I just lost it. These amazing floral art pieces represent each of the 23 victims of the Aug 3 Walmart shooting. The one completely covered in flowers represents Javier Rodriguez. He was just 15. The artists said they gave him the most flowers b/c he never had the chance to bloom.
While dropping off these 44 bottles of pedialyte to a migrant shelter here in El Paso, they told me that the Stanford coach (in town for the Sun Bowl) had been by with his family earlier today to drop off pallets of supplies. Humans are beautiful.
El Paso’s Perches funeral home, which provided free funeral service for the victims of the August 3 shooting in El Paso, will be sending caskets to Uvalde tomorrow.
CBP spokesperson said he’s unable to give me an estimate of how many people are currently inside the fenced area or how long any of them have been here.
#Immigration
🚨🚨 Flash Flood EMERGENCY unfolding in
#Ruidoso
. The water at the US70/Sudderth Y got higher and started to take the semi in the previous video down HWY 70 toward Ruidoso Downs.
Just In: El Paso patients to be airlifted to other hospitals in Texas. This is as hospitals say they’ve expanded within their brick & mortar as much as possible.
WBAMC says they cannot accept non-COVID patients.
I just got off the phone with Rosa, the woman who survived the Walmart mass shooting & was deported today for a few traffic tickets. She grew up in El Paso her whole life.. a Jefferson HS grad. The way she was spoken to by ICE broke my heart. Story on
@KTSMtv
at 10p.
If avocados are seriously the biggest concern Americans have about closing the US-Mexico Border, they might be about to have a serious wake up call about the importance of our cross-border economy.
If you know anyone in El Paso who consumes illicit drugs, even recreationally, urge them to hold off. DEA is warning of an increase in overdoses this week due to drugs mixed w/fentanyl. I’m hearing it constantly through scanner. If you do experience symptoms, call 911 immediately
Wildlife are fleeing the Ruidoso fires in droves. An Elk jumped in front of the unit today while we were attempting to make our way toward Ruidoso. Photog is okay. Elk is dead.
Evacuating residents should be very alert!
#NMwx
#nmfire
Confirmed reports of multiple homes and business destroyed in the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso.
We’re seeing a lot of hotshots from NM, CO, Arizona heading up the mountain right now.
(Not my video. Used with permissions from anonymous viewer)
The view from the stage during
@BetoORourke
speech tonight at
#MarchForTruth
. I’m so proud of the team or amazing organizers from
@WomensMarchEP
&
@BNHR
. Putting an event of this magnitude together in 5 days felt like a Herculean task. But we did it.
BREAKING: Initial reports of multiple injuries following a shooting in the food court of Cielo Vista Mall.
For us, this is an absolute Deja Vu of August 3, 2019.
Can y'all keep praying for Bonnie Soria Najera? Both her parents died of COVID last month. She was diagnosed last Saturday with the virus and was hospitalized today. She needs a lot of good vibes right now.
NEW: Sinaloa Cartel leader “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who is El Chapo’s son, were taken into custody at the Santa Teresa (NM) airport around 4pm this afternoon. They are facing charges relating to their alleged fentanyl trafficking operation.
@KTSMtv
I AM SCREAMING THROUGH THE ELECTION NOISE AGAIN.
👏🏼EL👏🏼PASO👏🏼 JUST👏🏼REPORTED👏🏼3,100👏🏼COVID👏🏼CASES👏🏼TODAY👏🏼
(In case you’re were wondering if covid was going away the day after the election.)
BREAKING:
@FBI
is offering a $10k reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the South Fork and Salt Fires, which both originated on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
@KTSMtv
#Ruidoso
#nmfire
#nmwx
#SouthForkFire
Great job to
@DrToddACurry
for organizing the healthcare at the centers. This is literally a case of life or death for so many of these vulnerable children.
I’ll never forget the day a colleague told me they’d been sent to Uvalde first at their new outlet because they were the “experienced” reporter, bc of their work covering the Walmart shooting. I say this in general terms bc I know THREE El Paso reporters who had this distinction.
A terrible sign of the times: Many reporters have covered *numerous* mass shootings in their careers. They've become a bit like war correspondents. I talked to a number of them about what it's like to cover these horrific shootings. Truly harrowing stuff:
.
@georgelopez
loves El Paso. He visited the injured in the hospital just days after the August 3 shooting. He’s mentioned it often. I’ve confirmed he’s having a private event for victims families after tonight’s healing garden ceremony.
#ElPasoStrong
Emergency evacuation orders now in place for Ruidoso Downs as Salt Fire moved NE toward the Walmart.
Trainers and owners at Ruidoso Downs are scrambling to evacuate horses.
