Heriberto Perez Lara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – The El Paso County Commissioners Court received a presentation Monday from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office regarding Texas Senate Bill 8, a state law enforced by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
SB 8 requires sheriffs in counties with populations over 10,000 to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE
Gabrielle Lopez
SANTA FE, N.M. (KVIA) — Monday, the New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously ruled to keep a Doña Ana County man’s intentional child abuse conviction in the death of a 2-year-old in Las Cruces.
The state supreme court said it rejected Lalo Anthony Castrillo IV’s arguments that there wasn’t enough evidence that he caused the child’s death and he was wrongly denied a new trial.
Castrillo requested a new trial based on a photo the child’s mother posted after the trial. The court said it showed the child with a bruise on her head. Justices said the photo was taken six months before the victim’s death.
“Because the photo was taken months before both Victim’s death and the two earlier injuries Defendant claims caused her death, we conclude that the evidence was not material and therefore that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant’s motion for a new trial,” the court said.
An autopsy listed head and brain injuries that happened about the time of the child’s death. A doctor with the Office of the Medical Investigator said “blunt injuries to her head” caused the child’s death.
Justice Briana Zamora wrote in the court decision that the injuries weren’t accidental and the injuries happened when the child was under Castrillo’s care in 2018.
The child died when Castrillo babysat her while the mother, his girlfriend, worked, the court said.
The court also said Castrillo didn’t call 911 for more than an hour after finding the child in distress. The court said he looked up “how to get blood pu[m]ping w[hen] child in shock” online during part of that time.
Gabrielle Lopez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 60-year-old man with several active warrants, including for manslaughter.
EPCSO said Saturday, deputies stopped William Tudmon’s truck for a broken light. After investigating, deputies found out he had several warrants out of Milam County, Texas.
The warrants included several counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, manslaughter and aggravated assault. Deputies arrested and booked Tudmon into the county detention facility on the warrants without bond.
Gabrielle Lopez
UPDATE (JUNE 13, 2026 – 11:15 a.m.) — Fire officials say that the Seven Cabins fire is 100% contained, and the size of the fire remained at 31.870 acres.
Although the fire is now contained, officials say that fire crews and resources will remain on the site to monitor the area.
Restoration efforts will continue, supporting the recovery of the area and help reduce erosion.
UPDATE (JUNE 7, 2026 – 10:39 a.m.) — Fire officials provided an update to the Seven Cabins Fire saying that the fire remains at 31,870 acres and containment levels have reached 90%.
According to officials, the increase in containment comes from crews checking areas for hot spots, as well as utilizing drones and aircraft to survey the area.
After observing that some of these areas, they were deemed contained which brought up the containment level to 90%.
UPDATE (JUNE 6, 2026 – 11:02 a.m.) — Fire officials are saying that the fire has grown to 31,870 acres and is now 71% contained.
Officials say that the recent weather kept fire behavior low, which allowed crews to use direct extinguishment without undue risk to themselves.
While the recent weather has been favorable, fire officials say that thunderstorms are in the forecast for the area and crews are prepared to fight any new fires that may start up due to lightning.
UPDATE (MAY 31, 2026 – 12:39 p.m.) –The Seven Cabin Fire now sits at at 29,167 acres and at 51% contained.
Due to weather conditions and fire fuel, officials say the Seven Cabins Fire could increase 200- 1000 acres by the end of Sunday.
Fire officials also say that crews will continue to work to secure the edges and prevent heat sources from threatening containment lines and that 836 personnel are assigned to the fire.
UPDATE (MAY 25, 2026 – 5:20 p.m.) – Containment is now at 46% according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 with just over 28,750 acres affected by the wild fire. Over a thousand firefighters conducting suppression efforts have managed to contain the burn on the north side. Fire resources are not moving to the south side to continue efforts there. The increase in acreage burned is due to interior pockets that continue to burn today, according to authorities.
UPDATE (MAY 25th, 2026– 10:20 am) — Officials say that the Seven Cabins Fire has increased to 26,443 acres, and containment has been lowered to 40%.
Crews continue to make positive progress around the fire, according to fire officials. The crews took advantage of higher relative humidity and cloud cover, crews successfully completed an offensive ignition operation from Base Road west then south on Capitan Gap Road to the ridgeline.
Officials also say that storms moved across the fire area dropping some rain over the fire yesterday. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted to move across the area Monday.
UPDATE (May 24th, 2026–4:46 pm) — Officials say the Seven Cabins Fire has now increased to 25,186 acres and is 43% contained.
Crews have made substantial progress towards containment, using a combination of ground ignitions, aerial operations, and both direct and indirect suppression tactics, according to officials. Crews taking advantage of opportunities as they make themselves available has resulted in a significant increase in containment.
Officials say that Lincoln County residents in the area of Ft. Lone Tree and South Base Rd. east of Capitan Gap Rd. in Capitan are being placed in a SET status, per Lincoln County Fire Service. This is due to fire managers preparing for planned burnout operations this week in support of ongoing firefighting efforts. Officials say these operations are intended to strengthen containment lines, reduce hazardous fuels ahead of the fire, and improve firefighter and public safety.
UPDATE (May 23, 2026 — 3:25 pm) — Officials say that the fire is now at 24,437 acres and containment has grown to 15% contained.
Officials say that crews have strengthened containment lines and increased aerial support capacity, with new water sources and an operational FAA tower boosting firefighting effectiveness.
Ignition operations have been conducted as apart of offensive actions that officials say strategically slow the fire’s spread by safely reducing fuels ahead of the main fire.
UPDATE (May 23, 2026 — 9:30 am) — Officials have said that the Seven Cabins Fire has grown a total of 22,631 acres in an update Saturday morning.
The containment of the fire remains at 13% and there are still 913 personnel tasked to the operations of the Seven Cabins Fire.
UPDATE (May 23, 2026) — As of the latest update, the fire is now 19,088 acres, at 13% containment.
913 personnel have been working to burn several interior pockets, “removing some risk of large runs towards the containment lines.”
UPDATE (May 22, 2026) — After just more than a week since the Seven Cabins fire started, crews increased containment progress to 15% while the fire spread to 17,852 acres, officials said Friday.
Thursday, crews used 150,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, officials said on Facebook. Thunderstorms and increased humidity helped cool down the fire.
Officials said the forest closure is still in place. A temporary flight restriction is also in place over the fire for the safety of fire aircraft.
On Facebook, officials said a drone flew into the airspace and forced all aircraft to set down for a while. It posted a notice that said, “If you fly, we can’t” to remind the community it’s illegal to fly drones into the fire area.
Officials also shared this photo of the fire:
Aerial view of offensive ignitions along the Base Road Friday.(Courtesy: Seven Cabins Fire on Facebook)
UPDATE (May 20, 2026) — The fire grew to 16,443 acres, according to a Facebook post by officials.
Crews made progress containing the fire. Reports show it’s at 7% containment. The crew expanded to 787 personnel.
Officials said firefighters are feeling for heat on the ground to find hidden hot spots.
The closures are still in place, officials said.
UPDATE (May 19, 2026) — In a news update, officials said the Seven Cabins fire grew to 15,858 acres and is still 0% contained. More personnel are helping with the fire, with crews totaling 691 personnel.
Crews are still trying to place control lines, officials said.
Officials said they’re expecting lower winds, which could reduce fire spread. However, other weather conditions could make containment difficult, like the dry air.
The wind also limited air operations because of turbulence. Officials said they’re using federal aircraft like helicopters and fire retardant tankers.
Sate Highway 246 and all roads, trails and access to the Capitan Mountains are closed.
Officials said residents in the highway area between mile marker 14 and Boy Scout Mountain should evacuate for their safety.
An aerial view of the Seven Cabins Fire(Courtesy: Seven Cabins Fire on Facebook)
CAPITAN, N.M. (KVIA) — Monday, officials said the Seven Cabins Fire in the Capitan Mountains area stands at 12,549 acres with 0% containment. The fire started May 14.
Brandon Woodward, Operations Section Chief with Southwest Area Team One, said 276 emergency personnel are working to put the fire out. He said officials sent more help to some areas because of Monday’s expected winds.
Fire engines are prepping a line to contain the fire while firefighters are making sure homes and other buildings are safe in the Pine Lodge area.
Woodward said crews will mostly work on containing the fire Monday.
The fire has been linked to a deadly plane crash that killed two pilots and two medical evacuation nurses, according to Trans Aero MedEvac.
Olivia Vara
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– Over the past couple days El Pasoans have reported seeing an increased number of flare ups at the El Paso Marathon Refinery.
This as the facility has been conducting flaring processes to get rid of excess gasses.
In the video attached to this web article, you can see the refinery flare-ups from Melody Palacios’s front yard.
Melody moved back in with her family from California about a year ago.
Her family has lived at this house next to the refinery for years.
ABC-7 reached out to Western Refining for an interview. Instead, they sent us a written statement.
The company said it’s monitoring the air and that they have not detected any impact.
The company said in part, quote “Operating conditions at the El Paso refinery are making temporary flaring intermittently necessary. Flares are safety devices that allow for the safe combustion of excess materials.”
Between the smell of gas, alarms announcing the flare-ups and the heat, now Melody is concerned for her parents’ health.
“Everyone’s concerned. My neighbors are concerned. In fact, one of my neighbors has an elderly parent. She’s like 80 plus. My mom’s 70. You know, you’re concerned when you have people who are elderly that live next to something like this. So, yeah, no, we’re all concerned,” said Melody Pelacios, a neighbor who lives in front of the refinery.
Melody also says it’s odd that a refinery would be so close to homes. She says it would be awesome if they could find a solution to make everyone feel comfortable.
