EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Stephanie Regalado has struggled with her weight since she was a teenager. As a result, Regalado suffered from asthma, sleep apnea and leg swelling.

“Summers were horrible for me. I was always inside. I didn't want to be outside. I would overheat. I just hated it,” she said. 

The 39-year-old decided to look into weight loss surgery after doctors diagnosed her as pre-diabetic. Regalado described this as a wake-up call, especially after losing her grandmother to diabetes.

"I looked into it, and I was ready to change my life," she said.

Regalado would undergo surgery, losing over 100 pounds as a result. The mother of two said the results were positive.

"Now I'm more outside. I can be with my boys. Waterparks were out there with swimming, exercise, more with my kids to trying to change their habits and everything."

“More energy. I have more energy to do stuff with them. I'm more energetic. I'm more available for them. Not always so tired," she said.

Dr. Benjamin Clapp, the medical director of The Hospitals of Providence Weight Loss Center West, explained that every patient must meet different criteria for undergoing these types of procedures.

"People suffer from, especially things like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, urinary stress incontinence, arthritis, things like that. When we induce this weight loss of about 80 to 100 pounds, people get better from those problems. Their sleep apnea will resolve most of the time. Their diabetes should resolve depending on how long they've had it, how much insulin requirements they have right now. High blood pressure should get easier to control, so obesity is the root cause of many of these disease processes. And by striking at that root cause, we can we can make them better."

Dr. Clapp performed Regalado's surgery. He said she is one of countless success stories.

"She's had just astounding outcomes. Let me tell you the secret about Stephanie, which you may not come across on camera. She's a hard worker. She is a hard worker. She has adopted this wholeheartedly. She is 100% changed her life and adopted this new lifestyle. She uses this tool that we've provided her with daily, and she probably be the first one to tell you that this is a daily fight," he said.

The medical director said lifestyle changes must take place after surgery.

"If you're not maintaining your diet, if you're not changing your lifestyle, if you go back to old bad habits, then we can see people start to climb back up. Now that can take years to do, and about 10 to 15% of people will do that. Obesity is a chronic disease, is very hard to treat, and it takes often more than one modality. Not just surgery, but lifestyle change, diet, exercise,” Dr. Clapp said.

"Mentally, you have to change how you think about food. How, just be more active, thinking you're not going to go back to your old habits. It's still a lot of mental, but it's worth it," Regalado said.

She hopes her story will inspire others.

"This is like the way to go, like this will change your life for the better. There's no shame in it. I mean, it's a big push. It's a lot of work, but it's so worth it in the end.”

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SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Sunland Park Fire Chief Daniel Medrano is crediting a new technique with helping save additional lives in the desert. 

In May, the small department introduced the ice bag technique to assist patients suffering from heat-related illnesses. 

Each summer, SPFD receives dozens of calls from people suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Many of them are migrants who have just crossed the border into the United States. Some are often alone, very weak and dehydrated. 

The chief said that during many summer days the temperature in our area reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit, but the sand can reach 150 degrees. 

Medrano said this year, so far, the department has responded to 30 body recoveries. 

Shortly after introducing the program, the department was able to use it firsthand on a patient. 

"We actually saved this young lady's life. We are able to convert her body temperature down to an acceptable range. And she survived, which is a success. You know, we were hesitant at first. It was a new technique, and we weren't sure if it was going to work, but it worked really well. She was completely unconscious when she presented," Chief Medrano told ABC-7. 

Firefighters place the patient in a body bag and then fill it with water and ice in an effort to try to bring down their body temperature. 

Chief Medrano said the patient usually stays inside the bag for 30 minutes. He said the method can work in as quickly as 10 to 15 minutes. 

He said they have been able to lower a patient's temperature from 107 degrees to 103. 

"Doctors were baffled because we hadn't really told the emergency departments the kind of procedures we were doing. So when we took this poor girl in a body bag full of ice, they didn't know what to make of it at first. And now it's, it's common practice," he said. 

The chief said they have used the innovative method about 30 times in the last three months, and a handful of them have been successful.

"We anticipated we were going to use it, but not as much," he said. 

The department decided to introduce the idea after receiving a large number of heat exhaustion calls last year, many of them later turning into body recoveries. Chief Medrano first learned of this concept from a news article from Phoenix.

"Just based on the numbers last year, we had so many deaths in this area, so many heat exhaustion, we weren't sure if those deaths were preventable or if we could have done something about it," he said. 

Medrano said he has received much feedback from the medical community since the method's inception. 

"For doctors and nurses who hadn’t seen it before, they didn't know what to make of it. It was, it was interesting. I have had some doctors actually approach me and said, you know, 'What's going on?' Several of them were shocked. The ambulance, private ambulance service here, when we first did it, they were baffled by what we're doing."

Chief Medrano also explained the ice bath method isn't expensive. The department invested in an ice machine and ice bags, making it cost-effective. He said his crews carry around an ice chest with several pounds of ice and water that are ready to be used at a moment's notice. 

Although Chief Medrano said there are risks involved, they will continue to use this method. 

"Just for the lives that we know you've saved, it's been worth it, you know?"

The chief said many other fire departments in the Southwest have reached out to him inquiring about the method. He believes this is a method that other first responders should look into. 

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EL PASO, Texa (KVIA) --  As the Borderland continues to face triple-digit temperatures, one local instructor is teaching kids survival skills. 

Deanna Gutierrez teaches children what to do if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly. 

Gutierrez is a certified Infant Swimming Resource instructor. She is one of three instructors in El Paso. 

ISR is not your traditional swim curriculum. Instructors work one-on-one with each child for 10 minutes a day for six weeks. 

“So I teach children what to do if they find themselves alone in the water. If they fall in, if someone's turned around, maybe, and they don't realize it, they, have gone in where they've been pushed in something like that. Infants, I teach them to hold their breath, turn around, and float. Basically, be calm in the water until someone comes and gets them," the instructor said. 

Gutierrez said each student is different. 

“Some, some kids just have it in their blood. Honestly, other kids take a little longer. They struggle a little bit more, but I'm very patient. And so however long they need, I'm here for them,” Gutierrez said. 

The ISR program focuses on teaching students fundamentals such as swimming and floating in the water. She said it can be scary initially, but it's part of the process. 

"Eventually they stop crying because they realize that they can do it," she said.

ISR students are taught survival training through real-life scenarios. Children wear clothes during lessons to simulate what may occur if they fall in the water. 

Kristen Rios, a Borderland mother of three, said it was critical for her students to learn how to swim since she has a swimming pool in her backyard. 

“It's really important to make sure your kids know how to survive. If they fall on the pool, and then if they're ever going to be in a pool or be by a pool, or be by a body of water, they'll just make you feel more comfortable, confident in their abilities. They'll feel more confident in their abilities," Rios said. 

She said knowing these skills can be the difference between life and death. 

“I think I feel confident. I just had one child, and, I always sat right at the edge of the pool. I felt like I was involved, and it's only ten minutes a day, so I probably felt maybe a little anxiety in general. But once I was there, right next to the pool, I felt very close to Deanna and my son. And so, it didn't feel scary after that. And he grew so fast in the water like he was swimming, a year that year and a half old, and he was just swimming to the wall, and it was really magical," she said. 

IRS is typically for children between six months of age and six years, but Gutierrez said she also teaches adults. 

Her next session begins on Monday, August 19th. Some spots are still open. If you would like more information, you can e-mail d.guiterrez@infantswim.com. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Native El Pasoan Deanna Salcido Gutierrez is celebrating the publication of her first book.

"El Paso Placita, A Tour for a Little Senorita" takes readers across a visual journey highlighting the best of the Borderland.

The book chronicles the protagonist, La Señorita, or the little lady, as her parents take her on a tour of the city.

Each page inside the book features different landmarks and popular spots across town, including Segundo Barrio, the El Paso Zoo, Chico's Tacos, San Jacinto Plaza, and others.

"But mostly, this book is about family and tradition, and our culture. And I kind of wanted that, too, to be forthright," she said.

Salcido Gutierrez said she always knew she wanted to write, but she first wrote wrote the draft three years ago.

“I was young. I've always enjoyed writing, but one night I was reading a story to my kids about El Paso. And that night, I thought. I think I would like to write one also. So that night, I went into my room, and I wrote the first draft of this book.”

Salcido Gutierrez said that during the early writing stages of her book, her family quickly appreciated the book.

“This started the book. I read it to the kids, and they really enjoyed it. And then I shared it with my parents, and they really enjoyed it. And I thought maybe this could be something. And, I kind of sat on it for a while. And then I was introduced to the publisher, and I introduced it to her. She loved it. And it just, it just became a thing," she said.

Deanna Salcido Gutierrez hopes other El Pasoans will resonate with the book.

“People who grew up in El Paso know every place in this book. I've had people cry. I've cried myself, but I think it's just more emotional because this is about my family. I hope they can take away really good, happy memories.”

Salcido Gutierrez said this book is the first part of a series. If you are interested in purchasing it, click here.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Pasoan Rosa Guerrero continues to help students prepare for the upcoming school year. 

Guerrero is a lifelong educator, a community activist, and a friend. 

In our final Words of Wisdom installment, Guerrero is talking to students about what makes them unique and how to embrace their differences inside the classroom. 

"You are so beautiful. Every one of you is different. Each one has different eyes," she said. "We're all different, and you are beautiful. Just beautiful."

Guerrero said we all bring something to the table. 

“I am. I am special. I'm unique. I'm unique. No one else. It's like me. No one else is like me. That is neat. That is neat."

She wants others to be proud of who they are, where they come from, listen to their grandparents, and learn as much as they can in the classroom. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Pasoan Rosa Guerrero is an educator, humanitarian and outspoken community activist. 

Guerrero continues to teach others about the importance of embracing our roots, culture and where we come from. 

She recalls being hit by her elementary school teachers for speaking Spanish in the classroom. Guerrero is passionate about Borderland students embracing their roots throughout each grade level.

“You need to know where your parents came from—your grandparents. Never be ashamed of your culture, your culture, your background, your traditions. Never be ashamed of if you can not speak English or Spanish, or whatever. I couldn't speak English. And I learned. And I learned. And I'm still learning. I still make mistakes,” she said.

Guerrero also said it's important to talk to your grandparents and take in their lessons.

"Grandma is the encyclopedia of learning. And you don’t have to push any button. You just talk to grandma. Talk to grandma. And if you have a recorder, record your grandma. Live those memories, because memories are love. Grandmas bring memories. Grandmas bring experiences. Grandmas bring knowledge. Grandmas paved the way in the road for you so you won’t fall. Grandmas are very special."

