Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (Oct. 23, 2026): The New Mexico Department of Agriculture on Friday announced a New World screwworm case has been detected in Hidalgo County.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the case was found in cattle.

Hidalgo County is west of Deming. Officials confirmed the infestation on Thursday.

Officials established a 12.4-mile radius infested zone around the affected cattle. Within this zone, animals must be inspected and, if necessary, treated before moving.

As of Thursday, New Mexico has four active cases of NWS. One of those was detected in Otero County earlier this week.

Texas has four active NWS cases.

OTERO COUNTY, N.M. (KVIA) — Two new cases of New World screwworm have been confirmed in Otero County, New Mexico, and Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

NWS is a parasitic fly whose maggots burrow into the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including livestock. They use mouth hooks to “screw” into the flesh.

According to the USDA NWS dashboard, both cases were confirmed Wednesday. One of them was found in cattle in Otero County.

TPWD said the parasite was found in an elk in Pecos County, Texas, which includes the Fort Stockton area. The elk, a female, was hunted.

“This detection highlights the critical role hunters, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife professionals play in helping detect and manage the spread of NWS,” the TPWD said in a news release.

The Texas Animal Health Commission will modify an infested zone already established.

TPWD suggested that hunters inspect their harvest before moving the animal carcass. Signs of NWS infestation include:

Irritated or depressed behavior Loss of appetite Head shaking Smell of decaying flesh Presence of fly larvae (maggots) in wounds Isolation from other animals or people

Officials said hunters should look for any wounds that might have a foul smell or maggots, especially in the eyes, ears, nose, feet, mouth and genitalia.

Suspected NWS infestations in wildlife can be reported to a TPWD wildlife biologist or 512-389-4505.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are seven active cases of NWS in New Mexico and Texas.

In September, the Santa Teresa Livestock Crossing reopened after more than a year. The U.S. federal government halted operations at the crossing in May 2025 due to NWS concerns. Mexican authorities had to close the crossing after NWS cases were confirmed close to the border.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A Red Bull Air Race world champion will fly in this weekend’s Amigo Airsho. Kirby Chambliss, a Texas native, is known as one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world.

The 67-year-old pilot started his career in 1997, earned every aviation license there is and has flown more than 70 types of aircraft. He has logged more than 26,000 hours in the air — which is nearly three years!

He earned his private pilot license at 21 years old. By the time he turned 28, he was the youngest captain at Southwest Airline.

Chambliss is a five-time winner of the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship, a former men’s freestyle world champion and one of only two pilots to win the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Kirby Chambliss’ Red Bull plane at the War Eagles Air Museum in New Mexico.

ABC-7 Chief Meteorologist “Doppler” Dave Speelman spoke with Chambliss at the War Eagles Air Museum, where he practiced for the weekend airshow.

ABC-7 Chief Meteorologist “Doppler” Dave Speelman and Kirby Chambliss, an aerobatic pilot who will perform at the 2026 Amigo Airsho.

Chambliss spoke about preparing to fly in El Paso. He has to consider the city’s altitude and weather conditions. He said the air density poses the greatest challenge.

“I know this airplane like the back of my hand, but I still have to go out and that’s why I’m here two days early,” he told ABC-7.

Chambliss has been flying for Red Bull for more than 20 years. His goal for each performance is to wow the crowd.

“I tend to go with a very aggressive aerobatics. I want to leave there, and people say, ‘God, I’ve never seen an airplane do that before,'” he said.

Some tricks Chambliss prepares to do include flying backwards at 90 miles per hour.

“I’m going to have the tail going over the nose, the airplane flipping end over end multiple times. So the airplane, believe it or not, doesn’t really want to do that, but I’ve got a way that I can say, ‘Oh come on and it’ll go ahead and do it,” the pilot said.

The Amigo Airsho will take place Saturday and Sunday at Biggs Army Airfield. Find an event guide here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Reading and writing fans celebrated their hobbies in literacy at El Paso Community College on Wednesday.

EPCC held the 18th annual Literacy Fiesta at its Valle Verde Campus. The Literacy Fiesta had free book giveaways, award-winning authors and workshops for the public.

“I’m receiving a lot of community here. I think they’re showing us the things that we have available to us at the campus. This is something that I’ve never been to, so I’m really glad that I’ve been invited,” said EPCC student Samay Wilcox.

The Literacy Fiesta didn’t focus on just books. It celebrated literacy in art and music too.

El Paso-based book organizations provided free books for the event, including the Books Are Gems store and the El Paso Public Library.

Additionally, the Heart Gallery of El Paso and Executive Director Vanessa Gurrola Leon earned the EPCC Community Spirit Award for its “notable history of literacy and community service.”

“The Community Spirit Award means so much, just because it’s an example of the work we’re doing in the community is being recognized at a large level,” Gurrola Leon said in a statement. “We work so hard for students and knowing that the hard work since 2023 is being noticed.”

Author Jazmine Ulloa won the Literacy Legacy Award. She grew up in El Paso, graduated from Burgess High School and works for the New York Times.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Students at El Paso Community College have a new space to study in. Tuesday, evolve Federal Credit Union held a grand opening of a new student lounge at the Valle Verde Campus.

