Update: El Paso Police just identified the pedestrian as 42-year-old Gloria Anthony. Police say she died at the hospital.

The driver of the car involved in the incident stopped in a parking lot and got out. The car started to roll backwards.

Anthony and a group of other pedestrians she was with tried to stop the car, but Anthony was knocked down an seriously injured.

Police say this is the 39th traffic fatality of 2024 compared with 53 at this time last year.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person is in the hospital with serious injuries after a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian at the 12200 block of Pellicano Dr., according to El Paso Fire Department. The person injured was brought to Del Sol Medical Center.

Images sent to ABC-7 from viewers appear to show police tape blocking off a section of the road.

Pellicano Dr. east and west-bound lanes have been closed.

El Paso Fire Department says the call for the collision came in at 7:50 p.m.

ABC-7 has a crew heading to the scene right now, and will continue to update this story as we learn more.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A new lawsuit claims former New Mexico State Head Basketball Coach Greg Hire knew about sexual misconduct happening in his locker room as early as 2022's summer training.

The lawsuit states players reported the behavior to Heiar in June 2022. Heiar also said in August 2023 he never knew about the hazing allegations.

The lawsuit comes from Bol Kuir, a former NMSU player. The complaint claims he witnessed teammates using drugs, having guns, as well as harassing, abusing, and sexually assaulting other players.

The suit states Heiar told Kuir to stop being a "tattle tale" by reporting other players.

Kuir say this all led to him being kicked off the team.

This is the third lawsuit related to hazing allegations within the 2022 NMSU Men's basketball team.

In February of 2023, a basketball player filed a police report saying teammates hazed him and sexually assaulted him.

NMSU shut down the basketball program and fired Heiar.

Then, in April, former players Shakiru Odunewu, William "Deuce" Benjamin and Deuce's Dad William Benjamin sued NMSU, former coaches, and three former teammates.

This led to an investigation from the New Mexico Attorney General that led to former NMSU players Kim Aiken Jr., Deshwandre Washington, and Doctor Bradley to be charged with 37 combined felony sexual assault charges in November.

Kuir's lawyer told ABC-7 these allegations speak to the culture of fear that Coach Heair had in his locker room.

“I personally find it appalling, it’s heartbreaking for this young man," he said. "It’s hard to understand why you have a 7 foot 3 player on your team, why you’d reject him, its all very baffling. And in light of the other impending lawsuits, it also bumps the timeline back in terms of, wow, they knew a lot early.”

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Police Department has announced its partnership with TxDot for the Statewide Impaired Driving Campaign, which runs from August 1 to September 30.

Thanks to the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant, the department says it will be able to have greater police presence on the roads during Labor Day weekend.

The Department reminds the public to not drink and drive, and to instead use a ride-share app, designated driver, or public transit.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Museum of Art is set to hold its Member's Choice event, during which curators and members of the museum will be able to vote on art they want to add to the museum's permeant collection.

One regional artist considered for acquisition is El Paso Community College professor Zoe Spiliotis.

“I am deeply honored by the recognition I received as an artist from the El Paso Museum of Art, one of our most esteemed local institutions for experiencing art in the Borderland," Spiliotis said. "To be featured alongside two other artists whom I hold in high regard and respect is a genuine privilege."

The Member's Choice event will be held Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Chamber announced this year's "915 Restaurant Week" will be held from September 9 to 15. During this week, eateries are encouraged to offer special El Paso-themed menu items to celebrate the city's history and culture.

To participate, eatery owners can visit suncityeats.com to register. After registering, owners have until August 31 to submit their El Paso-themed dish to erin@elpaso.org.

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UPDATE: The Phase 2 meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 21 at Chapin High School has been canceled.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Independent School District has announced the upcoming community meetings for phase 2 of its Destination District Redesign project.

El Paso ISD says the project targets educational standards within the district and "is a commitment to ensure that every child in El Paso ISD receives a high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances."

