Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (10:08 p.m.) — One Border Patrol agent and two Department of War personnel were involved in Thursday’s crash, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the three have minor injuries, and New Mexico State Police took the lead on the investigation.

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — One person was airlifted to a hospital and another was taken by ambulance after a head-on crash in Santa Teresa Thursday, according to Doña Ana County Fire.

Just before 4 p.m., Doña Ana Fire Rescue went to a side road off Highway 9 in Santa Teresa and found two vehicles in a head-on crash, officials said.

New Mexico State Police is now investigating what happened, according to Doña Ana County Fire.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Parents whose children attend the El Paso Independent School District can track school buses in real time with a new app, the district announced Thursday.

Tracking will be available for the 2026-27 school year.

Stopfinder is a free, secure app that lets parents view their child’s bus stop information, get transportation updates and track bus locations during morning and afternoon routes — all from their mobile device, EPISD said.

EPISD said the app safely shares bus schedules and tracking access with approved caregivers or family members. Additionally, users can communicate with transportation staff through the app.

Families and guardians of students who ride the district buses will get an email inviting them to activate an account on Stopfinder, the district said.

“At El Paso ISD, we’re committed to providing exceptional service to our families,” said EPISD Superintendent Brian Lusk. “Stopfinder is an important step forward in improving communication and giving parents real-time access to their child’s transportation information.”

The district invited families to provide feedback on the app since it’s new. You can send feedback here.

More information on how to download the app can be found here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Mexican Consulate General in El Paso will feature a selection of Mata Ortiz ceramic pottery. The Consulate invited visitors to explore the works of artists like Héctor Gallegos Martínez and Laura Bugarini Cota Thursday at 6 p.m.

Visitors will be able to learn about the artistic technique of Mata Ortiz pottery and its designs.

The ceramic style originated in Chihuahua, according to the Consulate, and is internationally recognized.

“The inspiration came from the old culture of Paquime it’s a culture in Chihuahua but also we make our own style like this piece you can see it has its own style,” Gallegos Martinez said.

The highlight of Thursday’s event is the unveiling of the Monumental Sphere, one of Gallegos and Bugarini’s pieces that will become a permanent part of the Consulate’s art collection, according to Visit El Paso.

Visitors can see the unveiling for free, and ends at 8 p.m.

The Consulate is located at 910 E. San Antonio Ave.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Thursday, the El Paso Children’s Hospital brought a little magic to children undergoing treatment. Various community members dressed up and brought goodies during a “Holidays in July” hallway parade.

The hospital put its own twist on Christmas in July by dressing up for other holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and Fourth of July.

(Courtesy: KVIA)

The event aims to brighten up children at the hospital. Many of them were excited about the hospital’s creativity and costumes.

“It’s very fun for the kids, and it’s very important to remember that at the end of the day, they’re still kids,” Director of the Pediatric ICU Kristine Tejeda said.

El Paso Children’s Hospital is no stranger to hallway parades. While the hospital has them throughout the year, the Holidays in July is one of their biggest.

“This is so important to them because it helps them feel the community support and it also helps them have some sense of normalcy even when they’re in the hospital,” Tejeda said.

She said the parade started four years ago.

Kids from all ages, including teenagers, get to participate, according to the hospital.

Click here to follow the original article.

Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Water hosted a community meeting in the Lower Valley Thursday to provide residents and businesses with information on the Cedar Grove Waterline Replacement Project.

A presentation by officials with EP Water was held in both English and Spanish at the Valle Bajo Community Center and Library on Alameda Avenue.

Staff was available to answer questions from concerned members of the community.

In a press release, EP Water said it has a “planned waterline replacement program is a multi-phased project aimed at replacing aging infrastructure and improving the reliability of water services throughout El Paso.”

The Cedar Grove waterline replacement will upgrade six and eight-inch waterlines with new PVC pipe along 11 streets in the Cedar Grove neighborhood, according to the utility.

EP Water has confirmed construction on the project is scheduled to begin Monday, July 27. They are advising drivers and residents to expect temporary lane closures, detours and changing traffic patterns throughout the area.

In addition, 26 fire hydrants will be upgraded or replaced, including sections of a wastewater line will be replaced along with four new manholes planned to be installed.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Thursday, the Las Cruces Police Department announced it will host a town hall July 29 with interactive sessions with Mayor Eric Enriquez and all six city councilors.

Residents can sit at the table of their council district to talk about public safety.

LCPD Chief Jeremy Story, the department’s deputy chiefs and other staff will answer questions and hear ideas from those attending the town hall.

“These town hall meetings are important for our city and for us as a department,” said Chief Story. “We grow and become better as a community when we come together, share concerns and ideas, and learn from each other.”

The town hall will start at 6 p.m. at City Hall on 700 N. Main St. LCPD said it will be in three conference rooms on the second floor of the north wing.

LCPD said to expect the meeting to last about two hours.

Chief Story will share recent crime statistics, LCPD said.

