Author: KVIA

Heriberto Perez Lara

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the reopening of some livestock international crossings, allowing limited cattle imports from Mexico amid New World screwworm concerns. USDA also announced the move for several border crossings after the parasitic fly halted the movement of cattle between the U.S. and Mexico since last year.

The situation raised concerns not just with cattle industry leaders, but officials on both sides of the border too.

Friday, the USDA announced it will open some borders in phases, including the one in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. It will first open a port in Douglas, Arizona, on Aug. 24 while initiating steps to reopen the one in Santa Teresa.

Livestock crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border, including the one in Santa Teresa, N.M., are set for a phased reopening, with Santa Teresa set to resume operations in late September.

The crossings were closed last year by U.S. and Mexican authorities to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that lays eggs in animals.

The New World screwworm lays eggs that hatch into maggots, which feed on the living flesh of animals, prompting the widespread halt of cattle imports and exports.

The Santa Teresa POE, the largest in North America, typically handles more than 500,000 head of cattle annually. This cattle trade through the Santa Teresa port represents an economic value of between $1.2 and $1.4 billion per year.

The USDA announced the phased reopening last Friday, with cattle trade in Arizona starting first. Columbus and Teresa in New Mexico are scheduled to follow in late September.

Daniel Manzanares, the Port Director at the Teresa facility, described feeling “pretty down about it” during the closure.

He noted that his staff at the port was reduced from 38 employees to four.

“I feel for them, for their families; we all have bills to pay,” Manzanares said.

Manzanares emphasized the significance of the crossing to the industry; he stated that for ranchers in the northern states, the ability to export is “a huge deal.”

However, he added that exporters must meet “strict protocol of USDA to be able to state this certain health status.”

Manzanares also expressed optimism about the future, saying, “But I’m heartened to hear that we’re going to be, hopefully by the end of September, open again here. And that will really reinvigorate the different industries here in El Paso.”

Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller advocated for the reopening.

Miller said, “We sent that message to USDA and they finally listened.” He also supports the gradual approach, stating, “So they’re going to open it gradually, which I agree with. We don’t want to just flood the market and crash the market.”

Both Director Manzanares and Commissioner Miller acknowledged the potential for future setbacks if the screwworm reappears in the borderland.

NMDA Secretary Witte also warned that “if we start seeing a lot of unexplained movements and we’re moving into those states, that’ll really cause a pause. I think in the, in the reopening.”

Manzanares added that combating the screwworm requires international cooperation.

“So we have to combat it in both nations by producing these facilities that produce a lot more flies. We need about 400, 500 million a week produced to knock it out,” said Manzanares.

Commissioner Miller also highlighted a broader issue concerning the national cattle supply.

“But even if we open everything up, it’s not enough cattle to really change the inventory a lot,” said Commissioner Miller. “Across the United States, we’re down so many; we really need these cattle in the United States.”

Santa Teresa and Columbus, N.M., are set to resume livestock crossings in late September, as the phased reopening will require continued adherence to USDA protocols and ongoing vigilance against the New World screwworm.

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Carpio Griego

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Sergio Martinez-Monteagudo and his team of graduate students at New Mexico State University are addressing the issue of food waste in their own way. He’s been working to find a way to make ice cream last longer.

After 36 samples, the team found the answer: manipulating the proteins.

By changing, the proteins bond to water better once refrozen, which allowed the team’s test ice cream to hold its form longer.

Martinez-Monteagudo knows this does not solve the issues of sustainability or food waste in one fowl swoop, but he said progress comes from smaller victories.

“I want to inspire or create awareness that there are ways to solve problems. It will not be the big solution. It will not be one solution. One time. It will be step by step.” Martinez-Monteagudo said.

Watch the full special report, “Meltless Mission,” Thursday on ABC-7 at 6 p.m.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The future Fox Cancer Center received a financial push from Ronnie and Ashley Lowenfield Monday. The couple committed $300,000 to establish the Ronald W. & E. Ashley Lowenfield Tumor Board Room.

Teams of physicians, surgeons, radiologists and other specialists will use the board room to review cancer cases and develop treatment plans for patients, according to Texas Tech Health El Paso.

Ronnie, who is the CEO of Casa Auto Group, said the decision to support the tumor board room reflects a lifelong belief that the best ideas emerge when people work side by side.

According to Texas Tech Health El Paso, Ronnie received a cancer diagnosis in his thumb. One of the first people to reach out to him was Steve Fox. Fox connected Ronnie with physicians in Houston and helped him through treatment.

Today, Ronnie is cancer-free, and his experience strengthened the couple’s commitment to helping future patients have access to cancer care in El Paso.

“It’s unbelievable whenever you get one of the worst things that you could ever hear in your life,” Ronnie said. “of you have cancer. “And then to have that piled on with you also have to drive 800 miles to the nearest cancer center.”

The Fox Cancer Center started construction in September 2025 and will be the first comprehensive cancer center serving West Texas, Texas Tech Health El Paso said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — ABC-7 and Vitalant is once again partnering to host a blood drive at the KVIA station Wednesday. Our annual blood drive leading up to Aug. 3 is our way of honoring the victims of the mass shooting but also the donors who stepped up that day.

We encourage El Paso to maintain that very spirit of giving by donating blood at the El Chuco Blood Drive.

You can stop by the KVIA parking lot at 4140 Rio Bravo St. between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. July 29.

You can make an appointment for the blood drive using this website.

(Courtesy: Vitalant)

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez on Monday announced Katharine Beamer as the new U.S. Consul General.

Consul General Beamer succeeds Rafael Foley, who served until July 7, officials said.

