Author: KVIA

Lauren Bly

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– On Tuesday, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced its ending the national suicide hotline’s specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth July 17.

“The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the ‘Press 3 option,’ to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option,” SAMHSA said in the press release

According to federal data — more than 14-and-a-half million people have contacted the 9-8-8 lifeline over three years’ time.  

Nearly one-point-three million calls or texts were routed to LGBTQ+ line.

It’s just putting more and more pressure on organizations who just don’t necessarily have the capacity to to be able to handle the influx of calls and the influx of issues that are happening.

ABC-7 spoke to the Executive Director of the Borderland Rainbow Center, Amber Perez. She told us local organizations are already spread thin, and resources are dwindling.

“It’s just putting more and more pressure on organizations who just don’t necessarily have the capacity to to be able to handle the influx of calls and the influx of issues that are happening,” said Perez.

Created soon after the national launch of 988 in 2022, the extra option offers specialized support for the LGBTQ+ youth community.

Callers can press three to connect them with trained counselors.

“It’s a place for them to reach out to, to get help, and to hopefully come back from that, that cliff,” Perez told ABC-7.

Perez sys the consequences of this decision will be devastating.

“We are going to see an uptick in, unfortunately, attempts on suicide, probably self-harm. Major issues with depression. I’m more than sure.” She says especially in a community like El Paso.

“In El Paso, that means that a lot of our local queer youth who probably come from homes that are very, very staunchly Catholic or religious, as we tend to be here in the borderland, won’t have somebody to call at 2:00 in the morning because these hotlines, that’s what they’re for.”

She wants those out there to know if you see someone struggling don’t stay silent.

“The most important thing is to validate them, right, is to talk to them and say, hey, I see you.”

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Emma Hoggard

JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Officials seized a tiger found in a Juárez neighborhood. The two-year old male was kept in a makeshift space with a dirt floor.

Officials say that the tiger did not have access to water and that it was being fed chicken remains.

The National Park for the Protection of Animals says officials seized the tiger as a precautionary measure, due to the risk posed by the “minimum welfare conditions” and lacking legal documentation.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The current Trout Fire north of Silver City has burned more than 76,000 acres.

The Buck Fire, burning southeast of Aragon, in Catron county, has burned more than 58,000 acres.

Both fires have worsened El Paso’s air quality due to the smoke.

El Paso’s air quality is poor for today and exposure may result in eye and throat irritation, aggravated asthma, and difficulty breathing.

Today’s main pollutant is PM 10, which are particles less than 10 micrometers.

Particles like PM 10, which are larger than 2.5 micrometers, are deposited in airways and result in irritation.

Those with severe asthma and allergies, the elderly and children are at risk of complications due to the poor air quality.

In addition to the heat in the Borderland, residents are reminded to stay cool and avoid using swamp coolers as they pull in air from the outside.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—Adult Protective Services will host the “It Pays to Partner with APS” conference on Thursday, June 26th, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center (Building A Board Room) 9050 Viscount. The session will explore topics such as elder exploitation, common scams targeting seniors, responding to dementia-related behaviors, and an introduction to APS.

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Heriberto Perez

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) — U.S. Border Patrol’s Horse Patrol Unit was the first one that ever existed in the agency’s history; they were called mounted watchmen.

The unit saw its beginning back in 1904 in efforts to prevent illegal crossings and the Mounted Guards first operated out of El Paso, Texas.

Border Patrol’s Horse Unit at the Santa Teresa station currently houses a total of 21 horses, making it one of the largest units in the nation.

“I personally never owned horses, I never had horses and never grew up with horses, so border patrol was one of those things that I grew up seeing on the border, because I’m from the border town,” said Horse Patrol Wrangler Ricardo Merjil. “I would see them on the border, and I was always so envious and jealous as a kid.”

Agent Merjil has been with the Border Patrol for nearly two decades and with the horse patrol for about six years, which, according to him, have been the best years of his career.

“The border patrol allowed me, they gave me the opportunity to do this for a living, and not a lot of people really get to do this. Me, myself being a city boy, I can’t ever say how appreciative I am for this opportunity,” said Horse Patrol Wrangler Merjil.

