Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The El Paso Passport Agency will host “Passport Day” on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 1 PM. According to Santiago Burciaga, the passport agency’s director, this event is for the local and surrounding communities and will accept first-time, renewal, and child passport applications. No appointments are needed.
The agency is located at 303 N. Oregon St. in downtown El Paso.
Paul Cicala
EL PASO (KVIA) – Patrick Crusius, the gunman of the Walmart shooting in El Paso that claimed the lives of 23 people from both Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Now that victim impact statements have ended, and Crucius is being sent to state prison for the mass shooting in El Paso on August 3, 2019, ABC-7’s Paul Cicala was able to sit down, 1-on-1, with District Attorney James Montoya.
The sit down interview with El Paso’s DA James Montoya touched on everything from whether or not he feels justice was served… to the decision to not pursue the death penalty … to treatment of the case with past District Attorneys… to the reaction in court when one of the family members of a victim hugged the shooter Patrick Crucius in court.
Nicole Ardila
Survivors and families of killed victims of the Walmart mass shooting wrapped up their powerful statements for shooter Patrick Crusius and the healing community.
Crusius has been released to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after the statements concluded.
Judge Sam Medrano asked El Paso County Sherriff Oscar Ugarte to escort Crusius out of the courtroom.
“Sheriff, please make arrangements to get him to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,” said the judge.
“Yes, your honor,” responded Ugarte.
Now, the state jail system and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will decide between themselves if Crusius will stay in a Texas state prison facility or heads to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Super Max Detention.
Right now, he is in the custody of the state until a decision has been made by the prisons authorities —both federal and state.
In the meantime, Crusius will be at El Paso County Jail until he is moved to a state facility — once the final destination is chosen for him.
This comes after Crusius pleaded guilty on Monday to capital murder and aggravated assault charges for killing 23 people and wounding 22 others on Aug. 3rd, 2019.
He was also sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The City of El Paso is inviting the community to welcome home our Borderland World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War Veterans to the Sun City.
The Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico and El Paso transported these War Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built to honor and remember those who served.
The Honor Flight is bringing home over 30 World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans back to El Paso. For more information, visit HonorFlightNM.org.
Heriberto Perez
JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Juárez maquiladora industry lost 7,473 jobs in February, totaling 62,632 jobs lost in the last 20 months.
The President of the Border Business Block Jesús Manuel “Thor” Salayandía, said this loss in jobs continues due to President Trump’s tariffs and the uncertainty they are creating. Because tariffs on all auto imports into the U.S. and reciprocal tariffs have not been clearly defined.
Another factor is the rise in minimum wages along the Mexican northern border. Currently, minimum wages are at 419 Mexican pesos (around $21.36), and in other parts of Mexico, minimum wages are at 278 Mexican pesos (around $14.18).
“This 20 percent drop now requires us to develop a strategy to address all the job losses. We’re talking about more than 130,000 jobs lost across the entire northern border. It’s urgent to do something to remedy this decline, which is why we’re here at the Mexican Congress, because we need to make changes,” Salayandía said.
Nicole Ardila
Patrick Crusius, the gunman of the Walmart shooting will return to court to continue listening to victims and family members of those lives lost on Aug. 3, 2019.
Over 100 victims and family members are attending this week’s victim impact statements, which are expected to last through Wednesday — 49 people signed up to confront Crusius.
Twelve of those 49 expressed their emotions, anger, and even forgiveness to the shooter and the court.
Judge Sam Medrano says they will be allowed to speak for as long as they like.
Survivors of the shooting described the horrors they lived that day, and everyday since.
Family members of those lives lost spoke on behalf of them, and expressed their grief.
The court is expected to start first thing Tuesday morning to continue the statements.
These are the people giving a statement:
Misty Jamrowski (Mother – Jordan Anchondo)
Paul Jamrowski (Father – Jordan Anchondo)
Leta Cuellar (Sister – Jordan Anchondo)
Ashley Salazar (family – Jordan Anchondo [Victim Advocate reads])
Raul Melendez (family – David Johnson)
Stephanie Melendez (Daughter – David Johnson)
Kaitlyn Melendez (Granddaughter – David Johnson)
Francisco Rodriguez (Father – Javier Rodriguez)
Dean Reckard (Son – Margie Reckard)
Hilda Reckard (Daughter – Margie Reckard)
Guillermo Gonzalez (Son-in-law – Maribel Loya)
Michelle Grady (Survivor)
Melissa Tinajero (Niece – Arturo Benavides)
Yolanda Tinajero (Sister – Arturo Benavides) Victim Impact Statements
Luis Alfonso Juarez Jr. (Son – Luis Juarez Sr.)
Margaret Ann Juarez (Daughter – Luis Juarez Sr.)
Martha Santiesteban (Daughter – Luis Juarez Sr.)
