MedleyStory

City Council approves new version of bond.

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:47:20 -0600

The money would be spread out in these categories.

· $190 million for parks, recreation and open space. This includes pools, sports fields, playgrounds and neighborhood improvement projects.

· $278 million for cultural and entertainment facilities, which include:

o $50 million for city zoo.
o $36 million for museums
o $12 million for libraries

What's not included on the quality of life bond is the proposed Triple A stadium that was originally on the proposal.

City Manager Joyce Wilson recommended that will have to be separate because a team hasn't expressed any interest as of yet.

Voters will have to approve a 2 percent hotel tax increase to help pay for the stadium if they want Triple A team in El Paso.

Not on the ballot were improvements to infrastructure for the Sun Bowl, which were on the original plan.

El Paso City Council took that down after members were told the Texas attorney general they couldn't use the money on state-owned buildings.

El Paso City Council also voted to spend nearly $200 million from Certificate of Obligation funds to improve street infrastructure, which voters won't have to vote on.

The money will help to pay for synchronization of signals, resurfacing/micro-surfacing, street medians/landscaping and pedestrian elements such as sidewalks and parking improvements.

As of now, the council still has to come up with how it's going to write questions for the proposition on the November ballot.

Headline: City Council approves new version of bond.

EL PASO, Texas

Nearly half a billion dollars is what El Paso City Council members voted to approve, after spending nearly all day deliberating on how and where the money should be spent.

City ~~council~~ Council originally wanted to put the proposal on the ballot as a one-question vote but was told by the Texas state attorney general that the bond had to be split.

On Thursday, City Council voted to split the bond into two categories that voters will vote on.

Almost $468 million ~~dollars~~ was approved to pay for improvements to parks and entertainment venues in El Paso and new sports facilities.

The money would be spread out in these categories.
• $190 million for parks, recreation and open space. This includes pools, sports fields, ~~playgrounds,~~ playgrounds and neighborhood improvement projects.
• $278 million for cultural and entertainment ~~facilities. Which~~ facilities, which include:
o $50 for city zoo.
o $36 million for museums
o $12 million for ~~Libraries~~libraries

What's not included on the quality of life bond is the proposed ~~triple a~~ Triple A stadium that was originally on the proposal.

City Manager Joyce Wilson recommended that will have to be separate because a team hasn't expressed any interest as of yet.

Voters will have to approve a 2 percent hotel tax increase to help pay for the stadium if they want Triple A team in El Paso.

Not on the ~~ballot,~~ ballot were improvements to infrastructure for the Sun Bowl, which were on the original plan.

El Paso ~~city council~~ City Council took that down after ~~they were told the Texas Attorney General~~ members were told the Texas attorney general they couldn't use the money on ~~to state owned~~ state-owned buildings.

El Paso ~~city council~~ City Council also voted to spend nearly ~~200~~ $200 million from Certificate of Obligation funds to improve street infrastructure, which voters won't have to vote on.

The money will help to pay for synchronization of signals, resurfacing/micro-surfacing, street ~~medians/landscaping,~~ medians/landscaping and pedestrian elements such as sidewalks and ~~Parking improvements..~~ parking improvements.

As of now, the council still has to come up with how ~~they are~~ it's going to write questions for the proposition on the November ballot.

Community shares concerns about proposed roundabout

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:42:00 -0600

The Texas Department of Transportation shared plans to build a roundabout at Alameda and Paisano with the South Central El Paso community.

Community members attended a meeting Thursday night with TxDOT, city and state officials. For the most part, the people who spoke were against the roundabout. Concerns were that it would be unsafe for pedestrians, confusing for drivers and a big waste of space and money.

TxDOT District Engineer Bob Bielek said the $7 million project is not a done deal, but thinks the community will thank TxDOT for it, if it is built, in the future.

"Almost 70 to 75 percent of people, before a roundabout is put in, will always object to it," Bielek said. "After it's operational, it completely flips and those same people are for it."

