Month: February 2011

The City of El Paso is considering dropping the permit fee for plumbing work done after last week’s freeze following an uproar from angry plumbers and residents. On Tuesday, city officials indicated that anyone having any plumbing work done at all would be required to get a $72 permit. ABC-7 quickly approached Mayor John Cook

ABCNews New research that links diet soda consumption with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke has doctors urging caution about the controversial and preliminary results. According to a study of more than 2,500 people presented today as a poster at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, people who drank

After a week without it, Shauntel Manley said she’s tired of worrying about water. “There’s no way to do dishes,” she told ABC-7. “You can’t clean do laundry, there’s obviously no way to shower.” Manley said she’s also tired of the apologetic letters from the management at Terrace Hill Apartments in west El Paso. Last

Twenty one years ago today, seven people were brutally shot – four of them killed – at a Las Cruces bowling alley. The crime remains unsolved. “Help please, we’re all shot and hold up Las Cruces Bowl shots fired… Please hurry – they shot me five times.” That was a portion of the 911 call

United States Attorney John E. Murphy, FBI Special Agent in Charge David Cuthbertson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph A. Arabit announced on Thursday the arrests of six individuals based on two federal grand jury indictments in the alleged connection with two major drug trafficking operations in the El Paso/Juarez corridor. Those arrested on

Over the next two weeks, beginning February 14, 2011 – Producers of the National Geographic Channel television series “LOCKDOWN” will be in El Paso, Texas filming at both the El Paso County Detention Facility & Jail Annex. Producers will be given unprecedented access to areas within the El Paso County Jail Walls & will be

El Pasoan Kenneth Berba looked more like an extra from 80s B-boy classic movie “Beat Street” than the next American Idol when he auditioned on the television show this season. Berba auditioned for American Idol in front of Steven Tyler, Jennifer Jopez and Randy Jackson but got a quick no as he just walked in

Water Utility Rescinds Boiled Water Notice EL PASO – Effective 10 a.m. this morning, El Paso Water Utilities has rescinded the notice requiring residents to boil water prior to consumption. Tests throughout the service area confirm that the water is safe to drink and meets all drinking water standards. Water service has been restored in

Several members of an senior citizen community in west El Paso told ABC-7 they feel like they’re being brushed off. “We try and talk to them and they ignore us, ” said Manuel Diego. He and his neighbors said the storm has taken a toll on them. “Everybody’s having problems with their health and an

The City of El Paso has shown interest in being part of a state investigation into what went wrong with El Paso Electric last week, when thousands of people dealt with power outages. During the freeze, much of El Paso Electric’s equipment froze, and the company lost all eight generators in two local power plants.

The Texas Legislature is set to address this session two bills that will make it easier for victims of stalkers to seek protection from and enforcement against stalkers. One bill, sponsored by the Texas Council on Family Violence, makes it easier for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute stalkers by allowing into evidence a full

The University of Texas at El Paso Faculty Senate voted Tuesday, Feb. 8, to reinstate Csar Chvez Day on March 31, 2011 as a ?no class day.? The Faculty Senate made this decision based on a clearer understanding of the new state requirements for staff holidays, which reduced by two the number of staff holidays

An increasing number of people may learn about trials not through TV newscasts and newspaper articles, but through Facebook posts and Twitter updates. Across the country, social media in the courtroom has resulted in everything from gag orders to mistrials. The chances that Facebook updates and tweets will affect a case here in El Paso

If City of El Paso employees get their way, El Pasoans will still need permits for their emergency plumbing work – they just won’t have to pay a $72 permit fee. City of El Paso staff told ABC-7 on Wednesday that they will ask City Council on Tuesday to set the plumbing permit fee at

As the weather warms up and pipes begin to thaw, property owners are assessing the damage caused by last weekend’s freezing temperatures. Many of them are placing calls to their insurance agents. Many knew the snow and cold temperatures were headed our way. Most took what they called preventative measures, but in many cases it

