Author: KVIA

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso has a very rich boxing history, especially so in the past few years. Stephanie Han’s rise to becoming the WBA World Champion has put a spotlight on the Sun City, and now, Moises Rodriguez is one of those new stars.

Rodriguez has been one of the top amateur boxers in the world over the past few years and has leveled up in 2026.

His next goal is to represent the Sun City at the 2028 Olympics.

“We’re a small town. I feel like a lot of people overlook us,” said Rodriguez. “They don’t see big, elite, high level athletes coming out of this town. It shows that someone from the small town can be big.” 

Rodriguez is currently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs getting ready for a camp in Italy. His next tournament is in December, and with a win, he could be in prime position to be in the Olympics in 2028.

“I’m ranked number two in the United States right now in my weight and age division. So there’s just one more person ahead of me to try to make it to the Olympics. That’s the next big step,” he said.

After winning an under-18 tournament and the Gold Gloves National tournament in 2025, he now has international wins under his belt.

“I won the Helsinki tournament in Finland. And I also won in Colombia. I won gold for both those tournaments for United States,” he said.

He’s been training with his father since he was 8 years old, and his dad believes he has enough to get to Los Angeles for 2028.

“He makes me very proud as a father,” his dad told ABC-7 with a smile. “What he has accomplished throughout his whole boxing career as an amateur, it’s hard. Not any teenager can do it, but he’s been able to do it.”

His mother, Erica, is also involved in boxing. In fact, the whole family is. Erica says her father got her into the sport as a kid, and now all of Moises’s siblings box.

Erica says sometimes she has to step in and draw the line between Moises and his father.

“Sometimes I do,” said Erica. “I’m like, okay, hold off. So this is dad right now. This is coach.”

His father believes Moises can do whatever he puts his mind to, and is excited to see what the next steps are for his son.

“As long as he stays consistent and he works hard and he keeps pushing and keeps pushing. He’s there, he’s there,” said Rodriguez. “He’s knocking right on that door.”

Watch “Olympic Dream” Thursday on ABC-7 at 6 p.m.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, the Ysleta Independent School District unanimously approved a $32 million loan to help cover payroll and other expenses.

District leaders said the money will be used while they wait for state or tax revenue to come in.

The original loan for $63.2 million was approved in May from two different lenders. A YSID Spokesperson said,” Morgan Stanley expressed concern about a report from the district’s Internal Auditor.” One of the lenders backed out after documents included the lender’s name and after public discussion about the district’s financial state.

Addressing the setback, Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre reflected on the administrative process that led to the public board meeting, noting that naming the specific financial institution prematurely complicated matters.

“Because we placed their name in the documents, we were tied to that bank,” De La Torre said. “In hindsight, it may have been better to leave the documents without the actual name of the institution so we wouldn’t have to call you back.”

The special meeting ended in a 6-0 vote. The tax revenue and anticipation loan will not exceed $32 million.

While Dr. De La Torre initially expressed uncertainty regarding whether a replacement loan would carry the same financial terms, Chief Financial Officer Lynly Cambern provided the board with the updated figures—and the new loan comes at a higher price tag.

Because the district was forced to secure a replacement lender on the open market, interest rates increased.

“The terms are slightly different; the interest rate is slightly more,” Cambern explained. “The original lender quoted us at 3.6%, and this lender, because it’s in the open market—the true interest cost is 4.3%.”

Despite the higher interest rate, the district secured the necessary funding to bridge the gap until state tax revenues arrive.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Ethics and campaign finance law questions were raised following recent reports that El Paso City Council District 8 candidate Arturo Alluin had spend thousands of campaign dollars on clothing and businesses he owned, as shown in his initial campaign finance filing.

With the election months away, he sat down with ABC-7’s Andrew J. Polk to answer those questions and more.

“I didn’t mismanage any funds,” Alluin said. “I didn’t steal any funds. I didn’t misuse any funds.”

Alluin says he was trying to be as transparent as possible, including in reporting what he personally spent on new suits for the campaign.

He has since filed a corrected report as of Tuesday that removes that more than $2,500 expense and clarifies other donations.

But he says the clothing will be used just for the campaign and office to match what constituents expect from their elected officials.

“That’s the only use, realistically, that I have for all of this,” Alluin said. I don’t use it, I don’t – I didn’t dress like this. I do have and I have had suits before.”

Alluin also owns two restaurants – Sushi Itto near downtown and Meduza Mediterranean Steakhouse on the Westside. He has spent more than $3,500 for campaign events and meetings at them since starting his campaign.