Phase 2 meetings will be held at 5:30 P.M. on:

• August 21 at Burges High School
• August 22 at Chapin High School
• August 27 at El Paso High School
• August 28 at Irvin High School
• August 29 at Jefferson/Silva High School
• September 3 at Coronado High School
• September 4 at Andress High School
• September 5 at Austin High School
• September 9 at Bowie High School
• September 16 at Franklin High School

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Ysleta Independent School District announced it was named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Employers 2024.

The list, which took around 4.4 million employer evaluations into account, determined it's score based on employee's willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family, as well as indirect evaluations from friends and families of workers.

“The Ysleta Independent School District is honored to earn such a prestigious recognition from Forbes, and we are proud to offer a workplace environment where our 6,400 employees feel appreciated, respected, and inspired for the benefit of our students and families,” Ysleta ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Xavier De La Torre said.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support has awarded El Paso garment manufacturer ReadyOne Industries a $92,406,100 contract to make advanced combat pants for the U.S. Army over the next five years.

“We are honored to receive this five-year contract from the Defense Logistics Agency,” said Craig Wellons, President and COO of ReadyOne Industries. “This award not only reaffirms our dedication to delivering advanced, high-quality combat gear for the U.S."

The contract's ordering period will run until August 14, 2029.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso has announced it will host nine community meetings intended to educate voters on the upcoming Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Facility ballot measure.

City Council voted last week to send the ballot measure to voters in the upcoming November election.

The meetings will be held at:

• Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 5:30 p.m., Westside Regional Command (4801 Osborne Dr.)
• Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m., Marty Robbins Recreation Center (11620 Vista Del Sol Dr.)
• Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m., The Beast Urban Park (13501 Jason Crandall Dr.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5:30 p.m., Westside Branch Library (125 Belvidere St.)
• Monday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m., Valle Bajo Community Center (7380 Alameda Ave.)
• Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m., Hilos de Plata (4451 Delta Dr.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., Municipal Services Center (1059 Lafayette Dr.)
• Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., Northgate Transit Center at Metro 31 (9348 Dyer St.)

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DEMING, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The City of Deming's Police Department announced three people are injured after a shootout that took place at 4:00 p.m. on 1000 W. Birch St. on August 17.

The department first announced the shooting on a Facebook post at around 8:40 p.m.

Police say after two people drove to a home on 1000 W. Birch St., an altercation began between them and another party. The altercation escalated into gunfire, with three people shot.

Deming Police say no innocent bystanders were injured in the shooting.

All three injured people were airlifted to an El Paso hospital for emergency treatment.

Police believe this was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

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If you would like to commemorate a pet who has passed away, post their photo to our In Memoriam Gallery.

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Update: 10:20 P.M. - El Paso Fire says all nine patients were taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

El Paso Police report that all lanes are open at this time.

No word yet on what caused the rollover.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- At around 8:40 p.m., El Paso Fire Department crews were sent out to a rollover crash on Transmountain Rd.

The department first posted about the crash on their X account around 9:15 p.m.

El Paso Fire Dispatch said crews are currently treating injuries and checking nine patients at the scene. An ambulance is on the way to provide more aid and bring any injured parties to the hospital.

The fire department has not yet confirmed if any roads or lanes will be closed due to the crash

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Local businessman Renard Johnson officially filed for candidacy in the El Paso mayoral race on August 13.

In a meeting with reporters, Johnson said his campaign is focusing on lowering property taxes, addressing public safety, and improving quality of life.

Johnson says his vison for El Paso includes a focus on expanding opportunities in industries like aerospace, cybersecurity, medicine, and technology.

He is running against city representatives Cassandra Hernandez, Brian Kennedy, Marco Contreras, Steven Winters, Ryan Houle, and Jacob Chavira.

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JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) -- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum visited the new Hospital Regional 2 in Juarez on August 9.

The new hospital, inaugurated by President Obrador, was originally scheduled to have its operations begin in full on Aug. 9, but announced on Aug. 7 many services would be delayed until September.

Construction on the hospital started in September of 2022. The hospital was planned to have a capacity of 260 beds.