ABCNews Can a “man van” make the minivan — a vehicle long associated with carpools, soccer practice and unpleasant road trips — cool again? Chrysler is trying to do just that with its new Dodge Grand Caravan RT, unveiled today at the Chicago Auto Show. Dodge says the minivan drives like a sports car thanks

All Peter Piper Pizza locations in El Paso will be hosting a fund raiser on Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 4 – 9 p.m. to benefit the Matos family, who lost five family members in a house fire. Fifteen percent of all proceeds collected Wednesday evening will go to the Matos family. Three of the family

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the port of entry in El Paso identified and stopped two vehicles loaded with a total of 52.5 pounds of cocaine Tuesday. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is $1,682,560. “The layered enforcement approach CBP utilizes helped in making these seizures,” said Charlie Wright, CBP

Got sins? A new app for the iPhone and the iPad seeks to help Catholics prepare for confession, that sacred ritual of seeking penance for sins big and small. “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” does not purport to take the place of an actual confession. Not even the Catholic Church, tech-savvy as it is with

Hundreds of leaks, millions of gallons of water, wasted. Like in El Paso, the Village of Ruidoso is in the middle of a water emergency. “We’ve got water line breaks all over the place,” Justin King, water project manager, said. “We’ve got about 75 people out identifying every one of these breaks and trying to

No water for nearly a week. While Las Cruces is not facing a water emergency like in El Paso, some residents said they have been without any tap since last week’s winter blast. Residents at the High Range Apartment complex, off Roadrunner Parkway in East Las Cruces, told ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom, not being

ABCNews Mareena Silva was six weeks pregnant when she said a Colorado pharmacist gave her a powerful abortion drug that can cause miscarriages and birth defects, instead of her prescribed antibiotic. Now, nearly a week later, the 19-year-old Ft. Lupton, Colo., woman may lose her baby because of the mistake. The drug, methotrexate, is used

The town of Socorro Texas needs heaters and blankets for older and under privileged residents, donated items need not be new. To donate please call the Socorro community center. Information: 860-9163

While many were affected by and complied with the mandatory water restrictions, there were some in the county who had few or no issues. El Paso County has several water districts. There were a few that didn’t have any problems because they have their own water system. “Since they were experiencing difficulties, they would come

City of El Paso is responding to city wide plumbing needs and is addressing permit needs of residents with extended office hours by opening on Fridays for next several weeks. Please note that if you have had plumbing problems such as broken pipes you are required to obtain a permit for the repairs. Under an

Juarez’s drug war will be featured in a video game being released this summer, the game’s publisher, Ubisoft announced this week. The game will be named Call of Juarez The Cartel and is the third game in the award-winning Call of Juarez series. According to a news release, “Call of Juarez The Cartel is set

Water officials estimate there are between 15,000 and 20,000 residents dealing with broken pipes throughout the city. If you’re worried your bill may be too high because of leaking water, El Paso Water Utilities officials say they’ll work with you to adjust the bill. Nick Costanzo, EPWU’s vice president of business operations and finance, said

After a six day weekend, many area students are heading back to school with something extra in their backpacks. Their own drinking water. The boil alert for the city won’t be lifted until Wednesday at noon at the earliest, so students have been asked by school officials to bring their own drinking water. Even though

Public Libraries announce operating schedule modifications due to recent storm. The following Public Library facilities are open to serve the public as of Tuesday, February 08, 2011: Clardy Fox Branch 5515 Robert Alva Dorris Van Doren Branch 551 Redd Rd. Irving Schwartz Branch 1865 Dean Martin Jose Cisneros Cielo Vista Branch 1300 Hawkins Judge Marquez

In the weeks leading to Valentine’s Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s highly trained agriculture specialists ensure that plant diseases and plant pests are detected and prevented from being introduced into the United States where they could cause harm. At international ports of entry, land borders and mail facilities, CBP agriculture specialists are the front