Month: July 2014

Two congresswomen are pushing to make a national park on the moon. The idea was sparked by the research of a New Mexico State University professor. Anthropology professor Beth O’Leary said the first footprints from the moon landing in 1969 are still there. She said it’s important to preserve these and other pieces of lunar

Hundreds of same-sex couples rushed to get marriage licenses in Dona Ana County this past week, but does this mean more business for the local economy? “Neither one of us really ever thought about getting married. That was never a possibility growing up,” Char Ullman told ABC-7. Ullman and her partner, Carrie Hamblen, were fifth

At least one county commissioner is questioning the timing of this week’s talks about creating a county manager position. It’s because the terms of two current commissioners expire at the end of the year. “If we vote on this on Monday, I’m OK with that,” said County Commissioner Sergio Lewis. “But with having one appointed

Watch Gov. Rick Perry talk about border security live at 1 p.m. by going to http://bit.ly/1jRYhdg

The New Mexico Department of Health reported today that 331 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported in New Mexico in 2013. “Pertussis is very contagious and can cause serious illness?especially in infants too young to be fully vaccinated,” said Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward, MPH. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to

A Las Cruces behavioral health provider is scaling back on operations. The CEO said his agency has been forced to downsize after the state cut its Medicaid funding. The state alleges an audit of Families and Youth Inc. revealed evidence of over billing and possible Medicaid fraud. CEO Jose Frietze told ABC-7 the state has

A piece of black history still stands in Las Cruces. At a time when segregation was the norm, a small cemetery gave the black community some relief. The Community Cemetery was built at a time when people were turned away because of the color of their skin. “There was a time when people of color

Las Cruces Police have arrested a 24-year-old man and charged him with four counts of intentional child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. Police accuse Jerry M. Marquez, of Dona Ana, of causing serious head injuries to his 5-month-old daughter. Marquez’s daughter is recovering from her injuries and is in stable condition at El Paso

Las Cruces Police Chief Richard Williams spoke Monday about his department’s credibility after the arrest of one of his veteran detectives over the weekend on a charge of rape. Williams said the actions do not represent the department as a whole. Detective Michael Garcia, 37, was arrested on Friday. According to police, Garcia is charged

The chief of the Las Cruces Police Department had announced that is he stepping down. Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/14LLeNc) that Richard Williams said Friday he will retire after three years as the department’s leader. He says his last day will be Oct. 31. Williams informed City Manager Robert Garza of his intention to retire

As students return to school, some parents are concerned about one Las Cruces school. Jornada Elementary School was the only school in the Las Cruces Public Schools District to get an F. Parents want to know why and what the school is doing about it. A viewer emailed ABC-7 saying he’s worried about what this

Hollywood actor turned Dona Ana County reserve deputy, Steven Seagal, stopped by Las Cruces on Tuesday to talk about border security to those attending the New Mexico Sheriff’s Association Conference. “It’s very simple,” Seagal told ABC-7. “I want to educate people as to what’s happening and let them make their own decisisons. I just think

The man police suspect of stabbing a Las Cruces Police K-9 during an early-morning incident has been charged with a felony for causing serious injury to a service dog. Alan A. Golden, 23, of the 5500 block of Big Sky Drive, is charged with one count of injury to a police dog. The charge is

The 57-year-old bicyclist involved in Aug. 14’s alleged hit-and-run crash on Valley Drive has died as a result of his injuries. Terence Patrick Havey was removed from life support and pronounced dead at University Medical Center of El Paso. Las Cruces Police learned of his passing on Saturday, Aug. 17. Las Cruces Crime Stoppers has

Sunland Park Police and Fire Department responded to a semi-truck fire about a half mile north of the Santa Teresa international port of entry Friday morning. A cement pumper truck came into contact with overhead power lines and caught on fire at about 10:15 a.m. There were no injuries and Sunland Park Fire was able

