EL PASO (KVIA) --The El Paso Foundation had a special ceremony on Sept. 4th at El Paso Children's Hospital by dedicating a room in the name of 2-time cancer survivor Hailee Ozaeta. It was part of a $25,000 donation to help kickoff Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Hailee Ozaeta can't couldn't contain her emotions, as she cried in the arms of her father while she and her family congregated around the room dedicated in her name at El Paso Children's Hospital.

 "They've helped save my life so many time," said 15-year-old Hailey.

As a kid who suffered mightily from cancer, she was thrilled to join dozens of others for the ceremony, including U.S. veterans, law enforcement, and scores of volunteers as the room she spent countless hours in as a patient was given the official name in her honor saying: "Do Not Fear, For I Am With You -Isaiah 4:10, Hailee & The Ozaeta Family."

Hailee's mother, Sandra Ozaeta, said, "So this is an honor for us to be able to give back to the hospital that helped save her life," after talking about the $25,000 dollar donation to El Paso Children's Hospital.

Hailee is also grateful for her little sister, Josie, who helped save her life by being her bone marrow donor.

When ABC-7's Paul Cicala asked Josie if she felt like a hero for donating the life-saving bone marrow, she answered, "Yes, because I love my sister, and I've done everything for her. When she's in her ups and downs, I always cheer her up."

Hailee told ABC-7's Paul Cicala: "(El Paso Children's Hospital) means so much to me honestly, through mental and physical (struggles). They first help save my life. I'm here because of them,  Me and my family have been through so many things together that I never expected. For them to get that room that I was first diagnosed in, I'm just so blessed, that they were able to do that for us," added Hailee with a huge smile on her face as members of the Official American Legion Riders Chapter 36 El Paso surrounded her in support.  

"We are incredibly grateful to Hailee’s family for their generosity and for choosing to honor her journey in such a meaningful way," said Dr. B. Abigail Tarango, Executive Director of the El Paso Children’s Foundation. "Their contribution will have a lasting impact on the lives of many children and families who walk through these doors."

The non-profit also pointed out that the donation marks the beginning of a series of events planned by the El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation throughout September to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer care and research.

People, Places & Paul stories can be seen periodically on KVIA ABC-7 and features many of the movers and shakers in our borderland.

ABC-7's Stephanie Valle also featured Hailee in a story back in 2019. You can see it here.

In Stephanie Valle's story, she touched on how it was in March of 2018, when Hailee was 8-years-old, and she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It's a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells. HERE'S MORE FROM STEPHANIE VALLE'S 2019 REPORT:

“I felt very sick. I felt weak,” Hailee told Valle at the time. “I felt like a weight on me. I would get a lot of headaches.

Her mother, Sandra Ozaeta, told ABC-7 that when doctors confirmed Hailee’s diagnosis, she didn’t tell her daughter.

“How do you tell your 8-year-old that she has cancer?” Sandra said.

But Hailee told ABC-7 that she learned anyway, through dreams based in her faith.

“There was this dark tunnel and I was walking to it,” Hailee said. “And there was this big light at the end. I see the Virgin Mary and she is in a burgundy thing with green, with her hands like this,” she said, gesturing with her palms up in her lap. “She didn’t use the word ‘cancer,’ but something told me in my heart that I had it,” Hailee said. “She was just telling me how I had to keep strong.”

“I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t crying, I wasn’t anything,” she added. “I just felt peaceful, and I knew that I was going to be OK. I just had that faith in me.”

Hailee said she did keep strong through chemotherapy and hair loss, but that kidney failure two months into her intense treatment brought another dream of a heavenly encounter.

“I had another dream,” Hailee told ABC-7. “There was God, but he was a figure of light.”​​​​​​​

She described seeing stairs blanketed with clouds and eating at a banquet with angels.

“We all ate tamales and Takis,” she said, laughing.

But then she said the tone of the dream turned more serious.

“This little (angel) broke his wing, and God touched it,” she said. “I was like, ‘What is that supposed to mean?’ And God said, ‘The same thing that I’m going to do to you.’ So he touched my kidneys. And that’s when I woke up.”​​​​​​​

She said that when she awoke, she was able to use the restroom — something that hadn’t been possible for a whole day due to her kidney failure.

In June 2018, her scans came back clean. She was cancer-free.

That summer, she attended a weeklong camp organized by Candlelighters of El Paso for kids who are battling or who overcame cancer.

“That was her first step out of the hospital,” Sandra said. “She was able to be a kid for a whole week.”​​​​​​​

When Hailee talked about camp, her face lit up. “My favorite thing was at the end — the dance. It was really fun this year,” she said while laughing.

With a year left of treatment, the fifth grader is dreaming of her future.

“I want to work at the children’s hospital for kids that have cancer,” Hailee said. “Now that I’ve been through this, I want to help other kids and tell my story to them and tell them that everything’s going to be OK.”​​​​​​​

Candlelighters of El Paso supports families who are fighting childhood cancer. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Candlelighters is hosting the Walk of Hope for families of fighters, survivors, and those who who lost their battle with cancer.

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By Ashley Killough and Ed Lavandera, CNN

(CNN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit Wednesday trying to stop one of the biggest counties in Texas from mailing voter registration forms to large swaths of unregistered voters.

On Tuesday, the county judge and commissioners in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, approved a contract with a vendor to mail the unsolicited forms to approximately 210,000 people, with the goal of registering about 75,000 voters.

Paxton, a Republican, had previously warned of legal action if Bexar County moved forward with its plan to work with the vendor, Civic Government Solutions. In the new complaint, Paxton argues that it’s illegal for county officials to arrange for unsolicited, mass mailing of voter registration forms.

“Despite being warned against adopting this blatantly illegal program that would spend taxpayer dollars to mail registration applications to potentially ineligible voters, Bexar County has irresponsibly chosen to violate the law,” Paxton said in a statement announcing the filing.

Paxton’s lawsuit is the latest step in a large-scale effort by Republican leaders in Texas against largely Democratic cities that are trying to make voting easier and more accessible. Paxton’s office also launched an election integrity unit in 2018 investigating allegations of voter fraud, but the unit has yielded few convictions.

Civic Government Solutions is run by a known progressive activist, Jeremy Smith, but Smith sought to reassure county leaders on Tuesday that his company is strictly nonpartisan, saying it’s in the company’s financial interest to register as many voters as possible on both sides of the aisle.

“I understand where people are coming from,” Smith said at the meeting, responding to questions about his background. “I have a personal view on who I would like to win the federal election. That is not to say that the contracts that we undertake with governments are in any way partisan.”

Commissioners and the county judge brought up concerns about Smith’s partisan ties, as well as Paxton’s legal threats multiple times at a meeting on Tuesday but ultimately decided to approve the contract, citing a need to make it easier for new residents in the county to sign up to vote.

The county judge, who is a Democrat, and two Democratic commissioners approved the contract. A third Democratic commissioner abstained from voting, and a fourth commissioner, the lone Republican, voted against it.

Several residents showed up to the meeting and voiced stark opposition to the initiative, alleging that the mostly Democratic body of commissioners was trying to register more Democrats and non-citizens.

Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, a Democrat, has led the effort to work with CGS and sharply pushed back on the accusations.

“From my perspective, this is about democracy with a lowercase ‘d’ and making sure that people have access,” he said. “I’m getting texts as recent as last week from people who say, look, we just moved into the county. We don’t understand the process.”

Reached for comment after the lawsuit was announced, county leaders indicated they still plan to move forward with the registration effort. In a statement, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said he and the commissioners sought their own legal opinion and feel the county still has the right to mail out registration forms.

“We are confident we can defend that position, if needed, in a court of law,” Sakai said in the statement. He added there are “robust safeguards” to vet all applicants and prevent any non-eligible residents from becoming registered voters, even if they receive a form in the mail.

“Bexar County’s nonpartisan effort to provide voter registration applications to targeted eligible citizens is within the authority of the County and consistent with State law,” he said.

This story has been updated with a statement from Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai.

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El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- A former Texas beauty queen and Guyrex Girl spoke to ABC-7 about the realities of becoming the first protégé of “Kings of Beauty” Richard Guy and Rex Holt amid the 1970s.

Jane Little Botkin shared her experiences that helped launch “GuyRex” into Miss USA pageant history. Throughout her book The Pink Dress, she awakens nostalgia by discussing what it was like living in El Paso, Texas, in the 1960s and 1970s. She focuses on the era’s conflicts, growth pains, and struggles with her family.
Little-Botkin will stop in the Sun City to promote her new book. If you are interested, she will hold a book signing on September 28 at Margin Notes Books, Coffee & Wine. She returns November 16 to the Barnes and Noble at the Fountains at Farrah in east El Paso.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has secured a spot on Forbes' Top 500 Colleges list for 2024.

Among Texas’s 80 four-year institutions, UTEP is one of only 15 recognized, joining the ranks of prestigious universities like UT Austin and Rice.

UTEP stands out for graduating students with minimal debt, ranking first in Texas and 15th nationwide in this category.

Forbes reports that UTEP graduates earn a median salary of $106,000 within a decade of graduation, with an average debt of just $4,735—well below the national average of $28,244.

President Heather Wilson and Vice President Amanda Vasquez highlight UTEP’s dedication to providing affordable, high-quality education, reflecting the university’s commitment to reducing financial barriers and enhancing student success.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety is increasing enforcement efforts ahead of Labor Day.

The safety measures include Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (CARE), which runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 2, statewide.

The program is a specialized campaign is characterized by Texas Highway Patrol Troopers looking for drivers who are speeding, intoxicated, or otherwise not complying with Texas’ 'Move Over, Slow Down' law or violating other laws.

“Too often, these long holiday weekends mean problems on the roads,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Instead, as we mark the end of summer, let’s keep safety our top priority by following traffic laws and ensuring everyone has a sober ride home. By planning and thinking ahead, we can ensure everyone enjoys the long holiday weekend safely.”

Last year, Texas DPS employed similar methods, and issued more than 43,179 citations and warnings, including 4,332 for speeding; 990 for no insurance; 421 for individuals without seat belts or child seat restraints; and over 207 for 'Move Over, Slow Down' violations.

The department also arrested 193 people on DWI charges, and 222 people for other felony charges.

To avoid facing unwanted consequences as you celebrate the unofficial end to Summer, Texas DPS has some tips:

• Buckle up everyone in the vehicle — it’s the law.
• Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.
• Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. If you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it so you can keep your eyes on the road.
• Drive defensively, as holiday travel can present additional challenges.
• On multi-lane roads, use the left lane for passing only. Not only is it courteous driving and avoids impeding traffic, Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and to use the left lane for passing only (when posted).
• Don’t cut in front of large trucks and try not to brake quickly in front of them. They can’t maneuver as easily as passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.
• If you can Steer It, Clear It: If you are involved in a non-injury crash and your vehicle can be moved, clear the traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved with an increased risk of harm or a secondary wreck. On some highways, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s against the law.
• Keep the Texas Roadside Assistance number stored in your phone. Dial 1-800-525-5555 for any type of assistance. The number can also be found on the back of a Texas Driver License.
• Check your vehicle to make sure it is properly maintained and always ensure your cargo is secure.
• Report road hazards or anything suspicious to the nearest law enforcement agency.
• Monitor weather and road conditions wherever you are traveling. For road conditions and closures in Texas, visit Drive Texas.

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El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The Canutillo Independent School District is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the Employee Development Service (EDS) Goodwill Store at Canutillo High School, a student-operated store on campus.

The store, developed through a partnership between CISD and Goodwill Industries of El Paso, aims to provide special-education students with invaluable job skills and real-world experience. Students will staff the store, gaining hands-on training in retail operations, customer service, and inventory management — all within a supportive learning environment.

The store will offer a variety of goods, including gently used clothing, accessories, and household items. All proceeds from the sales will be reinvested into the program to enhance students' learning experiences further and provide additional resources for their development. A Goodwill donation bin will be housed at the Canutillo High School campus to support the training store. Donations are encouraged and welcomed.

Store hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m., closed 11:30 a.m. - noon, Mon. -Thurs.

https://www.canutillo-isd.org/post-details/~board/what-s-new/post/cisd-goodwill-partner-to-train-special-ed-students-at-on-campus-store

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El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—Meridian Medical & Associates, a local veteran and minority-owned clinic will host a Health expo to honor veterans in the El Paso community. Veterans.

The expo will be held on September 7th, 2024, at Meridian Medical and Associates LLC, 1900 N Mesa Suite B, El Paso, TX 79902.

They will also be accepting canned food and monetary donations. The money received will go to a local organization that helps feed the community and veterans.

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CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) -- A student at Alderete Middle School just tested positive for chicken pox. The student was fully vaccinated against the Varicella virus, Canutillo ISD officials say, meaning this appears to be a breakthrough case.

"The student is doing well and is under medical care," the Canutillo ISD officials explained. "As per El Paso City-County Health Department protocols, the District is also monitoring a pre-kindergarten student at Canutillo Elementary School since he is a sibling of the impacted student."