An evolve spokesperson said the lounge was built to be a relaxing getaway for students, but it also offers financial resources.

Any student can use the space, but evolve said a specialist will help elvolve members with online banking services. The specialist can also help students learn about opening an account with the credit union.

Students can also take financial literacy workshops at the lounge, which has an ATM machine.

At the lounge, students can find activities to unwind. The lounge has free books, board games and coloring books. Students in need of a boost of energy can find a coffee bar at the lounge, equipped with flavored syrups.

The evolve Lounge is tucked in the Student Services Center at the EPCC Valle Verde campus.

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Gabrielle Lopez

DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KVIA) — After storms and flooding in Doña Ana County, the county asked residents to share their experiences with roadway hazards.

The county said Road Ready: Road Network Resilience Plan, offers a survey for residents to fill out through Nov. 1. They can also drop a pin to let the county know where any roadway hazard is and how they affect the community.

“Through Route Ready, the County is gathering local experiences to better understand roadway vulnerabilities, access challenges and community connectivity,” the county said in a statement.

Find Route Ready here.

Federal funds run Road Ready, according to the county. The county said Route Ready is a planning effort, not a construction project. The final plan will guide future transportation decisions, project development and funding opportunities.

“The Route Ready Plan will help Doña Ana County better understand where the road network is most vulnerable and identify strategies to strengthen long-term access, connectivity and resilience,” the county’s website read.

Route Ready’s website said the plan will study road hazards, future conditions, emergency routes and how roads connect to essential services, including schools and health care.

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Gabrielle Lopez

SANTA FE, N.M. (KVIA) — Wednesday, a judge ordered Meta to pay New Mexico $25 billion in civil penalties after a jury found the company liable for deceiving users about privacy policies on Facebook.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced the verdict in the state’s landmark Cambridge Analytica case against Facebook.

The New Mexico Department of Justice said Facebook committed 43,899,725 violations of New Mexico law.

“We took on one of the largest companies in the world because New Mexicans deserve honesty, accountability, and the protection of their personal information. Today’s result makes clear that no corporation is too powerful to be held accountable,” Torrez said in a statement.

NMDOJ said the Cambridge Analytica data breach involved the misuse of personal information collected through Facebook. Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, took Facebook user data to make targeted political ads for the 2016 election.

The state challenged Facebook’s representations to consumers about its data practices and efforts to address misinformation.

In the first phase of the trial, a New Mexico jury found that Facebook violated the State’s Unfair Practices Act 43,899,725 times. A trial examined the company’s statements and practices about user privacy, third-party access to personal information and handling of harmful content.

The state’s allegations were tested in court, and Facebook was held accountable under New Mexico law.

NMDOJ said the state secured one of the largest financial penalties against a corporation in U.S. history.

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Department began commercial vehicle inspections along Transmountain Road as part of an initiative to reduce crashes in the area.

Retired truck driver Sebastian Arellano said crashes like this are preventable.

“It’s such a tragic accident and did not have to happen. It did not have to happen,” Arellano said.

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson announced the initiative Tuesday after a deadly eight-vehicle crash at Loop 375 and North Desert Boulevard. Police said a semi’s brakes failed before it charged down the road, causing seven other vehicles to crash.

“Effective immediately, the El Paso Police Department’s commercial vehicle inspection inspectors going to start inspecting vehicles, commercial vehicles that are going up on Transmountain Road,” Mayor Johnson said at the news conference.

The El Paso Police Department started inspecting commercial vehicles on Transmountain in an enhanced safety effort.

El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas said police have worked with the state in the past by putting up signage, directing semis to runaway ramps. Despite those initiatives, he said there are still people getting killed.

“So we’re stepping up the enforcement to make sure that these vehicles are safe on there,” Chief Pacillas said.

Pacillas said police will be looking for commercial vehicles that certified inspectors can pull over.

According to Sergeant Robert Gomez, police can conduct an inspection at any time. Gomez said the El Paso Police Department currently only has six certified inspectors.

He says they won’t stop every commercial vehicle, but the goal is for drivers to be in compliance of regulations.

When stopped, police are looking for safety measures like brakes, lights, seatbelts and couplers. Sergeant Gomez says the officer will not only check the driver’s logbook but will get underneath the vehicle to check components of the vehicle.

Sergeant Gomez says if a commercial vehicle is deemed unsafe during the inspection, an officer will give the driver the opportunity to fix the vehicle on the side of the road.

If the driver is unable to correct the violation on the side of the road, he says a commercial vehicle truck will be called to move the truck off the side of the road.

A semi under inspection on Transmountain Road.

Sergeant Gomez says vehicles that are deemed unsafe face Class C citations. He says the cost of those citations can get up to $500.

Arellano says that cost is a lot higher than if a truck driver were to check their vehicle before getting on the road.

“So here we go again. You didn’t take care of it before you left. Now it’s costing them in a lot more money than the minutes it would have taken them to just take care of this,” Arellano said.

Arellano says the time it takes to check the brakes beforehand is worth it.

