Month: January 2014

Frank Castillo was one of the best baseball players to ever come out of El Paso. Tuesday, he was laid to rest. Castillo was just 44 years old when he tragically drowned nine days ago at a lake near his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. During his funeral services at St. Raphael’s, Castillo, who pitched 13

A small, single engine cropduster crashed in a field along Borderland road in the Upper Valley near Santa Teresa Tuesday morning. The plane ended up upside down with a broken wing near a cotten field but the pilot was not seriously injured. New Mexico State police say the pilot was flying too low and struck

The Texas Legislature has adjourned, ending the third special session of the year after passing a major transportation measure. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus declared the session over late Monday after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that would boost transportation spending by about $1.2 billion per year. The money would come

Commissioners were split right down the middle when it came to a proposal to create a new management structure within the county of El Paso. On Monday, El Paso County judge Veronica Escobar presented an item to be discussed which would create a new office of administration within the county. If approved, the office would

Weeks of debate, arguments and budget struggles were finally put to rest during Monday’s El Paso County Commissioner court meeting. Commissioners voted 4 to 0 to approve a countywide radio system despite its price tag that has ballooned to $5.8 million over budget. Sheriff Richard Wiles has called the radios a necessity. After the meeting,

On Monday commissioners will gather to discuss the Sheriff’s radio request. Two weeks ago tempers flared as debate trudged on for more than three hours. On Thursday a meeting was held to clarify budget concerns. The county auditor highlighted several possible locations of savings within a list of 2012 bond projects that could makeup for

New information on the domestic battery case involving KTSM anchor Adrienne Alvarez. The Newschannel 9 anchor was arrested early Thursday morning for allegedly beating her husband, Hazael Dominguez. Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies said Alvarez hit her husband during an argument.Alvarez and her husband were married in 2011 and together they have a young child.

Plans for a horse slaughter plant in New Mexico have been halted. A U.S. district judge decided to issue a restraining order against the Valley Meat Co. of Roswell after the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit. The Humane Society said the Department of Agriculture failed to do the proper environmental studies

An El Paso man’s arrested far from home in West Virginia and he wasn’t going to the jailhouse quietly. Court reports show 32-year-old James Rush was arrested for disorderly conduct last weekend in the city of Huntington. But while he was being taken to the jail reports show Rush said that when he got out

A boy was rushed to the hospital Saturday after he nearly drowns in an apartment complex swimming pool. He is now in stable condition. A fire department spokesman said his initial condition was listed as code three. That’s the most severe emergency condition. He was rescued from a pool on the 8700 block of Norton.

A man has been declared brain dead after attempting suicide in prison. Daniel Leyva, 27, was found Friday, hanging from a metal hook inside the Doa Ana County Detention Center. He used a piece of his uniform as a noose. Officers tried to perform CPR but he was declared brain dead at an el paso

Richard McIntyre, 70, was under investigation for rape and domestic abuse. The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Officed decided not to arrest McIntyre until there was an indictment. The day before McIntyre’s grand jury hearing, he kidnapped and killed his sister-in-law. Las Cruces police report the number of violent cases of domestic abuse has gone up.

County dollars and expenditures remain under the microscope this week. Last month, a debate tied to a new P25 radio system for the county sheriff spurred questions and discussion about how tax dollars should be used. The new radio system would allow for better communication within the department. It also happens to be several million

A mother accused of beating her daughter to death was found not guilty of capital murder, but was convicted of injury to a child. A jury reached the verdict in the trial of Lorraine Merjil, 23, Thursday evening in the 34th District Court. They had entered deliberations this afternoon. The sentencing phase of the trial

El Paso Police have released the names of those involved in a stabbing outside a West Side club early Friday. Police were patrolling the parking lof ot the Little Bit of Texas Bar at around 1:50 a.m. when were told of an incident that was occurring in another area of the parking lot. As officers

Those who doubted the new Triple-A baseball stadium project and the process behind it’s final approval are saying “I told you so.” “I’ll be honest I did not agree with the ballpark,” said Mayor Oscar Leeser at a City Council meeting Thursday. “It started at $50 million without a voice of the people, it went

ABC-7’s Ashlie Rodriguez was hesitant to adopt a new dog. But after speaking with the staff at the El Paso Humane Society, she knew she could handle a new furry friend. With their help she selected a perfect match. ABC-7’s annual “Save a Life” Telethon is this Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tune

The ballpark is going to cost El Paso more. Thursday afternoon, members of the El Paso City Council, acting as the Downtown Development Corporation, voted to raise the interest rate on ballpark bonds by 1.5 percent. This means the interest on $60 million meant to pay for the ballpark is up from 5 percent on

Las Cruces police say a murder-suicide that happened on Wednesday may be connected to a grand jury hearing scheduled for Thursday. Police said Richard McIntyre, 70, shot his sister-in-law Lisa Cash, 59, and then shot himself. “He was under investigation this summer for an apparent domestic violence incident involving a relative,” said Dan Trujillo, spokesman

Taxes continue to rise and deaths are a part of life. In the 1700s an American politician once wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It’s as true today as it was then. Death and taxes are also connected through county services. Rarely publicized, El Paso County

With many of El Paso’s top leaders in attendance, new Fort Bliss Commanding General Sean MacFarland gave his first State of the Military Address Thursday. MacFarland was very candid in his remarks, talking in his more than half an hour address about Fort Bliss’ changing mission as home of the 1st Armored Division Combat Team,

Construction on El Paso’s new Downtown ballpark is starting to become much more visual. The project has entered the fifth month of what’s expected to be a year-long process and now a third of the way into construction, the $60 million dollar-plus ballpark is starting to rise out of the ground and into the air.

Las Cruces police are investigating a murder-suicide near the intersection of Lees and Bellamah drives. Police say they got a call about a gunshot victim around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A man and a woman were both taken to a local hospital. Both were pronounced dead. Neighbors said they heard gunshots and ran outside. “We

Police in Las Cruces are investigating a possible murder-suicide. It happened Wednesday nightat around 7:30 P.M. at the intersection of Leesand Bellamah. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and when they walked outside they saw a man and woman both lying on the ground. Police say the man and woman died at the hospital. Their names have

City street consruction projects may soon be managed by the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, and not the City of El Paso. El Paso City Council on Tuesday voted to explore the option of the RMA managing its street capital improvement plan, which includes all street construction projects in the works. “If we can find

After nearly 10 hours of air travel from Brazil, El Paso Catholic Bishop Mark Seitz and 15 El Paso youths were finally back in El Paso after attending World Youth Day. Seitz said while seeing Pope Francis speak in Brazil was a high point, he said it wasn’t the whole experience. There also were teachings

An unidentified relative claimed 38-year-old Charles Moralesconfided with her about killing his wife less than a month before she was found stabbed to death. Tuesday investigators identified Morales of the 7800 block of Maverick as the person responsible for the death of estranged wife Annette Hernandez and the attempted murder of Adrian Archuleta. A family

New details on a deadly stabbing that led to a police-involved shooting. ABC-7 has uncovered new information about the suspect and victims, including what linked them. Police say Charles Morales stabbed two people early Monday and when confronted, police say officers were forced to use deadly force. Police say Morales stabbed his entranged wife to

Shop owners in the oldest shopping district in El Paso will now be eligible for more funds to renovate their building facades, though two city representatives said the move is unfair. El Paso City Council on Tuesday added shops south of Paisano, closest to the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry to the Downtown Tax

The Texas Legislature adjourned Tuesday for the final time of the Legislature’s second special session, but both Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the governor will immediately call a third special session. Lawmakers failed to pass a key transportation measure after House and Senate Republicans did not agree on how to boost