Continue watching Good Morning El Paso all this week as Rosa Guerrero continues to share her wisdom.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Teacher, dancer, humanitarian, community icon and lifelong educator Rosa Guerrero has taught thousands of Borderland students. 

Guerrero continues to share wisdom with those returning to the classroom. In this installment, Guerrero focuses on the importance of discipline and respect. 

She said teaching taught her all about discipline, and that was one of the biggest takeaways from her career. 

"If somebody corrects you, it's the best thing in the world. My father used “Si la corigen, Aprenda": If they correct you, you learn.” Some people don’t want to be corrected. We need to be corrected. We need to fix what we're doing wrong. And I think kids nowadays need to be as flexible as we were."

Guerrero said parents are the first teachers, and she said it all begins at home. 

She said today's generation is largely influenced by what we watch and listen to. 

"Their senses are being distorted. They need to hear and be quiet. And the parents too, the parents are going 100 miles an hour, and they are not paying attention to the children. To be a parent is to be a teacher. Parents are the first teachers. And I think I was a mother, and the teacher, and grandma and now a great grandma. And I'm learning in every, every vocation you learn."

Continue watching Good Morning El Paso this week as Rosa Guerrero continues to share her wisdom. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - With back-to-school season in full swing, El Pasoan Rosa Guerrero continues to share wisdom with those returning to the classroom. 

The lifelong educator has had many first days of school. She wants to share advice with teachers as they gear up for the rest of the school year. 

Guerrero encourages teachers and educators to take deep breaths before walking into the classroom. She also said meditative exercises are good stress relievers. 

“Just relax and then go in there. It’s not work; it’s just it's it's fun, fun, fun. Go in with your attitude of fun and attitude of yes, I can. And attitude of they are going to learn today," she said. 

Guerrero said initial interactions make a big difference in the educational realm.

“The first thing I tell them is, 'I love you, I love you. I bring you peace, and I bring you love.' And that's what they need. They need peace, and they need love. And once you have them here, they'll do anything for you. Once you turn them on first day, you get to turn them off, or you can turn them on. And the first day of school is a joy. I wish I was young again so I could go and teach. I loved it. I loved it.”

Continue watching Good Morning El Paso this week as Rosa Guerrero continues to share her wisdom.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- This back-to-school season, El Pasoan Rosa Guerrero is helping students and teachers thrive in the classroom. 

Guerrero is a teacher, dancer, educator, humanitarian, and community icon. She has dedicated decades of her life to teaching others. At 89 years old, Guerrero said she continues to give lectures to students. 

She said she wishes she could still be inside a classroom teaching others.

Guerrero told ABC-7 that the first day of school will set the tone for the entire school year. 

"It's exciting. It is wonderful that the parents kind of motivate them to say, “You're going to go, and you're going to do this so that the child will have that positive attitude of ‘They're going to help me. I am not going to cry; why should I cry?' You know? And the teacher should welcome them, of course; the younger they are, a welcome is very important, and sometimes a handshake. ‘Hi, how are you? And your name?' Make them feel comforted; make the children feel great and comfortable. Each level is different."

Guerrero said it's important for today's students to have the desire to learn each and every day. 

"You got to have that feeling inside to go learn history, science, or any type of technology, you know, to help you in the world of the business, any, any, anything. You got to be hungry." 

Watch Good Morning El Paso all this week as Rosa Guerrero continues to share her wisdom.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In the days and weeks after the Aug. 3 Cielo Vista Walmart mass shooting, many gave blood and donated money to the victims and their families. One organization at the helm was Operation Hope.

Angel Gomez, the founder, said he was impressed by how quickly El Paso answered the call.

"As we were driving down the road, and the phone was ringing and people were asking, “Angel, are you guys going to do anything? Is Operation Hope going to do anything?” I don't know, to be honest. I don't know. I'm just, let me process it."

Gomez knew now was the time to step in and help.

"We were happy to be with their families, to let them know that, you know, they weren't alone. the families weren't alone."

He said they helped provide the victims' families with groceries. Operation Hope also worked with local funeral homes to cover all funeral expenses.

Jessica Garcia was the wife of Guillermo "Memo" Garcia, who was hospitalized after being shot. She said little gestures during that time made a big difference.

"There's a lot of things that we're worried about. And paying our bills or getting groceries and stuff is the last thing that we truthfully should be the first of our worries. But it's there's so much going on, you know, just to comprehend and to get everything together. It's something you don't think about," she said.

Nine months after being shot, "Memo" died. She said the community support was still evident.

She is thankful for people like Gomez, who were there every step of the way.

"Angel, you know, he followed up the whole time. He had always asking for updates, and how if we needed anything, it wasn't just initially. You have nothing to worry about. You take your time with your family. If I can help you with anything else, I'm going to help you with anything else. But this is one thing you don't have to worry about," she said.

“Can you believe going through what happened and then having to worry about funeral costs, How am I going to do it, especially for the people there from out of town? How are they going to do it? But I am so glad that we all stick together and we help each other," Gomez said.

Garcia said the community continues to embody El Paso strong.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Aug. 3 mass shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart rocked the El Paso community. In the face of tragedy, some in our community were forced to rise up and lead the community through the darkest days.

Former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo took on that task.

Margo told ABC-7 that he was in Austin when the shooting took place. His phone was flooded with texts and phone calls. He rushed to get back home to El Paso.

“So I got on the plane, and for an hour and a half, nothing. All I could do was look out the window and pray.”

Margo arrived in El Paso later that day and was briefed on the shooting as the death toll continued to climb.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, Dee and First Lady Adair were near those who were hurting.

“Adair and I went to every visitation and funeral."

The shooting ultimately marked Margo's mayoral term.

"I had no experience for this. You know? I've said before, all I can do is pray. That’s what I did on the airplane coming over here. I was here and at every event. If I hadn’t had a spiritual foundation, I'm not sure. I might have cratered? It was tough. It's tough for those families. It’s still tough," he said.

Last July, the Walmart shooter was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences. Margo was inside for that moment. He said there's only one way El Paso will get complete healing.

"Until we can have the state trial with the death penalty as a consequence, I don't think it will be over. I still get texts from some of the family members of those who lost loved ones. I hear about how they're doing. It’s personal to me. This is very personal, and I hurt for our people. And I want to get this thing resolved," Margo explained.

Margo keeps a scrapbook filled with dozens of cards and letters sent to him from people worldwide as they shared their condolences. He said it was a constant reminder of how the world came together for El Paso.

"It was a special time. It is special for remembrances, not for what happened.”

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- El Pasoan Gilbert Serna's life was forever marked by the Aug. 3rd, 2019 mass shooting inside the Cielo Vista Walmart. The deadly attack claimed the lives of 23 people.

Thousands of customers were inside the store when the gunman opened fire. Many scrambled to find emergency exits, but Serna chose to help save his customers. The Walmart associate has been working there since 2001.

He had just returned from his lunch break when the shooting took place.

“A call came over the radio with a code brown, which is acts of violence. And it took, it took me a while to register like a code brown because we don't get that often," he said.

Serna said his instincts kicked in at that moment. Although he never saw the shooter, he heard the gunshots.

“It was POP. And then. And then everybody froze. And then, maybe about 2 seconds later, it was POP. POP. And then that's when everybody ran."

Serna said he led dozens of customers to the back of the building. He still remembers the faces.

"They were panicking, and some were crying and scared, and frightened, and…it was crazy.”

The Walmart employee realized many customers would not be able to run far. He helped many customers get to safety.

"I was helping some of the older ladies into the trailers, and I was telling them, ‘We're okay here, we're safe here. Get inside quickly.’”

He then returned to the store's warehouse, alerting other customers that they were safe to run out.

"And I was telling them to run to Sam's. And then I was running back and forth, and there was a lady who had been shot in her arm. And so I, I grabbed her and I told her, Let's go to Sam's.”

Amid the chaos, Serna was able to call his wife.

“She had told me they don't be a hero, go hide."

But Serna did not stop. He doesn't know the exact number of people he helped, but he believes it was anywhere between 100 and 200 people.

Despite feelings of anxiety, stress and fear developing weeks later, Serna knew was going back to Walmart. He was part of the committee that helped prepare the store for reopening.

"I knew I had to be a leader for my associates and a lot of people who were looking at me. And so I, I, I said that this PTSD is not going to win me, and the shooter’s not going to win. Like I'm going to go out there and be a leader, and I'm going to go back to the store. I'm going to help reopen in it. We're going to welcome back our customers.”

After the shooting, Serna was hailed as a hero by many—a title he had a hard time accepting at first.

“Families have gone on five years without their loved ones. And, and I always get told that families are still together because of me, too.” “Somebody told me to define a hero. And he's like, That's exactly what you did. Your hero. And so now, now I do."

Serna and his family were invited to the White House shortly after the shooting. He was commended for his efforts and valor during the shooting.

To this day, Serna still works at the Cielo Vista Walmart. He is proud to be an employee there.

He said the shooter did not triumph.

“He failed at what he tried to accomplish? We're still here, and we're still El Paso strong and we're going to keep fighting, and he, he made us stronger.”

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Fire dispatch confirmed one person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries following a crash in East El Paso.

The crash happened near the intersection of Lee Trevino Dr. and Gateway East Blvd. around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The crash involved an El Paso Police Unit. ABC-7 crews witnessed the damage the EPPD unit received.

We are waiting to receive more details from EPPD about what caused the crash.

All lanes on Gateway East Blvd. at Lee Trevino Dr. remain closed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Update: Deputies are still blocking off the 700 block of South Ascencion Road in Far East El Paso.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A male driver was taken to Del Sol Medical Center Monday morning following a crash that resulted in injuries, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

A spokesperson said the crash happened around 3:45 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Rio Penasco Ave. and S. Ascension Rd. in El Paso County.

The investigation continues. Authorities did not provide information about the driver's condition.

A portion of S. Ascension Rd. will be closed for several hours. Drivers are encouraged to find an alternate route.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Independence Day is a time to celebrate the United States of America. The day is packed with all-American traditions like cookouts, grilling and, a favorite, popping fireworks.

The dazzling displays light up the night sky in colorful creations of red, white and blue, but fireworks can also serve as a trauma reminder for combat veterans. Pyrotechnics can trigger a wide array of emotions.

Jonathan Bohannon, the director of military services for Emergence Health Network, told ABC-7 that the day brings back flashbacks and emotions veterans experienced during combat.

