Author: KVIA

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One El Paso artist found his voice by creating from the heart.

Gabriel Marquez runs a studio in El Paso that highlights his signature line art alongside works from other local artists. His art all started with his distinctive linear prints.

Marquez says his style truly came to life when he stopped trying to imitate others.

“Your voice comes out when you don’t have any references,” he told ABC-7 during an interview.

Marquez’a art primarily blends fluid drawing with desert symbolism. The studio produces murals, paintings, graphic designs, and even 3D prints that echo motion and the desert’s character through intricate linear forms.

Beyond a gallery, Mystic Desert Studio also operates as a culture shop, showcasing Marquez’s work while providing a platform for local artists.

The venue participates in community projects and pop-up markets, strengthening El Paso’s mural and street-art scene.

When asked what advice he would give artists finding their own style, Marquez said not to think, just draw.

“If you can draw from memory, then it’s going to be more unique because nobody sees the world like you do,” said Marquez.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – When it comes to saving lives, experts say don’t worry about being a backseat driver. In today’s TxDOT Talk, Lauren Macias Cervantes joins us to talk about National Passenger Safety Week. Also big news is coming West El Paso.

I-10 Widening West

Saturday, January 17 through Saturday, January 24

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (as needed)

North- and South Desert between Vinton and Mesa alternate lane closures

Crews will be working on miscellaneous construction work.

I-10 east- and westbound between Vinton and Mesa alternate lane closures

Crews will be sweeping, striping, power washing, and painting barrier on I-10.

Thorn east- and westbound at the intersections of North and South Desert alternate lane closures

Crews will be removing and replacing concrete sidewalks.

24 Hour Closure

Saturday, January 24, 5 a.m. through Sunday, January 25, 5 a.m.

I-10 eastbound between Redd and Mesa closed

Detour: Exit Redd and use South Desert to re-enter I-10 at Mesa ramp.

Crews will be removing barrier, sweeping, striping for opening the new Mesa off-ramp (Ramp 9) and opening I-10 eastbound to its final 3-lane configuration from Redd to Mesa.

Monday, January 26 through Saturday, January 31

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Eastbound bypass lanes between Redd and Mesa closed

Detour: Traffic will continue onto South Desert through Thorn intersection and enter I-10 before Mesa.

Crews will be completing construction on an ornamental fence at Thorn.

Safety Lighting on Mesa (SH-20) & Dyer St. (BU-54)

Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23

7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mesa at Resler west- and eastbound left lane closed

Mesa at Camile west- and eastbound left lane closed

BU-54 Dyer northbound between Edge of Texas and Mesquite Hills shoulder closed

Crews will be working on lighting improvements.

Road Repair

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21

Spur 601 eastbound between Global Reach and Constitution left lane closed

Thursday, January 22

Spur 601 westbound between Constitution and Global Reach shoulder closed

Crews will be working on road repair.

Guardrail Repair

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23

I-10 eastbound between Raynolds and Trowbridge right lane and on-ramp closed at Raynolds, and off-ramp closed at Trowbridge

Monday, January 19

Gateway North at New Mexico/Texas State line right lane closed

Tuesday, January 20

CD lanes westbound between Sunland Park and Resler right lane and left lane on Resler exit closed

Wednesday, January 21

Gateway North at Fred Wilson exit lane closed

Thursday, January 22

Woodrow Beam westbound between Rushing and Girl Scout left lane and on-ramp closed at Rushing

Friday, January 23

Loop 375 east- and westbound between US-54 and Tom Mays Park alternate lane closures

Concrete Repairs

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21

CD lanes (US-54) northbound between Altura and Cassidy right lane closed

Crews will be working on rip rap.

Thursday, January 23

East Missouri between Virginia and Campbell left lane closed

Maintenance

Tuesday, January 19 through Friday, January 23

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ramp N between Loop 375 East and US-54 North closed

Loop 375 (Border Highway) eastbound between Cordova Bridge and US-54 right lane closed

Delta eastbound between Cordova Bridge and Boone right lane closed

Crews will be working on bridge joints.