Canutillo ISD officials say they are working closely with health officials to make sure any student or adult that had contact with either the infected student or the sibling is okay.

"We have met with teachers and staff to alert them of the situation and ask them to be on the lookout for potential additional cases," district officials explained.

Chicken pox is highly contagious. The symptoms, initially, include fever and an itchy, blister-like rash.

"Chickenpox can be serious, especially during pregnancy, in babies, adolescents, adults, and people with weakened immune systems (lowered ability to fight germs and sickness)."

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Vitpho // Shutterstock

Where are all these trucks headed? The top destinations for Texas freight.

In many parts of the country, you can’t drive on an interstate without spotting a semitruck. But have you ever wondered where they are hauling all that stuff?

Truck Parking Club used Bureau of Transportation Statistics data to identify the top 20 destinations of freight from Texas as part of a broader national analysis. The analysis only includes domestic freight.

Most of the time, semis are headed somewhere within the same state. In all but one, the highest share of freight was delivered to other destinations within its own borders. The only exception was Rhode Island, which is the smallest U.S. state by area, leaving few possible in-state destinations for freight.

The average haul length has been decreasing for years as e-commerce—Amazon in particular—has normalized speedy and frequent deliveries. These days, regional warehouses and distribution centers are more widespread so trucks don’t have to move goods as far to get them to local stores or individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this trend, causing severe supply-chain disruptions, panic buying, and driving up online purchasing.

Nationally, Texas and California are the most common domestic freight destinations. These two states are major economic centers of the U.S. as the most populous in the nation with the largest state gross domestic product. Texas and California each offer huge consumer markets, major production centers, and abundant trade with international markets, making them obvious destinations for freight from across the country.

Trucks are the most prevalent shipping method in the U.S. and most commonly transport goods including construction materials, gas and oil, food and agricultural products, and waste. Read on to see where semitrucks in Texas are headed.

Canva

#20. Mississippi

– Value of freight: $11.6 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.4%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#19. Michigan

– Value of freight: $11.7 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.4%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#18. Arizona

– Value of freight: $13.3 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.5%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#17. Utah

– Value of freight: $13.8 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.5%

Canva

#16. Arkansas

– Value of freight: $15.1 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

TommyBrison // Shutterstock

#15. Missouri

– Value of freight: $15.2 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

Canva

#14. Colorado

– Value of freight: $15.6 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#13. Indiana

– Value of freight: $15.7 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

ESB Professional // Shutterstock

#12. Pennsylvania

– Value of freight: $15.8 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#11. Kansas

– Value of freight: $16.3 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.6%

Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock

#10. Tennessee

– Value of freight: $18.0 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.7%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#9. New Mexico

– Value of freight: $20.3 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.8%

Canva

#8. Georgia

– Value of freight: $21.6 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 0.8%

Mia2you // Shutterstock

#7. Florida

– Value of freight: $25.3 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 1.0%

Canva

#6. Ohio

– Value of freight: $27.5 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 1.0%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#5. Illinois

– Value of freight: $30.4 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 1.2%

Marek Masik // Shutterstock

#4. California

– Value of freight: $50.0 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 1.9%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#3. Oklahoma

– Value of freight: $68.7 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 2.6%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#2. Louisiana

– Value of freight: $130.1 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 4.9%

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#1. Texas

– Value of freight: $1945.9 billion
– Share of domestic freight originating in Texas: 74.0%

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

This story originally appeared on Truck Parking Club and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of Socorro said it has been receiving calls from concerned residents regarding a large number of Red Flour Beetles in the area.

Several residents have told ABC-7 the problem has been seen throughout the community for over three weeks and they are growing tired of it.

Ciana Chambers, who has been living in Socorro for over 10 years, said this is the first year she has seen these bugs in her home.

"The vents, through the windows, through the sink, through the tub, like they're just coming from everywhere," said Chambers.

Chambers said since she has started seeing these beetles in her home, she now cleans daily. Though, she said it hasn't made a difference.

"I was away from home for maybe about one day and a half, and I came home and they were all in my bed," she said. "My daughter is afraid of sleeping in the bed. She doesn't go to sleep quickly because she feels like they are around her."

Entomology Specialist at New Mexico State University Dr. Joanie King told ABC-7 while they are invasive and a nuisance, they are not dangerous to the public.

"The only thing is that some people might be allergic to them," Dr. King explained.

Dr. King said one of the reasons we may be seeing these insects are due to the weather or an infestation that spread to the community.

"One reason is that they are looking for shelter indoors because it's so hot outside. So they're looking for places to live and feed. There may have also been locally, a like, maybe a farmer's market where they were selling some sort of stored product and it had an infestation," said Dr. King.

The City of Socorro gave the following tips:

PREVENTION

The city said there are ways to prevent infestations from happening:

• Weather seal the bottom of doors.
• Caulk all cracks around windows and gaps in entry or exit holes in exterior walls for appliances and plumbing.
• Put fine mesh screen on roof vents, and any under-home access points.

TREATMENT

The city also provided tips on how to treat infestations that have already occurred:

• Spray a pyrethroid insecticide to exterior parts of the home.
• Turn off all exterior lights if possible.
• Keep windows closed, unless the screen has finer-type mesh than a standard window screen.
• Spray perimeters with synthetic pyrethroids or pyrethrins.
• WARNING: Do not use insecticides in food preparation areas, and only use those labeled for indoor use.
• Throw away infested food.
• Empty the area where you store food and vacuum. Wash shelves, drawers and corners with hot water and soap. You can also check for hidden areas under or around appliances.

Other residents who have been experiencing the same issues, tell ABC-7 they want answers from the city.

"Once it's the whole area of Socorro, what's going on? That's my concern. What made these things come to Socorro?," added Luz Onserez, Socorro resident.

ABC-7 has reached out to the City of Socorro for comment, and are awaiting a response.

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GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (KVIA) -- Texas DPS Aircraft Operations Division rescued a 3-month-old and its parents after the young family became stranded on the side of Guadalupe Peak.

The distressed hikers had started their hike mid-morning, but nine miles later, they ran out of water and had to call for help.

DPS deployed an airplane to locate the family, which included a 23-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, and the small infant.

"A Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) was deployed from the helicopter to perform a medical assessment on each family member and determined a hoist rescue operation was the best course of action for their safety," a DPS spokesperson explained. "All three were hoisted into the helicopter and transported down the mountain to waiting ground rescue teams for further medical care."

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Update (August 28, 2024): Watch El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks address Guzman's 38-year sentence live in the livestream below.

Update (August 27, 2024): Guzman took a plea deal and received a 38-year sentence.

The El Paso District Attorney's office will hold a news conference on the plea deal Wednesday at 11 AM.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) --  A woman who calls herself the ex-girlfriend of a man accused of killing his sister called her former relationship intense and controlling.

According to the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, 32-year-old Jose Manuel Guzman admitted to killing his sister, Karla Chavez De Ortiz, with a baseball bat and a hand-held electric massager after learning she had sexual relations with another man.  

Guzman told police months before the murder, he reunited with his sibling and shortly after moved in together and started a sexual relationship. 

According to court documents, deputies were dispatched to Guzman's Canutillo apartment after the siblings mother requested a welfare check on her daughter. 

The siblings mother told 911 dispatchers that Guzman, her son, had an unknown problem with daughter, Chavez De Ortiz and that he possibly killed her.

Authorities say Guzman fled the scene and later turned himself in on Feb. 3.

ABC-7 spoke with Guzman’s ex-girlfriend, Yessica Hernandez, who said she was shocked to hear the news. 

Hernandez said that during their two-year-long relationship, they lived together and that he was very protective of her. 

She said Guzman did not let her wear certain clothing like shorts, or use her cell phone. 

Hernandez said she suffered depression during her time with him. 

She also said she did not know the two were romantically involved and was shocked to find out he was dating his sister. 

She said Guzman would speak to her from time to time on the phone and would even introduce the two.

Still, hearing the news that Guzman was charged for murder, she said she was not surprised.

"He has anger issues and he has jealousy issues so I knew it was going to come, I didn't know it was going to be with his own sister, but I knew it was going to come one way or another," said Hernandez. 

In disbelief, she told ABC-7 that it could have been her. She reminds people to get out of unhealthy relationships. 

“Have somebody to talk to, don't close yourself in depression and try to seek for help,” said Hernandez. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a $148 billion dollar investment to improve transportation in Texas. The Governor's Office says this investment includes a 10-year master plan that has projects aimed at improving infrastructure, safety, mobility, and maintenance.

Of that $148 billion, $104 billion was unanimously adopted by TxDot for the 10-year transportation plan. It also includes over $43 billion for development and maintenance. The Governor's Office says this sum is a $5.6 billion increase from 2023.

Projects are set to be underway for the 2025 Unified Transportation Program, with many roadways being listed in Texas' 100 Most Congested Roadways List. Projects are carefully considered based on how effective they are in addressing areas such as pavement condition, safety, capacity, and rural connectivity.

Two El Paso roads have made it to Texas' 100 Most Congested Roadways List; according to the list, Patriot Fwy/US 54 and Gateway Blvd/IH 10 are the most congested roads in El Paso.

From Gateway Blvd/IH 10/US 180 to the Cesar Chavez Border Highway/SL 375, the annual congestion cost is $8,574,193.

From Patriot Fwy/US 54 to Hawkins Blvd, the annual congestion cost is $20,223,600.

Governor Abbott has released a statement following the announcement of the $154 billion investment for transportation, saying, quote, "People come to Texas because we provide the freedom and opportunity they can’t find anywhere else, and that’s why we’re investing in the future of Texas roads. Projects like this will ensure our products and people can move quickly to keep the Texas economy booming. Together, we are building a bigger, better Texas for years to come.”

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced the bill he signed in 2021, Senate Bill 1, has removed over one million ineligible voters from Texas' voter rolls. The Governor's Office says the removal process is ongoing.

According to the Governor's Office, Texas has removed:

1. Over 6,500 noncitizens
2. Over 6,000 convicted felons
3. Over 457,000 deceased individuals
4. Over 463,000 voters on suspense list
5. Over 134,000 who confirmed they moved
6. Over 65,000 voters who failed to respond to notice of examination
7. Over 19,000 voters who canceled voter registration

The Governor's Office says 1,930 out of 6,500 noncitizens had a voter history. The Secretary of State’s Office is in the works to send all 1,930 records to the Attorney General's Office for investigation and possible legal action.

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By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 23, 2024

"UT System prohibits its universities from making political or social statements" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

The University of Texas Board of Regents amended its free speech policy this week to prohibit the system and its 14 universities and health-related institutions from adopting political or social positions unrelated to campus operations.

“Institutions should not, in their official capacity, issue or express positions on issues of the day, however appealing they may be to some members of the university community,” reads the new language that was added to the system’s statement on freedom of speech and expression and approved by the board during its Thursday meeting.

The policy does not apply to individual faculty, staff or students free speech and only relates to “official university statements, functions, ceremonies, and publications.”

In a statement, Paul Corliss, associate vice chancellor for external relations and communications, said the new policy is an extension of the principles put forth in the Kalven Report from the University of Chicago, a 1967 report on the university’s role in political and social action that concluded “institutional neutrality” is necessary for the university to fulfill its core mission and create a campus environment were all students, faculty and staff have the freedom to take their own political or social views.

In 2022, the UT System adopted a version of the “Chicago Statement,” a set of principles affirming an institution’s commitment to free speech. It calls for the protection of speech even if it is considered “offensive, unwise, immoral or wrong-headed,” with restrictions on speech that is illegal, defamatory or harassment.

The UT System’s policy change comes during the first week of the fall semester at many of its campuses, the first time students are back to school after its flagship, the University of Texas at Austin, became ground zero for clashes over the Israel-Hamas war.

The Middle East conflict has tested free speech policies at universities in Texas and across the country as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students engage in protests and heated discussions. School leaders have struggled to strike a balance between their roles as moderators and facilitators of intellectual debate on campus.

After the war began Oct. 7, UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell issued two statements to the university community related to the unfolding conflict. In his first message, he laid out safety measures in place for Jewish students on campus. In the second one, Hartzell said the university refrains from issuing statements in response to major events unless there is a connection to the campus community or a matter of public safety, but said he has zero tolerance for any antisemitism toward Jewish students or “hate-filled actions” toward Muslim communities.

During the spring semester, tensions exploded on U.S. campuses in response to the war, including UT-Austin and the University of Texas at Dallas. In April, hundreds of students walked out of class at the flagship university, leading to the arrest of 57 people after police ordered them to disperse. A few days later, nearly 80 more people were arrested after protesters tried to set up an encampment on campus. Protesters were also arrested at UT-Dallas after students set up an encampment on campus, demanding the university divest from U.S. corporations that have ties to Israel’s war in Gaza.

