SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) - The City of Socorro community gathered at Cougar Park Saturday morning to break ground on the first-ever Veterans Memorial.

The memorial project has been a long-standing goal for the City of Socorro. A donation of $30,000 in materials and supplies by Acme Brick & Stone will help the city reach their significant milestone.

City leaders and administrators say the memorial is more than a structure, they want it to be a symbol of respect and serve as a lasting tribute to those brave men and women who served protecting our nation's freedoms.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - Dozens of area children learned how to properly ride a bicycle during the City of El Paso's Bike Safety event in Northeast El Paso Saturday morning.

Certified cycling instructors taught classes for children of all ages and put them through courses and stations to teach them the importance of wearing proper safety gear and obeying the laws of the road.

A bike maintenance station was also available for parents and their children to get their bikes inspected and repaired.

Injury prevention specialists showed riders and their parents the proper way to put on safety equipment like elbow pads and helmets

The event was part of the City of El Paso's efforts to enhance the quality of life for the community.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- One of the longest operating dispensaries in Las Cruces says they’re being forced to close their doors, just over two years after recreational cannabis was legalized in the state.

Sacred Garden, founded in Santa Fe in 2010, has been operating its Las Cruces storefront since 2018.

It has sold medicinal cannabis well before it was legalized for recreational use, but store manager Carla Padilla says the last two years since have not been kind to them.

Padilla blames over saturation of the market since legalization, as well as a rocky start to recreational sales due to legal issues with the state two years ago, as the things that are leading to the dispensary’s upcoming closure later this month.

“We had a cease and desist from the state, which hindered our in-house production, before we were able to get the go-ahead with manufacturing and production, so at that point when we did go recreational, it seemed like we were already too late," said Padilla.

Sacred Garden will officially close their doors on September, 21st.

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SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) - Crime Stoppers of El Paso and the Socorro Police Department are asking the community for help in identifying the persons involving in a shooting at a park back in June.

This week's Crime of the Week is a shooting that injured a man. It happened on June 20 after 11 p.m. at Cougar Park in Socorro.

Officers responded to a shots fired call and found a man with gunshot wounds.

Witnesses told police occupants in two different vehicles fired handguns from inside their vehicles at the man who had entered the park with his family.

Police also discovered the drivers of the two vehicles were driving recklessly inside the park and that several shots were fired.

The vehicles fled the scene heading towards El Paso, according to police reports.

The first vehicle is described as a gray Dodge Charger. The other vehicle is described as a maroon Nissan sedan.

Pictures of both vehicles were found by police

Anyone with information that could lead to the identity and arrest of the suspected shooters are asked to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477(TIPS) or online at www.cselpaso.org.

Crime Stoppers of El Paso reminds the community you will remain anonymous and if your tip leads to an arrest, you may qualify for a reward.

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Update (September 4, 2024): Police just identified the dead motorcyclist as 22-year-old Tyler Jonathan Reardon.

Special Traffic Investigators are still looking into the crash, officials say.

Police say Reardon was traveling on Transmountain in the left lane "at a high rate of speed" when he lost control and started riding against the curb. He went up onto the median and over the rock landscaping, police officials explain, before the motorcycle fell to its side and skid across the street. The motorcycle then crashed into the back of the car, which was stopped at a red light, investigators say.

Police say that Reardon, who was wearing a helmet, came off the motorcycle and died at the scene. The driver of the car was not injured.

"Speed is a contributing factor in this crash," a police spokesperson explained today. "This is the 41st traffic fatality this year compared to 53 at this time in 2023."

Update (8:50 PM): TxDOT and El Paso Police report all westbound lanes are closed at Woodrow Bean/Transmountain West before Dyer.

Police urge drivers to follow detour.

STI continues their investigation, clearing time until further notice.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - El Paso Police say one person has died after a crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle.

The crash was reported just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Bomarc and Woodrow Bean in Northeast El Paso.

That's near Parkland High School.

Special Traffic Investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the crash.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A proposed zoning change off of Dripping Springs Road in Doña Ana County near the base of the Organ Mountains has some residents worried about the future impact to the environment and wildlife.

A public hearing notice was posted by the county back on August 20th, informing nearby residents about a hearing for zoning changes that would allow builders to move forward with the "next phase" of the Organ Mesa Ranch Subdivision.

According to the notice, the owners of two parcels of land, totaling nearly 200 acres, are requesting the zoning to be changed from "Low-Density Residential-Limited with Conditions" and "Rural Density Residential-Limited" to "Low Density Residential-Limited."

According to Doña Ana County Code, any single-family homes built on land parcels zoned as "Rural Density Residential-Limited" have to be built on lots of land no smaller than 5 acres.

In comparison, "Low Density Residential-Limited" zoning allows single-family homes to be built without that 5+ acre restriction, meaning more houses can be built closer together.

According to the public hearing notice, a total of 192 houses will stand in the Organ Mesa Ranch Subdivision if the next phase of construction is approved.

The plans have led some residents to create a petition opposing the zoning change.

Ania Parco, the organizer of the petition, says she's concerned about the impact new construction will have on the environment.

According to the county's zoning map, the easternmost boundary of the smaller 40.27 acre parcel of land is less than a mile away from the westernmost boundary of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.

"I see the Javelinas and all of the other animals," said Parco, who often cleans up trash from the area of the desert where the zoning change is proposed.

"Once they change the density, there will be no desert," she added.

"This [area, near Dripping Springs] is kind of a crossway between the lands. You see the deer, you see the bobcats, you see lizards, snakes, Javelinas. There are animals here," said Parco.

Parco says they already have a "good" amount of signatures on the petition, and says she won't have a problem getting "more than five-hundred."

She adds she intends to get as many community members as she can to show up to the upcoming Doña Ana County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, where the zone change proposal will be discussed.

The meeting will take place Thursday, September 12th at 9:00 a.m. at the Doña Ana County Government Building.

ABC-7 reached out to Doña Ana County District 3 Commissioner Shannon Reynolds for a comment, who represents the area where the zoning change is being requested.

He said he can't comment on the situation other than informing the public of when the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will take place, adding "if I take a position at this point, then I will have to recuse myself if it ever gets appealed to our board."

ABC-7 also reached out to the the Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, a non-profit organization that aims to "enrich [the] community and diverse cultures through advocacy, conservation and restoration of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument as a premier example of America’s National Conservation Lands."

They told us that they're aware of the proposed zoning change, and are still working to learn more information about the situation.

They added they will not comment further until they have that information.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Conlee Elementary School is dealing with mold, forcing some students and one teacher to move to a different classroom.

Las Cruces Public schools told ABC-7 Monday that they ordered multiple air quality samples after a 4 inch by 6 inch patch of mold was found on a wall in one of Conlee's classrooms.

According to Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz, a couple of teachers also reported illness.