The Texas Election Code has a section addressing restrictions on certain payments from campaigns to businesses that candidates own or are involved in.

Sec. 253.041. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS. (a) A candidate or officeholder or a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting the candidate or officeholder may not knowingly make or authorize a payment from a political contribution if the payment is made for personal services rendered by the candidate or officeholder or by the spouse or dependent child of the candidate or officeholder to:

(1) a business in which the candidate or officeholder has a participating interest of more than 10 percent, holds a position on the governing body of the business, or serves as an officer of the business; or

(2) the candidate or officeholder or the spouse or dependent child of the candidate or officeholder.

(b) A payment that is made from a political contribution to a business described by Subsection (a) and that is not prohibited by that subsection may not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the business for actual expenditures made by the business.

(c) A person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.

While Alluin did note on his campaign finance reports that the expenditures could directly benefit his businesses and thereby himself, he says he didn’t charge his campaign the full cost, leading to a net loss for the restaurants.

He added that he was not fully aware of the provision of the election code.

“I wasn’t aware of anything,” Alluin said. “Like I said, I’m not a politician. I just did the right thing. I gave myself the discount that I should have. And thankfully, and fortunately for me, it coincides with the code. And like I said, all of those expenses were paid for by me personally. They were personal funds with my credit cards. I didn’t get a single contribution or a single dollar out of anybody that I met. 

Alluin says he has spent thousands more at other local businesses to have other meetings with consituents of the district and campaign meetings since starting his run for office.

“You know, I was building trust and building my connections and building my relationships,” Alluin said. “So to that, again, I say, yes, they were meetings with different people and everybody can attest for that. And it was just a coincidence thing. You know, I strive to do the right thing always. And I did the right thing, and I’ve been doing the right thing.

You can watch the full interview with Alluin at the top of this article.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A motorcycle and truck crashed at 1800 Zaragoza Road in East El Paso Wednesday, according to El Paso police.

The police department said it happened around 4:01 p.m. and its Special Traffic Investigators unit is at the scene.

It happened near a four-way stop in front of the Walmart Supercenter.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A new mural now decorates the side of the Marty Robbins Recreation Center in East El Paso. Wednesday, the city’s Public Art Program revealed the “Guardians of the Southwest” mural.

Lagartos Doodle Works, LLC, created the mural to celebrate the Paso del Norte region’s unique landscapes, wildlife and culture, according to the city.

The design features the endangered Mexican gray wolf alongside iconic El Paso landmarks, such as the Franklin Mountains Star and the alligator statue found in San Jacinto Plaza (“Los Lagartos”).

Three high school art teachers with a deep connection to the Sun City community created the piece: Ivan Ortega, Miguel Picos and Julian Vidales. Together, they’re known as the LagARTos on social media.

A post shared by LagARTos • Muralists • El Paso TX (@lagartos_dw)

Additionally, the mural’s reveal marks the Public Art Program’s 100th project since establishing in 2006, according to the city.

For nearly 20 years, the program commissioned and preserved artwork around the city. Other projects by the program include artwork on some Brio bus stops.

UPDATE (4:05 p.m.) — El Paso Fire said the hiker, a man, fell 20-30 feet while repelling Tuesday, which contributed to his injuries from Tuesday.

The hiker was rock climbing by himself near the Thunderbird Trailhead, according to EPFD. He stayed where he was until he contacted 911.

El Paso fire said his call for help came in at 11:24 a.m., and crews got there at 11:30 a.m.

By 1:59 p.m., the hiker was sent to a local trauma center, EPFD said.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An injured hiker is in critical condition at the hospital after being rescued from the Franklin Mountains in Northeast El Paso Wednesday. CBP Air and Marine Operations helped with the rescue, a spokesman confirmed with ABC-7.

According to the El Paso Fire Department, it received a call just before noon about an injured hiker at a trail near 2740 Gunnison Dr. at the base of the mountain.

Search and rescue crews asked CBP for help because of how high up the hiker was on the mountain. First responders assessed the hiker after making contact, EPFD said.

CBP said a Black Hawk crew flew a helicopter to the mountain to help the hiker. Crews brought the hiker and a search and rescue crew member down from the mountain and to a local hospital for treatment.

CBP said the hiker has critical/serious injuries.

ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) — A local person with knowledge of the operations at La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, who asked to remain anonymous, is speaking out about the recent announcement that six Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities will close across the country, including the one in Anthony, Texas.