Other universities, including the University of North Carolina System and University of Wyoming, have previously adopted positions to remain neutral. Since the Israel-Hamas war, others have joined them, including Stanford University and Northwestern University. Harvard University said in May it would no longer make political statements at the recommendation of a faculty committee, though they stopped short of fully embracing “institutional neutrality.”

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

Disclosure: Northwestern University - Medill School of Journalism, University of Texas - Dallas and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

TribFest Keynotes Announced! Be there when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin take the keynote stage at The Texas Tribune Festival! Whitmer will talk with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith about her memoir, her key victories in Michigan and the importance of every vote. Youngkin and Smith will close out TribFest with a conversation about his record, the state of his party and a conservative policy agenda for America. Explore the full program of 300+ speakers and 100+ events. Get tickets today.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/ut-system-free-speech-policy/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 23, 2024

"LULAC condemns Paxton’s election fraud raids as “intimidation”" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

The League of United Latin American Citizens plans to request a federal investigation into raids Attorney General Ken Paxton conducted this week as part of what he called an “ongoing election integrity investigation.”

Gabriel Rosales, Texas LULAC’s state director, said in a statement that Paxton carried out the raids 11 weeks before the 2024 elections “to suppress the Latino vote through intimidation and any means necessary to tilt the electoral process in favor of his political allies.”

Agents raided the home of Cecilia Castellano — the Democrat running to succeed state Rep. Tracy King, D-Uvalde — and confiscated her phone as part of the search, according to Rosales. Republicans see that seat, which Gov. Greg Abbott carried by nearly 6 percentage points, as their best potential state House flip in November.

Law enforcement also searched the homes of at least five other Latino individuals, all of whom were working on Castellano’s campaign and three of whom are members of Texas LULAC, Rosales added. LULAC is a non-partisan, volunteer-based Hispanic civil rights organization headquartered in Washington.

The group is in the dark about the details of any accusations, Rosales said, “but there's none that we’ve been privy to that merits an investigation like this that wastes taxpayers’ money.”

“It is disgraceful and outrageous that the state of Texas, and its highest-ranking law enforcement officer is once again using the power of his office to instill fear in the hearts of community members who volunteer their time to promote civic engagement,” Rosales said in a statement.

Paxton announced on Wednesday that his office executed “multiple” search warrants in Frio, Atascosa and Bexar counties the day prior as part of an investigation into allegations of “election fraud and vote harvesting that occurred during the 2022 elections.” A two-year investigation, Paxton said, provided “sufficient evidence” to obtain the search warrants.

“Secure elections are the cornerstone of our republic,” Paxton said in a statement. “We are completely committed to protecting the security of the ballot box and the integrity of every legal vote. This means ensuring accountability for anyone committing election crimes.”

Paxton’s office did not reply to a request for additional information. His announcement did not detail the targets of the raids, the number of raids, or the reason specific homes were searched.

“It’s still very vague,” Rosales said in an interview. “That’s what’s really unnerving about the whole situation.”

According to one person whose home was raided, Rosales said, law enforcement suggested that he was accused of possessing “illegal voter information” — a claim that he denied and called politically motivated, saying voter information is publicly available.

“There’s no there, there,” Rosales said. “They’re using every tool in the toolbox to intimidate our people from coming out to the polls.”

Rosales said he was working with the group’s national leaders and attorneys to draft a formal complaint with the U.S. Justice Department requesting a federal investigation into Paxton’s raids.

The attorney general’s office was asked to investigate the allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting during the 2022 elections by 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Louis, a Republican whose district includes Frio and Atascosa counties.

TribFest Keynotes Announced! Be there when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin take the keynote stage at The Texas Tribune Festival! Whitmer will talk with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith about her memoir, her key victories in Michigan and the importance of every vote. Youngkin and Smith will close out TribFest with a conversation about his record, the state of his party and a conservative policy agenda for America. Explore the full program of 300+ speakers and 100+ events. Get tickets today.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/texas-ken-paxton-vote-fraud-investigation/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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By Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 26, 2024

"Texas Latino leaders label voter fraud investigation “nonsense,” call for federal, state reviews" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

HOUSTON — A Democratic candidate for the Texas House on Monday dismissed as “nonsense” a state vote harvesting investigation that led authorities to confiscate her phone and search the homes of a legislative aide and elderly Latino election volunteers.

Cecilia Castellano, who is running to succeed state Rep. Tracy King, D-Uvalde, made the remarks during a news conference that featured some of the South Texans who were served search warrants last week.

Latino civil rights leaders and state lawmakers also said on Monday they will ask the federal government and Texas Senate to investigate the raids.

League of United Latin American Citizens leaders have said authorities searched the homes of elderly Latino election volunteers pre-dawn with guns drawn and scant information about their probe. They have blasted the raids executed by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office as an effort to intimidate Latino voters.

Without naming him, Castellano said the state’s top Republicans had publicly endorsed her opponent, former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr.

“Do not get distracted by this nonsense,” Castellano said. “Despite the challenges, I refuse to be silenced.”

McLaughlin, in an interview with The Texas Tribune, denied that the investigation was politically motivated to help him win, adding that he did not know about the probe until Saturday when he learned about it through a press release.

"I have not had any conversation with the Attorney General's Office or the attorney general," he said. "To point fingers at me? I don't play that way. I didn't play that way when I was mayor and I won't play that way now."

McLaughlin said that Castellano is innocent until proven guilty but he doesn't believe a judge would allow a warrant to be issued haphazardly.

"Usually, where there's smoke, there's fire," he said.

[Warrants detail allegations that led to search of Democratic candidate for Texas House]

Paxton’s office has said little about its investigation aside from an announcement last week about the search warrants that his investigators executed in Frio, Atascosa and Bexar Counties.

However, affidavits for search warrants obtained by The Texas Tribune show that agents were investigating allegations that a longtime Frio County political operator had illegally harvested votes for multiple local races. They do not include the warrants for Castellano’s phone or for the home of one of her aides, Manuel Medina, a former chair of the Bexar County Democratic Party and chief of staff to state Rep. Elizabeth "Liz" Campos, D-San Antonio.

Among the races was Castellano’s, according to the documents. An investigator from Paxton’s office claimed in the sworn affidavit that Medina was recorded discussing a scheme to collect votes for Castellano with the operator during the 2024 primary.

Republicans hope to flip the South Texas seat Castellano is running for as they aim to secure enough votes to pass a school voucher bill next legislative session. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott carried the House district by 6 percentage points in 2022. King, one of the most moderate members of the House, ran unopposed.

Both Medina and Castellano have previously condemned the probe as a politically-motivated attack. At Monday’s news conference, Castellano did not directly address the allegation in the affidavits and Medina did not speak.

Paxton’s office did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

LULAC officials plan to file formal complaints with the U.S. Justice Department, seeking a federal review of the state’s investigation and raids, said Gabriel Rosales, LULAC’s Texas state director.

“We didn't break any law,” Rosales said. “All we did was go out there to increase the political participation of the Latino community.”

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said he and another lawmaker planned to request a state inquiry from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Such a review is unlikely to be granted by Patrick, a staunch Republican who presides over the Senate.

James Barragán contributed.

TribFest Keynotes Announced!

Be there when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin take the keynote stage at The Texas Tribune Festival! Whitmer will talk with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith about her memoir, her key victories in Michigan and the importance of every vote. Youngkin and Smith will close out TribFest with a conversation about his record, the state of his party and a conservative policy agenda for America. Explore the full program of 300+ speakers and 100+ events.

Get tickets today.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/26/texas-latino-leaders-ken-paxton-voter-fraud/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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El Paso, TX, August 15, 2024 - The Alzheimer's Association announced the launch of a new Dementia Care Navigation Service. The Alzheimer's Association and Ripple, a dementia care specialist company, is a new service that provides personalized support for people living with dementia and their caregivers through their dementia journey.

Dementia Care Navigation Service include:
●      A dedicated person (care navigator) who will help coordinate care and develop a care plan.
●      Clinical support including medication management and counseling.
●      Access to Alzheimer's Association resources and education.
●      24/7 Helpline.

For more information about the Dementia Care Navigation Service or to speak to a Rippl engagement specialist, visit ripplcare.com/alz or call 855.271.2662.

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By Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 23, 2024

"Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw retiring after 15 years as state’s top law enforcement officer" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw announced Friday he will retire at the end of the year, marking an end to a 15-year tenure defined in recent years by his agency’s flawed response to the Uvalde school shooting and its role in the state’s border crackdown, Operation Lone Star.

McCraw broke the news while delivering a commencement address at a DPS trooper graduation ceremony.

“It’s rather an easy thing to do, because I know Gov. Greg Abbott will ensure that my replacement is as good and likely better than I am at this particular job,” McCraw said.

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.

TribFest Keynotes Announced! Be there when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin take the keynote stage at The Texas Tribune Festival! Whitmer will talk with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith about her memoir, her key victories in Michigan and the importance of every vote. Youngkin and Smith will close out TribFest with a conversation about his record, the state of his party and a conservative policy agenda for America. Explore the full program of 300+ speakers and 100+ events. Get tickets today.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/23/texas-steve-mccraw-dps-director-retire/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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The Texas Tribune

Transgender Texans can no longer change the sex on their driver’s license to align with their gender identity — even if they present the state with a certified court order or an amended birth certificate verifying the change, according to an internal agency email.

Sheri Gipson, the chief of the state’s driver license division, confirmed the policy change to KUT on Wednesday. A day earlier, Gipson sent the internal email, a photo of which was obtained by The Texas Tribune, detailing the change she said would go into effect immediately.

An employee of the Department of Public Safety, which issues driver licenses, confirmed they received the email but declined to comment further.

Under previous DPS rules, people were able to change the sex on their driver’s license if there was a clerical error, or if they presented an amended birth certificate or an original certified court record.

On Tuesday, DPS stopped accepting court orders as a basis to change a person’s sex on their drivers license, the agency announced in a statement Wednesday evening. The change was prompted by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ’s concerns about “the validity” of court orders.

“Neither DPS nor other government agencies are parties to the proceedings that result in the issuance of these court orders,” the statement read, “and the lack of legislative authority and evidentiary standards for the Courts to issue these orders has resulted in the need for a comprehensive legal review by DPS and the OAG.”

Transgender Texans are now effectively barred from obtaining an accurate foundational government document and could become especially vulnerable to discrimination and harassment, said Ian Pittman, an Austin attorney who works with transgender Texans. The change has also raised privacy concerns from advocates of transgender people who worry their personal information will be used with malicious intent.

The internal email directs driver license employees to send the names and identification numbers of people seeking to change their sex on their license to a particular email address with the subject line “Sex Change Court Order.”

Employees are also instructed to “scan into the record” court orders or other documentation relating to the sex change request.

It is not clear how that information will be used. Two years ago, Paxton directed employees at DPS to compile a list of individuals who had changed their gender on their Texas driver’s licenses and other department records.

At the time, state lawmakers, Gov. Greg Abbott and the attorney general had been pressing to limit the rights of transgender people. More than a dozen anti-LGBTQ measures were filed ahead of the 2023 legislative session and Abbott ordered the state to investigate the provision of gender-affirming care as child abuse.

Advocates worry that the data Paxton sought could be used to further restrict their ability to transition. The latest rule change has raised similar concerns among advocates, such as Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

“Texans will now be subject to involuntary surveillance for simply trying to update a government document,” Pritchett said in a statement. “There is no clear reason why this information would be useful to the DPS nor is there a legitimate reason to deny gender marker updates on driver’s licenses.”

For decades, state agencies have accepted certified court orders as a basis to amend a person’s sex on government issued documents. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services a court order is an acceptable document to request a change to birth certificates.

In 2023, the Texas Senate advanced legislation that would prohibit the sex listed on someone’s birth certificate from being amended unless the change was to correct a clerical error. The bill died after it failed to get a hearing in the House Public Health Committee.

Pittman, the attorney who represents transgender people, is advising his clients to hold off on submitting court orders to the state because he worries they could be targeted.

“It will put people on a list that could interfere with their health care,” Pittman said. The state has already passed a gender-affirming care ban for minors, and Pittman worries that could be expanded to adults in Texas.

The attorney general did not immediate respond to the Tribune’s request for comment on DPS’ action this week.

Other states, including Florida and Kansas have also blocked transgender residents from changing their gender on their driver’s license.

___

This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

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EL PASO (KVIA) - Wednesday, August 21st is National Fentanyl Prevention Awareness Day. Jennipher Talamantes spent the day in New York City while taking part in a special ceremony to pay tribute to the lives lost from fentanyl. She says a picture of her son, Jake, who passed away from fentanyl poisoning, was featured in time square, along with others.

Fentanyl is a drug that's killing people in the El Paso and Las Cruces area at alarming rates. As officers continue to crack down on drug dealers, more people who've lost loved ones to fentanyl are also joining the fight.