The multiple tests and samples showed the air in the classroom in question and its closet had mold spore numbers between 333 and 2,112 mold spores per cubic meter.

Mold analyzing companies list anything under 1,500 mold spore counts per cubic meter in a room's air as a safe amount.

The district says the elevated numbers in the closet led to students and their teacher to be moved out of the classroom.

More tests around the school may also be ran after the district analyzes the full mold report, which they’re expecting to be released this Thursday.

Ruiz says in the meantime, they are taking every precaution they can, including installing an air filtration system.

“We’ve listened to our teachers, I have met with the staff over there, working with the principal, with the teachers’ union, just making sure that our priority is the safety of our students, safety of our teachers," said Ruiz Monday.

This isn’t the first time LCPS has dealt with mold on one of their campuses.

Columbia Elementary was closed in 2018 after mold was found within its walls, forcing its demolition in 2022.

Students and staff were moved to a temporary campus at Centennial High School, where they will remain until the opening of the new building next fall.

Some feel the district hasn’t done enough in informing parents about Conlee’s situation, including a man that lives within the district and has family that works at the school.

He wished to remain anonymous when he spoke with ABC-7 Monday.

“All of the students from Columbia ended up being bussed to a safe school, where they didn’t have this mold issue," he said.

"There’s been nothing said from the school board, specifically Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz, on any of that happening," he added.

However, Ruiz says he simply wanted to make sure the district knew more concrete information about the situation before potentially panicking parents.

He says families of students directly impacted by this classroom were notified of what was going on.

“What we don’t want to do is put information out there that we don’t have," said Ruiz.

"Once we have the data, once we have the analysis of the entire school, knowing what we’re dealing with, that’s when we’ll communicate to the community either way, whether its business as usual, but being transparent on what those results were, and then looking at next steps as well," he added.

He adds based on the information they have now, the entirety of Conlee won’t have to be evacuated, but more will be known after the full mold report results become available this Thursday.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The Sun Bowl Association and Goodwill Industries joined forces to host the 2024 Adult Flag Football Tournament at the Westside Sports Complex.

More than 70 teams competed in the 4th Annual tournament and included both men's and women's teams.

There were local teams as well as teams from Phoenix, Arizona and other cities in Texas. Organizers say the game is seeing a rise in popularity.

"I think flag football is growing nationally as a matter of fact, and as people know, it will be an Olympic sport in 2028, so we're ahead of that curve, and hopefully it will continue to grow." said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association.

The tournament has grown since it's first game back in 2020 with only 30 teams, and organizers hope interest and participation grows every year.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The University of Texas at El Paso faculty, along with President Heather Wilson presented about 60 students with the School of Pharmacy with their first white coats.

The ceremony marks the the student's progress towards becoming future pharmacists and the coats symbolize authority, professionalism, clinical care and service.

The Magoffin Auditorium was filled with family, friends and faculty ready to applaud as the students tried on their white coats.

The students took the Oath of the Pharmacist which includes a promise to devote themselves to a lifetime of service to others and to embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care.

The pharmacy students acknowledge their next journey will be four years of hard work and dedication and a lot of studying.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, along with former U.S. Representative Yvette Herrell, will be speaking in Las Cruces Wednesday morning for the opening of a new National Republican Congressional Committee "battle station."

The NRCC says the new 'battle station' will serve as the hub of a "grassroots team that will help elect Yvette Herrell and Republicans up and down the ballot this November."

Herrell, former representative for New Mexico's second congressional district, is running against Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D), who beat her in the 2022 election.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Casa de Peregrinos, the primary food pantry for Doña Ana County and Las Cruces, is facing a shortage of food.

According to a news release, the pantry is in dire need of both "monetary donations and food contributions" in order to continue serving families that are impacted by food insecurities.

"Our shelves are emptier than ever, and we urgently need the community's help to replenish our stocks," said Casa de Peregrinos director Lorenzo Alba in the news release.

"Every donation, whether monetary or food items, makes a profound difference in the lives of our neighbors who rely on us for their next meal," he added.

The pantry says they distributed 5.1 million pounds of food to more than 40,000 families in Doña Ana County in 2023 alone, equating to around 4.3 million meals.

They say the shortage threatens their ability to sustain this kind of demand in the community.

To donate or get involved with Casa de Peregrinos, you can call (575) 523-5542, or visit casadeperegrinos.org.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Officials with the El Paso Fire Department confirmed one person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries following a water rescue.

Authorities said the EPFD Water Rescue Team was called to the canal near the 10000 block of Pan American Dr. and Southside Rd. Tuesday morning.

The scene was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol. No other details were provided about the victim.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The family of a young veteran suffering from major health complications is desperate for help after they say the VA has left them seeking answers.

Heather Gariepy once had a promising military career, but was cut short eight years ago after she developed neurological disorders that have yet to be fully diagnosed.

She’s now fully medically disabled at 32 years old, and her family says they’re just trying to do anything at this point to improve her quality of life.

“She was healthy, you can see she was strong," said Rob Gariepy, Heather's father while showing ABC-7 old family photos.

He says she was a successful Pashto linguist in the U.S. Air Force for six years, until something triggered her health issues, which he believes was a series of anthrax vaccines that she received before a deployment. This has not been confirmed by doctors.

After years of declining health, Gariepy now suffers from up to 30 functional seizures a day from any kind of sensory changes.

These, along with severe migraines and gastrointestinal issues, keep her bedridden.

Her family quit their jobs to provide her 24-hour, round-the-clock care, and even built her a sound-proofed and sensory-friendly casita to live in.

When ABC-7 met Heather Monday, she was in so much pain that she couldn’t even talk - and had to answer on a writing pad.

After being asked how the last eight years have been for her, she proceeded to write one singular word, "hell," before having a seizure.

Because of her condition, Rob Gariepy says it’s nearly impossible for Heather to travel to any doctors, and says "bureaucracy" within the VA has made it very difficult to get the in-patient care she desperately needs.

“Locally I know the VA doesn’t have in-patient, and then on the national level...it’s so hard to work through the local level. We’ve been trying for three years locally, and a lot of people told us we moved to the wrong location, which to me isn’t a good answer," said Gariepy.

The Gariepy family even got Representative Gabe Vasquez involved to hopefully speed things along, whom they say has been very helpful.

"They appointed a home healthcare team for her, they started doing a lot of her appointments over video, which we've been begging for for years," said Gariepy.

In the meantime, they’re looking to improve her quality of life with a service dog - which can call for help in the event where Heather can’t, such as when her body locks up from a seizure.

However, Gariepy says it won’t be easy, as the VA won’t pay for the type of dog training that heather’s condition requires.

“Right now, she has an opportunity for a lady to come from Arizona. She’s gonna actually live here on the property in a motor home and actually take the dog with heather through the paces, make that dog specifically designed just for heather, so she’s coming to heather because heather can’t go to her, she’s been denied [by the VA] because she couldn’t go do the training with the other service dogs," he said.

