Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso native said her hometown and Mexican roots taught her two lessons that helped her thrive in the U.S. Navy: relentless hard work and genuine human connection.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brittany Gonzalez serves with the Navy in South Korea. She said that carrying the two lessons into the Navy helped her maintain her grounding and stay calm under pressure.

(Courtesy: Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka Public Affairs)

Gonzalez said serving the county means being a representative for others in the Navy. The Navy Office of Community Outreach said Gonzalez’ proudest accomplishment is the professional growth of the sailors she mentors.

“I recognize that I may not fit the current requested mold of a leader, yet here I am, performing the mission and leading sailors,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez graduated from David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center in 2013 and joined the Navy 10 years ago, the Navy said.

Gonzalez also thanked her family for helping make her Navy career possible.

Gonzalez is assigned to the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), Site Chinhae, located aboard Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae, South Korea, the Navy said. She serves as a logistics specialist.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The partnership agreement between the Sun Bowl Association and WK Kellogg Co. expired, the association announced Tuesday. Kellogg had been the title sponsor of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl since 2019.

“The last seven years with WK Kellogg Co. and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl were tremendous,” said SBA Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “Their commitment to the El Paso community will never be forgotten.”

The Sun Bowl Association said it secured a new title sponsor. The Sun Bowl Association said it will name the new sponsor Thursday.

Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes created Mission Tiger, a national initiative that helped underfunded programs across the country. The Sun Bowl Association said the initiative supported more than two million middle school students in their love for sports.

The 93rd edition of the Sun Bowl game is set for Dec. 31.

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Nichole Gomez

EL PASO, TX (KVIA-TV) — EPSO’s 2026-2027 classical series will begin at 7:30 PM on September 18 and 19 at the Plaza Theatre, a program dedicated to Mexico will be presented, highlighting groundbreaking photography of it. Beautiful people and places, captured by Nicholas Bardonnay for Westwater Arts. The remarkable visuals will be accompanied by the music from Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 and Moncayo’s Tierra de Temporal, shown on a large digital screen.

Tickets are now on sale and can be bought at epso.org, ticketmaster.com, or by calling theEPSO office (915) 532-3776. Prices are $49, $44, $37, $23, and $17 plus fees. Student tickets are $9, and $12 plus fees are available.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson will help build a proposal to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Texas. Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a team of Texans assigned to encourage the federal government to bring the academy to the Lone Star State.

In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to establish a Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy. That commission will recommend a permanent location.

Gov. Abbott said the new leadership team will work with the Texas Space Commission to propose Texas as the academy’s location.

Texas State Representative Greg Bonnen will lead the team, according to Gov. Abbott.

Wilson is the former secretary of the U.S. Air Force. She is one of several team members working at a Texas university.

Gov. Abbott argued Texas has the foundation a national space academy requires. On top of NASA’s Houston center, he said Texas universities train engineers, scientists and operators for space operations.

“Texas is the home of America’s human spaceflight program,” said Governor Abbott in a statement. “No state can match what Texas brings to this mission.”

He also said the state has major military installations and a commercial space industry that already builds, launches and operates systems for space.

Other team members include:

Nancy Currie-Gregg, director of the Texas A&M Space Institute, retired Army Colonel and a former NASA astronaut. Evan Loomis, member of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors. Robert Ambrose, Associate Director of the Texas A&M Space Institute. Jack Fischer, senior vice president at Intuitive Machines, retired Air Force Colonel and a former NASA astronaut. Lori A. Magruder, director of the University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.

Gov. Abbott is running for reelection this November against Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa.

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Mia Tricarico

UPDATE (2 p.m.): The council unanimously passed an item directing City Manager Mack to refrain from entering new contracts with Flock Safety or similar providers for ALPRs unless otherwise directed by the council.

The agenda item said the direction would “prevent the the discontinued Flock Safety system from being replaced with another vendor or substantially similar fixed, networked surveillance technology without further action by the City Council.”

Additionally, City Attorney Karla Nieman will be directed to draft and return a resolution to effectuate the direction within 30 days.