ABC-7's Paul Cicala caught up with Jennipher Talamantes Guerra, a grieving mother who's son tragically died from a fentanyl overdose, while she continues to raise awareness about the dangers of the drug in order to prevent other parents from experiencing the loss of a loved one.

It's been over four years since the death of her son, Jacob Talamantes, who took in a dose of fatal fentanyl poisoning.

"They told me that they had found my son deceased in a hotel," said Jennipher Talamantes, as she opened up about the day of her son's death on April 24th, 2020, "His so-called friends left him there to die. He had very little fentanyl in his system. Less than two milligrams."

It was enough fentanyl to be deadly, after she says that Jacob thought he was taking a percocet. However, the counterfeit drug was laced with fentanyl.

Towanda Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for DEA El Paso Division, said, "One pill can kill. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous."

Towanda Thorne-James says that traces of fenanyl are commonly found in prescription drugs that may derive from the streets, and -not- the pharmacies. .

"You should not take a pill that has not been prescribed to you by your doctor or a pharmacist," said Towanda.

Since the death of Jake Talamantes, just 25 years old, Jenipher Talamantes has begun the non-profit called "Fighting to Save Lives in the 915" to not only pay tribute to her son's life, but to reach out to parents through fentanyl awareness programs.

"It's so important that parents become aware of the dangers of fentanyl, and speak to their children," said Jenipher Talamantes.

She's warning families that fentanyl deaths aren't just relegated to drug-abusers on the streets, which is something echoed by Special Agent Thorne-James, who recommends parents to "Advise your children on the dangers of social media, because, this is what they're utilizing. It's a on one stop shop, so if you have a phone, then you have a drug dealer."  

DEA laboratory testing reveals that six out of ten fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, and, Talamantes reiterated to ABC-7's Paul Cicala that "even college students dealing with stress can be exposed to fentanyl without knowing."

Talamantes adds, "It's not that they're drug addicts. They just took a xanax for anxiety. They just ran out of their xanax pill, and their friend happened to give them xanax that was laced with fentanyl."

Special Agent Thorne-James said, "People aren't only being poisoned by fentanyl. They don't even know they're taking it. They don't know that it's in every drug imaginable. They don't know that it's in cocaine, that it's in methamphetamine, that it's in marijuana." 

According to the El Paso County Attorney's office, deaths from fentanyl have risen gradually from 75 in 2021 to 79 in 2022 and 96 in 2023.

Southern New Mexico is also seeing a rise in fentanyl-related deaths.

According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety's "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program", in 2021 there were 57 deaths linked to fentanyl.

In 2022, the number remained the same with 57 deaths, and in 2023, it rose to 61 people killed from fentanyl.

Towanda Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for DEA El Paso division, said "There is demand for the fentanyl and our priority is to save American lives, so we continue to focus on our outreach."

She says, the DEA is putting pressure on the organizations who control the fentanyl distribution.

Some strategies appear to be working, at least in the Las Cruces area, where the handing out of Narcan, the brand name for the drug Naloxone, can help revive someone who may have overdosed from fentanyl. Thorne-James tells ABC-7's Paul Cicala that it's helping to keep the deaths from having such a marked increase that we've seen nationwide.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety's "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program" released graphics indicating:

From 1999, when talking about National Drug-Related overdoses as a whole, there were less than 20,000 in 1999.

Meanwhile the numbers have steadily grown over the last two decades to a whopping 106,699 deaths associated to drug overdoses in 2021, nationwide.

When ABC-7's Paul Cicala asked Jennipher Talamantes if she could give a direct message to people who are dealing fentanyl to youngsters out there, what would she tell them, the grieving mother answered, "What if you were killing one of your own children? They don't know the pain that they cause parents who are losing their children or family. And, not until it happens to them, are they going to feel the pain."

And, -that pain- of a mourning mom's memories of that devastating day lingers on.

"It still seems like it was just yesterday.  So it doesn't get easy. It's still difficult," said Talamantes, "We really miss him."

If you would like to donate to "Fighting to Save Lives in the 915", just click on THIS LINK.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- According to Fabens Independent School District, the district has completed an investigation into a recent bus incident that was posted on social media.

This comes after a video was shared on the Facebook group Make Fabens Better, showing what parents say is a student being hit with pencils.

ABC-7 has viewed the video and is continuing to gather more information about the alleged incident.

Read Fabens ISD's statement in full below:

"Fabens Independent School District has completed a thorough investigation into the recent school bus incident posted on a social media group not affiliated with the district. We are pleased to report that the investigation confirmed that all safety and security protocols upheld by the transportation department were followed correctly.

Our investigation involved close collaboration with the transportation and security departments and interviewing all parties involved. As a result of this investigation, we are confident in the effectiveness of our current procedures. However, we remain committed to continually improving our practices to ensure our students' safety and security.

The student's legal guardian is satisfied with the conclusion of the district's investigation and requests that the family's privacy regarding this matter be respected to maintain confidentiality under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The legal guardian is not willing to speak with the media at this time.

We want to thank the parents, guardians, and community members for their understanding and support. The well-being of our students remains our highest priority, and we will continue to uphold the trust placed in us."

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UPDATE: Representative Mary Gonzalez -- who represents House District 75, an area that encompasses much of eastern El Paso County -- posted the following information on her Facebook page Tuesday afternoon:

Our office is aware of Red Flour Beetle infestations in the district. These bugs do not pose a serious public health risk. They could potentially cause allergic reactions. Once aware of the issue, we contacted the local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office.

They are sending an specialized entomologist to our area to locate the source of the infestation on Wednesday, 8/21. The specialist dealt with a similar situation in the Lubbock region.

Above is some advice from the City of Socorro regarding how to handle the beetles if they make their way into your home. Please make sure to take proper precautions. Until the source of the infestation is identified, then there may be some bugs in the area. #txlege

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- Several Socorro residents and businesses have been dealing with little red bugs infesting their homes in recent weeks, according to the City of Socorro.

The bugs are known as red flour beetles, which the city said are one of the most common beetles that infest stored products in homes.

The city said it has received reports of infestations from both residents and business owners, but officials did not say how many reports they have received. ABC-7 reached out to the city's media department for that number, and is waiting on a response.

A post on the city's official Facebook page Friday provided more details about what the bugs are, and how to prevent and treat them.

PREVENTION

The city said there are ways to prevent infestations from happening:

• Weather seal the bottom of doors.
• Caulk all cracks around windows and gaps in entry or exit holes in exterior walls for appliances and plumbing.
• Put fine mesh screen on roof vents, and any under-home access points.

TREATMENT

The city also provided tips on how to treat infestations that have already occurred:

• Spray a pyrethroid insecticide to exterior parts of the home.
• Turn off all exterior lights if possible.
• Keep windows closed, unless the screen has finer-type mesh than a standard window screen.
• Spray perimeters with synthetic pyrethroids or pyrethrins.
• WARNING: Do not use insecticides in food preparation areas, and only use those labeled for indoor use.
• Throw away infested food.
• Empty the area where you store food and vacuum. Wash shelves, drawers and corners with hot water and soap. You can also check for hidden areas under or around appliances.

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By Andy Rose, CNN

(CNN) — A Texas jury found the parents of a school shooter not liable for negligence on Monday in a civil trial brought in connection with the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School.

However, the jury found gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis liable and awarded the plaintiffs more than $300 million.

Dimitrios Pagourtzis killed eight children and two adults and wounded over a dozen others at the high school near Galveston in May 2018, when he was 17 years old, authorities said.

Survivors and family members of some of those who were gunned down had sued Pagourtzis’ parents, Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, accusing them of failing to properly secure the family’s firearms and failing to act on their son’s declining mental state leading up to the shooting.

“Parents of a depressed child should safely store their guns,” plaintiffs’ attorney Clint McGuire said in opening statements. “If they don’t, and their child commits a school shooting with them, the parents share in the responsibility for those harms and losses.”

The parents testified they didn’t see any warning signs ahead of the shooting, and their attorney argued they could not be held liable for the son’s actions.

An attorney for Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ parents said Monday she was overjoyed by the jury’s decision.

“I think the parents needed to be vindicated and (it) needed to happen publicly,” the attorney, Lori Laird, said Monday evening.

McGuire told reporters Monday evening that he respectfully disagreed with the jury’s decision. Parents, he said, play a key role in preventing school shootings.

“We would have liked to (have) had the parents share in their responsibility for this. … Parents should know their kids better than anyone else, and they should be all of our first lines of defense,” McGuire said.

Laird, in her closing argument, had placed blame on Lucky Gunner, a Tennessee-based online retailer that sold Dimitrios Pagourtzis more than 100 rounds of ammunition without verifying he was old enough to buy it. Lucky Gunner was a defendant in the lawsuit until last year, when it reached a settlement with the families, the Associated Press reported.

On Monday, the jury said that of the conduct that led to the shootings, 80% was attributable to Dimitrios Pagourtzis and 20% was attributable to Lucky Gunner.

McGuire said the previous settlement was financially final, but the finding of liability was crucial. “The important thing from … the jury today is that they found that Lucky Gunner failed to use reasonable care by having no age verification for selling deadly ammunition to kids who can then take it and go shoot up a school or commit other types of shootings,” said McGuire, who also said he felt fortunate “to help provide some closure for the families about what happened and why it happened.”

In a email to CNN, Lucky Gunner’s CEO said the company was dismissed from the lawsuit more than two years ago.

“Lucky Gunner wasn’t a party to the trial, so it was easy for the jury to place some of the blame on us because we weren’t there to defend ourselves,” CEO Jake Felde wrote. The company isn’t responsible for paying any monetary damages from Monday’s verdict, he wrote.

The plaintiffs include family members of six of the eight slain students and the family of a slain teacher, along with four survivors injured in the shooting. The shotgun and handgun used in the shooting were both legally owned by Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ parents.

The trial included emotional testimony from victims and their families, as well as Pagourtzis’ family members.

The shooter’s father testified he didn’t realize his son was severely depressed. “Sometimes it takes years to recognize that your kid’s sick,” Pagourtzis said.

He acknowledged he did not teach his son about gun safety, but he said keeping more than a dozen weapons locked in a display cabinet and a gun safe should have been sufficient.

The parents have not been charged with any crime. The criminal trial of Dimitrios Pagourtzis – who was 17 at the time of the shooting that killed 10 and wounded 13 – was delayed indefinitely after a judge found him mentally incompetent.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott just appointed El Pasoan Linda Troncoso to the Texas Medical Board.

Troncoso is the president of TRE and Associates, LLC and is a member of the El Paso Association of Builders and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation. She used to serve on the City of El Paso Zoning Board of Adjustments.

Troncoso holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Mater of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from UTEP, according to Governor Abbott's office.

Abbott has appointed Troncoso to a term ending on April 13, 2029.

The governor's office explained that the Texas Medical Board is tasked with regulating the practice of medicine across the state.

According to her profile on the Hospitals of Providence's website, Troncoso is on the Memorial & Sierra Campuses Governing Board.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- My Plates has reintroduced embossed license plates to Texas after a 15-year break.

Starting in August 2024, Texans can order new “Premium Embossed” plates featuring classic designs such as Black & Yellow, reminiscent of the 1950s, as well as new Black & Gold and Blue & Gold options with high-definition gold sheeting for a refined look.

This move comes after strong customer demand and the passage of Senate Bill 702.

These plates offer a tactile and visual upgrade, with customizable options available.

Texans can also pre-order additional designs, including Black & White, Gold & Black, and Carbon Fiber.

For more information or to order, visit MyPlates.com.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Attorney General's Office on Friday sent a letter to Canutillo Independent School District's director of communications demanding he comply with the state's Public Information Act. This, after failure to respond to open records requests –and even the attorney general’s own investigators, according to the letter. 

“Due to the district’s pattern of non-response, this office has determined the district failed to comply with the requirements of the Act in relation to the requests at issue,” the document stated.

In the letter, dated August 16, Open Records Division Chief Tamara Smith told Canutillo ISD's communications director Gustavo Reveles her office received four complaints the school district isn't responding to open record requests.

"The Office of the Attorney General received complaints from multiple requestors alleging Canutillo Independent School District (the “district”) has failed to respond appropriately to various requests for information under the Public Information Act (the “Act”), chapter 552 of the Government Code," Smith wrote.

The letter lists four case numbers for complaints, including one filed by ABC-7. 

That complaint was filed with the Texas Attorney General's Office over a year ago after the district ignored our April 5, 2023 request for videos of a suspected security incident at Canutillo High School. It was determined to be a senior prank involving water guns students used in the school’s gym. School officials said the incident happened on March 28, 2023, just one day after a school shooting in Nashville that left six dead. It triggered a security response.

Some students who witnessed the incident told ABC-7, at the time, they were afraid. The district said the prank violated school codes of conduct.

Another complaint was filed by government watchdog Max Grossman who requested the salaries of Canutillo ISD employees, and an accounting of planned expenditures related to the $387 million bond the district was proposing at the time, in April of 2024.