Despite having problems with the VA's system, Gariepy emphasized how hardworking Heather's doctors have been when it comes to trying to improve her quality of life.

"Those doctors bend over backwards, her entire team has been amazing," he added.

ABC-7 reached out to the El Paso VA for comment on Heather’s situation, and in a statement, a spokesman said "out of respect for the privacy of the Veterans we serve, we do not speak to the healthcare cases of individual patients without their consent. However, the El Paso VA Health Care System has been working closely with this Veteran and her caregivers on the best health care options available."

The family is asking for $50,000 in donations for Heather's service dog training, of which nearly $18,000 has already been raised.

You can find the link to donate to the family's Go-Fund-Me here.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Congresswoman Veronica Escobar will serve as one of the nightly leaders for this week's Democratic National Convention Committee in Chicago, Illinois.

The Representative's press team told ABC-7 Sunday night that she will serve as co-chair on Thursday, which is when Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to formally accept the Democratic Party nomination for President.

Other notable co-chairs throughout the week include New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, as well as Mitch Landrieu, former New Orleans mayor.

Earlier this month, Rep. Escobar announced that she will also be serving as National Co-Chair for Vice President Kamala Harris' Presidential Campaign.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces Public Schools will soon start re-drawing school boundaries, and it coincides with the future opening of an elementary school that’s been closed for six years.

Columbia Elementary School was knocked down two years ago, after being closed since 2018 when dangerous mold was discovered in its walls.

LCPS says its reconstruction and planned fall 2025 opening is the perfect opportunity to address the district’s boundaries.

The district says re-drawing school boundaries will address multiple issues that include getting students back into Columbia Elementary, and out of the temporary campus ten miles away at Centennial High School, as well as solving overpopulation issues at schools on the rapidly growing East Mesa.

“We have Organ Mountain High School, we have Camino Real Middle School, Sonoma Elementary, Highland Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary, Mesa Middle School," said LCPS spokeswoman Kelly Jameson to ABC-7 Wednesday.

"Those are just a few of the schools where we’re seeing large student demographics, large student populations, and we need to balance those out across the district," she added.

Another issue that the district hopes to solve by re-districting is getting funding for the aging Mayfield High School campus.

“We are hoping that redistricting will push more students back to mayfield high school, so it can then be eligible for state funds to get the school back to the condition that it deserves to be," said Jameson.

She adds parents will play a large role in the re-drawing process, and a redistricting advisory committee of parents across the district is being assembled.

Some parents ABC-7 spoke to say re-districting will be great to help Mayfield get renovations, while others were concerned about their kids potentially moving schools.

George Contreras, the grandfather of a Monte Vista Elementary School student, which is located on the East Mesa, shared those concerns.

“He’s got one more year left here, and for him to be shipped out to another school, that wouldn’t be fair," said Contreras.

If you’d like to be one of the 12 parents on the redistricting committee, you have until August 23rd to apply.

The link to apply can be found here.

Meetings for the committee, for which all members must commit to attending, have been scheduled for the following dates:

• Thursday Sept. 5, 2024, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. 
• Tuesday Oct. 15, 2024, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. 
• Wednesday Oct. 30, 2024, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. 

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Scott Andrews, Ed.D, has been selected by the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners to be their choice for the next County Manager.

According to a news release from the county, Andrews emerged as a "top choice" candidate following a "rigorous" interview process.

He most recently served as the Assistant City Manager for Bakersfield, CA.

In the news release, Commission Chair Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez said “we are thrilled to announce the selection of a candidate who we believe will not only bring dynamic leadership, but also an infusion of fresh, innovative ideas to Doña Ana County."

He added “[the County's] mission was to find someone who could propel the County's goals forward, while ensuring that our residents thrive and continue to enjoy a good quality of life. After a thorough and transparent process, and we are excited to share that Scott Andrews, Ed.D. is our choice to lead Doña Ana County into a bright and promising future.”

Contract negotiations are now in place. Once a formal contract has been received by the Board of County Commissioners, a vote will be held on Monday, August 19th to confirm Andrews' appointment as the new County Manager.

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SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Senator Martin Heinrich (D), and Representative Gabe Vasquez (D) of New Mexico will host a news conference following a tour of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.

According to a spokesman for Senator Heinrich, the two will be discussing "how $400 million they secured for new, state-of-the-art inspection technologies for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is helping law enforcement personnel crack down on fentanyl trafficking and strengthen border security."

Later in the day, Sen. Heinrich and Rep. Vasquez will host another news conference in Las Cruces to highlight the work of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, as well as to talk about their additional efforts in combating the fentanyl crisis.

You can watch both of them live right here on KVIA.com, and on our KVIA mobile news app.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The film industry continues to grow in Las Cruces, and a new investment from the New Mexico Economic Development Department may help it launch to the next level.

Film Las Cruces announced in a news release Tuesday that plans to build the 36,400 square-foot soundstage complex were underway.

The NMSU Board of Regents announced back in June that they had unanimously approved an agreement between the NMEDD, NMSU, and Arrowhead Center for construction.

According to the release, soundstages are "large, soundproofed buildings that provide an essential capability for films to create sets in sound and lighting controlled environments."

NMSU professor Ross Marks tells ABC-7 they're typically used for film and TV sets that use the same filming location for extended periods of time.

While Marks couldn't name any specific names, he says NMSU is already in talks with several large production companies that are interested in using the soundstage for large-scale TV shows and movies.

He says NMSU and DACC Creative Media students will also have the chance to work alongside these productions as paid interns.

The project is expected to draw in millions of dollars to the region.

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Update (August 8, 2024): Las Cruces approved the new Shopping Cart Ordinance. It will go into effect Friday, August 16, with enforcement by Las Cruces police starting October 16, 2024.

The gap in time between when the ordinance goes into effect and when it will be enforced gives residents time to become educated on the new rule, a city spokesperson explained.

"The ordinance will, in part, require retail establishments to submit a shopping cart plan, affix an identifying sign to their shopping carts and retrieve carts in a timely manner when they are located," the spokesperson added. "The ordinance maintains previous regulations that make it a violation to remove shopping carts from retail premises or possess them off-site, abandon or alter them."

Violations will be considered a petty misdemeanor.

The city is also updating parts of the municipal code to change street and sidewalk solicitation rules. The changes go into effect Friday, August 16, 2024.

"The new language clarifies that solicitations for money or anything of value are not permitted in an aggressive manner in a public area, or on private property within city limits, or if the owner or lawful occupant has asked the person not to solicit on the property or posted a sign clearly indicated such," the city spokesperson explained.

The potential crime will be classified as a petty misdemeanor with a penalty of 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.

"It also prohibits anyone from standing, loitering, accessing, etc., on narrow medians that are located on roads with posted speed limits of 30 miles per hour or greater," the city spokesperson added.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces City Council will vote on two proposed ordinances Monday that could limit solicitation if passed, as well as make possession of a shopping cart a misdemeanor.

