Month: February 2018

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is defending a proposal that would cut food stamp benefits in half and replace them with a box of shelf-stable goods delivered to recipients’ doorstep. The plan has drawn harsh criticism, with one lawmaker calling it “a cruel joke.” The idea was first floated last week in the Trump administration’s 2019

Democrats in Texas are early voting in bigger numbers ahead of the nation’s first primary elections of the 2018 midterms. Turnout figures released Thursday shows more Democrats casting ballots than Republicans since early voting began this week in the nation’s biggest conservative state. Turnout in Democratic primaries after two days of early voting is also

Las Cruces High School student Ernest Padilla,18, is charged with unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises after police say officers found a butterfly knife in his pocket and brass knuckles on his keychain. On Wednesday afternoon, administrators at Las Cruces High School learned of a Snapchat picture taken by Padilla that allegedly

After Hurricane Harvey hammered Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott pledged that the country’s largest conservative state would lead its own recovery, streamlining federal aid to storm victims while avoiding the staggering inefficiencies of earlier Washington-controlled disaster responses. “A Texas-sized storm requires a Texas-sized response, and that is exactly what the state will provide,” declared Abbott,

Utah teacher Kasey Hansen says carrying a concealed weapon in school is “more of a solution” than hiding in a corner and waiting if an armed intruder enters the classroom. But Texas teacher Tara Bordeaux worries that she lacks “the instincts” of a law enforcement officer and can’t easily see herself carrying a gun in

President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed a higher minimum age for buying certain rifles and tighter background checks for purchasers, saying “there’s nothing more important than protecting our children,” amid a public outcry for action after the Florida school shooting. Trump said he spoke Wednesday night with many members of Congress and “they’re into background

Investigators have arrested a man who they say shot and killed a postal worker while he was driving an 11-ton (10-metric ton) delivery rig on a Dallas highway. U.S. Postal Inspector Amanda McMurrey says postal inspectors in cooperation with the Dallas Police Department arrested 25-year-old Donnie Ferrell of Hutchins. McMurrey says federal authorities will determine

Government records show the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicted ahead of Hurricane Harvey’s arrival that reservoirs in Houston would fill to record levels, flooding adjacent neighborhoods, but never shared the concern with the public. A Corps forecast on Aug. 25, the same day Harvey made landfall, determined Barker and Addicks reservoirs would spill beyond

The McDonald’s at Montana and Trowbridge celebrated its reopening Wednesday morning in a big way. This newly-renovated location is the first of its kind in El Paso: offering self-service kiosks for customers. “We are excited to re-open the McDonald’s with the most up-to-date equipment, a new level of added convenience with the self-order kiosks and

A judge in Mexico ruled Wednesday that this week’s arrest of an alleged top drug cartel boss in a city bordering Texas was illegal. The Federal Judiciary Council said in a statement that prosecutors had sought to have the Feb. 19 arrest upheld, saying he was detained while speeding in an SUV in the northern

Drivers in northeast El Paso will face with closures and detours in the coming months as the Texas Department of Transportation completes the U.S. 54 Widening and Illumination Project. An extra lane of traffic will be added from Hondo Pass Avenue to Loop 375 Transmountain, and more lighting will be added to create better visibility.

Dylan Torres, 11, and his mother Yvonne reminisce over pictures of his service dog, Maya. Maya ran away from home Feb. 5. “I feel sad. She’s my assistant,” Dylan said. Two years ago, Dylan’s doctors recommended he get a service dog after he was diagnosed with Prader Willy syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects

UPDATE: El Paso Police were able to clear the site of the wreck shortly after 5 a.m. There are no delays in the area. Original story: El Paso police have closed all lanes of I-10 East at Redd Road due to a crash. The crash involved a semi-tractor trailer that hit a guardrail late Wednesday

Borderland growers attended a Texas House Agriculture Committee hearing held in El Paso on Wednesday. It was hosted by El Paso State Rep. Mary Gonzalez who sits on the Agriculture Committee. Growers testified they are worried about the Fusarium Wilt fungal disease in cotton and the pecan weevil. They told the committee an infestation could

Authorities confirmed the body of a missing U.S. boy was found in Ciudad Juárez after weeks of searching. Chihuahua State investigators revealed in a news conference Wednesday that James Martin Camacho Padilla died of hypothermia. His body had no signs of violence. His family identified his remains. “There is no doubt in the mind of

