EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A Latin-themed bikini night club is set to open this month at the location of the previously shut-down Jaguars Gold Club strip club. Operated by JAI Dining Services (El Paso), Inc., the new club branded as Chicas Locas will not not need a liquor license, according to an attorney representing the company.

"It's going to operate as a nightclub slash bar," said Casey Wallace, attorney and partner with Wallace & Allen, LLP based in Houston. "When I say slash bar hesitantly - the reason I say that, it's going to be a bring your own bottle, BYOB establishment. We will not serve, nor will we sell, alcoholic beverages. People will can bring their own. We're going to operate as a nightclub."

Wallace says that the new club has applied for a liquor license in accordance with the settlement terms agreed upon with the County of El Paso. As ABC-7 has reported, several law enforcement agencies served a temporary restraining order on Jaguars in February. The City and County of El Paso filed separate lawsuits over numerous alleged violations of local ordinances and licensure requirements, and hundreds of legal violations committed on the property.

A settlement with the County resulted in Jaguars shutting its doors for good, while the City's case is still pending in court. Wallace says that the new Chicas Locas will be fully in compliance with the settlement, and with the City's Sexually Oriented Business ordinance by not operating as strip club.

"We've identified it (Chicas Locas) as the number one Latin club in El Paso," Wallace said. "That's the marketing of the club, because we're not going to be a strip club. We're not going to be a topless club. We're not going to be what you might typically refer to as a gentleman's club or cabaret."

The City of El Paso issued a statement about additional legal action to be taken in their suit following ABC-7's reporting in August about questions surrounding the apparent re-opening of the property as a new business. Wallace says that the City is wrong about the business, which he says will follow all laws and will not fall under the definition of the City's ordinance.

"There will be entertainers at the club, there's no question about that," Wallace said. "But they will not be disrobed entertainers. We have not applied for a sexually oriented business permit, because we are not going to operate as a sexually oriented business."

According to Wallace, ABC-7 was the only local media outlet to reach out about the opening of Chicas Locas to RCI Holdings Inc., which owns the property at 11377 Gateway Blvd West, or RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., which controls the brand for Chicas Locas, Jaguars, and more than two dozen other "adult nightclub brands," according to their website.

The City of El Paso declined a request for a further interview based on what the attorney representing the business behind Chicas Locas told ABC-7. In a statement, a City spokesperson said, "As the City has previously advised, we will continue to seek court intervention to impose fines on RCI Holdings for its previous violations. And we will also continue to seek injunctive relief, in hopes of preventing any future unlawful activities from occurring at the Chicas Locas location."

The post Attorney for Chicas Locas, set to open at location of shuttered Jaguars, says business will be in compliance with county settlement, city ordinance appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was in El Paso for a rare visit to the Borderland on Thursday. Cruz spoke at a local business roundtable hosted by the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ahead of fundraisers scheduled in the evening.

Cruz, who is up for re-election in November, talked about legislative efforts his office is focused on and heard concerns from business leaders in the region.

"What I heard from the Hispanic chamber (of commerce) is - they want to keep this the best place in America and the best place in the world to own a business, to run a business, to grow a business and they want their senator to fight for small businesses and fight for jobs," Cruz said.

Senator Cruz called the El Paso economy "enormously important" to Texas as a whole, due in large part to trade with Mexico. One of the legislative efforts Cruz touted was expanding the availability of trade by building four new international bridges in other parts of Texas. Cruz says that along with a focus on lowering taxes and regulatory burdens asked for by businesses, the bridges will boost the state's economy as a whole.

"They will produce tens of thousands of high paying jobs and billions of dollars of new investment in the state of Texas," Cruz said. "They will benefit Texas farmers and ranchers and small businesses and manufacturers. And El Paso is a community that understands that trade - a vigorous trade with Mexico, our biggest trading partner, is critical to prosperity."

The junior Republican senator for Texas said that while more must be done to secure the border, He feels it can go hand-in-hand with fostering greater trade with Mexico.

"El Paso is is a large and growing city," Cruz said. "It's a city that that is based very heavily on trade. Trade with Mexico. I am a champion of expanding Texas's trade with Mexico." 

Senator Cruz said that both trade and security are critical on the border, and that state-level efforts like Operation Lone Star under Governor Greg Abbott could be eliminated by enforcing immigration laws already on the books.

"It's the federal government's responsibility to secure the border," Cruz said. "And if the federal government was doing its job, Operation Lone Star wouldn't be necessary. The state stepped in because, look, this crisis at the southern border, it is not an accident.

Balancing the priorities of border security and trade has proven difficult at the national level, with bipartisan consensus fleeting and bills often focusing on one aspect or the other put forth on a partisan basis.

For the local business owners Senator Cruz spoke with, immigration reform is one of the key aspects.

"Taxes are at the top of mind," said El Paso Hispanic Chamber CEO Cindy Ramos-Davidson. "Regulations and policies are the top of mind. A better economic outlook for business so that they know which direction to go and in the immigration world, it is about comprehensive immigration reform."

Ramos-Davidson said that staffing and the labor supply were major issues for local small businesses, and that having a too-restrictive immigration policy in place would be cause for concern.

"It's about ensuring that DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program) stays," Ramos Davidson said. "Where we don't have to take these young kids back (to their countries of origin) because job recruitment, talent and recruitment was an issue for our businesses. 

The El Paso County GOP website showed two fundraising events for Senator Cruz in El Paso Thursday evening - a reception and a dinner.

The post Sen. Ted Cruz touts border trade, security policies in visit to El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will be in El Paso on Thursday to speak with business leaders in the region.

According to a release from the senator's office, Cruz will be speaking at a business leader roundtable hosted by the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce around midday in West El Paso.

Sen. Cruz will also speak with the press following the roundtable. KVIA will bring you coverage on-air and online surrounding the event.

The post Sen. Cruz to speak Thursday with business leaders in El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Election Department has removed 35,854 people from the local voter rolls in the last few years, based on issues with addresses, deaths or moving away among others required to be done by election law.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has touted the removal of more than 1.15 million people from the voter rolls since 2021, including more than 6,500 noncitizens. There were no noncitizen removals shown from the county's rolls for the same time period.

In a statement this week, Gov. Abbott said he has signed the strongest election security laws in the nation including Senate Bill 1 in 2021.

"We will continue to actively safeguard Texans’ sacred right to vote while also aggressively protecting our elections from illegal voting," Gov. Abbott said in the statement.

Of those removed from the voter rolls across the state, more than 1,054,000 were listed as being deceased, having moved, or that were put on the state's 'suspense list' for issues with their addresses. The local impacts to the voter rolls show the majority removed in El Paso county were in similar categories.

According to the county elections department, there were zero noncitizens and 692 voters with felony convictions removed from the rolls since 2021, while 11,744 deceased and 20,529 voters on the suspense list were removed. Voters are placed on the suspense list if their voter registration cards or other state mail are returned undeliverable.

1,460 voters removed from the list had confirmed they had moved away, while 1,314 did not respond to notices of examination of their qualifications to vote. 115 voters had requested their registration be cancelled.

“The El Paso County Elections Department is committed to making sure our voter rolls are accurate and up to date and that every eligible Texan’s voice is heard," a spokesperson for the department said in a statement sent to KVIA. "Voter lists are carefully maintained daily by experienced public servants in accordance with Texas law. In addition to regular list maintenance, the election code tasks the county with processing new voter registrations which the state then verifies. We are committed to making sure our elections are accurate, fair, and secure."

Anyone with questions about their registration status can contact the county elections department at (915) 546-2154 or visit https://epcountyvotes.com/voter-information/dashboard.

The post Over 35,000 voters removed from local election rolls in recent years appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Veterans Administration Health Care System has released renderings of the new primary health care center for the region, set to break ground next week and open by 2028.

The 492,996 square-foot facility will be built next to the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center on Ft. Bliss near the Iron Medics exit on Loop 375 at a cost of $617,499,000.

El Paso VA Executive Director Froylan Garza says that will enable better care for more than 54,000 veterans in the local system. And while the region has been seeing improvements in meeting federal standards for setting appointments for new patients, there is still more to be done.

"Today's VA is certainly not my grandparents VA," Garza says. "But what I'll tell you is here at the El Paso VA, we have been focused on filling key critical vacancies across primary care, behavioral health services and specialty services as well. So much so that today we are experiencing historic wait times in primary care and behavioral health."

The MISSION Act, passed in 2018, requires that primary or mental health care appointments for new patients at the VA must be available within 20 days. For crisis or acute care, Garza says they've made great strides.

"For example, in primary care, we can now see our veteran patients the same day," Garza said. "We can even see them tomorrow, if that's their preference. In addition to that, in behavioral health, we can actually see our patients today as well. The same day the veterans are in crisis, they can visit any one of our outpatient sites here in El Paso and Las Cruces and get that same day crisis care right then and there, no questions asked."