Loop 375 Widening Project

Saturday, January 17

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Loop 375 southbound main lanes closure between Pelicano Drive and North Loop Exit Ramp

Continuous 22-hour closure beginning 7 a.m. Sunday January 18th through 5 a.m. Monday January 19

Loop 375 main lanes southbound closure between North Loop Exit Ramp and Padres Exit Ramp.

Crews working on final striping placement.

Saturday, January 17, to Sunday, January 18

Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Loop 375 main lanes southbound alternating left and right lane closures between Bob Hope Drive and Padres Exit Ramp.

Crews working on final striping placement.

Monday, January 19, to Friday, January 23

Daily, 9a.m. to 4 p.m.

Loop 375 main lanes alternating north- and southbound closures between North Loop Drive and Zaragoza Road (Port of Entry)

Americas Avenue (frontage road) alternating south-and northbound lane closures between North Loop Drive and Zaragoza Road (Port of Entry)

Crews working on installing miscellaneous items and clean-up.

Monday, January 19, to Thursday, January 22

Nightly, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Loop 375 southbound main lanes closure between North Loop Exit Ramp and Padres Exit Ramp

Crews working on ride quality operations.

I-10 Landscape & Aesthetic Project

Monday, January 19 to Friday, January 23

Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I-10 westbound right lane closure between George Dieter Drive and Lee Trevino Drive

I-10 westbound right lane closure between Lomaland Drive and Yarbrough Drive

Gateway West left lane closure at Zaragoza Road

Crews will be installing lighting and placing steel structures.

Sergeant Major Bridge Reconstruction Project

Monday, January 19 to Friday, January 23

Nightly, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Purple Heart Highway (Loop 375) southbound full closure at Sargent Major Boulevard

Crews will be setting concrete barrier along southbound Sargeant Major Entrance- and Exit Ramps.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – The El Paso Pro-Musica Chamber Music Festival will celebrate Zuill Bailey’s 25th Season as Artistic Director. According to El Paso Pro-Musica, Zuill will perform along with the Vega Quartet and violinist Helen Kim, who will be featured for the special musical segment. The Festival will continue through January, featuring the Grammy Award-winning Organist Paul Jacobs and the Juilliard String Quartet.

Event Details:

Sunday with Zuill and Friends

Sunday, January 18

2:30 p.m.

UTEP Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall

Tickets at eppm.org or at the door.

All Student Tickets are $5.00

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – Socorro Independent School District Superintendent James Vasquez has been named in the National School Public Relations Association annual list of Superintendents to Watch. According to the district, this year NSPRA selected 30 leaders from school systems across the United States for the 2025-26 honor, which recognizes superintendents in their first five years of service for outstanding leadership.

James Vasquez said, “It’s really nice, it’s a team award. It’s not, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it without the support of a great school board. We have a fantastic team of  Leaders across the district from  assistant superintendents, directors, principals, and of course the teachers and the students, it’s a, it’s a system, it’s all of us together and I think it’s just a recognition of what we’ve all done as a district to continue to move us forward and to have made great strides over the past couple of years”.

The School District is  also setting the standard for academic excellence in the El Paso region. According to results released in the 2024–2025 Texas Academic Performance Report by the Texas Education Agency, Socorro ISD is the highest-scoring school district in the region based on overall STAAR and End-of-Course performance.  

To learn more about Socorro ISD’s outstanding achievement as the highest-scoring school district in the El Paso region, visit www.sisd.net/highestscoringdistrict.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – The 2025 healthcare year was marked by major federal cuts to coverage, rising costs, and significant industry shifts. Yet we saw some progress, at least in public health. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Ogechika Alozie shares everything you need to know.

https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=67133

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— A senior at Valle Verde Early College High School has been recognized for her volunteer work.

17-year-old Eveny Covarrubias was named the 2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year by Hospice El Paso.

Since she is underage, she is not able to meet patients personally, but she is still involved in meaningful tasks. She has helped inform people about Hospice during health fairs, personally written letters for families who have lost a loved one, and also crocheted items for patients.

