Author: KVIA

Carpio Griego

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Mesilla Valley Community of Hope’s “Mano y Mano Day Labor” program gives those that are unhoused or near homeless the opportunity to find paid work.

The program has been around since 2018 and has a lottery draw to select 20 people out of the 75-100 people who sign up for work opportunities.

Labor mainly surrounds landscaping, picking up litter and cleaning up “hotspots” (abandoned camps).

One worker, Rick Garibaldi, said there are limits to where the workers go due to the program’s partnership with the City of Las Cruces.

Workers don’t have to be homeless. The Community of Hope’s employees said the program will take anyone willing to work, but those that are homeless are referred to as “regulars.”

The shifts are five hours — 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. — after the daily lottery selection.

People who aren’t picked but show up three days in a row are given vouchers to be automatically selected their fourth day.

After the day’s shift, workers are paid and sign their name to show they worked in an effort to keep things fair. People are only allowed to work in the program once a week due to the high demand.

One worker told ABC-7 people will get there as early as 5:30 a.m. to increase their chances at getting picked.

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) –- A Las Cruces mother shared her worries about the local justice system ahead of a trial stemming from the shooting death of her 13-year-old son, Chris Carnero, that happened March 30.

The trial for the accused teenager facing involuntary manslaughter charges is scheduled to begin July 28 in the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.

The incident involved an alleged stolen firearm brought into their home where Carnero was shot.

Janel Carnero, Chris’s mother, said she’s worried the defendant, if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, faces a maximum sentence of two years in a juvenile facility with no probation.

“The fact that this person who took my son away is possibly going to get a maximum of two years in juvenile detention and immediately released back out into society. It’s terrifying because I… I couldn’t keep Chris safe. So how can I help other people keep their kids safe when I’m living in this reality of two years. He’ll be in high school around so many other kids,” Carnero said.

The three-day jury trial will happen in Courtroom 2 at the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces. Judge Lara is presiding over the proceedings.

Chris’ mother described her son as an incredibly kind and deeply loved child. She said thousands in the community have shared stories of his kindness since his death, which has left a significant void in Las Cruces.

“Yet, despite the devastating reality of bringing a stolen firearm into someone’s home and taking the life of a 13-year-old boy, the charge being brought is involuntary manslaughter,” Carnero said in an email.

Carnero recounted stories people have told her since her son’s death.

“We had a little girl come up to us at his funeral and she was just crying. We all were. And she said she was being bullied in school, and she was having a really hard time until she moved into another class with Chris. And Chris immediately became her friend and told his other friends that he needed them to be friends with her and to be nice. Otherwise they weren’t going to be his friends anymore, and she suddenly friends. And everything was okay for her,” Carnero said.

Carnero shared another story about a time Chris made a care package for a friend.

“I had gotten a little boy. He didn’t have a very many friends, and he was having a really hard time at school and started started seventh grade. And he had Chris for two classes, and Chris ended up seeing that he wasn’t getting very many friends, and people were making fun of him because of the way that he was addressed,” Carnero said. “So Chris took him some cologne, and deodorant. He made him a little care package and became his friend. He introduced him to all his friends and they were really close after that,” Carnero continued.

Carnero said his friends used to call him ‘snack king’ because he would bring snacks to all his friends at school. She said a lot of his friends in the area didn’t have too much. She went on to say Chris would make sure they all had food when they came over to the house.

Carnero said the incident brought juvenile crime to a brighter light on how severe it’s getting.

“My son wasn’t safe in his own room. Those kids weren’t safe at a park. It’s it’s just scary. As a parent, you try your best, to give your kids the best and to teach them right from wrong. And to see what;s good in the world and to help others to be good people. What do you do with this? How do you fight this,” Carnero said.

Carnero had one more message for other parents.

“Just be as vigilant as you can. Ask as many questions as you can. Protect your babies. And hold them a little bit longer for me,” Carnero said.

ABC-7 reached out to Doña Ana District Attorney Fernando Macias on penalties for juvenile crime. He was unavailable for an interview.