But for primary care and more routine appointments, while most El Paso VA facilities are at or near the standard, the Eastside clinic is still lagging behind by more than double the standard at 56 days for new appointments.

Part of addressing that is fulfilling a need for more facilities and space, such as the new primary clinic and another six new or expanded clinics expected to open in the next fiscal year. Access and services are a main pillar of the VA's mission, Garza says that all veterans should expect to receive the care they deserve in our region particularly if they have felt let down by the v-a in the past.

"Give us an opportunity to make it right," Garza said. "Join forces with us as a partnership in your health care."

The focus on veteran suicide is a central part of the VA's mission as well. Beyond the critical care, any veteran in crisis should call 988, and select option 2. That will connect them directly to the veterans crisis team 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Renderings released of new El Paso VA main clinic on Ft. Bliss appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The water utility for the El Paso region is being recognized across the state for efforts in water conservation - and a project to bring more advanced water recycling to a tap near you in the next few years.

The August edition of Texas Monthly magazine is focused on water use, waste, and conservation efforts in the state. In particular, El Paso Water is featured for it's upcoming Advanced Water Purification Facility and other water use programs currently in place in our region.

El Paso Water President and CEO John Balliew spoke about the article 'Recycle Like El Paso' in the August board meeting. Copies of the magazine were also handed out to board members.

"El Paso is in there in a very positive light," Balliew said.

Titled 'Who's Wasting Our Water,' Texas Monthly's August issue addresses in part how maintenance issues and leaky pipes are costing water capacity across the state. Balliew discussed the local water utility's efforts to limit leaks and waste in the distribution system.

"We (El Paso Water) have been very diligent for decades on our water loss. That's the difference between the water that we put into the system and the water we deliver to the customers," Balliew said. "It's always been about 8 or 9%, but about three years ago it started creeping up. And so we started investigating and doing what we could."

El Paso Water has a number of efforts in place to reduce leaks, including monitoring systems and satelite scanning.

"We have 12,000 monitors in the system monitoring for leaks," Balliew said. "We have our pipeline replacement, we do reservoir rehabilitation. All these things are designed to control the possibility that water is actually pouring out of the system.

Gilbert Trejo, vice president for engineering, operations and technical services with El Paso Water says that for the article on El Paso, Texas Monthly was most interested in what programs are coming up for the region.

"So a couple months ago, we had the writer reach out to us, just informing us that Texas Monthly was going to do a feature on just water related topics across the state," Trejo said. "She had heard that El Paso was on the cutting edge of some of the technologies that that are in place to employ recycled water projects."

The Advanced Water Purification Facility has been in the works for years. It's a continuation of a number of various efforts to diversify and secure El Paso's water supply, including aquifer storage of purified water in natural underground reservoirs and the world's largest inland desalinization plant.

"The eyes of the country are on us, especially here in the state as well," Trejo said. "Because we feel that this is the future of several communities, as they deal with their own water issues."

The pilot program for advanced purification has been going on since 2016 at the Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant near the Rio Grande in the Lower Valley. That plant is now undergoing renovation and expansion, and the Advanced Water Purification Facility is being built out next door. The plant will take municipal wastewater and treat it to a standard beyond EPA requirements for drinking water. It's expected to come online by 2027.

Renderings from El Paso Water show the new plant that will have four layers of purification -  membrane technology, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection and granular activated carbon filtration.

"You would just need one of them to create drinking water," Trejo said. "And we're going to string these back to back to back, to provide multiple barriers of treatment to ensure that we remove contaminant and pathogens out of the water.

Once fully up and running, the advanced facility is expected to put out 10 million gallons of water a day. At a current per-capita use of 131 gallons per day in our region, that would be enough for more than 75,000 people. That would be equivalent to about 6% of the total water supply from El Paso Water for now.

"I call it the ultimate water, and safest water that can be produced, given the level of treatment that we're going to be employing," Trejo said.

The post El Paso Water to bring Advanced Water Purification Facility online by 2027, addresses leaks appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In her first interview since the start of the El Paso city manager selection process, Community and Development Department Director Nicole Ferrini responded strongly to questions raised about her education and any description as an architect.

"I am not an architect," Ferrini said. "I want to be very clear. I have never been a licensed architect, nor do I represent myself as such. I am a designer. I am a project manager."

ABC-7 was the only local media outlet to speak with Ferrini, available for the first time to discuss the allegations of professional misrepresentation since the city manager selection process resulted in Deputy City Manager for Quality of Life Dionne Mack being selected for the top job.

Ferrini says that while her degrees are in architecture and interior design, she has not maintained any professional certifications in the last decade or so.

As ABC-7 has reported, online records from the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) show Ferrini's interior design license expired in 2012. Ferrini, who is also the city's climate and sustainability officer, says she no longer had use for that certification in her roles with the city.

"Nothing in my current role, nor in any of the roles that I've pursued here at the city or held here at the city require that background," Ferrini said. "Does that background give me a very unique perspective? Absolutely, it does."

Ferrini responded strongly to the questions about her education and any description as an architect.

"Have I represented myself as a licensed architect or an interior designer, for that matter?" Ferrini said. "Since that time, the answer is no."

Texas Tech University confirms that Ferrini received Bachelor's degrees from the school in interior design in 2001 and in architecture in 2012. The second degree was received the same year the TBAE lists Ferrini's interior design license being "voluntarily surrendered."

The state board notes on it's website that "it is against the law for any individual to claim to be an architect, landscape architect or registered interior designer unless he or she is registered by this Board."

Ferrini says that she has not been contacted about any professional or licensure complaints, but does say that she may have inadvertently referenced herself as an architect.

"Have I used the the noun 'architect' in my, you know, dozens of of speaking engagements and community meetings?" Ferrini said. "I suppose that that is a possibility."

Ferrini stands behind the work she has done for more than a decade at the city, and says that none of it has required the professional designation.

"I have never intentionally or or referred to myself as an architect in the context of being a licensed architect," Ferrini said, "and I have never represented myself in a situation of professional service provision and or liability, which is why the law is written. 

The post El Paso city manager finalist Ferrini responds to professional misrepresentation allegations appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso is addressing questions about the qualifications and professional licensures held by a finalist to be the next city manager. It surrounds Nicole Ferrini, who is currently the city's Climate and Sustainability Officer.

The El Paso Times reported Friday afternoon about a letter that was drafted but not released by the El Paso chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The draft letter alleges that Ferrini was wrongly representing herself as an architect.

In a resume obtained by ABC-7 submitted for the city manager search, Ferrini's states she holds bachelor's degrees in architecture and interior design from Texas Tech University. ABC-7 has reached out to Texas Tech for more details and confirmation.

As for the letter of complaint, ABC-7 reached out to the El Paso AIA chapter and received a statement response from it's president, Rida Asfahani:

"The El Paso Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA El Paso) has learned that a letter of complaint was drafted by a general member of the organization. This draft letter was not created by, endorsed or distributed by the AIA El Paso Chapter, nor its executive committee. The AIA El Paso Chapter does not have authority over the registration of professional licensing credentials in the State of Texas – therefore the Chapter defers on these matters to the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE)."

An online records search with the TBAE does show that Ferrini did hold a certification as an interior designer, starting in 2005 and voluntarily surrendered in 2012. The board's website notes "It is against the law for any individual to claim to be an architect, landscape architect or registered interior designer unless he or she is registered by this Board."

ABC-7 also reached out to the City of El Paso about the questions. City Spokesperson Laura Curz-Acosta sent our newsroom this statement:

"As noted in Nicole's resume she does have a Bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University which includes education in the architecture field. She has a degree in Interior Design from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University. As indicated in her resume, she has worked in the field of architecture as a managing principal in an architecture firm, a project manager and a designer.

"It should be important to note that the position of City Manager does not require an architecture license."

Ferrini herself was not available for interview, as none of the city manager finalists are available until the selection process is completed

The post Professional credentials questioned of El Paso city manager finalist appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Police Department on Friday released details on two separate incidents where Ft. Bliss residents were arrested for allegedly abandoning their dogs.

Police say on July 13, Charles Edward McVey abandoned his dog in a parking lot at the 3000 block of N. Zaragoza and did not attempt to return to it.

On Aug. 1, the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit was called to a dog abandoned at a business on the 8400 block of Gateway West. Investigators say Celine John Octa Hemmingway was found to be the registered owner of the dog.

Both were separately arrested on animal cruelty charges for the abandonment and were booked into the El Paso County Jail on $2,500 bonds.

The post El Paso Police arrest two Ft. Bliss residents in separate animal abandonment cases appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Ft. Bliss officials have confirmed that it was a soldier from the post that died during a hike in the Franklin Mountains on Thursday.

As ABC-7 brought you as breaking news, the El Paso Fire Department Search and Rescue team recovered the body of a hiker from the Ron Coleman trail near McKelligon Canyon Thursday afternoon.

Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence and the Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss said that the hiker was 39-year-old Sgt. Maj Benito Canales.

Canales was a combat veteran and graduate of the Sergeants Major Academy. He was originally from McKinney, Texas.

The post Soldier from Ft. Bliss dies on hike in Franklin Mountains appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying whomever is responsible for shooting a 52-year-old man.

Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces-Doña Ana County is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the person or persons responsible for the shooting.

According to police, around 2 p.m. on July 17 Las Cruces police officers were called to the 900 block of Melendres for a report of a vehicle crash. The vehicle had driven through multiple yards before coming to a stop. Officers found the driver trapped inside the vehicle, and that they had been shot prior to the crash.  

Police say investigation shows that a 4-door, silver or gray sedan of unknown make or model was involved in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Las Cruces Crime Stoppers app, “P3 TIPS.” Tips can also be sent anonymously

The post Las Cruces Police ask for help in finding shooting suspect appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Twelve students graduated from the Western Technical College (Western Tech) lineworker program Friday morning in a first-time collaboration with Workforce Solutions Borderplex and El Paso Electric.

The graduates will now be able to enter the energy and utility sectors with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the industry.

All local residents, the new lineworkers will play a big part in maintaining and improving the power infrastructure that supports the area’s homes, businesses, and critical services.

The post New El Paso Electric lineworkers graduate from Western Tech appeared first on KVIA.

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A local police department is warning residents about a possible scam operation involving a claim to conduct a water test, while actually seeking to obtain a resident's private information.

The Sunland Park Police Department issued a statement on Friday that a resident had responded to a notice claiming to be from a water service company. The resident scheduled an appointment, and a man in a safety vest arrived stating he was there to test the water in the home.

Once inside the home, the man asked for the resident's social security number and state ID details.

Police have released a photo of the man and are asking for the public to help identify him.

Anyone with information should contact Sunland Park Central Dispatch at (575) 526-0795 and ask to speak with a police officer. If you wish to remain anonymous, police say to let the dispatcher and officer know.

In the statement, Sunland Park Police Department reminds residents that no government agency, water/utility company or reputable private company will have field workers request sensitive and private information such as social security numbers, driver’s license, state issued identification, or passport information. Anyone being asked for such information should contact Sunland Park Central Dispatch at (575) 526-0795 and should NOT provide any sensitive or private information to anyone.

The post Sunland Park Police issue water testing scam alert appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A stash house in Las Cruces was busted by Border Patrol, according to the chief for the El Paso sector.

Anthony "Scott" Good posted on x.com (formerly Twitter) Friday that border patrol agents with the Anti-Smuggling Unit had apprehended 17 migrants.

Two people are being charged in connection, and $5,300 in cash was also seized from the home.

Hidden Stash House Uncovered! Las Cruces BP Anti-Smuggling Unit Agents apprehended 17 migrants – 2 individuals are being charged under 18 USC 1324 for harboring illegal migrants. $5,300 USD was also seized from illicit activities. pic.twitter.com/vMSKzkT6jR

— Anthony “Scott” Good (@USBPChiefEPT) August 16, 2024

The post Hidden migrant stash house busted in Las Cruces, thousands of dollars seized appeared first on KVIA.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A New Mexico man accused of a crime spree including multiple armed robberies including a bank robbery, carjacking and murder is now being charged with federal crimes for the death of a Santa Fe man.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the charges Friday for 38-year-old Zachary Babitz in connection with a fatal shooting and carjacking that occurred on August 6, 2024, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He appeared before a federal judge Friday and is being held until detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 20, and faces possible sentences up to life in prison from the charges.

As KVIA has previously reported, Babitz was arrested in Las Cruces on Aug. 10 after allegedly committing armed robbery at an Arby's restaurant on E. Lohman Ave.

According to court documents, Babitz was seen approaching the shooting victim, 83-year-old Gordon Peter Wilson, in the parking lot of a Best Buy in Santa Fe on the morning of August 6 and engaging in a physical altercation. The Santa Fe Police Department later responded to a call reporting a shooting in the parking lot and found Wilson with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Babitz was seen leaving the scene in the victim's Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was later reported stolen.

The New Mexico Adult Probation and Parole Office says that on on August 1, Babitz had cut his electronic monitoring device off and left a note for law enforcement on the door of his residence in Edgewood, New Mexico. The note stated, “To Law Enforcement this needs to be very clear. My wife had absolutely no clue as to what I planned or am about to do. These were my decisions, and I hid them from her signed this day 8-1-24 10:55am Zachary Babitz.”

Federal officials say that turing Babitz's arrest in Las Cruces, a 9mm firearm was recovered. Testing is underway to determine if this weapon was used in the Santa Fe incident.

Babitz has a history of felony convictions, including previous armed robberies and carjacking, and was released from prison in March 2024.

The post Man arrested in Las Cruces after alleged crime spree now facing federal charges appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Project Bravo and private partners are working to with the County of El Paso to place solar panels that create drinking water from water vapor present in the air in underdeveloped parts of El Paso County.

Project Bravo's AguasEsperanza program currently has four sets of SOURCE® Global Hydropanels in the Hueco Tanks Estates colonia near the eastern edge of El Paso County. An Arizona company makes the panels that use solar power to condense water vapor, creating multiple gallons of water a day.

"I think that that we take for granted how important it is to have healthy, safe and affordable drinking water," said Laura Ponce, Executive Director of Project Bravo.

Project Bravo started the pilot program with the panels two years ago. A $150,000 grant from Wells Fargo will allow Project Bravo to now expand the program to 11 families in the same area.

El Paso County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Carlos Leon visited one of the previously installed sets of panels. He says he was impressed and wants to see more of them put into place, particularly since the area may not be able to get regular water utilities for decades to come.;

"The family that I visited with actually has it connected to her house and her refrigerator," Leon said. "So she has cold water and ice cubes. I tasted it, it tastes great."

Olga Thomas was another one of the recipients of the panels from the pilot program. It's been an important change to her quality of life.

"Oh my gosh, it has been a lifesaver for me as far as I'm concerned," Thomas said

Previously, she had to regularly buy bottled water to drink.

"I'm by myself at a mobile home, and I have health issues," Thomas said. "So it's very hard for me to, for instance, go to the store real quick to get some water."

Commissioner Leon says that El Paso County has previously looked into getting water service extended to other colonias. Even when existing water mains are close by, the costs quickly add up.

"It would have been about $42,000 just to get that water extended around the block," Leon said. "So you can see the extraordinary expense"

With the Wells Fargo grant announced this week, Project Bravo hopeful that more will also join the effort. They are currently working on securing additional donors to further expand the program.

"We may be able to provide panels for 75 families by the end of the year," Ponce said.

There are about 400 households in the Hueco Tanks estates area. Thomas wants everyone to get the same service she has now.

"And if I could, I would go door to door and talk to them and show them," Thomsas said. "I would even put a sign saying, you know, coming over, check it out and look how it works."

Residents can contact Project Bravo to be considered for the expansion of the AguaEsperanza program on their website, or can reach out to Commissioner Leon's office as well.

The post Water from thin air: AguasEsperanza Project places solar panels that generate drinking water in El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Water is the subject of an article in the August issue of Texas Monthly about the water utilities efforts to diversify and expand the region's water supply.

Part of Texas Monthly's "Who's Wasting Our Water" series, the article focuses on EPW's work towards increasing water recycling, event to re-use in municipal supplies.

In the article titled "Recycle Like El Paso: Sun City Reuses Every Drop of Water It Can. The Rest of Texas Could Heed the Lesson," EPW Vice President Gilbert Trejo is quoted as saying that the water utility's goal is to reuse water as much as possible, given how important the resource is to the region.

The post El Paso Water featured in Texas Monthly for water conservation, reclamation projects appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Parents at an El Paso Independent School District elementary school are responding to a policy in place at the start of the school year that charges for extra utensils and condiments.

Parents from Tippin Elementary on El Paso's Westside posted online this week that the charge surprised them and gave their children concerns about having the right change on hand.

EPISD's Food & Nutrition Services department lists charges for individual menu items. That includes a line for "Utensil Pack, PC, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, 6 compartment trays, Ice Cup $0.15."

Other parents KVIA spoke with said that they weren't aware of the policy and haven't had any issues with charges for their children.

An EPISD spokesperson sent the following statement to KVIA:

"The Food and Nutrition Program at El Paso ISD is federally funded and intended to provide daily nutritious meals for students. The guidance and coordination are provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).

Revenue generated by the Food and Nutrition Program is based on student meals served. All food and non-food items are purchased with federal reimbursement from the TDA.

The practice of having ‘a la carte’ menu items, such as the utensils in question, has been in place for at least twenty-five (25) years and are posted at each campus cafeteria as well as the district’s website.

