Month: February 2017

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Travis County prosecutors will begin notifying thousands of people convicted of crimes that forensic evidence in their cases may be flawed because of faulty testing at the Austin police crime lab. The county will notify about 2,200 people convicted of crimes, including people in prison for murder and rape, the Austin

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – State Public Education Hanna Skandera “absolutely” would welcome a visit to any New Mexico school by newly confirmed U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. A Skandera spokesman says the secretary would gladly would host DeVos. Meanwhile, the state’s largest school district says they’d have to check with parents and the school board

There has been a lot of talk about building walls putting up fences, but one West El Paso homeowner had one put up right behind his property line. As soon as you enter Dan Overstreet’s home, your eyes immediately shift to the wooden fence in his back yard. Overstreet said he built his home 25

The soothing sounds of Zuill Bailey have been heard around the world. In 2016 he was nominated for two Grammy Awards. One for best solo classical performance for “Tales of Hemingway.” “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s very humbling, I work very hard day in and day out this is my 25th anniversary of performing and

A four-year veteran with the El Paso Police Department was arrested on a sexual assault charge Friday morning, said officials with EPPD. After a five-month investigation, Brian Michael Lujan was arrested just after 8 a.m. at an east side residence and charged with one count of sexual assault and two counts of invasive visual recording.

Veterans will soon be receiving treatment from a new VA clinic nearly double the size of the current clinic in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Friday, the El Paso VA Health Care System hosted a ground breaking ceremony for the future clinic on the 3400 block of Del Rey Boulevard. “What a great day to be

A local immigration attorney tells ABC-7 more undocumented immigrants are in fear of being deported. ABC-7 met with Daniel Caudillo, who offers legal services on family-based petitions, deportation and temporary visas.He says he’s seen an increase in the number of clients seeking services, after President Trump signed the first few immigration related executive orders. “I’ve

NMSU students forced to move out of dorms on three day notice Dozens of students are being uprooted mid-semester to allow the for renovation and modifications to a first-year student dormitory. Housing and Residential Life Director Matt Crouse says about 84 students are being moved to another part of the Garcia Hall. “We were notified

The UTEP Miner hockey club is only in its second season and they have already found themselves in the finals of the first ever TCHC playoffs. UTEP is part of the eight original founding members of the Texas Collegiate Hockey Conference, and dominated throughout the regular season finishing with an 18-2 overall record. It goes

President Donald Trump has promised more legal action after a federal appeals court refused to reinstate his ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. Trump tweeted “SEE YOU IN COURT” after the decision came out Thursday, but what he has in mind remains to be seen. Trump said Friday that he has “no doubt”

Sheriffs deputies investigating a drug-related shooting in Montana Vista arrested a wanted fugitive. Deputies were dispatched to the 14000 block of Connolly in reference to a shooting February 7, 2017. Investigators determined the shooting was drug related and were able to secure a search warrant for the residence. On February 9, 2017, deputies executed the

The Las Cruces Police Department is still searching for the suspects of the Las Cruces bowling alley massacre now in its 27th anniversary. The mass-shooting on Feb. 10, 1990 is considered one of the most disturbing crimes in Las Cruces’ history. Two gunmen opened fire at seven people — four children and three adults. Four

For once, UTEP found itself leading a big game most of the way early, but they were unable to seal the deal, as Louisiana Tech knocked off the Miners 62-61 at the Haskins Center Thursday night. UTEP controlled much of the game in the first half, leading by six at the break. Louisiana Tech was

You can’t win ’em all, but the Aggies sure took a good crack at it. NMSU’s 20-game winning streak is now a thing of the past after a tough 72-53 loss at CSU Bakersfield on Thursday night. NMSU was held to just 18 points in the first half and shot only 3-26 from downtown during

The man who drove away from the scene of a minor collision in West El Paso went on to cause a second, more serious collision, police officials said. Manuel Watkins, 23, is charged with “Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle Causing Serious Bodily Injury.” Police said Watkins, driving a 2007 Honda Accord, as involved in a

