, had filed for bankruptcy protection a

The El Paso Police Department has confirmed that a 30-year-old man was killed in a confrontation at 5300 Dyer Street early Saturday morning. Another man was transported to an area hospital — his condition was not released. More information will be released this afternoon. Last year, El Paso had five homicides. In 2011 so far,

Authorities said two people were fatally stabbed on the 11000 block of Pratt Street in East El Paso Friday afternoon. A spokesman with Emergency Medical Services told ABC-7 that a 58-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman, who were mother and daughter, were killed. A third woman who was rushed to an area hospital with stab

We’re just four weeks into the new year, but El Paso’s homicide rate has already surpassed last year’s. The city saw 5 homicides in 2010; that was the lowest count in 46 years. This weekend detectives handled four homicides in the span of ten hours. The total count as of Saturday night was 6 homicides.

Family tells ABC-7 the 14-year-old boy involved in a house fire alongside his siblings and grandparents has died. Isaiah Matos was taken off life support Friday night, according to the boy’s mother. Isaiah’s 55-year-old grandmother, Monica Matos, and his 9-year-old brother died Friday in Lubbock. Ysleta Independent School District officials identified the 9-year-old boy as

Justin Hurtt drained a 16-foot jumper with 6.8 seconds left to lift Tulsa to a 69-68 victory over UTEP on Saturday night. Hurtt finished with 18 points, 15 of those in the second half, and made the final shot over a leaping Randy Culpepper, who led UTEP with 28 points. Jordan Clarkson had 14 points

At approximately 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, a woman entered the Wells Fargo Bank located at 6175 Gateway West, El Paso, Texas, handed the teller a note and demanded money. The teller complied and gave the subject an amount of money. Authorities did not disclose the amount of money. The subject did not display a

ABCNews A Tampa, Fla., mother accused of murdering her two teenage children because they were “mouthy” was hospitalized today, delaying her first scheduled court appearance. Julie Schenecker, 50, a military officer’s wife, was arrested Friday when police, responding to call from a concerned relative, found her covered in blood on the back porch of her

EL PASO, TEXAS- Junior Gloria Brown poured in 20 points, including seven in the final three minutes, to help the UTEP women?s basketball team down Tulsa, 69-66, in front of a season-high 2,642 fans at the Don Haskins Center Thursday evening. The Miners (12-7, 4-3 C-USA) led by one early on in the second stanza

The El Paso Fire Dept. is offering fire safety tips to help prevent deadly house fires. Practice Escaping From Every Room in the Home Practice escape plans every month. The best plans have two ways to get out of each room. If the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke, you will need a

The deadly drug war in Ciudad Juarez and Mexico has some U.S. churches and ministries divided on whether or not to continue to send missionaries and volunteers across the border. One group based out of El Paso, Casas por Cristo, told ABC-7 they’ve seen a drop in volunteers since the violence started escalating in Ciudad

Smoking pot could soon turn from a bad habit to a costly habit. A proposed bill in New Mexico would make it the law for the unemployed to pass a drug test to collect jobless benefits. But some argue that one has little to do with the other. Senate Bill 263 is only being discussed

Walmart is introducing a new line of cosmetics, but this one is designed for girls 8- to 12-years-old. They might be on to something considering the tween makeup market rakes in more than $24 million per year. The top sellers are lip gloss, eye shadow and mascara. “I like blush, lipstick, um, mascara,” 9-year-old Haley

On Monday, Commissioners Court voted for a makeover of the El Paso Mental Health and Mental Retardation board. And on Tuesday, the CEO fired off an e-mail to his employees that some describe as flippant and even arrogant, providing a glimpse into the perspective of an embattled CEO. The e-mail was forwarded to ABC-7 by