Maria Ramos said that she grew up in South Central El Paso. She never noticed a problem with the intersection at Alameda and Paisano. She also questions whether the community's input will have any effect on the outcome.

"They (TxDOT) already had an itinerary as to where the construction was going to begin," Ramos said.

Ramos wanted to look at more alternatives, like just adding more lanes, but Bielek said alternatives have not been shared with the public.

"We've been through a lot of alternatives internally," Bielek said. "Most of the alternatives don't work."

Bielek said that national studies have proven that roundabouts have a huge safety benefit for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

If community concerns don't stop the project from happening, construction will begin in December 2013.

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.

Border Patrol honors fallen agents

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:38:09 -0600

The U.S. Border Patrol on Thursday honored agents who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Border Patrol’s top leader, Chief Michael J. Fisher delivered the keynote address during this morning’s memorial service at the Nation Border Patrol Museum on Trans Mountain Road.

“It gives us an opportunity to commemorate and memorialize the lives of the agents who have died in the line of duty. So, our community partners are out here today, as well as Border Patrol Agents and their families to give proper tribute to these agents,” said Demetrio Guerra, a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

The memorial service also included a rider- less horse, a twenty one gun salute and a helicopter fly-by.

Men convicted for child abuse after gang initiation

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:24:19 -0600

According to the Las Cruces Sun News, District Attorney Amy Orlando announced on Wednesday that Jimmy Lugo, Jr., 26 and Pedro Barraza, 20, were convicted of child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and conspiracy.

In November 2011, Lugo, Barraza and another male juvenile took part in the gang initiation of a 14-year old female where they punched and kicked the young girl, prosecutors said.

A video of the assault was then posted on Youtube. Judge Fernando R. Macias sentenced Barraza on April 24 to one year and one month in the New Mexico Department of Corrections, followed by five years probation.

Lugo was sentenced on May 22 to six months confinement followed by four years probation.

Director of social media conference officially announces El Paso to be host city

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:44:18 -0600

The managing director of the Social Media Tourism Symposium, Dave Serino, visited El Paso on Thursday and announced that the convention will be held at the El Paso Convention Center.

Almost 20,000 El Pasoans voted online to bring the SoMe Convention into El Paso.

The convention will be held Nov. 7-9.

During the SoMe Convention, it's anticipated that 200 to 300 people will attend and spend their time talking about El Paso, through social media, to the rest of the world.

"The unique challenge would probably be just the general location because we're not in a major hub," Serino told KFOX14 News. "The cool thing about being in El Paso is we're kind of a niche group. We really like doing something a little different and having a different kind of experience."

During the voting phase, El Paso beat 16 other cities to host the conference.

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.

Fort Bliss EDGE Innovation Center delivers 'fast-track' solutions to better equip soldiers

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:39:40 -0600

Army leaders opened the brand-new Fort Bliss EDGE Innovation Center Thursday, helping deliver 'fast-track' solutions to equip soldiers at the speed of innovation.

The Fort Bliss EDGE Innovation Center is a unique, open environment that encourages military personnel to visit and engage with the EDGE team and more than 250 members worldwide, experimenting first-hand with advanced technologies and products ranging from soldier-worn, networked communications to new technologies and products integrated into military vehicles.

Sponsored by General Dynamics C4 Systems, EDGE Innovation Centers provide a collaborative, open-environment enabling industry and academia, with government input, to work together to speed the delivery cycle of new technologies and capabilities to soldiers, Marines and men and women of the Armed Forces and first responders.

Inside the center, our crews experimented with a laptop worth thousands of dollars. Leaders with the company Intific said the technology is giving soldiers the firsthand testing they need on how to drive a military all-terrain vehicle.

"He's being monitored here with a lightweight EEG system, and we're collecting that data."

The data is monitoring brain activity, which will be used in "human-factor studies". It's checking for distractions, namely, being too overloaded to drive.

