Update (August 23, 2024): A spokesperson for the El Paso Fire Department says the American Red Cross is still helping the 20 displaced residents. The investigation into the fire is still ongoing.

"After a thorough investigation conducted by the Fire Marshal's Office Investigators, it was determined that the cause of the fire was the act of one or multiple individuals; it is still being determined if the incident was intentional or accidental," the spokesperson explained.

The Fire Marshal's Office is requesting anyone with information share it with investigators at 915-212-5600.

Update: A spokesperson for the El Paso Fire Department confirms to ABC-7 that 16 adults and 4 children were displaced by the fire.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- At least one building was completely destroyed and several others affected early Monday morning after a condition 3 fire in East El Paso, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

The fire happened at 8500 Viscount Blvd. According to officials, the call came in at 12:17 a.m.

Fire dispatchers said the building was occupied at the time, but no injuries are currently being reported. In total, officials say 8 apartment units were affected by the fire.

The Red Cross will be assisting those who were impacted by the fire.

The fire has been put out and the Fire Marshal's office is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

This is a developing story.

The post Cause of East El Paso apartment fire still under investigation appeared first on KVIA.

Update (July 10, 2024): Las Cruces Police found Martinez. Officials tell ABC-7 that he is safe. They did not provide any other information.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Las Cruces Police are searching for a missing 12-year-old boy who was last seen around 7 p.m. Sunday evening.

Officials believe Sergio Martinez ran away to an unknown destination.

Martinez was last seen by his foster family on the 200 block of Wall Ave. in Las Cruces.

He was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt with “New Mexico” printed on the front, black pants and black shoes. Martinez is 5-feet tall and weighs around 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call LCPD at (575)-526-0795.

The post Missing 12-year-old Las Cruces boy found safe appeared first on KVIA.

Update: Horizon police clarify the child was an 18-month-old girl.

Police officials say the girl had been struck in the driveway of her house by a family member and she died at the scene.

The investigation is still ongoing. Police say they are working closely with the District Attorney's office, and no criminal charges are currently pending.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - A two-year-old child was struck and killed by a vehicle Sunday evening Horizon City Police confirmed.

It happened about 7:20 p.m. at the 14000 block of Desert Shadow near Eastlake Blvd.

The Special Traffic Investigation unit, Criminal Investigators and El Paso County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene.

Sheriff deputies provided traffic control, while STI and the Criminal Investigators gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses. A Horizon Police spokeswoman said the investigators were also working with the District Attorney's office and no criminal charges have been filed yet.

The area is secured and traffic is being diverted while the investigation is ongoing. Residents of the neighborhood do have access in and out to their home through another street, but are advised to remain in their homes.

The identity of the child has not been released. The investigation is ongoing.

The post 18-month-old girl dies after family member hits her in driveway of Horizon home appeared first on KVIA.

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- A man was arrested by Socorro Police for outstanding warrants, on Wednesday, July 3.

29-year-old Luis Daniel Sanchez was wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and having a fake license plate.

Sanchez was booked into the El Paso County Jail.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Crime Stoppers of El Paso is asking the public for help in identifying a person who shot at a Northeast El Paso home.

On Friday, May 17, at 10:18 at night, multiple gunshots were fired from a car at a house located on Branon St. and Rushing.

The vehicle that the shots were allegedly fired from is described as a red or orange Dodge Challenger with chrome rims and tinted windows.

Several people were inside the house at the time of the shooting, including a child under the age of 10.

There were no injuries reported but there was damage to the home.

Anyone with any information on the identity of those involved in this shooting should call Crime
Stoppers of El Paso immediately at 566-8477(TIPS) or online at www.cselpaso.org.

If your tip leads to an arrest, you may qualify for a cash reward.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person was rescued from the canal along the border highway Monday morning. This according to the El Paso Fire Department.

It happened at Loop 375 and the Fonseca Dr. exit.

El Paso Fire dispatch says the patient was taken to University Medical Center to be treated for significant injuries.

Officials say Border Patrol called the fire department at about 6:00 in the morning to notify them of the person in the canal.

The scene was turned over to law enforcement.

The post One person rescued from canal in South-Central El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person was found dead during a water rescue in south central, El Paso Friday morning. Two people were pulled out, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

This happened at the 1900 block of Delta Dr.

Officials say they received a call about the incident at 6:09 a.m.

At this time no other injuries have been reported.

This is a developing story.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA)-- Two people have been arrested by New Mexico State Police in connection with hiding undocumented individuals in a Las Cruces neighborhood.

On Friday, March 12, an officer pulled over a Chevrolet SUV along Interstate 10, according to investigators.

The driver of the vehicle was identified by police as 40-year-old Albert Torres. Officers also identified his passenger as 37-year-old Victoria Cabrales.

Police say, the officer noticed nervous behavior and inconsistent statements from the pair. Torres did not have a driver's license and was asked to exit the vehicle.

That is when the officer saw "drug paraphernalia" fall from Torres' lap.

Cabrales was also asked to exit the vehicle due to "suspicious behavior."

During this time, the officer found what they suspected to be methamphetamine on Torres.