Mexican authorities announced some services would be open for patients starting Aug. 12.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The University of Texas at El Paso has announced six research projects that will collectively receive $120,000 in funding as part of a program aimed to strengthen relationships between researchers on both sides of the border.

Projects selected include developing a new treatment for breast cancer, improve diagnosis procedures for endometriosis, and developing nanomaterials that can catch carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Now in its second year, the U.S.-Mexico Collaboration Fellowship is the product of officials at UTEP and several universities in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

“We saw very successful results and received great feedback from our community,” Barrio said. “Our goal with this ‘seed’ fund, is to find these initiatives with potential, allow them to expand on their own merits and discover new funding opportunities to continue their research.”

An interdisciplinary committee that includes researchers from UTEP and the partner Mexican universities selected the projects, prioritizing projects that could provide the highest potential impact and benefit to students.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- New Mexico State University Police held a training exercise on August 8 at the Branson Library on the NMSU campus.

The NMSU Police Department, as well as the Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department trained in a variety of scenarios, including an active shooter situation and a suspicious package.

Justin Dunivan, Interim Police Chief for NMSUPD, said the department holds these exercises yearly to make sure officers are ready for emergency and to give officers experience working with other local departments.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso United Family Resiliency Center (FRC), a United Way of El Paso County program, will host its fifth Day of Remembrance in partnership with El Paso County and the City of El Paso on Saturday, August 3 at Ascarate Park. The Day of Remembrance will commemorate five years of since the tragic events that occurred on August 3, 2019, and how the city has come together to persevere and heal.

“The five-year mark represents a new phase in our city’s recovery,” said Alberto Ruiz, senior director of Community Resiliency at United Way. “We are now a few years into this collective healing journey, and the years have given us the space to reflect on our city’s progress without having to relive the trauma. This milestone also allows us to help the younger generations understand the impact of this unprecedented tragedy through a more introspective lens. El Paso has come a very long way since 2019, and we’re excited to welcome the community to be a part of El Paso’s ongoing healing journey.”  

The Day of Remembrance will include multiple free activities. At 8:00 a.m., a public sound bath led by Instruments of Healing will be held in the Healing Garden. At 9:30 a.m., the City of El Paso will unveil a public art project at Jim Crouch Park. That evening, the FRC and El Paso County will welcome the public back at Ascarate Park for the Day of Remembrance ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m.

A full schedule of events and additional detail can be found online at www.epstrong.org/august-3.php.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Local law enforcement, businesses, and community support organizations helped put on the second annual Justice 4 Juniors event on Sunday, July 28th, 2024 at the Town Center Park in Horizon City. The event was organized to raise awareness and combat crimes perpetrated against children.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says the goal of the event is to empower children to vocalize their feelings when faced with harm or discomfort without the fear of facing consequences.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Red Cross' West Texas Chapter in El Paso is hosting several blood drives this week across the city.

Blood drives were held on July 30 and locations will also be open for donations on July 31 and August 1.

On Wednesday, July 31, Workforce Solutions Borderplex will be open for donations from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The final day for donations will be Thursday, August 1, at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Red Cross' West Texas Chapter is encouraging people to donate, especially those with type O blood and those able to give platelets.

“Summer is often a challenging time for blood donations, and we encourage everyone to join us in making a positive impact," said Anna Apodaca, Executive Director of the Red Cross West Texas Chapter. "By participating in our blood drives in collaboration with our amazing partners, you’ll be making a direct impact on the lives of others in need of lifesaving blood."

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Social media and tech giant Meta has agreed to a $1.4 million settlement with the State of Texas after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the company’s practice of capturing and using personal biometric data without authorization.

This is the first lawsuit brought and settled under Texas’s “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier” Act, which "prohibits a person from capturing an individual's biometric identifiers for a commercial purpose unless that person informs the individual and obtains the individual's consent."

“After vigorously pursuing justice for our citizens whose privacy rights were violated by Meta’s use of facial recognition software, I’m proud to announce that we have reached the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single State,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights. Any abuse of Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law.”

