EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The beginning of every semester at the University of Texas at El Paso brings a problem to many neighbors as students fill the streets with their cars in an attempt to get free parking.

ABC-7 spoke to neighbors in the area who say this is a constant issue they face, despite some of their blocks being designated decal parking only.

Neighbors say students park in front of their homes, preventing them from parking in front of their own house. Many houses in the area were built without driveways. To prevent students from taking the parking spots, some neighbors have resorted to placing cones and trash cans on the streets.

Adam Zarowski, who lives on Porfirio Diaz, says his house is a popular destination for student parking.

While Zarowski's house is not a decal only parking zone, Zarowski says he's had people try to confront him after receiving a ticket for parking their car 5 feet into his driveway.

“It absolutely doesn't make a difference to me. But I have seen those cars get tickets because technically they're breaking the law. Right? And so I've actually had someone come and knock on my door and be like, 'Why did I get a ticket?' And I have to explain to them,” said Zarowski.

Despite having to explain to students that he was not the one to call police, Zarowski says he doesn't mind as much as other neighbors to see students park on their streets because he know how expensive UTEP parking permits can be for students.

According to UTEP's website, parking permits currently range between $150 and $400 per year, depending on the desired permit by each student.

ABC-7 also spoke with Gilbert Izquierdo, board member of the Sunrise Civic Organization, who says seeing students park near his neighborhood was a problem they faced often until his block was changed to decal parking.

“They are issuing tickets. So the students are kind of learning where they can park and where they cannot park,” said Izquierdo.

Izquierdo told ABC-7 that at one time the Organization was thinking of making the entire neighborhood on Kansas St. decal parking only, but there were some neighbors who were in favor of allowing students to park.

Despite saying he sympathizes with the students, Izquierdo said he thinks students need to get student parking permits.

With many residents unsure on how they could make their block decal only, ABC-7 reached out to the City of El Paso to learn more on the process.

The City told ABC-7 that for neighbors to apply for decal parking on their street, they must first apply for a Residential Parking District (RPD). Once the City has established an RPD, a petition with signatures of 75% of residents in the block must be completed requesting RPD sign installation.

If an applicant already lives in an established RPD zone, one can apply for a petition to install signage.

Once signs are installed, residents can purchase parking decals from the City's One Stop Shop.

The initial application fee costs $25, and there is a fee of $10 per vehicle per year. Each household can get up to 2 decals and will receive 2 visitor passes at no fee.

RPD applications can be requested by calling 311 or by calling the City's Streets and Maintenance department at (915)-212-0151.

The post Battle for Parking: UTEP students, area residents cramped space problems appeared first on KVIA.

Update (2:10 PM): U.S. District Judge in Western Texas, Kathleen Cardone, approved El Mayo's move from El Paso to the Eastern District of New York. The new court documents just obtained by ABC-7, state that the defendant is not opposed to the move.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- New court documents obtained by ABC-7 show that a court just denied the government's request to move Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia to New York for trial.

Zambada, a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was indicted on numerous crimes and was detained on those charges in the Borderland this summer.

Officials brought Zambada to a jail in El Paso, where he has been held since. He has appeared in court during his time in custody in El Paso and has pleaded not guilty.

Soon after his arrest, the government started trying to move Zambada to New York for trial. Today's denial will stop that process, at least for now.

Zambada's next status conference is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024.

The post Judge approves transfer of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada from El Paso to New York for trial appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks, along with other agencies in the region, released a video about the serious consequences of school threats.

The video titled "School Threats are No Joke" is in response to the constant number of gun threats and bomb threats D.A. Hicks says school districts in El Paso County are seeing on a weekly basis.

Whether it's a joke or not, Hicks said in a news conference that these types of threats will be taken seriously and will be prosecuted for terroristic threats.

“The fact that you are not even intending to do it, that it is a joke to you, is actually an element to the offense of terroristic threat,” said Hicks.

The video meant to raise awareness on school threats shows law enforcement going to the house of a kid who had made a threat through a post on social media. The video demonstrates how law enforcement will go to the students house to arrest them as a result of the threat.

D.A. Hicks mentioned that those making the threats are usually students.

Hicks said some students have called in threats to simply skip class. In some surprising cases, Hicks says they have seen honor students call in a bomb threat because they were freaking out to avoid taking a test.

Hicks said the video was released to all students in the participating school districts. The agencies participating in this video include Socorro ISD Police, El Paso ISD Police, Ysleta ISD Police, Canutillo ISD Police, Fabens ISD, San Eli ISD, and El Paso's Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The post El Paso District Attorney discusses school threats appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Pasoans gathered in the thousands this Labor Day Weekend to take part in St. Anthony's 61st Annual Bazaar.

This event features games, live music, and traditional Mexican food for the community to enjoy. The money raised from the bazaar is used to help fund future Franciscan friars.

ABC-7 spoke to volunteers at the bazaar, who said there were some worries Monday morning due to the rain showers seen across the region.

Lorena Ulloa, who has been volunteering since 1992, said they

“We thought that it was going to deter people from coming. It rained for 2 hours, like super steady, but people were still buying tickets to purchase food. So we were selling tickets to people, and they were still coming," said Ulloa.

Despite the rain earlier in the day, people in the community still showed up to take part in this Labor Day Weekend celebration.

Edd Natividad, an El Pasoan who attends the bazaar every year, told ABC-7 that he and his daughter "were going to be here whether it rained or shined."

Natividad said the bazaar is a special event for him since it is a place where one often runs into family and friends.

The post El Pasoans enjoy St. Anthony’s Bazaar despite rainy conditions appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The family of a man killed in a shooting in Far East El Paso say the sentencing for the man found guilty was "unfair."

Juan Angel Ramirez, who was 25 at the time of the murder, was found guilty and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the murder of 30-year-old Juan Carlos Castro.

El Paso District Attorney told ABC-7 that the minimum time for a murder sentence in Texas is 5 years. However, the jury found that "Sudden Passion" prompted the deadly shooting and reduced the punishment range between 2 and 20 years.

DA Hicks went over the case with ABC-7 and told us Ramirez had been assaulting his girlfriend, something Ramirez denied in trial. Hicks said people attending a party nearby saw this and started attacking Ramirez.

Hicks says Ramirez managed to get away to his girlfriend's house, but the group followed him. Ramirez is accused of shooting through the door. No one was hurt, but people ran away.