"Performing their job, we like to know if they're drowsy if they're engaged, or if they're stressed," said Tony Morone of Intific

And just one room over, Dave Brushingham, of the tech company called Shakespeare, showed off a new-model communication antenna.

"You put a key ring or zip tie or something and you can hook it on your back and then you have a hands-free device,” Brushingham said.

Brushingham said the general antenna out there is about 4 to 8 pounds, but the newer models are about one pound.

The newer technology means when soldiers have to make a call, they can also keep one hand on a weapon.

"Instead of having one hand on a satellite and another hand on a microphone, and no hands on their weapon, they can just talk and they'll just have their hands free," Brushingham said.

Officials said it is technology training sites such as EDGE setting Fort Bliss apart, making it a post of the future.

H.E. Charles student takes what fellow students think is a gun to school

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:27:13 -0600

A middle school student brandished what fellow students thought was a gun, sending some kids into a panic.

El Paso Independent School District officials said it was actually a starter gun used at track and field events.

Even then it caused panic when the female student showed it off just after lunch Wednesday.

Some students said they were never told a gun was seen on campus. They said all they were told was to be quiet and stay in class.

School officials said as soon as students told them there was a gun on campus they locked down the school.

It took EPISD police officers about two hours to find the starter gun.

It's unknown how the girl got her hands on the gun, but officials said at no time does it appear she threatened anyone.

"Nobody knows. It's scary," said parent Enrique Rodriguez. "They don't think of what's going to happen, consequences."

Officials said the student involved in Wednesday's incident is being punished, but couldn't comment further.

Some parents are concerned that they weren't notified about what happened at the school.

EPISD officials said they are now looking to social communication as a way to more immediately notify parents.

"We're going to be working on getting more actively engaged so our community is more aware that we have it," said EPISD spokeswoman Renee de Santos.

Many parents wish that option was available Wednesday.

"Usually she'll tell me anything that happens here," said Rodriguez of his daughter.

"We wanted to make sure they had accurate information," said de Santos.

De Santos said they used their calling system to notify parents of what had happened. She couldn't tell KFOX 14 what time the calls started but when KFOX 14 spoke to her about it Wednesday around 4:15 p.m., she said the calls were currently going out to the nearly 800 parents.

"Once it went out it doesn't take all of our parents to get the message," said de Santos.

She said it took about two hours total.

"She would have said something," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said his wife never got that call and he isn't sure Facebook would be the best way to notify him, either.

"I really don't go into those sites," he said.

Rodriguez said something needs to change, especially at Charles, where parents said they are already on high alert. It was just last month KFOX 14 reported another student threatened to show up with a hit list.

"I think texting us or something would be more, I mean, who doesn't text?" said Rodriguez.

Other parents said there are too many problems at the school and they will just be pulling their children out next year.

The district is currently revamping their public information office so they can get more up to date with social media and use that as another tool to notify the public of what is happening within the district.

Man involved in early-morning rollover arrested on drunken driving charge

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:49:44 -0600

Police arrested a man they said was intoxicated and caused a rollover accident Thursday morning.

Christopher Enriquez, 25, was driving a white 1999 Ford F-250 on Interstate 10 headed west when he collided with a purple 1994 Honda Civic, police said.

The Civic traveled onto the center median while Enriquez's truck veered toward the right emergency lane and rolled over. Both Enriquez and the driver of the Honda fled the area, police said.

Police said they followed a trail of blood from the truck and located an intoxicated Enriquez a short distance away, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Police have not located the driver of the Civic.

Enriquez was arrested on drunken driving charges and had an outstanding warrant for probation violation – deceptive trade practices and five outstanding municipal court warrants. His bonds totaled $3,815.

Shots fired in East El Paso neighborhood

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:08:35 -0600

Residents on Bogart Place and Bunky Henry Lane in East El Paso said they were stricken with fear when they woke up to the sound of several gunshots.