“The bright lights, the loud explosions, and even the smell of the fireworks can sometimes put them back into their position where there's a threat," said Bohannon.

He said days like these can have significant impacts and could hurt the progress some veterans have already made.

“It could potentially set the veteran back. They could be in services working on grounding techniques and, and things of that nature, and it could automatically put them back into the position of having to rework all that due to being exposed to the, again, the flashes, the sounds, and even the smells," Bohannon explained.

He said veterans don't just deal with these emotions on Independence Day.

“It could even be up to the 4th of July. The anxiety may have that veteran on edge. And so up until that point of the fireworks, they could be just stressed out," he said.

Bohannon explained that for many combat veterans, fireworks resemble gunshots and intense fire. He said it's important for families and loved ones to look for warning signs.

“The veteran may start to isolate and, you know, stop communicating with the family or just feel embarrassed or shame ashamed or feel guilty that they're unable to partake in this celebration," he said.

Bohannon empathizes with other veterans during this time. He said it is important for them to be proactive.

"Myself as a veteran of PTSD, and you know, this is a hard time for even myself when it comes to these celebrations, but one, the strategy I use is to just prepare myself mentally and try to set my expectations to endure the fireworks by, gradual exposure, if you will. And the minute I trigger, you know, then you know, myself, there is a plan that I have in place to, you know, bring myself out of the situation."

Bohannon said those most vulnerable during this time are veterans, active-duty members, and their families. He said it's important for veterans and their loved ones to communicate with neighbors about how the day can negatively impact them. Bohannon also said veterans need to advocate for themselves.

He also said families should have a plan of action in case they have to leave. Bohannon also suggested families participate in other activities outside of the city limits, like camping and fishing. He also suggests creating a safe space in their homes.

He said veterans can manage the loud noises with earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones, or playing video games with headphones on.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It's a race against time for one El Paso family. The Augustain-Lopez family is urgently searching for a liver organ donor.

The family matriarch is fighting several diseases that are contributing to the deterioration of her liver and overall health.

In the 1990s, Irene Augustain-Lopez was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease but disregarded the diagnosis.

Augustain-Lopez, who was a teacher for 45 years, said she would occasionally take pain medication, which led to her developing cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a serious disease that leads to scarring of the liver.  
She monitored her liver and would undergo regular MRI checkups.

Just a few years ago, the disease began to worsen. Her family described it as "taking over her body."

In 2022, the El Pasoan was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy, which is when a damaged liver is not removing toxins from the blood, leading to impaired brain function. This has significantly impacted Augustain-Lopez's ability to walk and talk at times.

Her family described it as living with someone who is drunk or suffers from dementia.

"I just lose it. I can't remember things. I can't drive anymore. And I have lots of different doctors and doctor's appointments. Like they can’t understand what I'm saying because I'm everywhere. I get very sleepy at times. And then, by the same token, I can't sleep. You lose consciousness of what happens," she said.

Shortly after, Augustain-Lopez was diagnosed with liver cancer—hepatocellular carcinoma. She underwent a procedure to remove the cancer, but it resulted in further liver scarring. Despite surgery, she is still living with cancer, although her doctors have said it's growing at a slow rate.

Her family said the only cure for all of her health problems is getting a liver transplant.

Augustain-Lopez raised three daughters alone after her husband died unexpectedly in a car crash in 1985.

Her family is trying to find her a living liver donor since she does not qualify to be on the deceased donor's list.

The family explained that Augustain-Lopez's has a low MELD score, which is why she can't be on the list. MELD scores are based on lab results; the higher the number, the more likely you are to qualify to be on the list. The family explained, to be on the list for a liver organ, you must score a 26. Augustain-Lopez has remained around the 11–13 mark.

"Learning that even though my mom is sick and we see the day-to-day stuff, she still doesn't qualify to be on the deceased donor's list. So we're, that's why we're so vigilant and trying to find a living donor," said her youngest daughter, Leah Lopez.

Her three daughters were all tested, but no one was a match.

Despite there being at least four other candidates, including two family friends, none were considered good candidates.

"And that's kind of like the I feel like the race that we're in, you know, because we don't want her to get sicker," said Lopez.

But the family isn't losing hope, relying on their faith during this time.

Lopez said she has felt the overwhelming support and love of the community during this challenging time.

"But to know that, like, our whole community is like praying for her and so worried for her and just how much they love her, I think, that has been something that's been very heartwarming. And it makes it makes the journey a little bit lighter, you know, Just a little bit," said Lopez.

As she waits, Augustain-Lopez is working on becoming the healthiest she can be to be able to withstand a transplant.

"And I hope that journey will be soon, you know, to get that donor because I want to do my plants. I want to do so much outside like I used to," she said.

"Our goal is just to keep her as healthy and stable as possible and get her to a transplant, as well as to continue seeking a donor until we have a donor," said Lopez.

Augustain-Lopez is searching for a donor with Type O or Type A+ blood.

The family has created a Facebook group, Liver on a Prayer, as they search for a donor. If you would like to apply to be her donor, click here.

After the family finds a donor, they said they want to start raising awareness about all of these conditions.

The post Liver on a Prayer: An El Paso woman’s desperate search to find a liver donor appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Time is dwindling for one El Paso family. Irene Augustain-Lopez is in urgent need of a liver transplant. Her health continues to decline sharply.

She was diagnosed with non-fatty liver disease in the 1990s, and the condition has continued to worsen. Since then, she has also been diagnosed with cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular carcinoma.

All of these conditions are contributing to her health's decline, directly impacting her brain function, and, at times, making it difficult to walk and speak.

The retired teacher told ABC-7 the only cure is getting a liver transplant.

She doesn't qualify to be on the deceased donor's list. None of Augustain-Lopez's daughters are matches. And up to now, she has been unsuccessful in finding an organ donor.

Now, she is turning to the Borderland community for help.

Watch ABC-7's Rosemary Montañez's special report "Liver on Prayer" Tuesday at 10 p.m. only on ABC-7.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Pasoan Angela Barton still remembers the exact moment she realized her Kia Sorento had been broken into. The Northeast El Paso resident was headed to work in her other vehicle when she noticed her Kia was heavily damaged.

Barton told ABC-7 that the vehicle had sentimental value since it once belonged to her father and was passed down to her.

"I mean, you work hard for your vehicle, so why would someone come out and destroy that vehicle knowing that it was actually, you know, something that we worked for? They're not paying for it. And of course, they may never find the people that are breaking in. So we're left with nothing," Barton said.

The insurance company would end up paying Barton $10,000, but she is part of a growing number of victims.

Stephen Plummer, the public awareness manager for the El Paso Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force, explained these types of crimes continue to occur daily.

"Because we are a border city and there's a narcotics trade, there's human smuggling. There's a lot of other crimes that are committed, and they use stolen vehicles. And the larger the vehicle, the better. Mostly because of the terrain and the payload capacity of these vehicles."

Plummer said that in the last 2 to 3 years, auto thefts in El Paso have risen by over 50%.

He explained that Kias and Hyundais have become the new targets and are being stolen more often, which wasn't the norm. Plummer said these vehicles became targets after a tutorial teaching others how to break into them gained popularity on social media.

Modern thieves use a simple USB to hack into these vehicles, allowing them to drive off.

"Of course, it's disheartening. You know, you get something like that, it goes out and it becomes a challenge. You know, the KIA Boys are just one little group. You know? They go around stealing them. They sensationalize this whole thing. And other teenagers, you know, they see this, 'Hey, we can do that, too.' We can get away with this,'" he said.

Plummer said many times a substantial amount of damage is done to vehicles. He said EPPD's recovery rate is between 35 and 40%, and some are never recovered.

"It is nonstop. Our investigators are completely inundated with cases, so it may take a while for them to get to certain cases. They try to follow up cases that have evidence on them right away that we can go and get our hands on that, that we can possibly get warrants for individuals.”

ABC-7 combined data from the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

• In 2020, 937 vehicles were reported stolen throughout the El Paso region.
• In 2021, the numbers continued to rise, 1,182 cars were stolen.
• In 2022, the region began to see a significant rise, with over 1,718 vehicles gone.
• Last year, in 2023, 2,645 vehicles were stolen.
• And this year, so far, 840 vehicles have been reported stolen by both agencies.

Plummer explained that many of the thieves behind the thefts are teens.

"They're not getting away with it. They're getting criminal records on, on stealing these cars. And it's for no purpose."

Katy Ayala, trial team chief at the juvenile unit with the county attorney’s office, said over the last year they have seen a significant rise in juveniles taking part in these crimes. She blamed this recent spike on TikTok.

"What you are seeing is juveniles prepared, knowing what they are doing, coming in with knowing what they're doing, coming in with latex gloves, screwdrivers, you know, anything able to get into that car. We're also seeing juveniles targeting specific cars. And, you know, it's been reported the KIAs are targeted vehicle. And the amount of cases that are coming in has just been very noticeable."

Ayala said many times there's no motive.

"They think it's fun. They think it's a, it's a little scheme. And so they get involved into a bigger scheme where it's not just one individual doing it. It's a group. And the groups keeps growing larger and larger where they're working together to continue doing these schemes of car thefts and burglaries," she said.

Ayala said these thieves can face felonies. She said lookouts are just as responsible as the driver.

She explained that in many cases, these juvenile thieves have become well-trained, something Barton can attest to.

"They knew because there was no fingerprints on the like on the door panel. There was no fingerprints on the inside. There's no fingerprints where they had opened the door, like pulled the handle to open it. There was no fingerprints. They dusted the steering wheel steering column as well as the dashboard area behind no fingerprints," Barton said.

Barton like many others, was forced to make changes. She set up security cameras outside of her apartment complex and installed more lights around her property.

"It's not going to stop, and it hurts," Barton said.

The El Paso Police Department continues to warn drivers to remain vigilant when stepping away from these vehicles.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso continues to deal with vehicle thefts. Data from local authorities indicates these types of crimes are on the rise.

Representatives with the El Paso Police Department urge owners to remain vigilant when they step away from their vehicles, even if it's a split second.

Stephen Plummer, the public awareness manager for the El Paso Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force, said there has been a 20% rise in vehicle thefts compared to this same time last year.

He revealed some of these vehicles will never be recovered. Plummer also explained some makes and models are targeted more than others.

The EPPD representative told ABC-7 it has been a busy time for their department as they work to solve these crimes and stop those responsible.

The juvenile unit at the El Paso County Attorney's Office has also been dealing with teenagers becoming entangled in these crimes.