Both ordinances are proposed changes to existing city codes.

According to the proposal in Monday's agenda, the city says they've determined that shopping carts taken from retail stores "constitutes a nuisance, creates potential hazards to the health, welfare, and safety of the public, and interferes with pedestrian and vehicular traffic."

The proposal adds the accumulation of abandoned shopping carts on both private and public property reduces that property's value, and "promotes blight and deterioration of neighborhoods within the city."

The ordinance would make possession of a shopping cart outside of the premises of a retail establishment a misdemeanor, and would impose fines between $100 and $500 dollars.

Additionally, business owners would be required to retrieve shopping carts found off of their property.

A second ordinance vote would prohibit aggressive solicitation, such as panhandlers blocking roadways, intimidation towards motorists, and blocking of vehicles.

The ordinance would not ban panhandling or soliciting on sidewalks.

ABC-7 will keep you updated both on-air and online at KVIA.com as soon as council makes their votes.

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SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- Two people were rescued from a swarm of bees in Socorro, TX Sunday evening, according to the city's fire department.

It happened after 8 P.M. at the 500 block of Horizon Blvd, which is just west of North Loop Drive.

The Socorro Fire Department said on social media that the southbound lanes were closed for around half an hour while the bees were cleared out.

No word at this time if anybody was injured in the incident.

ABC-7 has reached out to the Socorro Fire Department for more information.

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SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A man is in critical condition Sunday evening after being found in the desert with heat exposure injuries, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department.

Sunland Park Fire says Border Patrol found the man off of Strauss Road, which runs south of the Dona Ana International Jetport.

They add Border Patrol agents performed CPR and an ice bath on the man, and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Paws for Love therapy dog handler Rodd Garcia remembers the exact moment he heard about the moment a gunman shot and killed 23 people at the Cielo Vista Walmart on August 3rd, 2019, and injured 22 others.

“[I'm seeing] emergency vehicles, police vehicles, and firetrucks, and just everything happened at once, and I’m thinking, ‘something big just happened,’ and I’m thinking, ‘how could this happen to our city?" said Garcia.

"This doesn’t happen to our city, you know, it just seemed absolutely surreal."

ABC-7 caught up with Garcia along with one of his current therapy dogs, Coco, at Del Sol Medical Center.

Garcia told us that he may not have realized in that moment of the shooting was that he, and his licensed therapy dog Duke, would play a huge role in the initial healing process.

“Upon learning more of this, of what actually happened, all the trauma that was going on in the hospitals, with the families, the victims and all that, I kind of had this idea to put duke into service, and see if he could provide some kind of comfort," said Garcia.

The next step was taking Duke to Del Sol.

“We got there, I walked Duke in, and the er staff came around him, down on the floor, and most of the staff laid around him, and the loving started, the crying started, hugging, and I just stood back and let it happen," said Garcia.

"We were there for quite some time and just watched it happen, and he just gave a lot of love and comfort and a lot of tears, and it was just amazing," he added.

Garcia and Duke tended to victims, hospital staff, and first responders for days following the shooting.

Another Paws for Love handler and dog also went to University Medical Center, where many victims were.

Duke eventually retired from therapy —  and died shortly after.

However, Garcia continues his mission of healing and helping others with Coco.

In fact, he says she has even met some of the survivors of the August 3rd massacre.

“I think it was last year, they had a gathering at the memorial at Ascarate lake and we were there, and of course there were some people that walked up and said, ‘where’s Duke, where’s Duke?’ and I said he’s since passed, and say this is Coco, and she’s received a very warm welcome as well," said Garcia.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering for pet therapy, send an email to pawsforlovetherapypets@hotmail.com.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- New Mexico State Police and the Las Cruces Police Department worked together to take down 14 people accused of committing retail theft.

On July 26, 2024, the teams worked at Walmarts and Walgreens in Las Cruces to pick up alleged repeat offenders.

Today, ABC-7 is speaking with LCPD about how they undertook the operation.

The operation lasted all day long, officials say. Nine people were physically arrested, while another five were criminally cited and will need to appear in court. One person was charged with a felony shoplifting.

"Law enforcement partners recovered $578 in merchandise that was shoplifted during the day and identified more than $2,600 in merchandise that was previously stolen by the offenders," officials explained.

Officials say the agencies are now looking to carry out other similar operations in the near future.

"Retail theft has become a growing issue in the Las Cruces area with instances of shoplifting and organized retail theft occurring daily," the officials added.

Officials have not released any of the names of the people arrested in Friday's operation.

Watch ABC-7 newscasts tonight to learn more.

The post How Las Cruces law enforcement arrested 14 people for retail theft appeared first on KVIA.

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was taken into custody in the United States after boarding a plane that flew right here to the Borderland last week.

Officials and Zambada’s attorney have conflicting stories about how he ended up on the plane, but it’s fact that the flight ended at the Dona Ana International Jetport.

The airport, based just west of El Paso in nearby Santa Teresa, currently operates under general aviation, but what exactly does that mean?

Bill Provance, manager of the jetport, explained to ABC-7 that smaller airports like this operate much differently than larger, commercial airports, such as the El Paso International Airport.

"It’s an uncontrolled field, there’s no tower," he said.

Because there’s no control tower, airport staff only briefly deal with those taking off and landing through a special radio frequency called UNICOM.

“They announce who they are, where they are, what they intend to do, and who they’re talking to," added Provance.

He says anyone is allowed to land here, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection only get involved when an incoming aircraft is flying in from out of the country.

While Provance couldn’t comment specifically on the flight that El Mayo arrived on, he says international flight plans must be filed with CBP ahead of time, and the airport is only notified of these types of flights when a CBP unit rolls by the window of the airport’s office.

“They’re based at the [Santa Teresa] Port of Entry, and then they drive up to meet with the airplane when it arrives, to be on the ground ready to go," he said.

The Dona Ana International jetport is currently undergoing major renovations that will allow larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 757, to land there.

The Jetport hopes the result of the ongoing construction of the runway expansion will hopefully attract a different kind of air traffic here.

"Foxconn has indicated that they’d like to fly their electronic components directly from Taiwan to here," said Provance.

He adds the new, heavier duty runway will be open to traffic by Labor Day weekend, and construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

The post What kind of air traffic does the Doña Ana International Jetport, arrest site of cartel drug lords, handle? appeared first on KVIA.

UPDATE 9:39 P.M. - The El Paso Fire Department posted on X that the fire has been knocked down. Crews are currently checking for hotspots. They say no injuries have been reported.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A condition 2 fire is burning in Sunset Heights, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

It's happening at the corner of Upson Drive and Fewell Street.

The fire was reported just before 9:20 p.m. Sunday evening.

