Author: KVIA

Rosemary Montañez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– Coronado High School student Diana Calderon is shaping the art world. The senior, who is getting ready to graduate this summer, lives to create her next masterpiece. 

Calderon told ABC-7 she began art at only 7-years-old, illustrating cartoon characters and drawing pieces for her classmates. It was there her parents noticed her distinct talent.

Diana has a younger brother and sister, but she is the only artist in her family. 

The native of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, moved to El Paso two years ago. Her parents made the move so Diana and her siblings could continue their education in the United States, but Diana faced many challenges she never expected. 

She said she lost many friendships in Chihuahua and even went through a period of depression.

“When I moved here, I went, I was like, really sad. And I feel like I ruined my life.”

Diana said it was during her second semester when she started winning awards for her art pieces. She said that gave her extra motivation to keep moving forward. 

Calderon also said she was able to push through with the help of her parents. 

“They, they really moved to the United States so they can help me, and I can just keep growing up. And they were the first ones who believed in me. So I’m really grateful,” she told ABC-7.

She also explained that art helped her find her way.

“It helped a lot because when I’m painting, I’m just like, focusing, like, in one thing. And I’m just, like, just doing it because I enjoy doing it, because I love doing it. It’s like what keeps me alive.”

Calderon has received numerous awards for her art pieces.

Last year, her artwork advanced to the state finals in San Marcos. It was inspired by a Tarahumara mother and child.

This April, her art piece is also advancing in the state competition.

Calderon told ABC-7 she doesn’t feel nervous but feels good about the competition.

Diana was accepted into the prestigious School of the Art Institute in Chicago, even receiving a scholarship. But Calderon said she’s staying closer to home. She has chosen to study art at the University of Texas at Austin. Despite the criticism of others, she feels optimistic.

“I want to study art, like people think, like, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to like be like hungry all the time,’ you know? Because it’s not like you can get, like, a professional job with it. It’s really hard’.”

Calderon hopes to one day open her art school to mentor other art students.

“I would tell myself that. Don’t give up. Like, it’s not the end of the world. Like, people just come and go, and the only person who’s there for me is myself. So, yeah, like, I’m the only one who can, like, push me. And I just continue doing art because I’m talented. And I just can do it.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story report, email news@kvia.com.

Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Crime and violence south of the border have been notorious for over a decade, especially in the Ciudad Juárez – El Paso borderplex.

Mexican law enforcement at all three levels of government continues its efforts to decrease crime rates and increase safety for all residents in the borderland. Still, they also require assistance from independent and private security groups to combat crime.

ABC-7 spoke with the Private Security Companies Association of Ciudad Juárez (A.E.S.P) about the use of AI to enforce security at businesses and maquiladoras on the border.

The President of A.E.S.P, Gabriel Salazar said thankfully Juárez is not living in the same situation with organized crime and violence as other states across Mexico.

A.E.S.P. began in 2016 as a private group consisting of 16 private security firms on the border that frequently collaborate with the Juárez (SSPM) and Chihuahua (SSPE) Police Departments.

Initially, it started with 12 different businesses and private security groups.

“We need to strengthen and determine the direction public security will take based on artificial intelligence and technology. Through this effort between private initiatives, we can provide more tools to authorities, especially law enforcement, to combat crime, delinquency, and everything that afflicts us as a city and as a border,” President Salazar said.

Several private organizations like SECURIPAT have taken a role not only in tracking and overseeing cargo from maquiladoras while conducting imports and exports on the border but also acting as consultants for the industry offering security softwares for companies and controlling what they ship to the U.S. and other countries.

“We are trying to prevent what is happening in other places from happening to us, where crime has even prevented them from organizing.” “The implementation of technologies such as artificial intelligence has its pros and cons, but the most important thing is that you have to know how to take advantage of them,” President Salazar added.

Former FBI agent and Dallas Police Department Officer, Hector Ruiz was born in Villa Ahumada Chihuahua. Currently, he owns a private security organization called Risk Protective Services which is a polygraph company.

“We have developed a lot of technology in our company because I love technology despite my age, because for many older police officers sometimes it’s very difficult to adapt to learning how to investigate the newer crimes because they’re crimes that are done through technology, with technology, and if you don’t understand technology is going to be challenging for you to solve those crimes,” Ruiz said.

