Las Cruces cooling centers open through July 11

KVIA on July 8, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The Las Cruces area can expect near triple-digit temperatures this weekend, and the city opened cooling stations to help those who need a break from the heat.

Through July 11, these locations will have free air conditioning:

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho Ave.

9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Closed Sunday

Mesilla Valley Intermodal Transit Terminal, 300 W. Lohman Ave.

6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Closed Sunday

Meerscheidt Recreation Center, 1600 E. Hadley Ave.

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday

Closed Sunday

The building is under construction but will have designated cooling areas.

Some Las Cruces senior centers will serve as cooling spaces. These buildings are open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’re closed Saturday and Sunday.

Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center, 304 W. Bell Ave.

Henry R. Benavidez Community Center, 1045 McClure Rd.

Munson Center, 975 S. Mesquite St.

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Border Patrol El Paso Sector alerts rideshare drivers about smuggling dangers

KVIA on July 8, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is warning rideshare drivers about the significant legal and physical dangers associated with human smuggling risks.

Border Patrol said transnational criminal organizations are manipulating legitimate mobile applications to facilitate their smuggling operations, posing threats to drivers who unknowingly participate.

Criminal smugglers use these apps and frequently arrange pickups via third-party accounts, according to a Border Patrol press release.

Officials said these pickups occur in secluded desert locations, remote highway shoulders near the border wall, or commercial staging lots; the tactic allows smugglers to insulate themselves from law enforcement.

Border Patrol also urges rideshare drivers to identify several indicators of smuggling activity, which include:

Passengers wearing heavily soiled clothing or groups attempting to exceed vehicle occupant limits.

Other signs are third-party bookings where the account holder is not present, or passengers who appear visually stressed and unaware of their current location.

Drivers who accept these suspicious fares face immediate detention and investigation at highway checkpoints.

Under federal law, individuals found to be participating in these networks may face felony charges for alien smuggling and harboring.

“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”

U.S. Border Patrol also advised drivers who encounter suspicious pickup requests to prioritize their safety. Drivers should immediately cancel the ride and relocate to a secure area.

They are also encouraged to use in-app security functions to document their routes and report concerns to the platform.

Suspicious activity or suspected human smuggling should be reported immediately to official law enforcement hotlines.

For emergencies, individuals should dial 911. Citizens and drivers can report suspicious activity anonymously to the U.S. Border Patrol by calling 1-800-635-2509.

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‘Help me get my beer’: 21-year-old man charged for deadly hit-and-run on Loop 375

KVIA on July 8, 2026

Paul Schulz

UPDATE (July 9, 2026) — A social media post reportedly helped police identify 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro as a suspect in a deadly hit-and-run crash on the Loop 275 near Pellicano, according to arrest documents.

Documents said Castro’s car flipped onto its roof after crashing into Manuel Oliva Contreras June 19 just before midnight. Contreras later died to his injuries.

Pictures of the crash showed a beer can wedged between Castro’s windshield and dashboard on the driver’s side, according to documents.

Before Castro allegedly left the crash by foot, witnesses took photos of him, police said. The photos circulated online, particularly through the Instagram page FitFam El Paso.

Photos posted on FitFam after the crash(Courtesy: @therealfitfamelpaso)

One witness told police Castro allegedly appeared drunk in how he smelled, documents said. The witness took pictures of Castro and said he wore a green Mexico jersey with jeans. After posting the picture, the witness received information about Castro, including a picture of his car and Facebook profile with his full name.

Another witness told police Castro allegedly said, “Help me get my beer” and tried to get a cooler out of his car, documents said.

Someone called 911 to report their friend gave Castro a ride without knowing about the hit-and-run, documents said. The reporter recognized Castro on FitFam’s post because he wore the same clothes — a green Mexico soccer jersey and jeans — before leaving the friend’s house, police said.

Police met with the an unnamed “Involved Other” who reportedly drove Castro away from the crash site for questioning. Documents said the involved other was with her friend at a Circle K gas station when Castro allegedly told them he didn’t know where he was and needed a ride.

The involved other decided to give Castro a ride home. She and Castro were dropped off by the involved other’s friend at an apartment complex where she had her car parked, documents said.

From there, Castro allegedly asked her to take him to a nightclub in Lower Valley El Paso to find his friends, documents said. Castro couldn’t find his friends at the club.

The involved other told Castro she needed to go home and said she would drive Castro to his home in Fabens the next morning, documents said.