Residents in one part of Dona Ana County say they’re living in fear of getting shot. It’s because of people hunting along the nearby Rio Grande. Residents are afraid it’s going to get worse. A federal agency is proposing making hunting legal in that area. “It’s scary to think if we’re out early in the

Renovations for Las Cruces High School will cost more than El Paso’s new AAA baseball stadium. School officials say they’re necessary. The project will cost around $82 million. That’s not far off from the cost of building the new Centennial High School, which was $110 million. “The cost I didn’t realize. They could build a

The Las Cruces City Council is proposing an increase in the gross receipts tax, but the decision won’t be left up to voters. Just a few weeks ago, voters in Dona Ana County rejected an increase in the gross receipts tax. Voters in Las Cruces won’t be given the same option. On Monday, attorneys working

A Las Cruces teenager who police say admitted to raping a 5-year-old boy will not be convicted for the crime. Instead the 15-year-old pleaded no contest to aggravated battery. When prosecutors first got the case in March 2012, they started the process to try then-14-year-old Roy Calderon as an adult. Prosecutors said as they learned

Las Cruces Police arrested the man they suspect in Sunday morning’s shooting that injured a partygoer on Fountain Loop. Torenzo Johnson, 28, of the 2000 block of Briarwood Lane, was charged with one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony. The 26-year-old victim received one gunshot wound to his left

New Mexico State University has a new design for its football helmets. It’s catching a lot of national attention. NMSU’s mascot Pistol Pete and his guns are front and center. Pistol Pete has been NMSU’s mascot since the 1950s. This is the first time he’ll be featured on the Aggies football helmets. Some wonder if

Safety advisory for a possible armed subject near the NMSU campus Based on information received from another law enforcement agency, New Mexico State University Police are looking for Jonathan Havstad, a 34-year-old white male, 6 feet 1 inch tall and 215 pounds with blue eyes. He may be in a 2011 two-door red Scion with

It’s back to school time. That means stores are full of shoppers getting supplies and clothes. Those less fortunate went to a different kind of store — the clothing room at the Gospel Rescue Mission. The clothing room is helping hundreds of needy Las Cruces families. Volunteers have been busy helping families pick out clothes

A new school in Las Cruces is giving juvenile inmates the chance to turn their lives around. The Aztec Youth Academy is now open inside the John Paul Taylor Detention Center. “Change and not come back and get a better future,” one young inmate told ABC-7. With the help of teachers at the Aztec Youth

The group of 11 and 12-year old baseball players representing Las Cruces, New Mexico have moved just one victory away from advancing to the Little League World Series. The squad from the Fairacres part of Las Cruces, won the New Mexico state tournament, and now have advanced to the Southwest Regional Finals. Tuesday evening, the

Those shopping in Las Cruces could be paying more in sales taxes soon. The City Council is looking to raise the sales tax. A decision could be made in just a few weeks. The city will lose more than $124 million in state funding by 2030. City councilors want to offset the loss by raising

Las Cruces police arrested four former and current city employees accused of forgery and embezzlement. Police arrested Albert Favela, 45; Edward L Tellez, 46; Inez Frank Giron, 34; and Christopher J. Bustamante, 45. For months police investigated what was going on at the city fleet services department. Police said the four employees worked at the

Dona Ana County Commission Chairwoman Karen G. Perez has announced her resignation to accept a job in El Paso. Perez told ABC-7 that she took the job with an engineering firm because it is a phenomenal opportunity. Both she and her husband will now work in El Paso but will continue to live in Las

The voters in Dona Ana County have spoken. Results for the county special election are in. As results rolled in Tuesday night, there were clear trends among all four issues on the ballot. Support for the bond measures to fund the construction of a new 911 call center and the completion of a building to

The funding for several public safety projects could be decided by Dona Ana County voters on Tuesday. County commissioners said these projects are vital to the community. If voters say yes, the county can get the ball rolling on those projects, but what happens if the vote goes against the bonds and tax raise? “These