Month: January 2014

Fr. Alan Ouloch Alaka was ordained Saturday during a solemn ceremony at St. Patrick Cathedral. It was the first ordination ceremony for new El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, who was installed in July. Alaka, who is from Kenya, has made El Paso his home. After the event, bishop Seitz tweeted: “Fr. Allan Oluoch, Ordained today.

A jury in Las Cruces could not reach a verdict in Jeremy Bogart’s murder trial after nearly 8 hours of deliberations Friday. They did find Bogart guilty of tampering with evidence, but Judge Doug Driggers declared a mistrial on the murder charge. Attorneys said jurors could not reach a unanimous decision on the counts of

Baseball fans get ready. The first pitch for the El Paso Chihuahuas is less than four months away. And other than the Ballpark being ready for opening day, the biggest concern for many fans is parking. A local consulting firm, Walter P. Moore, conducted a study that concludes there are more than 12,000 parking spaces

More than six years after pleading guilty to defrauding taxpayers, former El Paso County Commissioner Betti Flores avoided prison time. Federal Judge Frank Montalvo sentenced her to five years probation and a $25,000 fine. Days before Friday’s sentencing hearing, Flores’ attorney filed a request for the judge to be more lenient and give her probation

A man is in the hospital after being shot outside a Central El Paso bar early Friday morning. The incident happened outside of the George Washington Lounge around midnight. It’s located on the 3900 block of Montana near the intersection with Lamar. Emergency Services dispatch confirmed a man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening

Two people inside a car carrying marijuana tried to evade an El Paso county deputy and instead, ended up in the hospital. A sheriff’s spokesman confirmed a deputy was involved in a high speed chase that ended at Gateway West and Viscount shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday. The vehicle, a Toyota Cambry, sideswiped a truck

New information on a Las Cruces shooting.Officers responded to a shots fired call late Thursday at the George Washington Lounge at3900 Montana. Officers arrived and found the victim (22-year old, Male) to have agunshot wound. Officer’s investigation revealed that the victim and others becameinvolved in a verbal altercation that escalated to the point that several

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail — it’s a cheesy sports cliche, but especially true during college football’s bowl season. John Ballein, Virginia Tech’s associate director of athletics for football operations, was in town this week — ironing out the logistics with folks from the Sun Bowl, practice facilities and hotel. ABC-7’s Collin Carroll

One of the ringleaders of El Paso’s public corruption case didn’t wait long to appeal his own guilty plea. Former Access Healthsource CEO Frank Apodaca hasn’t even reported to prison yet and he says he’s maintained his innocence all along. A court filing states his former legal team talked him into pleading guilty. His new

A scheduled hearing for Army Spc. Jeffrey Farrey did not take place Thursday morning because he was indicted the day before. Jeffrey was indicted on a charge of injury to child by omission, the charge he has been held on at the El Paso County Detention Facility since Nov. 18. His case has been handed

Scattered pieces of the wreckage still litter the landscape of the Franklin Mountains. The enormous turbines and propellers now wear 60 years of rust and compete with the desert cacti for space. Few hikers make the treacherous climb to the site where the bomber went down in 1953, but even fewer people are still alive

A bonfire reportedly spread out of control Wednesday night, ultimately devouring a mobile home in Anthony, New Mexico. Authorities say the incident happened around 9 p.m. on the 200 block of Lincoln. The Red Cross is assisting the family. There is no word yet on estimated damages.

In his last meeting as a Public Service Board member, Dr. Richard Bonart helped rescind a rule that prohibited board members from speaking to the media and the public about PSB policies. The rule required board members to refer questions to the Board President, the El Paso Water Utility C.E.O. or a spokesperson. In a

Were homes in Socorro intentionally flooded to save another neighborhood? That’s the allegation made by those filing a lawsuit. Residents argue an earthen dam along Stockyard Street was diverted after Storm 2006. They claim this was done to keep the flow of water upstream from Sparks and Horizon City from flooding the new Valley Ridge

A toddler found by a border patrol agent alone in a desert is home with his mother in Mexico after an investigation by authorities on both sides of the border. She carried him across an international bridge in El Paso escorted by the Consul General of Mexico and accompanied by the boy’s aunt and grandmother.

