City of Sunland Park to host State of the City Address

KVIA on May 27, 2026

Ilyhanee Robles

The City of Sunland Park will host its 2026 State of the City Address on May 27 at the Sunland Park Municipal Sports Complex.

According to the city, the event will highlight recent milestones, public safety priorities, infrastructure updates, and long-term plans for the community.

Mayor Javier Perea, alongside city council members and municipal leaders, is expected to discuss ongoing developments and initiatives designed to support residents and businesses across the region.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sunland Park Municipal Sports Complex located at 4700 McNutt Road in Santa Teresa.

The official program includes opening remarks from City Manager Mario Juarez-Infante, a moment of reflection led by Daniel Carranco, and the formal State of the City Address from Mayor Perea beginning at 10:15 a.m.

City officials say the event will also serve as an opportunity for residents to hear directly from local leadership regarding the city’s progress and future goals.

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City of El Paso releases preliminary budget for 2027 fiscal year, public meeting schedule

KVIA on May 27, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The City of El Paso released its preliminary budget for the 2027 fiscal year Wednesday. It totals $1.405 billion across all funds, which the city said is a 1.7% increase compared to FY 2026.

The city cited rising costs, public safety operations, infrastructure obligations, contractual costs and voter-approved commitments as reasons for the increase.

The city started its budget process six weeks earlier than in previous years to host public budget meetings throughout June. At the meetings, residents can ask questions and give feedback about the preliminary budget.

The preliminary tax rate is estimated at at $0.783 per $100 valuation, the city said. The FY 2026 adopted rate was $0.760 per $100 valuation. The city said this is an early estimate, and the budget will not be adopted until August.

Based on current projections, the city said the average single-family home taxable value is estimated at $233,549. It also said at the preliminary tax rate estimate, the average homestead tax bill would increase by $105 a year, or about $8.75 per month.

The preliminary budget included annual salary adjustments, the city said, including a proposed minimum wage increase for non-uniform employees from $15.75 to $16.25.

“The preliminary budget also reflects the financial pressures facing the City, including rising operational costs, voter-approved debt obligations, and the impact of unfunded state property tax exemptions,” said Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas in a statement.

Here’s the city’s schedule for public budget meetings:

Monday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Irving Schwartz Library (1865 Dean Martin Dr.)

Tuesday, June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Westside Regional Command Center (4801 Osborne Dr.)

Tuesday, June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, Cotton Patch Room (7968 San Paulo Dr.)

Monday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, Main Conference Room on the second floor (300 N. Campbell St.)

Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Senior Center (1800 Byron St.)

Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. at the Northeast Regional Command Center (9600 Dyer St.)

Wednesday, June 10 at 5 p.m. at the Valle Bajo Community Center & Library (7380 Alameda Ave.)

Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Beast Urban Park (13501 Jason Crandall Dr.)

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El Paso man creates game of blind billiards for his community

KVIA on May 27, 2026

Rishi Oza

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Martin Aceves has been legally blind his whole life. He’s an El Paso native and University of Texas at El Paso graduate trying to find a way to involve the blind community in public more.

For the last three years, he worked to make a game of billiards for the blind. A guide maker, whose son is blind, helped Aveces make wooden guides for the game.

The game is similar to normal billiards; the goal is to get the balls into the pockets, but you can’t see. Players can’t fully see what’s going on, but they can feel it.

“When they could see, they actually played the game. And that comes back, the full feelings get into effect and getting involved with the game,” said Aceves.

The first Tuesday of every month, the players get together at the Marty Robbins Rec Center in East El Paso. The group calls themselves the “Sharp Shooters.”

“Living on your own is hard, but it’s possible,” said Carlos Mosqueda, a member of the group.

Another member, Frank Rodriguez, said he never thought he would be able to play pool again.

“We want the people to get involved and come and do something, you know, to get them out of the house,” said Rodriguez.

According to Aceves, about 5,000 people are visually impaired throughout El Paso. He wants to get as many involved in his game as he can.

“Blindness is a major tragic issue, more so than other disabilities. It completely cancels a person’s life until they get retrained into society,” said Aceves.

His next steps are getting all of Texas involved, and creating a tournament around the state.

“I’m 70. Between now and 80, I want to see a state championship of this,” he said. “Let’s say I see a thousand individuals playing pool and that I started this? Give me a break. That’s very enjoyable.”

To get involved, Aceves says that you can meet them at the Marty Robbins Center and get started.

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3 inmates charged for allegedly attacking, tasing unconscious correction officer in Doña Ana County Detention Center

KVIA on May 27, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

ALBUQUERQUE (KVIA) — Three inmates face federal charges after allegedly attacking a correction officer at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico said Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the inmates allegedly beat the officer unconscious and tased him.

Court documents said the officer helped the U.S. Marshal service at the detention center May 11. He walked upstairs to monitor inmates and met Juan Gabriel Torres, Sergio Seanez and Titus Josiah McGaw Bulger, who were not allowed to be on the second floor.

Torres allegedly lunged at the officer and tried to punch him, but he was able to avoid it, officials said.

