Author: KVIA

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – Socorro Independent School District Superintendent James Vasquez has been named in the National School Public Relations Association annual list of Superintendents to Watch. According to the district, this year NSPRA selected 30 leaders from school systems across the United States for the 2025-26 honor, which recognizes superintendents in their first five years of service for outstanding leadership.

James Vasquez said, “It’s really nice, it’s a team award. It’s not, it’s not just me. I couldn’t do it without the support of a great school board. We have a fantastic team of  Leaders across the district from  assistant superintendents, directors, principals, and of course the teachers and the students, it’s a, it’s a system, it’s all of us together and I think it’s just a recognition of what we’ve all done as a district to continue to move us forward and to have made great strides over the past couple of years”.

The School District is  also setting the standard for academic excellence in the El Paso region. According to results released in the 2024–2025 Texas Academic Performance Report by the Texas Education Agency, Socorro ISD is the highest-scoring school district in the region based on overall STAAR and End-of-Course performance.  

To learn more about Socorro ISD’s outstanding achievement as the highest-scoring school district in the El Paso region, visit www.sisd.net/highestscoringdistrict.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – The 2025 healthcare year was marked by major federal cuts to coverage, rising costs, and significant industry shifts. Yet we saw some progress, at least in public health. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Ogechika Alozie shares everything you need to know.

https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=67133

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— A senior at Valle Verde Early College High School has been recognized for her volunteer work.

17-year-old Eveny Covarrubias was named the 2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year by Hospice El Paso.

Since she is underage, she is not able to meet patients personally, but she is still involved in meaningful tasks. She has helped inform people about Hospice during health fairs, personally written letters for families who have lost a loved one, and also crocheted items for patients.

The teen told ABC-7 that volunteering at Hospice has been a different type of experience.

“You do encounter more serious things. So I feel like it did prepare me a little bit more to be more, like, compassionate as well, because a lot of it is just making sure that the patient knows you’re there for them and the family. So it did help me with that as well,” she said.

She started in 2024 and volunteers several times a month. Covarrubias said she was stunned when she found out she had earned the achievement.

“I was actually at home, and somebody came knocking, and I was like, who was at my house? So I opened it, and they had like a nice little box put together for me. And it did tell me,like, that I won volunteer of the year. So I was so excited, and I told my mom, and she was excited as well.”

Covarrubias already obtained her associate’s degree from El Paso Community College. She’s currently taking classes at UTEP.

She’s also involved in multiple high school clubs, including the Chemistry Club, the National Honor Society, and the Honor Society.

Sarah Welsh, a teacher of Pre-AP Chemistry at Valle Verde ECHS, said Covarrubias helps other students get involved!

“For chemistry club, she does on her own time. They meet during lunchtime, and she’s able to get a lot of other students who maybe are not necessarily into science. She gets them interested in science. But because of her leadership, she’s able to encourage others. And then she makes it fun for them. So she makes science a fun learning experience for the kids.”

Covarrubias explained she wants to go into nursing to help others. This recognition further motivates her.

“It meant a lot, actually. Like you go, you volunteer, and it’s like you’re doing it out of your heart. But like when you when it comes back to you, and they reward you, it’s a little bit more rewarding that way.”

Hospice El Paso representatives said Eveny’s commitment, positive energy and her heart for service have all inspired everyone around her.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please e-mail rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Nicole Ardila

This weekend, you can catch hot air balloons in the Land of Enchantment for the very first time this year with the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally.

MVBR kicks off Friday with media and school day.

Visit Las Cruces is debuting their brand new balloon at the rally at 7 a.m., and they will be joined by the NMSU balloon, who made their debut at the balloon rally last year. 

Another first is the Zozobra hot air balloon, making it’s first round south of Albuquerque. 

MVBR’s main mission is to inspire curiosity in the community about hot air ballooning, and to encourage the youth to become excited about what they learn in school and its practical applications. 

Here are the times for the balloon rally events this weekend:

January 16: Kick off glow – 6:00 pm  to 8:00 pm at the Downtown Plaza on 100 N Main St, Las Cruces.

January 17: Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot on 2300 Tashiro Dr, Las Cruces, NM 88007.

January 17 – Evening Glow – sunset (around 5:30pm) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

January 18 – Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

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Paul Cicala

EL PASO (KVIA) –  More than a thousand Iraq war veterans and their families are gathering in El Paso this weekend for the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Ramadi.