Police said they responded to a shots fired call around 2:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they found several bullet casings on the ground. No one was injured, but one family's two pickup trucks were riddled with bullets. In total, police found 10 bullet casings.

The investigation lasted for hours. Even though no one was shot, police took the shooting very seriously. Police said they received a handful of calls from people in the area.

Police said it may have been a drive-by shooting. The owners of the truck did not answer their door but were obviously home.

This is the second shooting where a family's car was hit this week in East El Paso.

Driver taken to hospital after crashing in ditch

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:34:13 -0600

An East El Paso man was taken to the hospital after he drove off the road on Wedgewood Drive and Montana Avenue.

The car plunged into a ditch at 2:30 am Thursday. Emergency crews took the driver to the hospital with minor injuries.

Police search for drivers who fled from accident

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:52:53 -0600

Police in West El Paso are looking for the two drivers who they said fled from an accident on Interstate 10 and Sunland Park.

The accident happened shortly before 2:30 am Thursday. Police said the two may have been racing and that one man may have
walked to the Colinas Del Sol Apartments.

It's believed the other drive may have been from Juarez. The white truck involved in the accident had Chihuahua license plates

Man in the hospital after rollover accident

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:01:13 -0600

A man is rushed to the hospital early Thursday morning after he plows into a parked car.

Neighbors on Bermuda Avenue, near Wedgewood Drive, immediately ran out after hearing a loud bang. Rachel Mendoza said she went over and made sure the man was alive and responsive.

"He kept asking me if he was OK," Mendoza said.

Mendoza said the man's upper body was sticking out of the car, which had been flipped on its back in the accident. Paramedics had to cut his seat belt and carried him out through the driver side.

"You get people going 50 miles per hour in this area," said another neighbor. "Just last week a drunk driver hit my neighbor's car."

Neighbors said they are asking for a speed bump on their street.

Woman pushed from moving car

Thu, 24 May 2012 01:21:25 -0600

Police in East El Paso said a woman was taken to the hospital after she was pushed from a moving car at about 11:37 p.m. Wednesday, near the Carl's Jr. on Yarbourgh and Montana.

The woman may have been pushed by a man who was in the car with her, police said. Investigators are looking for the man after he reportedly fled the scene. Anyone with information about this case is being asked to call authorities.

There's no word on what charges the man could face when he's caught.

Experts say new legal drug causes seizures, heart problems

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:39:37 -0600

The synthetic drug previously known as Spice or K-2 was made illegal in 2011. Experts told KFOX14 News that drug makers simply modified some of the chemicals to make a new, legal drug that goes by many different names.

Rosie Medina is the Director of Special Programs for the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Court.

"These chemists are constantly coming up with new variations," Medina said. "Our hands are kind of bound."

Medina said the courts can't test for a substance that's not illegal.

A drug counselor, who did not want to be identified, said the new drug is on the streets of El Paso, and it's dangerous.

"When it comes to new chemicals, there's no research so you're pretty much playing Russian Roulette," the counselor said.

"The effects of the drug are psychosis, racing heartbeat and heart attacks," Medina said.

The counselor talked about one patient of hers who had heart problems after using the new drug.

KFOX14 News crews went to several stores asking about Spice or any derivatives of it. At first, everyone claimed that they did not sell it.

An unidentified minor who claimed to be a Spice smoker told KFOX14 News that Spice and the new derivatives could be found at any Cool Arrows store in El Paso.

KFOX14 crews went into a Cool Arrows store at 800 North Zaragoza Rd. When our reporter asked about Spice and K-2, a store employee pulled out a mixture of what she said was not a synthetic herb, and the exact synthetic derivative that had been described. The employee told KFOX14 News that mixing the two would make it "better."

When asked if people who like K-2 and Spice would like what she was showing us, the employee nodded and said "Yes."

After revealing that a news story was being investigated, the Cool Arrows owner and manager, Aracelli Herrera, told KFOX14 News that what was being shown to crews by the employee was not for sale, only a sample that they intended to throw away.