"They think it's fun. They think it's a it's a little scheme. And so they get involved into a bigger scheme where it's not just one individual doing it. It's a group, and the groups keeps growing larger and larger where they're working together to continue doing these schemes of car thefts and burglaries," Katy Ayala, the trial team chief with the juvenile unit, said.

ABC-7 investigates why this crime continues to grow in the Borderland. We also uncover who is behind this trend and how they are using the latest technology and social media to become experts.

Watch Rosemary Montañez's special report 'Robbing Your Rides' Thursday at 10 p.m. only on ABC-7.

The post Robbing Your Rides: A look at ongoing vehicle thefts in El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- As the Borderland continues to deal with a triple-digit heatwave, experts explain extreme heat can significantly impact your physical and mental well-being.

According to medical experts, heat waves can exacerbate anxiety, stress and irritability. Additionally, experts explain that medication used to treat mental health disorders could impact the human body's regulatory system.

"As we feel the heat, you know? Irritability might increase; it might affect our sleep, so our mood can really shift," said Melanie Longhurst, a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Texas Tech Health El Paso.

Rocia Bickei, a licensed professional counselor, told ABC-7 that heat can also impact behavior, leading to a rise in aggression.

"We see that domestic violence incidents—anything related to anger, right? Road rage incidents, higher crime rates," Bickei said.

"More people are likely to kind of perceive things as being more aggressive, or people might be more impulsive because we're affected by the heat," said Longhurst.

She said that drinking water and staying near air conditioning are good for the body and the mind. She also suggested getting fresh air and doing regular activities.

"It's really hard to get out into green spaces, but if you're able to kind of get out into maybe a park or escape kind of these concrete trapped places that tend to feel hotter," Longhurst said.

Bickei suggested practicing mindfulness and engaging in stress management strategies.

"Breathing, doing a little bit of meditation here and there. And if all of that isn't working, then definitely reaching out and talking to a professional can, can be helpful."

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some Canutillo Elementary School students published their first children's book this academic school year.

Kindergarten teacher at Canutillo Elementary School, Kaitlynn Escontrias, explained she first saw several advertisements on social media about publishing companies allowing teachers to write a book with their students. Escontrias asked her students about the idea to get their input.

"They immediately got extremely excited. They were throwing out ideas about what we should talk about," she said.

The elementary educator said they all read books together to come up with ideas of what they wanted their book to be.

“So I have some readers in my class who they, actually go to the library and they check out books, and a lot of times they like to find the most interesting animals or even animals that are scary at some point."

Each student was able to pick an animal and write a short story including interesting facts about that animal. They were also able to draw their own creations, including cheetahs, grasshoppers and butterflies.

Together, the class wrote, illustrated and published the "Amazing Animals" picture book.

Escontrias said the book showcases everything her students learned this school year.

“You know, we put a lot of hard work into what goes into the day-to-day experiences of teaching. And so to see them really put what they learned into real life—writing a book, going through the whole writing process—it was rewarding because I want them to feel pride in what they've learned and just to feel like they can do anything that they set their minds to," she said.

Each student in Escontrias' class is proud to show off their work to others. She said it was a special moment to see the book in person after it was professionally printed.

"When I saw that all their names and their signatures, it says Meet the Authors, and I'm like, wow, like, 'We did it!' because it was it was tough to have each individual student, you know, put all their effort."

A district spokesperson explained that every single student in her class received a copy of the book.

Escontrias said she enjoyed the process and would like to continue this tradition with her future classes, but she said she will leave it up to her students to decide.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The class of 2024 is remembering their high school journey, which was marked by a global pandemic, as commencement ceremonies continue throughout El Paso, Las Cruces and the surrounding areas.

These students began their high school journey remotely, only connecting with peers and teachers via Zoom.

“It’s not easy. My first day of school, I spent on my bed, but I didn't learn as much as I would have liked to online. I just felt really out of touch. And so my freshman year, I always felt like I slacked off a lot," said Silva Health Magnet High School valedictorian Maritza Serrano.

Jefferson High School valedictorian Alexa Ozuna said her freshman year of high school taught her to be a go-getter.

"It was just online. It was kind of felt surreal in a way where, like, it doesn't like you're in cooped up in a room, you know, everything's online. You're kind of trying to learn. It's like watching YouTube videos. Right?  But some of the teachers, like I like that was in my learning style. So I struggled," Ozuna said.

Silva Health Magnet High School salutatorian Bhakti Pareshbhai Ahir Ahir said the pandemic also impacted her communication with peers.

“I definitely feel it with friends. It was I mean, the most conversations, they revolved around homework classes instead of all the normal things that you would talk at school, you know, like how you dress or I like your outfit or what you eat, like things like that with your teachers. Yeah, because there was a barrier, and you kind of like talk to them as much as you'd like," she said.

On Monday, the Jefferson and Silva Health Magnet High Schools silver foxes entered a packed Don Haskins Center filled with loved ones. Four years ago, the pandemic forced the world to isolate and mask up. Students also had to practice social distancing inside the classroom and on school campuses.

Ozuna told ABC-7 that COVID-19 also impacted extracurricular activities.

"The first time I started playing with a mask, nobody was there. I was just a coach, like, just the teammates. If you were you, we cut in like high-five each other. We would have to wave from afar, which was different for the first time," she explained.

The seniors said the pandemic impacted them both emotionally and mentally.

"That whole time of isolation and solitude, it just made me reflect like, who is my real friend? You know, because everything was online and I formed bonds, like through mutuals. So once we came back, like it was slightly different, but it just kind of more self-reflection on who's, like, real, you know?, Ozuna said.

Natalia Martinez, Jefferson High School salutatorian, said her freshman year was marked by feelings of loneliness. She said when students did return to the classroom, they had to social distance and communication was limited amongst eachother.

"I was mostly just really lonely. I kept seeing like all the five feet of hard science and all the tables and stuff.  I just felt really sad. I slept through a lot of my classes. I would get my work done in like the first half hour and just sleep the rest of the day," she said.

Despite this, they said there were many lessons learned through all of this.

“To be resilient. Mostly to kind of plan for my future regardless of what's happening in the present, because it's going to move forward, regardless," Serrano said.

Probably tell them that it wasn't going to last as long as they thought it was. I thought this is going to go on for, like a couple more years. They're going to meet some of their best friends in their sophomore year and pay a little more attention in math class," Martinez said.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Nancy Limas continues to fight for change after her young daughter's death last September. The El Paso mother spoke to ABC-7 on the heels of her sixth-grade daughter being posthumously honored this week by school staff at El Paso ISD's Young Women's Academy. 

In September 2023, Limas took her daughter, Jessie, age 11, to the University Medical Center clinic in Northeast El Paso. Jessie had been feeling extreme stomach pain, discomfort and constipation, according to Limas. The 6th grader was transferred to El Paso Children's Hospital. Limas said she was told her daughter needed surgery to repair a twisted intestine. Limas, who is an ER nurse, was hesitant to consent to the procedure, but eventually agreed. 

Following the surgery, Limas said Jessie continued to be in extreme pain. Limas said she called on nurses and doctors to examine her daughter, but she said nothing was done for nine hours. Limas said Jessie was eventually taken back into the operating room, where she went into cardiac arrest and died. 

Limas said she later discovered Jessie's intestine was perforated during the initial procedure, causing leakage and bleeding, which ultimately resulted in her death. She said she also learned there was no twisted intestine. 

Following her death, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services conducted an investigation into El Paso Children's Hospital. In a letter obtained by ABC-7, the agency wrote, “Based on the results of the investigation El Paso Children's Hospital was found to not be in compliance with the applicable laws and rules over which our department has regulatory authority, resulting in deficiencies being cited for one or more federal or State regulations.” 

Texas Tech Health El Paso, which staffed the physicians involved in Jessie's care, sent the family a public apology letter, which ABC-7 reported about in March. 

Now, Limas continues to call on El Paso Children's Hospital to also apologize and enact policy changes. 

"To let me know that changes what they were going to do; that they're doing to prevent this from happening to other innocent children and their families," Limas told ABC-7. "I wanted them to, you know, more than, more than anything, to change for the better, for all the children in our community."

Limas said she talked with the attorneys representing El Paso Children's Hospital during a mediation meeting last week. She said she went into the meeting with just her mother by her side. 

Limas said no agreement was reached. She said the hospital did not issue an apology. She described the attorneys as cold, inconsiderate and unsupportive. 

"It didn't go very well. So the fight will continue," she said. 

ABC-7 reached out to El Paso Children's Hospital for an update regarding the meeting with Limas. A spokesperson said, "At this time, El Paso Children’s Hospital has no update regarding the status of this matter."

Limas said she is considering her next options, which likely is a lawsuit. She added that the largest obstacle will be the cost of a lawsuit and the mental challenge of going to court. 

"It's a learning process, but whatever we have to do to get justice for my daughter and get closure, we are going to do it," Limas said. 

Limas spoke to ABC-7 on May 29 as EPISD's Young Women's Academy honored Jessie during their end-of-school-year awards ceremony. Limas received her daughter's awards.

The school also created an award in Jessie's honor. The "Jessie Limas Kindness Award" will be awarded every year to one student who is kind and inclusive. 

"I am proud of my daughter, and very happy that she's being recognized by the YWA Warriors," Limas said, referring to the school mascot, which is a Warrior. "They still continue to remember her and have her, her memory living in their hearts."

Limas said she will continue to be Jessie's warrior. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- At only 8 years old, Hunter Feinberg was the first member in his family to be diagnosed with Celiac disease. The now 14-year-old is teaching others on social media how to live with the disease.

"When I was first diagnosed, I was pretty shocked, like I had no clue what it meant besides being gluten-free. And I was pretty sad at the time." Hunter said.

Hunter's mother, Jody Casey, explained that Hunter did not show any symptoms. They only discovered his diagnosis because he wasn't growing.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Celiac is caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. There is currently no cure, but a gluten-free diet can help prevent symptoms.

Hunter said he was very scared when he first received his diagnosis.

Casey explained it was a long process for the whole family to become gluten-free.

"When we found out that Hunter needed to be gluten-free for the rest of his life, one of the big challenges was we had to control just about every meal that he was eating and everything he was putting in his mouth. So I had to learn to cook a whole lot better than I knew back then and to cook gluten-free," Casey said.

Hunter's Celiac diagnosis helped kickstart "Gluten Revolution." Hunter and his family post recipes, food recommendations and other helpful videos to educate others.

Hunter first came up with the idea during the 2020 COVID pandemic.