A handgun was also found and was reported stolen. Torres and Cabrales were arrested.

Torres and Cabrales then told the officer they were taking food to a residence that had undocumented individuals. They also told the officer that there was potentially more firearms inside the residence.

After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, officers found two firearms, more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, investigators say.

At the residence, officers found 16 undocumented individuals locked in a room with no food, water, or communication device. They were turned over to Border Patrol.

Both Torres and Cabrales are now at the Doña Ana County Detention Center for their charges that include receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, attempt to commit a felony, and transportation or possession of a firearm.

The post Two arrested in connection with a Las Cruces stash house appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) is inviting residents to share concerns and ask questions at “Celebramos Nuestra Hispanidad Sunland Park Town Hall Meeting.”

CRRUA Interim Director, Juan Crosby will be at the town hall meeting to address concerns about water contamination in the community.

The Sunland Park town hall meeting is Friday, April 5 at the City of Sunland Park Council Chambers. It is located at 1000 McNutt Rd, Suite A.

The town hall meeting will be an in-person event only.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- One person is now recovering after being rescued from the canal along the border fence in El Paso's lower valley, this according to the El Paso Fire Department.

El Paso Fire responded to a report of two people in the water, but say a second person was not located.

The El Paso Fire Department Water Rescue Team responded to the 700 block of South Zaragoza.

The person who was rescued was not taken to the hospital. 

Border patrol took over the scene after the person was rescued.

The post One person rescued from canal near Zaragoza bridge appeared first on KVIA.

CORRECTION: Officer was checking on subject in a vehicle. Officer was not tracking as previously reported.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting in El Paso's Upper Valley early Tuesday morning.

According to El Paso Police, an officer was checking on a subject when he then fired his gun. The encounter ended at 5830 Doniphan Dr. not far from Redd Rd. 

Several law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting.

Crimes Against Persons has been called out to the scene.

The shooting has closed all east and westbound lanes on Doniphan Dr.

ABC-7 is working to get more information.

The post One man is dead in an Upper Valley shooting, closing down Doniphan Dr. appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person is in the hospital after an officer-involved shooting in West El Paso.

It happened on the 7200 block of Royal Arms Dr. on Tuesday morning.

Police were responding to a trespassing call involving two 20-year-old suspects, says Det. Judy Oviedo.

We do know one person is in the hospital with serious injuries, according to Fire Dispatch.

The second suspect is currently in police custody.

Oviedo says the area is expected to be closed off for four-to-six hours.

This is a developing story.

The post Officer-involved shooting in West El Paso appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Several houses in a Canutillo neighborhood were crashed into during a pursuit according to the El Paso Sheriffs Department.

According to residents in the neighborhood, one person was seen being taken into custody.

It happened on La Mesa Avenue near Doniphan Drive at 2:45 A.M.

Multiple agencies arrived at the scene including the El Paso Sheriffs Department, Customs and Border protection and El Paso Fire Department according to a source at the scene.

According to the El Paso Sheriffs department, a vehicle hit a gas line which caused a gas leak in the area.

A source at the scene tells us a helicopter was also seen flying above the area.

This is a developing story.

The post Pursuit in Canutillo ends in crash causing gas leak appeared first on KVIA.

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) -- One man was found dead inside a Socorro residential home while a fire at the residence was being extinguished. This according to Socorro Police Department.

The cause of death of the man is still unknown.

It happened at 366 Yamaha Drive at 10:34 p.m.

The identity of the man found is still unconfirmed but believed to be known. The police department will not release that information until a positive identification has been made.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

This is a developing story.

The post One person found dead in Socorro residential home fire appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso is developing a Safe Routes to School Action Plan and is asking for public input. The plan will address school zone safety and promote walking and bicycling to school.

This action plan aims to provide clear and implementable direction on:

• Creating a safe, connected, and comfortable infrastructure network for children to walk and bike themselves to school

• Prioritize areas that are at risk, underrepresented, and highly utilized

• Provide a clear and implementable pathway for future improvements

• Effectively reduce vehicle speeds through design and enforcement

There is a survey to let the city know what your priorities are, and ensure your voice is heard.

‌Click on the following link to take the survey in English.

Click on the following link to take the survey in Spanish.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces International Film Festival (LCIFF), in collaboration with Visit Las Cruces, has announced the launch of the "Visit Las Cruces Stories" 2nd annual video contest.

This initiative invites the public to participate in sharing the rich folklore of Las Cruces through compelling 3–5-minute video submissions.

The top three entries will be awarded cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250, respectively, along with LCIFF 2024 VIP tickets.

Winning submissions will be showcased before each screening during the 2024 Las Cruces International Film Festival.

Inspired by the likes of Chupacabra, La Llorona, and other captivating tales such as the Haunting of the Dona Ana Courthouse, the Double Eagle Murder and Haunting, the History behind Ft. Selden, Pat Garrett’s mysterious death, and The Hermit of La Cueva, participants are encouraged to delve into the unique narratives that define Las Cruces.

Submissions can be made on FilmFreeway as well as detailed guidelines.