Grossman told ABC-7 the records were finally produced on May 10, 2024, far beyond the timeline dictated by Texas law, so he filed the complaint.

On Friday, he shared with reporters the same letter ABC-7 received from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office.

In it, Open Records Division Chief Tamara Smith told Reveles her office has "sent letters to the district by mail and/or electronic mail informing the district of the complaints and requesting a response to assist us in resolving these matters." 

Smith also wrote to Reveles her office had reached out to the district by phone and "as of the date of this letter" hadn't "received a response stating the district will comply with the requests at issue."

Under the Texas Public Information Act, a governmental body has 10 days to release the information, however, public information is supposed to be released promptly. If a governmental body believes the information is not public under the law, it can ask the Texas Attorney General's Office for an opinion.

ABC-7 reached out to the school district Friday and received the following written statement, "The District will work with the Attorney General’s Office for an appropriate response to these issues. The District continues to assert that it responded to media requests appropriately and that the records requests filed following the incident were non-responsive based on the open investigation at that time. Canutillo ISD prides itself on being open and available to media. We will continue our work to partner with journalists to help them fairly and accurately do their job."

Reveles had told ABC-7 in 2023 the investigation was closed and the videos of the prank in the school gym existed, as he had watched them.

Smith gave Reveles 60 days to take an “approved open records training course” and asked he send a certificate to her office upon completion. 

In the letter, Smith said if the district does not comply it will consider other options, including filing a court request to compel the district to turn over the records.

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EL PASO (KVIA) -- Fentanyl is a drug that's killing people in the El Paso and Las Cruces area at alarming rates. As officers continue to crack down on drug dealers, more people who've lost loved ones to fentanyl are also joining the fight.

ABC-7's Paul Cicala caught up with Jennipher Talamantes Guerra, a grieving mother who's son tragically died from a fentanyl overdose, while she continues to raise awareness about the dangers of the drug in order to prevent other parents from experiencing the loss of a loved one.

It's been over four years since the death of her son, Jacob Talamantes, who took in a dose of fatal fentanyl poisoning.

"They told me that they had found my son deceased in a hotel," said Jennipher Talamantes, as she opened up about the day of her son's death on April 24th, 2020, "His so-called friends left him there to die. He had very little fentanyl in his system. Less than two milligrams."

It was enough fentanyl to be deadly, after she says that Jacob thought he was taking a percocet. However, the counterfeit drug was laced with fentanyl.

Towanda Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for DEA El Paso Division, said, "One pill can kill. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous."

Towanda Thorne-James says that traces of fenanyl are commonly found in prescription drugs that may derive from the streets, and -not- the pharmacies. .

"You should not take a pill that has not been prescribed to you by your doctor or a pharmacist," said Towanda.

Since the death of Jake Talamantes, just 25 years old, Jenipher Talamantes has begun the non-profit called "Fighting to Save Lives in the 915" to not only pay tribute to her son's life, but to reach out to parents through fentanyl awareness programs.

"It's so important that parents become aware of the dangers of fentanyl, and speak to their children," said Jenipher Talamantes.

She's warning families that fentanyl deaths aren't just relegated to drug-abusers on the streets, which is something echoed by Special Agent Thorne-James, who recommends parents to "Advise your children on the dangers of social media, because, this is what they're utilizing. It's a on one stop shop, so if you have a phone, then you have a drug dealer."  

DEA laboratory testing reveals that six out of ten fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, and, Talamantes reiterated to ABC-7's Paul Cicala that "even college students dealing with stress can be exposed to fentanyl without knowing."

Talamantes adds, "It's not that they're drug addicts. They just took a xanax for anxiety. They just ran out of their xanax pill, and their friend happened to give them xanax that was laced with fentanyl."

Special Agent Thorne-James said, "People aren't only being poisoned by fentanyl. They don't even know they're taking it. They don't know that it's in every drug imaginable. They don't know that it's in cocaine, that it's in methamphetamine, that it's in marijuana." 

According to the El Paso County Attorney's office, deaths from fentanyl have risen gradually from 75 in 2021 to 79 in 2022 and 96 in 2023.

Southern New Mexico is also seeing a rise in fentanyl-related deaths.

According to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety's "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program", in 2021 there were 57 deaths linked to fentanyl.

In 2022, the number remained the same with 57 deaths, and in 2023, it rose to 61 people killed from fentanyl.

Towanda Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for DEA El Paso division, said "There is demand for the fentanyl and our priority is to save American lives, so we continue to focus on our outreach."

She says, the DEA is putting pressure on the organizations who control the fentanyl distribution.

Some strategies appear to be working, at least in the Las Cruces area, where the handing out of Narcan, the brand name for the drug Naloxone, can help revive someone who may have overdosed from fentanyl. Thorne-James tells ABC-7's Paul Cicala that it's helping to keep the deaths from having such a marked increase that we've seen nationwide.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety's "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program" released graphics indicating:

From 1999, when talking about National Drug-Related overdoses as a whole, there were less than 20,000 in 1999.

Meanwhile the numbers have steadily grown over the last two decades to a whopping 106,699 deaths associated to drug overdoses in 2021, nationwide.

When ABC-7's Paul Cicala asked Jennipher Talamantes if she could give a direct message to people who are dealing fentanyl to youngsters out there, what would she tell them, the grieving mother answered, "What if you were killing one of your own children? They don't know the pain that they cause parents who are losing their children or family. And, not until it happens to them, are they going to feel the pain."

And, -that pain- of a mourning mom's memories of that devastating day lingers on.

"It still seems like it was just yesterday.  So it doesn't get easy. It's still difficult," said Talamantes, "We really miss him."

Wednesday, August 21st is National Fentanyl Prevention Awareness Day. Jennipher Talamantes will be in New York City on that day for a special ceremony to pay tribute to the lives lost from fentanyl. She says a picture of her son, Jake, will appear in time square, along with others.

If you would like to donate to "Fighting to Save Lives in the 915", just click on THIS LINK.

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by Daniel Perez, El Paso Matters
August 13, 2024

The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents voted 8-0 to approve spending $6.3 million for the design of the planned Clinical Sciences Building at the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus during its quarterly meeting Aug. 8-9 at the system’s Lubbock headquarters.

The proposed five-story, 352,000-square-foot structure will be built on the north end of campus near Interstate 10. Two thirds of the building will be for clinical sciences and cost an estimated $186 million. The rest will house the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center. Its second-stage design process started in June 2023.

Billy Breedlove, vice chancellor for Facilities Planning and Construction, pointed out that the clinical services center and cancer center are being tracked as two separate projects with two separate funding streams. The regents’ recent decision only involved the clinical sciences side. Regent Cody Campbell was not present.

As presented, the clinical sciences services would be on the south end of the building. Each center would have its own entrance.

The expenditure will pay for services such as design development, construction documents and administration, and cost estimates, and will allow planning for the clinical sciences side to catch up with the cancer center. Both centers will be constructed simultaneously.

Richard Lange, TTHEP president, said that the regents' support is a significant step in the university’s mission to provide world-class cancer care to the Borderplex.

“This allows us to move forward with our plans to build a future where every patient receives the highest level of compassionate and comprehensive care close to home,” Lange said. “We look forward to breaking ground soon, here at Texas Tech Health El Paso.”

Breedlove, whose presentation included a conceptual site plan and a cutaway view of the building, said that the new building would do the job of three existing buildings and be more economical. He added that the existing TTHEP clinical sciences space, about 173,000 square feet, is on University Medical Center of El Paso property and has benefited the community for about 40 years. It serves about 1,200 patients daily and is at full capacity.

The new building will continue to offer the existing clinical options such as the Breast Care Center, surgery, neurology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgery and rehabilitations, and several sub-specialties.

“We've had our meetings (and) have included all those clinicians in all of this, and so their input is very valued for our design team,” said Breedlove, who added that his people are working with HDR, one of the country’s largest medical design teams on this project.

The two centers will have exam and procedure rooms to support the clinical practices of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, such as nurses’ stations, lab support, medicine storage, clinical supply rooms and waiting areas.

The conceptual design included a parking lot with about 1,000 spaces, but Breedlove said designers may suggest the construction of the first level of a parking garage. He mentioned that his team wanted to project possible needs and offer the kinds of options for the next 20 years that may involve the need to purchase additional nearby properties.

The funds approved Aug. 8, as well as the previously approved $2.3 million, will come through the Revenue Finance System and be repaid with Capital Construction Assistance Projects Legislative appropriations, as well as gifts and institutional funds.

Breedlove said the multiple funding sources for separate projects that are part of the same building is among the project’s challenges.

Dustin R. Womble, chair of the facilities committee, asked how this kind of combined project could create future conflicts on how expenses get allocated. Breedlove said that the system will need to work hard to ensure that the costs are divided correctly.

Another challenge will be how to deal with the existing railroad operations on the tracks just south of the proposed building site. Breedlove said that Lange wants to create a “quiet zone” in that area where trains are known to blow their whistles long and hard on a daily basis.

A TTHEP spokesman said that Lange is involved in preliminary discussions with several transportation entities to consider options. Breedlove said an initial concept is a tunnel for vehicles and pedestrians to pass under the train track area, and hinted that it could mean buying additional property.

Board chair Mark Griffin, who earlier in the meeting  asked Lange if additional land was needed for this project.

“We’re in the final completion stage of that,” Lange said.

When Regents’ asked for a project timeline, Breedlove said he hoped to present design packages in November along with site and utility packages, some foundation packages in February, and a guaranteed maximum price by May. He said that all funds for the project must be allocated by June 2025. He said the site is basically clear and construction should take no more than three years.  

The Regents approved the initial concept of the Clinical Sciences Building in November 2023. It awarded a little more than $2 million for early design services to include cost estimates and a project schedule. In May, the Regents approved expenditures of $307,000 for the project’s pre-construction activities such as site analysis and a constructability review, and designs for the cancer clinic.

This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

How access to opioid treatments has changed in Texas

Drug overdoses are a leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Among all overdose deaths, opioids were the culprit 70.6% of the time in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 30 years after the first wave of the opioid epidemic began, roughly 645,000 Americans have died from overdoses where prescription or illicit opioids were involved, according to the CDC. Current estimates indicate that between 6.7 and 7.6 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder.

Beginning in 2013, the introduction of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and xylazine into the drug supply sparked a surge in opioid overdose deaths. According to the Department of Health & Human Services Overdose Prevention Strategy, drug overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids besides methadone have increased an astounding 103-fold since 1999 and are the primary driver of overdose deaths.

During an overdose, opioids bind to receptors in the brain that control respiratory function, leading to impaired breathing, brain damage, and death due to lack of oxygen. In recent years, drugs to treat substance use disorder and prevent overdose deaths have surged in usage.

Naloxone, available as a nasal spray or injectable medication, can reverse opioid overdoses after they happen. The drug, often known by the brand name Narcan, was made available over the counter in 2023 in an effort by the Food and Drug Administration to increase accessibility. Nearly 1.7 million prescriptions of naloxone were dispensed in 2022, up from 904,000 in 2019.

Buprenorphine, however, must be prescribed by a health care provider as part of a long-term substance misuse treatment plan, often for those addicted to heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, or other opiates. Buprenorphine works by reducing withdrawal symptoms and curbing drug cravings. As a long-acting opioid, it takes more time to act on the body over a more extended period. Though it’s classified as a Schedule III drug due to its addictive properties, at the correct dosage it helps give people suffering from addiction a level of stability by reducing the harms of illicit opioid misuse.

About 16 million buprenorphine prescriptions were dispensed in 2022, slightly higher than in 2019. However, as the epidemic retains its grip on the nation, medical professionals are prescribing opioids for pain relief with less frequency. The rate of opioid prescriptions for pain fell steadily between 2019 and 2022, from 46.8 per 100 people in 2019 to 39.5 per 100 people in 2022. The prescription rate for the opioid treatment drug buprenorphine, meanwhile, slightly increased over the same period from 4.7 to 4.8 prescriptions per 100 people.

Part of this increased access is due to the $50 billion opioid settlement fund distributed to each state for opioid harm reduction and treatment services. Many states are in the process of determining how to deploy settlement funds; the level of access to lifesaving medications thus varies by state and their specific approach to combating the crisis.

Ophelia used CDC data to analyze changes in how Texas distributes common medications that prevent opioid overdoses and treat substance use disorders, comparing how states are responding to the opioid epidemic as part of a broader national analysis.

Ophelia

Naloxone access grows across the US

From 2019 to 2022, access to naloxone grew in every state except New Mexico, where it shrank, and New Hampshire, where it stayed the same. In Texas, an additional 0.1 prescriptions were doled out per 100 residents, below the national average.

Texas provided 0.2 naloxone prescriptions per 100 residents in 2022, compared to 0.5 prescriptions nationwide.