In 2011, Meta rolled out a new feature, initially called Tag Suggestions, that it claimed would make it easier for users to “tag” people in photographs. The Attorney General's Office says the feature, which was turned on by default, ran facial recognition software on almost all photos uploaded to Facebook, capturing records of the subjects' facial geometry. The Attorney General's Office adds this feature did not properly obtain the users' consent.

The company will pay the state of Texas the settlement of $1.4 billion over five years.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is now checking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for drug and alcohol violations before issuing an individual's or taking other actions on commercial driver’s licenses. 

The federal clearinghouse contains information on commercial driver’s license and learner’s permit holders covered by the Administration’s drug and alcohol program.  Commercial drivers who fail or refuse to submit to a drug or alcohol test will have their commercial license downgraded. 

Under new federal rules, by November 2024, all states must query the federal database before issuing, renewing, transferring or upgrading a commercial driver’s license.  Employers must also have drivers submit to drug tests before hiring, after accidents, and at random points throughout the year. 

New Mexico MVD says the program improves highway safety by identifying drivers prohibited from operating a commercial vehicle, also ensuring those drivers receive required evaluation and treatment before being allowed to resume operating a commercial vehicle.  

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EL PASO, Texas -- President Joe Biden visited Houston, Texas on July 29 to pay respects to the family of late Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, who died earlier this month.

Lee served in Texas' 18th district from 1995 until her death on July 19. She died from pancreatic cancer.

Lee was the longest serving member of the Texas Congressional Delegation and was known as an outspoken advocate for civil rights and progressive causes.

President Biden also visited the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas later in the day, giving a speech for the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights act.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In the lead-up to President Joe Biden dropping out of the upcoming presidential race and Vice President Kamala Harris starting her own bid, there's one word you've probably head over and over: polling. To help make sense of current polling numbers, as well as how El Pasoans tend to vote, El Paso Community College Government Professor Dr. Amber Archuleta-Lucero visited the ABC-7 studio for a live interview.

According to the El Paso County Elections Department, El Pasoans voted overwhelmingly for Biden in 2020. He received 178,126 votes from El Paso County, more than double of Trump's 84,331 votes. When breaking it down by county precinct, areas favoring Biden saw moderate to stark leads in votes. Most red precincts, barring one in which only one voter reported, saw only narrow preferences for Former President Donald Trump. Among these areas, only Precinct 8 saw a lead of over 100 votes.

These results suggest El Paso votes significantly more blue than the national average. In the national results for the 2020 election, Biden received 51.3% of the vote compared to Trump's 46.8%.

Recent polling numbers come with the obvious issue of Biden dropping out of the race. Some recent polls, however, now include Harris, who has secured enough delegates to potentially gain the Democratic nomination.

In a poll from Reuters and Ipsos released yesterday, Harris holds a narrow lead at 44% against Trump's 42%

Even with the narrow polling ranges, Dr. Archuleta-Lucero believes previous support for Biden will translate to voters coming out for Harris.

"For the most part the Texas-Mexico border is blue," Dr. Archuleta-Lucero said. "I think that Vice President Harris is going to have significant support here on the border."

Harris has been outspoken on reproductive issues over her time as vice president. Dr. Archuleta-Lucero said the vice president had been able to bring a "new energy" to the discussion on reproductive rights during her tenure.

"I think her presence might allow El Paso voters to take a fresher look at issues that have been prevalent for us for many years," Dr. Archuleta-Lucero said.

Dr. Archuleta-Lucero didn't feel the same way on immigration, however. Harris worked to address root causes of mass migration to the United States. Republicans have taken to painting Harris as a "Border Czar," despite her never being assigned to head immigration policy.

"I think this may be her weakest area," Dr. Archuleta-Lucero said. "This will be a true telling point of her immigration record, what she's done, how many times she's visited, and what she intends to do as it relates to the border."

The next step for Vice President Harris to secure her nomination comes on Aug. 1, when delegates are likely to begin voting for the next nominee.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- San Elizario Independent School District welcomed students back for their first day of the school year.