@KTSMtv
#nmfire
#nmwx
On that note, still seeing tons of very sick & dehydrated kiddos out there. In the 30min I was at this shelter they sent 1 child to the hospital & were considering sending a second. A child they sent earlier in the week spent 5 days in the hospital w/sepsis. He could have died.
In honor of
@NBC10_Lindsay
— here is a picture of me... someone who loves journalism but has been told I’m too “big” to be on air by multiple people. I want to see more female journalists who are prouder of their intelligence than their dress size.
@csantisteban3
@shannonrwatts
I think of him so often. He had the sweetest smile and he’s always reminded me of my own grandpa. May his memory be a blessing. 💛
I just got off the phone with the Jones family. I can now confirm, with their permission, that Alvin Jones Sr. died from complications from COVID-19. He had been hospitalized in the days prior to his death. His memorial service is scheduled for 5pm Thurs. evening.
"Have any of you all seen that movie, Groundhog Day? that's what my life is like,"
@GregAbbott_TX
tells state's 77 newest
@TxDPS
Troopers at a graduation ceremony this morning. "Alarm goes off, get up, go deal with the pandemic, go to bed..."
#txlege
Pro Tip: If you are still looking for vaccine appointments, there are plenty available in Alamogordo. I called this morning and they’re getting me right in tomorrow. (& they pre-schedule the second dose). I told them I was coming from El Paso and it’s not a problem. ✌🏼
Noah Nunez is a Pebble Hills HS student who was at the Walmart helping his little sister raise money for her soccer team on Saturday. He ran back out to grab a coach’s 6yr old son who didn’t know what to do and was frozen in fear.
#ElPasoStrong
This is the EPFusion girls soccer team. They were fundraising in the parking lot the day of the shooting. Last night they invited me to their pizza party- the first time they’d been together since the shooting. They’re playing a game tonight!
#ElPasoStrong
Air support is very active at the Salt Fire— the South Fork fire is to the right of the frame.
This is a heartbreaking situation in Ruidoso. So many are without homes, other families still searching for loved ones.
Happening Now:
#Ruidoso
flooding- this video is from HWY 70/ NM 48 (Sudderth) Y. Water levels up to the bottom of semis. Trash cans have been floating by.
#nmwx
EXCLUSIVE:
@KTSMtv
obtained this video of Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, being arrested in Santa Teresa on Thursday. The first arrest and second arrest are 4:30min apart. Not clear from this angle which was taken off first.
As reference: Eastern NM University Ruidoso campus in this video next to Albertsons was the OEM operations HQ for the Blue 2 fire just a few weeks ago.
This
@nytimes
article makes repeated mention of two male physicians- one of whom wasn't even in town last weekend. It leaves out the FEMALE physician, Dr. Susan McLean from the narrative, despite Dr. Rios' insistence she have equal coverage.
UPDATE; Fire officials say 1,400 structures have been lost in the South Fork fire in Ruidoso. One confirmed fatality.
An estimated 8,000 residents forced to evacuate.
Windy conditions persist tomorrow w/thunderstorms expected late afternoon.
#nmfire
#nmwx
Just In: There were 51 swift water rescues in the Village of
#Ruidoso
on Sunday, according to the Village spokesperson. This is in addition to the 26 on Saturday. Utter devastation.
#nmwx
(Video: Jesus Figueroa)
This is the second bus to leave. Thanks to
@AHouseElPaso
@ElPasoOEM
for securing two emergency shelter locations (which I will not disclose). In total from Annunciation intake and this Greyhound drop, 400+ migrants released tonight alone.
CBP told
@KTSMtv
the open tent was being used temporarily while migrants "await their turn to be processed." I spoke to one migrant yesterday who told me she'd been in the tent for FOUR DAYS before being sent to the shelter.
#Immigration
#ElPaso
For the last two days, every time I responded “hey” to someone in text it automatically sent “Do you have any drugs?”
Just found out my 10yr old reprogrammed a shortcut on my keyboard. Does anyone want him? Free to semi-okay home.
Cloudcroft had a really great
#BLM
protest turnout today along US 82. Even rural, conservative, New Mexico is turning out for the nationwide movement after the death of George Floyd.
(Photos courtesy: Kelley Shaw/Tom Krajci)
It would all be very dramatic and entertaining to watch the fight unfold between City, County & State leaders if we weren’t talking about a time where confusion and misinformation will literally cost the lives of people in El Paso.
Spoke w local tattoo artist Logan Fle, who has a Starlink connection Ruidoso. He’s been streaming as he drives around. Despite rumors circulating yesterday, Albertsons, movie theater, dollar general, upper canyon, ponderosa heights appear to have been spared.