Overall, naloxone prescriptions per resident remain much lower than buprenorphine due in part to the different purposes each drug serves. Naloxone is used in emergencies and is not prescribed as a medication to take on a routine basis. In addition to over-the-counter purchases, the drug is distributed through public health programs and emergency care outside traditional prescription avenues. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, is dispensed only by health care providers for long-term opioid use disorder treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings, often necessitating refills on a regular basis for complete treatment.

Cost is also an issue. A two-dose packet of Narcan runs just under $50 at many drugstores, and like most over-the-counter drugs, insurance doesn’t cover it. While a lifesaving measure might seem worth the price tag, $50 is prohibitive for some. To help reach communities in need, there are several resources available for free naloxone supplies and emergency kits.

Despite efforts to reduce the stigma around substance-related disorders, walking into a Walgreens or CVS and purchasing overdose medication might be challenging for those with OUD.

However, the use of lifesaving treatments is imperative as the opioid epidemic continues to take its toll. Obsolete and incorrect beliefs about the nature of addiction, which liken the disease to moral failure, can prevent people from seeking help and hinder the development of health and public policies. In contrast, a punitive approach to OUD can increase drug use by dehumanizing those who need help while failing to address the underlying cause of the disease.

Ophelia

Some areas see a decline in substance misuse treatment medication distribution

Medication-based treatment has not been a first line of defense in treating opioid misuse disorder long-term. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health and CDC, just over 1 in 5 adults with opioid use disorder received medication-based treatment, namely buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone, in 2021. The study also found that Schedule III, II, and unscheduled drugs, respectively, were dispensed for substance use treatment 38 times more often when it was a telehealth appointment.

Texas distributed 1.4 buprenorphine prescriptions per 100 residents in 2022, down 0.1 prescriptions since 2019. The national prescription rate is 4.8 per 100 residents, up 0.1 from 2019.

West Virginia leads in prescriptions per capita, which have increased by 4.4 prescriptions per 100 residents to reach 27.2—over a quarter of the state’s total population. Indiana, whose capital city is a national hot spot for opioid overdoses, saw the second-highest increase in buprenorphine prescriptions, reaching 10.7 per 100 residents in 2022.

Despite having the second most overdoses due to opioids, Washington D.C. issued an average of 1.5 fewer prescriptions per 100 people. Prescriptions fell the most in Vermont by 3.1 overall, dropping from 28.6 per 100 people to 25.5 per 100 people. In 2021, the state became the first to decriminalize buprenorphine possession in limited quantities. In a promising outlook for this harm reduction strategy, Vermont is experiencing a three-year low in opioid overdose rates based on 2024 data so far.

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten, writing by Colleen Kilday, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

This story originally appeared on Ophelia and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An immigrant advocacy center in El Paso raised concerns about Gov. Greg Abbott's Executive Order GA 46 relating to the collection of information by Texas public hospitals.

"Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants," Abbott said in a statement.

"Texas will hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the consequences of their open border policies, and we will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies.”

Marisa Limón Garza, the Executive Director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center based in El Paso, released a statement last night in response to the Executive Order.

"Once again, Governor Abbott is weaponizing public institutions to enforce cruelty against immigrant families. This is part of a larger pattern of xenophobia and racial discrimination that we must call out," Limón Garza said.

"Instead of taking steps to improve access to adequate healthcare for all Texans, Abbott is wasting time and resources by directing medical staff to focus on the status of the person in their care, proving once again that the governor is comfortable scapegoating migrants for failed public services across Texas.”

University Medical Center of El Paso, one of the hospitals affected by the order, issued a brief statement yesterday: “We are aware of the Executive Order that was issued today by Governor Abbott. We will be reviewing it with our team to fully understand its implications and requirements.”

A spokesperson from UMC told ABC-7 that they have no further updates as of this morning.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- La Clinica de Familia is hosting a health fair August 10, 2024.

Rachel Gonzales-Hanson, the interim COO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, will be in attendance.

Borderland leaders and elected officials will also be there.

The fair is happening at 575 South Alameda Boulevard from 9 am to 12 pm, with special remarks at 10:30 am.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott just issued an executive order calling for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to start collecting information on the cost of healthcare incurred by migrants who entered the US illegally.

"HHSC will also be required to report annually to the Governor and Texas Legislature all inpatient and emergency care costs for illegal immigrants so the State of Texas can seek reimbursement from the federal government," a spokesperson for the governor's office explained Thursday.

HHSC will immediately start to direct hospitals to collect information by November 1, 2024 and to report to the governor and lieutenant governor by January 1, 2026.

“Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants," Abbott stated. "That is why today I issued an Executive Order requiring the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in our state. Texas will hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the consequences of their open border policies, and we will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies."

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By Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 7, 2024

"Texas schools got billions in federal pandemic relief. It is coming to an end as the school year starts." was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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The $43 million infusion the Port Arthur Independent School District received in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds accomplished more than Phyllis Geans could have ever imagined.

The money allowed the district to upgrade antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Teachers earned retention stipends at a time when many were leaving the profession. Students received new band instruments. An ambitious summer program taught them about photography, robots and skydiving.

“We were excited, really excited, because we started thinking about things that we knew were almost impossible,” said Geans, Port Arthur ISD’s assistant superintendent of operations. “It was unreal.”

Districts like Port Arthur ISD, where roughly 85% of students are economically disadvantaged, received a level of financial support they likely wouldn’t have received otherwise — and they took advantage of it by investing in community health, learning, infrastructure and safety.

But the more than $19 billion Texas schools received in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds over the last four years will expire on Sept. 30, with a few exceptions.

The money will go away at a time when Texas schools are already struggling to keep the lights on. A number of districts are planning to enter the next school year with multimillion-dollar holes in their budgets as inflation has sent costs soaring. The Texas Legislature failed last year to approve a significant boost to the base amount of money every school receives per student — an amount that hasn’t changed since 2019 — as lawmakers fought over whether to fund private education with taxpayer dollars.

School administrators say losing the pandemic relief funds not only threatens the programs they paid for but also highlights how precarious their districts’ situation has become after years of clamoring for more state funding.

“It's not about making up ESSER, because we all knew that was one-time funding,” said La Joya ISD Superintendent Marcey Sorensen. “I just would ask, without getting political whatsoever, that everybody just look in the mirror and say, OK, if we really haven't provided additional funding since 2019, maybe it's time that we just give school districts a little bit more of what they need, knowing that kids have different needs now.”

Congress established the ESSER program in 2020 to help schools address the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Texas, districts experienced significant enrollment declines and the number of burnt-out teachers exiting the profession skyrocketed. Years of educational gains unraveled as kids, parents and teachers struggled with school closures and the hurried transition to online learning.

District leaders say the federal pandemic relief funds helped them address learning disruptions and provide additional academic support for students.

“They helped us ride out the five years of no new funding from the state,” said Ronald Wilson, Hearne ISD’s chief financial officer.

Recent studies show the relief funds helped schools across the country improve test scores. For districts where most students come from low-income households, the funds were particularly meaningful, and not just for academics.

In Port Arthur ISD, where most students are Black and Hispanic and the four-year graduation rate is well below the state average, the Brilliance Academy summer program took students on an indoor skydiving trip, where they learned about wind resistance, speed and velocity. The district created a program that paid high school seniors to provide supplemental classroom instruction to elementary kids. Geans said some of the students who participated in the program later expressed interest in pursuing a career in teaching.

Meanwhile, Paris ISD established income incentives for teachers to mentor students. Hearne ISD hired behavioral specialists and social workers to assist students and their families during the pandemic. San Elizario ISD built spaces for recreational activities like playing the piano and hosted family fitness, literacy and math events.

“I think we were more successful in growing the whole child, on the part where we're growing young ladies and young men,” said Jerrica Liggins, Paris ISD’s secondary education director and college transition coordinator. “We gave them things that they need to be successful in the next grade level or whether they were graduating and going out into the workforce. We gave them things that helped make them a better person.”

Schools across the country have faced questions about how they’ve spent federal relief funds. District officials who used them for things like hiring more staff for their central offices, purchasing pool passes or renovating sports stadiums have received the harshest criticism.

Texas schools will likely face similar spending questions next year. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, recently directed that chamber’s education committee to review how public schools spent the massive influx of federal COVID-19 relief money. The review will likely focus on how districts used the funds to improve student outcomes.

Standardized test scores are one of the main ways in which student achievement and growth are measured in the state, and the same is true for how the use of pandemic relief funds has been evaluated in national studies.

In Texas, the pandemic caused a dramatic decline in learning, with reading and math scores hit particularly hard. The effects were even more profound for students who participated in online classes. Math scores have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

How to hold schools accountable for Texas students’ academic performance has also been a contentious issue in recent years. School districts have fought with the Texas Education Agency over its letter grade accountability system, claiming recent changes would hurt their ratings. School officials have argued that testing scores alone are not enough to measure school systems’ effectiveness.

What ESSER spending evaluations sometimes miss is the extent to which the relief funds helped school districts stay alive, said Amanda Brownson, deputy executive director of the Texas Association of School Business Officials.

The funds “helped them keep the doors open, helped them make sure staff were in classrooms ready to greet kids when they came back; it helped them not … collapse,” Brownson said. “What we don't have is the counterfactual: What shape would school districts be in right now if they had to manage the pandemic and had not had ESSER funding available?”

Maintaining the programs Texas schools created with federal relief funds will likely be difficult without them.

A recent survey conducted by the TASBO found that out of 313 school districts across the state, nearly 80% reported deficit budgets or a lack of resources as one of their top challenges. Ninety percent of respondents said they have less than a quarter of pandemic relief funds remaining.

Gov. Greg Abbott has faced sharp criticism from public school advocates for his unwillingness to support standalone legislation to significantly boost school funding.

Since last year, Abbott has pushed for education savings accounts, which would allow families to use tax dollars to pay for their children’s private education and other school-related expenses. Opponents in the Texas House, citing worries that such a program would siphon funds away from public schools, successfully blocked the measure. But it meant public schools wouldn’t get the funding boost they wanted: Abbott had said he would veto any school funding proposal that did not include an education savings accounts program.

The governor has vowed to make a similar push when the Legislature reconvenes next year.

The uncertainty around state funding for public schools has created a situation where school districts are spending more time worrying about their financial sustainability and less about what’s best for students, said Monty Exter, governmental relations director of the Association of Texas Professional Educators.

But for low-income districts, money difficulties are not unfamiliar. And they plan to do what they’ve always done: find ways to provide for students and families with their limited resources.

Some school districts are encouraging their staff to be on the lookout for local grant opportunities. Others are thinking of asking voters to increase the tax revenue going to schools or support school bonds. Few say they are looking to the Legislature for solutions.

”We're taking as much of the funding issues on ourselves and moving forward,” said Hearne ISD Superintendent Adrian Johnson, adding that he is still hopeful that legislators will do more to fund public schools.

“But we're not waiting on that to happen,” he said.

Disclosure: Association of Texas Professional Educators and Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations on topics covering education, the economy, Texas and national politics, criminal justice, the border, the 2024 elections and so much more. See the full program.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-schools-covid-19-pandemic-esser/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

The post Texas schools got billions in federal pandemic relief. It is coming to an end as the school year starts. appeared first on KVIA.

By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune

Aug. 7, 2024

"Texas set to execute Arthur Lee Burton for 1997 killing of Houston jogger" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Texas is set to execute Arthur Lee Burton on Wednesday evening for the 1997 killing and attempted kidnapping and rape of a Houston woman.

Burton would be the third person executed in Texas this year. Four others are scheduled to die in 2024.

Burton was first sentenced to death in 1998 for killing Nancy Adleman, a mother of three who was on a summer evening jog along the bayou near her home in Houston. Police officers discovered her body the next morning in a wooded area near the jogging trail. Adleman was strangled with her own shoelace, her body badly beaten and her shorts and underwear discarded some distance away, according to court documents.

When approached by a police officer, Burton initially denied killing Adleman. But he later confessed to the crime and admitted to attacking a jogger, dragging her to the woods and choking her until she was unconscious, according to court documents. Burton has since argued that his confession was coerced.

“For every woman who has ever exercised alone, or who has walked out to her car alone at night, this case is their worst nightmare,” said Josh Reiss, chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s office division of post-conviction writs.

In a memoir published in 2019, Sarah Adleman, the victim’s daughter, explored the grief of her mother’s killing — which took place while she was a teenager — and included pieces of her mother’s poetry.

“The morning after she didn’t come home I find a baby sparrow in the garden next to the birdbath, under the pine tree,” she wrote. “If I can nurse the bird back to health my mother will be OK. I make a home for the bird in a shoebox, cut grapes for it to eat, and keep it on my bedside table for two nights.”

In another passage, she wrote of how her mother told her killer that she forgives him, and “God does too.”

“What she did do with her words was open the door to acceptance,” she wrote. “Acceptance that life, no matter how hard we try or how hard we fight it, will ever be as it was. Forgiveness comes after.”

In Burton’s latest appeal, which was still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court as of Wednesday morning, his lawyers argued that he is intellectually disabled and thus ineligible for the death penalty.

