Latest news with #ElPasoan
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
'I will always be looking:' El Paso teens featured on missing children billboards
Jean Gabriel Benitez, then 16 years old, was last seen getting ready for school March 18, 2024, but when his mother arrived home, he was nowhere to be found. More than a year later, his mother, Karina Roman, continues her search for her son, hoping he is safe and will return home. She pleads for the community to help find her son. "About a year and two months ago, my son left the house and he never came back,' Roman said in Spanish as tears rolled down her face. 'We haven't heard anything. I left him in the morning as he was getting ready for school. I left to drop off my (other) son at school, when I came back, he wasn't at the house anymore. "We just want him to come back. We just want to know if he is okay." Benitez, who will turn 18 later this month, is one of two El Pasoans being highlighted on a monthlong digital billboard campaign. The billboards will be shown throughout El Paso in both English and Spanish. They are being posted as part of National Missing Children's Day by the Texas Center for the Missing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Clear Channel Outdoor, and the El Paso Police Department. National Missing Children's Day is May 25. The other missing El Pasoan being highlighted is Allison Garcia, now 17 years old. She left home Nov. 2, 2024, and never returned. Law enforcement authorities believed she could be in Mexico. Roman and her family have been suffering in agony as they search for Benitez, a former ROTC student at William H. Burges High School. The family has no idea why he left, where he could be or who he is with. "I love him very much," Roman said as she wiped away tears. "I have always been there for him and will always be there for him. I will always be looking for him. Doesn't matter what the situation was or whatever happened, my family and I just want to know that he is okay. We will be here if he needs anything. We will always be there for him." More: Where is Angel Marie Avalos? Pregnant teen disappeared 5 years ago in El Paso County Benitez, a 5 feet, 7 inches tall teen with brown eyes and brown hair, being featured on the billboards brings her hope that her son will be found and she can hug him again. She is pleading for the community's help to reunite her with her son. 'I feel a little more relieved that more people will be able to see him,' the heartbroken mother said as her younger son stood by her side. 'It is going to reach more people, and hopefully someone will see him or he himself will see it. It is very difficult. I am just hoping he is okay. Please if somebody knows something, reach out. "If anybody knows anything about him, please let us know, because it has been a long time and a year of agony." Missing-person bulletins in English and Spanish featuring Benitez and Garcia will be displayed about 1,000 times a day on billboards in El Paso for a month, said Eric Lucero, market manager for Clear Channel Outdoor. The billboard will be seen by 75 percent of El Pasoans traveling on Interstate 10 and other roads in the city, he added. About 17 missing children over the past several years have been found through the annual billboard campaign in El Paso, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, Lucero said. Missing children have been featured on billboards throughout Texas for more than a decade. More: Missing El Paso woman found after deputies sought public's help There were 44,783 people reported missing last year in Texas, with 31,864 being juveniles. In El Paso County, 1,109 juveniles and 280 adults were reported missing in 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse reported. Anyone with information on Benitez or Garcia is urged to call the El Paso Police Department at 915-832-4400. Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@ or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso mother hopes missing children billboard will help find son
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canutillo High School ‘mathlete' wins UIL state championship
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A Canutillo High School student won first place in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Calculator Applications Individual State Championship, according to Canutillo Independent School District. Matthew Medina, a senior at Canutillo High School, not only won the UIL 5A Calculator Applications Championship, but was also named valedictorian, MIT-bound scholar and a record-setting scholarship recipient, Canutillo ISD said. 'Matthew has had an outstanding year, both academically and in competition,' Canutillo High School Principal Candice Marrufo said. 'It's incredibly fitting that, after a phenomenal four-year career representing Canutillo in math competitions, he finishes his time as an Eagle with a state championship.' According to Canutillo ISD, Medina is the only student from El Paso to earn an academic UIL state title this year. In addition, Canutillo ISD said Medina is believed to be the fourth El Pasoan in over three decades to win a UIL state championship in a mathematics-related event. Medina will graduate from Canutillo High School as valedictorian for the Class of 2025 on May 30 at the Don Haskins Center. Medina will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned over $1.5 million in scholarships. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of El Paso appoints new chief information officer
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has a new chief information officer. The City announced the appointment of Carolyn Patrick as the new chief information officer in a news release on Tuesday, May 20. 'A native El Pasoan and dedicated public servant, Carolyn brings more than 25 years of experience in information technology, having served in both federal and local government sectors,' the City said. She officially assumed her new role this week, the City said. As CIO, Carolyn will coordinate the City's 'broad and complex information technology operations' and serve as the principal expert adviser on strategic technological initiatives, infrastructure modernization, digital services, and innovation, the City said. Patrick has worked for the City since 2012 and has served in several key leadership roles, including IT operations program manager, project management office manager, assistant director of IT, and most recently, deputy chief information officer. 'Carolyn's deep technical expertise, commitment to service, and strong leadership make her an exceptional choice to lead our Information Technology team,' City Manager Dionne Mack said. 'Her strategic vision will help the City advance digital transformation and continue delivering reliable, secure, and innovative services to our community.' Patrick has a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and a master's degree in computer information resources. For more information about the City of El Paso's Department of Information Technology Services, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
82 people face trespassing charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
Dozens were charged for unauthorized entry in New Mexico's new military zone along the southern border, officials said. A total of 82 people received Title 50 charges as of Thursday, May 1, for crossing into military defense property, a 170-square-mile strip along the base of New Mexico, also known as the Roosevelt Reservation, according to a news release by the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. The corridor was recently transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense and is now being treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, the news release said. The land is subject to military patrols and surveillance, with "U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution." Title 50 charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, in addition to any other immigration-related offenses, the release noted. 'Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecuted—no exceptions,' U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said in the news release. The charges in New Mexico came as a second military zone created in the El Paso area, which will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base. The area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook. More: El Pasoan residents march to demand respect for border community's dignity and rights This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 82 people face charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of El Paso names new director for Municipal Courts
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has named a new director for the City's Municipal Court. Annabelle Casas, a native El Pasoan, will take over the role on Monday, May 5, the City said. Casas has more than 25 years of experience in public service and court administration, the City said. Casas will oversee the operations of the City's Municipal Court, which is responsible for adjudicating Class C misdemeanor cases filed by different City departments. 'The court plays a vital role in delivering fair, efficient, and accessible justice services to the community, and under her leadership, the department will continue advancing its mission of service and accountability,' the City said. During the past 10 years, Casas has served with the City of El Paso, seven years with the Municipal Court and three years with Environmental Services. 'She also brings valuable experience from her time with the County of El Paso, where she led court innovation efforts for seven years. Her background includes leadership roles in nonprofit organizations and higher education, giving her a broad and informed perspective on community needs and public systems,' the City said. City Manager Dionne Mack said: 'Annabelle's depth of experience, collaborative leadership style, and strong connection to El Paso make her an excellent choice to lead the Municipal Court. She has a clear vision for how the court can continue improving services, strengthening public trust, and supporting the City's broader goals.' During her time as assistant Municipal Court clerk, Casas led several key initiatives, including securing grant funding to support youth programs and expanding community service partnerships, the City said. She also completed a project in collaboration with the El Paso Police Department to improve officer attendance and resolve longstanding cases through improved coordination and use of technology, the City said. Casas has a master's degree in justice management from the University of Nevada at Reno, and is a certified court manager through the National Center for State Courts. She currently serves on national committees with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Association for Court Management, the City said. For more information about the City of El Paso Municipal Courts, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