ABC-7 spoke with several students excited to start a new year in the district.

Today marks the start of the second year of 4-day school weeks for San Elizario ISD. Superintendent Dr. Jeanie Meza-Chavez told ABC-7 the new routine last year was a success. Meza-Chavez added the 4-day weeks allowed students and teacher to enjoy Mondays off, while saving money for the district. Those savings have translated into a 2% raise for teachers.

More changes are set to come to the district this year, as students can expect district libraries to be remodeled. A new e-sports lab is also set to be established in the district.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Workforce Commission announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and the United States Postal Service to offer new options for in-person identity verification when filing for unemployment benefit claims.

Now, unemployment claimants have the option to complete their identity verification at participating USPS locations. Individuals can verify their identity using a state driver's license, state ID card, U.S. Armed Forces or uniformed service ID card, or a U.S. Passport.

“TWC is here to support Texans by making the ID verification process more accessible,” TWC Executive Director Ed Serna said. “This initiative highlights how TWC is taking aggressive steps to prevent these critical resources from being taken advantage of by fraudsters.” 

Texans may still verify their identity online through ID.me.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso’s Border AIDS Partnership (BAP) will hold their 5th Annual AIDS Walk fundraising event on Saturday, July 27, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.. The event will be held at Memorial Park.

BAP says it hopes to use the event to remember loved ones lost to AIDS and to help support those current living with HIV and AIDS.

Registration for the walk starts at 7 a.m. with the actual run/walk starting at 8 a.m.  The event's Health Fair will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Both 5k and 1-mile routes are offered.

Registration is $25 and includes a shirt commemorating the fundraising event.

Those interested in participating can sign up at this link.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she would be holding a town hall on public safety in Las Cruces. The town hall will be held on Thursday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Las Cruces Convention Center.

Governor Grisham said she plans for the town hall to be a way to hear from New Mexicans dealing with crime and collaborate on effective crime prevention strategies.

The event will also be streamed online on the governor's Facebook page.

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Update (August 1, 2024): The City of El Paso announced today it has resolved the lawsuit.

"Via the DOJ’s lawsuit and the City’s crossclaims, separate settlements with URT and RRE were reached," a city spokesperson explained.

United Road Towing Inc. (URT) will pay about $58,000 in damages to 50 servicemembers and a civil penalty of $20,000, according to the city.

Rod Robertson Enterprises Inc. (RRE) will pay $140,000 in damages to 122 servicemembers and pay a civil penalty of $20,000, according to the city.

The city says it spent about $130,000 in legal fees and is in the middle of resolving crossclaims against RRE.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the DOJ in this matter,” said City Attorney Karla Nieman. “This resolution underscores our commitment to upholding federal laws protecting our servicemembers. This was particularly important to the City given the longstanding and close relationships we have with Fort Bliss, whose soldiers, family members, and veterans are considered an integral part of our community. We continue to work diligently to ensure that all contractual obligations are met and that proper procedures are followed."

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso City Council passed a motion on July 17 to enter settlement negotiations with the federal government in a lawsuit surrounding unlawful towing.

'United States of America v. City of El Paso; United Road Towing, Inc.', which was filed in 2023, says the city and United Road Towing impounded and auctioned 176 vehicles of service members without a court order. The federal government claims this violates the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which is meant to give service members extra protections when legal proceedings may impact their duties.

The Department of Justice first began investigating after a Fort Bliss soldier alleged her truck had been towed and auctioned off without court orders.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A ribbon cutting ceremony for a new McDonalds in San Elizario will be held Wednesday, July 17, at 10 a.m.. The new restaurant at 13295 Socorro Rd. will be the city's first McDonald's location.

The ceremony will also include keynote speeches, raffles, DJs, face paintings, and more.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- According to court documents obtained by ABC-7, Sierra Title is suing 12 El Paso residents, and those same people are filing a counter-claim against Sierra Title.

