Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (Aug. 13, 2026): A CRRUA spokesperson said the project finished and crews are restoring water pressure to Aspen Drive.

Once service restores, customers may see water discoloration. CRRUA recommended waiting until the water runs clear before washing laundry. The discoloration should clear within 24 hours, but if it continues, customers should run cold water for several minutes.

If water discoloration continues, contact CRRUA at 575-589-1075 or the after-hours emergency line at 575-202-7173.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — A temporary water outage on Aspen Drive has been scheduled for Thursday morning, according to the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA). Starting at 8 a.m., water service will be interrupted.

Below is a map of the affected area.

(Courtesy: CRRUA)

CRRUA said crews will relocate a water main as part of an improvement project to reduce wastewater backups and sewage overflows. The current equipment had failures that resulted in sewage spills, CRRUA said.

The utility said it will let residents know when the relocation is done and when water service restores.

Once service restores, customers may see water discoloration. CRRUA recommended waiting until the water runs clear before washing laundry. The discoloration should clear within 24 hours, but if it continues, customers should run cold water for several minutes.

If water discoloration continues, contact CRRUA at 575-589-1075 or the after-hours emergency line at 575-202-7173.

The relocation is part of the Riverside Lift Station Project, CRRUA said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

SAN ELIZARIO, Texas (KVIA) — A man in his 20s was arrested Tuesday under several active criminal warrants, the San Elizario Marshal’s Office said.

The marshal’s office said it arrested Isaac Isaiah Vargas near 13000 Alarcon Rd. near Ted Richardson Park.

Vargas reportedly had active warrants from the Socorro Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

He faces one possession of a substance charge, two aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges, one vehicle burglary charge and one unlawful possession of a firearm charge, jail records said.

Authorities booked Vargas into the El Paso County Detention Jail.

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Mia Tricarico

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — West Fund, a non-profit that helps Texans pay and arrange out-of-state healthcare procedures, reopened its doors this month. The organization is the only abortion fund in El Paso, and it paused operations for four years.

West Fund paused its financial and logistical assistance operations to protect staff, volunteers and clients as legal uncertainties mounted over out-of-state travel support.

During that pause, residents in the El Paso region seeking out-of-state care had to navigate transportation, lodging and medical costs entirely out-of-pocket or rely on broader statewide funds.

While abortion services remain banned in Texas, neighboring states, including nearby clinics in New Mexico, continue to offer legal care.

However, the physical proximity of neighboring facilities does not eliminate the financial hurdles for local families, such as gas, time off work, childcare or travel expenses.

West Fund’s reopening means low-income El Pasoans will once again have access to direct financial relief, travel coordination and bilingual guidance

Under the U.S. Constitution, states generally cannot criminalize actions that residents take outside their borders where those actions are legal.

West Fund does not facilitate abortions within Texas. Rather, it supports individuals traveling to states where reproductive healthcare is legal.

Providing information and financial relief for out-of-state travel falls under protected speech and logistical assistance.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrators urging the agency to investigate last week’s incident at the Marathon Petroleum Refinery in El Paso.

According to environmental reports, tons of gases emitted from the refinery, which irritated residents’ eyes and left a strong odor in parts of South-Central El Paso. Reports said refinery released three air contaminant compounds: 1,3-butadiene, propylene and sulfur dioxide.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the conversion process used in petroleum refineries (Fluid Catalytic Cracker, or FCC) had a process upset, which shut down and resulted in emissions to flare. As a response, the FCC and other process units shut down.

Now, Rep. Escobar wants the EPA to investigate the refinery’s compliance with its air permit and communication with the community and local officials.

She asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason to send copies of inspection reports, violation notices and other records by Aug. 31. EPA Region 6 covers Texas and New Mexico, according to its website.

“The reported sulfur dioxide emissions alone were 3,591 times the permitted limit,” Rep. Escobar wrote in her letter.

She also said local leaders like County Commissioner David Stout weren’t told when the incident started. He learned what happened after reaching out to the refinery himself. City Representative Josh Acevedo also called on Marathon representatives to explain the situation to the city council.

“This apparent disconnect raises serious questions about Marathon’s compliance with federal requirements, its notification obligations, and the adequacy of its response to hazardous emissions,” she wrote.

In her letter, Rep. Escobar asked the EPA to provide answers to these questions:

Did Marathon violate any federal requirements, including the Clean Air Act or its Title V permit?

When did Marathon notify EPA and TCEQ, and what information did it provide?

Did Marathon follow its risk management plan triggered by the release of 1,3-Butadiene?

Why did Marathon not notify local officials or the public? What corrective actions are being taken by the EPA, TCEQ, or Marathon Petroleum to ensure that local communities receive timely and transparent communication following incidents of unexpected emissions?

What air monitoring was conducted during and after the incident, what pollutants were monitored, and what were the results?

Has EPA independently evaluated the potential health impacts of the reported releases, particularly sulfur dioxide and 1,3-butadiene?

What additional monitoring, investigation, or enforcement action does EPA believe is warranted?

“Residents of El Paso deserve timely and accurate information when hazardous pollutants are released into their community,” Rep. Escobar said.

Rep. Escobar is seeking her fifth term as U.S. representative for Congressional District 16 in the November election. She faces Republican nominee Adam Bauman.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 43-year-old man who operates a daycare pleaded guilty to felony wage theft after issuing bounced checks, the El Paso County attorney announced Wednesday.

Attorney Christina Sanchez said Antonio Resendiz has been ordered to serve three years of deferred adjudication and pay $2,195.99 after pleading guilty to four counts of felony wage theft involving an employee of Mini-Miracles Day Care and Learning Center. The daycare is in Lower Valley El Paso.

The probation came after a criminal investigation into Resendiz’ failure to pay an employee for four pay periods, ending in 2024, the county attorney said.

Sanchez said the employee got several checks that were returned for insufficient funds and reported the unpaid wages to law enforcement.

“Paying workers is not optional. Wage theft is not just a civil matter; it is a crime that strikes at the financial stability of hardworking families, and we will use every legal tool available to ensure justice is served,” said Sanchez.

The El Paso County Attorney’s Office said ownership changed at the daycare at the end of 2025. Resendiz was listed as the registered agent for the daycare until November 2025.

Sanchez encourages those who believe they haven’t been paid for work in El Paso County should report it to local law enforcement. They may also contact the county attorney’s office.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 51-year-old man died in Northeast El Paso after crashing his motorcycle Wednesday morning, according to the El Paso Police Department.

It happened at 3:11 a.m. at the 9500 block of Railroad Drive, police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed the motorcyclist, identified as Kevin Eugene Louis, failed to drive along a curve. Police said Louis veered off the road, entered a rocky landscape area and crashed into a tree.

The impact threw Louis from his motorcycle, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

EPPD said the crash marks the 34th traffic death in El Paso this year, compared to 37 at this time last year.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A 17-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday for the shooting death of a 21-year-old during a house party in Las Cruces, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced.

Kenneth Perez also pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for shooting three other teens during the party in November 2025.

The shooting happened after a fight broke out during the party on the 2400 block of Bugatti Drive. During the fight, Perez fired several rounds and hit four people, including Lance Chavez.

Perez, who was 16 at the time, shot Chavez eight times, the district attorney’s office said. First responders did CPR at the scene, but Chavez died.

The three other victims went to the hospital for treatment, the district attorney’s office said. Authorities identified them as a 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl.

Before sentencing, the court will conduct a hearing to determine whether Perez will be sentenced as an adult or is amenable to the juvenile justice system, officials said.

The district attorney’s office said it’s seeking a 27-year adult sentence for Perez.

If he isn’t sentenced as an adult, Perez may be amenable to treatment or rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system.

His plea on Monday was part of a change-of-plea hearing.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Artificial intelligence is changing how people work and learn. The University of Texas at El Paso College of Education gathered more than 100 leaders on Tuesday to shape A.I.’s future in El Paso’s education.

“Conversations about AI focus so much on the technology and platforms being utilized, but we know that at the end of the day it is our people we need to focus on,” said Clifton Tanabe, the College of Education’s dean.

Through the Built Here Summit, leaders discussed how the El Paso region can make an A.I. framework to prepare students and workers for the future economy, UTEP said.

