Author: KVIA

Nicole Ardila

April is recognized by Congress and most states across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month, including Texas.

It’s the time of year when temperatures increase in many parts of the country and spring digging projects begin.

“In Texas, it is a pretty big problem. Last year, 46% of all of the excavation damages to underground facilities happened because 811 was not contacted,” said Safeena Khanmohamed, a spokesperson of Texas Gas Service. “So we’re really trying to raise awareness and keep people safe.”

Khanmohamed emphasizes the importance of calling 811 at least two days before putting a shovel in the ground, no matter the size of the digging project.

“So whether that’s installing a new funds or a sprinkler system, planting a tree, whatever it is, there is likely to be underground facilities in your area,” she said.

She says calling before starting your digging could prevent damaging underground pipelines, electric cables, waterlines and injuries.

“You can also potentially cause a service outage in your area and even if you aren’t sure whether you did cause any damage, even a small ding or a scrape could lead to a bigger problem down the line,” said Khanmohamed.

Line locating technicians from Texas Gas Services use radio-magnetic line locators, which makes high-frequency sounds when it is above underground pipelines.

They then mark the areas with flags and paint so diggers can start their projects safely and avoid those areas.

“But if you do need to work in that area, use hand or soft digging techniques,” she says. “And some soft digging tools you can use are ones that use water or air pressure to break up the soil or rock, but certainly not any heavy duty equipment.”

Khanmohamed says placing a ticket with 811 to check your area before digging, is completely free of charge.

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Nicole Ardila

Historical war veterans were escorted to El Paso International Airport by police, with bikers, and were welcomed by saluting soldiers and several volunteers to embark on an honor flight to Washington, D.C.

Rio Grande Honor Flight transports America’s World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans to the nation’s capital, where they will visit the memorials built to honor and remember those who served for the country.

They also did a prayer and sang the National Anthem in the lobby of the airport.

ABC-7’s chief meteorologist, “Doppler” Dave Speelman is joining one of the veterans — George Want, his neighbor and a Vietnam War air crew veteran who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.

From El Paso and Las Cruces, 31 veterans are taking part of the honor flight.

Among those, there’s one Korean war veteran, and the rest are Vietnam War Veterans — And one of them is a lady.

The veterans will also be visiting the American History Museum and Arlington Cemetery.

“Doppler” Dave is joining as George’s guardian.

The veterans are scheduled to return on Saturday.

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Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Late Pope Francis will always be remembered as the first Pope to visit the El Paso—Ciudad Juárez border region in 2016.

Longtime priest in Juárez Father Javier Calvillo, told ABC-7, when Pope Francis came to Juárez, all he wanted to do was to be at the border wall and oversee the border with the U.S.

Pope Francis arrived at the Juárez International Airport, then visited Chihuahua state prison CERESO 3, then the Juárez seminar, and then the U.S.-Mexico border, where he held a mass at “El Punto.”

During that mass, Pope Francis sat in a chair that was made at a local Juárez furniture store called “Muebles Coloniales y Rústicos.”

ABC-7 spoke with Father Calvillo and with one of the owners of that furniture store and will have a full story in later newscasts.

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Rosemary Montañez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– As egg prices continue to rise across the U.S., many are turning to other alternatives. One woman is selling fresh chicken eggs from her own backyard.

Cassandra Hockman told ABC-7 she was able to turn her love of animals into a side business. She said she started with the objective of her children getting to witness the life cycle of a chicken.

“It was just to see the reaction on my kids, to see it hatching and how excited they get. It kind of grew from there,” she said.

Hockman has 10 chickens. She said in one day alone, altogether, they lay an average of one dozen eggs. The resident of El Paso said she had to get a permit from the city since she has more than six.

In March, she started selling the surplus, promoting the sale on social media.

“I just, just posted, you know, and now that my husband, you know, deployed, we don’t even eat that much eggs. So I just, I figured, okay, well, now that I have overstocked, I’m going to go ahead and provide and put it out there.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, eggs reached a new record high in March: $6.23 per dozen.

In March 2024, they were $2.99 a dozen.

Hockman sells each dozen for $5 dollars. She said the price is fair and many customers are returning clients.

She said she also sells Muscovy duck eggs, which are much larger than chicken eggs. Hockman said they’re richer and popular for baking.

“When she saw my post, she was kind of excited and reaching out to me, and she’s like, ‘I want four dozen.’ So, $5 a dozen. I mean, I wouldn’t go up any higher than that,” Hockman said. She also incubates eggs and sells baby chicks. She said the demand for people wanting chicks has been higher than customers wanting chicken eggs. In March alone, she sold close to 50.

“They all sold within, like, five minutes. Once they hatched, I had a lot of people reaching out, like, ‘How are the chicks doing? Have they hatched yet? I can’t wait; I’m so excited’.”

Hockman said she has 160 eggs currently incubating. Those are from chickens, ducks and jumbo quail. She said she sells chicks anywhere between $5 and 10 dollars each.