@KTSMtv
#nmfire
My son gets an allowance every week for chores. Today he asked my uncle to take him to the store. He could only afford 4 red roses, so he bought them all for me. 55¢ change. He put them in an empty pickle jar. I think it’s the sweetest Mother’s Day gift I’ve received to date. ❤️
BREAKING:
@eplocomotivefc
has moved their Saturday, Nov 6 playoff game to 7:30p on Friday, Nov. 5 as to not interfere with UTEP's televised football game against
@UTSAFTBL
HUGE El Paso media news. Former EP Times Editor and current WaPo & TxMonthly contributor
@BobMooreNews
announces the establishment of a local nonprofit news organization. It will be called
#ElPasoMatters
- initially funded by a Comminity Foundation grant.
Per Logan Fle’s IG, worst damage is between Farley’s up to the Southern part of Alto Lake where fire officials on the ground told him ~75 homes in Alto have been lost.
#Ruidoso
#nmfire
UPDATE 4:04p:
South Fork fire: 16,349
Salt fire: 7,652.3
@GregAbbott_TX
announced deployment of TX resources to Ruidoso.
@JoeBiden
declared disaster for Otero & Lincoln Co.
📸:
@JBU_LAW
along Davis Dr.
#nmfire
#nmwx
Made it to the grocery store & cried when I got to the parking lot. My city has been through family separation & a humanitarian immigration crisis, a mass shooting, and now a pandemic that will close our border. It’s a lot, y’all. A lot.
Latest perimeter map from overnight infrared mapping. Bottom side of Kokopelli Country Club is included, as well as portions of Alto south of High Mesa Dr.
Thunderstorms expected in late afternoon. Lightning will pose a potential risk.
#Ruidoso
#nmfire
#nmwx
Four days ago, my ex-bf was calling me a mensch. Today, the man my mother made promise to take care of me before she died is fighting for his own life after being senselessly shot in the head in a random act of violence. Please pray for Alex.
Developing: The tail N number from the plane El Mayo Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez got off of yesterday does not match the N number from the AMLO press conference today. I spoke w owner of the plane w/tail number matching the plane on the runway— 🧵🧵
BREAKING: Mexican truckers are now blocking the Santa Teresa POE (in NM) to protest increased wait times across the border. Santa Teresa was the only bridge previously flowing freely in El Paso/Juarez area because it's not subject to
@GovAbbott
's increased DPS border inspections.
My son flatly told me today that he felt active shooter drills in school were pointless because all of the school shooters were fellow students and all we’re doing is teaching them where the hiding spots are and the workarounds. Kinda left me speechless. 1/
I asked my 13y/o if they talked about Russia/Ukraine in school today. He told me they started chatting amongst themselves and his teacher shut down the conversation saying it was too political and wasn’t allowed.
Why the hell am I sending him to school?!
For those of us here it’s been an emotional journey every day doing these stories the last year. We’ve just been wondering when the rest of the country would come back to being outraged again. Quite frankly, we’re also wondering when you’ll get exhausted and turn away again.
@cmclymer
Love this, Charlotte. I just graduated with my bachelors last month— & I’ll turn 40 in 3w. I took care of my mom until she died & I’m a single mom. But in the long run, I feel like I’m just getting started. My hope for all women is that we never pick just one fig..
BREAKING: Dramatic hospitalization increase as El Paso now has 313 hospitalizations -- coming within just 4 of the all-time record of 317 hospitalizations set back on July 24. We are coming dangerously close to overwhelming the hospitals already.
✔️ Wintermester
🔴 5 classes to graduation
Don’t let anyone tell you that 40 is too late to finish college. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be a single mom & work full time to do it. I told myself these lies for years. When I let the lies go, the goals were achieved.
In March, I did a story about a local teacher & her best friend who orchestrated a drive-by to each of her students’ homes to say she missed them. Yesterday I learned both of her parents are in ICU w/COVID. Her message to us (shared w/permission):
To my fellow El Paso journalists: I know this is a tough week. You were a first responder too. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be upset. I see you, I am you. I’m here if anyone needs to talk. 💛
.
@AOC
just completed a tour of the Border Patrol Facility in Northeast El Paso. Overheard telling
@vgescobar
that she “could not eat after that” when the Congresswoman told her it was the last chance to eat for the day.
Okay. Now this is the one that made me a little emotional. The
@EastwoodTrooper
band & StuCo gathered supplies this morning. They’re heading up to Ruidoso w supplies. 👏🏼💙💛
Crisis Continues: El Paso's hospitalizations soar to record highs as deaths top 700.
📌 1,148 hospitalized
📌 287 in ICU
📌 204 on Ventilators
📌 29 new deaths -- total now 725
📌976 new cases & 344 state-delayed cases
📌 29,743 active* COVID cases
EXCLUSIVE: Customs officials say most travel from
#Juarez
to
#ElPaso
for medical care is legal following whistleblower reports of ambulances picking up
#COVID19
patients from Juarez