"There's nothing we carry here that's Spice or the new Spice," Herrera said. "There's nothing at all."

She said that the herbs the store sells are not sprayed with synthetics.

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.

Neon Desert Music Festival organizers expect 4,000 more people this year

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:08:35 -0600

The Neon Desert Music Festival in Downtown El Paso is only days away, and organizers said they expect 4,000 more people to attend in 2012.

Last year, Neon Desert saw 11,000 people attend. Organizer Zach Paul said 25 percent of those attendees were from out of town.

"That was one of those moments for us, for me, like, this is what this is all about," Paul said.

Paul said security has increased substantially. He said 100 security personnel will be patrolling the downtown area, including 35 off-duty El Paso Police Officers.

Changes patrons can expect this year is an increase in access to shade, seating and water.

The 2012 lineup includes Moby and a handful of other alternative groups.

Official Neon Desert Website

Neon Desert: What You Need To Know

Public invited to discuss Alameda roundabouts

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:54:17 -0600

More roundabouts are making their way to El Paso streets, and the public is invited to learn about the newest proposed projects.

The Texas Department of Transportation along with the El Paso Department of Transportation will hold a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss with the public proposed roundabouts that would be installed at the intersection of Alameda and Paisano.

EPDOT will also present a proposal for parking restrictions that would be enforced on Alameda from Buena Vista to South Clark Dr. The proposed ordinance will restrict parking limits to 1 hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

The meeting will be on Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clardy Fox Library, 5515 Robert Alva.

Former coach facing child porn charges appears in federal court

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:30:18 -0600

According to the Las Cruces Sun-News, former Picacho Middle School basketball coach Erik B. Khan, made his first appearance in court on Wednesday on federal charges for allegedly possessing child pornography on his home computer.

Khan, 32 of the 600 block of La Melodia Drive, had been arrested on state charges, but the case has now been taken up by federal prosecutors.

A prosecutor said the maximum penalty for charges Khan is facing range from five to 20 years in prison.

Kahn earlier told authorities he had become addicted to viewing child porn at least 10 years ago while counseling juvenile sex offenders.

A Las Cruces police department computer forensics expert said an automated software program had turned up the possibility that Kahn’s computer had downloaded or shared more than 500 images of child pornography according to court documents.

Students complain that high school has no library

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:02:12 -0600

Cotton Valley Early College is a college-prep high school run by the Fabens Independent School District. Students complained that the school has no on-site library.

"Sometimes we want to research things for projects and we don't have the resources," said high school student Gabriela Martinez.

"We want a library," said high school student Daisy Villalobos.

The school's principal, Karen Blain, explained that students can either walk down the street to Fabens High School or use its library, or, after school, Fabens has a community library that's available for about four hours.

Villalobos said using the Fabens High School library is complicated for some students.

"We need a library card and not all of us are from here (Fabens)," Villalobos said.

"If there are any issues they can give me a call," Blain said.

Other students pointed out that the community library, which is only open to students after school, is not a viable option for students who are immediately bused back to their hometowns when school lets out.

Blain said that Internet resources are also available through a partnership with the El Paso Community College.

"As part of our memorandum of understanding with El Paso Community College, students have access to the library resources provided by EPCC," Blain said. "When they're (students) here on our campus they can access those resources via the internet."

Cotton Valley Early College provides an opportunity for high school students to graduate in four years with a high school diploma and associate degree. It's one of four early colleges in the El Paso area and it's the only school in Texas to combine three different districts.

The high school has been open for the past two years.

If you have a story that you feel deserves media attention, contact Ric Dupont at ric.dupont@kfoxtv.com.

Graphic images: Two pit bulls euthanized after vicious attack of man and dog

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:39:30 -0600

Dona Ana County Animal Control officers euthanized two pit bulls after they attacked a 63-year-old man who was walking his dog Wednesday morning near Dalrymple and Trojan Lane.

"Those are killer-type situations," Bill Bowling told KFOX14 as he described the attack.