With her husband currently deployed in Poland, Hockman said this has become more than a hobby.

“I am making a profit. I’m not going to stop. I love what I do, and I’m actually, I’m wanting to grow my flock, which, in the future, I am looking at having my own land,” she added.

Her goal is to one day have 60 chickens. For now, she said this as a way of giving back and helping others.

For those interested in raising backyard chickens, Hockman said it’s important for people to be educated on all aspects.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The El Paso Passport Agency will host “Passport Day” on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 1 PM. According to  Santiago Burciaga, the passport agency’s director, this event is for the local and surrounding communities and will accept first-time, renewal, and child passport applications. No appointments are needed. 

The agency is located at 303 N. Oregon St. in downtown El Paso. 

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Nicole Ardila

Survivors and families of killed victims of the Walmart mass shooting wrapped up their powerful statements for shooter Patrick Crusius and the healing community.

Crusius has been released to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after the statements concluded. 

Judge Sam Medrano asked El Paso County Sherriff Oscar Ugarte to escort Crusius out of the courtroom.

“Sheriff, please make arrangements to get him to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,” said the judge.

“Yes, your honor,” responded Ugarte.

Now, the state jail system and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will decide between themselves if Crusius will stay in a Texas state prison facility or heads to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Super Max Detention. 

Right now, he is in the custody of the state until a decision has been made by the prisons authorities —both federal and state.

In the meantime, Crusius will be at El Paso County Jail until he is moved to a state facility —  once the final destination is chosen for him. 

This comes after Crusius pleaded guilty on Monday to capital murder and aggravated assault charges for killing 23 people and wounding 22 others on Aug. 3rd, 2019.

He was also sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The City of El Paso is inviting the community to welcome home our Borderland World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War Veterans to the Sun City.

The Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico and El Paso transported these War Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built to honor and remember those who served.

The Honor Flight is bringing home over 30 World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans back to El Paso. For more information, visit HonorFlightNM.org.

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Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Juárez maquiladora industry lost 7,473 jobs in February, totaling 62,632 jobs lost in the last 20 months.

The President of the Border Business Block Jesús Manuel “Thor” Salayandía, said this loss in jobs continues due to President Trump’s tariffs and the uncertainty they are creating. Because tariffs on all auto imports into the U.S. and reciprocal tariffs have not been clearly defined.

Another factor is the rise in minimum wages along the Mexican northern border. Currently, minimum wages are at 419 Mexican pesos (around $21.36), and in other parts of Mexico, minimum wages are at 278 Mexican pesos (around $14.18).

“This 20 percent drop now requires us to develop a strategy to address all the job losses. We’re talking about more than 130,000 jobs lost across the entire northern border. It’s urgent to do something to remedy this decline, which is why we’re here at the Mexican Congress, because we need to make changes,” Salayandía said.

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Nicole Ardila

Patrick Crusius, the gunman of the Walmart shooting will return to court to continue listening to victims and family members of those lives lost on Aug. 3, 2019.

Over 100 victims and family members are attending this week’s victim impact statements, which are expected to last through Wednesday — 49 people signed up to confront Crusius.

Twelve of those 49 expressed their emotions, anger, and even forgiveness to the shooter and the court.

Judge Sam Medrano says they will be allowed to speak for as long as they like.

Survivors of the shooting described the horrors they lived that day, and everyday since.

Family members of those lives lost spoke on behalf of them, and expressed their grief.

The court is expected to start first thing Tuesday morning to continue the statements.

These are the people giving a statement:

Misty Jamrowski (Mother – Jordan Anchondo) 

Paul Jamrowski (Father – Jordan Anchondo) 

Leta Cuellar (Sister – Jordan Anchondo) 

Ashley Salazar (family – Jordan Anchondo [Victim Advocate reads]) 

Raul Melendez (family – David Johnson) 

Stephanie Melendez (Daughter – David Johnson) 

Kaitlyn Melendez (Granddaughter – David Johnson) 

Francisco Rodriguez (Father – Javier Rodriguez) 

Dean Reckard (Son – Margie Reckard) 

Hilda Reckard (Daughter – Margie Reckard) 

Guillermo Gonzalez (Son-in-law – Maribel Loya) 

Michelle Grady (Survivor) 

Melissa Tinajero (Niece – Arturo Benavides) 

Yolanda Tinajero (Sister – Arturo Benavides) Victim Impact Statements 

Luis Alfonso Juarez Jr. (Son – Luis Juarez Sr.) 

Margaret Ann Juarez (Daughter – Luis Juarez Sr.) 

Martha Santiesteban (Daughter – Luis Juarez Sr.) 

Raul Loya (Son – Maribel Loya) 

Joanna Rodriguez (Sister – Javier Rodriguez) 

Isabel Piedra (Daughter – Rosa Barron) 

Job Valentin Luna (Son – Gloria Marquez) 

Ruby Romero (Daughter – Gloria Marquez) 

Ana Maria Gonzalez (Survivor) 

Angela Hubbard (Survivor)

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