Our ABC-7 Mountain Camera was able to see a large response from the fire department, as well as smoke billowing in the air.

ABC-7 has a crew on the way to scene, and will bring you a live report on ABC-7 at 10 Weekend.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Plans to bring back the Wyler Aerial Tramway are in place, and the first phase of reconstruction is now getting underway.

The El Paso Community Foundation announced Sunday afternoon in a news release that they, in collaboration with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, are leading this new effort.

The tramway has been closed since 2018 after a study found it had passed its life expectancy, and was no longer safe or suitable for public use.

Bidding is now open for contractors to start on phase one, which includes more parking and additional infrastructure, as well as an amphitheater.

The EPCF says the El Paso State Delegation secured 20 million dollars for the project. 

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The El Paso Community College partnered with Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises or HOME to provide information on higher education programs available at the college.

"We always want to build the future for our residents, encourage them, and ensure them that they have the tools that they need to continue with their future and their education," said Pamela Soto, a spokeswoman with HOME.

Parents and their students were able to learn about financial aid, speak with program coordinators and learn about applying for those programs.

The post Exploring educational opportunities at HOME appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - Hundreds of area gun enthusiasts gathered in East El Paso for the Old Crow Production's El Paso Gun Show.

Vendors from all over the country displayed rifles and guns along with custom knives, gun parts, scopes, and more for sale.

The post Vendors gather for the El Paso Gun Show appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The Sunland Park Fire Department responded to the desert area off Bi-National Ave near Sunland Park Saturday afternoon after receiving a call of two people in need of assistance.

It happened about 1:30 p.m., members of Dona Ana Fire Rescue and Border Patrol assisted with the search for the two people who had called 9-1-1.

The rescue team found them and provided medical care at the scene.

One died at the scene and the other was taken in by Border Patrol, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department.

This is still a developing story and will be update on-air and online as information is made available.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Memorial Medical Center, one of two major hospitals in Las Cruces, is under investigation by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez for allegedly refusing to treat indigent cancer patients, as well as for violating state law.

The AG's office announced the investigation during a Tuesday morning news conference, where Torrez was joined by two women that claim they were turned away from Memorial Medical Center for cancer treatment.

City and county leaders were present at the conference, including Las Cruces District 2 Councilwoman Johana Bencomo, District 5 Councilwoman Becky Corran, and Doña Ana County District 5 Commissioner Manny Sanchez.

In addition to allegedly denying cancer treatment to patients unable to afford it, MMC is also accused by the AG of "failing to screen patients for financial assistance."

The AG says both accusations are in violation of New Mexico law, including the Unfair Practices Act, Indigent Hospital and County Healthcare Act, and the New Mexico Patient Debt Collections Protection Act.

"Rather than finding an institution in a hospital, a place that puts their wellbeing first, their interests first, they were turned away for financial reasons," said Torrez during Tuesday's new conference.

"It is apparent to me that decisions have been made and continue to be made from a standpoint that is primarily seemingly motivated by profit, by maximizing the bottom line, and without due respect and regard for the patients under their care," he added.

Lifelong Las Cruces resident and former MMC nurse Barbara Quarell says she was denied care, and spoke at the news conference.

She says she was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in 2022, and claims she was denied treatment after the medical center refused to take her insurance.

"At that time, I was paying $800 a month for insurance, and I just couldn't believe that a hospital in my town, my community where I pay taxes, where I'm a nurse, where I've taken care of so many people wouldn't provide care to me," said Quarell.

She says she ultimately went to Albuquerque to receive treatment, and says she wouldn't refer someone to MMC "in a million years" for care.

Debbie Jo Minser, a breast cancer patient, also spoke at Tuesday's news conference.

She says she underwent a surgical procedure, and was then denied a follow-up appointment after being told her Medicaid had "ended."

"They said, 'do you have any other insurance?' And I said 'no,' and they said, really quickly, 'well we can't see you today then,'" said Minser.

"[I remembered] they had told me that they had social workers on site. They should have offered me that, and there was no option of self-payment, there was nothing. Just 'we can't see you today,'" she added.

AG Torrez said there's "a number" of other patients who reported similar experiences to his office, but are afraid of going public with them due to retaliation.

ABC-7 has reached out to Memorial Medical Center for comment.

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Update: Memorial Medical Center, one of two major hospitals in Las Cruces, is under investigation by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez for allegedly refusing to treat indigent cancer patients, as well as for violating state law.

The AG's office announced the investigation during a Tuesday morning news conference, where Torrez was joined by two women that claim they were turned away from Memorial Medical Center for cancer treatment.

City and county leaders were present at the conference, including Las Cruces District 2 Councilwoman Johana Bencomo, District 5 Councilwoman Becky Corran, and Doña Ana County District 5 Commissioner Manny Sanchez.

In addition to allegedly denying cancer treatment to patients unable to afford it, MMC is also accused by the AG of "failing to screen patients for financial assistance."

The AG says both accusations are in violation of New Mexico law, including the Unfair Practices Act, Indigent Hospital and County Healthcare Act, and the New Mexico Patient Debt Collections Protection Act.

"Rather than finding an institution in a hospital, a place that puts their wellbeing first, their interests first, they were turned away for financial reasons," said Torrez during Tuesday's new conference.

"It is apparent to me that decisions have been made and continue to be made from a standpoint that is primarily seemingly motivated by profit, by maximizing the bottom line, and without due respect and regard for the patients under their care," he added.

Lifelong Las Cruces resident and former MMC nurse Barbara Quarell says she was denied care, and spoke at the news conference.

She says she was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in 2022, and claims she was denied treatment after the medical center refused to take her insurance.

"At that time, I was paying $800 a month for insurance, and I just couldn't believe that a hospital in my town, my community where I pay taxes, where I'm a nurse, where I've taken care of so many people wouldn't provide care to me," said Quarell.

She says she ultimately went to Albuquerque to receive treatment, and says she wouldn't refer someone to MMC "in a million years" for care.

Debbie Jo Minser, a breast cancer patient, also spoke at Tuesday's news conference.

She says she underwent a surgical procedure, and was then denied a follow-up appointment after being told her Medicaid had "ended."

"They said, 'do you have any other insurance?' And I said 'no,' and they said, really quickly, 'well we can't see you today then,'" said Minser.

"[I remembered] they had told me that they had social workers on site. They should have offered me that, and there was no option of self-payment, there was nothing. Just 'we can't see you today,'" she added.

AG Torrez said there's "a number" of other patients who reported similar experiences to his office, but are afraid of going public with them due to retaliation.

ABC-7 has reached out to Memorial Medical Center for comment.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Officials with the New Mexico Department of Justice are holding a news conference in Las Cruces Tuesday morning.

Watch the news conference live above.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Three delegates, including the Chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention.

EPCRP Chair Adolpho Telles confirmed this to ABC-7 Monday, and also told us he's one of the delegates.

