UTEP Players Sign With NFL Teams + More Local News

Police Arrest One Suspect In Downtown Shooting

One suspect has been arrested for a shooting outside a downtown El Paso nightclub early Sunday morning.  Twenty-one-year-old Alejandro Sandoval is being held on a nine-thousand-dollar bond for shooting a 29-year-old man outside the Tres Mentiras bar.  Police say the gunman was tackled and someone else picked up the weapon and shot a 26-year-old woman.  The second suspect apparently remains at large.

Lawmakers Consider Eliminating Toll Roads

Lawmakers in the Texas House have given initial approval to a bill to study the possibility of eliminating toll roads across the Lone Star State.  Sponsor Joe Pickett says toll lanes in El Paso would be the first to be eliminated, if it were up to him.  Pickett says his bill would determine how much it would cost to eliminate toll fees on El Paso's Cesar Chavez Border Highway and other highways across the state.

Steroid Testing Faces Scrutiny At The State Capitol

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would do away with steroid testing for high school athletes in Texas.  The state Senate has voted to eliminate the steroid testing program after only a handful of athletes failed the test from more than 60-thousand athletes tested.  Lawmakers point out the state has spent more than ten-million-dollars on testing athletes.  The measure now advances to the state House for further consideration.

House Nixes Online Voter Registration

A House committee has killed a bill that would have allowed Texas residents to register to vote over the internet.  State Representative Celia Israel says under her bill, Texans with a valid driver's license or a state-issued I-D card could simply enter their information online.  However, opponents of House Bill 76 say the measure is too risky and could open the door to increased voter fraud.

Police Bust Car Burglary Suspects

Police in El Paso have busted four suspects for burglarizing vehicles.  Police say the suspects would identify their victims at local banks after withdrawing large amounts of cash.  The suspects would then follow their victims and eventually break into their unattended vehicles looking for the cash.
All four suspects have been charged with burglary of a vehicle.

UTEP Players Sign With NFL Teams

Four former UTEP players have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.  Quarterback Jameill Showers has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, tight end Eric Tomlinson has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, fullback Josh Bell has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Atlanta Falcons have signed a deal with former UTEP tight end Katrae Ford.   As undrafted free agents, all four players are facing an uphill battle to make each team's final roster.