The call for entries closes on February 28, 2024.

The post The second annual “Visit Las Cruces stories” video contest is open for submissions appeared first on KVIA.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A 12-year-old Las Cruces boy has gone missing. Now the Las Cruces Police Department is asking the community for help.

Xavier Quesada was seen at his home, on the 2300 block of Don Roser Drive, before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 9th.

His family believes he left the residence sometime between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day.

Quesada is 5-feet-3-inches tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 12-year-old Xavier Quesada is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An El Paso teenager has been reported missing and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is asking for community assistance in locating him.

Joaquin Velarde was last seen at his house Sunday afternoon around 2:38 PM.

Velarde was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, camouflaged gray/white jeans and white tennis shoes.

Velarde's mother, who reported him missing, has expressed concern for his wellbeing.

Anyone with information regarding Joaquin Velarde, or his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 915-832-4407 or 911.

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Originally Published: 04 JAN 24 16:57 ET

Updated: 04 JAN 24 19:28 ET

By Brenda Goodman, CNN

(CNN) — After recent moves by weight loss companies WW and Noom into telehealth prescribing, drugmaker Eli Lilly is starting a service that will connect people needing medications for obesity, diabetes and migraine to virtual medical care and says it will deliver medications directly to their homes.

The new service, LillyDirect, marks the first time a pharmaceutical company has become so involved in care coordination and delivery of its products. It comes on the heels of the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of its weight loss medication, Zepbound, in November.

Lilly says it has no financial relationships with the telehealth providers it has partnered with: 9amHealth, Forum and Cove. Clinicians engaged through the services are free to prescribe any medications, but if they prescribe certain drugs made by Lilly, patients will be eligible to get them delivered to their homes directly from the company, ensuring “consistent access,” Lilly said in a news release Thursday. Lilly’s drug discounts will also be automatically applied for those who qualify.

In addition to Zepbound, Lilly will offer certain kinds of insulin through the service as well as its monoclonal antibody for migraine, Emgality.

Zepbound mimics the actions of two hormones released by the gut after eating. It increases the production of insulin and slows the passage of food through the stomach and intestines, which may help a person feel full for longer. It also acts on the brain to turn down appetite and cravings. In clinical trials, it helped people lose an average of 20% of their starting weight after more than a year on the medication.

The active ingredients in Zepbound and a similar drug, Wegovy, went into shortage in 2022 after celebrities began openly discussing their weight loss on the drugs.

Zepbound is approved for adults who are obese, with a BMI of at least 30. It’s also approved for people who are overweight with a BMI of at least 27, who also have a weight-related medical condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Lilly said Thursday that it “stands against the use of its medicines for cosmetic purposes.”

“Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases; they are not approved for – and should not be used for – cosmetic weight loss,” the company said in a news release.

It also cautioned about the safety risks of using compounded tirzepatide, the active ingredient in both Mounjaro, which is approved for diabetes, and Zepbound. Compounding involves mixing or altering the dosage of drugs to make medications tailored to the individual needs of patients. When drugs go into shortage, the US Food and Drug Administration allows compounding pharmacies to sell copycat versions to help fill in the gaps. Both tirzepatide and semaglutide, the active ingredients in Zepbound and Wegovy, are listed as being in shortage in the FDA’s database.

“Lilly is extremely concerned that some of the compounded tirzepatide that Lilly has tested has contained high amounts of impurities, and in at least one instance, was actually nothing more than sugar alcohol,” the company said.

Wall Street responded positively to the LillyDirect announcement, but researchers and patient advocates had questions.

“The idea that you have pharmacists and doctors who are devoted, in effect, to Lilly products does not seem in the best interest of patients,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and former associate commissioner for public health strategy and analysis at the FDA.

“I mean, what if, for some reason, the best drug for a patient was a non-Lilly drug?  Do we really think that these telehealth providers are not going to push them towards the Lilly version?”

Lurie said it will be interesting to see how the FDA reacts. The agency regulates drug marketing and takes a broad view of what promotion looks like, counting things like medical conferences as within its purview. On the other hand, the FDA steers clear of weighing in on the practice of medicine.

LillyDirect seems to exist on the line between drug marketing and the practice of medicine, Lurie said.

“I think from a practical point of view, they’d be reluctant,” he said. “It does seem like it’s on the border, though.”

When manufacturers, packers, distributors or their representatives promote prescription drugs to consumers and health care providers, the FDA says, it requires these communications to be truthful, balanced and not misleading. The agency said its authorities may apply to telehealth providers and websites, depending on what activities they undertake and how they are structured. States also have laws that address prescribing and dispensing drugs.

Dr. Bree Holtz, an associate professor at Michigan State University who studies telemedicine, said she sees both benefits and risks in the new service.

“I think in rural populations, where educators and specialists are difficult to access, it could be good,” she said. In her work in diabetes, it is sometimes “nearly impossible” to find an endocrinologist within 50 miles, “so it could be great to have this extra resource.”

Holtz said she wonders about how coordinated care will truly be, though.