However, the district has measures in place to ensure that students have access to necessary tools for their meal consumption. Please be assured that no student will ever be denied a meal or utensils due to financial reasons. The district is committed to working with parents to ensure everyone is informed of all cafeteria costs and modes of operation."

The post Parents split over EPISD utensil charge policy at Tippin Elementary appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces Police Department is investigating the death of an elderly woman as a homicide, according to a release from the department on Tuesday.

Police say that patrol officers made a welfare check at a home on the 100 block of west Madrid Road on Sunday. A deceased woman was found inside the home, now identified by police as 80-year-old Maria Rodriguez.

The circumstances of her death were deemed suspicious, and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Section are now actively investigating the case as a homicide.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Las Cruces Police Department at (575) 526-0795.

The post Las Cruces police investigating death of elderly woman as homicide appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso unveiled it's new August 3rd memorial on Saturday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the racially-motivated mass shooting that took the lives of 23 people at the Cielo Vista Walmart in 2019. A remembrance and public art unveiling ceremony was held at at Jim Crouch park, recently renamed from Ponder Park, Saturday morning. The event included remarks by the El Paso Chief of Police Peter Pacillas, Mayor Oscar Leeser, and a special recognition by Fort Bliss with a flyover of two Blackhawk helicopters.

"This is something for all of El Paso and the families, but really so we can continue to respect and honor the 23 people that lost their lives in an act of violence," Mayor Leeser said. "In an act of terror that really is hard to define, to explain why somebody would drive 11 hours to do what they did to our community."

One of the presenters at the ceremony was Gregory Jackson, Deputy Director for the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and special assistant to President Joe Biden. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris released statements ahead of the 5th anniversary recognizing the El Paso community for coming together in the face of tragedy. Jackson said he was there on Saturday to make sure that was presented directly to the community.

"They want us to make sure we share that directly with the families," Jackson said, "and with those impacted and honor, frankly, the courage and the strength of this community in wake of something so hateful and so tragic."

The public art installation, titled "August 3rd Memorial", had been in the works since at least 2022 with the City of El Paso. It's a spiritual successor to the community memorials that spontaneously came together just a few hundred yards away, next to the Walmart in the immediate aftermath of the attack. As the store and road reopened, parts of the temporary memorial were moved to the park, now culminating in the permanent installation at 7500 W H Burges Dr. The creator of the monument says the design is meant to provide a place of peace, healing - and reclaiming power for a community still affected years later.

"So the inspiration for this piece was about restoring power to the victims of August 3rd," artist Albert 'Tino' Ortega said. "And to me, a crown was always a symbol of power. So it only made sense to have a design that kind of encompassed that feeling in the restoration of trying to restore power to these individuals."

Ortega says he took inspiration from the two existing memorials - the Gran Candela and the Healing Garden - and the interaction of light, geometry, and nature.

"I took inspiration from those pieces and wanted people to be able to come and be at peace," Ortega said. "And, you know, find this like a very tranquil spot."

The central feature of the city's memorial is seven granite pillars laid out in a circle, bearing inscriptions of the victims’ names. The pillars sit atop a mandala, and 23 lights shine in honor of the victims, surrounded by plants and greenery.

"I know we're in a busy intersection, and that's why I'm hoping when the trees do become of a more mature nature," Ortega said, "it cuts down on some of that, on some of that noise and just makes a good spot for reflection and just, you know, positivity."

The link between the community's reaction to come together near the park after the tragedy and the memorial today is an important through line for the city's decision to build the permanent public art piece.

"This was the park that was closest to the site of the tragedy and became, very quickly, a place of reunion for the victims families, first responders, for media to be able to come together," said Ben Fyffe, Managing Director of Cultural Affairs & Recreation for the city. "To find out what was a very scary developing story that day. I think a lot of people can probably remember there were a lot of rumors. People were seeking, what verified news they could get."

Fyffe says that the makeshift community memorial had to be shifted for safety concerns in the long run. The street where the community placed their tributes to the victims behind the Walmart became active again once the store reopened. The park evolved in use in the aftermath from a gathering point, to a vigil site, to the relocated - and now permanent memorial.

"Ponder Park, now renamed Crouch Park, was the site of all of that," Fyffe said. "And so it became, for us, a very natural fit for the memorial."

The now-unveiled site will be open year-round and will be the focus of the city's commemorations into the future.

"I think every August 3rd, as we come together to remember those events, and I think, most importantly, remember that that sense of unity that we had immediately in the aftermath, that this will be the site to commemorate that on an annual basis," Fyffe said."

For the artist, he hopes people come away with a feeling of positivity and hope when they visit.

"I try my best to use all my energy for positivity, and I just want that to be reflected in this piece," Ortega said. "But, you know, artwork is subjective and people are going to take what for what they want from it. But I just hope it's from a message of positivity."

The post City of El Paso unveils new Aug. 3 memorial on 5th anniversary of Walmart mass shooting appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- As the city of El Paso and other taxing entities are in the process of setting the property tax rates for the next fiscal year, property values for homes in the city have continued to rise year-over-year, though at a slower pace than previous years.

"Housing prices for new units are expected to rise by about 3.8% (for this year)," UTEP Economics Professor Tom Fullerton said. "Then for resale housing units, which is the biggest part of the residential real estate universe in El Paso, they're expected to rise by just a little bit over 4%. In terms of the median price values for new units, we're projecting that the average for the year is going to be $259,000 per unit. For existing units, it's going to be $250,000 per unit. So those are historically high numbers."

Fullerton tracks data on home valuations and numerous other economics indicators with the Border Region Modeling Project at UTEP. He says that home price increases are levelling out compared to previous years.

"Between 2021 and 2022, median price is rose by more than 30%," Fullerton said. "That's a very unique period in El Paso economic history. Things have cooled off a lot since then, they had no choice but to cool off once mortgage rates stop going up. You know, it was clear that housing prices were out of sync with income levels in El Paso."

The City of El Paso's representatives voted in a special meeting Thursday to introduce a "No-New Revenue" tax rate of $0.761405 per $100 of home valuation for the 2025 fiscal year, about a 7% reduction from the previous year's rate of $0.818875/$100. The "No-New Revenue" tax rate means the city would bring in the same amount of property tax revenue as the previous year.

According to a city spokesperson, that rate means that for an average $250,000 home in the city of El Paso, the tax bill would fall $144 for next year. Professor Fullerton says that for the city to still have the same revenue there must then be more and different kinds of properties in the tax base.

"That's got to be because a large portion of the property tax revenues are now being shouldered by the commercial and industrial side of the ledger. Part of that's probably due to the massive amount of industrial construction and nonresidential construction that took place from about 2017 up through 2021."

City documents calculating the tax base show a jump in the property tax base from last year. The "2024 Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet" filled out by city staff and put online ahead of Thursday's vote show that this year's total taxable value is $52,288,266,217. That's up from the prior year total taxable value of $46,948,442,200. Fullerton says the permits applied for in previous years are leading indicators of work that would add properties to the tax rolls in future years.

"We had more than $5.2 billion worth of nonresidential construction permits that were approved during that period (2017 to 2021)," Fullerton said. "It peaked in 2018 with more than $900 million worth of commercial space being permitted that year. Not all of it was was probably started and finished, but that's a huge number by historical standards and it really has remained quite active. Last year was another banner year for commercial space in El Paso. So, that has has probably allowed the city to adjust property tax rates such that it's going to give a $140 reduction to houses on average across the entire metropolitan area."

Thursday's city council vote set a public hearing for August 13 for final approval of the tax rate. The city's fiscal year begins September 1.

The post El Paso home values rising at slower rate than previous years, still at historic highs appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A historic apartment building in the former Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center master plan area has been renovated and reopened for rent.

The Retreat at Union Plaza is the rebranded name of the building at 315 W. Overland Street, a block south of the convention center in downtown El Paso. The property sits across the street from the original footprint area for the Multipurpose Center.

Property manager Justin Churchman told KVIA the renovations began three years ago, while the lawsuit over the Multipurpose Center was still in progress.

"Our intention with the project was to provide a safe and secure, establishment for new tenants to come in," Churchman said.

For the building owners, it was the nearby walkable amenities like the ballpark, plaza theater and restaurants that are part of the reason for the six-figure investment into the renovations.

"We saw potential for a space that we own ourselves, that we could renovate to help the city grow," Churchman said, "to become stronger, and to bring in new people with a strong economic desire to expand El Paso." 

The renovation project for the building, originally built as a tenement in about the 1920s, took three years. Work was started while the fate and the original position of the Multipurpose Center was still being decided. 

Churchman says when the property was purchased in 2016, the occupancy had dwindled to three, and then one, apartment unit. Once the remaining leases expired, the renovations were started to bring all 16 single bedroom units up to a modern standard. One of the units will be be used as a temporary rental.

"So our goal was not to remove people forcibly," Churchman said, "but to provide a space for them to come back to and a new home that's been restored for the first time in anywhere from 25 to 30 years."