There are also three alternate delegates from El Paso in attendance.

ABC-7 will be speaking with people involved in the convention. Watch the full story tonight on ABC-7.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Fire Department says one person has been taken to the hospital in critical condition following a rollover in El Paso's upper valley.

The call came in to fire dispatch at 5:14 Sunday afternoon near the corner of Emory Road and West Sunset Drive.

Our ABC-7 crew saw multiple law enforcement agencies on the scene, including Texas DPS Troopers and Border Patrol.

A gray SUV was also seen on its side with most of its windows busted out.

According to El Paso Fire Department dispatch officials, one person was taken to the hospital with injuries described as serious.

ABC-7 is still working to learn more about the crash, and we have reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for more information.

We will update you both on-air and online at KVIA.com as soon as we have it.

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BUTLER, PA (KVIA) -- Former President Trump was swarmed by Secret Service agents on-stage during a Pennsylvania Saturday as bangs were heard during at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

This is according to ABC News.

Shortly into his speech after 6 p.m. eastern time, loud bangs were heard, causing Secret Service to swarm the former president.

He was then quickly led off the stage as he pumped his fist.

There appeared to be blood on his right ear as he was being taken off stage.

ABC News says heavily armed security personnel got on stage as he was led off.

This is still a developing story. Stay tuned both on-air and online at KVIA.com as more details come into our newsroom.

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RUIDOSO, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Many homes and businesses survived the devastating wildfires in Ruidoso last month, only to now be destroyed by intense flooding that’s continuing to hit the region.

The Ruidoso Emporium is one of these businesses.

The store has been a mainstay for those that live in the village, as well as for people all over the country traveling.

One could stop by, grab an antique or curio from one of the 30-plus vendors, or simply browse the vast collection it offered.

The emporium survived the South Fork and Salt Fires, which burned over 1,400 structures, but it was hit hard by flooding that came directly after.

Water moved everything that was in its way down the hills, and right into the back wall of the store.

All of the mud, burned trees, and various debris from the Salt Fire swiftly moved through the entire building, and burst out the front.

Some of those vendors ABC-7 spoke to say they’ve never seen this kind of devastation in Ruidoso.

"I just couldn't believe what I was seeing," said Maggie Schumpert, a vendor at the emporium.

She has lived in Ruidoso for 35 years, and for the last few, has been making extra cash on the side by selling items on consignment at the store.

She said she’s lost between 40 and 50 thousand dollars worth of merchandise.

“It’s been hard for all of us as vendors, as this is our second income, this is my second income, so I lost a lot," she said.

"We all lost a lot.”

Schumpert's losses are just a fraction of the $1 million-plus in losses that’s estimated by emporium manager and partner Chris Patterson.

“We lost cases that were you know, three foot wide, and just in that small area, there were $25,000, $30,000 worth of product in one case, and we lost 70 cases in here," he said.

The flooding also led to the layoff of three emporium employees.

"It cost a lot of people their second income, we had a lot of retired people [working] here. Now they’re jobless, and it’s just sad. It makes me feel sad," said Patterrson.

However, some items survived, including many of the goods located on the second story.

Vendors have been stopping by to recover what they can to hopefully sell in the future.

“If we can save the building, we’re gonna rebuild and we’re gonna reopen," said Patterson.

Schumpert says the tightness, love, and compassion that continues in the Village of Ruidoso gives her the stamina to pick up the pieces.

“It’s helped me a lot. I’ve had my tears, but now I’m ready to get back on the horse, and keep riding.”

The post “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing:” Ruidoso Emporium destroyed by floods, over $1 million in estimated damages appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- After an assistant Doña Ana District Attorney was fired Monday for alleged misconduct, the attorney for the victim is now saying he intends to hold the public agencies involved accountable.

This comes after a woman sent ABC-7 screenshots of graphic texts.

She said an assistant District Attorney wrote them to her 17-year-old daughter, adding the ADA was working on her daughter's sexual assault case.

The text messages show them talking about a range of topics, but the A.D.A. appears to initiate a conversation about whether the teen had ever kissed a girl — and then asked if she had done anything more than that. 

The person texted the girl about his own sexual assault experience in graphic detail, and told her she couldn't tell her mom about any of it. 

ABC-7 learned attorney Israel Chávez is now representing the family.

Chávez told ABC-7 on the phone that the most important thing is respecting the victim's privacy, and adds he intends to get justice. 

“This is an immense breach of trust in the highest order," said Chávez.

"My office intends to hold the public agencies accountable that are trusted with that responsibility over those that should have protected a young person, a child, from this kind of conduct," he added.

Monday, ABC-7 confirmed with the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office that an assistant D.A. had been fired, but couldn’t say if it was because of these messages. 

In a statement, the D.A.’s office said quote, “the District Attorney’s Office employment policies support high standards for its employee’s ethical and professional behavior." 

It adds "recent allegations of alleged misconduct of an A.D.A. were made to this office. Upon further inquiry it was determined the alleged misconduct violated applicable policies and the employee was terminated immediately.”

The identity of the fired assistant D.A. has not been made public.

This is still a developing story. Stay tuned both on-air and online as soon for updates as soon as they come into our newsroom.

The post “Immense breach of trust of the highest order:” Attorney speaks out after assistant D.A. allegedly sends graphic messages to teen appeared first on KVIA.

Update (August 1, 2024): As of today, Colgrove remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.

Update: Colgrove's bond was reduced from $1 million to $500,000, according to jail records.

Update: Court documents reveal that Colgrove tried to convince two of his friends to take the blame for the murder, claiming to have prior felony charges in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Police investigators discovered Colgrove inside of an apartment near the crime scene by following a trail of blood. They spoke with Colgrove, his girlfriend, and two of his friends.

Detectives also spoke to a woman living in a nearby apartment. That woman told investigators that she was friends with Colgrove. She and Colgrove were playing PlayStation together when she complained about her mom's boyfriend, Samuel Louis Baca, court documents state. Colgrove offered to remove Baca from the mom's apartment, talking with his two friends about bringing along a gun, court documents state.

The three men then went to the mom's apartment and confronted Baca, court documents state. Investigators say Colgrove pushed Baca down the stairs of the apartment. Baca then stabbed Colgrove's arm, investigators state in court documents. Baca ran away, with Colgrove and one of his friends following. That is when court documents say Colgrove shot Baca with a .40 caliber Keltec.

When investigators first interrogated Colgrove's two friends, court documents say they made up stories to try to cover for Colgrove. One friend told detectives that Baca was a homeless man who threatened them with a knife in an alley. The other told detectives he had pulled the trigger. He later took back his statement, telling investigators he felt compelled to take the fall for Colgrove.

After the shooting, Colgrove's girlfriend and two friends drove him to a hospital in New Mexico for treatment for his stab wound. Court documents state that the group admitted to driving past Baca's lifeless body on the sidewalk. They did not seek medical help for Baca, investigators say.

