Author: KVIA

Heriberto Perez Lara

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Chihuahua Department of Public Safety, or Chihuahua State Police Department (SSPE), reported last week that Ciudad Juárez has dropped off the list of the 15 most violent cities in the world, after 54 months of the current state administration.

State Public Security Secretary Gilberto Loya announced that, after four and a half years, Ciudad Juárez now ranks 17th globally.

“This reflects the increasing effectiveness of the implemented security strategy and the ongoing coordination with authorities at all three levels of government,” stated Loya, Chihuahua’s police chief. “This progress is quantifiable and verifiable, as the city currently has a homicide rate of 60.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest in the last eight years.”

According to the Citizens’ Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, A.C., in the eighteenth edition of the ranking of the 50 most violent cities in the world, Ciudad Juárez ranked 17th, representing a drop of five places, as well as a reduction of more than 42% in intentional homicides.

Secretary Loya also stated that these results are due to the permanent operation of the State Police in Ciudad Juárez, as well as the strategic decision to relocate the operations center of the State Public Security Secretariat from Chihuahua City to the border at the beginning of the current state administration.

“These results reaffirm the effectiveness of the Public Security strategy in combating crime and are directly related to the implementation of the Sentinel Platform, a video surveillance and intelligence system that has expanded security coverage and contributed to creating safer environments for citizens, based on the premise that security generates results,” SSPE said in a statement.

Watch the full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Several residents of Juárez and El Paso have reported and posted on social media that they were in the Mexican state of Jalisco last weekend when violence erupted throughout the state and surrounding areas.

ABC-7 spoke with a Juárez resident who traveled to Guadalajara for work, but that work was canceled due to road and street closures by members of a Mexican cartel. This was in response to cartel leader “El Mencho” was killed after a Mexican military operation on Sunday. Her flight was also canceled due to these criminal actions, and she is now waiting to return to Juárez.

Watch the full story tonight on ABC-7 at 5 and 6.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) – Construction projects along the U.S.-Mexico border continue, and wildlife experts and biologists raise concerns about the number of endangered species along the path.

Species such as the Mexican Wolf and dozens of other animals native to the area have difficulty finding the resources they need on the land because of the explosions used to break ground for the new border wall construction, according to biologist Damian López.

According to experts, there are more than 500 species throughout the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez biological corridor.

“So, these types of constructions, by affecting specific species—let’s think about the Mexican wolf, coyotes, and so on—affect the entire food chain. That is, it’s not just one or individual species that are affected, but the entire ecosystem,” said biologist López. “Some species take advantage of the available resources; they take advantage of small rodents, and rodents eat plants. Coyotes and other larger animals hunt smaller animals, and it’s a whole complex food chain we’re talking about; in other words, we can’t just talk about one or another specific species.

“These types of constructions, with their explosions, affect and stress the natural populations there, displacing them from their normal distribution areas, and that impacts the health of the ecosystems. It’s important that we feel like we’re part of an ecosystem. We’re not outside of ecosystems; they affect us sooner or later,” biologist López added. “All this life we ​​have here, flora, fauna, the hills themselves, is part of what gives us identity as people, as natives of this region.”

‘Colectivo Sierra de Juárez’ has also been very active regarding the new border wall construction, raising concerns with CBP about the environmental impacts this project could have along the border and its wildlife corridor.

“Our concern lies in the fact that the ‘Sierra de Juárez’ and the ‘Sierra de Franklin’ form a biological corridor. This biological corridor is like a highway, where various species exchange genetic information, adapt to changes in their environment, reproduce, and even distribute food, among other things; however, as we knew, this was a strip that was totally unprotected and unfortunately was being used for illegal activities that we already knew about, right?” said Ray Aguilar.

“We see that they have now begun the process of clearing land so they can build the border wall. These actions are obviously putting the biodiversity that inhabits this area at risk. But it’s not just biodiversity that’s at risk; the geological reservoirs in the area are also threatened,” Aguilar added. “This is a very important area geologically. It allows us to identify and study the origin of our city, and we even know that there are dinosaur footprints there. There’s a significant fossil record that’s very useful for understanding our community. And now, with these kinds of activities, we’re seeing an immediate risk to our ecosystem, especially to our ecologically valuable areas here.”

‘Colectivo Sierra de Juárez’ also says that this area (Mt. Cristo Rey) will now be available only for small species such as reptiles and birds. However, Aguilar says the new wall will separate all mammals and other species that also require sufficient space to use these areas for feeding, reproduction, and genetic exchange.

“Some mammals are too important for controlling other populations; it’s a complete chain of life, without one, another cannot live. For example, if a predator is important in one area, we’ll see a rise in another population in other places, right? So, we know that all of this is a chain; they’re cogs, they’re elements that are important for each one, right? And what we’re going to see is an increase in some populations, in some individuals that need a predator that’s no longer there. But we’re also seeing that perhaps some predator that remains in a certain place won’t have the capacity to feed on the other species,” Aguilar said.