The property owner has rented out half of the available apartments, and expect to be full within the next couple of months. After that, there are plans to renovate more projects and buildings the company owns on the same block.

The post Renovated apartments open in former Multipurpose Center master plan area in Durangito appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- ABC-7 has obtained a complete hearing transcript of the first appearance of Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia before a federal judge in El Paso on Friday morning.

He is noted in the transcript as having to use a wheelchair during the proceedings, and spoke only briefly. Zambada Garcia is charged with 12 felony counts, including murder, racketeering, possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, money laundering, and more.

Court documents show Zambada Garcia is next slated to appear at an arraignment hearing set for the morning of July 31 in El Paso.

Read the full transcript of Friday's hearing below:

The post Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia makes first appearance before federal judge in El Paso – official transcript of the hearing appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA and ABC) -- In his first ever appearance inside a U.S. courtroom, 76-year-old Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia required use of a wheelchair and spoke a total of 22 words, according to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by ABC News.

The judge overseeing Zambada Garcia's case, Anne Berton, read the notorious drug trafficker his rights and the 12 charges he faces as part of a 2012 federal indictment against him – just one of several he faces in jurisdictions across the country.

Zambada Garcia made no other statements other than responding to Berton with either, "Yes," "no" or "Yes, I understand" -- as she questioned him like any other defendant in the federal system.

Zambada Garcia was represented at the hearing by attorney Frank Perez, though Judge Berton said another attorney had plans to join his case, Ray Velarde. She noted Velarde has an outstanding conflict in representing Zambada Garcia which he would be permitted to waive if he chooses, but didn't address the nature of the conflict.

While it's unclear what the specific conflict is, Velarde previously represented an El Paso attorney who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2017 on charges he helped launder more than $600 million for a Mexican drug cartel. (There was no wrongdoing alleged on Velarde's part in representing the attorney, and Judge Berton described him as an "excellent attorney" in today's hearing.)

The post Details of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia’s first U.S. court hearing appeared first on KVIA.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVIA) -- U.S. President Joe Biden released a statement Friday addressing "the Arrest of Two Drug Trafficker Leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel." As ABC-7 reported, the Mexican drug kingpins Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, were arrested Thursday in El Paso.

"Yesterday, the Department of Justice arrested Ismael Zambada Garcia (AKA “El Mayo”) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, two of the most notorious leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the deadliest enterprises in the world," President Biden said in the statement. "They are being charged for leading the Cartel’s deadly drug manufacturing and trafficking networks. I commend the work of our law enforcement officials who made this arrest for their ongoing work to bring Sinaloa Cartel leaders to justice."

"Too many of our citizens have lost their lives to the scourge of fentanyl. Too many families have been broken and are suffering because of this destructive drug. My Administration will continue doing everything we can to hold deadly drug traffickers to account and to save American lives," President Biden said in the conclusion of the statement.

The post President Biden releases statement after arrests of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA and ABC) -- Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia made his initial appearance in federal court in El Paso before District Judge Anne Berton Friday morning, according to court records. The filings show Zambda Garcia plead not guilty to at least 12 felony counts including kidnapping and murder, drug trafficking, racketeering and more.

He was ordered detained pending his arraignment and detention hearing next week. His arraignment hearing is set for July 31 at 11 a.m. local time.

Mexican officials have released photos received after the apprehension of Zambada Garcia and fellow Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin Guzman Lopez after their apprehension Thursday at the Doña Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso. The pictures have black bars placed over the eyes due to Mexican government standards for alleged criminal photo releases.

The post Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada pleads not guilty in first federal court hearing in El Paso, apprehension photos released appeared first on KVIA.

By Evan Perez, Hannah Rabinowitz and Mark Morales (CNN) --

Editor’s Note:
A previously attached video has been deleted due to copyright concerns.

FBI Director Chris Wray said the FBI and DEA arrested the two alleged drug cartel leaders who have “eluded law enforcement for decades” and that they “will now face justice in the United States.”

"Garcia and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the U.S. along with related violence,” Wray said in a statement Thursday night. “These arrests are an example of the FBI's and our partners commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel."

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said the arrests “strikes at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast.” 

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas applauded the “brave agents and officers,” including those from

Homeland Security Investigations, “whose years of work, alongside others in the law enforcement community, have, at great personal sacrifice, disrupted and dismantled cartel operations across the world.”

Statement from FBI Director Christopher Wray:

"Today, the FBI and DEA arrested two alleged cartel leaders who have eluded law enforcement for decades. Ismael Mario "El Mayo" Zambada García and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, will now face justice in the United States," said FBI Director Chris Wray.  "Garcia and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the U.S. along with related violence. These arrests are an example of the FBI's and our partners commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel."

Statement from DEA Adminstrator Anne Migram:

“The arrest of Ismael Zambada García, better known as “El Mayo,” one of the alleged founders and leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, strikes at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast.  El Mayo is one of DEA’s most wanted fugitives and he is in custody tonight and will soon face justice in a U.S. court of law,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “Joaquin Guzman Lopez, another alleged leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the son of ‘El Chapo,’ was also arrested today - his arrest is another enormous blow to the Sinaloa Cartel.  In 2017, he and his brothers, the Chapitos, allegedly took control of the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was extradited to the United States.  DEA will continue to seek justice for any American life that is lost and will work tirelessly to prevent more needless deaths and pursue those that are responsible.”

Statement from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:

“The Sinaloa Cartel pioneered the manufacture of fentanyl and has for years trafficked it into our country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastating countless communities. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a relentless, unprecedented, and comprehensive approach to combating the scourge of fentanyl. Today, two of the Cartel’s alleged top leaders – Ismael Zambada Garcia (“El Mayo”) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez – are in U.S. custody and will be brought to justice. I commend the dedicated, brave agents and officers of Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI whose years of work, alongside others in the law enforcement community, have, at great personal sacrifice, disrupted and dismantled cartel operations across the world.”

The post FBI and DEA arrest 2 alleged leaders of Mexican drug cartel who have “eluded law enforcement for decades,” says Director Wray appeared first on KVIA.

Editor’s Note: A previously attached video has been deleted due to copyright concerns.

Cartel co-founder lured to the US under guise that he would be visiting a property for sale, sources say

From CNN’s Polo Sandoval and Mark Morales in New York City, and Evan Perez in Washington, DC

SSA/Elizabeth Hartfield & Adam Levine

Two law enforcement officials familiar with the operation said Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada Garcia, or “El Mayo,” was lured to the US under the guise that he would be looking at a property for purchase.

El Mayo and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of cartel co-founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, were on a plane purportedly to inspect a property in Mexico and at least one of the men wasn’t aware they were headed to the US, law enforcement sources tell CNN.

The two men were met by US authorities when they landed near El Paso, Texas, where the FBI placed them under arrest.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Mexican drug kingpins Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia has been arrested in El Paso along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued a statement addressing the arrests of "Alleged Leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel" on Thursday afternoon:

“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world. Ismael Zambada Garcia, or “El Mayo,” cofounder of the Cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of its other cofounder, were arrested today in El Paso, Texas."

According to the release, both Zambada and Guzman are facing multiple U.S. charges related to the cartel’s criminal operations, including fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks.

ABC-7's Puente News Collaborative reporter Luis Chaparro posted on x.com (formerly Twitter) that sources told him the apprehension happened at private airport in Doña Ana County.

Another “big fish” was at the time with El Mayo, still unknown who this was. He was allegedly detained at a jetport in Dona Ana County, near El Paso, Texas.

— Luis Chaparro (@LuisKuryaki) July 25, 2024

Zambada is the co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel. That's the one that Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman also co-founded. 

The full statement from the U.S. Department of Justice:

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Arrests of Alleged Leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel Ismael Zambada Garcia (El Mayo) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the arrests of alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Zambada Garcia (El Mayo) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez:

“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world. Ismael Zambada Garcia, or “El Mayo,” cofounder of the Cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of its other cofounder, were arrested today in El Paso, Texas.

Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartel’s criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks.

El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable in the United States. That includes the Cartel’s other cofounder, Joaquin Guzman Loera, or “El Chapo”; another of El Chapo’s sons and an alleged Cartel leader, Ovidio Guzman Lopez; and the Cartel’s alleged lead sicario, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, or “El Nini.”

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable.”

A map created by the Congressional Research Service shows the areas the Sinaloa Cartel has operated in recent years:

The post Mexican drug kingpins Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of “El Chapo,” arrested in El Paso by U.S. authorities appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has arrested 28-year-old Andrew Martinez for an outstanding warrant for "Injury to a Child, Elderly Individual, or Disabled Individual," as well as two additional traffic warrants, during an investigation into a reported theft. El Paso County Jail records show that Martinez is being held on a $20,818‬ bond for the warrants. The sheriff's office has not released further details on the offenses for the original warrants.