The Battle of Ramadi was a turning point in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It was relentless combat against insurgents in the middle of the city at tremendous cost in terms of casualties, and it brought major changes in U.S. military strategy.

The “Clear, Hold & Build” strategy focused on taking one neighborhood at a time in Ramadi, Iraq.

It also concentrated on building combat outposts for defense.

At the same time, the strategy served to develop and train local Iraqi Police Forces, earning the trust of local tribal leaders, and supporting restoration of services like water.

As the reunion continues through this weekend for the brave fighters who were part of this battle, ABC-7 Anchor Paul Cicala was able to get an exclusive interview with Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, who commanded the troops to a historic victory.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The El Paso Department of Public Health is urging residents with disabilities and medical needs to sign up for a statewide registry designed to help first responders identify people who may need assistance during emergencies.

Who Should Register?

The STEAR program is designed for individuals who may need additional assistance during an emergency, including:

People with disabilities

Medically fragile individuals

Those with access and functional needs, such as:

Limited mobility

Communication barriers

Medical assistance requirements

Individuals requiring personal care or transportation assistance

How to Register

El Paso residents can register using the following methods:

Online: STEAR.tdem.texas.gov

Call: 211

Fax or email completed forms to: (866) 557-1074 or STEAR@dps.texas.gov

In-Person Registration Assistance

To make registration easier, staff will be available for in-person assistance at the following locations throughout January:

Pavo Real Senior Center9311 Alameda Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 8

Grandview Senior Center3134 Jefferson Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 9

Jessie M. Happiness Senior Center563 N. Carolina Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Monday, January 12

Hilos De Plata Senior Center4451 Delta Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 13

Memorial Senior Center1800 Byron St.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 14

Polly Harris Senior Center650 Wallenburg Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 15

San Juan Senior Center5701 Tamburo Ct.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 16

South El Paso Senior Center600 S. Ochoa St.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 20

Wellington Chew Senior Center4430 Maxwell Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 21

For more information, visit ElPasoReady.org or EPHealth.gov under the Emergency Preparedness tab, or call 211.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – Girl Scouts will launch the 2026 cookie season with a Mega Drop in El Paso. Rebecca Reyes with Girl Scouts Desert Southwest joins us to explain how volunteers, and trucks will come together Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The Cookie Mega Drop serves as the primary pickup site for Girl Scout troops to receive their cookie orders in preparation for sales starting Sunday, January 18, 2026.

El Paso Cookie Mega Drop

Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM (MST)

Location: 9701 Railroad, El Paso, TX 79924

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) -Music offers extensive benefits, including reducing stress, anxiety, and pain, and boosting your mood. If you are thinking about pursuing a music degree, now is the perfect opportunity.  El Paso Community College instructors, Dr. Melissa Gurrola and Daniel Becker, join us to discuss the music program.

The Associate of Applied Science Degrees specializing in Audio Engineering and Music Business follow professional industry standards of recording studios, live music venues,

record companies and event presentations for public announcements and presentations.

Students will learn techniques for recording musical instruments, managing artists, and promoting within the music industry.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Today was the second day of the capital murder trial for Atruro Ortega Garcia, the man accused of stabbing and killing a family of three in East El Paso in 1994.

As ABC-7 has reported, Dante Santoni, 3, his mother, Connie Villa, 28, and Villa’s longtime partner and Dante’s father, Francisco Santoni, 59, were found stabbed to death on Aug. 11, 1994, in their East El Paso home.

The District Attorney’s Office called two witnesses to the stand today: an El Paso Police Department detective who translated Ortega Garcia’s 2022 interrogation and an El Paso County chief medical examiner.

During the interrogation, Ortega Garcia said he couldn’t give any names or information to detectives because he and his family had been threatened in the U.S. and in Mexico.

At some point, Ortega Garcia told EPPD detectives that “he was innocent and that he was going to fight for him,” adding that he had the answer to the murder case but was afraid of retaliation and of telling the truth to detectives because he knew who committed the murder.

This afternoon, both the prosecution and the defense rested their cases, and the trial is set to continue with closing arguments tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

ABC-7 previously had in-depth coverage of this case. You can watch and listen to the full Borderland Crimes Podcast here.

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