The U.S. Consulate in Juárez covers the entire state of Chihuahua as its consular jurisdiction.

Beamer is a senior member of the U.S. Career Foreign Service and has 25 years of diplomatic experience, officials said. She most recently served at the U.S. Embassy in Belize.

She also worked as the director of the office of Caribbean affairs at the State Department in Washington D.C.

Beamer grew up in Encinitas, California, and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in international relations in 2001. She also has a master’s degree in sociology.

After graduating, she joined the Foreign Service and completed assignments in Washington within the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

She served at U.S. embassies in Guatemala, Poland, Slovakia, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic and Belize.

Additionally, she served as a state department Pearson fellow in the U.S. Senate and as a national security affairs fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, officials said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The New Mexico Department of Justice on Monday said it’s upholding the pretrial detention of Kimberly Skaggs. She’s accused of a deadly hit-and-run that happened in Las Cruces in June.

Skaggs, the former treasurer for the Republican Party of New Mexico, faces one count of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, which is punishable by up to three years in jail. She also faces one count of tampering with evidence, which carries a sentence of up to 18 months.

Documents said 40-year-old Andrew Brown crossed the street on his bike when Skaggs allegedly hit him with her SUV. He died to his injuries at the crash site.

June 30, Brown’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Skaggs.

The NMDOJ argued Skaggs should remain in custody pending trial based on the facts and circumstances presented tot he court.

After Skaggs appealed the detention order, the appeals court reviewed and affirmed the district court’s ruling, allowing the pretrial detention order to stay in place, NMDOJ said.

The case will continue in the Third Judicial District Court.

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Max Zepeda

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — For many residents of the Borderland, the line separating El Paso’s West side and Sunland Park, New Mexico, is one that is more understood and less identifiable. For a neighborhood that resides in both places along the state line, a traffic conundrum could be on the horizon.

According to Kym Hemley, a lifelong West El Paso and Sunland Park resident, said blockades that have been in place since June at three different places along Frontera Street. She said the closures caused a negative stir in her community.

“I grew up on the street,” Hemley said. “I used to run down from Frontera to the Rio Grande all my life…the community is activated.”

In response, the City of El Paso’s Strategic Communications Director, Laura Cruz-Acosta, provided ABC 7 with this statement:

“The traffic mitigation improvements on Frontera Road, including the diagonal diverter and associated street closures, are permanent features intended to protect nearby residential neighborhoods by reducing cut-through traffic and mitigating the impacts of anticipated future development in the Sunland Park area. The project is designed to preserve neighborhood safety, improve traffic flow, and maintain reliable emergency access.

While these improvements are intended to remain in place, the City continually evaluates traffic conditions. If future land uses or traffic patterns change significantly, the City’s Traffic Engineer could consider modifications after a careful engineering review.

There are no special precautions residents need to take to protect themselves or their vehicles. As with any new traffic configuration, motorists will need time to adjust to the new traffic patterns. Drivers traveling to New Mexico should approach the area using New Mexico streets, while drivers traveling from Texas should access the neighborhood using Texas streets. Access to all homes and businesses within the neighborhood remains available.

Throughout the planning and design process, the City held multiple public meetings and worked closely with the neighborhood association to develop and implement these traffic mitigation measures. The project was specifically designed to keep Frontera Road functioning as a neighborhood street while accommodating future growth in the surrounding area.”

ABC-7 also reached out to the City of Sunland Park comment, but did not hear back.

Hemley plans to speak on behalf of her neighbors, as they hope to present their concerns at Tuesday’s Sunland Park City Council budget meeting.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Lowriding is a tradition that has shaped the El Paso for many generations. The Lowdown Downtown Lowriding Experience will continue that legacy Saturday at the El Paso Convention Center.

The The Lowrider Lawyers Truck Crash & Injury Attorneys will present the event, which is part of the GoLo Entertainment Throwback Tour featuring more than 200 lowrider vehicles.

Visitors can learn about the art behind the intricate paintwork and the engineering behind the hydraulic systems at the gathering.

Additionally, vehicles will compete at Lowdown Downtown for an opportunity to show off at the GoLo Entertainment Throwback Tour finale in Las Vegas.

While visitors browse the lowriders, vendors, musicians and artists will display their work.

Live performance groups include Hi-C & Tony A, Krystall Poppin, Dayna Donna, I AM LOPEZ, Miriah Aila and Pepe Marquez.

Event organizers said there will also be celebrity guest appearances by Aaron Abeyta, also known as El Hefe of the punk band NOFX.

Noel Guglielmi from the Fast and the Furious franchise and Training Day will also appear at the Lowrider Lawyers’ booth.

Doors open at 9 a.m. Saturday and starts at 10 a.m. and runs through 7 p.m., according to El Paso Live. You can find ticket information here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth awarded an Irvin High School graduate with the Mexican Border Defense Medal Monday. The recognition looks at the dedication, service and commitment of troops involved in border security operations.

At the Pentagon, Sergeant First Class Christian Hidalgo received the medal was one of 50 U.S. service members to receive the honor.

According to the Department of War, the Mexican Border Defense Medal was established in August 2025, but the medal itself isn’t new. It’s a replica of the Mexican Border Service Medal from 1918.

This year, medal recipients included 14 Marines, one sailor and 35 soldiers, the DOW said.

While three officials dressed service members with the medals, Hegseth himself gave Hidalgo his.

Sgt. First Class Christian Hidalgo (middle) gets his Mexican Border Defense Metal at the Pentagon. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is behind him.(Courtesy: U.S. Department of War)

“From day one, operationally, this department, this building, these services rushed, surged down to the border to stop the invasion of our southern border, which is truly what it was,” Hegseth said.

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