Bowling said he was walking with his 9-year-old Australian Shepherd Heeler Cross, Carley, around 8 a.m. when he saw two raging pit bulls race toward them.

"They had intentions to hurt us," Bowling said.

Bowling was able to fight the dogs off with a knife he had on him.

"They pulled us down in the ditch and I had a knife," Bowling said.

Bowling said that a neighbor came out to help him and watched over Carley. Bowling went inside his home, grabbed a gun, and shot the other pit bill.

The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office said that both of the dogs were still alive when they were taken by animal control but were then euthanized.

Carley was severely bitten and is being treated by her veterinarian.

"She's in shock and chewed up but I think she's going to make it," Bowling said. "I'm very blessed to have good neighbors."

Bowling was left with some cuts and bruises to his hands.

The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office said the owner of the pit bulls is 26-year-old Chris Sanchez, who was cited twice before for not restraining his dogs.

"I feel that those owners, you know, need to be responsible," Bowling said.

Sanchez is charged with two counts of failure to restrain an animal and two counts of having a vicious or dangerous animal.

Car smashes into east side day care; owner offers reward

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:17:04 -0600

An east El Paso daycare owner said all it will take is one tip to find the owner of a car who slammed into her wall.

It's hard to miss the smashed wall while driving down Montwood Drive near Lee Elder Boulevard. It's even harder to ignore a sign. It has giant letters and an arrow that states, "REWARD FOR TIPS LEADING TO DRIVER/VEHICLE WHO DID THIS."

"It's just looking for the person who may have done it," said Alyca Moore.

For more than 20 years, Balloons Daycare has been set up near the corner of the intersection.

"Every two to three years my wall is knocked down," said Moore.

This time was different. Two weeks ago, Moore's kitchen and wall were damaged, but whoever did it left behind at least one clue.

"It's a Chevy, so a large vehicle. We got that from the lights that were left behind," said Moore.

Moore is hoping someone driving along the busy stretch of road has a better description. She knows it happened two Sundays ago between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. She's offering $1,000 for that one tip.

"That is my deductible. I would rather to pay it to someone that can help me find the person that did so they can be responsible for it. I'm out of it either way," said Moore.

Moore is also looking to make a permanent change since this isn't a rare occurrence. About three years ago, a motorcyclist slid on a puddle while speeding and died right in the day care's parking lot.

"At 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning after you've had a few and you're speeding, that curve, it looks straight, then all of sudden it's a curve," said Moore.

Moore said she is meeting with the city's transportation department this week to see if a sign can be put up warning drivers about the curve.

If nothing else she said she's learned an important lesson. She has cameras all along her building that she never kept on over the weekend.

"They will be on 24/7 from this day on," said Moore.

Moore said if no one comes forward by next Tuesday she is going to file the claim with her insurance and just get the wall fixed herself.

Email indicates gangs involved in stabbing

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:56:12 -0600

KFOX14 has obtained new information in last week's fatal stabbing in Northeast El Paso.

A confidential email sent to police officers, firefighters and first responders, indicates members of the Georgia Boyz Gang are seeking retaliation against the Folk Nation Gang for the stabbing death of Lucosta Leon Holley.

The email advises officers to use caution and be alert.

When KFOX14 called police, they said they would not discuss an ongoing investigation.

The fire department said they've never even heard of this report and are not on any high alerts.

Police officials said when they know who is responsible for the Holley slaying, they will notify KFOX14 and ask anyone with information related to it to come forward.

Children and elderly at high risks of heat stroke

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:48:45 -0600

Doctors remind El Paso residents to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun when heading outside in the heat.

Emergency room doctors said every year they see many people come in to the ER with heat-related emergencies but said most of the times they can be avoided.

Doctors said parents need to watch where their kids are playing and make sure they are drinking plenty of water.

Heat stroke happens when the body becomes extremely dehydrated People with medical conditions like diabetes tend to be at a higher risk of heat stroke.

