Latest news with #KTSM
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Blanco secures $65M to expand cancer care center in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A total of $65 million has been secured in the final state budget to support construction of the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center and a new Clinical Sciences Building at Texas Tech Health El Paso, state Sen. César J. Blanco, D-El Paso, announced on Thursday, May 29, in a news release. According to the news release, the total state investment is now $130 million. The cancer center, whose construction is expected to begin this year, is named in honor of El Paso community leaders and philanthropists, Steve and Nancy Fox, whose family donated $25 million to help recruit top doctors, staff, and researchers, according to the news release. Blanco issued the following statement: 'El Paso is the largest city in Texas without a comprehensive cancer center. That means too many families are forced to travel hundreds of miles for care they should be able to get right here at home. 'I'm proud to have secured this critical state funding to help change that. The Fox Cancer Center will be the first of its kind in our region, delivering advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care, research, and patient support services tailored to the needs of our Borderplex. 'This investment is a major step toward closing the gap in access to care for Hispanic and rural patients, and toward meeting the rising demand for cancer treatment in Far West Texas.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Camp Fire remains at 877 acres, now 76% contained
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Camp Fire burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico, remains at 877 acres with an increase in containment of 76 percent, fire officials said on Thursday, May 29, in a news release. Camp Fire in Lincoln County now 70% contained The brush fire ignited on Sunday, May 25, but the cause has not been determined. Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso. The New Mexico State Forestry Division said that command of the fire, which started on Sunday, will transfer from the Pecos Zone Type-3 Incident Command Team to the Bureau of Land Management on Friday, May 30. On Thursday, it rained in the fire area, which is helping to extinguish any remaining hot spots, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said containment continues to increase, and firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the area for several more days. The following list shows closed and reopened areas near the fire, according to the Forestry Division: Open Highway 220 Fort Stanton Cave Campground The Fort Stanton Historical Site Rob Jaggers Campground Closed West Mesa Road, Red Tank Road and associate dispersed camping areas The surrounding BLM land will remain closed as crews continue their work in the area Closed Trails Fort Stanton North Trail Fort Stanton South Trail Deer Valley Trail Kit Carson Loop Rio Bonito Trail Pershing Trail Mustang Trail Antelope Gap Trail Elk Meadow Trail Skyline Trail Capitan Overlook Trail Buffalo Soldier Trail Open Trails Trails on the east side of Highway 220 are open. This includes: Homestead Trail and Trail Access Loop East Mesa Trail Cave Canyon Trail East Well Trail Zamora Trail Cedar Crest Trail Lincoln Trail In addition, BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County, and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads, and outdoor welding are all prohibited, the Forestry Division said. For more fire restrictions information visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Department of Labor announces pause of Job Corps centers nationwide in June
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Thursday afternoon, May 29, that it will begin a phased pause of Job Corps centers nationwide. According to the news release by the Department of Labor, the pause of all operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers will happen on Monday, June 30. As the transition begins, the department will be collaborating with state and local workforce partners to help current students advance their training and connect them with education and employment opportunities, the department said. The decision to pause operations comes after an internal review of the program's outcome and structure. The decision will be carried out with the available funding, the framework established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and congressional notification requirements, the news release read. In addition, the department said the decision also aligns with the Trump administration's Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal and 'reflects the Administration's commitment to ensure federal workforce investments deliver meaningful results for both students and taxpayers.' On April 25, the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration released the first-ever Job Corps Transparency Report that analyzed financial performance and operational costs of the 2023 program year. The summary of the findings revealed the following: Average graduation rate (WIOA Definition): 38.6% Average cost per student per year: $80,284.65 Average total cost per graduate (WIOA Definition): $155,600.74 Post separation, participants earn $16,695 annually on average. The total number of serious incident reports for program year 2023: 14,913 infractions. Inappropriate sexual behavior and sexual assaults reported: 372 Acts of violence reported: 1,764 Breaches of safety or security: 1,167 Reported drug use: 2,702 Total hospital visits: 1,808 'Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,' Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said. 'However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program's possibilities.' According to the department, for the program year 2024, Job Corps operated at a $140 million deficit, requiring the Biden administration to implement a pause in center operations to complete the year. The deficit is projected to reach $213 million in the program year 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Family remembers Uber driver who was shot, killed
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The family of the Uber driver who was shot and killed by a woman who died before she could face trial for murder said they want to remind the community that he was the victim and they miss him terribly. That's the message from family members of Daniel Piedra during a news conference called on Thursday, May 29 by the El Paso District Attorney's Office. Piedra was shot and killed while giving a ride to Phoebe Copas in June 2023. Copas said she believed she was being kidnapped and taken to Mexico. While awaiting trial, she died in March of this year of a 'medical episode' that has been ruled natural causes, DA James Montoya said. El Paso district attorney to discuss Phoebe Copas case Her untimely death made it so the family of Piedra and the defendant would not be able to present their sides during a trial and be vindicated, Montoya said. Montoya said that he had no choice but to dismiss the case, but that left a big hole for the family of the victim. Montoya said he was confident that if they had gone to trial, prosecutors could have proven that Copas' actions were 'not reasonable' and 'unnecessary,' and were therefore not self-defense. Because there will be no trial, Montoya said he wanted to give Piedra's family a chance to speak since there would be no post-trial victim impact statements. Didi Lopez, Piedra's niece, said 'it was not fair' how her uncle was 'taken from us.' 'We miss him so much,' she said. 'He was the victim. He was not a criminal. He was just a hard-working man.' Her uncle's death has left a huge hole in the family's lives, Lopez said. 'He wasn't kidnapping her,' she said. 'Uber has already said he was taking her the right way (to go to Speaking Rock). He wasn't abusing drugs. He was just a very funny, hard-working man.' Piedra had no criminal record, 'not even a ticket,' his niece said. Lopez also said that he had a huge impact on people he met and is greatly missed by all. No questions were taken from the media after the family issued some brief statements, one in English and the other in Spanish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Color-bearing units sought for Massing of Colors event
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A leading veterans organization in the El Paso and Las Cruces region is seeking law-enforcement, scout groups and other organizations with color-bearing units to participate in its signature Massing of the Colors event. The Greater El Paso Chapter of The Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) will conduct its 49th annual Massing of the Colors at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 at El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Blvd. Participation is open to all color-bearing units and organizations in the greater El Paso and Las Cruces area. A grand marshal/guest speaker for the event has not yet been selected but is expected to be announced in the near future. Organizations interested in participating may contact chapter adjutant, former Capt. Paula Mitchell at (915) 491-4474, or the event coordinator, retired Lt. Col. Jesus Beltran at (915) 7403779. You can also email Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.