Hicks said when Ramirez left the house he saw Castro, the father of his girlfriend's child, who she had called earlier for help. Hicks says Ramirez shot Castro four times in the back and beat him with the gun.

Elizabeth Castro, Castro's older sister, spoke to ABC-7 and said their family believes the sentencing was "unfair" since Ramirez's sentence was less than the time her brother has been dead.

"He wasn't part of that crowd. You already had ran to safety. You were in your home. You could've stayed in there and call the cops,” said Elizabeth Castro as she questioned why Ramirez's actions.

Despite not being pleased with the sentencing, DA Hicks says they were satisfied with the verdict.

“The defense was pushing very, very hard for manslaughter, that it was a reckless action of murder, not an intentionally knowingly murder,” said Hicks.

Elizabeth Castro told ABC-7 her family won't stop in obtaining the justice she believes they deserve.

“I’m not going to stop. I want an appeal. If I have to take it further, I'm going to take it further. If I have to hire a lawyer, I will do it. But I'm not leaving it like that," said Castro.

The post Family of man killed in Far East El Paso shooting say sentencing was “unfair” appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The Socorro Independent School District Board of Trustees heard recommendations on changes to the district's health plan for the district's employees.

The board voted unanimously to adopt Plan D which includes three tier premium rate structure and is also a multiyear plan to achieve a zero dollar health fund balance.

This was one of the issues that came to light during budget preparations showing the district multi-million dollar deficit.

The trustees voted on June 6 to require SISD employees to pay more towards health care costs with the district paying $20 less and the employees picking up the difference.

Mario Carmona, director of human resources for SISD, told ABC-7 that the health fund had been running on a deficit because premium rates had not been adjusted for a number of years in order to be able to take care of consumption in terms of how much money was coming out of the health fund.

The post SISD Board of Trustees unanimously votes for plan premium rates appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Canutillo Independent School District has now released to ABC-7 the surveillance footage of a "Senior Assassin" school prank involving water guns, which made some students afraid.

The "Senior Assassin" game was a trend that was popular among teens and that had been banned by some schools. Those participating would be assigned a target with the objective of tagging out that assigned target.

ABC-7 previously reported the school prank happened at Canutillo High School, where 10 students were suspended as a result.

The surveillance footage shows students playing volleyball at Canutillo High School's gym when one student entered, pointing a water gun at the group.

Students are seen running to a different exit in the gym at the sight of the student pointing the water gun. One student can even be seen crawling on their knees to hide away under a table at the gym.

As students raced towards the exit, another student appeared holding a water gun in that same direction, causing students to run across the gym.

After many of the students are driven into a corner of the gym, the two students holding water guns appear to leave, and the situation deescalates.

Additional video shows more students in Canutillo High School's hallway playing the "Senior Assassin" game with other students running away from those with water guns.

This prank had taken place on March 28, 2023, one day after a school shooting in Nashville.

On Friday, August 16, the Texas Attorney General's Office sent a letter to Canutillo ISD's director of communications, Gustavo Reveles. The letter demanded Reveles to comply with the state's Public Information Act after he had failed to respond to various requests for information, including one of our own.

In the letter sent out by the Texas Attorney General's Office, Reveles was also asked to complete an open records training within 60 days and to send a certificate of completion to the office within 60 days.

ABC-7 had filed an open records request to obtain this surveillance footage since April of last year and had not received the footage until Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

The post Canutillo ISD releases footage to ABC-7 of “Senior Assassin” prank more than one year after an open records request appeared first on KVIA.

Update: City Council voted 6-2 to make Mack the next city manager.

Dionne Mack, who already worked for the City as Deputy City Manager for Quality of Life, was one of the four finalists up for the position of city manager. The other three finalists also worked for the City and were Robert Cortinas, Mario D'Agostino, and Nicole Ferrini.

City Council went into executive session for more than 9 hours as they interviewed each candidate. Each candidate had a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes to answer the questions made by the Council.

The Council voted to appoint Mack as the new city manager following a 6-2 vote, with Representatives Joe Molinar and Art Fierro being the ones who voted "No".

Earlier in the day, Representative Isabel Salcido made a motion to postpone the appointment of a new city manager until February of 2025, when a new City Council would be in place.

Representative Josh Acevedo and Salcido said they had listened to feedback from their constituents who had questioned the process and believed the next Council should be the one to appoint the city manager.

Representatives Cassandra Hernandez and Henry River voted "Yes" along with Salcido and Acevedo, causing a 4-4 tie. The motion failed after Mayor Oscar Leeser cast a tiebreaking vote.

Following her appointment as new city manager, Dionne Mack spoke to the media and expressed the benefit she saw in appointing someone like her who already knew the community of El Paso.

“The benefit that we have is I understand the issues, I understand the complexities of those things, and we can hit the ground running and making sure we continue to move things forward that are going to be important to our community," said Mack.

The advertised date for the new city manager to start is September 3. City Council will meet in executive session on Tuesday, August 19, to discuss proposed terms that would be offered to Mack. The Council would then go into open session to approve these terms.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso City Council is going to vote to put forward Dionne Mack as the next city manager. The motion to put forward a vote on Mack was seconded and the vote is expected later tonight. Stay tuned.

The post Dionne Mack selected to be El Paso’s next city manager appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- I-10 East at Piedras is closed following a three-vehicle crash that sent one person to the hospital with serious injuries.

El Paso Police says Special Traffic Investigators are investigating the crash.

Police say the call came in at 2:26 a.m.

Police also said a second crash also happened at the scene, involving an unoccupied police car that was helping with traffic control. No injuries were reported from that crash.

Traffic is currently exiting on the Dallas exit.

This is a developing story and we will update you as we learn more information.

The post I-10 East closed following three-vehicle crash; one person in the hospital with serious injuries appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens is inviting the community to celebrate International Orangutan Day on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18.

Zookeepers and education staff will hold events including chat and stage activities, games, an awareness table, and more.

Birthday celebrations will also take place for Ibu and Butch, two of the zoo's orangutans.

Visitors who wear red or orange shirts will receive a 20% discount off their admission to raise awareness of the endangered red apes.

International Orangutan Day is celebrated annually on August 19 and seeks to raise awareness about the conservation of orangutans and the need to protect their natural habitats.

The post El Paso Zoo invites community to celebrate International Orangutan Day appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- MUTTS Canine Cantina will hold its first ever 'Cars & Canines' event on Saturday, August 17.