“We are seeing a total ecological imbalance and ‘ecocide’,” added Aguilar.

“Ecocide” refers to the destruction of ecosystems by intentional acts and is derived from Greek and Latin terms for “killing one’s home”, according to the World Economic Forum.

“I’d like to extend an invitation to the entire border community here, from Juárez and El Paso, to the entire Santa Teresa area in New Mexico, and everyone in the Paso del Norte region, to be very attentive to all these projects and other projects that are also being carried out at the same time, in addition to the border wall. All these projects could, in some way, put ecosystems at risk and at the same time put us at risk as humans, as citizens,” biologist López added.

KVIA reached out to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for comment since Tuesday, but has not received a response.

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Nichole Gomez

A violent digital group known by the name of “764” has been grooming, manipulating, and exploiting youth across Texas. What you need to know about the violent group and how to keep your children safe.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – The Children’s Grief Center of El Paso will celebrate the grand opening of its new permanent home, Braden’s Home of Hope, on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, from 10:30a.m. to 12:00p.m. at 2616 Montana Avenue, El Paso, TX 79903.

This milestone marks a significant moment for the El Paso region, as Braden’s Home of Hope becomes the first permanent bereavement center dedicated exclusively to children, youth, and families grieving the death of a loved one.

Founded in 1995, the Children’s Grief Center of El Paso has supported thousands of children and  caregivers through peer-based and individual grief support and treatment programs. https://cgcelpaso.org/

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-EPWater and the TecH2O Learning Center are excited to highlight the utility’s Engineering Department with the signature event, DiscoverE: Transform Your Future, marking the start of National Engineers Week. The free family event will celebrate engineers and engage students and their families on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. https://www.epwater.org/about-us/newsroom/epwater-tech2o-learning-center-host-annual-discovere

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – The Fourth Annual El Paso Strong Fashion Show will take place on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at San Jacinto Plaza, bringing together the region’s most talented creatives, designers, vendors, and performers for an unforgettable evening celebrating local artistry and community pride.

This year’s show will once again feature exclusively local fashion designers, highlighting the depth of talent within the El Paso creative community. Attendees can enjoy an exciting lineup that includes live runway presentations, local vendors, food trucks, LIVE music, and more, creating a vibrant cultural experience for all ages.

Continuing a growing tradition of supporting emerging talent, the El Paso Strong Fashion Show will award cash prizes to the top three designers, including $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $100 for third place, recognizing excellence in design, creativity, and presentation.

The event is FREE and open to the public, encouraging the entire community to come together to celebrate fashion, entrepreneurship, and El Paso’s resilient creative spirit.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

ANTHONY, New Mexico (KVIA) — With today’s peak wind gusts reaching 66 mph (106 km/h), numerous downed trees have been reported, including a metal roof ripped off.

The front yard of ABC-7’s chief meteorologist, “Doppler” Dave Speelman, bore the brunt of today’s strong winds: two large trees were uprooted, and part of his yard fence was damaged, among other things.

“Earlier today I just had one tree down, so I went into the house, told my wife and everything, and then she went out about half an hour later, and that’s when the other tree came down. So we got two trees that are down, so now we’re figuring all out to get it all repaired,” said “Doppler” Dave. “I would say these trees were probably about a 100 and 150 feet tall and as you get up in elevation, of course, the winds typically are a little bit stronger; so, it doesn’t take extreme winds to take these down.”

Our StormTrack Weather team issued an ABC-7 First Alert to prepare residents for this week’s strong winds, as more are expected to hit the area throughout the week.

Those trees at “Doppler’s” house had been there for over 30 years before the winds toppled them today, also bringing down some power lines in his neighborhood.

He says that when this happens, it’s best not to touch or go near power lines; it’s better to call the electric company so someone can help restore service, as some wires may still be live and cause electrical shocks, which is dangerous.

“That’s the problem, lesson learned; when these trees die, even before the windy season, you should really take them down,” “Doppler” added. “It’s going to stay windy all the way through Friday, so we’re just starting our windy season, we got March, we got April, we got May to go, so I don’t think it’s going to be anything like we had last year with all the winds and the dust, but we certainly have our fair share of winds here.”

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Steel metal plates covering past and ongoing repairs under roads can be seen across El Paso. If there’s someone in the lane next to you, you have no choice but to drive over it.

Neighbors that live near Westwind Drive in West El Paso say they have had to deal with the metal covering in the street for about a month now.

“People do avoid them,” Tonny Hammes, one of the neighbors near Westwind Drive, told ABC-7 during an interview. He says he’ll drive over the metal plate with his pickup truck, but not with his smaller car.

“It’s got big, heavy duty tires on it. But with the other car, I try to avoid the plate because it’s got performance tires on it,” said Hammes.