Electronic medical records systems typically don’t do a great job of sharing information with each other. If a person starts a drug through this service, she asked, “how is that information going to be relayed to a person’s primary care?” If they go to a pharmacy, will the pharmacist see their prescription and be able to advise about drug interactions? How much will insurance cover?

For the most part, Holtz said, she’s optimistic about the idea.

“Anytime people who can get care who aren’t now getting care, I think, is an addition and can help health care quality in the long-term,” she said.

CNN Health’s Meg Tirrell contributed to this story.

The-CNN-Wire
& © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One person is dead after a crash in El Paso's Lower Valley.

No other injuries are reported at this time.

According to Fire Dispatch, the crash occurred around 1:31 AM on Cesar Chavez Border Highway going East and Fonseca Dr.

East bound lanes are closed until further notice.

Special traffic investigators are on route.

This is a developing story.

The post One person is dead after a crash in El Paso’s Lower Valley appeared first on KVIA.

Originally Published: 03 JAN 24 16:14 ET

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN

(CNN) — People who have more interrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s are more than twice as likely to have memory and thinking problems a decade later, according to a new study.

In the early 2000s, the researchers tracked the quality of sleep for hundreds of people during two overnight visits about a year apart, capturing a total of six nights of sleep per person. Sleep quality was assessed using a wrist activity monitor that tracked the amount of sleep people got along with periods of movement to gauge sleep fragmentation, or short, repetitive interruptions of sleep. The participants were about 40 years old, on average, at this point in the study.

More than a decade later, between 2015 and 2016, the researchers analyzed the cognitive ability of 526 of the same participants using standardized interviews and tests of cognitive ability, including processing speed, executive function, memory and fluency.

On average, the study participants were found to sleep about six hours each night, and about a fifth of their sleep time was disrupted. Overall, people experiencing more sleep fragmentation, or with greater share of their sleeping hours spent moving, were more likely to receive poor cognitive scores on all of the tests more than a decade later.

Of the 175 people with the most disrupted sleep, 44 had poor cognitive performance 10 years later, compared with 10 of the 176 people with the least disrupted sleep, the study found.

The research was published Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology

People who slept less or who had higher sleep fragmentation were significantly more likely to be male, to be Black, to have a higher BMI and to have a history of depression or hypertension.

Due to the small sample size, the researchers were unable to fully investigate potential race or gender differences. But after they adjusted for health factors and other demographics, people with the most disrupted sleep were found to be more than twice as likely to score worse than average on the set of cognitive tests compared with those who had the least disrupted sleep.

“Given that signs of Alzheimer’s disease start to accumulate in the brain several decades before symptoms begin, understanding the connection between sleep and cognition earlier in life is critical for understanding the role of sleep problems as a risk factor for the disease,” study author Dr. Yue Leng, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a news release.

Throughout the study, participants were also asked to keep a sleep diary, tracking bedtimes and wake times and assessing their own quality of sleep. However, objective measures of sleep duration and subjective assessments of sleep quality did not correlate to cognition in midlife.

“Our findings indicate that the quality rather than the quantity of sleep matters most for cognitive health in middle age,” Leng said.

People are supposed to get between seven and 10 hours of sleep each night, depending on their age. But 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, 50 million to 70 million Americans struggle with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome, which can ruin a good night’s shuteye.

The CDC calls that a “public health problem,” because disrupted sleep is associated with a higher risk of conditions including diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease – and dementia.

One study from 2021 found that people who reported routinely experiencing difficulty falling asleep had a 49% increased risk of dementia, while those who often woke in the night and had difficulty falling back asleep had a 39% increased risk of dementia. And a study published in October found that chronic loss of slow-wave sleep – the third stage of sleep, during which the body removes unwanted or potentially harmful materials from the brain – may increase the risk of dementia.

“More research is needed to assess the link between sleep disturbances and cognition at different stages of life and to identify if critical life periods exist when sleep is more strongly associated with cognition,” Leng said. “Future studies could open up new opportunities for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.”

CNN’s Sandee LaMotte and Kristen Rogers contributed to this report.

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& © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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‌

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Public Libraries are once again offering library patrons the opportunity to pay outstanding fines by donating canned or non-perishable food donations as part of the Food for Fines program.

The program will run between January 2 and January 20 during regular working hours.

Patrons may take either food or pet food to any public library and pay down book fines by $1 for every can of food donated or $1 for every 2 pounds of dry pet food donated to the program. All library materials must be returned in good condition to take advantage of the Food for Fines program.

All proceeds from Food for Fines will be donated to either the Opportunity Center for the Homeless or to El Paso Animal Services.

You don’t have to have book fines to donate to the program, bring your human or pet food donations to any library location and drop them in the appropriate yellow bin.

“We’re extremely happy to be able to offer this program to the El Paso community once again in 2024,” said El Paso Public Libraries Director Norma Martinez. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of the program to not only pay down their fines but to help the community as well.”

In 2023, patrons donated 12 full bins of food to the program. Organizers are hoping to fill at least 15 bins in 2024.