This is an event that will feature a car show, live music, vendors, a raffle, and drink specials.

MUTTS Canine Cantina is partnering with El Paso Animal Services to have dog adoptions happen on-site during the event.

The event will happen from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at MUTTS Canine Cantina El Paso on 460 Vin Rambla Dr.

All dogs are welcome, but they must be neutered and vaccinated.

The post MUTTS Canine Cantina to host its first ‘Cars & Canines’ event appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector says they have seen a recent increase in attacks against Border Patrol agents.

The El Paso Sector has seen 66 assaults against agents this Fiscal Year 2024 as of August 9. Fiscal Year 2023 saw a total of 104 assaults on El Paso agents. Each fiscal year starts in October.

Border Patrol says the frequency in attacks has increased with the influx of migrants trying to cross illegally into the border.

ABC-7 spoke with El Paso Border Patrol, who told us that these assaults often happen when migrants or smugglers get desperate and confrontational with agents.

Agent Orlando Marrero-Rubio, spokesperson for Border Patrol El Paso Sector, told ABC-7 that many times migrants and smugglers will try to use anything from rocks to punches against agents.

Marrero-Rubio says their agents are trained on the use of force to prepare for situations like these.

“The mission on the use of force situation or event is to de-escalate the situation as safely as possible for us and for the migrant,” said Marrero-Rubio.

Border Patrol told us that anyone who assaults or resists arrest by a federal officer will be arrested and charged with federal law 18 U.S.C. 111. Consequences that could lead to one to up to twenty years in prison.

Border Patrol also says that the majority of the assaults are happening in the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, area.

The post El Paso sees increase in attacks against Border Patrol agents appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- 76-year-old Chaparral resident Frederick Urban was charged with illegally stockpiling firearms and explosives in Las Cruces Monday.

Urban appeared before a federal judge and will remain in jail until a detention hearing.

Court documents allege that Urban, a previously convicted felon, according to state officials, owned numerous firearms. When ATF agents, New Mexico State Police, and El Paso Police officers executed the federal search warrant on Saturday of Urban's house, they found guns, about 100,000 rounds of ammunition, magazines, gunpowder, the explosive triacetone triperoxide, homemade detonators, blasting caps, and other homemade bomb components, according to New Mexico officials.

Urban could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

ABC-7 spoke to neighbors in the area, with many telling us they never expected this to happen in their neighborhood.

One neighbor who did not wish to be identified told ABC-7 that surrounding neighbors should have been evacuated considering everything authorities found.

"That much rounds, the explosives that were found. Why take the chance with the people living around here? Why not just evacuate us? And they didn't do it? I mean, nobody talked to us. Nobody said anything to us," said the neighbor.

The post Chaparral man charged with stockpiling guns, homemade bomb components appeared first on KVIA.

El PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Sunday, August 11, will be the last day for you to take advantage of Texas' tax-free weekend.

According to the Texas Comptroller, items that qualify under tax-free weekend include most clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks.

Items that don't qualify include jewelry, handbags, and computers.

Texas' tax-free weekend ends at midnight.

The post Last day of tax-free weekend in Texas appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso residents will now be able to double their SNAP benefits on fruits and vegetables at Spoon Flower Grocery.

The local nonprofit grocery store is now a participant in the Double Up Food Bucks Texas Program. This initiative matches SNAP benefits dollar for dollar on fresh and frozen produce sold at participating grocery stores in the program.

Patsy Terrazas-Stallworth, public relations director for Desert Spoon Food Hub, says bringing this program to Spoon Flower Grocery will help El Pasoans with SNAP benefits have more access to organic produce.

Spoon Flower Grocery is located in Central El Paso at 1714 Yandell Dr. The store opens Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The post El Pasoans with SNAP benefits can now “Double Up” at Food Flower Grocery store appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - Crime Stoppers of El Paso is asking for the public's help in identifying a man suspected of recording a teen while they were in a dressing room of a local store.

El Paso Police say it happened on August 8 at a store at 1901 George Dieter in east El Paso about 6 p.m.

The an reported went to the dressing rooms and recorded the teen.

The teen noticed the man using a phone under the dressing room's door and covered up.

He is described as a Hispanic man, 5' 10" tall, with medium build, and light complexion. Police say he has short black hair, a mustache or goatee, and tattoo on his right arm. He was last seen wearing blue or gray shorts, dark socks with light-colored Croc-style shoes, and a blue tee shirt with a logo.

Witnesses told police he left the store parking lot in a white SUV with two sunroofs.

Crime Stoppers of El Paso asks anyone with information to call 915-566-8477 or online at www.cselpaso.org.

Those providing tips can remain anonymous and if the tip leads to an arrest, they can qualify for a cash reward.

The post El Paso Police ask the public to help identify man who recorded a minor in a dressing room appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The interim COO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) will speak at La Clinica de Familia Health Fair on Saturday, August 10.

Rachel Gonzales-Hanson, interim COO of NACHC, will talk about how community health centers allow communities to thrive and grow.

La Clinica de Familia Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at 575 S. Alameda Blvd. in Las Cruces. Gonzales-Hanson is set to speak at 10:30 a.m.

The post Interim COO of National Association of Community Health Centers to speak during La Clinica de Familia Health Fair appeared first on KVIA.

The post New AI technology to detect guns at Las Cruces Public Schools appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Rules regulating the City of El Paso's email system led to a mayoral candidate's finance reports going unseen for three months.

The City says emails from Renard Johnson's campaign had been "unintentionally quarantined" due to filtering of political advertisement.

This had prevented contributions made to Johnson's campaign from being posted on City Council's agenda.

On April 23, 2024, the City passed an ordinance requiring candidates for elected office to give notice of campaign contributions of $500 or more within 30 days of being received. The notices would then be posted on a City Council agenda and are already a requirement for office holders.

However, due to filtering rules in the City's email system, contributions made to Renard Johnson's campaign had not been posted on the agenda after his campaign's emails were flagged.

The City told ABC-7 that political advertising is not allowed to be sent to their email system. This caused emails from Johnson's campaign to be flagged by the system's rules, which caused previous financial reports to go unseen until Monday, August 5.

According to the City, emails from Johnson's campaign had been "unintentionally quarantined" because they had language or URLs linked to political advertising.