According to a release, sheriff's deputies on Wednesday afternoon were called to the intersection of De Alva Drive and Clipper Road in Canutillo for the theft reprot. Deputies met with the victim who sent them to where Martinez was, alleging that Martinez had committed the theft.

Martinez was located by the deputies and he was found to have the outstanding criminal warrants. A stolen motorcycle was also found at that location. Deputies released the scene to the Anthony Police department to investigate the theft case, and Martinez was booked into the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility.

The post El Paso man arrested for injury charge, traffic warrants during theft investigation appeared first on KVIA.

Update: Two electric cars loaded on a vehicle carrier trailer caught fire Thursday, causing a multi-hour shutdown on I-10 eastbound lanes through the afternoon, according to the El Paso Fire Department. In a post on the its Facebook page, the department says El Paso firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire. Pictures from the department show firefighters approaching a vehicle with a charred front-end, with parts of vehicles loaded above it melting.

According to the department, firefighters had to ensure the lithium batteries inside the cars were safe enough to be moved from the scene.

The El Paso Police Department was able to clear the road to reopen fully by 5 PM.

I-10 East before Copia, Mile 21, Vehicle Fire, FINAL, ALL lanes now open, minor back.

— @EPPOLICETRAFFIC (@eppolicetraffic) July 25, 2024

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Traffic is backed up on Interstate 10 eastbound to the Schuster Ave exit near the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) campus.

ABC-7 cameras show a tractor-trailer vehicle carrier on the right shoulder surrounded by emergency vehicles, causing all traffic to exit I-10.

The El Paso Fire Department posted on x.com (formerly Twitter) that there were no injuries reported as of yet.

EPFD crews responding to an 18-wheeler fire at i10E and Copia.

No injuries reported at this time. Stand by for updates. pic.twitter.com/71UAy1kdJW

— El Paso Fire Department (@EPTXFire) July 25, 2024

El Paso Police posted that the time to clear would not be until later in the afternoon.

I-10 East before Copia, Mile 21, Vehicle Fire, UPDATE 2, Right 3 lanes and exit remain closed, All lanes closed on gateway east at Copia, thru traffic on gateway east must turn at San Marcial street, back up to Prospect, clearing time 2 hrs.

— @EPPOLICETRAFFIC (@eppolicetraffic) July 25, 2024

The post I-10 eastbound at Copia shut down Thursday afternoon as electric cars catch fire on vehicle carrier appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- 33 year-old Nicholas Esteban Gurrola of Las Cruces has plead guilty to charges of driving drunk and causing a head-on collision that killed two people and seriously injured a third. According to a release from Third Judicial District Attorney Gerald Byers, Enedina Jo Lara and passenger Remy Sigala, died at the scene of the December 2022 crash. Another passenger, Kystal Rae Lara, was seriously injured.

Gurrola pleaded guilty to two counts of homicide by vehicle while driving drunk, a second-degree felony, one count of great bodily harm while driving drunk, a third-degree felony, leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm or death, a fourth-degree felony, and failure to maintain traffic lane and no proof of insurance, both misdemeanor charges. Third District Court Judge Douglas Driggers sentenced Gurrola to 19 years in prison, with four years of that suspended for 15 years of total imprisonment.

The district attorney's office says that leading up to the crash, Gurrola had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .15% and was driving over 75 miles per hour in a 2016 Dodge Caravan on Spruce Ave. in Las Cruces. The legal limit for drunk driving is a BAC of .08% in New Mexico. Gurrola's van crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on with a green 2008 Ford Escape traveling westbound on Spruce. The driver of the Ford Escape Enedina Jo Lara and passenger Sigala died at the scene. The other passenger, Kystal Rae Lara, was flown to El Paso Medical Center with serious injuries.  A two year-old child was also in the vehicle in a car seat and did not suffer serious injuries.

Witnesses are reported as seeing Gurrola exit the vehicle and stumble as he ran away.  The witnesses ran after and held Gurrola nearby until police arrived. 

“I want to acknowledge the grace, tenacity and unending support of the victims’ families," District Attorney Byers said in a statement. "They continued to have faith in their prosecutorial trial team and belief in our justice system during this extremely difficult time. DWI is heartbreaking for all individuals involved. Definitely a tragedy that can be prevented.”

The post Las Cruces man pleads guilty, receives 15 year sentence for deadly 2022 drunk driving crash appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners has released the names of the four finalists for the next county manager. Two are local to Doña Ana with the others coming from California or Alabama.

In alphabetical order, the finalists are:

• Scott Andrews, currently Assistant City Manager of Bakersfield, California, which has a population of 415,000
• Barbara Bencomo, currently Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Las Cruces, with a population of 114,000
• Stephen Lopez, currently Interim County Manager of Doña Ana County, with a total population of 225,000
• Mark Tyner, a recently retired county administrator of Calhoun County, Alabama which has a population of 116,000

"The Board of Commissioners is excited about this pool of qualified candidates and hopes to have a new county manager identified in the coming weeks," Commission Chair Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez said in a statement. "We are committed to including our community in the selection process and look forward to introducing the finalists to residents, highlighting their expertise, while showcasing the unique features that make Doña Ana County a great place to live, work and thrive."

Finalists will be on-site for interviews and community visits Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10. Exact locations and times will be announced later by the county. Feedback will be collected in-person and through an online portal on the Doña Ana County website throughout that weekend.

The post Doña Ana County announces finalists for next County Manager appeared first on KVIA.

The post WATCH LIVE: Complete coverage of President Biden’s address appeared first on KVIA.

Update (August 1, 2024): The bond hearing happened July 30, 2024. The bond remains at $1 million. As of today, Bacchus is still in jail.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Police have arrested a 22 year-old El Paso man for a shooting at an Eastside bar over the weekend that left one man dead and another injured. As ABC-7 reported earlier this week, police responded to the shooting at Legendz Bar near the intersection of Vista Del Sol and Zaragoza. El Paso County jail records show Kwesi Nataniel Bacchus is currently being held on a $1 million bond, and was booked on Tuesday for the charge of murder.

Police have released that the man who died was 24 year-old Manuel Rafael Rivera-Pohl and the injured man is 26 year-old Jermaine Jeron Fagin. ABC-7 has confirmed that both Rivera-Pohl and Fagin are Fort Bliss soldiers, assigned to the 1st Armored Division. Rivera-Pohl held the rank of private first class and was an AH-64D attack helicopter crew chief.

An Army spokesperson said that both were taken for treatment at local hospitals following the shooting. Fagin was treated and released, while Rivera-Pohl was pronounced dead at The Hospitals of Providence East Campus Sunday evening.

In a release, the El Paso Police department said officers were patrolling near the area of 1610 N. Zaragoza just after midnight on Sunday when they heard gunfire. The officers were directly behind a white Dodge Charger when they saw Rivera-Pohl on the ground as well as Fagin after the shots were heard.

The Dodge then passed the officers, who then tried to pull it over. The driver of the Dodge did not stop, according to police. The incident was captured on video from the patrol vehicle, but police have not released it yet due to the ongoing investigation.

The commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss expressed his appreciation of first responders in handling the incident and caring for the soldiers.

“The thoughts and prayers of every Iron Soldier are with the family, friends, and teammates of Pfc. Rivera-Pohl during this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss in a statement. "We remain committed to ensuring that those impacted by this tragic event receive the support and resources they need.”

The El Paso Police Department asks anyone with information about this incident to call the nonemergency number at 915-832-4400 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS) to remain anonymous.

The post Man arrested in weekend bar shooting that left one Fort Bliss soldier dead, another injured appeared first on KVIA.

The post WATCH LIVE: Former President Trump speaks at rally in Charlotte, North Carolina appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The County of El Paso announced it will be hosting two free community cleanup events this coming Saturday in the Lower Valley and northwestern parts of the county. The county's public works office will be offering no-cost disposal of unwanted items, with some restrictions on passenger tires, bulk trash, and electronic waste, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until space runs out on July 27. The community cleanup is part of a series of events planned through August for the county.

Residents of El Paso county can visit the drop-off locations at 1201 Herring Rd., San Elizario, Texas 79849 or 1002 Tiffany Rd., Canutillo, Texas 79835.

The public works office has the following restrictions on drop-offs:

Tires - Each resident may bring up to 5 tires. There will be a maximum collection of 1,500 tires for the event. Accepted tires must measure 17 inches or smaller. Tires from retailers, semi-trucks, equipment-trucks, or those with rims will NOT be accepted.

Bulk Trash and Electronic Waste - Residents may bring one pick-up truck load of bulk trash, including furniture, chairs, carpet, etc. Accepted electronics include computers, tablets, scanners, video games, cameras, radios, cellphones, VCRs, and DVD players. CRT monitors and televisions will NOT be accepted.

The El Paso County Public Works Office can be contacted with any questions at (915) 273-3330.