For more information visit www.ElPasoLibrary.org or call your nearest branch location.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic will offer free screenings and cleanings for residents of the Borderplex community on Dec. 13. Hunt School of Dental Medicine second-year students will provide faculty-supervised care from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

‌Across West Texas, many suffer from poor dental health due to lack of access to affordable care. In 2017, only 50% of El Paso residents visited a dentist, according to the university. They add that access to low-cost dental care at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic helps Borderplex residents establish routine dental care, which benefits their overall health.

Since opening in 2021, the clinic has provided more than 20,000 hours of reduced-cost dental care for over 3,500 patients from the region.

"We're excited to continue offering low-cost/no-cost dental health care to our Borderplex residents," said Fady F. Faddoul, D.D.S., M.S.D., associate dean of clinical affairs. “This is not just about providing services for our residents but about breaking down barriers and ensuring that everyone has access to basic oral health care."

The Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic is the clinical practice of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and offers students hands-on training and an introduction to early clinical experiences among a diverse population, a rare opportunity among dental schools.

Limited appointments are available for this special event. El Paso residents interested are asked to call 915-215-6700 for an appointment.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Water is proactively replacing metal water mains which cross major gas pipelines in East El Paso to help minimize water main breaks. The project is called the Pipeline Protection Project and the public is invited to learn more information at a meeting Monday night.

To provide information to customers on the next milestones of the project, scheduled to begin soon, the utility company will host a community meeting December 11, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the Burges High School Library located at 7800 Edgemere Blvd.

The Pipeline Protection Project will begin the third and fourth milestones in January and is expected to be completed by spring 2024.

El Paso Water says the replacement is necessary because gas pipelines use corrosion protection systems which run an electrical current through the gas pipeline. Over time, exposure to that electrical charge can increase the chance of corrosion in the metal water mains, increasing the chance of a break.

Drivers should be prepared for lane closures and temporary detours at Viscount Boulevard and Airway Boulevard.

The first milestone at Lee Trevino and Vista del Sol was completed in October. The second milestone at Yarbrough Drive and Kinross is near completion.

For more information on the Pipeline Protection Project, visit epwater.org.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Some students at Hueco Elementary School received bicycles from Old Dominion Freight Line today.

Forty nine bikes were donated to the school.

The bikes will be raffled to students who received perfect attendance.

Six bikes are going to be raffled out to each grade level at the school.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Austin High School held a memorial today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Chief Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an esteemed alumna of the El Paso Independent School District. Justice O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, passed away on Dec. 1, 2023.

An El Paso Independent School District spokesperson issued the following statement:

"Justice O’Connor’s impact on the legal history of the nation is immeasurable, and her connection to the El Paso Independent School District runs deep. She enrolled at Austin High School at the age of 16 and graduated sixth in her class in 1946. Her time at Austin High School left an indelible mark on her, shaping the foundations of her future achievements."

EPISD

The memorial featured a showcase of memorabilia, including yearbooks, photos, and more. The program concluded with a dove release accompanied by the playing of taps.

El Paso Judge Sue Kurita, students from the Sandra Day O’Connor Public Service Academy, and Austin High School Principal Cyndi Ponce all spoke at the event.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso and the El Paso International Airport invites the public to the annual Winterfest Holiday Social happening Thursday, December 7, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

As a part of the celebration, the community is invited to visit the airport and enjoy delicious food, tasty beverages, popcorn, a candy buffet table (while supplies last), as well as live music by John Anderson and entertainment by Robotron – LED dancing robots.

The event is free and open to the public. Validated parking is available in the Short Term and Long Term Parking Lots.

Each year the airport celebrates Winterfest by decorating the terminal and landscaping for the holidays to welcome thousands of passengers, guests, families, and members of the community.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Border Patrol Agent Freddie Vasquez had a lifelong dream of being in law enforcement.  On June 18, 2018, Vasquez became a K9 Handler, a goal he set upon when joining the Border Patrol in 2002.

Agent Vasquez passed away on May 8, 2021 from COVID-19, which he contracted while working in the line of duty.

As part of its 2023 Season of Hope, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced it has paid in full Vasquez's mortgage.

“Receiving support from Tunnel to Towers has been such a blessing! I truly don’t have the words to express how grateful I am," said Agent Vasquez' wife, Inez. "You have lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. Not having to make that monthly house payment has allowed me to do more activities with the kids to make memories with them.”

Tunnel to Towers has ensured that Inez and their children can continue living in the ‘forever home’ they purchased together.

“You have just given me peace of mind to know that our home is now fully paid. Thank you so much for what you do for families like ours, I truly, can’t thank you enough,” said Inez.

The Tunnel to Towers Season of Hope is the Foundation’s annual commitment to do good and honor the sacrifices of America’s heroes.

This year, the Foundation will deliver 40 mortgage-free homes to America’s heroes nationwide between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, emphasized the Foundation's commitment to honoring Agent Vasquez's dedication to keeping the country safe during the pandemic.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- In another effort to get Americans to test for COVID-19 this winter, the Biden administration announced it would begin distributing tests for free to all school districts nationwide.

Schools will be able to place orders for the tests, with deliveries arriving within about two weeks of ordering.

In a letter sent by the Department of Education, they urged schools to use the tests to try to contain the spread of COVID in the winter months.