At the involved other’s home, her friend she was with earlier sent her the FitFam post about the crash with pictures reportedly showing Castro, documents said.

The involved other confronted Castro about the crash, and he allegedly left her home and ran across the street to ask her neighbor for a ride, police said. When he didn’t get a ride, he allegedly left toward the desert area, documents said.

The involved other said Castro told her his full name, police said.

Later, police obtained surveillance video from the Circle K Castro reportedly met the involved other and her friend at. Documents said video showed Castro get into an SUV and leave the gas station.

Police also found an old booking photo of Castro as the registered owner of his car. Documents said the photo matched the description witnesses gave police about how Castro looked.

UPDATE (July 8, 2026) — Tuesday, El Paso Police Department arrested and charged 21-year-old Abraham Sosa Castro for a crash that killed 76-year-old Manuel Oliva Contreras.

Police said Castro allegedly drove at a “high rate of speed” and read-ended Contreras on Loop 375 South. Castro reportedly left the crash site by foot, according to a police report.

Police booked him into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $500,000 bond.

(Courtesy: EPPD)

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – A 76-year-old El Paso man died following a hit-and-run crash on Loop 375 South near Pellicano, according to the El Paso Police Department.

Police said officers responded to the crash at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 on Loop 375 South near Pellicano and found two vehicles at the scene.

Investigators said the driver of one vehicle fled before officers arrived.

The other vehicle involved was a 2019 Nissan Sentra driven by Manuel Oliva Contreras of East El Paso. Contreras was transported to a local hospital after the crash. Police initially believed his injuries were not life-threatening, but later learned he died from those injuries.

The investigation was turned over to the Special Traffic Investigations unit.

According to preliminary findings, a dark colored vehicle was traveling southbound on Loop 375 at a high rate of speed when it rear-ended the Nissan Sentra, which was also traveling southbound. Investigators said the driver of the dark colored vehicle then fled the scene on foot.

Police have not identified the driver of the fleeing vehicle.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the crash or the driver involved to contact police at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477.

The crash marks the city’s 22nd traffic fatality of 2026. At the same point last year, El Paso had recorded 29 traffic fatalities.

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Onvida Health’s annual healthcare camp gives local students hands-on experience

KYMA on July 8, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – This week, select local high school and college students are experiencing Onvida Health’s annual healthcare camp.

Local students are gaining hands-on experience this summer through exposure to healthcare careers.

Elizabeth Hammonds, Director of Volunteer Services for Onvida Health, said, “We give them the opportunity to explore a multitude of health careers and hope by the end of the week that we have inspired them to select something in the field and be educated in that field.”

The goal of Onvida Health’s annual healthcare camp is to educate students interested in the healthcare field by giving them the opportunity to practice skills such as suturing, PPE, and participating in simulations.

Student volunteer Andrik Reyes said, “The healthcare career camp is where I really fell in love with surgery.”

Students also have the opportunity to learn how to use surgical robots through hands-on simulations, with the hope that campers will discover their passion.

One former camper, now a camp volunteer, says Onvida Health’s career camp is not only a great place to learn hands-on skills, but also a place to build connections.

Jennifer Casillas, a student volunteer, said, “My biggest take away would probably be again the connections that you make.”

The annual week-long camp brings together like-minded students for an immersive learning experience that creates a lasting impact on every participant.

Onvida Health says camps like these help inspire students to pursue future healthcare careers.

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Riverside County ranks among California’s Top 10 counties for reported hate crimes in 2025

KESQ on July 8, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — Riverside County recorded 38 reported hate crime events in 2025, placing it among the 10 California counties with the highest number of reported incidents, according to the California Department of Justice’s annual Hate Crime in California 2025 report.

The report shows Riverside County documented 38 hate crime events, resulting in 48 criminal offenses, 48 victims, and 32 identified suspects. The county tied with Contra Costa County for the 10th-highest number of reported hate crime events statewide.

Within Riverside County, the City of Riverside reported the highest number of incidents, accounting for 11 hate crime events. Palm Springs followed with eight events, while the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reported six. Other jurisdictions reporting incidents included Hemet (three), Temecula (two), and Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Jurupa Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Perris, Riverside City College, and the University of California, Riverside, each with one reported event.