It was an early start for dozens of volunteers and members of the Rotary Club of El Paso Wednesday morning. At 6 a.m. they began filling more than 4,400 stocking with snacks, juice boxes and candy at the First Presbyterian Church in Central El Paso that will be given away to some of the most

The Borderland is well aware that the Las Cruces vs. Mayfield high-school football rivalry is one to be reckoned with — and USA Today is also taking note. An online poll shows the match-up is not only one of the 10 best rivalries in the country — the schools received more national votes than any

The El Paso city council Tuesday replaced the consumer advocate to the Public Service Board over what some say was a mis-characterization of his intentions. Dr. Rick Bonart’s term will now expire December 31. Initially, City Representative Eddie Holguin made a motion to re-appoint him to the PSB and city representative Carl Robinson seconded the

From the ballpark, to tax increases in the budget…. … a waste of taxpayer dollars City Rep. Eddie Holguin has voted no.…Where are you going to get the money? Which is why he’s come under heavy criticism for the Shawver Park lights display and now, a special election that could cost the taxpayer anywhere from

A special election to replace City Rep. Eddie Holguin and Municipal Judge Rick Olivo will cost taxpayers between $180,000 and $250,000, city attorneys said Tuesday. Holguin is running for County Judge and Olivo is a candidate for 205th District Court. News of the high cost angered some government watchdogs who attended the Council meeting. “Neither

Mack Brown’s attorney says the Texas coach has not resigned, denying a report that his client was ready to step down after 16 seasons with the Longhorns. Orangebloods.com reported, citing two unidentified sources, that Brown will announce he is leaving Texas and that an announcement could come later this week. Joe Jamail, Brown’s longtime friend

It’s not often that you find something before you begin searching. But that’s how the past few days have gone for authorities who recovered a 2-year-old boy Saturday — abandoned in the New Mexico desert — and must now locate the child’s family. Sunland Park, N.M., police said a woman claiming to be the boy’s

County leaders approved nearly $3 million in contracts to complete work on a water project in far east El Paso. The project aims to bring water to more than 100 families in the Colonia Revolucion. Currently the area has no running water, making tasks like showering, cooking and just drinking water a challenge. Commissioner Vince

ABC-7 has learned from Child Protective Services in El Paso that Blake Farrey, the 20-month-old son of Jenna and Army Spc. Jeffrey Farrey, will be transferred from Michigan back to El Paso foster care as soon as this week. According to defense attorneys for both Jenna and Jeffrey — who remain jailed in El Paso

Flood insurance won’t be a necessity for El Paso County residents near the Rio Grande. The possibility was there thanks to new FEMA maps drafted back in 2010. The maps have sat on shelves for years without being put into use, mostly because they identified hundreds of spots as flood zones that were not previously

It’s an announcement a year in the making and now it’s official. The two teams chosen to play at this years 80th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl areVirginia Tech andUCLA. Both teams combined only have 7 losses in the season, which should make for an exiting game New Year’s Eve. The news came inSunday evening and

One toddler may be spending Christmas away from his family this year. He was in government custody Sunday after being abandoned in the New Mexico desert Saturday night. A Border Patrol agent found the 2-year-old boy near the intersection of Posey and Anapra roads. He arrived without warning, crossing as fast as the man claiming

The 78th annual Christmas tree lighting happened in Cleveland Park instead of San Jacinto Plaza due to construction. The Celebration of Lights event will be in Cleveland Square for the next two years.

The fireworks display was sponsored by evolve Federal Credit Union.

The 78th-annual Celebration of Lights moved from San Jacinto Plaza to Cleveland Square this year, but the mood Saturday was just as bright as always. “It’s a brand-new experience for El Paso,” said ABC-7’s Ashlie Rodriguez, “and I am happy to be here sharing it with you.” And plenty of happy faces in the crowd