This is what Renard Johnson's campaign told ABC-7 regarding the situation:

“We have submitted 100% of campaign reports on time, as required by the City of El Paso ethics rules. The City Clerk just notified our campaign that our reports were caught in their email security filter.”

Following the situation, the City of El Paso told ABC-7 that this rule would now be lifted from their email systems to allow these types of emails to go through.

Financial reports from Johnson's campaign will now be posted on the August 13th City Council Agenda.

The City also told ABC-7 that the notations of campaign contributions from officeholders and other non-office holders were not flagged or quarantined by the City's email system.

The post Rules in City of El Paso’s email system make mayoral candidate’s finance reports go unseen for 3 months appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Opportunity Center for the Homeless and the El Paso Chihuahuas teamed up on Saturday, August 3, for the 11th Annual HomeRun for the Homeless 5k Run.

This family event featured a 5k competitive run, a fun walk, and a kids' dash.

Those participating began on Durango Street and finished at first base inside Southwest University Park.

The money raised from this event seeks to raise awareness support for the homeless community in El Paso, the Veterans' Transitional Living Center, and Veterans Emergency Shelter.

The post Opportunity Center for the Homeless and El Paso Chihuahuas team up for 11th Annual HomeRun for the Homeless 5k Run appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Sierra Vista STEAM Academy was awarded a national certificate for STEM excellence on Friday, August 2.

This recognition in STEM is a campus certification from the National Institute for STEM Education. This campus certification is a recognition only five schools in the nation have received including Sierra Vista STEAM Academy.

A ceremony was held to recognize this Socorro Independent School District for the accomplishment. A representative from the National Institute for STEM Education was present during the ceremony to present certificates and a banner to the school.

The post Sierra Vista STEAM Academy receives national STEM recognition appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- On Wednesday, July 30, the University of Texas at El Paso began the sale of parking permits for the upcoming fall and spring semesters, with more than 7,000 people waiting online to make their purchase.

According to UTEP's website, parking permits currently range between $150 and $400 per year, depending on the desired permit by each student.

ABC-7 spoke to UTEP students and asked them what they thought of the current parking permit prices and the options provided by the university.

Ryan Clark, a current UTEP student, told ABC-7 that the high demand for parking permits will probably make him look at different options from the one he has selected for the past year.

“As a two-time garage user, I was pretty upset yesterday when I logged on at 930, and there were 7000 people waiting in front of me," said Clark.

Clark mentioned he did not mind paying high prices for parking spaces in UTEP's garages because his car would remain under cooler temperatures. However, Clark also said that the prices for parking anywhere outside of a garage were expensive, considering the high temperatures and distances.

Megan Maiella, another UTEP student, said she believes the prices are expensive for students.

“It is pretty pricey, especially being a student, because we already are paying a bunch of fees for our tuition,” said Maiella.

Maiella told ABC-7 she selected one of the parking permits further away due to pricing and other health benefits like exercising by walking longer distances to classes.

ABC-7 also spoke to neighbors near UTEP's residential areas who say they are affected by students who choose not to buy parking permits and walk long distances by parking in front of their homes.

James Ball, a resident near UTEP without a driveway, told ABC-7 the parking situation in his neighborhood is a "parking war" during the fall and spring semesters since students fill up the streets.

“We'll put a garbage can out there to block it if we leave. And I've come here and caught people trying to pull that out, and I've gone down there and put it right back," said Ball on the efforts he makes to keep his parking space.

ABC-7 reached out to the UTEP for an interview to learn more about the high parking demand, including costs in comparison to previous years, and if the university has enough parking capacity to keep up with the high demand based on students enrolled. We are currently awaiting an update after UTEP noted our request.

UPDATE: The University of Texas at El Paso did not have anyone available for an on-camera interview but were able to answer some questions.

According to UTEP officials, the university has a total of 8,620 parking spaces, and prices have not changed in comparison to last year.

ABC-7 asked UTEP if the amount of parking spots available was enough to meet the demand for parking permits sold to students. The university responded by saying, in part, quote:

"The University sells parking permits based on International Parking Institute guidelines to ensure maximum use of parking spaces, taking into account vehicle turnover between classes."

The post UTEP Parking Demand: Students share opinions on UTEP’s parking permit prices ahead of Fall semester appeared first on KVIA.

UPDATE: The open house community meeting revealed the estimated cost of the proposed project would be nearly $207 million.

ABC-7 spoke to El Pasoans in attendance in the meeting who told us their opinion on the Deck Plaza.

Timothy Dreyer, an El Pasoan in attendance, told ABC-7 he believes the project could be good for the community.

“I think that'll help stimulate some growth and some economic growth downtown, which is good for everybody," said Dreyer.

Nick Malaze, a Sunset Heights resident (area near the proposed project), said he's worried houses will be knocked out.

Among other concerns for him, including traffic, Malaze says he is skeptical of the project because of the lack of funding at the moment.

“It's a $200 million project that has zero funding secured at the moment,” said Malaze.

ABC-7 asked Joaquin Rodriguez, Director of Grant Funded Programs for the City of El Paso, where the funding could potentially come from.

“We've identified some grant programs that could help us get there, but ultimately, there probably will be a local contribution required,” said Rodriguez.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation invite the public to an open house community meeting to learn about the findings of the Phase I Feasibility Study for the Deck Plaza which will be over the I-10 in the Downtown Corridor.

The open house meeting will be on Tuesday, July 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Civic Engagement on the 17th floor of the Blue Flame Building, at 304 Texas avenue, El Paso, Texas 79901. The city states their goal of the study is to explore the feasibility of creating a space that reflects El Paso’s rich heritage and culture.

"Projects like the Deck Plaza provide us with opportunities to dream big and this and other public meetings help us gather extraordinarily valuable feedback from the community,” said Joaquín Rodríguez, Grant Funded Programs Director. “This study allows us to understand how we can collectively improve our urban environment to better serve our residents." If you want to learn more about the design study, visit downtowndeckplaza.org.

The post City of El Paso hosting public meeting to discuss possible deck plaza over I-10 appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- ABC-7 spoke to Venezuelan migrants in the Borderland after the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela declared Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the Venezuelan presidential election.

Venezuelan migrants currently living in El Paso told ABC-7 they believe more migrants will attempt to cross into the United States and other neighboring countries following the victory of Maduro.

Barbara Villegas, a Venezuelan migrant currently living in a shelter, told ABC-7 that there has been disappointment in the Venezuelan community following the results of the election. Villegas said she had left three of her kids back in Venezuela in an attempt to find a job to help her family back home.

