Month: February 2015

A team of eight from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived late Wednesday in Odessa to investigate the bus crash that killed eight inmates and two corrections officers early Wednesday near Penwell. An NTSB official told media Thursday that the investigation will include looking at weather factors, vehicle conditions, and human factors. A preliminary NTSB

A group of private citizens is willing to raise $10 million for El Paso’s future Children’s museum with the caveat that it be a stand alone facility. “That’s not a commitment, it’s a goal,” said Eric Pearson, the President and CEO of El Paso’s Community Foundation about the multi-million dollar pledge. El Paso voters overwhelmingly

The hospital treating victims of a deadly prison bus crash in West Texas said Thursday that relatives aren’t being allowed to visit the inmates because of a longstanding policy, despite demands from the inmates’ families to see them. Eight inmates and two veteran officers were killed when their bus skidded off an icy interstate and

The Ysleta Independent School District is holding community meetings to talk about some possible major changes in the district. Just like El Paso Independent School District, Ysleta did a study and found it has fewer students and more empty seats. Topics will include: facilities planning, district’s demographics, and overview of school site visits by Trustees

Can the San Jacinto Christmas tree be saved? There are reports that construction crews may have killed it during the beautification project. Many close to the situation believe the tree can still be saved. But some are blaming the City and the contractor for disturbing the area around the tree, leaving its future in question.

Jan. 15 Morning Update: Below is an update on the conditions of those involved in Wednesday’s bus accident.Correctional Officer 5 Jason Self is receiving treatment at University Medical Center in Lubbock. He is in critical condition. 22 year old offender Terry Johnson is at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. He is in critical condition. 34

Las Cruces Police have arrested an 18-year-old on several charges. Charges include allegedly battering his girlfriend and threatening her life if she left him, and using methamphetamine in the presence of his 11-month-old son who has been bathed only four times in his life, according to police. He also didn’t allow his girlfriend to bathe

A fire in East El Paso has sent one man to the hospital. It happened at an apartment on the 10000 block of Vista Del Sol just before 4 p.m. Tuesday. Fire officials say the apartment was filled with smoke and an elderly man was found unconscious on the floor. He was taken to University

The UTEP Get Reel lineup for Spring 2015 has been released. Movies, which are shown at the UTEP Student Union start promptly at 7 pm every Thursday and Friday. Tickets are $1 for students, faculty, staff and alumni with valid Miner Gold Card and $2 for everyone else. Ask about season passes. Spring 2015 Schedule

Residents in a Central El Paso neighborhood are hoping new restrictions on a nearby business will improve their neighborhood. Ramos Court residents went before City Council for the second time on Tuesday urging the City Representatives to impose restrictions on a salvage yard owner. The property in question is Flamingo Motors on the 7,000 block

No wrongdoing was found in an investigation of allegations regarding Canutillo Independent School District’s associate superintendent, but recommendations were given towards improving district policies. That’s what the ABC-7 I-Team uncovered after combing through the internal audit into Associate Superintendent Annette Brigham. ABC-7 has been covering this story since last October, when the CISD school board

A woman whose son allegedly killed her with a sword last year as she slept died from “chop wounds,” according to an autopsy report. The Las Cruces Sun-News says (http://bit.ly/14lZgem) a state Office of the Medical Investigator released its report Thursday on the cause of death of 56-year-old Lisa Cano. The Dec. 10 report describes

Update: Fort Bliss has released the following information on the Freedom Crossing evacuation: All, first responders determined that suspicious package was a false alarm, and nothing more than an unattended briefcase. Fort Bliss’ DES, and El Paso local and federal law enforcement all responded accordingly. The safety and security of fort bliss remains our #1

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has recorded a second flu-related death this season. The case involves an elderly woman who had underlying medical conditions. The department’s epidemiology program reports 909 cases of the flu so far this season compared to 542 cases reported at this time last year. Health officials point

