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City Offering H1N1 Flu Booster Shots to Children

Melanie Olivas / KTSM News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:45:19 -0600

Concerns are being raised from some parents who say they have been denied appointments by the city for their children to receive recommended H1N1 flu booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control recommends children ages 9 and under get two vaccines for full protection against the virus. Clayton McCook says his 17-month old got her first shot about a month ago at a city health clinic and was given a reminder card to get a second shot, but when Clayton called the city Friday morning to schedule an appointment for next week's mass clinic, he says he was turned away.

Lost And Found

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:49:48 -0600

If you don't believe good samaritans still exist, this next story should definitely change your mind.

A woman in Webster, Texas lost her wallet filled with cash and all of her important information.

It was in the bottom of her child’s baby stroller when it unexpectedly fell out.

Then one day, her wallet arrived in the mail, with everything still inside of it.

Neelam Khan says she had goose bumps when she got the mail and realized there are still nice, honest people out there.

Miracle Pup

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:14 -0600

Kathy Dunbar believes some miracles come in three-pound bundles.

Yet she still has a hard time believing that her Maltese-poodle mix named Mindy is sitting in her lap.

"It's like God looked over her," Dunbar said. "She was meant to be something special."

Mindy was lost during a family trip in August.

The dog survived more than three months in the woods of northwest Massachusetts, which is also home to owls, foxes, coyotes and bears.

When Mindy was found in mid-November, she weighed just three pounds and was infested with fleas.

Send Me To Jail

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:36:44 -0600

A Michigan teen has been sentenced to four days in juvenile detention for refusing to visit his father.

Jacob Mastrogiovanni, 14, lives with his mother in Warren.

His father, who has joint custody, lives in New Baltimore.

Mastrogiovanni said he has deliberately missed court ordered visitations with his father, and because of that, Macomb County Judge John Foster has ruled he should be held in contempt of court and sentenced to time in a youth home.

Left Behind

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:30:24 -0600

Aaron Bailey faced a father’s worst nightmare on a Trimet train platform when he was accidentally separated from his three-year-old son, Aiden, after an apparent train malfunction.

It was all caught on tape. At 8:15 Monday morning, Aaron Bailey was taking his son to Head Start. The green line was approaching the Main Street Platform, in Portland, Oregon when the doors opened.

I "had him in my hand... and when he was exiting, he pulled the handicap button, “ Bailey explained.

Airing Dirty Laundry

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:27:01 -0600

Residents and town officials in Perkasie, Pennsylvania don't want to see Carin Froelich's unmentionables, but she is determined to show them.

"It's your freedom, it's your right," Froelich said.

Though it's not illegal, more and more people across the country are being bullied and criticized by local government officials, house associations, and neighbors for drying their laundry the old-fashioned way: On a clothesline.

Froelich is one of the socially persecuted air-dryers.

Heal Our Turkey

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:10:00 -0600

It's hard for most of us to look at a turkey, especially at this time of year, as anything but dinner.

But behind Lyndsay Medeiros' home, a half-domestic, half-wild turkey named "Jerry" waddles and gobbles.

"We found Jerry on Craigslist. I have a soft spot for animals. I'm actually a veterinary technician, so we have a lot of handicapped animals and that sort of thing," she said.

Jerry's girlfriend, Penelope, was part of the deal. Her eyesight is just fine. The previous owners were having health problems of their own and couldn't take care of the two any longer.

Beanbag Beat Down

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:33 -0600

A Portland Police officer investigated in the death of James Chasse has been placed on administrative leave after shooting a 12-year-old girl in the thigh with a beanbag gun during an incident at a lightrail stop Saturday night.

Officer Christopher Humphrey shot the girl with a beanbag gun after she attacked officers trying to arrest her, police Chief Rosie Sizer said Thursday.
Video surveillance of the confrontation was captured on a TriMet surveillance camera of the incident involving Officer Aaron Dauchy and Officer Christopher Humphreys.

Clucked Up Council Meeting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:39:20 -0600

There was an interesting twist to a city council meeting in Durango, Colorado earlier this week.

A giant chicken showed up.

In the middle of an executive session a person dressed in a chicken costume strutted into the meeting, apparently to show support for an ordinance that was being discussed that would make it legal for people to own backyard chickens in Durango.

The mayor pro-tem says the chicken seemed to be very well informed on the issue.