Following the result of the election, which has caused concerns among different global leaders, Villegas told ABC-7 that her family in Venezuela now has the intention to leave for Colombia.

Monica Cañate, another Venezuelan migrant in El Paso, says she left the country because her family was not safe. Cañate also said she believes more people will attempt to leave the country following the results.

The post Venezuelan migrants in the Borderland predict increase in migration following Venezuelan election appeared first on KVIA.

The post Watch: El Paso experts speaks about Venezuelan election impact on migration to the US appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises (HOME) along with El Paso Community College (EPCC) will host the "EPCC Round Up" event on Saturday, July 27.

This event seeks to provide resources and information to potential HOME students about the higher education opportunities offered at EPCC.

The "EPCC Round Up" event will take place at Johnson Community at 9000 Roanoke St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

EPCC representatives will be present during the event to answer questions and assist with the admissions process.

The post Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises to host “EPCC Round Up” appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso's Border AIDS Partnership (BAP) will host their 5th annual "AIDS Walk Fundraiser" on Saturday, July 27. The annual fundraiser seeks to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and support those who currently live with AIDS.

This event will take place in Memorial Park on 1701 N Copia St., with registration for the 5K walk starting at 7 a.m. and the walk itself at 8 a.m. You can also register before here.

Registration costs $25 and includes a shirt from the event.

This walk will also feature a "Fun Fair" with a wellness event starting at 8:30 a.m.

You can also bring your dog and have your furry friend compete in the event's dog costume contest.

The post El Paso’s Border AIDS Partnership to host 5th annual AIDS Walk Fundraiser appeared first on KVIA.

El Paso, Texas (KVIA) -- A Borderland chef is gaining more national recognition following his second recent appearance on the Food Network.

Chef Enrique Lozano was a participant on Tuesday's episode of the cooking show "Chopped." Lozano was named champion in the July 23rd broadcast of the show after putting his skills to the test and coming out on top against three other competitors.

ABC-7 spoke to Lozano following his win. Coming up on ABC-7 at 5, we'll have Lozano's reaction to becoming "Chopped" champion.

The post Borderland chef gains national recognition as champion of Food Network’s “Chopped” appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- If you have seen an increase in your electric bill, there may be a reason. El Paso Electric attributes increases in bills are associated with more energy being used due to higher temperatures.

Robert Heimer, director of customer care for El Paso Electric, says higher temperatures during this time of the year cause customers to use more energy as they try to cool their homes and businesses.

“If you set your temperature too low, then you're causing that high bill by having your air conditioner work harder," said Heimer.

Maria Castro, an El Paso Electric customer, told ABC-7 that her bill saw an increase of more than $90 in comparison to the previous bill.

Despite saying she understood why temperatures could affect the amount of energy she used, Castro also described the prices as "ridiculous" due to the necessity she has.

“My air conditioner has to be on day and night. There's always someone home, so there's no other way,” said Castro.

Heimer also mentioned it's important to raise the thermostat a little and allow your home to warm up during hours of high consumption around 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

El Paso Electric says you can contact customer service via phone, chat, or email if you have a question on your bill.

You can also go to the utility's website for information that could help you since wait times are longer since more customers are calling about their bills.

The post Increase in your electric bill? El Paso Electric attributes higher bills to an increase in temperatures appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar has expressed her full support for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next Democratic presidential nominee.

In a news conference held Monday, July 22, Escobar said President Biden was selfless in stepping down from the race and that she would serve in whatever capacity VP Harris asked of her. Escobar was one of the co-chairs of the Biden presidential campaign before President Biden stepped down on Sunday, July 21.

Escobar said she missed two calls from Harris but is hoping to get in contact with her this week.

ABC-7 asked Escobar her opinion on those who have asked President Biden to step down from office after stepping down from the race. Escobar defended Biden by saying, “I think the calls for him to resign are absolutely absurd and completely offensive.”

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance had questioned Biden's ability to remain in office following his decision to step down from the presidential race. Vance posted on social media, saying:

“If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?

Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief.

There is no middle ground."

Escobar said during the news conference that there was no doubt about Biden's ability to govern. However, Escobar did admit she had seen age and time take a toll on Biden.

“I can tell you, yes, he is definitely older and slower than he was when he was sworn in. I have seen the office take a toll on him," said Escobar.

The post Congresswoman Veronica Escobar expresses support for VP Harris’ presidential campaign appeared first on KVIA.

Update (July 22, 2024): El Paso Police officials say one of the two people hospitalized, who police identify as a 24-year-old Hispanic man from Ft. Bliss, died at the hospital.

The other injured person, who police identify as a 26-year-old black man from Ft. Bliss, remains hospitalized.

The investigation is still ongoing, police say. Detectives with the Crimes Against Persons and Criminalistics Units are investigating.

"Detectives are asking anyone with any information on this deadly shooting to call El Paso Police at (915)832-4400 or to remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward by calling Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-8477(TIPS)," police officials stated.

EL Paso, Texas (KVIA) -- Two people have been taken to a hospital after being wounded following a bar shooting in East El Paso on Sunday, July 21.

El Paso Police Department say they responded to the Legendz Bar at 11923 Vista Del Sol following a call of a shooting.

El Paso Police is investigating the shooting. We will keep you updated as we learn more information.

The post Cash reward available for tips in deadly East El Paso bar shooting appeared first on KVIA.

El Paso, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Animal Services will host its "Pool Pawty Pet Event" on Saturday, July 20.

Entertainment for pets and owners will be featured in the form of a Doggy Splash Zone, a Doggy Bikini Contest, pet massages, food, games, and music.

Free pet microchipping services and low-cost vaccinations will also be provided for dogs and cats.

The event will happen from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the El Paso Animal Services Center, located at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave.

The post El Paso Animal Services to host “Pool Pawty Pet Event” appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- City Council voted and approved an agreement between the El Paso Zoo and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PdNCF) that would allow the PdNCF to provide funding support for the zoo.

Zoo fundraising had previously been a function designated to the El Paso Zoological Society. However, this came to an end after the City decided not to renew their licensing agreement with the society after it expired on March 17, 2024.

Joe Montisano, director of the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens, told ABC-7 that this agreement will allow the zoo to expand its donor base and make it easier to receive donations from the community.