UPDATE (12:39 p.m.): El Paso City Council voted unanimously (8-0) to direct the city manager to ensure the removal of all Flock Safety ALPR cameras and related hardware on city property. City Manager Dionne Mack has 60 days to ensure the removal, according to the agenda item.

City Rep. Canales offered an amendment that, if the hardware isn’t removed within 60 days, fully opaque bags will cover the hardware for an additional 30 days.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On Tuesday, the El Paso City Council will consider removing Flock cameras. If the item is approved, removal of the cameras and related equipment would happen within 60 days.

A second agenda item directs the city manager not to sign, renew or extend any contract or arrangement with Flock or similar companies with fixed license plate-reading cameras.

The discussion of removal came after City Representatives Chris Canales and Josh Acevedo introduced both agenda items. If the item is approved, it will require the City of El Paso to remove all Flock cameras and related equipment within 60 days.

Earlier this year, City Rep. Canales proposed the city not renew its agreement with Flock and that the city discontinue the use of networked, AI-powered Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). The proposal failed with a 2-6 vote.

On Sept. 2, City Rep. Canales said “Flock has time and time again shown itself to be untrustworthy as a company, with its system prone to misuse and abuse.”

His social media post came days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras. His post also said the El Paso Police Department stopped using Flock cameras funded by the state.

EPPD Chief Pacillas said the cameras helped quicken investigations. He said the police department use the cameras “under strict oversight, limited access and rigorous privacy safeguards.”

City Council opened up the mic for public comment. Many residents expressed their safety concerns about Flock cameras.

The agenda item of discussing and taking action to remove the cameras are items 25 and 26, ABC-7 is at the meeting and will provide updates.

Flock is privately owned and was founded in 2017 in Georgia.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — MUTTZ Canine Social Club, the dog park and bar near Topgolf in West El Paso, announced its permanent closure this week.

On social media, MUTTZ said challenges including the economy and the business’ location led to the decision to shut down. On July 1, MUTTZ temporarily closed its doors to “take some time to reset, evaluate our operations, and thoughtfully consider what the future looks like.”

“We built real relationships with rescue groups, vendors, and the local dog community, those relationships are what made MUTTZ so much more than a place,” the social media post read.

In February, the canine cantina’ said it spent a lot of money ‘s owner, April Mendoza, said the business “spent a lot of money to keep customers happy,” particularly on comfort. At the time, the bar posted a notice that it was “struggling to bring in customers.”

The social club operated as a bar with designated areas for dogs, such as a splash pad and wash station.

“We are spending quite a bit to make ourselves different and please all of our guests, but, we just don’t have the volume that we need,” Mendoza previously told ABC-7.

today, some business owners told ABC-7 this shopping center in the Montecillo area was supposed to have freeway access.

One business owner even said that announcement came when they opened their business a couple years ago. 

Several businesses have closed here recently, including i-Fly and Boston’s pizza. 

Some business owners told ABC-7 that a lack of direct freeway access, and people being forced to take a longer route is partially to blame.

ABC-7 also reached out to TX-DOT about when access from the freeway to this area could be expected.

They said, in part, quote, “”TxDOT’s Westbound Frontage Road Project from Executive Center Boulevard to Sunland Park Drive remains on track for a July 2027 construction letting. The $31 million project is fully funded and will provide access to the corridor from the proposed westbound frontage road. Construction is anticipated to begin in October 2027 and is expected to last approximately 18 months.”

ABC-7 reached out to MUTTZ to speak about the closure, but declined.

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Mikey Tongko

ANTHONY, N.M. (KVIA) — The harvest season is here, ready to bring fall vibes with wine, live music and local vendors back to La Viña Winery for the 2026 Harvest Wine Festival.

The two-day festival takes place Sept. 19-20 from noon to 7 p.m. at La Viña Winery in Anthony, New Mexico.

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or want to find your favorite kind, more than 20 wines will be available to taste and buy.

General admission is $30 for adults. Admission includes a souvenir wine glass and a choice between five wine samples or one full glass.

Outside of wine, visitors can explore more local arts and crafts. The festival will have more than 60 vendors offering food and crafts.

Visitors will have plenty to see, taste and hear! Three live bands will perform each day.