The post El Paso County Public Works to host community cleanup events Saturday appeared first on KVIA.

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Border Patrol agents in Santa Teresa assisted in apprehending five migrants and a smuggler following a Texas Department of Public Safety state trooper pursuit that ended with the smuggler's truck crashing into a storage shed.

US Border Patrol El Paso Sector Chief Anthony "Scott" Good posted the pictures of the aftermath of the crash and apprehensions on the sector's x.com (formerly Twitter) account.

Santa Teresa BP Agents assisted, after TXDPS disrupted a 5 migrant smuggling scheme. The smuggler, a US citizen, crashed into a shed having no awareness or care for the safety of the community.#borderpatrol #texas #newmexico #migrantes pic.twitter.com/QDL7aUhmoP

— Anthony “Scott” Good (@USBPChiefEPT) July 24, 2024

The post 5 migrants, smuggler apprehended after Texas State Trooper pursuit, crash into shed appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Police Department has made a second arrest in a shooting that left one man dead early Saturday morning. El Paso County jail records show 19 year-old Noah Lomeli was booked on a $1 million bond for the charge of murder on Tuesday. As ABC-7 reported, 19 year-old Damian Alexander De La Riva was arrested and charged the same earlier in the week for the murder of 24 year-old Omar Infante. Lomeli was named as a co-defendant by police in a complaint affidavit previously.

Both teens are accused of the murder following an apartment party and parking lot fight at the Gonzalez Place Apartments at 4101 Rich Beem Blvd. Police say Lomeli began arguing with Infante at the party about opposing gang affiliations, which led to a fistfight in the parking lot between the two. Witnesses say that Lomeli identified himself as a member of "6th Street," known to El Paso Police as a street gang.

According to the police complaint affidavit, witnesses then saw De La Riva run up to Infante and point a handgun at him. Lomeli allegedly also produced a handgun and a shot was heard on a video retrieved by police of the parking lot, and Infante was seen falling to the ground. Police report that the video shows De La Riva and Lomeli then repeatedly beating and pistol-whipping Infante on the ground and taking something from his torso before leaving the apartments in a red Nissan Altima.

Police documents detail that investigators used the description of Lomeli's vehicle and gang associations to positively identify him in connection to the crime. Police say that witnesses confirmed Lomeli and De La Riva as being at the apartments and involved in the crime by looking at previous booking photos of the two.

The post Police make second arrest in gang-related shooting over the weekend appeared first on KVIA.

The post Watch: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses joint session of Congress appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Fire Department performed a rescue operation Wednesday morning for an injured hiker in the Franklin Mountains State Park.

In a post on x.com (formerly Twitter) at 9:34 AM, the department posted that its combined search and rescue crews were responding to the Tom Mays unit of the state park to reports of an injured hiker.

Combined Search and Rescue crews responding at Tom Mays Park to reports of an injured hiker.

Stand by for updates. pic.twitter.com/DAqd1SHIRZ

— El Paso Fire Department (@EPTXFire) July 24, 2024

At 10:18 AM, the department posted a final update that the hiker had been rescued from the park and was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

FINAL UPDATE—Search and Rescue at Tom Mays Park: The patient was successfully rescued and transported to medical care with severe injuries (Code 3).

Incident terminated. Crews returning to station. pic.twitter.com/LvXXP00mCv

— El Paso Fire Department (@EPTXFire) July 24, 2024

The post Hiker rescued in Franklin Mountains State Park with severe injuries appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D - TX-16) will not be attending the upcoming address to a Joint Session of Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him unworthy of the invitation to make it due to the conduct of the war in Gaza.

In a released statement and a post on X.com (formerly Twitter) Wednesday morning, Rep. Escobar said that a person can support the right of Israel to self-defense without unconditional support of its government.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unworthy of this invitation," Rep. Escobar said. "His reckless execution of the war in Gaza demonstrates his disinterest in mitigating the loss of civilian life, abiding by international law, or prioritizing the return of hostages - whose families I will meet with today.

Rep. Escobar concluded by saying “I will not be in attendance.”

The post Rep. Escobar says Netanyahu unworthy of congressional address invitation, will not attend appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding information in a possible hit-and-run crash that left a bicyclist critically injured early Tuesday morning.

According to police, a passerby found a 59 year-old man lying in the roadway with a bicycle nearby shortly before 5 AM Tuesday at the corner of Amador Ave. and Motel Blvd., in front of the TA Travel Center. The man was unconscious and suffering from head trauma, and was taken to a Las Cruces hospital before being transferred to University Medical Center in El Paso. He remains in critical condition.

Investigators are still looking for information on what led to the incident and injuries. Police are asking anyone with information that can help investigators determine what caused the man’s injuries is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.

The post Las Cruces Police seek information in possible hit-and-run injuring bicyclist appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Police have arrested a 19 year-old El Paso man for murder in connection to a shooting Saturday morning at the Gonzalez Apartments at 4101 Rich Beem Blvd. that left one man dead. El Paso County jail records show that Damian Alexander De La Riva was booked Monday on a $1 million bond. As ABC-7 reported and was on the scene for over the weekend, police responded to the apartments shortly before 4 AM Saturday.

According to a police complaint affidavit, the victim, identified as 24 year-old Omar Infante Jr., was at a small apartment party with two other people early Saturday morning. That's when police say De La Riva and Noah Lomeli, named as a co-defendant, came to the apartment after Lomeli was invited. Lomeli then began arguing with Infante over their opposing gang affiliations. Witnesses say that Lomeli identified himself as a member of "6th Street," known to El Paso Police as a street gang.

Witnesses then kicked Lomeli and De La Riva out of the apartment after continued arguing, when Lomeli and the Infante then agreed to a fight in the parking lot in the complex. According to the police affidavit, after a fist fight began, De La Riva ran down the stairwell and pulled out a black handgun, pointing it at Infante who backed away with his hands in the air. Lomeli also allegedly produced a handgun, and video of the parking lot recorded a shot being heard and Infante falling to the ground.

The video reportedly shows De La Riva and Lomeli beating a motionless Infante on the ground, including being "stomped and pistol-whipped numerous times." A second shot was then reported heard on the video. Police say that De La Riva and Lomeli took something from Infante's torso, possibly taking a photograph of Infante on the ground, and entered a red Nissan Altima and left the apartment complex.

Jail records also indicate that De La Riva has previously been previously arrested twice in El Paso - once in May for unlawful carrying of a weapon, and in April 2023 for possession of a controlled substance between 28 and 200 grams.

The post Police make arrest in gang-related shooting from Saturday appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso has put out a list of events being planed leading up to the fifth anniversary of the August 3rd shooting that killed 23 people and left dozens more injured, and sent shockwaves through the community. The list includes tributes the city is hosting along with the County of El Paso, United Way of El Paso and several other community partners.

The city will be hosting a remembrance ceremony at 9:30 AM August 3rd at Jim Crouch Park (formerly Ponder Park) at 7500 W.H. Burges.. It will include remarks by El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, the Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, and a special recognition by Fort Bliss. The public art piece “August 3rd Memorial" by El Paso artist Albert “Tino” Ortega will be unveiled to the public at the event.

According to the city, the memorial is a granite installation that consists of seven pillars laid out in a circle, bearing inscriptions of the victims’ names. The pillars sit atop a mandala, meant to evoke harmony and unity, and interconnectivity, and are surrounded by palo verde and other blooming vegetation, and includes 23 lights in honor of the victims. The community will be able to walk through the circular installation once opened.

Other events being planned for the week leading up to Aug. 3rd:

Unite with Light - July 28 – August 3
The community is encouraged to light porches or windows at 8:30 p.m. with orange lights every day leading up to Aug. 3, 2024, in honor of the Aug. 3 victims. Various landmarks and buildings will be illuminated orange in remembrance:
Public Art Sculpture on I-10 and Airway
Public Art near the Abraham Chavez Theater
El Paso International Airport landscaping, walking path, and terminal

Tribute of August 3rd - July 29 - August 2
Council Chambers Foyer, City Hall, 300 N. Campbell
A tribute to the victims of August 3rd will be on display in the foyer of the City Council Chambers. The tribute includes pictures of the 23 lives lost on August 3, 2019.

August 3rd Remembrance Community Blood Drives -
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, August 1 at El Paso City Hall, 300 N. Campbell
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, August 2 at El Paso Zoo, 4001 E. Paisano Dr
Vitalant Blood Donation and City of El Paso encouraged the public donate blood in honor of the victims.

Star on the Mountain - 8:30 p.m. Saturday, August 3
El Paso Chamber will flash the Star on the Mountain 23 times in honor of the victims.

August 3rd Day of Resilience Ceremony
County of El Paso Healing Garden - 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, August 3
Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta
El Paso County and United Way of El Paso will host remembrance activities around the Healing Garden. Starting at 6 p.m. El Paso County officials will unveil a mural dedicated to the victims of the August 3rd mass shooting. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. a reading of the names and light beam ceremony will close the night.