Pedestrian Dies of Injuries

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:38 -0600

El Paso - - An elderly man has died of injuries suffered in an accident in Downtown El Paso.

Police say Miguel Corona, 60, was not using the crosswalk when he was hit by a truck yesterday at Santa Fe Street and Missouri.

No word on what, if any, charges will be filed against the driver.

Chaparral Fire Victims Identified

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:55:21 -0600

Chaparral, NM - - Investigators have pinpointed the cause of a deadly fire in Chaparral.

Faulty wiring is to blame. The blaze broke out early yesterday, killing three people. They all died of smoke inhalation.

The victims are: Elena Diaz, 20, her brother Rodolfo Diaz, 17, and her baby daughter Eileen Millan, 14 months.

The bars on the trailer home window and intense flames prevented their escape.

More El Pasoans Find Jobs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:41 -0600

El Paso - - More El Pasoans found work last month.

9.5% of the local workforce was out of a job in October. That is .3% lower than the month before.

The Texas unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percentage point last month.

Indicted Judges Could Be Automatically Removed From Bench

Ben Swann / KTSM News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:50:23 -0600

Three El Paso judges have been indicted by the State of Texas for violating state nepotism laws.

The charges all three judges are facing are Class C Misdemeanors punishable by up to a 1000 dollar fine.

It doesn't sound like a very serious charge but in fact, it is.

Seana Willing, the Executive Director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct says these charges are very serious.

Under Chapter 573 of the Texas Government Code are listed as official misconduct, which upon conviction, carries a penalty of automatic removal from the bench.

Three Killed in Chaparral Mobile Home Fire

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:49:32 -0600

Three bodies have been sent to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner following a deadly mobile-home blaze in Chaparral.

The fire was reported at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday, with the first emergency responders arriving on scene at 11:41 p.m. Volunteers from the Chaparral and Anthony Volunteer Fire Districts responded, along with Doña Ana County Sheriff¹s Department deputies and investigators from the Doña Ana County Fire and Emergency Services Department.

6 Officers Attacked In Juarez

Ben Swann / KTSM News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:37:03 -0600

Six officers were attacked in Juarez, Thursday. Four of them were killed.

The first attack happened at a gas station in east Juarez.

Authorities say suspects opened fire, killing two agents at the scene.

Two other officers were injured along with a gas station employee.

No one was arrested.

County Clerk To Plead Guilty To DWI Charge

Oralia Ortega / KTSM News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:45:49 -0600

The chief deputy county clerk for Dona Ana County is expected to plead guilty to DWI charges. Mario Jimenez says he was pulled over last week and failed a breathalizer test. Jimenez says he offered his resignation but the county clerk has allowed him to keep his job. He says he plans to plead guilty tomorrow morning in court.

Nice Weekend Ahead

Chester Lampkin / Meteorologist — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:38:33 -0600

Quiet weather today and through the weekend. Slightly cooler today with warmer weather this weekend. We'll keep the weather dry and mild until Monday. Breezy and cooler for Tuesday with a cold front swinging through the region. Still dry next week with an increase of clouds by Thanksgiving.

Playoff Ready

Fred Albers / KTSM Sports Director — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:42:38 -0600

A half dozen El Paso high school football teams will venture into the area round of the state playoffs this weekend. NewsChannel 9's Fred Albers has all your Thursday Sports News.

Friends Ask For Help In Unsolved Murder Case

Oralia Ortega / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:36:04 -0600

It was a murder that shocked a quiet Las Cruces neighborhood, a murder that is to this day unsolved. An elderly, disabled man who lived alone was found bludgeoned to death inside his own home. Those closest to him want justice.

It is the day Larry Rios and his wife, Esther, say they will never forget. March 11th 2008: their long- time friend, 72-year-old James Wilson was found murdered inside his home at 1800 Camino del Rex. The quiet Las Cruces neighborhood in the Country Club area was the scene of a gruesome crime.

A Weak "Cool" Front Backs In to Drop Fridays Temperatures Closer to Normal

Chuck DeBroder / Chief Meteorologist — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:38:41 -0600

The skies will turn mostly fair overnight with a morning low temperature in the upper 30's. A weak cold front will drop the temperatures about 5 degrees from Thursdays extremme and the Fridays High will top out in the mid 60's. Dry and mild weather conditions with slightly above normal temperatures will continue into the weekend. Look for high temperatures back around the 70 degree mark both Saturday and Sunday An upper level trough will move through tonight with a few isolate showers over far West Texas. Clear skies will return on Friday.