"While the COVID-19 virus can be found year-round in the United States, infection rates are typically higher during the fall and winter months," wrote Roberto J. Rodríguez, assistant secretary at the Department of Education.

"These self-tests are easy to use and can play an important role in preventing the spread of COVID-19," Rodríguez added.

The department encouraged schools to use the tests to "stock school nurses' offices and main offices with tests; to send test kits home with students or parents; or to distribute by other means to put these valuable safeguards in the hands of students, parents, and staff who need them."

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Cactus Trails Elementary School community celebrated holiday wellness while giving back to those in need today at The Great Blanket & Toy Run.

Cactus Trails students and their families participated in the schools regular wellness event where students, parents and family members exercise together and were encouraged to bring a new toy or blanket to contribute to The Great Blanket and Toy Run and help give back to the community this holiday season.

‌"The toys will go to some of our families here that are having a little bit of a rough holiday," said Erica Armijo, P.E. teacher at Cactus Trails Elementary. "The blankets will go to the Senior Citizens Center."

The toys are donated to the school's angel tree, where families in need can sign up to get gifts for children.

"Our community and our kids, they have big hearts and they love to give," said Armijo. "And every time we have some event coming up, they're the first to help out."

In addition to the toy and blanket collection, families get to exercise together and stay active.

"So they're having a good time, being healthy, being active and supporting everyone around them," said Armijo.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham is seeking $500 million to establish a new "first-of-its-kind" strategic water supply to increase drought resilience and advance clean energy production in the state.

“In arid states like ours, every drop counts. A warming climate throws that fact into sharper relief every day,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

The strategic water supply will provide extra resources by creating green hydrogen, storing energy produced by wind and solar, and manufacturing electric vehicles, microchips, solar panels, and wind turbines.

“This is innovation in action: We’re leveraging the private sector to strengthen our climate resiliency and protect our precious freshwater resources," said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

Gov. Lujan Grisham will seek the $500 million in non-general fund dollars to support this proposed project. This includes $250 million from the upcoming legislative session and $250 million from the 2025 legislative session.

The governor says that money should come from severance taxes from oil, gas, and natural resource producers.

With those funds, Lujan Grisham's office says New Mexico will be able to treat brackish water and reclaim it for use, contributing to her new strategic water supply.

According to Lujan Grisham's plan, in early 2024, the New Mexico Environment Department will issue guidance and seek proposals from companies interested in working on this project.

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CLINT, Texas (KVIA) -- Housing Opportunity Management Enterprise, also known as HOME, broke ground on it's latest affordable housing development, Kinship Commons, in Clint, Texas.

“Kinship Commons represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide affordable, quality housing to the residents in Clint and throughout El Paso County,” HOME CEO Gerald Cichon said.

Kinship Commons will consist of 44 units, representing an $8 million investment to help provide affordable, vibrant and sustainable communities throughout El Paso County.

The project was designed by architectural firm Wright & Dalbin, and construction will be completed by Bowling Construction under Pennrose Development and financed by PNC Bank.

Once completed, Kinship Commons will be managed in partnership between HOME and Envolve.

“We are proud to collaborate with our partners in this endeavor, including County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and El Paso County Commissioner’s court," said Cichon. "We look forward to the positive impact this community will have on the lives of its residents.”

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, the Clint High School color guard, HOME Board Chair Eileen Karlsruher, County Commissioner Iliana Holguin, HOME CEO Gerald Cichon, and Tom Anderson, Senior VP of Pennrose Development were all in attendance.

Kinship Commons is located at 13561 Alameda Avenue.

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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Roasted Rooster Coffee & Waffles, a new culinary hot spot dedicated to the art of bold coffee, sweet and savory waffles, and local community support held its grand opening in Las Cruces Monday.

Roasted Rooster supports local farmers by sourcing ingredients locally and invites patrons to indulge in a menu that showcases the best of the region's flavors.

As an added perk, Roasted Rooster is a Tesla Supercharging station, providing electric vehicle owners a convenient stop with the added benefits of delicious food, clean bathrooms, and a homey atmosphere.

Operating hours will be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., providing a new spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner
and dessert.

Roasted Rooster is located at 2702 W. Amador.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Shots were fired in Northeast El Paso Monday night just after 8 p.m. after reports of a vehicle stolen, says El Paso Police.

No person or vehicles were hit.

Officers detained one person.

It happened on the 9200 block of Dyer Street.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Residents in the City of El Paso are invited to gain a free inside look at Municipal Government through the 17th Annual Neighborhood Leadership Academy.

Participants interested in learning how city government works, will receive first-hand information about city services and programs through comprehensive presentations from city department leaders, and on-site field trips to various public facilities.

It is a 20-week program, and classes are held on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. with different city department presentations being hosted at various locations throughout El Paso.

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy is free, but space is limited to the first 60 participants who enroll.

Classes begin on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, and run through May 29, 2024.

Registration is open to residents 13 years of age or older. Individuals between the ages of 13 and 17 MUST be accompanied by an adult also enrolled in the program.