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Gabrielle Lopez

ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (KVIA) — An update sent Wednesday said the New Mexico State Parks is clearing exposed shoreline debris, adjusting boat ramp access and working with federal partners as the Elephant Butte Reservoir water levels continue to drop. Still, the park remains open, according to the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

The department said regional droughts caused water levels to drop.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation confirmed water releases from the reservoir will continue through July 28, which will expose debris and terrain that’s usually underwater.

“While current conditions are challenging, they reflect long-term natural cycles intensified by regional drought and climate change—patterns now common in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest’s major reservoir systems,” EMNRD said in a news release.

(Courtesy: New Mexico EMNRD)

With low water levels, news release said the State Parks Division is working to preserve access and improve safety at the reservoir by complying with federal and state agencies and clearing debris and ramp access.

Additionally, the department said it’s working with working with engineers and marine construction experts to evaluate short and long-term improvements to maintain boater access.

Additionally, the news release said the lake has no harmful algae blooms. The lake remains under a “watch” status.

(Courtesy: New Mexico EMNRD)

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Yvonne Suarez

UPDATE (July 23, 2026): Doña Ana County leaders said their county manager wasn’t fired despite his contract terminating.

County Commissioner Manuel Sanchez said Scott Andrews approached the board about leaving his position as county manager, but his contract didn’t include a provision for an early departure.

Sanchez said terminating the contract without case was the only legal way to end the agreement.

“One of the things we found is that there is no clause that allows the county manager to leave early. So we had to invoke termination for no cause,” Commissioner Sanchez said.

He also said the county will likely wait until after the November election to hire a new, permanent county manager. An interim manager could be named as early as next week.

DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico (KVIA) – The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to end the employment contract with Scott Andrews who was serving as the County Manager.

The termination is effectively immediately, according to a release by the county. His contract was terminated “without cause”.

As part of the terms of his contract and separation agreement, Andrews will receive six months worth of his salary.

County commissioners will now focus on the next steps for county leadership.

A spokesperson for the county stated in the release that, “additional information will be shared with the public as it becomes available”.

Andrews was appointed on Aug. 13, 2024 by the Board of County Commissioners. At the time the county said he brought with him “more than 21 years of experience in public sector administration with extensive experience in economic development, quality of life initiatives, community relations, consensus building, and modernization of municipal organizations”.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Trevor Vittatoe is bringing his first-ever Summer End Skills Camp to El Paso.

The Former UTEP and NFL quarterback will lead the camp, which offers football skills training for kids and fun family activities like a DJ, free haircuts, a raffle, and more.

This is the camp’s first time in El Paso, and it aims to support local youth while bringing our community together.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Andress High School

5400 Sun Valley Dr, El Paso, TX 79924

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Joseph Montero

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Police Department is asking the community to help find a missing man.

A picture of 66-year-old John Rumbaugh.(Courtesy: EPPD)

66-year-old John Rumbaugh left his residence on the 200 block of Bartlett Drive at 5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

He is approximately 5’10” with grey hair and a beard. Police believe he is still on foot.

He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, grey sneakers and possibly wearing a Dallas Cowboys cap.

Police say Rumbaugh walks with a limp on his right side and has two mole marks on the left side of his face.

According to a press release from the Bartlett Skilled Nursing facility, he was “not mentally impaired and was of sound mind at the time of his departure. He had informed his family of his intention to leave the facility and made the decision independently. He voluntarily discharged himself from the facility on his own recognizance.”

If you have any information you are asked to call police at (915) 832-4400.

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Joseph Montero

UPDATE (10:50 a.m.) — El Paso police confirmed two people died in a truck involved in Tuesday night’s crash.

24-year-old Isaac Ibarra and 24-year-old Fabian Alexander Alonzo died, according to police.

According to police, three vehicles were involved: the truck Ibarra and Alonzo were in, an SUV driven by a 20-year-old man and a car driven by a 31-year-old man.

Investigation revealed the truck drove the Loop 375 at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles, police said.

