local
What is the most American animal?
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 1, 2026
· 13 min read
By Scottie Andrew, CNN
(CNN) — In 1782, a lesser-known Founding Father, Charles Thomson, slapped a shield onto a bald eagle with talons full of arrows and olive branches and called it the Great Seal of the United States.
Benjamin Franklin remarked that the bird in the illustration looked more...
Key takeaway Can the hastily chosen symbol of 13 ex-colonies still stand in for the United States today?
Why this matters
Local news anchors readers in their community — the people, places, and decisions that shape day-to-day life. The El Paso covers these stories because national outlets often won't.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 1, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 13 min
Get more The El Paso stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Scottie Andrew, CNN
(CNN) — In 1782, a lesser-known Founding Father, Charles Thomson, slapped a shield onto a bald eagle with talons full of arrows and olive branches and called it the Great Seal of the United States.
Benjamin Franklin remarked that the bird in the illustration looked more...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 1, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter