Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — In an effort to teach New Mexico residents about the Project Jupiter data center planned for Dona Ana County, Oracle announced an open house meeting planned for Wednesday in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

In a news release, Oracle said it wants to teach residents about the data center’s economic, community and environmental benefits.

Oracle said outreach efforts include bilingual conversations and advertisements to answer questions and gather feedback and partnering with local people on social media.

Part of the bilingual conversations includes an open house in Santa Teresa, Oracle said.

According to the City of Sunland Park, the open house includes a career fair. Representatives from Oracle, OpenAI, STACK Infrastructure and Bloom Energy will be there.

The open house takes place Wednesday, June 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Sunland Park Sports Complex (4700 McNutt Rd.).

Oracle said the data center is expected to bring more than 4,000 construction jobs and 1,500 jobs when construction is done. Additionally, it said Project Jupiter will bring $384 million during construction and $113 million a year once the data center operates.

Project Jupiter committed $50 million to improve local water systems; $360 million to support schools, infrastructure and local services; and $6.9 million for workforce development, the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces and habitat restoration, Oracle said.

Oracle plans to fund all of the project’s energy costs and adopted a new power plan to reduce water usage, it said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

SAN ELIZARIO, Texas (KVIA) — The San Elizario Independent School District Board of Trustees approved closing two of its elementary schools, Superintendent Jeannie Meza-Chavez confirmed with ABC-7 Tuesday.

Chavez said Lorenzo G. Alarcon Elementary and Lorenzo G. Loya Primary School will close. She said the district also approved a reorganization of some grade levels.

Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School will serve Pre-K through second grade students, she said. Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary School will serve third through sixth grade students.

In a letter Meza-Chavez sent to faculty and staff, she said the district’s decision to close the campuses and reorganize grade levels is because of statewide enrollment declining, increasing costs and limited funding.

Staff members working at closing campuses will move to other schools on their first day back, the letter said.

“This transformation allows us to build a stronger, more sustainable foundation that will support excellence for generations of students to come,” Meza-Chavez said in the letter.

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Rishi Oza

UPDATE (June 17, 2026) — At Tuesday’s meeting, board members mentioned the resignations of members Daniel Call and Valerie Beals, who resigned after the district voted to declare financial exigency earlier this month.

Call voted against the declaration, and Beals was not at the vote.

The district said it will accept applications and to appoint people to take over their seats until their terms finish in May 2027.

When the terms finish, there will be an election to fill their spots.

ABC-7 previously reported that community members can apply for the open seats.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Independent School District trustees approved a budget for the 2026-27 school year that significantly reduces the district’s projected deficit following months of spending cuts and personnel reductions.

The board adopted a budget with $522.9 million in expenditures and $518.6 million in revenue, resulting in a deficit of approximately $4.3 million.

The shortfall is substantially lower than the more than $50 million deficit district leaders had previously projected.

District officials said a series of cost-saving measures implemented over the past several weeks helped stabilize the district’s finances.

“I think we feel very confident that now we’re in a position that we understand where our budget is. We understand how to navigate the school year to ensure that we don’t have any hiccups financially,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk said. “And we feel very confident and good about where we’re headed for the next school year.”

According to the district, EPISD lost more than $22 million in revenue compared with the previous year because of reduced state funding.

Lusk acknowledged the financial challenges facing the district but said administrators focused on actions they could control locally.

“If we just spend our time worrying about the problem, that’s not going to help us with it,” Lusk said. “I’m really proud of our district, our trustees, and our team for figuring out a path forward, because we’re in a very good position now to have a budget that’s going to set us on a good path for next school year.”

The district reduced expenditures by $57 million from the previous year and eliminated 851 positions overall, including 525 campus-based positions and 326 central office positions. District officials said some of those positions were vacant, while others were eliminated through retirements and terminations.

EPISD also reduced payroll costs as a percentage of total expenditures. District leaders said payroll accounted for about 88% of expenditures last year and is now closer to the Texas Education Agency’s recommended range of 80% to 82%.

Despite the progress, district officials said work remains to fully balance the budget. Administrators will continue reviewing staffing assignments and other cost saving opportunities throughout the school year.

The district is also working toward ending its financial exigency status and hopes to be out of financial exigency by October.

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Gabrielle Lopez

MESCALERO, N.M. (KVIA) — The Mescalero Apache Tribe removed a councilmember due to an ongoing investigation involving a child, the tribe announced Tuesday.

Secretary Robert Rice sent a letter to tribal members announcing the council removed Krystal Enjady June 12.

Leaders learned about a shooting at a graduation party that happened May 30, the letter said. Enjady was at the party, prompting the council to meet June 1 to discuss what happened. The council later scheduled a hearing to consider her removal June 6, according to the letter.

Enjady learned about her pending removal June 1 and appeared at removal hearings June 6 and 12, the letter said.

The council decided Enjady was “guilty of acts of moral turpitude, malfeasance in office and conduct reflecting on the dignity and integrity of the Tribal government,” according to the letter.

Rice said the tribal council can’t share more details about Enjady’s removal because of the ongoing investigation and because it involves a child.

You can read the full letter tribal members received below.

Courtesy: Mescalero Apache Tribe

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso nonprofit is one of 27 programs from Texas to earn competitive grants, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday. The Texas Workforce Investment Council administered more than $7 million for programs helping Texans find jobs, he said.

Project ARRIBA (Advanced Retraining & Redevelopment Initiative in Border Areas aims to help people find education, training and living wages in El Paso, according to its website.

The nonprofit earned $200,000 in grants for its Educare: Elevating Nursing and Education in El Paso project, according to Gov. Abbott. According to the grant website, that’s the maximum amount of money Project ARRIBA could have gotten as a third year applicant.

Educare helps participants by training them to succeed in school for nursing, education and healthcare, he said.

The nonprofit’s website said it focuses on training for in-demand career paths like nursing, therapy, computer science, welding, medical technology and education majors in STEM.

The Texas Talent Connection grant awards totaled $7,002,965, Gov. Abbott said.

“The Texas economy soars to new heights because of the hard work and dedication of our young and skilled workforce,” said Governor Abbott in a statement. “These grants will allow more Texans to acquire the skills they need to succeed in high-demand careers. As we train our future workforce, Texas will remain the economic engine of the country.”

Additionally, the governor said the grant money came from federal funds allocated to his office by the U.S. Department of Labor to “encourage innovation in workforce training and job placement services.”

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Today El Paso Water held an event to celebrate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ investment in two key environmental infrastructure projects.

The day began with a groundbreaking at 9:00 A.M. at the Clardy Fox Pump Station, south of the Cesar Chavez Border Highway.

The project intends to increase stormwater capacity by collecting runoff from upstream streets.

These upgrades also intend to help prevent the discharge channel from being overwhelmed during heavy rain.

A signing ceremony this morning helped finalize the agreement between EPWater and the USACE for the first phase of the El Paso Flood Warning System.

The goal for the system, eventually, is to provide flood forecasting and warnings for El Paso and parts of the county.

Speakers at today’s event included EPWater President and CEO John Balliew, Lt. Col. Matthew Miller of the USACE Albuquerque District, and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Saddle up for the rodeo this weekend. Starr Western Wear’s Rodeo El Paso will bring more than 250 professional athletes to compete against each other from June 19-21.

Participants from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association will show off their grit, skill and culture at the El Paso County Coliseum.

Crowds can expect iconic rodeo acts, such as bull riding and barrel racing, Starr Western Wear said.

There will also be bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping and other acts, the company said.

Ticket prices range from $15-$90, Starr Western Wear said. People who buy certain tickets early can save $5, it said. Otherwise, you can buy tickets at the coliseum’s box office.

Online tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

The June 19-20 shows start at 7:30 p.m. while the June 21 show starts at 2 p.m., according to Starr Western Wear.

“Starr Western Wear has always believed rodeo is more than a sport — it’s part of the culture and tradition of our community,” said Enoch Kimmelman of Starr Western Wear. “We are proud and excited to continue supporting Starr Western Wear’s Rodeo El Paso and to be part of a lasting tradition that brings families together while celebrating the authentic spirit of rodeo and cowboy heritage.”

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – The Ysleta Independent School District’s general fund could become financially insolvent within one to two fiscal years, according to an audit obtained by ABC-7.

The audit warned there is “a significant rise of financial insolvency and a possibility of needing to declare a financial exigency.”

The recently completed audit, conducted by YISD Internal Auditor Amy Sanchez, was obtained by ABC-7 after we filed an open records request with the district under the Texas Public Information Act on June 3. It covers financial transactions for fiscal years 2023–24 through 2025–26, as of February 28, 2026.

The report cites declining state revenues, the likelihood of a multimillion-dollar deficit in the health plan fund, continued enrollment declines, and the rapid depletion of the general fund’s unassigned balance as reasons for the significant risk of financial insolvency.

It is unclear when district and board members were first made aware of the audit, which is dated May 7. However, on May 20, the Board of Trustees received a presentation from Sanchez where she went over the status of various audits conducted by her office.

Although Sanchez did not discuss the audit’s findings, titled General Fund Financial Observations, during the meeting, the report prompted questions from Trustees Chris Hernandez and Shane Haggerty.

Hernandez asked whether the district could face insolvency in the next fiscal year, and Sanchez said it could unless expenditures are significantly reduced from current projections. Haggerty said he was frustrated that the board had repeatedly requested budget workshops and insurance updates but had not received them, adding that despite earlier discussions with insurance representatives, he was not aware of any follow-up updates.