Montisano also stated that the PdNCF will not have any other duties outside of fundraising. Something that is different in comparison to the agreement with the Zoo Society as they had also managed the zoo's membership program.

Montisano explained that he believes this will increase donations since some people do not want to donate money to the City.

“There are some people that just won't write a check to the city because they think the city waste money. I don't know why. I can't explain that. But I have run into that in the past six months. They just will not write a check to the city and so they can write a check now to the foundation. And we still get the money for their intended purposes," said Montisano.

Representative Brian Kennedy and Josh Acevedo voted against the agreement.

Representative Cassandra Hernandez stated she had not agreed with the Council's decision to end the partnership with the Zoo Society but thought it was important to prepare for the next steps moving forward.

City Rep. Josh Acevedo told ABC-7 in a statement why he voted against the agreement. Acevedo said he had previously voted against dissolving the agreement between the City and the Zoo Society and still felt they should have worked together.

He said in part quote:

"I have also lost all confidence in the zoo director to lead the organization after he disgraced the city when he said, 'DO not poke the bear...because you may get bit. I killed a 63-year-old nonprofit, put 9 people out of work and made 1.6 million dollars for the zoo in one move.' We need steady and ethical leadership at the zoo."

ABC-7 also reached out to the Paso del Norte Community Foundation for an interview regarding their new partnership with the zoo and received a statement from Tracy Yellen, CEO of PdNCF, which said:

“The Zoo is an El Paso treasure. The Paso del Norte Community Foundation is honored to facilitate charitable contributions to support the El Paso Zoo, from the care of animals to the expansion of programs and services. We look forward to partnering with the City on this dedicated fund for the El Paso Zoo.”

ABC-7 also reached out to the Zoo Society for their thoughts on the new agreement, but they were not available for comment.

The post City Council approves fundraising agreement between El Paso Zoo and Paso del Norte Community Foundation appeared first on KVIA.

Update: City Council approved the sale of the land Tuesday.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso will decide Tuesday, July 16, if it will sell a 43-acre parcel to VTRE Development, LLC, for more than $18.7 million. A decision that has caused River Oaks Properties, one of the largest developers of shopping centers in El Paso and owners of West Towne Marketplace, to ask City Council to reconsider their decision and postpone the sale of land.

This land owned by the City is located in Northwest El Paso at the southwestern intersection of I-10 and Paso Del Norte, across from the West Towne Marketplace. In addition to the purchase price of $18.7 million, VTRE would also pay $600,000 for traffic signal construction if the deal is agreed upon.

River Oaks Properties wrote a letter to Mayor Oscar Leeser and City Council members asking them to postpone the sale of land since they believe the sale to VTRE will bring a warehouse like Amazon to an area with high traffic congestion. Something they say would only increase if 18-wheeler tractor-trailer trucks came in and out of a warehouse.

While no warehouse or Amazon has been mentioned in the City's proposed contract of sale, our partners at El Paso Inc. reported that VTRE has "managed multiple land development and construction projects for Amazon in recent years."

Adam Frank, with River Oaks Properties, told ABC-7 that they believe there can be better uses for citizens of El Paso on that land. Frank says they had submitted a proposal to the City along with a contract and a site plan. River Oaks Properties had proposed a large retail development with multi-family housing. Frank added that the bid they made was higher than the current price land will be sold for, but the City told them that the land was not for sale.

ABC-7 reached out to the City to confirm if River Oaks Properties had made a proposal and if the bid was indeed higher than the current price it is expected to be sold to VTRE. We are awaiting confirmation on this.

Frank noted he did not oppose warehouses coming into the city, but he doesn't believe the location of this City owned land is ideal, as it is also not attractive for other businesses in the area due to the traffic this would create.

“They should request proposals from developers like ourselves to submit what would be best for the city at this location," said Frank.

The post City of El Paso approves sale of land in West El Paso for development appeared first on KVIA.

UPDATE: El Paso Fire says the person was an adult woman who went down the mountain after her phone fell down. The woman could not get back up, which forced EPFD Special Rescue Crews to assist.

El Paso Fire confirmed the woman was rescued and reported no injuries.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person has fallen off the side of the mountain on Transmountain Rd. El Paso Fire Department Special Rescue Crews are currently on the scene.

El Paso Fire has reported no injuries at this time.

The post One woman rescued on Transmountain after her phone fell off the mountain and could not get back up when she retrieved it appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - You Rock! Music Camp is an inclusive program dedicated for girls, ages 9-17.

This is the second year the El Paso Community Foundation and Because of You Fund provide the opportunities for girls in the community to learn about music.

"We want to give young ladies a gateway into this community. It's hard to be a young lady and get into a rock band, into a punk rock band, into whatever. it's such a male dominated industry and I've been doing it a long time. There's very few women in our industry," said Jim Ward, Co-Founder and musician.

The campers learn the basics of playing instruments, forming their own band, writing original songs, and performing on stage.

Helping the campers express themselves and creating a positive change is another of the camp organizers' goals.

The post You Rock! Girls’ music camp empowers young women appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The El Paso County Sheriff announced the arrest of Jair Navarro, 21 on Friday.

Navarro is charged with murder after shooting his father, Arturo Navarro in the Red Sands area on July 4, according to a release from the Sheriff.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit investigated a fight in progress that led to shots being fired. Through the investigation it was learned Jair Navarro shot his father in the head.

Arturo Navarro was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries on July 7.

Jair Navarro was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $750,000 bond.

The post Son arrested for shooting his father, Sheriff’s Office says appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego told ABC-7 that funding for Sun Bowl improvements can still be decided on and that he has the intention to bring it up for discussion to Commissioners Court on Monday, July 15.

This comes after the County Bond Advisory Committee (CBAC) did not include the Sun Bowl as part of their presentation of final recommendations for the quality-of-life bond that would be on the November ballot.

Samaniego says he believes the suggested $99 million project would generate revenue and thus improve quality of life; however, he also says he understands why the CBAC did not include the project as part of their final recommendations.

“When it's competing against quality of life things that hit precincts directly, it's very difficult to compete against. But I'm asking that we look at it from a business perspective. There's nothing like job creations, economic development. It will eventually impact everything else,” said Samaniego.

Despite believing this project can have a positive impact on the county, Judge Samaniego told ABC-7 that in order for the Commissioners Court to vote on whether or not to include this project on the November ballot, the public had to let their voice be heard during public comment.

