EL PASO, Texas — More than two weeks after El Paso Water and other water utilities warned residents to stop flushing protective equipment down the toilet, the problem persists. The utility warns the practice can lead to damaged equipment and clogged pipes, and rate payers will be left to foot the bill. The utility says
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WASHINGTON, DC — A member of the U.S. Navy who serves as one of President Donald Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, raising concerns about the President’s possible exposure to the virus. The valets are members of an elite military unit dedicated to the White House and often work very close to the President and first family.
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EL PASO, Texas — Several El Paso nurses have taken their skills to the hotbed for the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States. Heath Bailey is one of them. The pediatric cardiac nurse from El Paso Children’s Hospital has been in New York City for a month. “I signed up to be a nurse for
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It’s been more than four months since China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, but so many questions are still unanswered about what we now know to be a coronavirus that’s wreaked havoc and misery around the world — including where the virus was, and when. Cases were first reported outside China
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EL PASO, Texas — Within the past week, two Silver Alerts have been issued by El Paso County law enforcement agencies, both for elderly individuals suffering from dementia. The body of Martha Arrieta, 89, was found on Tuesday, which was less than a week after an alert was issued for her disappearance. She suffered from
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Praise and attention has deservedly been garnered by doctors and nurses nationwide. They’re saving lives and putting their lives at risk during the coronavirus pandemic. But, then there are the unsung heroes. Those sanitizing the front lines for them. “The stakes are very high here, yes, because of what’s going
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — Employers across New Mexico are looking to buy more face coverings now that it has become mandatory for workers to wear them, specifically in the restaurant and commercial food industries. According to Pete Ramondo, who helps manage the Save Mart grocery store in Las Cruces, his team is looking into
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EL PASO, Texas — Karmela Galicia, the program director with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, has seen record numbers of El Pasoans needing food help through the first half of the year. “Every day we are seeing over 6,000 families that are receiving food and on April 29th we actually distributed to 6,920 families,” said Galicia. The local
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EL PASO, Texas — Wedding venues in Texas are now able to reopen immediately, according to an executive order signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week. Event planners at Grace Gardens, an event center in El Paso’s Upper Valley, are excited to welcome guests back, but are confused by the state’s new order allowing
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EL PASO, Texas — El Paso public health leaders on Wednesday evening reported the coronavirus death of a 90-year-old man, bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 23. City/County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said this latest death had something in common with the majority of El Paso’s other virus fatalities: The
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DALLAS, Texas — A Texas’ judge’s decision to jail a hair salon owner for defying restrictions meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus drew criticism Wednesday from the governor and state attorney general. Shelley Luther was booked in the Dallas County jail on Tuesday afternoon following a video hearing during which she was found
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EL PASO, Texas — What is the responsibility employers have to disclose information on positive Covid-19 cases to their employees? A source who works at the Sam’s Club on North Mesa Street on El Paso’s west side told ABC-7 they were informed by management that a colleague contracted the coronavirus. “They have only told us [of
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EL PASO, Texas — May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. It offers a chance to “check in” on emotions that might arise during this uncertain time. Kids can be impacted by the stress and anxiety surrounding the pandemic as well. One local child and adolescent psychiatrist says the concerns of kids can vary based
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SANTA FE, New Mexico – New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is ordering workers at retail stores and restaurants to wear face coverings as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, she announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. The requirement is starting with big box stores and major grocery stores on Wednesday and extends
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AUSTIN, Texas — During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that “cosmetology salons, barbershops, hair salons, nail salons and tanning salons” may reopen this Friday, May 8 under certain restrictions. Hair stylists will be able to only work with one customer at a time. People waiting in barber shops will have
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DOÑA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico — As New Mexico voters begin casting their ballots in person for the June primary election, the Doña Ana County clerk is urging voters to vote by mail if possible. “The safest way, the way that I know that we can maximize safety for everyone connected to the pandemic is
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SANTA TERESA, New Mexico — Five coronavirus infections were confirmed Tuesday at a meatpacking plant in southern New Mexico, where more than 400 workers were tested after one employee at the facility had turned up positive for Covid-19. The results came after test kits for the plant workers at Stampede Meats Inc. were flown by
Continue Reading AUSTIN, Texas — Texas school districts may hold outdoor graduation ceremonies starting next month but indoor commencements will not be allowed, the Texas Education Agency said in new rules issued late Tuesday afternoon. That means plans by four Borderland school districts are now on hold as school officials figure out alternatives. The El Paso Independent
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PHOENIX, Arizona — President Donald Trump said in an exclusive interview with ABC News on Tuesday that “it’s possible there will be some” deaths as states roll back restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus, acknowledging that it was the choice the country faces to reopen and jump-start the economy. “Do you believe that’s the
Continue Reading Enforced lockdowns. Isolation from friends and loved ones. Loss of job, income, economic stability. Grief and loss on so many levels — from missing milestones such as birthdays and graduations to severe illness and death. Difficult times made worse by the fear of an invisible, deadly enemy who strikes via the very air we breathe.
Continue Reading It’s a pesky problem: As soon as you strap on your cloth face mask and head out the door, your glasses fog up. But there’s a simple fix for that, and it’ll only take a minute or two. All you need is soap and water. This advice comes from the medical journal Annals of the
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EL PASO, Texas — “You can spread love and friendship without spreading disease. These measures are not just for our health, this is our social responsibility.” This was the message posted on the City of El Paso’s social media accounts on Monday. But an ABC-7 viewer reached out to us with concerns of city leaders
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EL PASO, Texas — A fuller picture of the damage being done to El Paso’s hotel industry by the Covid-19 pandemic is now emerging. Billions of dollars have already been lost, according to the El Paso Hotel and Lodging Association. Before the pandemic, El Paso had nearly 100 hotels and motels, keeping a workforce of
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EL PASO, Texas — In a unanimous decision, El Paso County Commissioners voted Monday to shorten the hours of operation at Ascarate Park. The new hours will now be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. rather than 5:30 a.m.- 11 p.m. The vote comes directly as a result of people in the park violating social
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EL PASO, Texas — Just a day after citing a decline in hospitalizations due to cornavirus, El Paso health officials on Monday evening said the number of virus patients in the hospital was actually more than double what they had reported. They also announced that the county surpassed a milestone 1,000 total confirmed cases, while
Continue Reading SANTA TERESA, New Mexico — A confirmed case of the coronavirus involving an employee of a meatpacking plant near the Santa Teresa/Sunland Park border has prompted New Mexico health officials to speed testing for the entire workforce to determine if an outbreak has happened, health leaders said Monday night. Officials said tests were being collected
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EL PASO, Texas — The Speaking Rock Entertainment Center, a tribal run recreational venue in El Paso’s Lower Valley, announced Monday evening that it plans to reopen next Monday, May 11 at noon. But it will comes with capacity limits and rules requiring face coverings and social distancing. Speaking Rock has been completely closed since
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — With thousands of Las Cruces residents asked to stay home during the Covid-19 pandemic, at least one shelter is reporting an increase in domestic violence incidents. According to a city council presentation on Monday, La Casa, Inc. reported a 43 percent increase in domestic violence calls. The shelter also reported
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EL PASO, Texas — Some downtown El Paso businesses closed for the past several weeks have now opened their doors following the Texas governor’s green light to do so. But there is one part of the picture that is badly missing: Customers. Shop owners told ABC-7 on Monday that they are struggling and miss the purchasing
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — The New Mexico governor’s office is making clear that an active duty caregiver at a Las Cruces nursing home was diagnosed with Covid-19 and it was no mistake the care facility was added to a state health department list of those with confirmed cases, despite protests to the contrary from
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