An alleged robber threatened a store employee with a syringe, telling her the red liquid it contained was disease tainted blood. Juan Reynaldo Bernal, 49, is charged with Aggravated Robbery. On December 18, 2016, Bernal walked into Sally’s Beauty Supply store located at 1478 George Dieter in East El Paso and allegedly robbed an employee

Traffic near Eastwood High School will start to back up Monday as the school prepares for future construction. Areas near McRae Boulevard and Montwood Drive will be most affected as the school closes parking lots to bring in portable classrooms. “We have 127 spots behind the stadium that currently faculty use, but will no longer

Here are the ten most wanted fugitives in El Paso County for the week of February 10, 2017. KVIA ABC-7 APP USERS, CLICK HERE TO LAUNCH SLIDESHOW. CLICK HERE FOR LOCAL CRIME HEADLINES.

The FBI is trying to identify an alleged serial bank robber wanted in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Federal authorities say the so-called “Barrel Chested Bandit” is believed responsible for eight bank robberies or attempted bank robberies since last year. The first occurred in Tucson last Aug. 24. FBI officials say the New Mexico bank

Merari Valenzuela loves running. But the 18-year-old was sidelined after injuring herself while playing another sport she enjoys: basketball. “It was at practice and we were going against each other,” Valenzuela said. “I got pushed by a teammate. When it happened, I grabbed my leg right away.” Valenzuela ended up with a torn Anterior Cruciate

A Fort Bliss soldier has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for trying to smuggle two immigrants through a South Texas border checkpoint. Joseph Edmond Cleveland of El Paso was sentenced Thursday in Corpus Christi. Cleveland pleaded guilty to conspiracy-related human smuggling counts. Officials say Cleveland tried to use his military status to

The ABC-7 StormTRACK Weather team issued an ABC-7 First Alert. A strong backdoor cold front will begin moving into the Borderland Sunday morning.The front will bring gusty winds, especially along west-facing mountain slopes where gustsof 45 to 50 mph will be possible. A strong low pressure area will move into the Borderland from the west,

AMERICAN HEART MONTH February is American Heart Month, a time to learn what are the symptoms of heart disease and how to prevent it. The Centers for Disease Control says heart disease is the leading killer in men and women. One in four deaths is linked to heart disease every year. While it is important

Here is a glance at the biggest road closures, be sure to plan ahead and avoid these! Overnight closures: I-10 East will be closed at Mesa. I-10 East will be closed at Geronimo. I-10 West will be closed at Resler Mesa will be closed in both directions at I-10. I-10 West Sunland Park exit ramp

Detectives with the police department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit are investigating the death a young man who died while repairing his vehicle. Officers responded to the call and found 18 -year old Steve Cruz Hernandez dead lying in the street on the 10400 block of Sigma at about 4:45 pm on February 6, 2017. The

Emotions ran high as Hamed Tavakoli – an Iranian student blocked from starting his master’s degree at UTEP – landed at the El Paso International Airport Thursday evening. “(The trip was) so long and I am so tired, exhausted. But, I am so glad finally I am here,” Tavakoli said. UTEP Chemistry Professor, Mahesh Narayan,

Texas Senate Bill 6 – mostly known as the “bathroom bill” – would require transgender students to use the school bathroom or locker room based on their gender at birth, not the sex they currently identify with. While that battle plays out in Austin, El Paso area school districts are moving ahead with plans to

University Behavioral Health of El Paso has been ordered to pay $860,000 under a civil settlement with the Department of Justice. The announcement was made Thursday by United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division. The civil settlement of more than

One person suffered life-threatening injuries in a car crash Thursday evening, tweeted El Paso Police. The two-vehicle crash happened around 6:50 p.m. at Mesa and Champions, not too far from the Whole Foods store. A fire supervisor with emergency dispatch said the person had to be extricated from the vehicle. Special Traffic Investigators have been

A student at Chapin High School has been diagnosed with pertussis (also called “whooping cough”), confirmed El Paso Independent School District officials Thursday. EPISD along with the El Paso Department of Public Health sent parents a letter notifying them that their child may have been exposed to someone with pertussis. An EPISD spokesman said parents