Author: KVIA

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) — As part of National Seat Check Week, families in El Paso are invited to a free event this Saturday aimed at keeping children safe on the road. The El Paso Regional Car Seat Partners are organizing the event during Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 20–26), in an effort to educate parents and caregivers about the proper use of car seats and booster seats.

According to TxDOT El Paso, Child safety in vehicles remains a pressing concern. While most parents believe they are securing their children correctly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half (46%) of all child car seats are used improperly, putting children at unnecessary risk.

The statistics are sobering: In Texas last year, 583 children under 13 were seriously injured and 69 were killed in traffic accidents. Experts emphasize the importance of making sure that every child in a vehicle is properly buckled up, using the appropriate car seat or booster seat for their age, height, and weight. According to TXDOT El Paso Officials.

Texas law requires children under eight years old to use a child car seat or booster seat, unless they are taller than four feet nine inches. Violating this law not only endangers children but can also result in fines of up to $250 for drivers. Additionally, safety advocates stress that children under 13 are safest when seated in the back seat.

TXDOT El Paso says, Motor vehicle accidents remain a leading cause of death among children. By using the correct car seat and ensuring it is fitted properly, families can take a simple but critical step toward protecting their loved ones on the road. This weekend’s event offers expert guidance and hands-on assistance to help parents ensure their children are as safe as possible during every ride.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The Salvation Army in El Paso announces its annual Red Kettle Run on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Braden Aboud Memorial Park (4325 River Bend Dr., El Paso, TX 79922). The event, a family-oriented 5-mile run and 1-mile walk, brings the community together to raise money for The Salvation Army’s holiday food and shelter initiatives.

The Red Kettle Run contributes to The Salvation Army’s mission by first buying 400 turkeys for families in difficulty during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The registration fee is $35 and it is still possible to join. Businesses can sponsor for $250 and support the community.

Sign up or get more information at salvationarmyelpaso.org.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Oranges, a short film, was written and directed by Valeria Contreras, a filmmaker from El Paso, and includes a cast and crew from the local area. It will make its premiere at the historic Plaza Theatre as part of the El Paso Shorts program at the El Paso Film Festival.

Oranges, which is set in El Paso in 1972, is about two sisters spending their final moments together before one of them goes to Mexico City. The film draws inspiration from the El Paso streetcar, a vehicle that at one time linked El Paso and Ciudad Juárez across the U.S.–Mexico border.

The film Oranges was created as part of the NALIP Director Incubator, which was sponsored by Netflix and the El Paso Community Foundation’s Border Art Residency. Supported by several arts organizations, it focuses on the growing number of filmmakers and cultural groups in the border area; at the same time, it draws on the history of the streetcar that linked El Paso and Juárez, tying its narrative to a shared part of the region’s past.

The film will be shown on Friday, 25th September 2026, at 3:00 PM Mountain Time at the Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The Cinta De Oro major lucha event in El Paso on October 3 will raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso. Cinta, who was known as Sin Cara in WWE, is bringing the famous luchador Blue Demon Jr. to the event; he is the first Mexican and second masked wrestler to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Event details

Event: Heroes Del Futuro with Blue Demon Jr.

When: Oct. 3, 2026

Location: Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, 801 South Florence Street

The reason is to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of El Paso, since the organisation offers free after-school activities for children from low-income families at its nine clubs across El Paso.

Info: 915-532-7410 or 915-230-1901

Tickets are $25-$100.

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— For one night only, legendary luchadores will headline the Heroes del Futuro fundraiser. The event will directly benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso.

Iconic wrestler Blue Demon Jr. will join El Paso’s very own Cinta de Oro, along with other recognizable names in lucha libre. The event will feature the excitement and thrill of professional wrestling while raising funds for the local club.

For Cinta de Oro, the event is personal. He grew up in the Segundo Barrio and was a local club kid himself.

“I wanted to give back to the community and especially Segundo Barrio. So obviously this place is very important for us.”