In a petition filed just days before his scheduled execution, Burton presented “recently-developed evidence” of his intellectual disability, including an evaluation by a clinical psychologist who found that Burton meets the criteria for “mild intellectual disability,” various neuropsychological tests, school records and supporting commentary from seven people who knew him in his adolescence.

The state rejected Burton’s claim, citing a clinical neuropsychologist’s evaluation that the “qualitative and quantitative evidence are not consistent with the presence of intellectual disability.” The state’s report argued that the results of Burton’s IQ tests fell several points above the range that indicates a disability, that he appeared to have been a “very prolific reader” while on death row and that he has not required additional support to function in the prison system.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that executing someone with an intellectual disability constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.” Intellectual disability is one of two categorical bars the court has placed on the death penalty. Those who were under 18 at the age of a capital crime are also ineligible for the death penalty, the court has held.

“It’s the law of the land,” said Kate Johnson, one of Burton’s attorneys. “Mr. Burton is intellectually disabled. The state does not agree. And our view is that we should litigate the issue — and if he is intellectually disabled, he needs to be resentenced.”

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday afternoon that Burton’s petition was not timely, and should have been raised years ago. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals also rejected Burton’s intellectual disability claim.

Burton’s lawyers appealed the state criminal court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court for a second look and stay of his execution. They argued that the state’s highest criminal court acted wrongly and failed to follow the latest medical guidance for evaluating intellectual disability.

“A chasm is once again growing between the medical community’s diagnostic framework for intellectual disability and the TCCA’s idiosyncratic view about who should be deemed ineligible for execution,” his lawyers wrote to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Mr. Burton has fallen into that chasm. Thus, once again, Texas has imposed a test that flouts this Court’s precedents.”

The full program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations on topics covering education, the economy, Texas and national politics, criminal justice, the border, the 2024 elections and so much more. See the full program.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-execution-death-row-arthur-lee-burton/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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EL PASO (KVIA) -- The "Anything's Possible Climber" is a featured attraction at El Paso's newest, multi-million dollar, state-of-the art museuem dedicated to Science.

ABC-7's Paul Cicala was reliving his youth in a fun moment during his live shot, as he was on top of the "Climber", and decided to take the slide to the bottom level (among other things).

La Nube's website describes the Anything's Possible Climber Presented by Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, like this: "Our 50-foot climber spans all four stories of the center and features a wheelchair challenge course on the top level. Part art installation and part jungle gym, the climber is both a gross motor skills challenge and a study of geometry comprised of cylinders, dodecahedrons, spheres, and more.

ABC-7's Stephanie Valle, Paul Cicala & Doppler Dave anchored the newscasts live from La Nube. Along with interviewing Alysha Swann, La Nube's Director of Community Outreach & Special Programs, Paul Cicala showed everyone the "fun" and science related to making airplanes, among other things.

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EL PASO (KVIA) -- "La Nube" is El Paso's newest, multi-million dollar, state of the art museum. It's located in the heart of downtown.

Inside, there are a number of exhibits and learning centers (including one entitled: Fly High).

ABC-7's Stephanie Valle, Paul Cicala & Doppler Dave anchored the newscasts live from La Nube. Along with interviewing Alysha Swann, La Nube's Director of Community Outreach & Special Programs, Paul Cicala showed everyone the "fun" and science related to making airplanes, among other things.

As described on La Nube's website: "Unlock your creativity by designing paper airplanes and testing them in our Air Space testing facility over a model of the Franklin Mountains! Learn how to calculate air pressure with our rocket launchers. Enjoy air-powered art installations to understand airflow and discover how gravity changes across planets for an imaginative journey."

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El Paso, Texas (KVIA-TV)—As we approach the 5th anniversary of August 3rd, we commemorate the lives lost in the Walmart terrorist attack. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is hosting a discussion titled Remembering August 3rd: Memory, Trauma & Extremism to honor the victims.

The panel discussion is for mourning, reflection, and education.

By understanding the origins of extremism and its impacts, the aim is to foster a community committed to preventing future acts of hate and violence.

Robert Holguin will moderate the panel and will feature experts and community leaders who will discuss the ongoing effects of the attack, the impact of extremism, and the community's journey towards healing and resilience.

Peter Svarzbein, former El Paso Mayor Pro Tempore and current Community Engagement Manager for ADL in El Paso will emphasize the significance of this event.

The event will be held on Thursday, August 1st, 2024, from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at the Philanthropy Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX.

For further information about the panel discussion or to RSVP:

Peter Svarzbein at (915) 245-4778 or email psvarzbein@adl.org. 

ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Social media and tech giant Meta has agreed to a $1.4 million settlement with the State of Texas after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the company’s practice of capturing and using personal biometric data without authorization.

This is the first lawsuit brought and settled under Texas’s “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier” Act, which "prohibits a person from capturing an individual's biometric identifiers for a commercial purpose unless that person informs the individual and obtains the individual's consent."

“After vigorously pursuing justice for our citizens whose privacy rights were violated by Meta’s use of facial recognition software, I’m proud to announce that we have reached the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single State,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights. Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law.”

In 2011, Meta rolled out a new feature, initially called Tag Suggestions, that it claimed would make it easier for users to “tag” people in photographs. The Attorney General's Office says the feature, which was turned on by default, ran facial recognition software on almost all photos uploaded to Facebook, capturing records of the subjects' facial geometry. The Attorney General's Office adds this feature did not properly obtain the users' consent.

The company will pay the state of Texas the settlement of $1.4 billion over five years.

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ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) -- The Anthony Texas Police Foundation and Food Pantry announced a School Supply Backpack Giveaway event on July 30, 2024, at 4:00 PM. It will happen at 401 Wildcat Dr., Anthony, TX 79821.

The first 200 children to attend with a parent or guardian will receive a backpack that is filled with essential school supplies. The giveaway will continue until 5:30 P.M. or until supplies last.

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Interior Design // Shutterstock

Most popular car colors in Texas

Take a stroll around a vintage car show, and you’ll see pops of color everywhere. You might spot a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner in bright yellow, a common color in the muscle car era, or a 1975 Chevy Nova in sleek orange.

But parking garages and driveways today are filled with white, gray, and black cars—so what gives? Have drivers become more boring and, therefore, now choose more muted colors for their cars? White tops the charts, with 25% of all new car registrations in 2023 being white, according to Edmunds.

To see what colors hold sway today in Texas, CheapInsurance.com compiled a ranking of the most popular car colors using data from Edmunds, based on a national analysis. Car colors were ranked based on their market share of new vehicle retail registrations to individuals in 2023.

Neutrals still top the list of popular car colors, but there are some surprising shades when you get further down. Historically, there are several forces at play when it comes to changing color preferences in cars, including the development of various painting technologies over the years, larger economic trends, and, of course, consumers’ preferences, the Consumerist explained.

Ford’s original Model T was only offered in black since the black asphalt enamels used on the production line dried the quickest and were more durable than other oil-based options. Assembly-line innovations following World War I allowed for colored cars for the first time, and in 1923, Duco paint arrived on the scene, offering an additional array of beautiful colors.

Car manufacturers often hire color experts and assemble focus groups to hypothesize what might be the hot new color, but for the past several decades, black, white, and their child, gray, have led the way in sales.

The recession in the early 2000s may have nudged consumers to more “neutral” colors, Barb Whalen, color and materials design manager at Ford Motor Company, told the Consumerist. Plus, Apple’s sleek white tech products helped solidify the color (or lack thereof) as the hue of the future, as consumers may subconsciously decide to match their iPhone to their new Camry.

Wondering what your state’s color preferences have been? Read on to see the most popular car colors in Texas.

Canva

#5. Dark Blue

– Market share: 7%

Canva

#4. Silver

– Market share: 7%

Canva

#3. Black

– Market share: 21%

Canva

#2. Gray

– Market share: 23%

Canva

#1. White

– Market share: 26%

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cassidy Grom, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

This story originally appeared on CheapInsurance.com and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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EL PASO, Texas -- President Joe Biden visited Houston, Texas on July 29 to pay respects to the family of late Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, who died earlier this month.

Lee served in Texas' 18th district from 1995 until her death on July 19. She died from pancreatic cancer.

Lee was the longest serving member of the Texas Congressional Delegation and was known as an outspoken advocate for civil rights and progressive causes.

President Biden also visited the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas later in the day, giving a speech for the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights act.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- According to a recent survey conducted by Gameland.gg 71% of Texans occasionally yell at virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Revealing Texas is the second highest percentage nationwide. The survey by the gaming platform polled 2,000 US residents. Additionally, it mentiones Amazon’s Alexa is the most argued with virtual assistant in Texas.

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans admit to arguing with their virtual assistant weekly, according to this survey. Lastly, it also showed that Nationwide, 62% of women and 53% of men report snapping at their virtual assistants. Find more statistics on this topic here.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D - TX-16) will not be attending the upcoming address to a Joint Session of Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him unworthy of the invitation to make it due to the conduct of the war in Gaza.

In a released statement and a post on X.com (formerly Twitter) Wednesday morning, Rep. Escobar said that a person can support the right of Israel to self-defense without unconditional support of its government.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unworthy of this invitation," Rep. Escobar said. "His reckless execution of the war in Gaza demonstrates his disinterest in mitigating the loss of civilian life, abiding by international law, or prioritizing the return of hostages - whose families I will meet with today.

Rep. Escobar concluded by saying “I will not be in attendance.”

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El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Warriors Edge Boxing and Kings Promotions will bring Ring Wars 12, professional boxing to the County Coliseum. The card will feature local fighters and out-of-town fighters.

The co-main event will feature upcoming rising star-undefeated  middleweight Jorge Tovar and the undefeated Stephanie Han in the main event as she fights for the WBA Intercontinental Championship vs. Miranda Reyes.

Stephanie Han started her boxing journey at age 10. She has 40 amateur fights, and she has won the Golden Gloves, Nationals, and PAL nationals. Han made Team USA and proudly represented Team USA in Puerto Rico and Poland, to name a few. She is 8 and 0 and is currently ranked two by the WBA.

Jorge Tovar started his boxing journey at age 8. He won the State Golden Glove, which very few from El Paso have done. USA Boxing ranked him in the top five in two different weight classes.

Event information:

July 27, 2024

7:03 PM - 11:04 PM

El Paso County Coliseum 4100 East Paisano Dr. El Paso, Texas 79905

Venue: County Coliseum

Admission: Ringside $100.00 Floor Seats $75 Box seats $50 General Admission $25

https://www.ticketmaster.com/ring-wars-el-paso-texas-07-27-2024/event/0C0060BCB5FD2E60

Contact Name: Luis Trevino

Contact E-mail Address: warriorsedge51@gmail.com

Contact Phone Number: (915) 740-4744

https://www.warriorsedgeboxing.com/

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Workforce Commission announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and the United States Postal Service to offer new options for in-person identity verification when filing for unemployment benefit claims.

Now, unemployment claimants have the option to complete their identity verification at participating USPS locations. Individuals can verify their identity using a state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. Armed Forces or uniformed service ID card, or a U.S. Passport.

“TWC is here to support Texans by making the ID verification process more accessible,” TWC Executive Director Ed Serna said. “This initiative highlights how TWC is taking aggressive steps to prevent these critical resources from being taken advantage of by fraudsters.” 

Texans may still verify their identity online through ID.me.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas.gov and Texas Department of Motor vehicles have all reported outages or disruptions in services linked to the CrowdStrike technical issues.

Texas DPS posted on x.com (formerly Twitter) that the department has closed all driver license offices due to technical issues until further notice. DPS handles the issuing of driver's licenses in Texas.

CLOSURE NOTICE: DPS Driver License Offices (DLOs) across the state are currently closed due to a technical issue. Customers with appointments should have been notified. Our IT teams are working diligently on a fix, however there is no current estimate on when DLOs will… pic.twitter.com/tiQuWE7SUy

— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) July 19, 2024

Texas.gov also reports that online services are experiencing issues due to a global third-party network outage. A banner at the top of the state website readsTEXAS.GOV SERVICE IMPAIRMENT ALERT: Many Texas.gov online services are experiencing issues due to a global third-party network outage. We'll remove this banner when services are restored. Thanks for your understanding and we apologize for any disruption this may cause." A thread of tweets from Texas.gov also detailed the ongoing issues:

https://t.co/vqWwsfyv8S SERVICES IMPAIRMENT ALERT: A technical issue with CrowdStrike is currently causing global computer outages impacting several industries, including Texas state agencies. 1/3

— Texas.gov - State of Texas Official Website (@texasgov) July 19, 2024

Please monitor https://t.co/5sBVktmI9r communication channels for updates. Thanks for your understanding and we apologize for any disruption this may cause. 3/3

— Texas.gov - State of Texas Official Website (@texasgov) July 19, 2024

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles also reported it's services were down Friday. A banner on txdmv.gov state "The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has been impacted by the global technology outage. Many department systems and services are unavailable at this time. We are working to restore all services as soon as possible." The department's x.com account also reported the difficulties.