Documents show the title company requested a temporary restraining order, claiming the defendants are improperly disparaging and interfering with their business. Sierra is seeking relief ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, including damages, penalties, and attorney's fees, to name a few.

Sierra Title filed the initial petition with the courts on May 10, 2024, which came a day after the defendants began to protest with signs and bullhorns outside the title company's offices on North Mesa.

The defendants filed a response five weeks later. They deny any wrongdoing, and counter that Sierra Title is engaging in "a pattern" of deceptive business practices. The defendants claim Sierra title provided false or misleading information when they were trying to purchase homes, did not apply money given in down payments or closing costs to their mortgages, and did not provide proper documentation during the closing process.

All the defendants are representing themselves, according to official documents.

One woman named in the lawsuits told ABC-7 her story, which began on June 26, 2023.

Joevana Casillas said she came across a home listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. That home was located at 371 George Orr Rd. in the Lower Valley.

Casillas said she contacted the person who was listed as the seller, and that person agreed to sell her home. She also said she sold her mobile home in order to pay the $15,000 down payment and $1,500 closing costs in cash.

Casillas says the seller took her to Sierra Title to file the necessary paperwork. She did not get a receipt for the cash payment, but she showed ABC-7 paperwork notarized by Sierra Title stating she paid cash.

Casillas claims the escrow officer gave her a closing date of July 27, 2023. The date came and went without closing the sale.

Casillas told ABC-7 she moved into the house regardless. About a month later, she says she was surprised to find mail arriving at the home addressed to Laura Marquez, the same name of the escrow officer at Sierra Title who Casillas says took her down payment and closing cost cash, and who gave her a closing date. Marquez is listed as an escrow officer on the Sierra Title website.

According to the Central Appraisal District website, Marquez has been the owner of the property at 371 George Orr since July 27, 2023. There is currently no evidence on the CAD website that Casillas ever owned the property.

Casillas told ABC-7 she was told the house is going into foreclosure and she is being forced out. Documents on the county website state the house was up on a foreclosure auction block on July 2.

"I will have to leave the house," Casillas said. "I will lose my money and my property because they don't want to give me back my money."

Casillas provided documents to ABC-7 showing she filed a claim in April asking the Texas Attorney General to investigate a violation of consumer protection laws by Sierra Title. She also filed a claim with the fraud unit of the Texas Department of Insurance against Laura Marquez.

Casillas also says a man claiming to work for Sierra Title entered the property and told her he was the new owner of the property.

"Even if I have to leave the house," Casillas said, "I don't want nothing to do with them, with Sierra Title. I just want my money back."

While working on this story, ABC-7 reached out to Sierra Title several times, asking for an interview or comment. They have not responded to our requests.

Laura Marquez is among the individuals named in the counter claim filed by the defendants. ABC-7 has been in contact with an attorney who told us he is representing Laura Marquez of Sierra Title.

As of this publication, the attorney has offered us interviews three times with Marquez. We agreed and set up the interviews, but each time they have not shown up.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- New Mexico State Police arrested a driver after they say they found three undocumented immigrants in the trunk of the driver's vehicle. 

17-year-old Leland Antonio Munoz Dominguez has been charged with three charges of human trafficking and one charge of endangerment of a child.

Police say on June 26 an officer pulled over Dominguez, who was driving a 2006 BMW, near a border patrol checkpoint on I-25 around mile marker 27. Dominguez had been reported missing earlier this year.

While planning to bring Dominguez to his grandmother, police say the officer heard a knocking noise come from the vehicle's trunk.

There, police say the officer found three undocumented migrants inside, one of them being a 16-year-old.

Dominguez was booked into the Dona Ana County Juvenile Detention Center, and the migrants were taken into the custody of U.S. Border Patrol.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A new study authored by two University of Texas El Paso researchers is showing employment may be key to emotional wellbeing for veterans. The study was published in the June issue of scientific journal 'Stress and Health'.

The researchers looked at 517 veterans experiencing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the study, employment correlated with positive emotional wellbeing in veterans struggling with their mental health. The study also said unemployed veterans were twice as likely to experience depression.