Miner football great Fred Carr, considered by many to be the best overall linebacker in UTEP football history, died Monday at the age of 71. Carr led the Miners to a pair of Sun Bowl victories in 1965 and 1967. According to UTEP, in 1968, Carr became the highest overall draft pick in school history

A 51-year-old Minneapolis man is accused of beating his mentally disabled twin daughters, raping them and chaining them to a bedroom door in a case described as torture. The man was charged this week with several felonies, including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first- and second-assault and abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver. He

Governor Susana Martinez had harsh words for Third Judicial District Attorney Mark D’Antonio concerning the acquittal of Justin Quintana, who is accused of killing his mother. “The way it has transpired thus far is complete incompetence on the part of the district attorney,” Martinez told ABC-7 in an exclusive interview. Quintana was arrested in 2007

Students took to social media to share videos and tweets during the deadly shooting rampage in Florida but local officials are reminding students not to use social media during a serious situation. Different videos, photos and tweets showed the chaotic moments as a gunman opened fire last week at Florida high school. Many students sharing

Spilling out wrenching tales of lost lives and stolen security, students and parents appealed to President Donald Trump on Wednesday to set politics aside and protect America’s school children from the scourge of gun violence. Trump listened intently to the raw emotion and pledged action, including the possibility of arming teachers. “I turned 18 the

For the first time, the Las Cruces Police Department addressed the media regarding Friday’s homicide investigation, which led to a high-speed chase and deadly officer-involved shooting Saturday. “Any time an officer uses force, let alone a deadly force, is not something we want to do,” said LCPD Chief Patrick Gallagher. Police said 23-year-old Nathaniel Montoya

A week after a shooter slaughtered 17 people in a Florida high school, thousands of protesters, including many angry teenagers, swarmed into the state Capitol on Wednesday, calling for changes to gun laws, a ban on assault-type weapons and improved care for the mentally ill. The normally staid Florida Statehouse filled with students, among them

Spilling out wrenching tales of lost lives and stolen safety, students with quavering voices and parents shaking with anger appealed to President Donald Trump on Wednesday to set politics aside and protect American school children from the scourge of gun violence. Trump listened intently as raw emotions reverberated at the White House. Faced with the

The teenager shot in the chest with a shotgun died Wednesday and the alleged shooter has been charged, police said. Police charged 25-year-old Miguel Angel Herrera Chico, of the 7100 block of Dale Road, with Manslaughter. The shooting was reported Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at about 7pm, police said. Police officers arriving on the 7100

A lawyer representing first lady Melania Trump’s parents says they’re living legally in the U.S. The lawyer says Slovenian nationals Viktor and Amalija Knavs “are both lawfully admitted to the United States as permanent residents.” Michael Wildes is declining further comment, including discussing when the couple would be eligible for citizenship or how their green

The alleged shooter blamed for a deadly shooting west of Las Cruces over the weekend has been charged with an open count of murder, officials with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. Rueben P. Moralez, 25, of the 700 block of Long River Lane, is being held without bond, officials said. Moralez allegedly

Police charged a Las Cruces High School teacher accused of inappropriately touching a student on several occasions. Patrick Howard, 54, of the 1400 block of Burke Road, is facing four counts of “criminal sexual contact of a minor by a person in a position of authority.” Police said the father of the 16-year-old accuser reported

A Houston-area school district is threatening to suspend students who disrupt classes or walk out to protest current gun laws. The Houston Chronicle reports that Needville ISD Superintendent Curtis Rhodes sent a letter to families and published on schools’ social media Tuesday saying students would face a three-day, out-of-school suspension if they joined in growing

Television personality Geraldo Rivera says he has discussed the idea of raising the minimum age to purchase assault-type weapons with President Donald Trump, adding that Trump “took it under advisement.” Rivera, a Fox News contributor, says in an email Wednesday that he spoke with Trump during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. He added

UPDATE: The Horizon Regional Municipal Utility Authority told ABC-7 that a break to a water main has been repaired and water should be returning to the 8,000 customers that were without it since Tuesday afternoon. The spokesman for the utility said to ABC-7 in an email at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday that crews are repressuring the