Those interested must fill out an application and return it by Friday, December 22, 2023.

Applications are available online at: [City of El Paso] Neighborhood Leadership Academy (seamlessdocs.com)

For more information, email NeighborhoodServices@elpasotexas.gov or call (915) 212-1681.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of Socorro will be having the annual Winterfest celebration Friday night. The event kicks off with a holiday parade at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at Sanchez Middle School at 321 N. Rio vista Rd., and will travel down that street to the Rio Vista Community Center located on 901 N. Rio Vista Rd., where there will be a free event.

There will be a variety of vendors, food trucks, games, and pictures with Santa among the live entertainment.

The first 300 people will receive s'mores and hot chocolate for free.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- FirstLight Federal Credit Union has awarded $5,000 to eight El Paso college students attending Western Technical College.

FirstLight Federal Credit Union's annual scholarship program is aimed at supporting and empowering college students in their pursuit of higher education.

These scholarships are designed to alleviate the financial burden associated with tuition and related expenses, enabling students to focus on their academic endeavors and future success.

"We believe in investing in the future leaders of our community, and education is a cornerstone of that investment," said Brad Kuykendall, CEO. "We are appreciative of the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Scholarship Program and truly feel that this partnership will reflect our commitment to empowering students to achieve their academic goals and contribute positively to society."

“Our goal is to provide education and resources to local students to enable them to reach their educational goals and achieve their dreams”, added Margie Salazar, President & CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Fashion Technology students and an alumna from El Paso Community College showcased their designs at Texas International Fashion Week at the War Eagles Air Museum.

Texas International Fashion Week featured EPCC Fashion designs by students at every level of the program, including alumna and Lab Assistant Kendra Brown’s brand Brown Rabbit Couture, student design major Samantha Renteria’s emerging brand RENCO, and student design major and retailer Andrea Lozano’s brand Pillboxed.

“Attending EPCC has been such a vital steppingstone in my fashion design journey. The fashion program has allowed for the doors of opportunities to open such as this one, “ EPCC Alumna, Kendra Brown of Brown Rabbit Couture said. "I am thankful for this opportunity to provide and network with fellow designers, as well as for receiving the best education from skilled instructors who care for their student’s education.”

The EPCC Fashion Club also participated in the event behind the scenes in fashion show production, as interns learning the inner workings of a big fashion show production, and networking with fashion professionals and international designers.

“This opportunity was quite an experience! The fashion, energy, dedication, on the part of all the participants and their audience, is something to remember,” EPCC student Samantha Renteria of RENCO said. “After years of being active in this creative community, the EPCC Fashion program finally prepared me with the necessary instruction and practice to succeed in this and future projects. I’m excited about what’s coming next.”

Texas International Fashion Week was produced by Bazaar Model Management and sponsored by Mercedes Benz, BMW, Bravo Cadillac, and Porsche of El Paso. Businesses Ben Bridge Jewelers, Nonprofit Exchange, X Print LLC, and KFOX 14 made contributions to make this major production fully come to life.

The fashion show featured 2024 luxury vehicles from Porsche, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes Benz on the runway alongside international and local designs.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- High school artists in El Paso are invited to celebrate Earth Day 2024 by participating in the City of El Paso’s Environmental Services Department (ESD) Dumpster Art Contest.

The department says art design should be reflective of El Paso’s unique culture while promoting an environmental-friendly lifestyle.

“The contest provides an opportunity for our younger residents to get involved in our community and foster a sense of pride and ownership of our environment through their artwork,” said Nick Ybarra, ESD Director.

Three finalists from each school district will be selected, and will be awarded $500 in art supplies to paint their proposed artwork on ESD roll-off dumpsters.

The painted roll-off dumpsters will be displayed at ESD’s annual Earth Day Celebration on April 2024, where attendees will vote for their favorite dumpster art, and the winner will be announced at the end of the event.

After the Earth Day celebration the painted roll-off dumpsters will be showcased at Citizen Collection Stations across the city.

The contest is open to all high school students from the El Paso, Socorro and Ysleta School Districts, who reside within El Paso city limits.

Interested participants should submit their application and art rendering by Friday, January 12, 2024, via email at ESDOutreach@elpasotexas.gov.

For complete contest guidelines, call 915-212-6000.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Raiz Federal Credit Union, formerly known as Teacher’s Federal Credit Union, will hold a ceremony Tuesday night to award their 2023 scholarships and grants.

The ceremony will be from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Region 19 Head Start, located at 11670 Chito Samaniego Dr.

Raiz FCU will award $82,500 in scholarships and grants to students, professional educators, and non-profit organizations.

Raiz Federal Credit Union announced its rebrand in July 2022 and launched a special initiative to honor its legacy rooted in education.

During the same time, the union introduced the Raiz Up Professional Development Grant to give back to teachers in West Texas and the Together We Raiz Community Grant to provide support for two local non-profits who are making an impact in the community. These new grants are in addition to the annual community scholarship and Michael Sandoval Memorial Scholarship that the union awards each year.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Community College (EPCC) will hold closing ceremonies and awards today for the 22nd annual K-12 Art Exhibit.

