Biggest stories of 2016

It was an extremely eventful year in the Borderland.

From scandals to growing pains, a difficult year for law enforcement, a shocking presidential election result and a visit from the Pope, it was a year to remember.

“If you’d listen for a change and stop being such an (ass),” City Representative Jim Tolbert told a Duranguito resident during the heated fight over the Downtown arena site.

It sparked at least two ethics complaints and lots of emotion at City Hall, as City Council voted to look for a new site and Duranguito residents got to keep their homes.

“It’s like Christmas came early,” said Duranguito resident Michael Liebrand.

Meanwhile, it was gridlock in West El Paso as drivers dealt with the massive Go-10 and Border West Expressway expansion, with more of it to come for years.

“It’s pretty dangerous out there,” said one El Paso driver.

El Paso Independent School District celebrated the passing of a $668 million bond, the largest ever in El Paso.

The Camino Real Hotel was bought by the Meyers Group and a $70 million renovation was approved, as was a plan for a 22-story West Side tower, also by the Meyers Group.

After three years and many delays, the renovation of historic San Jacinto Plaza was finally completed.

“Everything that El Pasoans said they wanted five years ago,” City Rep. Cortney Niland said, “is out there now and it shines like a brand new penny.”

In September, El Paso finally got a Whole Foods, to the delight of many!

“I’ve been counting down the days since September,” a Coronado High student said.

The Borderland said goodbye to Juan Gabriel, a native son, and a Supreme Court justice, Antonin Scalia, a story ABC-7 broke nationwide.

The area also mourned two officers killed in the line of duty in Hatch and Alamogordo, and El Paso officer David Ortiz, who police say he was targeted.

Another El Paso police officer saved a man’s life when an alleged drunk driver plowed into his police unit, and he survived.

“Black lives matters as far as I’m concerned is a radical hate group and for that purpose alone I think the leadership in this country needs to look a little bit harder at that particular group,” said El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen, who set off a controversy with that statement after officers were killed in Dallas.

There was also a controversial feud between the Dona Ana County Sheriff and its jail director. In the end, the jail director kept his job.

The Dona Ana County treasurer lost his job after being found guilty of offering money to an employee for sex. And El Paso City Rep. Larry Romero was also removed from office amid a sickness and ethics complaint.

In other 2016 news, UTEP adopted campus carry.

The City was scammed out of more than $3 million in a phishing scam. About half the money was recovered.

El Paso County allowed fireworks on the 4th of July for the first time in five years. And there was fireworks between Uber and taxi drivers!

Who can forget the “Pokemon Go” craze?

It was an historic year with a candidate calling attention to the border.

“On day one, we will begin working on an impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful southern wall,” President-Elect Donald Trump told his supporters.

And a special pilgrim called for compassion at the border.

“Always time to change, always a way out, always an opportunity, always time to implore the mercy of God,” Pope Francis told a huge crowd in Juarez.

The Pope’s February visit to Juarez was ABC-7’s top story in 2016. Francis prompted hundreds of thousands to gather on both sides of the border as one community.

“It just hit the heart,” one man who attended the Sun Bowl mass said. “Even though we were on this side of the border, I felt like I was there.”

It was an unprecedented event, in a remarkable year.