Raul Loya (Son – Maribel Loya)
Joanna Rodriguez (Sister – Javier Rodriguez)
Isabel Piedra (Daughter – Rosa Barron)
Job Valentin Luna (Son – Gloria Marquez)
Ruby Romero (Daughter – Gloria Marquez)
Ana Maria Gonzalez (Survivor)
Angela Hubbard (Survivor)
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Make-A-Wish El Paso invites the community to its annual Walk for Wishes on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 8:30 am at The Shoppes at Solana. Malissa Arras, the Development Manager for Make-A-Wish El Paso, spoke about the event and how this year, Make-A-Wish El Paso is celebrating its 1,000th Wish El Paso while raising funds to grant more wishes in the future. Arras explained that this family-friendly event brings together a fun morning and makes a difference in the lives of children battling critical illnesses.
WHEN: Sunday, April 27 | 9:00 am
WHERE: The Shoppes at Solana 750 Sunland Park Dr., El Paso, TX 79912
To register for the run or walk, visit walkforwisheselpaso.org
Rosemary Montañez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– Following the news of the death of Pope Francis, many El Pasoans are weighing in on his death. In 2016, the Pope made a stop in Ciudad Juarez at a time when the city was still healing from the aftermath of a drug war.
The CEO of Perches Funeral Homes, Salvador Perches, worked closely with the Vatican to build the altar the Pope used during mass. Perches said the Borderland will never forget his visit.
“It’s just something so big. I think our city needed it for many, many reasons. And, and for our community here, I think for El Paso, Juarez and Las Cruces, it was just a beautiful thing that people came from—even other states and cities from around. So I just think it was a big thing,” he said.
The Pope’s visit to Juarez remains in the minds of many Catholics, including Perches. The CEO of the funeral home donated labor and materials to construct the altar. He said he was feet away from Pope Francis during his visit.
“It was just so special to be there and to see the Pope kissing the altar and touching it and something that we had created and I helped personally, you know, set it up and all that. So it was just really neat,” Perches added.
He also said he remembers the Pope’s prayer that helped unite people of all nationalities that day.
“Just so, just so peaceful and and so nice. And, of course, him being from Argentina, his Spanish was just perfect. So that just made that so much more special and, so that was really neat.”
Perches said he plans on putting together a signature book and personally delivering it to the Vatican. If you are interested in signing the book, you can find one at each Perches Funeral Home location across the city. Prayer cards are also available.
Olivia Vara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The 47th Annual Mimbela Family Northeaster Parade kicked off this morning at 10 a.m. traveling from Hercules Avenue through Diana Drive to Hondo Pass.
This year’s theme, “Traditional Easter,” brought with it festive floats from local organizations and the Easter Bunny.
Families lined the sidewalks to enjoying the springtime celebration filled with music, community pride and candy.
The Northeaster Parade began in 1978 as part of the Northeast World Jubilee and has since grown into a major local tradition.
Army 1st Sgt. Dan Webb served as this year’s Grand Marshal in recognition of his work supporting veterans and the homeless.
Organizers encouraged participants to show their Easter spirit through themed outfits, floats, and community involvement.
Rosemary Montañez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)–14-year-old Daniel Carmona-Pinheiro is known for his competitive spirit. The eighth grader at SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School continues to break barriers.
Daniel was diagnosed with autism at just two years old.
“As parents, I think we go into denial for a while. But, thankfully, my wife and my family, everybody around us supported us. And we could just focus on him and what he needs to do to be the best he can be,” Daniel’s dad, Rafael Carmona, told ABC-7.
The teenager also continues to inspire his fellow classmates and his teachers. Wanona Hendrix, a special education teacher, at Puentes Middle School, said Daniel shines bright in all aspects.
“Daniel’s title is the superstar of the classroom. Daniel is my go-to for everything. He tends to be the first one finished in the classroom. And the thing I love about Daniel is as soon as he’s done, he likes to go help,” Hendrix said.
Daniel is also a rising athlete. A few weeks ago, he competed in the annual Socorro ISD Spring Games. Daniel brought home two gold medals.
“It was awesome. You could see him, that he was very, enthusiastic and ready for it. He did his best. Yeah, he was awesome,” Carmona said.
“I was screaming right along the line as he was running because he knew how proud I was of him, and he knew that he was going to come home with the gold because he gives it his all,” Hendrix said.
To this day, Daniel continues to proudly sport his medals.
Daniel also holds an orange belt in Taekwondo. Hendrix said he has grown from the shy boy he once was. She attributes much of his growth to athletics.
“I met him as a sixth grader; he was very kind of timid and just was very unsure about his own abilities, and to just watch him blossom and grow has been fantastic. He is so positive in his own abilities now,” she said.
Hendrix said students like Daniel make the job worthwhile.
“I give my heart and soul into this job because they are what drives me. Every day I walk into this classroom, and I feel like a superstar every day,” she explained.
Hendrix also said it was special seeing Daniel gain confidence and witness his personal growth up close.
“And I tell you just what, try your best and you’ll succeed. Right? And look at you. You’re doing an amazing thing,” said Hendrix.
Daniel recently qualified for nationals in Taekwondo. He’ll be traveling to Utah in July to compete.
If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, email news@kvia.com.