“It’s going to take time. Let me tell you, what’s it going to cost you more? Waiting an hour or two, spending 300 bucks on a mechanic or replacing brakes or whatever, or the amount of money that is paid off when a when somebody perishes during a truck accident,” Arellano said.

Tuesday, Pacillas urged drivers to give inspection crews the space they need and to expect possible congestion in the area.

In response to questions about why semis aren’t diverted from using transmountain all together, spokesperson Lauren Macias-Cervantes said “the department generally does not have the authority to prohibit the use of a state highway by a class of vehicles that are operating within applicable legal size and weight limits.”

She went on to say local governments may request traffic restrictions, but it will require review and approval through the appropriate transportation authorities.

Arellano said what police are doing is just the beginning.

“This is a great start. It’s a great start, but it’s so much more,” Arellano said.

ABC-7 has reached out to the El Paso Sheriff’s Department, El Paso Police Department, Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Department of Transportation to learn the protocol for stopping tractor-trailers and semis, what is being checked, and which citations drivers are at risk of receiving.

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Gabrielle Lopez

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KVIA) — Wednesday, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced a federal civil lawsuit against two men associated with Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit seeks to block estate payments and recover damages for survivors.

Torrez named Darren Indyke, Epstein’s personal attorney, and accountant Richard Kahn in the complaint. The New Mexico Department of Justice alleged that Epstein ran a sex trafficking operation that Indyke and Kahn knowingly participated in. They allegedly used their positions and Epstein’s accounts to finance and conceal the abuse.

“Jeffrey Epstein did not operate alone, and his death does not end the pursuit of accountability for the people who helped make his crimes possible,” said Attorney General Torrez.

The lawsuit alleged the men managed financial accounts and authorized transactions connected to the trafficking operation.

Indyke and Kahn denied any knowledge or participation in Epstein’s trafficking. They testified before the House Oversight Committee earlier this year.

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse joined the attorney general at the announcement.

“My hope is there can be some measure of accountability and some measure of justice,” Torrez said at Wednesday’s news conference.

The lawsuit asks the court to:

Prevent payments from Epstein’s estate to Indyke and Kahn while the litigation proceeds. Restrict their ability to authorize and receive estate payments. Declare that they engaged in racketeering and trafficking activity in violation of state and federal law. Require them to divest Epstein-related interests and restrict certain future investment activity. Award compensatory and punitive damages, restitution, and disgorgement of benefits to survivors, including treble damages under state racketeering law.

On Oct. 16, Torrez joined a coalition of attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging them to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. The NMDOJ said the legislation would give state attorneys general and survivors the power to enforce the transparency Congress demanded.

The original Epstein Files Transparency Act went into effect in November 2025. It gave the public access to the full investigative record of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. The law required the U.S. Department of Justice to to make the files publicly available by Dec. 19, 2025.

Nearly a year later, the NMDOJ said the Justice Department still hasn’t released the files.

“Survivors deserve answers, not continued obstruction from a federal government with a responsibility to protect its citizens,” Torrez said in a news release.

Earlier this year, New Mexico reopened a criminal investigation into Zorro Ranch, a property Epstein owned outside of Santa Fe. Some alleged victims said they were sexually abused there. Zorro Ranch was sold in 2023. The property’s new owner is cooperating with law enforcement.

The complaint announced Wednesday alleged some survivors were lured to Zorro Ranch with promises of educational, career or financial help.

NMDOJ alleged Indyke handled the 2011 transfer of Zorro Ranch title to a company Epstein controlled.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The YWCA El Paso del Norte Region is gearing up for its seventeenth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser, set for Thursday, October 22, at San Jacinto Plaza.

The festivities begin with park and registration opening at 5:00 PM, followed by the signature walk at 6:00 PM. Participants are invited to form teams, register as individual walkers for $150, or simply attend as spectators free of charge. Registration is available online at www.ywcaelpaso.org. Interested corporate sponsors and attendees with questions are encouraged to contact walkamile@ywcaelpaso.org.

The highlight of the evening is men and boys donning red high heels and walking a mile to raise awareness and funds in support of survivors. “We appreciate the support we receive every year from men, boys, and families across our Borderplex Region who work with us in the fight to end domestic violence,” said YWCA CEO Sereka Barlow. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an event that is more than the walk in red heels. It is a symbol of how far we are willing to go to help women and children who deserve safety and security.”

Immediately following the walk, participants and supporters can enjoy an after-party featuring live music, food trucks, and signature drinks.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international campaign, and in El Paso, it provides vital funding for YWCA’s Sara McKnight TLC and Supportive Housing Program, which provide refuge and support for women and children experiencing homelessness, often as a result of domestic abuse or other forms of violence.

For more information and to register, visit www.ywcaelpaso.org.

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Katrina Villarreal

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One person was sent to the hospital with serious injuries after a motorcycle crash in East El Paso Wednesday morning.

The El Paso Fire Department said the call came in just before 4 a.m. It happened on Gateway East Boulevard and Hawkins Boulevard. The fire department also confirmed one person was hospitalized.

Officers at the scene of a motorcycle crash in East El Paso off Gateway East Boulevard and Hawkins.

The crash closed off all lanes on Gateway East; they reopened at 6 a.m.

This is a developing story.

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