In an era where the Border Patrol, along with other federal agencies, has all sorts of technology and resources to secure the southern border, ABC-7 asked about the importance this unit still has.

Watch the full special report, Thursday on ABC-7 at 10.

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Paul Cicala

RUIDOSO, NM (KVIA) — One year ago today, hundreds of homes and buildings could be seen smoldering after the South Fork Fire began its path of destruction.

ABC-7 anchor Paul Cicala spent several days covering the devastation caused by those fires, and is in Ruidoso today to report live in the 4, 5 & 6 p.m. newscasts & as the popular tourist town continues its recovery.

 It’s a celebration of recovery for Ruidoso residents today, including El Paso native and Eastwood High grad James Rupley.

“It’s just, hmmm.. it’s really tough,” proclaimed James Rupley as he tried to contain his emotions just over a year ago after the South Fork Fire swept through Ruidoso.

The El Paso native also co-owns “Downshift Brewery” and lost thousands of dollars because of the wildfire and its effects on tourism, yet, he remained open to help first responders and others in town to help for wildfire cleanup and recovery.

“Literally worked from 4 in the morning to 9 at night every single day,” said Rupley.

 Now, customers are returning steadily to Ruidoso.

“You don’t really call it a comeback. The re-building and just kind of getting back to a normal type of life. It’s slow, but, you just have to work every day. You can’t stop,” said Rupley, who also told ABC-7’s Paul Cicala:”The first time we put on the Octoberfest at the end of September, and that was the first time that we felt like we are going to be okay, because so many people, came out, it was such a good atmosphere.”

ABC-7’S Paul Cicala will air this story, and several others on ABC-7 at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m. from Ruidoso, NM during the one-year anniversary of the start of the wildfires.

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Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Business leaders in Juárez wrote a letter to U.S. authorities asking to keep commercial traffic at BOTA last weekend. They said they first gave one to CBP officials and then will continue to ask other entities on both sides of the border to push for keeping cargo once modernizations start.

Cargo at BOTA has been highly criticized due to its pollution and how it has impacted the South-Central El Paso community for years.

The Chihuahua delegate of the Mexico National Association of Importers and Exporters (ANIERM), Marcelo Vázquez went to an international bridges and ports of entry meeting in Mexico City last week, where they gave this letter.

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Along with Vázquez, other business, industry and cargo transportation leaders signed the letter as well.

According to them, if cargo is removed, the El Paso – Ciudad Juárez regions could see a big hit in the local economy, plus the environmental and social impacts.

“More pollution will be created, and it will spread to areas that currently don’t have it,” the letter says.

Currently, BOTA sees about 10% of the total crossings of the area, Ysleta-Zaragoza sees the most with around 70%; the rest cross through Santa Teresa and Tornillo.

In April, around 124,405 semi-trucks crossed through all four Ports of Entry; only BOTA saw 16,232.

“In March, $8.5 billion in exports crossed through these four international ports. Last year, combined exports through these four ports totaled $82.656 billion. BOTA carries at least 10% of these exports, which generate jobs on both sides of the border,” they added.

ABC-7 reached out to ANIERM for more updates on the proposed closure of commercial traffic at BOTA once modernization projects start in 2026-2027.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As El Paso experiences triple-digit temperatures, smartphone overheating becomes a major concern for residents.

This can be frustrating for residents who, even while taking a short ride in their car, find their smartphone has stopped working after sitting in the sun.

Residents are urged to avoid exposing their phones to direct sunlight for extended periods as this can significantly increase the risk of overheating.

Ensuring your device stays cool during intense heat is essential for optimal performance of your device.

Temporary and permanent damage may occur to your smartphone and other electronic devices, leading to automatic shudowns or device failures, reduced battery life, issues with screen display, slower device speed, and even smartphone camera damage.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The Make-A-Wish El Paso team will celebrate an open house.

Wednesday, June 18

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

801 N. El Paso St., Suite 200 (Corner of Yandell & El Paso St.)

RSVP to Jennifer Maturino at jmaturino@ntx.wish.org.

https://wish.org/ntx

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The El Paso Center for Children is creating a Parent Café to empower parents and caregivers to connect and learn.

 Gabby Carpenter and Jose Alamillo explain how families can get involved.

To learn more, visit epccinc.org or call 915-307-8043.

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