Tanker Accident Contained

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:50:54 -0600

El Paso - - Emergency crews have defused a potentially explosive situation in Montana Vista.

A tanker truck rolledc on its side after turning at Montana and Zaragosa. The truck was hauling more than 9,000 gallons of propane.

Sheriff's deputies evacuated the area and shut down traffic in a one mile radius for more than five hours. Traffic has since resumed.

No one was hurt.

Judges Face Criminal Charges

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:35:53 -0600

El Paso - - Three local judges are under criminal indictment by the state of Texas. They are: Manuel Barraza, Regina Arditti, and Sissy Hernandez. All three are facing charges of nepotism.

Judges Barraza and Arditti are accused of conspiring to hire each other's relatives for well-paying jobs. The third judge, Sissy Hernandez, allegedly hired one of her own family members.

3 El Paso Judges Indicted

Oscar Garcia / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:51:57 -0600

Two state court judges were indicted today on allegations that they hired one another's relatives for jobs.
Manuel Barraza and Regina Arditti were indicted Thursday morning.
Barraza is accused of hiring Arditti's son for the position of court bailiff.
Arditti is accused of hiring Barraza's sister for court coordinator.
These charges are class C misdemeanors and they could be facing a $1,000 court fine.

Justice of the Peace Sissy Hernandez was also indicted on Thursday.
She is accused of hiring her granddaughter to be a senior office specialist.

Tanker Accident Cleaned Up After 5 Hours

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:39:34 -0600

El Paso - - After more than five hours of being shut down, a tanker truck crash in east El Paso has been cleaned up. It happened at Montana and Zaragosa. The truck rolled over while turning.
It was hauling more than 9,000 gallons of propane. No one was hurt.

Four More Swine Flu Related Deaths in Borderland

Oscar Garcia / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:54:40 -0600

Four people have died from the H1N1 virus in El Paso and Doña Ana County. On Wednesday afternoon, the El Paso Deptartment of Public Health says a 66 year old man and a 28 year old woman, both from east El Paso, were hospitalized with a flu-like illness. These cases are not related. These are the 12th and 13th swine flu related deaths in El Paso County.

In Doña Ana County, a 29 year old woman and a 12 year old boy also died. There have been three swine flu related deaths in the county this year.

City Schedules Mass H1N1 Vaccination

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:40:33 -0600

El Paso - - Mass vaccination for the Swine Flu is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24 at the convention center.

The vaccine will given out by appointment only to people identified to be at high risk for developing complications arising from the Swine Flu.

The target populations are pregnant women, people who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years, and those aged 25 through 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications.

3 Teens Killed In Juarez

Ben Swann / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:40:00 -0600

Four people were killed in Juarez, Wednesday.

Three of them were teens.

The four were attacked by a group inside a home and when they tried to run away, they were shot to death.

The teens were between 13 and 15 years old.

One of the bullets struck a two year-old inside a nearby building. She is expected to be okay.

UTEP Tuition Forum To Be Held Today

Trevor Connor / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:19:07 -0600

UTEP is considering raising its tuition rates and today you can sound off on the issue.

Feedback from the forum is expected to help President Diana Natalicio decide on a proposed tuition hike.

Right now, for a regular 15 hour semester a student pays close to $3200.

That differs greatly from other emerging tier one universities which cost up to $4600 per semester.

The forum will be today at 3 in the Undergraduate Learning Center in room 106.

College leaders are hoping students, faculty and the community will attend.

Bike Accident Raises Questions

Oralia Ortega / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:07 -0600

A safety feature may be to blame for a mountain bike accident in a remote part of West El Paso. It happened Wednesday morning on a trail just north of Redd Road and Helen of Troy.

The fire department says a man suffered broken ribs when he lost control of his bike and fell onto some rocks.

A riding companion, Jesus Segoviano, believes he knows what caused the accident. "He couldn't unclip the shoe," said And that's the main thing. If you're not able to unclip your shoe, that's dangerous. Even when you're just on top of the bike, no speed or nothing," said Segoviano.

Controversy Over County Attorney Advising Ethics Commission

Kai Porter / KTSM News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0600

During the public comment section of Wednesday's Ethics Commission meeting, most people brought up the same issue.
They're concerned there could be a conflict of interest if the County Attorney gives legal advice to the commission.
Kai Porter has the story.