Cinta de Oro told ABC-7 this place is dear to his heart.

“I was a kid raised in El Segundo Barrio, born and raised here, and I was a club kid. You know, and I used to come here when I was, like, 9 or 10 years old; I used to play basketball. All kinds of things here. Foosball, pool, all kinds of things. So it was a very great time for me.”

Anthony Tomasheski, the CEO of the local club, said Cinta de Oro understands the opportunities local kids receive. He said Cinta de Oro is an inspiration to many children locally!

“I think it’s one of those just amazing stories where you have a kid that says, ‘I want to be a wrestler,’ and then the next thing you know, he becomes a WWE superstar,’ he said.

Tomasheski also said all of the proceeds raised will support programs that provide children with opportunities to succeed, including academic support, homework help, sports and fitness and other enriching activities.

“So we don’t charge for any of our programming. And we will be using those funds to do many things, like making sure that every child gets a hot meal, making sure they get their homework done. We provide free music classes.”

Additionally, the club also provides a lucha libre school that is led by Cinta de Oro.

The professional wrestler said he just wants to change children’s lives!

“For us, being part of the Boys and Girls Club is very important. I always tell kids, it doesn’t matter if you want to be a lawyer, if you want to be a policeman. At the end of the day, discipline is the most important thing. And that’s what we teach here at the Boys and Girls Club,” he said.

The Heroes del Futuro benefit event is taking place Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso on S. Florence Street. For ticket information, click here.

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Nichole Gomez

EL PASO, Texas — Spicy excitement is heating up in El Paso as the 2026 Chile Pepper Challenge Charity Ride & 5K Walk/Run gears up for Sunday, September 27 at Grace Gardens. Hosted by the El Paso Bicycle Club, this annual event welcomes cyclists, runners, walkers, families, and friends for a day of fun, fitness, and philanthropy—all to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association West Texas Chapter.

With multiple cycling routes, a 5-mile Family Fun Ride, and a 5K Walk/Run, participants of all ages and abilities can find a challenge tailored to them. After crossing the finish line, attendees can celebrate with live music, delicious food, cold beverages, and official Chile Pepper Challenge gear. Every participant receives an event shirt and finisher medal.

Registration remains open through the day of the event, with early packet pickup available at locations across El Paso starting Saturday, September 19. Volunteers are also needed.

Join the fun, feel the heat, and help fight Alzheimer’s this September 27.

https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/TX/ElPaso/ElPasoBicycleClubChilePepperChallengeCharityRide

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Hillary Floren

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Most people are shocked to hear the news. The outgoing, funny guy they listen to on the radio each morning has had some really dark times. He even tried to end his life multiple times.

Fernando Montejano, or “Grizz,” is half of the popular Iris & Grizz morning DJ duo. He had a rough start in life. His troubles started when he was only five.

“It’s tough to talk about but that’s what we’re here for.  My mom had a lot of problems growing up.  She was an alcoholic and went to jail very young in my life…my dad had to come get me,” Grizz says.

With his mother in and out of jail, he struggled.

“I was away from my sisters and they were my support system.  We’d been through the same things and dealt with sexual abuses and being exposed to the drug life. I was angry, sad, but I didn’t know why I felt what I was feeling in side.  

He turned to drugs, alcohol, and eventually suicide.

“The first attempt unfortunately when I was 12 years old. I had about four suicide attempts as a kid before I turned 18.

His traditional Midwest family didn’t believe in mental health treatment. But after a pretty public suicide attempt, a friend intervened. It was Grizz’s first time in a mental health facility.

“When I stayed at the facility I was surrounded by people who had experienced similar things.  It was almost like being understood for the first time.  They’d say ‘you’re hurting. This isn’t normal – you need to fix this,'” Grizz says.

When Grizz turned 18 and moved out of the house, he began seeking out therapy. Money was tight, but he’d go to clinics that offered a sliding fee, sometimes paying just five dollars a session.