“If you have an audience and people are there at public comment, that helps me tremendously. Not having that support makes it difficult on me because they'll say, "We don't have the support,"" said Samaniego.

The post Funding for Sun Bowl improvements can still be decided on, says County Judge Samaniego appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The board of the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HOME) decided in a public meeting Tuesday, July 9, that it would consider approving the construction of 104 units of affordable housing in the Mesa Hills Drive area.

Before the decision was made, HOME officials listened to the community and answered questions from the public regarding the project.

Many neighbors in the area voiced their discontent by claiming the project could potentially bring traffic and crime, and decrease their property values.

During the meeting, an engineer for HOME said the project would bring a traffic equivalent of 40 cars per hour during peak hours. It was also stated by the engineer that Sunland Park Drive and Mesa Hills Drive were already bad intersections.

Those in the meeting did not respond well to this, with one woman saying, "When you say to me that it's already a bad intersection in Sunland and Mesa Hills Drive, you’re basically saying, "It's okay. It's already bad. We're going to make it worse."

Gerald Cichon, CEO of HOME, told ABC-7 that the problems other cities have seen with affordable housing are something that has not happened in El Paso due to the business model used here.

"I’m comfortable building in this community, in that particular community that they're concerned about, because I know that people that are going to live there are going to be great members of this society,” said Cichon.

With the board deciding to further consider approving the project, Cichon said he believes they can still finish the project in the original date they had in mind.

“We can't move forward without certain approvals. And so it has negatively impacted us moving forward. But we believe that there is still time for us to move forward and do the construction and finalize it, and finish it on time,” said Cichon.

The post Affordable housing project in West El Paso to be considered following public meeting with residents near the area appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Border Patrol El Paso sector has seen a significant increase in migrant rescues this fiscal year (2024), making rescue beacons a technological tool used by the agency that can potentially save the life of a person who finds themselves in life-threatening situations.

There are 24 solar-powered rescue beacons placed in remote areas across the El Paso sector which, extends from Fort Hancock, Texas, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. The push of the red button in one of these beacons allows Border Patrol agents to get to migrants faster and give them help.

Border Patrol El Paso sector told ABC-7 that many migrants that cross illegally can sometimes walk the desert and remote areas for up to days or weeks where they face challenges from extreme weather.

Orlando Marrero Rubio, spokesperson for Border Patrol El Paso sector, says the agency has seen a total of 739 rescues this fiscal year (2024) in comparison to the 344 rescues this time last year during fiscal year 2023. Each fiscal year starts and ends in October.

“Most of the rescues and most of the deaths that we have encountered this fiscal year in El Paso sector have been within a mile, a mile and a half from the border barrier. So we have deployed those rescue beacons closer so that way they can press that button," said Marrero Rubio.

Marrero Rubio says it's important for migrants to stay near the beacon when requesting assistance since there have been situations where agents arrive at the location and don't find anybody.

“We start following footprints and unfortunately we have a situation where we find a person and instead of a rescue, it becomes an extraction of a dead body," said Marrero Rubio.

Border Patrol also has 520 placards across the sector where migrants can provide the serial number of the placard to an emergency operator and request help. Border Patrol has the geographical coordinates of each placard.

The post Saving a life with the push of a button: Border Patrol rescue beacons across the Borderland appeared first on KVIA.

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- The city of Socorro will hold its annual Independence Day Extravaganza on Saturday, June 29.

This event will include food, jumping balloons, water slides, vendors, and giveaways. There will also be live music from multi-platinum-selling band LANCO at 7:30 p.m.

The Independence Day Extravaganza is free to the public and will include a fireworks show.

Alcohol will be available for purchase for people aged 21 and older.

The event will take place at Cougar Park,10664 Socorro Rd., from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The post City of Socorro to hold its annual Independence Day Extravaganza appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Border Patrol shared numbers with ABC-7 reporting a significant increase in the numbers of deaths and rescues seen by the agency this fiscal year 2024 in comparison to fiscal year 2023.

Border Patrol shared these numbers on Tuesday, June 26, where they say they have seen 708 rescues as of this 2024 fiscal year in contrast to the 266 rescues they had seen this time last year during fiscal year 2023. Fiscal year 2023 saw a total of 597 rescues.

Border Patrol said they have seen 93 deaths this 2024 fiscal year in comparison to the 65 deaths they saw this time last year during fiscal year 2023. Fiscal year 2023 saw a total of 149 deaths.

Claudio Herrera, spokesperson for Border Patrol El Paso sector, says most migrants tend to believe promises made by transnational criminal organizations claiming safe passage with no consequences.

“Our border is dangerous," said Herrera. "There are multiple dangers when crossing the border illegally. Our main message to the migrant community and everybody in the community is to tell those migrants that it's not safe to cross illegally."

The post El Paso Border Patrol sees significant increase in rescues, deaths from last year appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Hundreds of fans stormed the Sun Bowl field Sunday night after a friendly match between FC Juarez and Club America.

Videos of the fans storming the field went viral on social media, with many people claiming what happened was a negative look in El Paso.

ABC-7 spoke with El Pasoans to see how they felt about what happened.

Che Ulibarri, an El Pasoan, told ABC-7 that he believes this incident does not reflect the behavior of El Pasoans as it could happen anywhere.

“I think it would happen in any other city, honestly. People get excited about things. I don't think we should scapegoat our city that hard," said Ulibarri.

David Rubalcaba, another El Pasoan, told us that seeing the videos online made him feel worried about how this would reflect on the city.

“It does feel embarrassing that our fans would do that because you know, there's a concern for the players safety and everyone else included," said Rubalcaba.

We reached out to the University of Texas at El Paso to see if we could speak to someone about the situation and to learn how much security was at the event.

They responded with a statement from UTEP officials, which said:

“We're pleased with the success of the event and great turnout. Many first-time fans were unfamiliar with the rules and, despite a field incursion, security ensured the protection of teams and players at all times. We’re looking forward to hosting more international soccer games at the Sun Bowl.”

The post El Pasoans react to fans storming the Sun Bowl field after match between FC Juarez and Club America appeared first on KVIA.

RUIDOSO, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Mayor of the Village of Ruidoso is set to speak at1490 AM KRUI The Mountain at 9 a.m. this morning.

You can listen by clicking on the link: https://www.1490krui.com/

Mayor Lynn Crawford had previously given an update through a video on Friday, June 22.

Crawford said officials were trying to figure out when residents could return home.