The former employee told ABC-7 that La Tuna needs approximately 250 staff members to be fully staffed; right now, he said, they have around 230.

“From what I know, they (employees and staff members) were not aware of it; it just came as a surprise during a recall where the director came to La Tuna and all the staff were called to the training center, and they were given the bad news that they were going to close it down,” said the former employee. “Their excuse was infrastructure damage and staff shortages bureau-wide.”

“Some of these staff members are going to have to bear the cost of transferring out; they’re (BOP) not going to pay for their moving expenses. They were supposedly promised severance pay, but that’s not a guarantee,” he added.

The Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said earlier this month they are closing the facilities to address decades of deferred maintenance and extreme staffing challenges.

According to Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), the proper agencies in charge of these facilities go to the House to ask Representatives for funding every appropriations period.

“This is when they have the opportunity to be transparent with us about any plans that they might have, about any issues that they have and that is the normal part of the appropriations process,” said Rep. Escobar. “After the appropriations process was complete and during which the Bureau of Prisons never said a word to me or to any of the appropriators as we were drafting our appropriations bills and providing them with money, never once did they inform us of their plan to shut down several prisons, including one that would impact El Paso constituents of mine who go to work and have devoted their lives to federal public service.”

According to Rep. Escobar, the employees also did not get a sufficient heads-up that the facility was closing. She also says there are several contractors currently doing business with the Bureau of Prisons.

“The Bureau of Prisons received significant funding last year that was intended to help repair older properties, older jails, and would have addressed the infrastructure issues that La Tuna faces,” Rep. Escobar added.

“These agencies have to be responsive to Congress; we fund them, we hold the purse strings, we’re the ones who give the money,” Rep. Escobar added. “They have an obligation, not just to inform us, but to answer our questions and I have not gotten answers to my questions yet from the Bureau of Prisons; that is unacceptable.”

The main concern of both staff and local leaders is knowing the fate of the property and what will happen to the inmates currently detained at La Tuna, since many of them have lawyers relatively close by, but for those who do not, Representative Escobar wonders how they will have access to legal advice and what the future holds for their cases.

“I also suspect that they (US government) are going to privatize some of these prison jobs,” Rep. Escobar added. “What we have seen with the Trump administration is that he has awarded contracts to his biggest donors, and there’s been massive corruption that is occurring in broad daylight.”

“I am very deeply concerned that some of these prison jobs are not just going to be privatized, but that the contracts will be given to basically Trump donors,” Rep. Escobar also said. “We also are very concerned that La Tuna may be used for other purposes, like immigration detention, that will also potentially be privatized, as we’ve seen more privatization of immigration detention, which is part of the problem with what we’ve seen at Camp East Montana.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, a Northeast El Paso fire station revealed its renovations. It’s one of several local fire stations that got improvements thanks to a $1 million project from the 2019 Public Safety Bond Program.

Fire Station No. 23 on Threadgill Avenue showed off upgrades including improvements to its roof, locker room and other amenities.

The Capital Improvement Department led renovations at the fire station.

“This is one of the busiest stations in the city,” El Paso Fire Department Chief Jonathan Killings said. “We want to make sure when our firefighters come home back to their station, they have a nice, comfortable space to rehab.”

Killings said Fire Station No. 23 had one of the smaller renovation projects.

He said renovating the fire stations ensures facilities and resources are up and running to continue serving those who depend on firefighters.

The renovation project already improved 17 stations across the city, Killings said.

(KVIA) — The New Mexico Gaming Control Board unanimously voted to approve the temporarily close the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino Wednesday.

The emergency meeting came after Ruidoso Downs announced the temporary closure July 16. Ruidoso Downs said a flood-damaged culvert brought the issue.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation recommended the temporary closure.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Ruidoso, Lynn D. Crawford, is hoping to maintain the track’s license to continue horse racing and casino operations at it’s current location.

The grounds have long been considered one of the most popular attractions in all of Ruidoso, with events like the annual All-American Futurity which has been relocated to Albuquerque this year, generating more than $100 million for businesses in the village.

In a statement from July 16, Ruidoso Downs General Manager Rick Baugh said the following:

“We recognize the impact this decision has on our employees, business partners, and loyal patrons. However, the safety of every individual who enters our property must remain our foremost consideration. Given the heightened flood risk during the monsoon season and concerns surrounding the condition of the main entrance culvert, we believe this closure is the prudent and responsible decision.”

The full press release from the now closed casino and racetrack can be found with this link here.