Update (July 19, 2024): Colgrove was scheduled to have a bond hearing today at 1:00 PM. As of 3:30 PM, he is still listed as being in the Downtown Jail, according to online records.

Colgrove's case has not yet been assigned to a judge. It remains in the hands of the district clerk. Court records list Justin B. Underwood as Colgrove's court appointed lead attorney.

Update: El Paso Police officers arrested 24-year-old Tristan Alexander Colgrove and charged him with murder. They booked him into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $1 million bond.

Crimes Against Persons detectives say the victim was found dead from a gunshot wound. They obtained an arrest warrant for Colgrove, but did not explain what led them to Colgrove. ABC-7 is working to get those details for you.

Police are not yet identifying the 26-year-old man who died as they are still notifying his next of kin.

Police officials say this was the tenth murder in El Paso this year, compared to 20 this time last year.

Update: El Paso Police officials say the person was found shot dead on a sidewalk.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are on the 5300 block of Byron in Central El Paso.

They are responding to reports of a "subject down."

ABC-7 is on the scene where police officials will be giving an update and explaining what happened.

We will update this page when we learn more.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces Police say they have a man in custody following an early Saturday morning stabbing that left another man dead.

It happened at the 800 block of Avenida De Mesilla just after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, which is near Circle K and the La Quinta hotel.

Police say the victim, who has now been identified as 30-year-old Carlos Joseph Lakemper, was stabbed in the back.

He was originally taken to a local hospital, and was then transported to UMC in El Paso where he later died Sunday morning.

Police say a witness to the stabbing identified 51-year-old William Clyde Turner as the suspect.

He is being charged with one count of felony murder, as is currently being held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond.

The post Man dies, suspect in custody after Saturday morning stabbing in Las Cruces appeared first on KVIA.

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A person died in a desert area near Santa Teresa and Sunland Park, NM Saturday afternoon, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department.

It happened before 4 p.m. in a desert area near Pete Domenici Highway and Bi National Avenue, which isn't far from the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.

U.S Border Patrol, the Sunland Park Fire Department, and Doña Ana Fire Rescue all responded to the incident.

An ABC-7 crew who arrived at the scene also saw Doña Ana County Sheriff deputies.

While no information was provided about the person that died, Sunland Park Fire says another person was found in the same area and was taken to the hospital with "non life-threatening heat exposure injuries."

ABC-7 is working to learn more information about what happened. Stay tuned on-air and online at KVIA.com for the latest details as they come into our newsroom.

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Consider donating to help the survivors here.

The post Watch: Flooding in Ruidoso after wildfires appeared first on KVIA.

Update: Power has now been restored.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Close to five thousand people living in Las Cruces are without power Sunday afternoon, according to El Paso Electric's outage map.

The outage was reported just before 3:30 p.m., and the majority of the reported customers without power appears to be on the city's northeast mesa, near the Metro Verde subdivision.

El Paso Electric currently has no estimated time for power restoration to those affected customers.

In response to yesterday's similar power outages in Las Cruces, Doña Ana County opened a community center to "provide relief and essential services" to residents without power.

The center is located at 5745 Ledesma Dr. in Doña Ana, and will remain open until 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

The county says air conditioning, restrooms, and drinking water will be provided.

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RUIDOSO, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Ruidoso residents living in the Upper Canyon Area and near the Rio Ruidoso are being urged by village officials to evacuate due to flooding that's being called "life threatening."

The Village of Ruidoso posted the evacuation notice on their Facebook page just before 4 p.m.

It says the Upper Canyon Area is experiencing unstable soil in addition to the flood waters.

A flash flood warning remains in place for the area until 8:30 p.m.

Another post on the village's Facebook page also says anyone close to the Rio Ruidoso, which runs throughout town and right behind Midtown, should move to higher ground "immediately."

The village adds an evacuation shelter has been set up at the White Mountain Relief Center, located at the White Mountain Sports Complex at 687 Hull Road.

Officials are also urging people in vehicles to "turn around, and don't drown" in flooded areas, adding most drownings occur in vehicles.

This is a developing story. We'll be sure to keep you updated both on-air and online at KVIA.com as soon as we learn more.

The post Evacuation order issued for some areas of Ruidoso due to “life-threatening flood waters” appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The U.S. Forest Services has a team of Hotshot crews that are highly trained in wildfire management.

They perform demanding and hazardous tasks like building fire lines to stop fires from spreading. The Hotshot crews require a high level of physical fitness and knowledge.

Stuart Daniel is a former Hotshot firefighter that battled wildfires for over two years and now owns and runs his own mechanic shop in El Paso.

"That is one rough [job], that's the hardest I have ever worked in my whole life," Daniel said. "Some of it was really scary. Pine trees literally exploding because the fire gets so hot, and if the fire blows up on you, you just got to run," he added.

Daniel says wildfires like the South Fork and Salt Fires are hard to get under control due to the conditions in the area.

"That is real hard because it's got a lot of vegetation, dense, you got houses you got everything in there too and then the wind." He added "You are trying to make a path in the vegetation so the fire won't jump. So you got the fire right next to you and you are trying to stop by a three foot path...clear all the vegetation, chainsaws you clear all the trees out and move them out of the way, any grass you just shave it down."

The work, besides being physically demanding, is also very dangerous.

"I ended up getting scorched lungs because the fire jumped over the ridge and came underneath the shoot from us, and I had to jump off a cliff," just one experience Daniel shared.

Hotshot crews were first started in Southern California in the late 1940s and were called Hotshot crews because of their work in the hottest areas of a wildfire.

The National Interagency Hotshot Crew Steering Committee says there are over 100 crews across the country that are part of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and state agencies.

The post “You can’t beat Mother Nature:” former Hotshot firefighter on wildfires appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A popular New-Mexico based pizza chain is opening the doors to their first ever El Paso location Wednesday.

Dion's will open in northwest El Paso Wednesday, June 12th at 7484 Paseo del Norte.

According to a news release, the doors will open at 10:30 a.m.

The chain is known for their pizza, subs, salads, and for what they call "fast, friendly service."

Dion's CEO Mark Herman says they're excited to mark a new chapter for the chain by opening in El Paso. 

The chain currently operates two more locations in the Borderland, with both being in Las Cruces.

The post Dion’s, Albuquerque-based pizza chain, opening first El Paso location Wednesday appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Certain types of fireworks will be banned for sale and use in El Paso County due to ongoing drought conditions.

El Paso County Commissioner's Court voted Monday morning to ban "skyrockets with sticks, or missiles with fins."

Not included in the ban are "permissible" fireworks, such as firecrackers.

The decision was made following a presentation regarding the county's drought conditions during Monday's meeting.

Doña Ana County will also be discussing and voting on a similar ban during Tuesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, and that potential ban would include firecrackers.