Another El Pasoan, Gabriel Munoz, also tries to avoid the metal sheet.

“It’s horrible because sometimes I gotta make a really bad stop, bad stop, or even move from side to side,” said Munoz.

These metal plates on the roads are forcing driver to either slow down or risk hurting their tires.

El Paso water put these temporary metal plates after doing work on water mains.

“If our crews leave for the day, they still have to leave it covered, but they can’t go back and pave it just yet until the work is complete,” spokesperson for El Paso Water, Denise Parra, told ABC-7. “There’s kind of a line for a lot of these paving projects to, to be completed.”

El Paso Water says the metal plate is there after they repaired a leak on Westwind Drive.

They say the hole covered by the metal plate on Westwind Drive is expected to be paved over by the end of the month. For now, they advise people to slow down if they drive over one.

“It would be nice if they would finish the job before they start another one,” said the neighbor near Westwind Drive, Tony Hammes.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — A Mexican federal judge ordered the immediate release over the weekend of José Luis A.C., the former owner of the infamous “Crematorio Plenitud,” where approximately 386 bodies were found in Juárez last year.

Judge Luis Eduardo Rivas of the Seventh District Court granted an injunction to the crematorium owner, a decision described by family members as an “atrocity that tears apart the social fabric.”

ABC-7 reported last June that local, state, and federal authorities in Mexico discovered the 386 bodies and that proper funeral services had not been provided to the families who had paid for services at the ‘Plenitud’ crematorium.

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office (FGE Chihuahua) held a press conference over the weekend, during which Chihuahua Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno demanded an immediate review of the injunction after the owner, José Luis A.C., was released from state custody in Juárez.

ABC-7 spoke today with a representative of the group of victims’ family members and with the spokeswoman for the ‘Colectivo Justicia para nuestros dedudos,’ Dora Elena Delgado, after the decision was made last Friday.

“It saddens me because I am from Chihuahua, because I am a Juárez resident by choice, that an institution has these deficiencies, this lack of credentials, and that this lack of credentials affects more than 1,500 families, whose lives were somehow changed by a piece of news. Right?” said Delgado.

“We don’t want to be part of that index (of unsolved cases in Mexico), those statistics, those numbers, because of the lack of justice, because of the lack of effectiveness of the A.G.’s office,” Delgado added. “I mean, this is a national and international issue. Imagine the real shame. Beyond the indignation, the anger, the frustration, the disappointment we feel seeing in the press that no governing body has been appointed to address the cover-up, the fraud committed by this man, all of that; it’s shameful, I find it shameful.”

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office said they will be demanding a review of the case following Arellano’s release and will file an appeal, and complaints will be filed with the judges of the Federal Judiciary and the Oversight Bodies to overturn the injunction and review the judge’s actions.

Chihuahua Attorney General Jáuregui recalled that a similar request for an injunction had previously been received in that same court on behalf of the same person, but with a different judge; however, it was denied because the bodies had been piling up for months without proper handling, under unsanitary conditions, and in a state of decomposition, which posed a risk to the Juárez community.

“What have we proven? That there were 386 corpses without proper treatment, that they had been in that place not for days, not for months, but for years, under the most unsanitary conditions, and we proved that the families were given funeral urns containing remains that did not belong to their loved ones,” A.G. Jáuregui said.

Attorney General Jáuregui also explained that the Federal Judge who granted the injunction focused on two issues, namely the verbs that define the crimes, which are “to conceal” and “to preserve,” which he considered did not apply in this case, since the bodies “were not hidden.”

FGE stated that the evidence points to clear intent in the accumulation of the bodies, since the families who paid for the service were not receiving the ashes of their loved ones.

“Faced with such a ruling, there is no option but to fight it; the A.G.’s Office will immediately file two appeals: an appeal for review before the judges of the Federal Judiciary, so that they may overturn this injunction and return things to their current state; and, secondly, a complaint before the Oversight Bodies of the Judiciary itself, so that the judge’s actions may be reviewed,” A.G. Jáuregui added.

Delgado states that the prosecution demonstrated great incompetence in this case, as she believes that Arellano’s release should not have happened in the first place.

“I was talking about the incompetence of a weak institution (FGE), but there’s also a word that we shout in the slogans of the demonstrations we do: corruption, we think of corruption; that is, you have to have money for justice to solve your problems?” Delgado added. “This case of the Plenitud crematorium is a brutal institutional silence and the institutional silence is also insulting.”

“Y yo creo que las instituciones deben de estar fuertes, pero para que las instituciones estén fuertes, las personas tienen que ser no corruptas, que no permitan la impunidad,

The Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office has identified 191 of the 386 bodies found last year, of which only 185 have been returned to their families; 152 DNA tests have been carried out, the results of which will be received in the coming days, the FGE said in a statement.

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