“There’s something unique about the way in which we do work,” Tanabe said. “I think that’s something we can lean into. We’re certainly doing it right now, and we’ve done it in other areas. In education, for example, we’ve created the leading pipeline in teacher preparation right here in El Paso.”

Workforce leaders from Microsoft and Workforce Solutions Borderplex spoke at the summit about practices and policies businesses use to protect workers from being displaced by A.I.

“AI is a tool for educators and students to use; it cannot teach,” said Catherine Tabor, president of the Computer Science Teachers Association. “Educators are still needed in the classroom to introduce students to the pursuit of knowledge and a love of learning.”

Tanabe said it’s important to make sure humans are in the center of work.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Circle K is bringing back a fuel discount to its pumps Thursday. Inner Circle Members can get up to 40 cents off each gallon of gas at some El Paso locations, a spokesperson said.

From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., members can redeem the discount at the pump or inside a Circle K store checkout.

Circle K said customers must be a registered member. Once they’re a member, they can enter their associated phone number at checkout to apply the discount.

If you’re not an Inner Circle member, the company said customers can sign up for free by downloading the Circle K app. You can also text JOIN to 25050.

You can find the closest participating location using this website.

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Mia Tricarico

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — New Mexico Senators are hosting a legislative listening session to address Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County on Tuesday. Residents can listen and ask questions about air permits, water usage, job opportunities and economic development related to the planned data center.

County residents can attend the hearing at the New Mexico State University Corbett Center Student Union in the third floor ballroom from 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

State Senators Carries Hamblen, Joseph Cervantes, Bill Soules and Jeff Steinborn will attend and hear public feedback.

Residents have previously expressed their opposition against the data center planned for Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Oracle, one of the data center’s leaders, said it will bring $4.7 billion in economic benefits and thousands of jobs during and after construction.

Also on Tuesday, Oracle announced a new water-saving initiative to make up for Project Jupiter’s water use.

Tuesday’s listening session gives residents a direct platform to present their concerns and ask lawmakers how state oversight might factor into the project moving forward.

“It was the most concerning for me when there was a requirement to sign an NDA by the county.”

That was the exact moment when District 38 Senator Carrie Hamblen was confident that Project Jupiter was a bad idea.

” I can see why the county looked at this project is like something that would fix a lot of things that they are struggling to try and repair. But when the NDA came into play is when I started having red flags, because it was just when you are signing an NDA, it’s because you don’t want information out there.”

The Senators fielded questions for over two hours from concerned residents who voiced anxieties over the burdens future generations might face, including soaring utility bills, limited local job opportunities, environmental degradation, and a persistent lack of transparency surrounding the project.

Responding with empathy and shared concern, the Senators shifted focus toward the scale of the developer’s outreach. They asked the audience how many had seen social media sponsorships or advertisements for Project Jupiter.

Hands shot up across the room.

When they followed up by asking how many had encountered campaign workers stationed outside local grocery stores, virtually every hand in the room rose once again.

The Senators warned that Project Jupiter is deploying a highly coordinated, “strategic campaign,” adding a stark caution: representatives from Oracle were likely monitoring the event and sitting among the crowd in the conference room.

“Honestly I want to put the most faith in the Senators, I know i just have to put all my faith and hope in them, that they do something, and they at least listen to our voice, because obviously the County didn’t.” Said Iliana Perez Doña Ana County Resident.

Senator Carrie Hamblen pointed out a broader pattern in technology developments, arguing that companies specifically target vulnerable areas.

“What we see with data centers is that they go into communities that they feel have very few resources, so that they can exploit them.” Said Hamblen.

When asked by ABC-7 how she felt about standing up to tech giants like Oracle, Hamblen remained steadfast.

“I don’t care what they think. No, this is this is the community that I’ve lived in for over 30 years. There are people who are genuinely good people, who have had families there for generations who care about that and want to stay there. And when they have the threat of a data center coming in and destroying their environment, they have every right to make sure that their voice is heard and that we act on it as state legislators.”

Due to time constraints, some attendees were unable to address the panel directly. The Senators encouraged anyone with remaining questions to scan the QR code on the event cards to submit their name, email, and comments for official review.

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