Rank
County
Hate Crime Events

1
Los Angeles
795

2
Santa Clara
146

3
Orange
128

4
Alameda
107

5
San Diego
77

6
Sacramento
71

7
San Francisco
46

8 (tie)
San Bernardino
41

8 (tie)
Ventura
41

10 (tie)
Contra Costa
38

10 (tie)
Riverside
38

While Riverside County ranked in the state’s top 10, the figures were significantly lower than California’s largest urban counties. Los Angeles County led the state with 795 hate crime events, followed by Santa Clara County (146), Orange County (128), Alameda County (107), San Diego County (77), Sacramento County (71), and San Francisco County (46).

Statewide, California recorded 1,955 reported hate crime events in 2025 involving 2,402 victims. The overall number of hate crime events declined by 3.4% compared with 2024.

The Department of Justice emphasizes that hate crime statistics reflect incidents reported by law enforcement agencies and may not capture every hate-motivated offense, as some incidents go unreported or are not ultimately classified as hate crimes under California law.

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United Way Invests $220K to Help Families Pay for Childcare

KEYT on July 8, 2026

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – More families in Santa Barbara County are receiving financial help to cover the cost of childcare through a new round of scholarships from United Way.

United Way of Santa Barbara County has awarded more than $220,000 in childcare scholarships, helping nearly 40 local children so far. The organization recently released its second round of scholarship funding.

The scholarships are intended to reduce childcare expenses for working families while helping more children access care.

More scholarship funding is expected to continue supporting local families facing the high cost of childcare.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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Pasadena Fire Department targets firefighter health following impacts of the Eaton Fire

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Kara Finnstrom

Click here for updates on this story

    PASADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Many Pasadena firefighters became ill when the Eaton Fire exploded into an urban nightmare, and 18 months later, one fire captain’s push for awareness and support has led to new detox tools at all eight stations.

Firefighters who put on protective gear to fight fires are getting new help to cleanse their bodies of the toxins they still absorb.

“We’re excited that our department is pursuing smoke detoxification units,” Pasadena Fire Department Capt. Dave Marquez said.

The sauna-like units use infrared light, and all the department’s stations and training center will soon install them.

“One of the evolving best practices right now is smoke reduction machines. Some of the toxins and other things they encounter are excreted in their sweat,” Pasadena Fire Department Chief Chad Augustin said.

Firefighters at Station 38, just months after the fire, shared some of the horrific effects: burning eyes, throat and headaches.

They had been on Altadena’s frontlines for 36 hours. Afterwards, some slept in oxygen masks, and others vomited for days.

Marquez coordinated with a nonprofit group of doctors who rushed to give them emergency care in tents at the Rose Bowl.

Months later, he took part in a 12-week detoxification program for firefighters who took blood tests and were found to have unsafe levels of heavy metals.

“In the days or perhaps even hours after the event, we can take steps to significantly improve our chances of recovery,” Marquez said.

He said their regimen, which also included diet changes and sessions in those detox units, worked. “The brain fog is gone, no more breathing issues, no more coughing issues,” Marquez said.

Earlier this year, he joined the nonprofit Protect Frontline Alliance, which wants to bring these therapies to firefighters nationwide. They’re also calling for the expanded yearly blood tests Pasadena fire now offers.

“In addition to knowing something important like your cholesterol numbers, a firefighter can understand what their forever chemicals are, what their heavy metals are, and that is huge,” Marquez said.

Pasadena’s chief is also announcing a developing partnership with the City of Hope. He says the cancer-fighting institution will help guide their roughly 200 firefighters.

“We said, hey, help us,” Augustin said. “They have research studies that we could participate in. As they’re looking at the evolution and technology changing on cancer screenings for early access, is it body scans, is it bloodwork?”

While all of the Eaton Fire’s impacts won’t be known for decades, Marquez says he feels healthy and hopeful.

“I’m about to turn 45, and I feel fantastic. A lot of that has to do with being supported,” he said. “I’d say we’re doing great, but I would just say it’s important that we don’t take our foot off the throttle.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Siblings claim in lawsuit that faulty construction, lack of smoke alarms caused brother’s death at Fayette care home

KMIZ on July 8, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The siblings of a man killed in a fire at a home for disabled people in Fayette have sued, claiming negligence by the company that operated the facility caused their brother’s death.

Connie Mallick and Robert Bittle filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Linda Perkins Home, Inc., over the death of their brother, Donald Bittle. Bittle was one of two residents who died in the January 2026 fire; an employee also died.

Bittle was determined to be fully disabled in September 2023 and lived at the home, the suit states.