"I'm really proud of him because I think there's not a lot of awareness around it. And there are other parents that went through and families that went through what we went through. And they, there's just a lot of gloom and doom information out there, so we wanted to bring awareness to not only what Celiac is, but that you can actually live a really healthy and thriving lifestyle with the disease," she said.

Hunter said he has received feedback from others who say they are going through similar challenges.

"We've had people like message us and text about like their daughter or son being diagnosed and their website helping," he said.

Hunter wants others to know they can live a normal life despite this diagnosis.

"That it's not it's not bad. Like when I feel like I live a normal life like everybody else."

Hunter will begin his freshman year of high school later this upcoming school year.

He hopes to continue inspiring others through "Gluten Revolution."

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Graduation season is a special time for graduates, but for three El Paso teens, it's a very special occasion.

Samantha Sierra, 19, Paris Chacon, 18, and Valeria Martinez, 19, will all be earning their bachelor's of science degrees in nursing from UTEP this weekend.

The women told ABC-7, they were all enrolled in early college while in high school. They all received their associate's degrees before earning their high school diplomas.

Sierra said she is looking forward to starting her career in the medical field.

"Helping others out, being in the health care profession, it's such a great and rewarding experience to be able to help patients get better and to be able to impact our community," Sierra said.

The 19-year-old said she is looking forward to giving back to her community and making a difference.

For 18-year-old Paris Chacon, nursing is in her veins. The teenager told ABC-7 that her father is also a nurse. She knew at a young age she wanted to give back to others.

"I remember my first experiencing helping others was when my little sister broke her ankle and I was able to help her learn how to use the crutches and just help her feel better. And I love the impact I got to make on her and seeing her just gradually improve," Chacon said.

Chacon explained that she attended Mission Early College High School and got her associates at 16 years old. She said she went into the nursing program at UTEP during her senior year of high school.

Chacon encourages other students to stay focused and work hard. She also said it is important for teens to find balance.

"My parents have always preached to me about the importance of getting an education and just getting ahead. I have saved so much time and so much money from this opportunity that I was able to receive, and I'm beyond grateful for it."

Valeria Martinez said she always wanted to help people. The 19-year-old is also a product of Mission Early College High School.

She said her mom encouraged her to become a nurse, but her aunt was also a large influence.

"My aunt is a nurse. And I always, when I was little, she would always take care of me.  And I saw her going through clinicals and all that. So she kind of inspired me to do that, but most of all, my mom pushed me to get into nursing," Martinez said.

The trio said they are thankful for the friendships they gained during their time at UTEP. They want to inspire other students who may be on the same path.

"We're all very grateful and blessed to have each other. I'm so happy I met these beautiful girls because they really helped me stay on top of my work, stay on top of clinicals is everything we do," Chacon said.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Medical patients in El Paso will have more healthcare services.

RevIVe Mobile Health and ATI Jet are partnering up to unveil new air ambulance operations in the Borderland. The partnership will provide transport solutions to patients who need to travel outside the region for their medical needs.

Director of Operations at ReviVe Mobile Health, Sam Dominguez, said this is the only service in the area that offers jets for medical transport.

“In the medical field, we often say time is tissue. We often talk about the golden hour. We often talk about time being important for life-saving capabilities. Our aircrafts would be faster and more capable to get people from point A to point B in order to get them to the right specialties," he said.

He explained that the Learjet 55 jets are fully equipped with a critical care paramedic and a critical care nurse.

Dominguez said they will be able to serve all types of patients with various medical needs.

“It’s very often that we fly patients out of El Paso to different areas for burns, for cardiothoracic surgeries, certain pediatric, pediatric specialties, as well as cancer and transplant patients," he said.

Dominguez also said they will be able to transport patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.

Michael Sarabia, the CEO of RevIVe Mobile Health, said this service will give patients more options.

“We are in a jet. A jet is going to be a little bit more costlier, but we're going to be able to get there faster," Sarabia said.

He explained they can also travel internationally, unlike other companies.

"It offers another air ambulance, more capable, longer distance. And most importantly, like I said, to go internationally and go pick them up from, from someone, some other country. And like I said, we're the only ones in this region that is that has a capability that has that reach."

Both said this will help patients who are in urgent need of medical attention.

“It feels good knowing that we're going to be able to help people. And that's really why I do what I do," Dominguez said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Thursday, May 9th, at 11 a.m. at the ATI JET Hangar located at 7007 Boeing Drive.

Community leaders and healthcare professionals are invited to the ceremony and tour the facilities.

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Update: Special Traffic Investigators say the car was traveling north in the outside lane when the pedestrian, 66-year-old Argelia Luzina Benavides, tried to cross the street. Investigators say Benavides was not using a crosswalk and failed to yield right of way to the car.

Police say that the driver was "unable to avoid striking Benavides."

The driver remained at the scene of the collision and emergency crews arrived to provide Benavides with medical services. They rushed her to the hospital where she died.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Special Traffic Investigators were called out to a serious vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

According to El Paso Police officials, the crash happened on the 1700 block of Northwestern Dr. just before 6 a.m. Friday.

Authorities said serious injuries are being reported at this time.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Some Borderland mothers are sharing their journey to motherhood on National Infertility Awareness Week. The week allows mothers to raise awareness and highlight the challenges many families are facing. 

El Pasoan Karla Lujan talked to ABC-7 about her journey to becoming a mother. She said she and her husband got married in 2014. Lujan expected to get pregnant shortly after, but was unsuccessful. 

Both underwent tests and infertility questions. Lujan said many family members and loved ones began to question why they hadn't had children yet. 

Lujan explained the pressures she faced. She said she lost confidence. She said both decided to stop treatments months after they had started. Lujan used that time to focus on herself.

Shortly after, in 2017, she became pregnant. 

"Hearing the baby's heartbeat, it was, it was just the best moment ever. And just to know, a few weeks after that, I was going to be, that I was expecting a baby girl. It was the best thing ever," said Lujan. 

Two years later, they found out they were pregnant again without undergoing any treatment.  Years later, they discovered they were expecting once again. 

Now, Lujan is a proud mother of three children and her message is simple. 

"Just to give yourself that time for you to know your body, for you to respect it, for you to understand it, it's even it's even better because we have to give yourself that time as well. And most importantly, not to not lose faith."

Another El Paso mom also shared her story to becoming a mother. Ashley Barrett said she sought treatment options after facing infertility. 

She said there needs to be more conversations surrounding infertility. 

"It's not something to be ashamed about, and I feel like it's just a topic that's not really discussed. And even, even amongst each other, you know, it's it's just something that we don't talk about. And I know at the beginning I felt a bit ashamed just because I felt like, 'Why isn't this happening to me?' And to trust the process."

Barrett is now a mother to one toddler and is expecting her second child.

According to the CDC, about one in five women are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying.  

Obstetrician gynecologist Dr. Dorovenia Hawkins-Koch explained that the number is slightly higher in El Paso. 

"The reason why infertility awareness is so important is that a lot of the times people just can assume that they can get pregnant. And then it's very just heart wrenching when they start to try and then they don't succeed, or when they're trying for several months and months and months. And then it just doesn't happen, and it makes them almost feel like they're a failure, and they should not feel that way."

Dr. Hawkins-Koch said there are many treatment options for families in El Paso. 

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UPDATE-- An official with El Paso Electric confirms power has been restored to the 900 customers that were experiencing outages in West El Paso.

The power was restored shortly after 9 a.m. Friday.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some residents in West El Paso are reporting a power outage.

According to the El Paso Electric outage map, 941 customers are currently being impacted. The outage was reported around 11:08 p.m. Thursday.

The outage map also indicates they are working on restoring power.

An official with El Paso Electric said, "Our crews found a burnt wire at one of our substations. This caused outages for approximately 900 customers. Our crews are in the final stages of making the repairs, as they started overnight."

ABC-7 also reached out to the El Paso Independent School District to see if any schools are being impacted. A district spokesperson said no outages are being reported at any campuses. Normal operations will proceed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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UPDATE- All lanes in that area are now open.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- All lanes on I-10 East near Airway are closed following crash involving an El Paso Police Unit.

According to officials, police officers were investigating a separate crash when the unit was hit. The incident happened around 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Police officials said one person was arrested. No injuries were reported.

Traffic is being diverted to Gateway Blvd. East in that area.

Check back for updates.

The post I-10 East near Airway reopens following crash involving El Paso Police unit appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Drunk driving continues to be a prominent problem on El Paso roads. The DA's office told ABC-7 that they are committed to holding people responsible if they drink and then drive.

John Briggs, trial division chief at the District Attorney’s office, said they want people to understand the consequences they could face if they drive while intoxicated.

"The choice to get behind the wheel of a car and drive after you've been drinking doesn't have anything to do with alcoholism."

On March 28, El Paso Police said a person was killed by an alleged drunk driver. The deadly collision happened on the 1500 block of George Dieter in East El Paso.

Investigators said 35-year-old Enrique Joel Pena was driving while intoxicated when he rear-ended 42-year-old Isidro Ruiz Jr.'s car. Ruiz died on the scene.

ABC-7 obtained documents that state Pena didn't attempt to stop, slamming into Ruiz's car at a red traffic light.

Officers also noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from Pena. Documents also state he couldn't walk or stand upright during a sobriety test.

Briggs explained that Pena had already been convicted twice on DWI charges. He spoke to ABC-7 about why Pena was charged with murder instead of intoxication manslaughter.

"Once you have two DWI convictions in Texas, your third offense is going to be charged as a felony."

Briggs also talked about how the stakes go up dramatically.

If a person is sentenced on an intoxication manslaughter charge, they could face between 2 to 20 years in prison. However, if a person is sentenced on a murder charge, they could face 5 to 99 years or life in prison with the possibility of parole.

A quick search of ABC-7 archives found two instances since 2021 in which an alleged drunk driver was charged with murder. Valeria Mena and Miguel Fonseca both have jury trials scheduled for the summer of 2024, according to court records.

Briggs said District Attorney Bill Hicks takes these crimes seriously.
 
"If you go out drinking, fine, great, have a good time, but that doesn't mean you need to get behind the wheel of a car and put everybody else in the community at risk because you're driving after having had too much to drink. There are too many solutions for that. So if you choose not to take one of those solutions, then the DA's office is going to prosecute you and prosecute you vigorously," he said.

The DA's office has an ongoing initiative where drivers can take advantage of credit for a rideshare to avoid driving home drunk. They said this is just another method to reduce drunk driving crashes and deaths.