Then, Grizz was rocked by tragedy. A long-term relationship ended, and his sister Bianca died of a fentanyl overdose. He moved back to El Paso to lay Bianca to rest, and help care for her young daughter, Aria and his mother, who was still dealing with addiction.

“This moment sort of sparked a big shift in my life, something that needed to change.  it was the therapy that I received before i moved here that finally set me up – finally finding the right therapy specifically!  Attachment therapy  dialectical behavior therapy, where they map your mind and you have to do homework. That changed my whole life,” Grizz says.

This month is a celebration for Grizz and his mom, who is celebrating her one year mark of sobriety. He says the family has been living a much better life together.

He’s proud of his mom, and proud of himself. Working with the tools he’s learned to regulate his mood and navigate his emotions, he is making progress. But some days are still a struggle. If you are going through difficult times, Grizz has this to say:

“Don’t give up. At some point you’re gonna get past this.  If you try.  you will.”

Together, he and co-host Iris Lopez, who is also a vocal champion for mental health, are spreading a message of hope throughout the borderland.

“We have like a brother sister relationship,” Iris says. “If one of us is having a bad day, the other will just sit and listen and not judge.”

Grizz hopes that by sharing his struggles and the fact that he has found a way to move forward, his message will urge someone else to take healing steps.

If you ever have suicidal thoughts or need someone to talk to, call 9-8-8.

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Carpio Griego

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — The Sunland Park Fire Department saved a woman and her children from her flooded home. It happened Wednesday around 5 a.m. after heavy overnight rainfall.

SPFD said Michelle and her three children started seeing water come in around 4 a.m.

Fire Chief Daniel Medrano said calls for help aren’t unusual for monsoon season. Medrano said people should get out as soon as possible if their home begins to flood — even with a few inches.

Michelle was told she couldn’t return to her home for some time. She was one of four rescues the fire department had. They also had two car rescues.

“If you’re out on the roadways and you see water, there’s this pooling and especially known ponding areas,” Medrano said. “Do not drive through them. Your vehicles will stop and it becomes an issue. It becomes a safety issue not only for the motorists, but also for the responders. They’re trying to get in and help you out.”

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Joseph Montero

CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, the Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a lower tax rate for the 2026-27 school year.

The rate is slightly lower than last year. CISD said the average homeowner within the district will pay about $11 less in school taxes than last year.

According to the district, the calculation considered the homestead exemption voters approved last November.

“We are pleased to be able to remain good stewards of the taxpayers’ money in our efforts to provide our students with aworld-class education,” said Board President Sergio Martinez. 

The district has a nearly $65.7 million budget for the upcoming year.

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Nina Gallegos

DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KVIA) — Flooding across Dona Ana County brought up to three feet of floodwater to the Brazito neighborhood . For some residents, the pooling covered their only way out of their properties.

Just north of Vado, one Brazito resident told ABC-7 the flood didn’t just bring damage. It made her worried about her safety.

“If there’s an emergency, we only have one way in, one way out, and that’s the road we just came in on or what’s left of a road, the lake we came in on,” said Misty Skinner.

Skinner said she lived in Brazito for five years. While she’s seen flooding, she never dealt with as much as she did after this week’s rain.

ABC-7’s Nina Gallegos standing in three-foot-deep floodwater in the Brazito area.(Courtesy: KVIA)

“It has never been this way as far as we’ve lived here. We’ve lived here for five years now. And the last three rains is what really destroyed everything on our property,” she said.

A nearby dam nearly breached, and arroyos sent water directly into her backyard.

(Courtesy: KVIA)

Skinner said she loves her secluded property, but the cost of flooding is forcing her family to think about moving. With $35,000 of damaged equipment, she doesn’t know if her family will ever recover.

“We love this property and we love having nothing. I mean, the freedom to be able to just be us. And it feels like everything that we wanted is gone,” Skinner said.

Even after cleaning the damage from this week’s flooding, there’s a chance for more in the coming days.

ABC-7 reached out to Dona Ana County officials about what they’re doing to help residents like Skinner.

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