Younger guests ages 12-20 can attend the festival for $10. Children who are 11 years old and younger get free admission.

For adults looking for an upgraded experience, VIP tickets include wine, craft beer, food and wine pairings. The VIP experience also comes with convenient perks like VIP parking and exclusive seating.

La Viña Winery is located at 4201 New Mexico Highway 28 in Anthony, New Mexico.

Organizers say tickets are available online and at the gate. Outside food and alcohol, as well as pets, are not allowed at the festival.

For Tickets visit www.lavinawinery.com

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On Saturday, two people were killed here in a shooting at Tom Lee Upper Park. One neighbor said she just wants to help keep the neighborhood safe — and that’s why she’s pushing for a neighborhood watch.

“We heard nothing in the front,” said Nancy Monty, a neighbor in the area.

For neighbors who live near Tom Lea Upper Park, safety is a big concern.

One neighbor, who lives just down the street, says plans for a neighborhood watch have been in the works for some time.

“No sound. We weren’t alerted. Our alarms didn’t go off. Our cameras are on. Nothing,” Monty told ABC-7’s Olivia Vara during an interview.

She’s a member of one of the groups that’s scheduled to meet with El Paso Police Tuesday, to officially establish their neighborhood watch.

They expect to discuss communication, reporting suspicious activity and ways to stay connected with police.

“I didn’t know until the next morning when I saw the news that had happened at 4 a.m.,” said Monty.

Monty said they hope the new group will help them look out for each other.

“That’s scary because it’s right across from our house,” she said. “I’ve had tons of phone calls and texts from friends. Are you okay? Are you okay?”

EPPD said anyone with information about the murders can contact police at 915-832-4400 or Crime Stoppers at 915-566-TIPS (8477).

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces man faces several charges, including child abuse, after he allegedly urinated on a toddler on Sunday, documents said.

Officers went to a home on Spitz Street for a domestic disturbance. Documents said when they arrived, they spoke with a woman and her 3-year-old son.

The woman allegedly told officers she woke up to the sound of running water and saw William Magee Jr. urinating on her son.

She alleged that while she cleaned her son in another room, Magee threw a toy in their direction. Documents said the woman decided to leave the home with her children.

According to documents, Magee pushed the woman and held her face against a tree. The woman said Magee also caused her to fall down the steps in front of the home.

Investigators also spoke with the woman’s 17-year-old sister. She allegedly said she saw her sister fall down the steps.

Magee stayed inside the home and allegedly refused to leave to speak with officers. Documents said he eventually exited. When officers moved to start an arrest, Magee allegedly shoved an officer on the chest.

Documents said several officers took Magee to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.

Investigators wrote that Magee had a strong smell of an intoxicating beverage and had to be placed in a wrap restraint to prevent injury to himself or others.

Officers checked the toddler’s bed and saw it was wet with a “strong urine smell,” documents said.

Documents said Magee has been charged with battery of a household member, battery upon a peace officer, resisting arrest, child abuse and a local warrant.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A record number of students enrolled in the University of Texas at El Paso this fall, according to the school. For the first time, UTEP’s enrollment passed 27,000.

UTEP said this fall’s enrollment set an all-time record for the second year in a row. It said 27,368 new students enrolled, which is an increase of more than 4% from last year’s fall semester.

The university’s previous record stood at 26,297, UTEP said.

“Surpassing 27,000 students is a remarkable milestone, but what matters most is that record numbers of students are not just enrolling at UTEP, they are staying and finishing,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson in a statement. “That is a credit to our faculty and staff, who take seriously the job of meeting each student where they are, and making UTEP an excellent and affordable path to a better life.”

In August, Wilson said UTEP expected to set a record during UTEP’s state of the university address.

UTEP’s milestones didn’t stop with this fall semester’s enrollment. For the fifth year in a row, UTEP enrolled its largest freshman class. It said 4,695 first-time college students started their studies this fall.

When it announced its record enrollment, UTEP noted its efforts to build its student body and support. One example included UTEP’s Paydirt Promise, which covers 100% of tuition and fees for some Texas residents.

The university also credited its online education program, which offers more than 40 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and graduate certificates.

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