A complete list of August 3 tribute events is posted on the August 3 section at www.EPStrong.org.

The post City of El Paso releases Aug. 3rd commemoration plan of events appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has reported one person was injured as a result of a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian Tuesday morning at the intersection of Las Pompas Rd. and Zacatal Dr., south of San Elizario in the Lower Valley.

The crash happened around 8:15 AM, with one person taken to Del Sol Medical Center for further evaluation, according to a Sheriff's spokesperson.

The intersection is closed until further notice as special traffic investigators and the crime scene unit were investigating the scene.

ABC-7 has crews on the was to the crash site, and will have more updates online and on ABC-7 at noon.

The post Pedestrian injured in motor vehicle collision in Lower Valley appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday afternoon that she will be hosting a town hall on public safety in Las Cruces on Thursday at the Las Cruces Convention Center.

“Ensuring the safety and security of every New Mexican remains my top priority,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham in a statement. “The town hall in Las Cruces this Thursday is an opportunity to hear directly from New Mexicans grappling with the state's crime problem and collaborate as a community on effective strategies to enhance public safety statewide.”

The town hall is on Thursday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88001. The public is invited to attend.

Gov. Lujan Grisham recently called a special legislative session focused on public safety issues. The proclamation for the special session issued by the governor listed a series of important issues to be addressed, falling under the main categories of criminal competency, mental health treatment standards, crime reporting, pedestrian safety, gun violence, organized crime, drug overdoses, and recent fires.

The proclamation was signed July 17, the special session was convened July 18, and was adjourned later the same day. One bill was passed that included funding for various projects, including funding for the South Fork and Salt fire responses and recoveries, pilot projects, healthcare, and resources for the courts, along with funding for the session itself.

Gov. Lujan Grisham issued a statement July 18 expressing frustration with the special session's lack of action, stating "This was one of the most disappointing days of my career, and the public should be outraged."

The event will be streamed live online on the Governor’s Facebook page and open to the media.

Additional town hall events focused on public safety will be taking place around the state in the near future.

The post New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to host public safety town hall in Las Cruces on Thursday appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas.gov and Texas Department of Motor vehicles have all reported outages or disruptions in services linked to the CrowdStrike technical issues.

Texas DPS posted on x.com (formerly Twitter) that the department has closed all driver license offices due to technical issues until further notice. DPS handles the issuing of driver's licenses in Texas.

CLOSURE NOTICE: DPS Driver License Offices (DLOs) across the state are currently closed due to a technical issue. Customers with appointments should have been notified. Our IT teams are working diligently on a fix, however there is no current estimate on when DLOs will… pic.twitter.com/tiQuWE7SUy

— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) July 19, 2024

Texas.gov also reports that online services are experiencing issues due to a global third-party network outage. A banner at the top of the state website readsTEXAS.GOV SERVICE IMPAIRMENT ALERT: Many Texas.gov online services are experiencing issues due to a global third-party network outage. We'll remove this banner when services are restored. Thanks for your understanding and we apologize for any disruption this may cause." A thread of tweets from Texas.gov also detailed the ongoing issues:

https://t.co/vqWwsfyv8S SERVICES IMPAIRMENT ALERT: A technical issue with CrowdStrike is currently causing global computer outages impacting several industries, including Texas state agencies. 1/3

— Texas.gov - State of Texas Official Website (@texasgov) July 19, 2024

Please monitor https://t.co/5sBVktmI9r communication channels for updates. Thanks for your understanding and we apologize for any disruption this may cause. 3/3

— Texas.gov - State of Texas Official Website (@texasgov) July 19, 2024

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles also reported it's services were down Friday. A banner on txdmv.gov state "The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has been impacted by the global technology outage. Many department systems and services are unavailable at this time. We are working to restore all services as soon as possible." The department's x.com account also reported the difficulties.

Friday, July 19, 2024: The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has been impacted by the global technology outage.

Many department systems and services are unavailable at this time.

We are working to restore all services as soon as possible.

— Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (@TxDMV) July 19, 2024

Along with the DPS Driver License Offices, the Social Security Administration also shut it's offices down in the Borderland and across the county due to the outages.

The website Downdetector.com showed many major companies and online services such as Microsoft, Chase, Visa, ADP and more had users reporting being unable to access them early Friday. By the afternoon, most were shown as back online though some still had difficulties being reported.

The post Multiple Texas agencies report closures, systems offline due to global service outages, including DPS driver license offices appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The July 15th campaign finance reports show the race for the next mayor of the city of El Paso has some recognizable names and organizations already throwing their support behind candidates.

Current District 3 City Representative Cassandra Hernandez received $72,338.38 in political contributions from the start of the year through the end of June from 58 different donors, including $2,500 from former city council member Steve Ortega, $2,000 from the ScottHulse PAC, $1,500 from the El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association, $1,000 from the Bettina Olivares campaign, $500 from Scott Lynch, Executive Director of the El Paso Apartment Association, and more. City Rep. Hernandez has spent $20,493.92 in this reporting period with $105,888.08 remaining in the bank.

El Paso businessman Renard Johnson garnered $297,920.50 in contributions in the same timeframe from 332 different donors, including $3,750 from Richard Aguilar, CEO of developer EPT Land Communities; $2,500 total from Josh and Martha Hunt of Hunt Companies, Inc. and MountainStar Sports Group; $2,500 each from Luke and Ronnie Lowenfield of the Casa Auto Group ownership family; and more. Johnson's campaign lists $187,693.96 in expenditures leaving $104,684.54 in contributions maintained going forward.

Current District 1 City Representative Brian Kennedy, who announced his run for mayor last Thursday, did not have any donors listed on his campaign finance forms and $152,752.91 in cash on hand. City Rep. Kennedy's campaign expenses reflect $4,300 spent on consulting expenses for viability research with "IFC," based in Oklahoma City, OK.

The post What El Paso mayoral campaigns have spent, who is providing support so far appeared first on KVIA.

UPDATE - Current District 3 City Representative Cassandra Hernandez has filed an updated campaign finance report reflecting a six-figure war chest and dozens of individual campaign contributions. The correction/amendment affidavit form labeled as being electronically filed on Tuesday shows $72,338.38 in political contributions and $20,493.92 in political expenditures since the start of the year, with $105,888.08 remaining in cash on hand and $66,660 in outstanding loans. City Rep. Hernandez is reflected as having loaned her campaign $55,000 so far this year. There were 78 individual contributions listed from 58 different donors.

Under an explanation of correction, City Rep. Hernandez noted, "The TEC system did not allow me to file both my semi-annual report for my District 3 campaign and my Mayoral campaign separately. After consulting with the city clerks and the legal department of the Texas Ethics Commission, I was advised to submit a combined report. As a result, a corrective affidavit has be filed. The District 3 campaign remains open without a final report, while the Mayoral campaign will continue as FILED."

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Two candidates for the mayor of the City of El Paso reported more than six figures in fundraising or cash on hand as of Monday, while others reported a fraction as much or no campaign funds at all.

El Paso businessman Renard Johnson's campaign reported $297,920.50 in contributions since the start of 2024, with $187,693.96 in expenditures leaving $104,684.54 in contributions maintained going forward and no loans. There were 402 individual contributions to the campaign from 332 different donors, including $25,000 Johnson contributed to the campaign himself.

The campaign for current District 1 City Representative Brian Kennedy filed a campaign finance report with $152,752.91 in contributions maintained, with $181,000 in outstanding loans, including $55,000 loaned to his campaign by himself. City Rep. Kennedy, who entered the mayoral race Thursday, did not have any campaign contributions listed for this period.

The only other candidate reporting any fundraising activity was current City Representative Cassandra Hernandez, with $1,500.00 in contributions, $1,302.37 in expenditures, $.20 left in cash on hand, and an outstanding loan principal of $11,660.

The campaign for Steven Winters did file a report with zero balances in all categories of contributions and expenditures. The campaigns for Marco Contreras, Jacob Chavira, and Roberto Ryan Houle did not have campaign finance reports reflected as being filed with the El Paso City Clerk as of Tuesday.

Candidates were required to file reports detailing the individual donations and amounts by July 15th for the November 5th election this year.

The post Campaign finance reports for El Paso mayoral candidates shows early fundraising efforts, war chests at play appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Water crews are responding to a water main break at the intersection of Byron St. and Keltner Ave. in Northeast El Paso.

ABC-7 crews spotted the flow of water running down the street towards Dyer Monday afternoon.

An El Paso Water spokesperson confirmed that customers in the immediate area may be without water service or may experience low water pressure.

A water tanker has been dispatched to the area to provide access to water while repairs are underway.

ABC-7 is working to learn more information.

The post Water main break in Northeast El Paso sends water running down street appeared first on KVIA.