The post El Paso County votes to ban use, sale of fireworks with “fins and missiles” during July 4th holiday appeared first on KVIA.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- According to the latest unofficial numbers from the New Mexico Secretary of State, Fernando Macias is projected to win the Democratic race for the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office in Doña Ana County.

All 190 precincts in the county have reported.

As of 12:00 a.m. Wednesday, Macias has garnered 34% of the vote, with 3,336 votes cast to him.

His closest competitor Shaharazad Booth, garnered 33% of the vote, with 3,286 votes cast to her - a mere 80 votes less than Macias.

Ramona Martinez garnered 24% of the vote with 2,315 votes cast to her, and incumbent D.A. Gerald Byers received the least, with just 9% of the votes cast to him.

In a statement to ABC-7 Tuesday evening, Byers said "The people have spoken. Best wishes to the successful general election candidate, and I'm looking forward to a smooth transition."

Booth spoke to ABC-7 after the unofficial results came in, and she says her team isn’t ready to call it over just yet.

“We’re gonna wait and see until all of the ballots are counted, that every voice is heard, and that all of Doña Ana [County] is accounted for and heard, and then we’ll go from there," she said.

ABC-7 also reached out to Macias shortly after the unofficial results came in, and haven’t heard back from him at the time of this report.

However, he told us shortly before all precincts reported that he, too wants to wait until the very last vote is counted.

In a news release late Tuesday night, NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said "all election results remain unofficial until the canvassing process is complete and the State Board of Canvass certifies the official results."

She added "the canvass process that ensures accuracy in the election results will take place over the next two weeks at the county-level and at the Secretary of State’s Office, with the State Board of Canvass meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 to certify the official results and order any recounts."

We will continue to keep you updated both on-air and online at KVIA.com as soon as we learn more information.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- ABC-7 is following the New Mexico primary election. Watch ABC-7 at 10 tonight for the results.

See the full results here.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Chief Academic Officer of Alma D'Arte charter school in Las Cruces has responded to bullying allegations made against him over the last few months by parents of students at the school.

This comes as the school is working on implementing a corrective action plan to avoid being shut down by the state of New Mexico after they were found to be in breach of charter in April.

Dr. Adam Amador has been with Alma D’Arte since August of 2023, and he has since been accused by parents of bullying them and their students.

He’s also been accused of creating a hostile work environment by former staff members.

ABC-7 was able to sit down one-on-one with Amador Monday afternoon to gather his side of the story.

He calls the allegations lies, including arguably the most serious, where a woman says Amador bullied her son, Alma D’Arte student Malachi Delanoy in 2023, just before he committed suicide.

“If I’m gonna take the blame, we better have some proof," said Amador.

Amador says Malachi’s mother, Cindy Delanoy, originally claimed on social media her son was bullied by other students before later stating that he bullied him as well.

“We held a candlelight vigil right after he passed away, where umpteen students got up and said he’d been bullied here," said Amador.

"She was there, and had the opportunity to speak, and she did not. Now I’m not trying to be insensitive, but we have to state the facts," he added.

He also claims the very first time he met Malachi was the day before he died.

ABC-7 also caught up with Cindy Delanoy Monday, who we last spoke to in April.

“He says right off that I didn’t set him up," said Delanoy.

She says grief impacted her mental health severely, adding it took three months for her to make a coherent thought after her son took his own life.

“I think that just because I didn’t mention him right off the bat leaves him completely not culpable at all," she added.

This comes on the heels of an upcoming Public Education Commission meeting later this month, where the fate of the school will be decided.

It also comes as parents and former staff continue to call upon the school’s governance council to resign, and for Amador to be removed.

PEC chairwoman Patrica Gippon says the commission will hear to see if the school has improved, and if not, serious consequences may lie ahead.

“The PEC could move to hold a revocation hearing of the school’s charter," said Gippon to ABC-7 over the phone Monday.

Despite the outcry, Alma D'Arte Governance Council president Richelle Peugh-Swafford stands with Amador, and believes people are protesting the school’s leadership for the wrong reasons.

“We have investigated complaints, and have not found solid proof that what they’re saying is a fact," said Peugh-Swafford.

"It’s mostly based on opinions and feelings," she added.

The PEC meeting will take place in Santa Fe on June, 21st.

The post “If I’m gonna take that blame, we better have some proof:” Principal of troubled Las Cruces charter school responds to bullying allegations appeared first on KVIA.

Update: Las Cruces Fire Department officials say it took crews 15 minutes to put out the fire.

No one was inside and no one was reported injured, according to officials.

"The cause of the fire is under investigation and damage estimates have not yet been determined," officials stated Tuesday.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A house on the 1300 block of Amador in Las Cruces caught fire this morning.

Neighbors say the house has caught fire before and that no one lives inside.

Fire crews were battling the blaze for awhile and the smoke could be seen for miles.

ABC-7 is working to learn more about how the fire started. Check back for details.

The post Fire burns house in Las Cruces appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An El Paso teen and soon-to-be graduate from Eastwood High School recently awarded one-point-five million dollars in scholarships, the highest recipient at her school, and she achieved all of it while dealing with hardships in her family.

Giovanna Zubia says she’s worked hard to get where she is.

“This is sort of the light at the end of the tunnel for me," said Zubia.

At Eastwood High School, Zubia broke two track records, and holds the third-fastest all time 400 meter dash time.

Academically, she was a class officer and top scholar all four of her high school years.

This led her to winning 1.5 million dollars in scholarships, as well as the 10 thousand dollar Jim Omohundro Courageous Leadership Award for her track and field accomplishments.

After receiving offers from many universities across the U.S., she’s decided she will run Division 1 Track & Field and will study environmental science at UNM to stay somewhat close to the Borderland.

“The culture they have over there, the heritage, it’s not too close to home but also not too far, I’m just blessed to have a full ride to attend,' said Zubia.

What may be even more impressive than her achievements is what she had to deal with while working towards those goals.

Her grandmother developed a rare disease called amyloidosis, which causes organ disfunction.

With no treatment options available in the borderland, she had to go to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

Her mother Berenice often travelled there to be with her, leaving Giovanna and her sister alone with her husband for months at a time.

To make matters worse, Giovanna’s grandfather died in the same timeframe.

“It was a trying time for the family," said Zubia.

Despite this, Berenice says Giovanna’s unwavering hard work persisted.

“For her, it was truly her dedication and motivation to make her grandpa who passed away proud, and make my mom proud, even though she was struggling, and show that life has to go on as well," said Berenice Zubia.

“I used that struggle as my motivation, and I just really wanted to do everything I did for my family," said Giovanna.

Luckily, Giovanna’s grandmother is still around, and will be able to witness her graduate this Tuesday at the Don Haskins Center.

The post Eastwood High School senior wins $1.5 million in scholarships, will run Division 1 Track & Field at UNM appeared first on KVIA.