More than 20 family members and friends of Shannon Del Rio, Isaiah Deal, and Joshua Deal sat silently in Jail Magistrate Judge James Carter’s courtroom Monday morning to find out if the bond on Joel Garcia was going to be reduced. Garcia, a professional boxer, has been charged with three counts of intoxicated manslaughter in

It’s going to cost a lot more than the City anticipated but the El Paso City Council on Tuesday decided to move forward with a new Westside pool. This is the first project from the 2012 Quality of Life bond approved by voters that has gone way over budget. The reason why it’s over budget

Police say Friday night’s incident began with a routine traffic stop. But it was a routine stop that took a deadly turn and with this being one of several acts of hostility toward police in the past year we ask the question: Are we seeing a trend in police defiance? “This evening officers assigned to

A Las Cruces couple has been arrested on child-abuse charges after Doa Ana County Sheriff’s deputies determined their 2-year-old daughter was living without heat, food, or adequate clothing. Sheriff’s deputies went to the couple’s home to respond to a domestic violence call. Just before noon Thursday, deputies were sent to the 4800 block of South

Betting pools – including selling squares for Super Bowl games – are common. They also happen to be illegal. With Super Bowl squares you win if your square matches the score. Buying squares is a Class C Misdemeanor. El Paso Sheriff Richard Wiles said finding those who buy squares is a low priority for his

It was a scary morning for students at El Dorado High School. Police say a young man posted a photo of two shotguns on Instagram Thursday night with a threat aimed at students at El Dorado. Friday afternoon, the young man who allegedly posted that threat is behind bars in Dona Ana County awaiting extradition

Wednesday’s attack in Paris against Charlie Hebdo magazine left 12 dead and 11 wounded. The terrorists are alleged to be Islamic extremists. The attack has not only created an outcry against terrorist attacksbut support for freedom of the press as well. These alleged Islamic extremists attacked a magazine that created satirical cartoons. Many of the

Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the couple who took a dead man to a local hospital and left before providing detailed information to authorities. Shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, a man and woman arrived at Memorial Medical Center in what appears

Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald is in El Paso to offer support to staff at the VA clinic where a doctor was shot and killed Tuesday by a former employee at the clinic. The gunman, identified as 48-year-old Jerry Serrato, shot psychologist Dr. Timothy Fjordbak on the fourth floor of the VA clinic on Fort

Shortly after 3 p.m. on January 6, Jerry Serrato walked into the VA clinic next to William Beaumont Army Medical Center and shot psychologist Dr. Timothy Fjordbak. Fjordbak died and Serrato committed suicide. Read ABC-7’s complete coverage of the event and its aftermath below. It goes from most recent to oldest stories. Fort Bliss updates

The El Paso Independent School District was supposed to hear some recommendations that could possibly close some of its schools. But at the meeting Thursday the board of managers decided to postpone it two weeks. That’s when the board will hear a presentation on the facilities master plan. That plan includes possibly closing eight elementary

Fort Bliss is implementing changes for people entering the William Beaumont Army Medical Center and the adjacent VA Health Care Clinic. Both the Alabama and Fred Wilson access gates will remain open for entry to the medical treatment facilities. The major changes will be that the Fred Wilson remains an “all-access” gate for Department of

The El Paso Chihuahuas will have its Inaugural Winter Banquet, A Night of Giving, next week. The event, presented by Team 600 ESPN El Paso and Sierra Providence Health Network, will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wed. Jan. 14 at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center on Fort Bliss. Individual seats begin at

Krystal Valverde, a six-year Veteran was inside the VA Clinic at the time of the shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Valverde said she did not believe what was happening until two other veterans nearby said they heard a woman running down the stairs shouting, “He has a gun, he has a gun,” The woman said.

ABC-7 spoke with Veteran’s Affairs shooter Jerry Serrato’s neighbor. Mario Montes lived next door to Serrato for three years and tells ABC-7,he believes this shooting could have been prevented. Montes said Serratowanted to work at the VA. clinic badly. Last year for awhile, he was a nursing intern.Montes said his deep-seated anger became apparent when