Similar research has been done on the general civilian population, but the team behind the study says veterans may be even more susceptible to mental illness under similar conditions due to combat experience and the challenges that come with returning to civilian life.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Razor wire has been re-installed on the border by the Chihuahuita area on July 9.

U.S. authorities took down the razor wire last week due to maintenance in the area.

It has not yet been confirmed which agency placed the wire back on the border.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Socorro Police Officers arrested 41-year-old Jesus Angel Huerta and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Socorro Police Officers responded to a call at 12:08 a.m. on July 7 regarding an aggravated assault in progress. Officers arrived at the 200 block of Flor Amarilla, where they say they found a male victim bleeding from multiple stab wounds on the porch of a home. The victim was taken to a local hospital.

Huerta was found inside the home and taken into custody without further incident. He was formally charged and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility after detectives investigated the home.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso County Deputies have arrested 51-year-old Manuel Hidalgo and 47-year-old Felipe Hidalgo and charged the two with illegal dumping.

Deputies say they were dispatched to the 11700 block of Elizabeth Dr., where they saw a vehicle matching a report of illegal dumping. Police pulled over Manuel and Felipe Hidalgo, and found they had dumped approximately 1440 cubic feet of trash into the desert.

Manuel and Felipe Hidalgo were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Starting on Monday, July 8, all University Medical Center pharmacies will offer mail-order deliveries for prescriptions. This will allow all prescriptions, including dental prescriptions, to be sent right to El Pasoans' doors.

UMC says most prescriptions will arrive one to two days after the order has been placed.

A $3 delivery fee will be applied.

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Community meals will be hosted at the following dates and locations:

• July 2, 5-6:30 p.m. at Community Methodist Church, 220 Junction Rd.
• July 3, 5-6:30 p.m. at Gateway Church, 414 Sudderth Dr.
• July 4, 5-6:30 p.m. at Holy Mount Episcopal Church, 121 Mescalero Trail
• July 5, 5-6:30 p.m. at St. Eleanor Catholic Church, 140 Junction Rd.
• July 6, 5-6:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, S. Sutton Dr.
• July 7, 5-6:30 p.m. at Hometown Tire Pros and Auto Care 1021 Mechem Dr.

Consider donating to help the survivors here.

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SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Sunland Park Fire Department announced it assisted with the recovery of 4 bodies in an X post around 8:40 p.m.

The fire department says the bodies were originally found by Border Patrol in the desert between 5600 McNutt and Bi-national Ave, which is close to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.

The fire department arrived out at 1:40 p.m. and assisted the Doña Ana Sheriff’s Office and Sunland Park Police Office.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of death. The investigation on the bodies has been turned over to the Doña Ana Sheriff’s Office.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso County and the County’s Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) are searching for their 2024 Veteran of the Year. Nominations open Monday, July 1st.
El Paso County says it's looking for veterans that have strong leadership skills, a public service mindset, and have made various contributions to their local community. The nominee must have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.
To nominate a veteran, a submission form can be found online at www.epcounty.com/veterans. Forms can then be submitted via email to ahunt@epcounty.com or dropped off in person at one of the following locations:

• 4641 Cohen Ave., Suite D
• 2350 George Dieter Dr., Suite B

Nominations will be accepted from July 1st to September 30th.

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JUAREZ, Mexico (KVIA) -- Fuerzas Amigas 2024, a binational disaster response
exercise between the U.S. and Mexico, is being conducted June 24-28, 2024, in Ciudad Juárez,
Mexico. Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS) serves as the lead command element
of U.S. forces as they train alongside Mexican Armed Forces and interagency partners.
This is an annual exercise and is not in response to any ongoing political or military
situation.
The Fuerzas Amigas exercise scenario focuses on combined disaster relief efforts and
reinforces the military-to-military partnership between the two nations. Throughout the
exercise, U.S. and Mexican servicemembers work together to learn best practices in
humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Fuerzas Amigas is conducted under
the authority of U.S. Army North and the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- It's the time of year when borderland seniors are receiving their diplomas, and this particular graduating class had their first hear of high school right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's only been four years since students had to isolate and mask up as the virus continued to spread, impacting extracurricular activities as well as everyday life.