You can learn more about the "Pick Your Ride: A Safe Ride is On Us!" program by clicking here.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It's been over five months since the death of Nancy Limas' young daughter. Now, the El Paso mother is turning her pain into advocacy.

In September 2023, Nancy Limas took her 11-year-old daughter Jessie to the University Medical Center clinic in Northeast El Paso. Jessie had been complaining about extreme stomach discomfort and inexplicable constipation. Jessie was transferred to El Paso Children's Hospital.

Limas was told her daughter would need to undergo a procedure to repair a twisted intestine. As a nurse herself, Limas was hesitant about her daughter getting this procedure, saying she had a "bad feeling."

"They told me that it was a twisted intestine and that she needed emergency surgery, that there was only, the only solution for that, that it was an emergency situation," Limas told ABC-7.

After surgery, Jessie repeatedly told her mom she was in pain as she experienced nausea and pressure in her abdomen. 

"It brings me to tears, to see her face and remember when she looked at me in the eyes, and she was pleading for help," Limas said, wiping her eyes. "She was saying, 'Mommy help.' And she held my hand tight, tight, tight. And I grabbed her hands and I told her, 'I'm doing everything I can.'

"And I did. But unfortunately, they didn't do what they were supposed to."

Limas said she called for doctors or nurses to check on her daughter, but her pleas went unanswered for nine hours. 

"And they kept saying it was part of the surgery and that it was normal," Limas said, adding, "But I noticed that it was progressively increasing."

Limas continued to report the signs and symptoms that her daughter was experiencing. Jessie was eventually taken back to the operating room, where she went into cardiac arrest and died. 

"I never was able to speak with my daughter again, say bye to her, explain her. She was not able to tell me what was going on," she said. 

It was later revealed, during the initial procedure, that Jessie's intestine was perforated, causing leakage and bleeding that ultimately caused her death. It was also discovered, there was no twisted intestine. Rather, what the CT scan had shown was scar tissue from a surgery Jessie had when she was a baby to repair a congenital issue with her diaphragm. It was an issue Limas said had not impacted her daughter's health since then. 

Limas explained her daughter had just started middle school. She said Jessie loved playing the violin and all things makeup. She wanted to become a beauty blogger. 

She said her daughter, who was one of three siblings, was a fighter.

"She's my miracle baby, my warrior," Limas said, adding, "And (she) gave me a reason to live."

Following her daughter's death, Limas called on several state agencies to investigate the hospital and its handling of Jessie's care. 

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services conducted an investigation and stated in two reports obtained by ABC-7, "Based on the results of the investigation, El Paso Children's Hospital was found to not be in compliance with the applicable laws and rules over which our department has regulatory authority, resulting in deficiencies being cited for one or more federal or State regulations.”

The agency also said, "Based on the review ... the governing body failed to ensure its medical staff was accountable for the quality of care provided when the declining state (of patient) was not addressed in a timely manner."

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, which staffed the doctors and surgeons who tended to Jessie, sent the family an apology letter, which stated:

"Please know we have worked with our hospital partner, El Paso Children's Hospital, to understand what happened and to identify systemic failures and treatment issues that contributed to Jessie Limas' death. Both institutions are fully committed to ongoing peer reviews of the situation, which will be focused on implementing changes to address the issues we identify and prevent a similar occurrence in the future."

ABC-7 reached out to El Paso Children's Hospital for a statement on Jessie's care.

A spokesperson wrote, "El Paso Children’s Hospital takes great pride in our high level of pediatric healthcare services, which keeps children home for specialized treatment. Due to this ongoing legal matter and federal patient privacy concerns, we are not able to provide further comment at this time."

ABC-7 also reached out to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Officials stated, "Texas Tech Health El Paso cannot comment on legal matters or active reviews, however, we will continue cooperating fully in assessing the events of that day."

In lieu of a lawsuit, Limas said she won't stop advocating for change, so her daughter's death isn't in vain. She said she is scheduled to meet with El Paso Children's Hospital on April 9.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A car wash boom is sweeping the country, and there is no exception in El Paso. In recent years, dozens of car washes have been popping up across the region. You'll find one on nearly every street, corner and part of town. These businesses offer drivers a quick, easy and high-tech way to get their vehicles clean.

Taylor Bencomo is the site leader at Tommy's Express Car Wash. She said the first Tommy's Express Car Wash opened in El Paso in June of 2021. Now they are preparing to open their fourth location.

Bencomo told ABC-7 that this recent rise in car washes is happening all over the United States. She explained El Paso was largely underserved in this area for many years, leading to this sudden boom.

"I think it's just because there was very few car washes a few years ago. So a lot of people saw the opportunity for that and that's why a lot of them started popping up."

Bencomo said El Paso is currently in the shake-out phase of the business cycle, which means revenues are soaring and may soon begin to slow down as more competitors enter the market. Despite this, she doesn't expect this trend to die anytime soon.

According to Bloomberg, there are currently over 60,000 car wash locations across the county, and that number could double by 2030.

Tom Fullerton, professor of economics at UTEP, explained the various reasons for this recent rise. He said our everyday habits have drastically changed, directly impacting how we complete small tasks like cleaning our vehicles.

"The way that people are making all that money is that they are working a lot of hours and they just don't have time to um, let’s see, to wash their cars by hand. And so the demand for car wash services keeps increasing," Fullerton said.

The UTEP professor also said there are more cars on the roadways.

"You've got a combination of more cars, people with more money, and less time. And so a portion of that money is going towards the convenience of saving time by going through an automated car wash."

Bencomo said another factor that has contributed to this success is the weather.

El Paso is known for its notorious springtime weather that brings blowing dust and sand, blanketing every inch of town. On most days in March, car washes across El Paso are booming with business as drivers are on the hunt to get their vehicles looking spotless.

"So a few weeks ago, we had that huge windstorm that had like just a little bit of rain, and everyone's cars got filthy. We were lined up to the streets, just driving by. It was, you know, it was hard—probably a little hard to get in, but we try to keep things moving as quickly as possible. We are designed for efficiency. We're designed for high volume, so we can quickly and smoothly process vehicles," she said.

Bencomo said many customers invest in a monthly membership to be able to wash their cars consistently.

Jeneka Gimenez, the assistant manager at Mister Car Wash on Mesa, told ABC-7 they also typically see a large increase in customers on days after a big dust storm.

"More than a 1,000, probably 1,200. It's been down Mesa St. for about three hours now." She explained they see three to four times more customers these days than their daily average.

The manager at the Fast Trak Express Car Wash on Zaragoza, Javier Navarro, provided similar insight. He said they serve anywhere between 300 to 400 people on a normal day at just one location. He has personally seen significant growth.

"We've gotten a lot of customers now that the weather is crazier," Navarro said.

Bencomo and Fullerton both explained this recent boom is leading to the creation of jobs and investment opportunities.

"It's been an interesting thing, phenomenon to watch here in this region because it's had some unexpected offshoots and unexpected benefits," Fullerton said.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some El Pasoans have noticed a recent rise in the number of automated car washes across the city. There are dozens of locations across the El Paso region offering drivers a quick and easy, high-tech way to get their vehicles cleaned.

ABC-7 learned that this recent car wash boom is also happening throughout the United States. Car wash and local economic experts explain there are many reasons for this recent spike.

One of the biggest factors is the weather in El Paso. Days after a big storm, car washes are buzzing with business.

ABC-7's Rosemary Montanez discovers how this rise in car washes is helping the local economy and where this trend is headed.

Watch Car Wash Craze Wednesday on ABC-7 at 10 p.m. only on ABC-7.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) Fifth grade teacher at Chester E. Jordan Elementary School, Caitlyn Bowen, is being hailed as a hero after performing the Heimlich maneuver on a student last month. 

Bowen is one of the coaches for the school's Destination Imagination program, where students flex their creativity and compete in science challenges. 

On February 5, Bowen was on her way to pick up some of her extracurricular students from another classroom, something she doesn't normally do, when she noticed a first grader struggling. 

Bowen instantly realized he was choking. 

The only other person in the room was a substitute teacher. Bowen didn't think twice and sprang into action. 

"I just ran over to him. I got behind him, and I did the Heimlich maneuver on him. It was about four or five pumps before I heard something hit the table. It was a Cocoa Puff, and it was during breakfast time. And he says it's out. And yeah, it was just a simple little Cocoa Puff," Bowen explained. 

Minutes later, she walked the student to the nurse's office. 

Bowen said the entire ordeal was unexpected. She said it was a case of being at the right place at the right time. 

Four years ago, Bowen was asked if she wanted to join her school's first response team. She underwent CPR training, but never imagined she would put her skills to the test. 

In that moment, Bowen said her instincts kicked in.

"Just like the adrenaline in the moment where you just like, I have to help this child. You know? As teachers, we're put in stressful situations. That's not one that you expect, though," she said. 

Bowen said the response since the incident has been overwhelming. Many of her students now admire her quick thinking and life-saving actions.

"They were just like you're a hero! You saved somebody. It's really sweet because they really do, they were just so excited, and they were like, 'Wow, that's amazing.' They clapped for me, and they cheered for me. And it's been a, it's been a nice experience." 

Bowen's heroic actions were also recognized by the SISD Board of Trustees. She even received a standing ovation. 

She said she has seen much good come out of this scary ordeal. 

Bowen said she doesn't consider herself a hero. She told ABC-7 that all teachers are heroes. 

She is thankful for all of the support she has received. She hopes it encourages other teachers to undergo life-saving training so they, too, can save lives.

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Update: Police say the suspect got to the house and confronted the two victims. Police are identifying the victims only as a 38-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man. They identified the suspect, although ABC-7 is not including the name here as the suspect has not been charged.

Crimes Against Persons detectives say the suspect had previously sent the victims threatening messages. They say he stabbed the man after forcing his way into the house. They did not provide an update on his condition.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Update: One man is dead, another man injured after a home invasion in East El Paso, according to police.

Police received the call at 2:25 a.m. and responded to 11600 Gordon Bays Way.

When police arrived they found two men inside a duplex home with stab wounds, according to investigators.

Both were taken to the hospital. A 27-year-old suspect died due to his injuries. Police say the second man sustained serious injurious but are not life threatening.

Sgt. Gomez said there is no danger to the community and the area will be closed for six-to-eight hours as investigators continue their investigation.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- El Paso Police are responding to a homicide in East El Paso. According to EPPD, the investigation is happening at 11600 Gordon Bays Way.

Crimes Against Person unit is investigating the scene.

