Bear Attacks Man In Lincoln National Forest + More Local News

Las Palmas CEO Resigns

The CEO at Las Palmas Medical Center is taking a new job.  Las Palmas officials said yesterday that Henry Hernandez resigned and is moving to Sierra Providence Health Network's Transmountain Campus.  Hernandez had been at Las Palmas for 20 years before resigning Monday.  Hernandez will be the CEO at Sierra Providence's new teaching hospital and also serve as the market chief operating officer for SPHN.  Hernandez will join Sierra Providence on June 22nd and the hospital is expected to open in 2017.

Bear Attacks Man In Lincoln National Forest

A man is being released from the hospital after getting attacked by a bear near the Boca Campground in Lincoln National Forest.  The man suffered deep scratches to his chest and a bite to his leg during the attack yesterday.  The man was treated at Lincoln County Medical Center in Ruidoso.  Game and Fish officials are looking to find the bear and test it for rabies.

Hit And Run Suspect Arrested

A hit and run suspect is in custody for allegedly striking an elderly pedestrian with his vehicle on Monday.  Police say Irvin Vargas hit 72 year old Martha Garcia with his Cadillac and ran into a rock wall before fleeing the scene.  Police found the 20-year-old shortly after the incident.  He is being held on a bond around $45,000.  "The El Paso Times" says Garcia was in critical but stable condition as of last night.

Abbott Signs New Regulations For Transportation Projects

There are new regulations for how transportation projects should be paid for.  Governor Greg Abbott signed the regulations into law yesterday, which require TxDOT to rank which projects are the most important before assigning funds.  The law also includes a big boost in road funding.  TxDOT would get over-two-billion dollars in sales tax revenue if the state takes in 28-billion in sales tax.  That plan still needs to be approved by voters.

Trash Bin Recovery Drive Held In El Paso

A trash bin recovery drive is being held this month in El Paso.  The Environmental Services Department is hosting the drive to get people who aren't paying for extra bins to return them to Citizens Collection Stations.  "The El Paso Times" says a recent audit found that at least 500 bins aren't being paid for.  Bins can be dropped off at any of the four stations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.