Now Ruiz’s company is developing a system called probation parole tracker to track sex offenders through technology. They’re also developing a system called Cleared Applicant to help them and law enforcement recruit and vet applicants for public safety positions through technology.

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—This year’s 30th Annual YWCA Women’s Luncheon features Lucy Liu. Liu is a critically acclaimed actress, director, producer, artist, and advocate whose influence spans film, television, and Broadway. The Women’s Luncheon is YWCA El Paso’s largest fundraiser. In 2024, it raised just under $470,000. This year’s goal is $500,00.

https://www.ywcaelpaso.org/womens-luncheon

Nicole Ardila

This National Stress Awareness Month, mental health experts are sharing tips for parents and children for stress.

Children are often overlooked when it comes to talking about stress, but ignoring signs can create long term issues.

Counselor Lupita Peña at Emergence Health Network says kids can experience signs as simple as headaches or stomachaches when they feel stressed.

But behavior-wise, they can show signs of clinginess, isolation, lack of focus, or even misbehaving more at school.

Pena says if those signs are ignored, then children can develop anxiety, depression,Or even PTSD.

“So then we start labeling with ‘Oh, you’re misbehaving,’ You know, kids don’t necessarily understand or have the communication skills, depending on their age, to be able to say, I’m feeling anxious or I’m feeling stressed or this situation is overwhelming for me,” said Peña.

Another factor that causes stress in children, is pressure from their parents, teachers, or even schools to perform well on their standardized tests. 

This pressure, Peña says, leads to unhealthy stress. 

She shared some tips for children to cope with it.

“Social interaction is really important, or ‘I’m going to take part in some type of hobby or sport, or I’m just going to spend some time with my family, I’m going to take some time off of screen time, or I’m going to put my phone away for a little bit,'” she said. “So it’s a healthy balance.”

Peña says if the stress becomes obsessive, it’s important to find a healthy balance and think about what’s in your control. 

Nicole Ardila

This year, Downtown Restaurant Week has over 20 participating restaurants offering exclusive menus, discounts, and special dishes.

El Paso food lovers are getting the opportunity to explore the diverse dining scene in Downtown El Paso, while enjoying great deals and unique flavors from local eateries.

ABC-7 had the chance to get inside the kitchens of District Coffee Co. and Mac’s to see what their exclusive menu items for the week were.

District Coffee Co. is offering a variety of drinks, from a raspberry horchata latte, lavender tea, to an Irish cream cold brew.

For a list of participating restaurants, visit Downtown El Paso’s website here.

Downtown restaurant week started on April 3 and runs until April 14. 

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The Assistance League of El Paso is sponsoring “A Taste of Five Points,” a one-mile walk. We will have 15 area restaurants providing sample tastings, area business information tables, and a raffle.

https://www.assistanceleague.org/el-paso/

Hillary Floren

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The road to recovery from drug addiction is challenging, and not always easy to navigate. Doug and Terri Rutter know that all too well. Their 30-year old son Rylie died last year from accidental fentanyl poisoning, after years of trying to get sober.

The Rutters created the Rylie V Rutter Foundation. It’s goal is to provide treatment scholarships, sober living, job training and other services to help those striving for recovery.

“Younger men and women will get frustrated and they’ll give up so if you can try to address some of those frustrations ahead of time you’ll have a great success rate also. ,” says Doug Rutter. “If somebody can stay sober for 90 days, the likelihood of them staying sober is increased dramatically.”

The foundation will work hand in hand with Recovery Alliance, an addiction treatment center in El Paso, helping those who may not have the financial means to fight their battle.

“Everything is very expensive.  On our website $30 can buy private therapy, for example,” says Terri Rutter.

“We have listed in there what it costs to help someone with a month of treatment.  Maybe they have a job but they can’t get there – bus passes, job uniform, just to take away whatever barrier they have that they feel like they can’t do it because they’re so frustrated.”

And they have a warning for others – don’t buy drugs on the street.

“The community needs to be educated that you go out and buy Xanax say on the street, it’s laced with fentanyl… and just a speck can kill you,” Doug Rutter warns.

The Rutters want Rylie to be remembered for his smile. His legacy will live on through the lives that the Rylie V Rutter Foundation touches.

If you’d like to make a donation to the foundation, click here: http://rylievrutterfoundation.org

For help with addiction, click here: recoveryalliance.net