The teen told ABC-7 that volunteering at Hospice has been a different type of experience.

“You do encounter more serious things. So I feel like it did prepare me a little bit more to be more, like, compassionate as well, because a lot of it is just making sure that the patient knows you’re there for them and the family. So it did help me with that as well,” she said.

She started in 2024 and volunteers several times a month. Covarrubias said she was stunned when she found out she had earned the achievement.

“I was actually at home, and somebody came knocking, and I was like, who was at my house? So I opened it, and they had like a nice little box put together for me. And it did tell me,like, that I won volunteer of the year. So I was so excited, and I told my mom, and she was excited as well.”

Covarrubias already obtained her associate’s degree from El Paso Community College. She’s currently taking classes at UTEP.

She’s also involved in multiple high school clubs, including the Chemistry Club, the National Honor Society, and the Honor Society.

Sarah Welsh, a teacher of Pre-AP Chemistry at Valle Verde ECHS, said Covarrubias helps other students get involved!

“For chemistry club, she does on her own time. They meet during lunchtime, and she’s able to get a lot of other students who maybe are not necessarily into science. She gets them interested in science. But because of her leadership, she’s able to encourage others. And then she makes it fun for them. So she makes science a fun learning experience for the kids.”

Covarrubias explained she wants to go into nursing to help others. This recognition further motivates her.

“It meant a lot, actually. Like you go, you volunteer, and it’s like you’re doing it out of your heart. But like when you when it comes back to you, and they reward you, it’s a little bit more rewarding that way.”

Hospice El Paso representatives said Eveny’s commitment, positive energy and her heart for service have all inspired everyone around her.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please e-mail rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Nicole Ardila

This weekend, you can catch hot air balloons in the Land of Enchantment for the very first time this year with the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally.

MVBR kicks off Friday with media and school day.

Visit Las Cruces is debuting their brand new balloon at the rally at 7 a.m., and they will be joined by the NMSU balloon, who made their debut at the balloon rally last year. 

Another first is the Zozobra hot air balloon, making it’s first round south of Albuquerque. 

MVBR’s main mission is to inspire curiosity in the community about hot air ballooning, and to encourage the youth to become excited about what they learn in school and its practical applications. 

Here are the times for the balloon rally events this weekend:

January 16: Kick off glow – 6:00 pm  to 8:00 pm at the Downtown Plaza on 100 N Main St, Las Cruces.

January 17: Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot on 2300 Tashiro Dr, Las Cruces, NM 88007.

January 17 – Evening Glow – sunset (around 5:30pm) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

January 18 – Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The El Paso Department of Public Health is urging residents with disabilities and medical needs to sign up for a statewide registry designed to help first responders identify people who may need assistance during emergencies.

Who Should Register?

The STEAR program is designed for individuals who may need additional assistance during an emergency, including:

People with disabilities

Medically fragile individuals

Those with access and functional needs, such as:

Limited mobility

Communication barriers

Medical assistance requirements

Individuals requiring personal care or transportation assistance

How to Register

El Paso residents can register using the following methods:

Online: STEAR.tdem.texas.gov

Call: 211

Fax or email completed forms to: (866) 557-1074 or STEAR@dps.texas.gov

In-Person Registration Assistance

To make registration easier, staff will be available for in-person assistance at the following locations throughout January:

Pavo Real Senior Center9311 Alameda Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 8

Grandview Senior Center3134 Jefferson Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 9

Jessie M. Happiness Senior Center563 N. Carolina Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Monday, January 12

Hilos De Plata Senior Center4451 Delta Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 13

Memorial Senior Center1800 Byron St.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 14

Polly Harris Senior Center650 Wallenburg Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 15

San Juan Senior Center5701 Tamburo Ct.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 16

South El Paso Senior Center600 S. Ochoa St.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 20

Wellington Chew Senior Center4430 Maxwell Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 21

For more information, visit ElPasoReady.org or EPHealth.gov under the Emergency Preparedness tab, or call 211.

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