The group home did not have working smoke detectors on the top level, where Bittle’s room was located. The lawsuit also claims that the home was not built with proper gypsum fire barriers between its foam insulation and interior walls, causing the fire to spread quickly.

Donald Bittle died of smoke inhalation.

The home was also lacking an interior stairway, “leaving upper-level residents with no interior path of egress to safety,” the lawsuit states.

The siblings have requested a trial by jury.

The Department of Mental Health had certified the individualized supported living facility in 2024, according to an email from spokeswoman Debra Walker. ISLs are recertified every two years. Walker’s email says in 2024, “there were no fire safety or environmental concerns.”

A 2023 federal review of individualized supported living facilities in Missouri found some areas of oversight could be improved. The report said the state does not require providers to conduct periodic background checks on staff and found some facilities were missing documentation related to staff training and reviews.

A fire marshal’s investigation stated the cause was undetermined.

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Son of alleged Las Cruces bounty hunter charged in federal child exploitation case

KVIA on July 8, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces man faces federal child exploitation charges after investigators found a phone with evidence, according to the Justice Department. Investigators found the phone while they were investigating an alleged bounty hunter for human trafficking.

The DOJ said federal agents used a search warrant at a Las Cruces home to investigate Robert Jay Hernandez in May.

Robert Jay Hernandez faces federal charges after the DOJ said he allegedly bonded people out of jail and exploited them with forced labor, sexual acts and other services by threatening them. He reportedly worked for a bail bond company in Las Cruces.

The FBI took away several electronics, including a cellphone belonging to his 37-year-old son, Matthew Esai Hernandez.

Investigators found evidence that Matthew Hernandez engaged in sexually-explicit interactions with people who presented themselves as minors and had child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Hernandez allegedly used messaging apps like Telegram and Kik Messenger to get CSAM, according to the DOJ. In several conversations, he allegedly knew the minor’s age and still requested pictures and sexual messages, according to a news release.

He faces a charge for attempted coercion and enticement of minors and receipt and possession of child pornography, according to the DOJ. His trial hasn’t been scheduled yet.

If convicted, Hernandez faces a minimum punishment of 25 years and up to life in prison.

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High Desert Museum hosts ‘Welcome the Night’ event for nocturnal wildlife enthusiasts

KTVZ on July 8, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

BEND, OR (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon will host “Welcome the Night” on July 15, an after-hours event celebrating nocturnal wildlife, astronomy and the importance of protecting dark skies.

The event offers hands-on discovery and activities designed to engage visitors in the wonders of the dark.

“Welcome the Night” runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., inviting visitors to explore the Museum after dark alongside community partners, Museum experts and local naturalists.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and children ages 3 and older, with Museum Members receiving a 20% discount. Children two and younger are admitted free.

Guests will receive an adventure card and a map to guide them through 20 stations located across the Museum. Participants can collect a stamp at each stop before turning in their card for a chance to win a raffle prize.

This year features the new Ribbits and Hoots Station, where visitors can create frog hand puppets or owl finger puppets. At the Twilight Art Station, guests of all ages can make stenciled twilight art using scratch paper. A local face painter will also be on-site, offering designs inspired by favorite twilight creatures.

Three 15-minute owl encounters are scheduled to take place at the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. During these sessions, Museum wildlife staff will share information about how owls use their large eyes, silent flight and keen hearing to hunt by day and by night.

At Cheney Pond, experts from the U.S. Forest Service will lead the Bat Detectives Station. This station will explore bats and their role in the High Desert ecosystem, teaching visitors why bats dip and dive over water and how researchers track these remarkable flying mammals.

Experts from Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory will guide visitors at the Mighty Meteor Station, uncovering the science behind falling stars, shooting stars and meteorites. Guests will also have the opportunity to peer through telescopes and explore a model solar system.

Representatives from Pollinator Pathway Bend will introduce visitors to the world of nighttime pollinators, including moths, at the Pollination Station. They will teach attendees how to create outdoor spaces that support these important pollinators. In the Desertarium, visitors can view a collection of insects and examine specimens under magnification.

DarkSky Oregon will share information about how light pollution affects not only our view of the stars, but also the health and well-being of nocturnal wildlife.

The Rimrock Café will be transformed into the Crepuscular Café, featuring food available for purchase from Luckey’s Woodsman. No-host bars will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

The High Desert Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, opened in Bend, Ore., in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is a Smithsonian Affiliate. It received the 2025 Autry Public History Prize from the Western History Association and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp, as outdoor trails will be unlit.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/welcomethenight26.

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