This is a developing story. An EPPD spokesperson is set to provide more information Thursday morning.

Check back for updates.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- ABC-7 got a firsthand look at the Crisis Negotiation Training law enforcement officers undergo to help prepare them for stressful situations.

Friday marked the fifth and final day of a 40-hour course. The last day involved scenario training.

Local, state and federal partners were also involved in the training as part of a certification process to become crisis negotiators or to advance their training. Among those present Friday were FBI El Paso, El Paso Police, El Paso County Sheriff's and Homeland Security Investigators.

Special Agent Valerie Venegas with FBI El Paso told ABC-7 that the goal of these trainings is to help prepare law enforcement for real-world situations they could be faced with.

"We're all human. And so creating a crisis situation, whether it's a suicide crisis, for example, or a work violence crisis or a domestic violence situation, it's really not a hard reach because we see it throughout our daily lives," said Venegas.

The special agent also said it's all about de-escalation in these situations.

We are looking at emotions. When people are angry, they're upset, they're desperate, and they're depressed. Whatever the situation may be, they're in that high emotion level. And when people are in that high emotion level, you're not thinking rationally. And so the goal is to lower those emotions and to help decrease that so we can think on a rational level."

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Municipal Court continues to warn drivers against speeding. According to the court's X page, traffic crashes and deaths are on the rise.

Thanks to our partners for this video. Speeding is never the right answer. Traffic accidents and fatalities are on the rise. Please help put an end to speeding. Click the video and link below. #nomorespeeeding #endthestreak https://t.co/Gswwmh6UqS

— ElPasoMunicipalCourt (@ElPasoMuniCourt) January 31, 2024

Nine traffic fatalities have been reported this year so far.

According to El Paso Police, some of the crashes that have turned deadly have involved intoxicated drivers.

The court is encouraging El Paso drivers to drive safely.

Lisa Brown, the owner of A2B Driving School, said there are more distractions.

"People trying to multitask when they're driving, which driving is multitasking in itself. And they're trying to do too many things because our lives are so busy that they're trying to get everything done and they're using the car time to be able to do that, too, which makes them not pay attention so much to the road. 

Lisa Brown, the owner of A2B Driving School, said there are more distractions.

"People trying to multitask when they're driving, which driving is multitasking in itself. And they're trying to do too many things because our lives are so busy that they're trying to get everything done, and they're using the car time to be able to do that, too, which makes them not pay attention so much to the road," she said. 

Brown also said more people are in a hurry, which leads to crashes. 

"I think our lives are busier, and we spend more time in our car. Our cars are more advanced. They do more for us. So we expect to do more in the car. Lives are more busy, roads are more crowded, more pedestrians. There's just your own life is multitasking."

She said she uses real world examples to teach her students.

Commander Jerome Washington with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said they see different trends on the roads. 

"Some of the big trends is just, you know, not driver inattention, just the heavy traffic and combining that with, you know, driver inattention, looking at other vehicles as they're trying to move along, people moving hastily, cutting in between, in and out of traffic, trying to get to their destination, but in doing so, causing accidents," Washington said. 

They said they are working to combat this issue. 

"With more technology, we have deployed some equipment that helps us with traffic surveys."

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LAS CRUCES, Texas (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces community continues to remember the police officer killed Sunday night.

Officer Jonah Hernandez, an El Paso native, was stabbed after responding to a trespassing call on the 300 block of South Valley Dr.

Find a Gofundme page set up in support of Hernandez's family here.

According to City of Las Cruces officials, Officer Hernandez was stabbed at least once. He was taken to MountainView Regional Medical Center where he died.

Officer Hernandez leaves behind a wife and two sons, ages 10 and 2.

Family members explained that Hernandez was the youngest of 18 cousins. They said he was proud of being a police officer but, above all, a father.

"He was always with his boys. He took them everywhere. He had a 10-year-old son and also a 2-year-old son and loved them equally. And he he was a great example of what a young, loving father should be. Being present in their lives whenever possible," said Tony Hernandez, a cousin of the fallen officer.

They also said Officer Hernandez was a 4-wheel enthusiast.

"He was also a man who had a zest for fun and extreme sports and who always had that one liners to make you laugh," said Tony Hernandez.

The family said Officer Hernandez understood the risks involved.

According to authorities, the 29-year-old suspect was shot and killed by a witness. Police have not released the suspect's name until his next of kin have ben notified.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces Police Officer Jonah Hernandez was killed after being stabbed Sunday afternoon.

Officer Hernandez was responding to a trespassing call on the 300 block of South Valley Drive. He was stabbed by the suspected who had allegedly been trespassing, according to LCPD.

Officer Hernandez was an El Paso native.

The investigation stated that the suspect was shot and killed by a bystander. The suspect was 29-years-old, his name won't be released until next of kin is notified.

Officer Hernandez leaves behind a wife and two sons.

LCPD has informed the public that there will a press conference some time this week.

New Mexico State Police are assisting with the investigation.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- A spokesperson with The Shoppes at Solana told ABC-7 that renovations continue on the decades-old mall.

Back in July, a new owner purchased the mall, formerly known as Sunland Park Mall. He said he was excited about the purchase and eager to restore the mall to its former glory.

Friday, Gloria Tostado said the revitalization process continues.

"There's also renovations happening throughout the mall indoors and out. So we're trying to create spaces for families to just kind of enjoy and come and hang out at the mall. We want a place for people to shop. We want them to be able to dine here, and we also want to have activities for them to play at the Shoppes at Solana," Tostado said. 

She also said they want to create spaces within the mall that families will be able to take advantage of.

She said since the mall acquired new ownership, some new restaurants and businesses have opened.

"We have, seen people come and visit the new stores, the new aquarium, and other activities. Monkey Rock is also here at the mall. Plus, we also have the stores that people know and love, like Dillard's, like Victoria's Secret, like Hollister. So it's just a nice place to stock up on your favorite shopping as well," she said.

Friday marked the grand opening of the new Jungle Reef Aquarium, an interactive exhibit for all. The aquarium has already attracted thousands of people. 

Tostado said renovations continue.

"We're still working on it. There's still a lot of work to do. We're taking it one step at a time. We're trying to create spaces where the family can come and hang out. Indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. We're trying to add more variety of restaurants and more just more diversity in shops as well."

Visitors said they are excited about the changes. 

"I'm watching the revitalization of this place, and it's so exciting. It's wonderful for El Paso. The economy will be here because it's revitalized. They've taken even the outside looks different, you know. So you pull up in that parking lot, you're seeing new things, you're seeing new energy, you're feeling it. So when you walk in the mall, you're excited to be here," said Darcy Georges. 

Mall officials said they continue to search for restaurants and stores to join the mall. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Friday marks the official grand opening of the first Dave's Hot Chicken in El Paso. The restaurant is located at 12261 Eastlake Blvd. in Far East El Paso.

The restaurant specializes in hot chicken tenders and sliders. The restaurant also offers creamy mac and cheese, crispy fries, cheese fries and kale slaw.

The brand started as a parking lot startup in Los Angeles, CA.

The restaurant was founded in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, trained chef Dave Kopushyan, along with Tommy and Gary Rubenyan.

The company has expanded to over 140 locations in the United States and Canada.

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HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) -- Loved ones of the 17-year-old who was hit and killed in Horizon City Wednesday have created a fundraiser to help cover funeral costs.

According to a GoFundMe, family members have identified the victim as Miguel Romero.

Here is the link to the GoFundMe.

The organizer of the fundraiser wrote, "We are still in shock and extremely devastated by these news but even though we can not come to understand how such a beautiful soul was taken away from our lives so soon, we are writing today to ask for your support to help his parents and family cover as much as possible for the funeral costs."

The author went on to say they would like to give him a proper goodbye to honor his memory.

A spokesperson for the Clint Independent School District confirmed Romero was a Junior at Horizon High School.

Horizon City Police said the crash happened around 5:54 p.m. Wednesday. They were called out to the intersection of Darrington Rd and Pawling Dr. following a single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

Authorities said Romero was hit by a Ford F-150 that was turning onto Darrington Rd. Police said Romero was using a crosswalk, but they could not say who had the right of way.

The teenage victim was taken to the hospital where he died.

Witnesses on the scene told police that a red truck had left the scene following the incident. Authorities were able to track down the vehicle within Horizon City Limits around 7:50 p.m., two hours after the incident.

Authorities said the suspect, Oscar Solis, has had two previous Driving while Intoxicated convictions. The most recent one was in 2021.

"We always try to be proactive. You know, we don't want to wait until the tragedy strikes for us to go ahead and do something. So our officers are always patrolling the streets. And it's a lot of things that until what we do as we're patrolling the streets, we're also looking out for the neighborhoods. We're also responding to calls and we're out there as much as we can. We don't want to be the type of police department that's always reactive. We want to be proactive," said Heli Sierra with the Horizon Police Department.

Oscar Solis was arrested and taken to the El Paso County Detention Center. He is facing charges of Intoxication Manslaughter and Collision Involving Death.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some El Paso County leaders are divided on the U.S. Senate's border deal. 

The deal would largely implement limits along the U.S. southern border.

One of the changes included in the bill would allow the Department of Homeland Security to crack down on migrant crossings if they reach over 4,000 in one week. Additionally, DHS would be required to take action if migrant crossings surpass 5,000 on an average day.

Another change is that asylum processing would be streamlined from years to only six months.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said it was an 'aggressive' approach. The judge said he would have liked to have been included in some of these conversations. 

"I think that one of the things I'm very concerned about that they don't, we don't have these discussions to let the leadership here in El Paso sort of be able to talk about that," Judge Samaniego said. 

The county judge said shutting down the border could become overwhelming for our community. 

"That means our jails are going to be fuller. And we're, you know, we're not going to be able to handle some of these situations, and so it's easy for them, but the community really gets a burden of being able to address these changes," he said. 

County Commissioner Sergio Coronado for Precinct 4 said he agrees with this bipartisan deal, but said he still needs to review it further. He said the U.S. needs a comprehensive immigration solution. 

"Border problems it's a problem for everybody including the administration, who have to deal with the law as it is and without the proper resources. So instead of placing blame, you know, the Congress should act. They should really take care of taking a look at this. I would rather see a complete solution to the problem. This is as best a solution as we have had for the border in quite some time," Commissioner Coronado said.

Commissioner David Stout for Precinct 2 said he is disappointed by the bill. 

"Especially when it comes to, you know, the provisions within the bill that have to do with spending on the border. I think it's just continuing with decades of, you know, misspending money and distracted policies," he said. 