“It’s not easy," said Maritza Serrano, Silva Health Magnet High School valedictorian. "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.”

ABC-7 spoke to several students at graduations across El Paso who said the pandemic impacted them both emotionally and mentally.

"That whole time of isolation and solitary, it just made me reflect like, who is my real friend?" said Jefferson High School Graduate Alexa Ozuna.

Even with these hardships, the students still said the pandemic taught them many lessons they'll take with them for the rest of their lives.

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

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) --Animal Services Operation Manager Adan Parra gave a presentation to city council on June 10 on the development of the new El Paso Animal Services Department, located in the former Morehead Middle School.

Adan said they are pursuing this relocation as the current department, located in the old El Paso Times building, is lacking in infrastructure due to insufficient floor drains and water sources. The new facility is also set to have noise reduction for the animals, in contrast to the current warehouse.

Adan also showed how the organization plans to improve the Morehead Middle School building, including fixing previous acts of vandalism at the school.

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El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to appoint Christina Sanchez as county attorney on June 10.

"I'm so excited to begin this new journey," Sanchez said. "I thank you for your support. I know I will continue to have that support."

Sanchez will serve as county attorney until previous County Attorney Joanne Bernal's term expires on December 31.

Sanchez will appear on the November ballot, but remains unopposed since there is no Republican running for the position.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Chihuahuas announced their 'Looney Tunes Night' event on Saturday, June 8, at Southwest University Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and first pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

The players will wear special edition Looney Tunes jerseys on the field that feature Buggs Bunny and graphic pencil images of other Looney Tunes characters. The jerseys will be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting a local El Paso non-profit organization via the Chihuahuas Foundation.

The jersey auction is live now, and ends on the final out of Saturday’s game. Fans can view the jerseys and place their bids by texting the word “BID” (ALL CAPTIAL LETTERS) to 915-600-6677. The jerseys will not be available for retail.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit epchihuahuas.com or call 915-533-BASE (2273).

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Sunland Park Fire Department has confirmed that two people were found dead in the desert near the mile 6 marker on McNutt Road in Sunland Park. The department first posted about the incident at around 8:15 p.m. on their X account.

Sunland Park Fire Department says that it was called out by Border Patrol for a search and rescue with possible heat related injuries. They have not revealed the identities of the deceased, or confirmed if they are migrants.

The scene has been turned over to law enforcement.

ABC-7 has a crew on the way to find out more. We will update this article when we learn more information.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso International Airport celebrated its first daily nonstop flight Chicago on June 4. The airport plans to offer daily nonstop flights to O'Hare International Airport.

"It's very needed," said Cassandra Davisson, Marketing and Air Service Development Manager at El Paso International Airport. "Our passenger traffic has been up 7% over last year. Our load factors, which is a measure of how full our planes are, are pretty high. So that just shows that we have room for capacity to grow."

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New Mexicans are getting ready to cast their ballots for the 2024 Primary Race.

Many Doña Ana County residents will be looking at the district attorney race. Current Democrat District Attorney Gerald Byers is running to keep is seat, facing Fernando Macias, Ramona Martinez, and Shaharazad Booth.

Last month, a judge disqualified Las Cruces Attorney Pedro Pineda after finding dozens of nominating petition signatures invalid, according to the Las Cruces Bulletin. The democratic nominee with the most votes will face off against Republican challenger Michael Cain, who runs unopposed.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Heat continues to pose a deadly problem on the border as the U.S. Border Patrol has recorded four heat-related fatalities over this past weekend. This is part of an overall rise in heat-related injuries and deaths on the border as the region experiences triple-digit temperatures.

Border Patrol released a statement saying over the weekend it responded to several emergency situations involving heat-related illnesses. The El Paso sector of Border Patrol also said it is intensifying its efforts to prevent incidents like these through increased patrols and deployment of specialized teams.

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