Seanez and Bulger attacked the officer to the ground, officials said. Seanez held the officer down while Torres and Bulger punched, kicked and stomped the officer’s body, causing him to lose consciousness.

According to officials, Torres used the officer’s taser on his unconscious body.

Officials say the attack lasted 22 seconds before guards entered the scene. The officer received care and went to the hospital. He survived and regained consciousness, officials said.

Torres, Seanez and Bulger are charged with assault involving a dangerous weapon and infliction of bodily injury on a person assisting U.S. officers, officials said. They will stay in federal custody pending trial.

If convicted, all three men face up to 20 years in prison.

The Las Cruces police and the city’s Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office helped investigate the case.

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Better Business Bureau: How phone updates can protect your phone from scams

KYMA on May 27, 2026

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Many scams come to your phone through fake texts or visiting scam websites. While smartphones have built in scam protections, you may not be keeping your phone safe.

Those annoying updates you see. Do you install them? You should as threats targeting phones are real.

Recently, Apple says they “identified web-based attacks targeting out-of-date versions of the iPhone operating systems.”

Click a malicious link or visit a compromised site, the data on your iPhone could be stolen. The fix was included in an update.

Think of what we have stored: Personal photos, financial information, passwords. All of it could be used against us.

Ransomware attacks are becoming a regular occurrence

Ransomware attacks are the fastest growing type of cybercrime. These attacks, which can target individuals or businesses, lock computers and networks using file encryption software, with hackers demanding payment by Bitcoin or other non-traceable crypto-currency to release the data.

The attack typically enters through a phishing email and then spreads to other machines on the same network.

Enable automatic updates. On all your devices, turn on automatic updates for your operating system, applications, and security software. This ensures that your devices are always running the latest security patches and fixes that protect against vulnerabilities that ransomware attackers might exploit.

Don’t click on links from unfamiliar sources. Even if you think you know the sender, be cautious about clicking on email links. When in doubt, delete it. Be especially wary of messages requiring you to act quickly, asking for personal information, or threatening you in any way. Read BBB’s tips on how to identify fake communications.

Keep clean machines and stay up-to-date with software. Prevent infections by updating critical software as soon as patches or new operating system versions are available. This includes mobile and other internet-connected devices. You should also always update your web browser(s) when updates are available.

Use multi-factor authentication, requiring more than a username and password, to access accounts, especially critical networks, to prevent access through stolen or hacked credentials. 

Conduct regular system backups. Systems can be restored in cases of ransomware, and having a current backup of all data speeds the recovery process.

Make better passwords. In cases where passwords are still used, require long, strong and unique passwords to better harden accounts against intrusions. Never use the same password for multiple accounts.

Enable pop-up blockers. Scammers regularly use pop-ups to spread malware. Adjust your browser settings to prevent them from appearing.

More on the latest Apple iPhone attacks and updates: https://support.apple.com/en-us/126776

Google updates for Android devices: https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439?hl=en-GB

Check reviews and complaints for any business BBB.org.

Keep up with all the latest scams at BBB’s Scam Tracker and joeknowsbetter.com.

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New affordable housing community in La Pine to open applications

KTVZ on May 27, 2026

Campbell Porter

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Applications for Wickiup Station Apartments, a new affordable housing community in La Pine, will open on Thursday, May 28, 2026, along with a community application event. This event marks a major milestone for the development located in the Wickiup Junction area.

The new development will provide 39 affordable housing units, offering a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. These units are designed to support individuals and families in the La Pine community making below 60% Area Median Income. Ten of the units will be reserved for veterans and rents will range from approximately $643 to $1,783, with all utilities included.

Cascade Management will oversee the leasing and property management for Wickiup Station Apartments. Representatives from Cascade Management will be available during the May 28 lease-up event to answer questions and assist prospective residents with the application process. For more information on leasing, individuals can email: wickiup@cascade-management.com.

Residents will also have access to supportive programming and community-building opportunities through Embrace Resident Services. This nonprofit organization, founded in 1999, is part of the Foundation for Affordable Housing and provides individualized, no-cost services to residents. Programs offered may include after-school activities for children, financial literacy and employment workshops, health and wellness programming, food distributions, case management support, social events, veterans services and connections to local community resources. On-site service coordinators work directly with residents to help address barriers, strengthen community relationships and foster a safe, supportive environment.

Upon completion, the property will feature various amenities including secured entries, a large community room, game room, state-of-the-art gym and two common decks with mountain views. Outdoor amenities will include a playground, raised bed gardens and natural areas, designed to foster connection, well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Applications for Wickiup Station Apartments will be available in person and online starting May 28, 2026. A community lease-up event will also take place Thursday, May 28th from 1-6PM at the American Legion in La Pine.

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One injured, one arrested after fight during adult softball tournament

KYMA on May 27, 2026

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A fight during an adult softball tournament in Yuma left one man seriously injured and another under arrest.

Officers responded Saturday night to the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex after a large fight broke out between two teams.