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said she is still working on the entirety of the bill. 

"I have long said I will thoughtfully consider any bipartisan product that works to improve the challenges we are facing at the border, and I intend to do just that," she wrote on X.

Rep. Tony Gonzales will hold a virtual press conference on Tuesday to discuss this. 

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Update: The motorcycle rider, 42-year-old Kristopher Shull, died as a result of the crash. Police investigators say he was not wearing a helmet when a Nissan Sentra hit him in the intersection. He died February 7, 2024 as a result of severe head injuries.

The Sentra was driven by a 20-year-old woman. A 7-year-old girl was riding in the car. Police have not said if they were injured in the collision.

Police have not said who was at fault for the crash or if charges are pending. ABC-7 is working to learn more.

This is the 7th traffic fatality compared to 11 this time last year.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Police say one person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries following a motorcycle crash.

The incident happened near the intersection of Sun Valley Dr. and Alcan St. around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Special Traffic Investigators were called out to the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The owner of a popular group of elote trucks is speaking to ABC-7 after one of his trucks was stolen last Friday.

Jesus Rios, the owner of Elotes El Vaquero, said he first started his business almost 15 years ago. He said selling authentic Mexican corn runs in his blood, but he was the first in his family to bring this concept to the United States. 

Rios said he wanted to do something different. He said fresh ingredients and good customer service set his company apart.

Over the years, his business has largely expanded. Now, Rios is the proud owner of five different food trucks.

Last Friday, Rios received a phone call from one of his employees. One of his food trucks had been stolen.

"For the past, I don't know, for like 2 or 3 minutes, I thought they were playing a joke on me. And I said, There's no way the food truck is gone. So they checked again. I went to the place, and it was stolen," Rios said.

The owner compared the incident to having a child involved in an accident or dying.

"At that moment, I didn't know my name. I mean, it was that bad because I couldn't believe that that was happening to me at the moment," he said.

Rios immediately notified the authorities, but he also turned to social media. He posted a picture of the truck and asked the community to alert him if they saw it.

Rios went to bed that night but was anxious about his truck. He only got four hours of sleep.

The next morning, Rios woke up to several messages. Some customers said they had seen the truck in several different parts of town, and some also saw it going west, headed towards Las Cruces.

Rios, along with his family, headed to Las Cruces and was able to track down his truck. He said it was emotional seeing it for the first time.

Rios said the truck was all alone when he found it. He still doesn't know who took it.

"I called the police. And I told them, 'You know what? They found the food truck,' I said. They started laughing. At the moment, I didn't know why they were laughing. Everyone thinks that is funny. And there's no way that someone's going to steal a food truck."

Rios said the food truck was a disaster when he stepped inside.

"Whenever I showed up to the food truck, I opened the door, and it was a mess. The grease was all over, the warmer was broken, and the glass box where we put the churros and the heater was broken. And then the letters—some of them—were broken," he said.

Rios said his family all got to work. They were able to restore the truck to its former glory and even started selling corn that night.

"But it's changed my life. Yes. Not only my business, but my personal life with my wife, my parents, and my employees."

Rios said he learned many lessons through this experience, but he said moving forward he will be more attentive with all of his trucks.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Officials with the University of Texas at El Paso provided an update on a possible law school in El Paso. This comes as the Texas Supreme Court visited UTEP Thursday to hear oral arguments in two cases based in El Paso.

"We are at the beginning of a feasibility study here at UTEP to determine the feasibility of a law school. And the Supreme Court coming here is a great example of the judicial system and how far it reaches," said Andrea Cortinas, the Vice President and Chief of Staff at the university.

UTEP students and El Paso residents had the opportunity to gain insights on Texas' highest court during this time. University officials said they were happy about Thursday's turnout.

"I think it was very meaningful for the Supreme Court of Texas to visit El Paso and to have oral arguments at UTEP. It gave our students a great opportunity to witness our court system in action. It's one thing to read about how the court system works. It's quite another to actually see it working in person, in your hometown," she said.

Cortinas explained to ABC-7 that many UTEP students have expressed interest in studying law in El Paso.

"We need to see what the numbers show us, what the what the study says before we can make a determination of whether there should be a law school in El Paso right now," she said.

Justice Jimmy Blacklock spoke to ABC-7. His mother is an El Paso native and Burgess High School alum. He was asked about the possibility of a law school.

"This is a unique and special part of our state. It's a beautiful part of our state. It's historically and culturally unique, but it is just as much a part of Texas as anywhere else in our great state. And I can't see why we wouldn't want there to be as many educational opportunities in El Paso as there can be. And we would feel the same way about anywhere else in our state," he said.

Cortinas said Thursday's event is another opportunity for students to be able to see what they can one day achieve.

"It definitely opens their, their eyes to the possibility that they, too, could aspire to these types of positions," she said.

Students also got to participate in a question and answer segment with some of the justices.

This is the first time since 2019 the court is traveling outside of Austin for official case proceedings.

"Conducting oral arguments in diverse locations not only enhances transparency but fosters a deeper public understanding of the Third Branch of government, and helps this Court spread its message of accessibility to justice to all corners of our great state," said Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht.

The hearings are happening from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center on the UTEP campus.

"It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn more about our state judicial system and envision future careers for themselves," said UTEP President Heather Wilson.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- ABC-7 spoke with one migrant advocate in El Paso who is strongly against the proposed border deal.

Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday a possible border deal could be ready in the coming days. The senator said he and his colleagues had reached a bipartisan deal that they are still working on.

Fernando Garcia, the executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights, said he is frustrated by the proposed deal.

"We're not fixing those things. And I think what we are doing is just putting some Band-Aids to something that that is going to continue bleeding that way," he said.

A portion of the deal includes the authority to shut down the border if migrant crossings or encounters surge.

The president said earlier he would shut down the border right now if given the power by Congress.

"That's not that we need. But what is very surprising is now that President Biden has embraced that same narrative. And I mean, honestly, we are shocked by the idea," Garcia said.

Additionally, the deal could also speed up the process of asylum claims to resolve them in a shorter timeframe.

Garcia said this could lead to more deportations and asylum claim rejections.

"You want a system that works faster, but but what for what purpose? Is it to move asylum seekers faster, to deport them faster, or a system that can guarantee them legal rights and legal protections and guaranteed them access to attorneys."

Garcia said a more comprehensive solution is needed.

"Everyone is talking about the border and nobody's talking about really fixing the system because nothing that has been in this plan presented by President Biden or the Republicans is fixing the system. It's not reforming immigration" he said.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- East El Paso resident are concerned about the lack of stop signs in their neighborhood.

Jose Castillo noticed two months ago that some stop signs in the area had gone missing. Castillo said he worries constantly about being involved in a car crash since its a high traffic area.

"We have a safe neighborhood. The only problem is that the street is very busy and we just have a lot of cars that just fly by here," he said.

Another resident also said he has noticed some stop signs missing in major intersections. He said one solution could be adding some speed bumps to slow down the fast high traffic peak hours.

"They go very fast, very fast. And that's my concern. A couple of times I even stopped next to him and I told him, 'You know, you need to slow down. This is a neighborhood.' You never know if a kid is going to walk out of the house and maybe some tragedy will happen in traffic," another concerned resident said.

The neighborhood is very close to Americas High School and Castillo said he is concerned for students who walk to school throughout the week. He said he is staying vigilant.

"We always have an eye out for the ones that we know that are missing. We just slow down and just look, you know, every way because there's been, you know, cars just drive by and they don't stop."

Castillo said he reached out to 311, but nothing had been done. A spokesperson for the City of El Paso said they are working on a response.

ABC-7 witnessed a city employee installing a new stop sign in an area where it had been missing.

District 6 City Representative Art Fierro said his office continues to have issues with 311.

He encourages his constituents to instead call his office at 915-212-0006.

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Update (February 8, 2024): Court documents newly obtained by ABC-7 show that Luna has waived his right to extradition and will be sent to Mexico to face the charge.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The mother of the 19-year-old woman killed in Ciudad Juarez in April of 2023 continues to seek justice.

Aylin Valenzuela was stabbed and shot in the head and chest on April 7, 2023.

Her mother, Claudia Valenzuela, said she would like to talk to her daughter and tell her this won't stay like this. She said she is now taking care of her two young grandchildren.

Valenzuela explained Aylin was living in Juarez at the time. She was working to become a lash tech.

Her mother said she had been seeing 23-year-old Fort Bliss soldier, Saul Luna Villa, for the past five years, but she said it wasn't romantic.

The mother told ABC-7, she called Luna Villa the night the incident happened. She said she had a feeling something wasn't right when her daughter wasn't answering her phone.

Valenzuela asked Luna Villa why he killed her daughter. He said he killed her because she was talking to other men. Valenzuela told Luna Villa that her daughter was not his.

She said she won't rest comfortably until Luna Villa is convicted.

According to court documents obtained by ABC-7, Saul Luna Villa, a Ft. Bliss soldier, is facing a charge of aggravated femicide in Mexico. He is accused of killing teenage mother Aylin Valenzuela in Juarez last year.

Court documents reveal on the evening of April 7, 2023, law enforcement authorities in Mexico were alerted to the discovery of a dead body in a Juarez neighborhood. An autopsy later revealed the victim was shot in the head and upper chest.

Earlier that day, Valenzuela's mother received a call from her daughter who said she was going out with Luna Villa that night. Luna Villa reportedly asked the victim's mother to take care of her children. He told her he didn't care about the rules and was planning to go into Juarez to see the victim despite not being allowed to cross the border.

Later that evening, the victim's mother received a picture of her daughter, while she was still alive, inside a vehicle. She also said she recognized Luna Villa's right arm in the photograph. Just minutes later, the victim's mother received a phone call from Luna Villa asking if the victim had made it home. She explained her daughter was not home. She tried to call her daughter but did not answer.

The following day, the victim's mother was able to positively identify her daughter's body to authorities. The victim's mother told authorities that her daughter had been in a four-year relationship with Luna Villa after meeting on Facebook.

According to court documents, a friend of the victim, who also lived with her in Ciudad Juarez, said the relationship between the teen and Luna Villa was not good. She described Luna Villa as jealous and possessive.

Investigators in the case are also using security footage from a house near where the victim's body was found. They believe Luna Villa is responsible because the man caught on surveillance footage laying a body on the ground was wearing the same clothing and driving the same vehicle as Luna Villa was that day.

Luna Villa is from El Paso and had been stationed at Fort Bliss for two years. He is still in the United States.

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