The SUV and car were also driving the same direction when the truck reportedly cut across all lanes and side-swept the SUV.

Police said the truck kept driving and rear-ended the car. The truck then spun and crashed into the center barrier and hit a concrete pole, police said.

Ibarra and Alonzo died to their injuries in the crash, police said.

Police said these are the 29th and 30th traffic deaths of the year, compared to 34 at this time last year.

Isaac Ibarra and Fabian Alexander Alonzo were reportedly in the truck pictured above during the crash.(Courtesy: KVIA)

The crash closed the area of the highway shortly after 6 a.m., according to police.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Special Traffic Investigators are at the scene of a crash involving three vehicles.

The crash happened on Loop 375 going south at Bob Hope Drive.

El Paso Police say the call came in at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday evening.

The El Paso Fire Department has confirmed to ABC-7 that one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

As of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, all lanes going south on Loop 375 from Pellicano Drive to Rojas Drive are closed.

This is a developing story and we will provide updates as we learn more.

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Rishi Oza

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The 8th Court of Appeals denied the City of El Paso’s request for a re-hearing on former City of El Paso and State Representative Joe Pickett’s lawsuit against the city. It stems from a franchise fee added to utility bills in 2014.

A June ruling by the court held that the city’s franchise fee on wear and tear from the street’s maintenance trucks was unconstitutional. The city filed the re-hearing on July 9th and was denied Monday evening.

The lawsuit has been going on for six years, but Pickett told ABC-7 he’s ready to fight as long as it takes to come to a conclusion.

In 2014, the city authorized its Environmental Services Department to charge a fee to account for the wear and tear from the city’s sanitation vehicles.

“We also found out, though, they weren’t using the fee to repair the streets. They’re using it for whatever they wanted,” Pickett said.

A trial court ruled in his favor in 2024, citing the city generated revenue from the fee instead of covering the cost of the trucks.

July 9, the city filed a motion for a rehearing on the case, which the court denied Monday.

“Do they have the right to take it higher? Yes. So we’ll see if that’s what they decide to do,” Pickett said. “But I feel again, very strong about the case and what this means for open government.”

Pickett said the issue is the whole reason why het got involved in government as a representative.

“It was to be open with the public,” he said.

Because of the case, Pickett said the city and others are being more careful with what they do. He hopes the case can continue to help open government in all areas.

“We’ve made it better for open government and other places.” he said. “I just wish El Paso would lead the charge and do something to correct what they’ve done.”

Pickett said the city has about 60 days to file another appeal, which would go to the Texas Supreme Court.

ABC-7 reached out to the City of El Paso about the rehearing. They responded with:

“The City respects the Court’s decision and will continue to evaluate its appellate options. Because this remains active litigation, the City has no further comment at this time.” 

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (6:52 p.m.) — Horizon police said the child has been safely reunited with her family.

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) — The Horizon City Police Department is trying to find a girl’s family after being found. In a social media post made Tuesday, police said the girl was safely found in the area of Darrington Road and Antwerp.

Police found her after 4 p.m. Tuesday and wants to reunite her with her family as quickly as possible. They believe she is 10-12 years old.

Courtesy: Horizon City Police Department

If you recognize this child or have any information that may help identify her family, contact the Horizon City Police Department immediately at (915) 852-1047 or respond in person at 15021 Darrington Rd.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The world of Harry Potter is coming to El Paso’s Plaza Threatre with an elevated movie-viewing experience October. The El Paso Symphony Orchestra and University of Texas at El Paso Choral Union will perform one of the movies’ soundtrack while the film plays on a 40-foot screen!

Oct. 10, the theatre will echo the music from the third film, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” according to the orchestra.

Tickets go on sale July 30 at 10 a.m. on elpasolive.com and epso.org, according to a news release.

Doors open at 6 p.m. the day of the show and the performance will start at 7 p.m.

The experience is part of a “Film Concert Series” made for the Harry Potter movies, according to the orchestra. Debuting in 2016, the series is scheduled to perform across more than 48 countries.

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