The post Mayor of Ruidoso to speak on wildfires appeared first on KVIA.

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- One person was taken to the hospital after being found in the desert with life-threatening heat-related injuries.

The Sunland Park Fire Department said Border Patrol found the person around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. This happened on Highway 9 near mile marker 143.

SPFD and Border Patrol used an ice bath and ice sheets to cool down the person.

The post One person hospitalized after being found in the desert appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) --The El Paso Chihuahuas are inviting children in the Borderland to take part in their Play Ball Weekend event.

This event seeks to encourage children in the community to stay active, make friends, and have fun through baseball.

Play Ball Weekend will happen Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Registration is required and is open to kids between the ages of 5 and 12.

You can register here: https://elpasochihuahuas.leagueapps.com/events/4220738

Chihuahuas staff will be present during the event to teach children techniques in fielding, batting, and pitching, among other things.

The post El Paso Chihuahuas host ‘Play Ball Weekend’ appeared first on KVIA.

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Residents of Sunland Park told ABC-7 they have concerns over the plans by the New Mexico Department of Transportation's (NMDOT) to build a $79 million Border Connector Highway through their community.

While no final selection has been decided on at the moment, NMDOT says route #3 is the preferred selection "based on the evaluation criteria developed by the design team." This specific route seeking to connect Santa Teresa and Sunland Park would end at Anapra Road.

Jaime Calleros, a resident of Sunland Park, told ABC-7 that there has not been a real effort to notify the people in the area that could be affected by this.

Brandon Marshall, a resident of Anapra Road, said, “I check the mail a lot, and we got nothing in the mail. No one has come by to say anything to me or to my parents.”

ABC-7 reached out to NMDOT to learn if residents would be made aware of what route was selected and to see what efforts had been made to involve the community. NMDOT said in a statement that said in part quote:

"The only way residents will be contacted directly is if there is a direct impact to them or their property. The feasibility study began in 2022.  The design team has had public meetings in June 2023, May 2024.  Pop-Up Event Tables were held on March 22 and 23, 2024. The pop-up tables were held in-person at the Sunland Park Community Library, Sunland Park Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), and Ardovino’s Farmer’s Market. Advertisements for the pop-up tables were posted on the project website, on social media, and emailed to key stakeholders.  About twenty-five (25) individuals (in addition to the study team) attended the pop-up tables over the two days, including members of the public, local agencies, and elected officials.  The main objective of these pop-up tables was to make the community aware of the study and to get the community excited about it. The public was given an opportunity to ask questions, provide comments, and to respond to a quick survey."

Robert Ardovino, co-owner of Ardovino's Desert Crossing, says the construction of a Border Highway Connector would disrupt residents of Sunland Park and his business.

“It affects our business and every business in the city of Sunland Park by allowing more tractor trailers to commute through residential neighborhoods,” said Ardovino.

ABC-7 also asked NMDOT if businesses and daily commutes by residents on Anapra Road could be affected by the preferred selection on the Border Connector Highway. NMDOT told ABC-7 that they anticipate traffic patterns to change with the construction of the roadway.

The deadline for public comment on this project will be June 13. To submit a comment you can email BorderHighwayConnector@bhinc.com.

The post Residents and business owners of Sunland Park show concern over Border Highway Connector appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Family and friends of 25-year-old Rey Mendez gathered at the intersection of Zaragoza and Americas, the place where Mendez died following a crash on Sunday, June 9.

Mendez was the passenger in a truck driven by 36-year-old Ramon Jaime Parada. Police said Parada had fled from tribal police before speeding and driving against a metal pole.

Police also said Parada was arrested after being found intoxicated. He is being charged with intoxication manslaughter.

ABC-7 spoke with the family of Rey Mendez and asked them what they knew about the investigation, and if Rey had also been drinking.

“We just know, of course, you know, that they were both out there drinking. And I mean, besides that, you know, the accident happened, but we really still don't know exactly what happened,” said Daniel Mendez, brother of Rey Mendez.

Carlos Mendez, brother of Rey Mendez, also said the family is not trying to place the blame on anyone at the moment.

“We're not blaming nobody, you know, everybody needs to take action for their own actions. But we're just very sad that we lost, you know, our brother,” said Carlos Mendez.

Luis Ramirez, the cousin of Rey Mendez, told ABC-7 that he believed things could have been different if Rey had been the one driving. Ramirez says he believes Rey would have stopped and not fled from police if he had been the one driving.

Rey Mendez is survived by a wife and two daughters.

The post Vigil held for man killed in crash; family says he had also been drinking appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso County Commissioner Court approved District Attorney Bill Hick's request to transfer $53,000 from the asset forfeiture fund to use for his legal defense in a County lawsuit against him involving SB4.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the County of El Paso had sued the DA's office after Hicks had previously said he would enforce SB4 if it was upheld as a law.

SB4 is a controversial immigration law that would allow Texas law enforcement to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally. The law has not gone into effect because of legal challenges.

DA Hicks had previously requested for the County to cover his legal fees by using money from the County's general fund but had been denied.

This time, the DA was requesting to use money from the asset forfeiture fund, which is money seized from criminals.

Commissioner Carlos Leon said he believed this was a transparency issue because the DA could have had his defense paid for by the state.

“You could have gotten your defense paid for by the state. And you refused. You again decided to put this expense on the backs of taxpayer funding here in El Paso," said Leon.

DA Hicks said the state had offered him a "Junior Assistant Attorney General." He says he did not feel confident in how this person would represent him.

“This Commissioners Court refused to provide funding for me and left me the alternative of a junior associate of the Texas Attorney General's Office who was not aligned with my position, not aligned with my legal theories,” said Hicks.

The Commissioners Court initially voted not to accept the transfer of funds but later voted to approve it.

This came after Kevin McCary, assistant county attorney, informed the Commissioners Court that the law allowed the DA to use the money from the asset forfeiture account for his defense.

“As long as those monies are coming from the asset forfeiture source the statute gives him great discretion in using it for that purpose," said McCary.

Commissioner Leon would go on to say that he understood more clearly that he could not stop the DA from using the money, which was ultimately the reason why he made the motion to have the DA's request reconsidered.

The post El Paso County Commissioners Court approves DA’s request to transfer asset forfeiture funds for legal defense from the County’s SB4 lawsuit appeared first on KVIA.

The post El Paso County approves funds for DA to fight lawsuit appeared first on KVIA.