Here is the list of councilors and their districts:

District 1: Cassie McClureDistrict 2: Bill MattiaceDistrict 3: Michael HarrisDistrict 4: Johana BencomoDistrict 5: Becky CorranDistrict 6: John Muñoz

LCPD encourages those interested in the town hall to arrive early. It said parking is available on the west side of City Hall and in the parking garage on the east side (accessible from Campo Street).

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The New Mexico State Police said last week it arrested a woman wanted for attempted first-degree murder warrant in Las Cruces, according to a news release sent Thursday.

NMSP’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit, with help from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested 35-year-old Aimee Bethany Martinez July 17 on an attempt to commit a felony (first-degree murder) warrant.

NMSP FAU learned about Martinez’ whereabouts after investigative efforts, police said. Officers conducted surveillance to confirm her location and make an arrest plan.

Martinez was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center.

According to jail records, her bond is set at $1,000.

ABC-7 requested documents detailing the arrest and is waiting for a response.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Thursday, the Hospitals of Providence announced a new weight loss center and medical office located in West El Paso.

A ribbon cutting unveiled the Weight Loss Center West in conjunction with Providence Medical Partners General Surgery and Weight Management, according to THOP. It’ll help more patients access care for surgical and weight loss services.

THOP said the weight loss center is the only hospital in El paso to have a national accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program by the American College of Surgeons.

The program includes a range of resources with surgical options, weight loss medicine options, support groups and nutritional counseling, according to THOP.

“I am really excited and proud to be a part of this new center that can help patients in need of specialized care from weight loss goals or patients in need of surgical care,” said Dr. Benjamin Clapp.

Dr. Clapp will lead the weight loss center as the medical director, THOP said. He said the center customizes plans for patients, including weight loss, mobility increase, reducing medications needed due to obesity and other treatments.

“The universe of weight loss and all of the tools available continue to evolve over time, and so this is our commitment to continue that evolution supporting our patients on their journey to success,” Victoria Gonzalez, CEO of THOP Memorial Campus said.

THOP’s Weight Loss Center West is located at 4532 N. Mesa St.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lauren Bly

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Some El Pasoans noticed higher electricity bills, some saying it’s the highest charge they’ve seen.

El Paso Electric said what residents are seeing are summer rates and newly-approved rates taking effect. 

With these changes, some EPE customers said their bill tripled.

Katherine Laca said she already struggles to balance household expenses while raising her daughter.

“I can’t have enough money to buy her what she needs for school, what she needs because I need to pay the bill,” Laca said.

Laca said her monthly electric bill is usually around $35. But when she opened her latest bill, she found a charge of $182.

“$182, and, well, I want to know what’s going on,” she said.

El Paso Electric said two factors contributed to the increase.

The first is new electric rates that were approved by state regulators and recently took effect. The utility said the rate review process had been underway for more than a year and was needed to recover the cost of replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining reliable service.

“It was approved and implemented,” a company spokesperson said. “The reason that we went for a rate review is because we were trying to recover costs with updating old and outdated infrastructure to ensure reliability across the board because that’s one of our priorities.”

The second factor is seasonal summer pricing, which remains in effect through October.

Customers may notice charges on their bills listed as “Summer 1st Tier” and, for some, a second-tier rate. The utility said the first tier covers electricity use between 0 and 600 kilowatt-hours. Residential customers who use more than 600 kilowatt-hours are billed at a higher rate, with usage above that threshold charged at about 14 cents per kilowatt-hour.

For Laca, the higher bill has added financial pressure.

She said she may have to find look for extra work to cover utility costs and prepare for her daughter’s school expenses.

“Two jobs to find, paying the bills and then get my daughter for her school, things like she needs,” Laca said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso will offer free legal guidance and resources to the community during Legal Assistance Week 2026, from July 27–31, 2026.

The initiative aims to help community members understand their rights and access available assistance.

This year’s campaign focuses on providing accessible information to women, children, juveniles and members of the LGBTQ+ community by promoting their rights and working to prevent violence and discrimination.

The week-long event, formally known as “Semana de Asesorías Legales Externas” (SALE), is being held under the theme “Inclusion is Protection.” It seeks to increase public awareness about the free legal assistance available through the program, following a similar initiative held in April.

A Legal Information Call Bank is scheduled for Monday, July 27, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Immigration specialists will also be available to answer questions about individual rights, consular protection and available legal resources. Community members can call (915) 613-2173 for free and confidential guidance.

Free walk-in legal assistance will be available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Consulate.

Attorneys and partner organizations participating in the Legal Assistance Program for Mexican Nationals (PALE) will provide one-on-one guidance at no cost.

Throughout the week, the Consulate will also share informational videos on its social media platforms. These videos will offer practical resources to help the community learn about their rights and available support services in the region.

“Through initiatives like SALE, the Government of Mexico, via the Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, reaffirms its commitment to expanding access to legal guidance and promoting the well-being, inclusion and protection of the rights of Mexican nationals living in the United States,” a news release said.

ABC-7 spoke with the Consul General of Mexico in El Paso, Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de León, to learn more about the ninth edition of the SALE week and how community members can access the legal resources available to them next week.

Watch the full story in our evening newscasts.

Click here to follow the original article.