The closing reception will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the EPCC Administrative Services Center (ASC), located at 9050 Viscount Blvd. in the Building A Auditorium.

The exhibit includes participation from over 75 schools, including various school districts and private and home school students.

Awards will be given in four age categories: Kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grades, 6th-8th grades, and high school. A President’s Award will be given out in each division.

EPCC art instructors and lab supervisors will be judging the artwork. Mediums include drawing, painting, photography, jewelry and sculpture.

The K-12 Art Exhibit began 22 years ago with only 400 entries. The 2023 EPCC K-12 Art Exhibition had 1,200 entries from over 75 schools including from El Paso, Socorro, Ysleta, Gadsden, Fabens, and Clint Independent School Districts, as well as private schools and home school students.

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Vehicle pursuits under Operation Lone Star have a higher rate of death than most high-speed pursuits, according to researchers at Human Rights Watch.

According to the 77-page report, “So Much Blood on the Ground’: Dangerous and Deadly Vehicle Pursuits under Texas’ Operation Lone Star,” dangerous chases of vehicles thought to contain migrants under the Texas government’s Operation Lone Star program led to crashes that killed at least 74 people in a 29-month period.

Human Rights Watch reported that Operation Lone Star puts undue pressure on law enforcement to chase cars, sometimes with very little basis, resulting in deaths of drivers, passengers, and even bystanders.

Within the year before the initiative began, El Paso county saw 49 vehicle pursuits by state troopers.

Just over two years since its launch, there were 175 vehicle pursuits recorded in El Paso county.

Human Rights Watch found that 81% of the vehicle pursuits in Operation Lone Star counties were initiated because of a traffic violation.

97% of those violations were misdemeanors such as speeding or not obeying traffic signals.

Human Rights Watch found that the average maximum speed during the chases was 91 miles per hour, with a third involving speeds over 100 miles per hour.

Property damage from vehicle pursuits has also increased in Operation Lone Star counties. Average losses from chases were at around $73,000 per month before March 1, 2021, with losses rising to over $177,000 since that date, an increase of 142 percent.

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OTERO COUNTY, New Mexico -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Garret Glore, who was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, was on leave in California when he was able to save the lives of five different people.

"Glore was instrumental in saving five lives in his off-duty time, swimming over 3,500 meters to rescue two individuals swept out to sea, triaging a homeless man suffering from an overdose, and responding to a vehicle rollover while facing oncoming traffic," said U.S. Air Force Lt Col James Hayward, 314th FS commander. 

Glore received the Air Education and Training Command 2023 United Service Organizations Service Member of the Year Award for the Air Force, which recognizes service members for performing extraordinary acts of bravery that exemplify the values of their respective branches.

"These events have given me the mindset to put other people’s needs ahead of my own," said Glore. "If someone is in need, I will do anything and everything in my power to help them, even if it puts my life at risk."

Glore said he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with the purpose of saving lives.

"My goals in joining the Air Force were simple: uplift those around me and be the best teammate I can be," said Glore. "The better I am, the more I can help the people around me."

Initially joining as a special warfare Airman, he aspired to engage in life-saving missions daily. However, unforeseen obstacles led him to drop out of the training. Despite this setback, he embraced his reassignment as a 314th Fighter Squadron aircraft resource manager at Holloman.

"In the Special Warfare pipeline, you fail every day,” he said. “There were times when we were moving for days at a time with no sleep. In those moments, I knew quitting was not an option. I learned that when you get knocked down, it’s about getting back up and fighting with everything you've got."

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EL PASO, Texas -- One person has been taken to the hospital after reports of a shooting on the 3600 block of George Dieter near Montana, according to police.

Officers were called out at 7:36 p.m. about the shooting.

Police haven't reported any arrests.

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UPDATE: A person with the search party said the girl has been found in good condition.

A 9-year-old student from Lundy Elementary has been reported missing since around 4 p.m.

She was last seen wearing a purple dress with flowers. She also had a silver backpack with a "J" on it.

A spokesperson for the El Paso Independent School District said she was released from school following regular procedure.

Both EPISD Police and El Paso Police departments are looking for her.

A 9 year old girl from Lundy Elementary is missing. She is wearing a purple dress with flowers with a silver back pack with a J. This is a photo of her today. She’s been missing since around 4 PM. Please call 911 if you see her. Photo shared with permission from her mom. pic.twitter.com/lGsxiYQpvw

— Lundy Elementary (@LundyEPISD) October 26, 2023

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The federal courthouse in downtown El Paso will be closed Friday, Sept. 22 for a live training exercise. This training will be closed to the public.

The US Marshals Service is warning the public in advance. If you see a heavy police presence in downtown El Paso Friday, do not be alarmed, officials say.

The training exercise will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and several street closures will occur. 

Magoffin Ave and Florence St

Magoffin Ave and N Ochoa St

N Virginia St and Myrtle Ave 

N Ochoa and Myrtle Ave

N Florence St and Myrtle Ave

In addition to the US Marshals Service, participating agencies include the El Paso Police Department, El Paso Fire Department, and the Federal Protective Service.

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