Gabrielle Lopez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A crash at I-10 West at Yarbrough closed the left three lanes Monday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. El Paso police said three people went to the hospital.
Police said the call about the crash came in at 8:39 a.m. There is no clearing time for the closures yet.
EPPD said several vehicles crashed, including a semi.
On X, police said as of 9:38 a.m., the left four lanes are closed, leaving the right lane open. Police also said there’s backup to the Zaragoza exit.
This is a developing story. Follow live traffic updates here.
Carpio Griego
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fans had the opportunity to get to Southwest University Park early before Friday’s Banana Ball game between the Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters. Players signed autographs while music and merch booths kept fans entertained.
Tailgater staff made fan engagement a priority, having several mini dance contests, passing around inflatable popsicle toys and even awarding a “Top Tailgater.”
The Tailgaters’ two step team even directed choreography for the fans to incorporate dancing into the pregame festivities.
Banana Ball seems to draw in new fans as soon as they see it according to the fans that shared their story of discovering the league.
Fans like Dennis McGregory, who told ABC-7 his first time watching at the gym was enough to peak his interest and says he got his tickets through a lottery draw.
“One day I was at the gym and I saw it on TV, and I was like man this is cool, what is this,” McGregory said. “I heard they were coming to town and heard about the lotto, so I put my name in and that was it.”
Another fan, Alexander Smith, said his first exposure to the style of Banana Ball was on social media, and the fun of it drew his interest.
“I’ve always wanted to see it, it’s a different type of baseball,” Smith said. “It seems more entertaining and fast paced.”
McGregory had a similar sentiment, comparing Banana Ball to the Harlem Globetrotters.
“It’s fun, they make everything fun,” McGregory said. “Everything goes by pretty fast and gets the whole family involved, its cool. It’s like the Globetrotters of baseball, that’s why I like it.”
McGregory hesitated, but even said he prefers Banana Ball over regular baseball.
Smith agreed, saying it was more entertaining but also said regular baseball was more competitive.
“Personally, Banana Ball is more fun to watch,” Smith said. “Baseball, I think, is more competitive. I would prefer Banana Ball.”
The fan experience was shown to be a big part of the evening as Tailgaters players performed stage for the fans to entertain them before the first pitch.
Smith said it’s good for the growth of baseball as a sport that Banana Ball can exist at the same time as regular baseball.
“I think it is good for baseball, but it’s good that it’s separate. There’s normal baseball and there’s more fun Banana Ball.”
“The passion that they have for the game and that they’re out here playing it for the fun of what baseball really is. Brings you back to when you were a kid,” Banana Ball fan Yolie Zapata told ABC-7.
Watch how fans enjoyed the pregame experience on ABC-7 at 10.
Sayra Sanchez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Community College’s Nursing Program celebrated the graduation of 81 Associate Degree of Nursing graduates, marking their official entry into the profession with a pinning ceremony held on Thursday.
The pinning ceremony, a significant tradition for nursing graduates, traces its origins back to Florence Nightingale, EPCC said. She awarded her graduates “badges of courage” to recognize their commitment to caring for the sick and the suffering.
Nightingale earned the nickname “The Lady with the Lamp” because she walked her rounds each night, her path illuminated by the glow of her lamp.
Angelina Sanchez received the EPCC Daisy Award as the outstanding student. Anna Favela was honored with the EPCC Daisy Award for faculty.
Many graduates also wore a teal and white cord, symbolizing nursing as a second career. This cord recognizes the unique courage required to pivot from a previous life path to answer a new calling in health care.
Gabrielle Lopez
DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico (KVIA) — After an emergency meeting Friday, the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the county and YesCare Corporation to provide past-due wages owed to employees working at the county detention center.
According to the county, YesCare employees who were supposed to be paid May 8 will get their outstanding wages. The county will pay by deducting the amount from the upcoming payment planned for services for the month of May.
YesCare started providing healthcare and mental health services to the Doña Ana Detention Center when in November 2024. The company filed for bankruptcy May 8. As of Friday, employees haven’t been paid.
The county said it will start an emergency process to find another healthcare provider for the detention center. County commissioners expect an update during their May 26 meeting.
Gabrielle Lopez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month and ABC-7 brought you live special coverage through an extension of its initiative, “Be Mindful: Take Action.”
Viewers submitted their questions about mental health for a panel of experts to answer during live newscasts at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The panelists were Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Dr. Sarah Martin, El Paso Children’s Hospital’s Michelle Barron and Jesse Montero from La Mente Behavioral Health
They answered questions ranging from managing grief to balancing your wellbeing as a caregiver.
Launched in 2023, ABC-7’s Be Mindful: Take Action multi-platform initiative seeks to strengthen the Borderland’s mental health system by empowering its residents through information and education in order to promote a culture of resiliency, reduce stigma and improve wellness.
Watch the full segment (plus some questions that weren’t answered on air) above.
You can also browse through the hundreds of stories ABC-7 has produced highlighting challenges and solutions around mental health by clicking here.
