Good Morning El Paso: 02.07.16

paso weekend”.. north korea stirring up the international community again this morning… claiming a peaceful purpose, but the u-s and allies say it’s something more. gop presidential contenders square off ahead of the new hampshire primary. with the field shrinking, who came out ahead this time? and the historic 1966 texas western team remembered on the court, in ceremony, and in the highest office in the land for the 50th anniversary. and in stormtrack weather, iris! this is all the news you need to start your sunday, february 7th. abc-7’s “good morning el paso weekend starts right now! good morning and thank you for joing us… i’m andrew j. polk. “50 years ago, long before th hollywood movie, or the hall of fame inductions, a group of basketball players — black, white, hispanic– in el paso just wanted to win some games.” president obama — the first black president — sent out a special message to the 19-66 texas western miners — also a first — the first to start 5 black players on a basketball team. the president recognized that achievement in this video where he had warm words for the miners and their work fighting racial discrimination: “that’s what we honor today…a group of americans who laced up their shoes and moved our country forward. that, and a pretty good basketball team.” that historic game led by coach don haskins is still fresh in so many people’s minds… even after 50 years have passed. abc-7’s jerry najera was at the game … taking in the fans’ reaction. he brings us more. first off the game sold out and what made this interesting was that many attended this game to relive a memory but todays anniversary celebration also became a memory. the fans packed the don. some ready to enjoy a great basketbal game “i have to get in there right now” other fans like daniel chavirra couldn’t even get tickets! “i didn’t get my tickets online and it’s last moment getting tickets right now” inside the seats wer packed texas western fans crammed in to get a chance to see the 1966 team led by don haskins, that not only won the n-c- double a championship but the first team with an all-black starting line-up “remindin ourselves of this victory is always a validation of utep minors ansd what we can do” the game was highlighted by a visit from the president of the n-c- double a dr. mark emmert “the had a profound impact on this nation they changes the face of college sports” and messages from past coaches and yes, even the president of the united states “by become the first team to win an ncaa title with 5 black starters the miners werent just champs on the court they helped change the rules of the game off it” for many like teresa the game was nostalgic “my parents were bi fanatics and i remember winning it so they got in the car and went downtown and honked their horns and they were rejoicing” felix valenzuela attended utep in 1966- he was drafted and while in vietnam he got word the team won and almost didn’t believe it until they sent him the newspaper clipping “this is so memorable to me i wish i had been here for the glory all the exitment but i was in the middle of war” others who tell me there here because the team broke racial barriers at the time. “i heard what happened in 1966 when they had the first black 5 players so i wanted to come and represent and learn nore and just give back to the community” “congradualatio on this anniversary and go miners. on top of all that fans witnessed a great game that came down to wire. it was a huge game not just because the miners were playing for the honor of the 66 team… but they need this one… let’s go to the don haskins center and there is the 1966 team … the miners fell behind by 19 points… but the miners come back… lee moore … he was huge in the second half… 23 second half points… that bucket and the foul ties the game … we go to overtime …. in over time… omega harris with the steal… ahead to dominic artis who finds earvin morris for the basket … the miners with an emotional comeback … they win 93-89 in overtime… we’ll have plenty more on this game plus reaction from the team coming up in sports… want the inside scoop into who’s winning the super bowl today? “elephant making predictions, cheers.” there you have it … el paso zoo’s savannah and juno both agree, the broncos are taking it this year. i know a certain stormtracker who might agree with them. but iris, don’t get too excited yet. this is the third year the el paso zoo has had them make their winning teams. the first year they both chose winners, but last year they got it wrong. so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens later today. …stormtrack weather now! let’s get your first forecast with stormtracker iris lopez dry weather and warmer temperatures are expected through next weekend. a weak push of cooler air from the northeast will knock a few degrees off of the high temperature monday…but by thursday lower elevations will see temperatures into the lower 70s. it will be breezy along western slopes monday …but otherwise winds will be light through the period except possibly next sunday. north korea is claiming it successfully launched a satellite into orbit. but the launch is widely believed to be cover for a long-range missile test. this is said to be video of the launch. it comes just a month after north korea claimed to successfully test a hydrogen bomb. the u-s, japan and south korea are strongly condemning the rocket launch by north korea. china says it regrets that north korea went ahead with the launch and is urging “all sides to exercise calm.” the u-s, japan and south korea have called for an emergency u-n security council meeting later today. a significantly reduced republican presidential field took the stage at st anselm college in new hampshire saturday night — the political landscape has changed since their last debate. it made for an interesting night. kim hutcherson reports: the gloves were off in new hampshire saturday. donald trump doubled down on his controversial positions. “i hit immigration, i hit i very hard talked about muslims we have a problem. nobody else wanted to mention the problem.” ted cru took aim the president: “this is a president who, in th wake of paris and san bernadino, will not even use the words ‘radical islamic terrorism’ much less focus on defeating the enemy. candidates slammed the affordable care act: “you have to replace it wit something that makes sense. it doesn’t make sense. they talked about north korea’s missile-launch claims: “the next president of th united states is going to have to get the united states back in the game and if a pre-emptive strike is necessary to keep us safe then we should do it.” “that’s what i worry about th most – non-state actors, people who don’t have a uniform, people who don’t have a country.” there were heated exchanges. here’s marco rubio and chris christie: “it’s a fine job, i’m glad yo ran for it but it does not prepare you for president of the united states” “chris your state got hit by massive snowstorm to weeks ago and you didn’t even go back they had to shame you into going back. donald trump got booed as well, during an exchange with jeb bush. “how tough is it to tak property from an elderly woman?” “let me talk, be quie that’s all of his donors and special interests” in just a few days, we’ll find out which candidate made the most compelling case to new hampshire voters i’m kim hutcherson reporting. new hampshire’s primary will be held tuesday. an el paso man has a lot to be thankful for after he walked away from thursday night’s attempted robbery that left two people dead. it’s a interview you will only see on abc-7. we spoke with the man who got caught in the middle of everything. hector chacon was face to face with the man law enforcement say shot and killed a person, chacon was sitting in his truck at a red light – when he says the suspect opened his door and pointed a gun at his face – telling him to get out! but, before he could, border patrol agents – shot the suspect – which may have saved chacon’s life. he says he believes it was fate that he was put there at that point in time: “i was there to purchase the ca to go see the pope. when i was doing that i had the mindset of the pope and the lord jesus. that’s what kept me calm at at ease.” chacon says he is thankful the suspect didn’t get to the populated streets and is impressed by how professional border patrol agents were at handling the situation. after an early morning high speed chase a wanted man is now behind bars. 24-year-old esequiel rivas-macias was wanted by midland police for attempted murder. rivas- macias was believed to be headed to mexico in an attempt to flee the country. around 7:30 yesterday morning a trooper in culberson county spotted the suspect speeding on i-10 heading west. the trooper tried to stop the vehicle and that’s when the chase began. the pursuit ended after more than 30 miles from the i-10 and 1-20 split. rivas macias surrendered and was arrested. a mobile home was completely destroyed after a fire erupted in horizon. sheriff’s deputies say it happened on around 6 yesterday evening on the 12- thousand block of shakespeare in horizon city. when fire crews arrived, the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames. thankfully, no one was inside the home at the time and no inuries were reported. sheriff’s officials say the home was a total loss. still to come on the borderland’s only weekend morning newscast… the ribbon has been cut and residents are ready to move into a new development with historic roots. and across the country, a family in mourning after a tragic incident takes the life of one sibling, and possibly emotionally scars the other. it is , right now we’ll take a live look at traffic this morning: stormtrack weather is next! you’re watching abc-7… where news comes first!