ABC-7’s review of the May 20 meeting minutes shows that several audits were completed, though the reports were not included as supporting documents and it’s unclear why.

The audit stated if YISD continues on its current path, the general fund’s unassigned balance could be depleted by the end of the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The risk of general fund insolvency is rated at the priority level, the highest risk category in the audit’s rating system. According to the audit, this designation means that if the issue is not addressed, it could critically affect the District’s ability to meet its goals.

The district has relied on short-term loans to meet cash-flow needs, including a $49 million loan in June 2025, and an anticipated loan exceeding $50 million in May 2026, according to the audit.

The audit shows the district narrowly avoided receiving an “F” rating in the Texas Education Agency’s School Financial Integrity Rating System (FIRST) because of the short-term loan. Without such loans, the report says the district would not have enough cash on hand to meet rating requirements, further highlighting the severity of its financial situation.

The district’s unassigned fund balance has decreased by 75% over the past five years. According to the audit, the balance fell from $78.9 million in fiscal year 2021 to a projected $18.8 million in fiscal year 2026.

After accounting for losses in the health plan fund, the report shows the available unassigned fund balance could drop to as low as $12.1 million by June 2026.

The audit says that if the 2026–27 budget includes a deficit greater than $12 million, the district would not be able to meet its financial obligations for that year.

According to the audit, the YISD Board may declare financial exigency if one or more of the following conditions exist:

A decrease of more than 20% in unassigned fund balance per student over two years (actual decrease: 41% in FY24-25, projected 45% in FY25-26).

A decline in enrollment by more than 10% over the last five years (actual decline: 11% in FY24-25).

Superintendent Xavier De La Torre addressed the budget at Monday’s Board of Trustees Workshop.

“The only reason I have not been as open and transparent or as aggressive as has been suggested…I need — I don’t need to create anxiety. I don’t need to create fear. I don’t want our teachers and employees going to work every day worrying about that instead of worrying about the kids. And we have time,” Superintendent De La Torre said. “Don’t believe for a minute there isn’t a plan. I just don’t need my plan being forwarded to other people and other places until I’m ready to execute. And that’s the truth.”

ABC-7 requested an interview with Superintendent De La Torre about the audit and its findings. His office said he’s not available to speak until Wednesday.

ABC-7 has also reached out to school board members and internal auditor Amy Sanchez.

The district is expected to present its proposed budget to the board Wednesday, June 17.

Read the full audit below.

2026-26 General Fund_Risk Report to the BoardSDownload

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Paul Schulz

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Ysleta Independent School District leaders are weighing a series of measures to address a multimillion dollar budget deficit while trying to avoid layoffs and minimize impacts on students and employees.

As ABC 7 reported, the district is facing a budget deficit of $16.7 million after losing approximately $11 million in state revenue because of changes tied to appraisal district calculations. District officials have also cited declining state funding and cash flow challenges.

During Monday’s board workshop, trustees and administrators discussed long-term solutions to address what officials described as a structural deficit that extends beyond a single budget cycle.

Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said the district has reduced its projected deficit and is pursuing several strategies before considering workforce reductions.

“We plan to present the budget before you on Wednesday,” Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said. “What we don’t want to do is have an adverse employee action unnecessarily.”

De La Torre said closing campuses would provide limited financial relief because employee contracts are already in place and most personnel would need to be reassigned elsewhere in the district. He estimated campus consolidations would save roughly $1 million in utility costs.

District leaders are also exploring the sale of district properties, employee retirement incentives, staff attrition and a potential voter approved tax ratification election to generate additional revenue.

Trustees questioned whether the district is moving quickly enough to address the deficit and requested additional information about staffing levels and school operating costs.

De La Torre said district officials have developed a plan that extends through the next school year and are monitoring several factors that could improve the district’s financial outlook, including property sales, employee attrition and potential increases in state education funding during the next legislative session.

He said the district typically sees between 120 and 160 teachers leave each year through normal attrition, creating opportunities for savings without immediate layoffs.

De La Torre also emphasized that district leaders are working to avoid creating unnecessary concern among employees and families.

“I don’t need to create anxiety. I don’t need to create fear,” De La Torre said. “We have time.”

The superintendent said students and families should not expect immediate changes to academics, athletics, fine arts or extracurricular programs as the district works through its financial challenges.

The district is expected to present its proposed budget to the board this Wednesday.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said Monday it arrested a 32-year-old man suspected of a theft at a gas station in 2025.

According to the sheriff’s department, deputies went to a Speedway gas station at 280 Canutillo La Union Ave. off Doniphan Drive on Dec. 22, 2025. The store manager alleged the assistant store manager stole money over several months, EPCSO said.

Deputies identified Eduardo Aleman as a suspect. They obtained a warrant for theft of property and arrested him Sunday, EPCSO said.

EPCSO booked him into the county detention facility on a $10,000 bond.

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