In court, the judge shared one man punched another man during the fight, causing a fractured orbital bone and a fractured nose.

The suspect was arrested Monday on one felony count of aggravated assault and temporary disfigurement. His bond is set at $50,000.

The suspect is expected to be back in court Thursday to see whether formal charges will be presented.

You can donate here.

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OSU-Cascades launches Energy Innovation Center for energy solutions

KTVZ on May 27, 2026

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University-Cascades has launched the Energy Innovation Center in Bend to accelerate research and development in energy technologies. The center will focus on energy storage, carbon capture and abatement, and power generation and controls.

The new center is designed to help advance the work of entrepreneurs and companies focused on energy solutions. Campus leaders view the center as a demonstration of the university-industry partnerships possible at the campus’s future innovation district.

Zachary Taie, executive director, and Chris Hagen, co-director, lead the Energy Innovation Center. They leverage existing expertise in energy research at the OSU campus in Bend, as well as energy sector assets in Central Oregon and beyond.

The Energy Innovation Center occupies an 11,000 square-foot space located on Potts Court in District 2 of Northwest Crossing, Bend, about one mile from the OSU-Cascades campus. This facility includes a light industrial laboratory with access to 800 amps of 208 three-phase power.

The space also features tall ceilings and roll-up garage doors that can accommodate forklift access. Additionally, it provides meeting, conferencing and project space, and a kitchen for researchers and tenants.

Tenants at the center will gain access to various resources within Oregon State University. These resources include the Advantage team, which supports intellectual property licensing, and entrepreneurial training through the Advantage Accelerator. Tenants can also access additional manufacturing instrumentation through the Advanced Technologies and Manufacturing Institute.

Zachary Taie, the executive director of the Energy Innovation Center, earned a bachelor’s degree in energy systems engineering from OSU-Cascades. He also holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from OSU. During his doctoral studies, Taie received a fellowship from the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He previously led a $35 million portfolio of projects in the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. Taie returned to Bend in 2023 to join RedoxBlox, a startup focused on thermochemical energy storage technology, before joining the Energy Innovation Center at OSU-Cascades.

“Central Oregon and the Pacific northwest are evolving as an epicenter for businesses and entrepreneurs focused on finding solutions to energy challenges facing our country and world,” Taie said. “The Energy Innovation Center at OSU-Cascades, in partnership with OSU, will support these companies and entrepreneurs, helping them more quickly transform ideas into viable commercial solutions.”

Chris Hagen serves as co-director of the center. Hagen is a professor of energy systems engineering and an expert in energy conversion and storage related issues. His expertise includes thermal energy storage and next generation fuels, which may offer greenhouse gas reduction opportunities. Hagen founded and directed the Energy Systems Lab at OSU-Cascades, leading work that resulted in the spinoff of Onboard Dynamics, a company now located in Bend.

The center is anticipated to move to the Innovation District at OSU-Cascades as the district develops. This future innovation district is planned to be 24 acres. Campus leaders are currently securing a master developer for the first eight-acre phase of the district.

The first buildings in the innovation district at OSU-Cascades are anticipated to open in 2028.

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Republican Congressman Andy Biggs visits Yuma while campaigning for Arizona governor

KYMA on May 27, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) was in Yuma for a rally Tuesday as he runs for Arizona state governor.

Rep. Biggs spoke to Yuma voters Tuesday, telling them the city of Yuma plays a major role in securing the governor’s seat.

“I try to understand the issues that are happening down here, and Yuma will be, you know, just a priority for us. I mean, it’s an important economic area, important food security area,” Biggs said.

Biggs is one of the top contenders for the position as we head into the primary.

The Yuma County Republican Party held their monthly meeting tonight where he and other guest speakers had the opportunity to talk about how they plan to make improvements to Arizona and its cities.

“We need some governors who know how the system works, but we also know how the state system works so we can begin reverting back to what we used to be a true federalist system, where the states actually are the ones that put a check on the federal government, and we don’t get owned by the federal government,” Biggs said.

Biggs advocates for protecting Arizona’s water rights and urges the release of federal drought mitigation funds, while supporting infrastructure projects to expand the region’s water supply.

“I’m here trying to elevate not just my candidacy, but also to elevate Yuma’s importance to this administration, the Trump Administration, but particularly the Bureau of Reclamation, so we get a better deal, a fairer deal with regard to water,” Biggs said.

He says he wants to give more power to the states so that they can act as a check on the federal government.

“We’ve seen over the last four years, under this administration, I’m talking about Katie Hobbs’ administration, we’ve gone from being a top five in job growth again, from the top five in affordability, and we’re now in the bottom five in both. And this is the type of thing I think we need to acknowledge,” Biggs said.

Biggs says he wants to work across the aisle in both the state and at the federal level

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El Centro to host block party for 4th of July

KYMA on May 27, 2026

Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A block party is coming to El Centro for the 4th of July.

The party is planned to be held the El Centro Aquatic Center (540 Park Ave) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

There will be a DJ, foam parties, contests, and more.

This year’s event is expanding along Park Avenue as a block party celebration.

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