Heat stroke can be very damaging to the nervous system and even fatal if the symptoms aren't recognized right away.

Symptoms can include severe chest pains, heavy breathing, nausea, fatigue and vomiting.

Heat stroke happens when dehydrated cells lose oxygen, which can cause brain damage and even death.

If you or a family member experiences fainting or loses consciousness, call 911, or see a doctor immediately.

Former state senator avoids KFOX 14 cameras

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:42:25 -0600

KFOX 14 has tried for nearly a month to get comment from a former state senator who spearheaded a federal investigation of the El Paso Independent School District.

Former State Senator Eliot Shapleigh saw our camera Wednesday morning and ducked it.

In a time where politicians take credit for everything, the ex-politician didn't want to talk about EPISD.

Shapleigh was a guest speaker at a Socorro Independent School District function when we caught up with him.

It was two years ago when Shapleigh made strong accusations against EPISD.

He alleged administrators transferred or held back students to boost the district's scores on state tests.

Just weeks ago, KFOX 14 reported how those claims have now been proven right by a federal investigation and EPISD's own admission. Wednesday Shapleigh worked to stay behind our cameras and off the air.

"It's two years old. Anything I had to say about it I said it in office," he said. "I've done my job. I was elected. I went as hard as I could and laid it out there."

The senator didn't stick around to explain why he now has so little to say since his accusations have been proven correct, but he said he wants to see all the officials involved criminally prosecuted.

The case remains in the hands of federal prosecutors.

City's park system ranks in bottom tier of largest 40 cities

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:12:07 -0600

A nonprofit organization ranks El Paso the 27th-best city park system in the nation's 40 largest cities.

ParkScore is a project of The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization. ParkScore is a rating system developed to measure how well the 40 largest U.S. cities are meeting the need for parks.

A city's ParkScore is determined by its median park size, park acres as a percentage of city area, spending per resident, number of playgrounds per 10,000 residents and the percentage of the population living within a 10-min walk of a public park.

El Paso's ParkScore is 41.5 out of 100. The highest-ranked city, San Francisco, scored 74 while the lowest-ranked city, Fresno, Calif., scored 21.5.

The following are statistics about El Paso parks from The Trust for Public Land:

City area: 164,195 acres
Median park size: 3.7 acres
Park land as percentage of city area: 18 percent
Spending per resident: $31.12
Playgrounds per 10,000: 2.11
Population density: 3.9 per acre
Park acreage: 29,393 acres
People served per park acre: 10
Oldest park: San Jacinto Plaza, est. 1858
Largest park: Franklin Mountains State Park, 25,631 acres
Most-visited park: Eastwood Park

State appoints administrator to oversee Sunland Park finances

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:33:13 -0600

The head of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration announced Wednesday that Michael Steininger, a veteran municipal administrator, will oversee Sunland Park's finances.

Steininger, who has overseen finances for several New Mexico cities and counties in the past, will begin immediately. He will continue to oversee Sunland Park's finances until DFA Secretary Tom Clifford is confident that Sunland Park administrators are "capable and prepared to resume control of city finances and perform their duties in accordance with law."

"Michael brings years of experience overseeing local government finances, and he will serve a critical role during the transition in Sunland Park," Clifford said. "He will be an important part of the team that has assembled to address this situation."

State law authorizes the suspension of municipal officials when the state auditor finds violations of state laws or regulations.

"Suspensions aside, our agency has determined that the situation in Sunland Park warrants the closest of supervision, including prior approval by DFA of each municipal expenditure," Clifford said.

Clifford suspended the city's previous financial director and purchasing agent on May 14, and Ryan Gleason, the director of DFA's Local Government Division, had been serving as Sunland Park's interim finance director.

"It's an honor to accept this assignment," Steininger said. "Sunland Park residents should feel confident that we will stabilize the city's finances and establish strong measures to prevent and detect fraud, errors and abuse of public funds."