Friday, July 19, 2024: The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has been impacted by the global technology outage.

Many department systems and services are unavailable at this time.

We are working to restore all services as soon as possible.

— Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (@TxDMV) July 19, 2024

Along with the DPS Driver License Offices, the Social Security Administration also shut it's offices down in the Borderland and across the county due to the outages.

The website Downdetector.com showed many major companies and online services such as Microsoft, Chase, Visa, ADP and more had users reporting being unable to access them early Friday. By the afternoon, most were shown as back online though some still had difficulties being reported.

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Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock

Best draft picks in Texas Rangers history

The Major League Baseball draft is unique among professional sports drafts. The 30 organizations pick teenagers and college students who will not join their big league clubs for years—if ever.

These athletes will spend that time honing their craft in the minor leagues, where long bus rides and minuscule paychecks are the norm. A few will move quickly up the ranks, seizing playing time opportunities to advance their careers and making their names known to scouts, fans, and other observers around the country.

Some of the best will become MLB stars, but there’s minimal correlation to draft position. Four of the best draft picks nationally were picked after hundreds of other diamond darlings, and only two were #1 overall selections.

There’s also more than a handful who didn’t do much for the teams that drafted them, including superstars such as Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, and Randy Johnson. Each of these players was traded before they evolved into Hall of Famers.

Still, calling the draft a “crapshoot” might be going too far. College players are “slightly more likely” than high schoolers to reach the revered stadiums of the majors, and third-rounders have a better chance than fifth-rounders, for example, though the margins are slim, as Vice reported. Teams not only make picks based on years-in-advance projections but also whether they can sign players, a step that must be completed before those youngsters begin playing professionally.

To see how clubs have fared since the inaugural draft in 1965, ATS.io compiled a list of the best draft picks in Texas Rangers history using data from Baseball Reference. The players were ranked using career wins above replacement, so not one recent choice was named. Unsigned picks were not considered, and players who were traded as picks were credited to their acquiring teams. Data is as of June 5, 2024.

#25. C.J. Wilson
– Draft: 141st overall pick in 2001
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 444
– Career stats: 94 wins, 3.74 earned run average, 1.32 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 17.5

#24. Rich Aurilia
– Draft: 678th overall pick in 1992
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,652
– Career stats: 186 home runs, .276 batting average, .762 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 18.2

#22. Tanner Roark (tie)
– Draft: 753rd overall pick in 2008
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 227
– Career stats: 76 wins, 3.85 earned run average, 1.26 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 18.4

#22. Doug Davis (tie)
– Draft: 293rd overall pick in 1996
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 306
– Career stats: 92 wins, 4.44 earned run average, 1.51 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 18.4

#21. Ryan Dempster
– Draft: 66th overall pick in 1995
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 579
– Career stats: 132 wins, 4.35 earned run average, 1.43 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 18.6

#20. Pete O’Brien
– Draft: 381st overall pick in 1979
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,567
– Career stats: 169 home runs, .261 batting average, .745 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 19.2

#19. Ron Darling
– Draft: 9th overall pick in 1981
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 382
– Career stats: 136 wins, 3.87 earned run average, 1.33 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 19.6

#18. Aaron Harang
– Draft: 195th overall pick in 1999
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 387
– Career stats: 128 wins, 4.26 earned run average, 1.36 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 20.0

#16. John Danks (tie)
– Draft: 9th overall pick in 2003
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 247
– Career stats: 79 wins, 4.38 earned run average, 1.35 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 20.2

#16. Rick Helling (tie)
– Draft: 22nd overall pick in 1992
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 301
– Career stats: 93 wins, 4.68 earned run average, 1.38 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 20.2

#15. Jim Clancy
– Draft: 74th overall pick in 1974
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 472
– Career stats: 140 wins, 4.23 earned run average, 1.37 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 20.5

#14. Rey Sánchez
– Draft: 319th overall pick in 1986
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,490
– Career stats: 15 home runs, .272 batting average, .642 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 20.6

#13. Mike Stanley
– Draft: 395th overall pick in 1985
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,467
– Career stats: 187 home runs, .270 batting average, .827 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 20.9

#12. Kyle Hendricks
– Draft: 264th overall pick in 2011
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 257
– Career stats: 93 wins, 3.64 earned run average, 1.17 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 21.6

#11. Darren Oliver
– Draft: 63rd overall pick in 1988
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 766
– Career stats: 118 wins, 4.51 earned run average, 1.44 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 22.2

#10. Rusty Greer
– Draft: 279th overall pick in 1990
– Position: Outfielder
– Games played: 1,027
– Career stats: 119 home runs, .305 batting average, .865 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 22.4

#9. R.A. Dickey
– Draft: 18th overall pick in 1996
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 400
– Career stats: 120 wins, 4.04 earned run average, 1.30 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 23.7

#8. Travis Hafner
– Draft: 923rd overall pick in 1996
– Position: Third baseman
– Games played: 1,183
– Career stats: 213 home runs, .273 batting average, .874 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 24.8

#7. Carlos Peña
– Draft: 10th overall pick in 1998
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,493
– Career stats: 286 home runs, .232 batting average, .808 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 25.5

#6. Mike Hargrove
– Draft: 572nd overall pick in 1972
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,666
– Career stats: 80 home runs, .290 batting average, .787 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 30.4

#5. Edwin Encarnacián
– Draft: 274th overall pick in 2000
– Position: Third baseman
– Games played: 1,960
– Career stats: 424 home runs, .260 batting average, .846 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 35.5

#4. Kenny Rogers
– Draft: 816th overall pick in 1982
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 762
– Career stats: 219 wins, 4.27 earned run average, 1.40 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 50.5

#3. Mark Teixeira
– Draft: 5th overall pick in 2001
– Position: Third baseman
– Games played: 1,862
– Career stats: 409 home runs, .269 batting average, .870 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 50.6

#2. Ian Kinsler
– Draft: 496th overall pick in 2003
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,888
– Career stats: 257 home runs, .269 batting average, .777 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 54.1

#1. Kevin Brown
– Draft: 4th overall pick in 1986
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 486
– Career stats: 211 wins, 3.28 earned run average, 1.22 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 67.8

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Mike Taylor, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 30 MLB teams.

This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post Best draft picks in Texas Rangers history appeared first on KVIA.

University of College // Shutterstock

Best draft picks in Houston Astros history

The Major League Baseball draft is unique among professional sports drafts. The 30 organizations pick teenagers and college students who will not join their big league clubs for years—if ever.

These athletes will spend that time honing their craft in the minor leagues, where long bus rides and minuscule paychecks are the norm. A few will move quickly up the ranks, seizing playing time opportunities to advance their careers and making their names known to scouts, fans, and other observers around the country.

Some of the best will become MLB stars, but there’s minimal correlation to draft position. Four of the best draft picks nationally were picked after hundreds of other diamond darlings, and only two were #1 overall selections.

There’s also more than a handful who didn’t do much for the teams that drafted them, including superstars such as Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, and Randy Johnson. Each of these players was traded before they evolved into Hall of Famers.

Still, calling the draft a “crapshoot” might be going too far. College players are “slightly more likely” than high schoolers to reach the revered stadiums of the majors, and third-rounders have a better chance than fifth-rounders, for example, though the margins are slim, as Vice reported. Teams not only make picks based on years-in-advance projections but also whether they can sign players, a step that must be completed before those youngsters begin playing professionally.

To see how clubs have fared since the inaugural draft in 1965, ATS.io compiled a list of the best draft picks in Houston Astros history using data from Baseball Reference. The players were ranked using career wins above replacement, so not one recent choice was named. Unsigned picks were not considered, and players who were traded as picks were credited to their acquiring teams. Data is as of June 5, 2024.

#24. Enrique Hernández (tie)
– Draft: 191st overall pick in 2009
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,103
– Career stats: 111 home runs, .238 batting average, .712 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 16.2

#24. Cliff Johnson (tie)
– Draft: 83rd overall pick in 1966
– Position: Catcher
– Games played: 1,369
– Career stats: 196 home runs, .258 batting average, .815 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 16.2

#23. Shane Reynolds
– Draft: 72nd overall pick in 1989
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 305
– Career stats: 114 wins, 4.09 earned run average, 1.31 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 17.8

#22. Dallas Keuchel
– Draft: 221st overall pick in 2009
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 278
– Career stats: 103 wins, 4.02 earned run average, 1.32 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 19.0

#21. Darryl Kile
– Draft: 782nd overall pick in 1987
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 359
– Career stats: 133 wins, 4.12 earned run average, 1.41 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 20.2

#20. Kyle Tucker
– Draft: 5th overall pick in 2015
– Position: Outfielder
– Games played: 615
– Career stats: 121 home runs, .272 batting average, .865 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 21.9

#19. J.R. Richard
– Draft: 2nd overall pick in 1969
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 239
– Career stats: 107 wins, 3.15 earned run average, 1.24 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 22.2

#18. Johnny Ray
– Draft: 294th overall pick in 1979
– Position: Second baseman
– Games played: 1,353
– Career stats: 53 home runs, .290 batting average, .724 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 24.2

#17. John Mayberry
– Draft: 6th overall pick in 1967
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,620
– Career stats: 255 home runs, .253 batting average, .799 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 25.0

#16. Ken Forsch
– Draft: 399th overall pick in 1968
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 521
– Career stats: 114 wins, 3.37 earned run average, 1.25 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 26.0

#15. Floyd Bannister
– Draft: 1st overall pick in 1976
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 431
– Career stats: 134 wins, 4.06 earned run average, 1.33 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 26.4

#14. Billy Wagner
– Draft: 12th overall pick in 1993
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 853
– Career stats: 47 wins, 2.31 earned run average, 1.00 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 27.7

#13. J.D. Martinez
– Draft: 611th overall pick in 2009
– Position: Right fielder
– Games played: 1,557
– Career stats: 320 home runs, .286 batting average, .872 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 30.7

#12. Hunter Pence
– Draft: 64th overall pick in 2004
– Position: Outfielder
– Games played: 1,707
– Career stats: 244 home runs, .279 batting average, .794 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 30.9

#11. Bill Doran
– Draft: 138th overall pick in 1979
– Position: Infielder
– Games played: 1,453
– Career stats: 84 home runs, .266 batting average, .728 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 32.8

#10. Ken Caminiti
– Draft: 71st overall pick in 1984
– Position: Third baseman
– Games played: 1,760
– Career stats: 239 home runs, .272 batting average, .794 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 33.4

#9. Alex Bregman
– Draft: 2nd overall pick in 2015
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,025
– Career stats: 174 home runs, .272 batting average, .851 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 36.2

#8. George Springer
– Draft: 11th overall pick in 2011
– Position: Outfielder
– Games played: 1,214
– Career stats: 247 home runs, .265 batting average, .826 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 36.8

#7. Carlos Correa
– Draft: 1st overall pick in 2012
– Position: Shortstop
– Games played: 1,065
– Career stats: 177 home runs, .272 batting average, .817 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 42.0

#6. Ben Zobrist
– Draft: 184th overall pick in 2004
– Position: Second baseman
– Games played: 1,651
– Career stats: 167 home runs, .266 batting average, .783 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 44.5

#5. Roy Oswalt
– Draft: 684th overall pick in 1996
– Position: Pitcher
– Games played: 365
– Career stats: 163 wins, 3.36 earned run average, 1.21 walks plus hits per inning
– Wins above replacement: 50.0

#4. Luis Gonzalez
– Draft: 90th overall pick in 1988
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 2,591
– Career stats: 354 home runs, .283 batting average, .846 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 51.6

#3. Lance Berkman
– Draft: 16th overall pick in 1997
– Position: First baseman
– Games played: 1,879
– Career stats: 366 home runs, .294 batting average, .943 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 51.9

#2. Craig Biggio
– Draft: 22nd overall pick in 1987
– Position: Catcher
– Games played: 2,850
– Career stats: 291 home runs, .281 batting average, .796 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 65.5

#1. Kenny Lofton
– Draft: 428th overall pick in 1988
– Position: Outfielder
– Games played: 2,103
– Career stats: 130 home runs, .299 batting average, .794 on-base plus slugging
– Wins above replacement: 68.4

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Mike Taylor, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 30 MLB teams.

This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

The post Best draft picks in Houston Astros history appeared first on KVIA.

HUDSPETH COUNTY, Texas (KVIA) -- 18-year-old El Paso resident Grace Allyn Mae Wagoner is dead after her car crashed on I-10 West in Hudspeth County.

A spokesperson for Texas DPS says Wagoner was traveling west near mile marker 95 when her car left its lane and rolled off the road.

Troopers are still looking into the cause of the crash.

Wagoner was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Julie Sanchez.

The crash happened July 16, 2024 at 6:03 AM.

The post 18-year-old El Pasoan dies in crash on I-10 West in Hudspeth County appeared first on KVIA.