Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — Law enforcement in Doña Ana County are pushing a new safety initiative to reduce criminal trespassing and unlawful shootings on private property around the jetport in Santa Teresa, the county announced Wednesday.

The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police and Sunland Park Police will work together to address residents’ worries about unauthorized access to private property, gun use and stray gunfire, the county said.

“After several homes in the district I represent, District 6 for the City of Sunland Park, were struck by stray bullets, it became clear that this issue requires action. No family should have to live with the fear that a stray bullet could threaten the safety of their loved ones,” Sunland Park Mayor Pro Tempore said in a statement.

Starting Friday, law enforcement will start patrolling the area during historically high-activity time frames, according to the county.

The county said property owners involved in the initiative allowed law enforcement to enforce trespass laws on their behalf, and said they’re willing to pursue prosecution against people trespassing on their property.

Under New Mexico law, criminal trespass happens when someone knowingly goes into or stays in private property where access isn’t allowed. Punishment includes citations, arrest, charges and potential civil liability, the county said.

Additionally, the City of Sunland Park will install two cameras at the Highway 136 entrance, the county said. One camera will read license plates while the other is for surveillance. Sunland Park Police can access the cameras for investigations.

Deputies and officers will stay in touch with nearby people to teach them about responsible gun use and legal shooting locations, the county said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, six high school seniors celebrated their selection into the fourth MedFuture cohort, a program that helps University of Texas at El Paso students get into Texas Tech Health El Paso’s medical school.

According to UTEP President Heather Wilson, more than 30 UTEP graduates go to medical school every year.

MedFuture gives selected students pre-medical help while completing their undergraduate studies at UTEP, TTHEP said. Support includes a research class in biological sciences and orientation opportunities.

“This program helps to identify and develop the best students for medical school right out of high school so that they are more likely to stay here and serve our region,” Wilson said in a statement.

Sixty-three students from 25 schools in El Paso County applied for the program, UTEP said. A joint committee from UTEP and TTHEP chose these students based on their grades, commitment to medicine and potential to become doctors:

Shayan Arabi Mianroodi from Coronado High School

Maya Flores from El Paso High School

Mandana Kargar from Montwood High School

Jazlynn Martinez from San Elizario High School

Maite Rodriguez from San Elizario High School

Catherine Whitlatch from Franklin High School

“I didn’t really consider the program. I figured, ‘It’s so competittive, why would I get in,'” Maya Flores said. “I know it’s cheesy — but you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Flores said it wasn’t hope didn’t encourage her to apply for MedFuture — she said she got to where she is in spite of others’ discouragement.

“A lot of people said I couldn’t do it,” she said. “In addition to all the academic work I did, there was a lot of mental undoing of barriers that came with it.”

Flores said she hopes to match into pediatric emergency medicine and work in rural and under-advantaged areas.

Franklin High School senior Catherine Whitlatch said she grew up playing with doctor toys and taking care of her stuffed animals as patients. Throughout high school, she took any opportunity to learn skills that would help her the medical future she aspires to achieve.

Whitlatch hopes to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, a profession dealing with surgical procedures on organs inside the chest.

“The goal of becoming a doctor and knowing i can impact people lives in a positive way has really kept me going,” she said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Thursday, the City of El Paso is hosting a free watch party for Mexico’s match against South Korea in the World Cup. Beyond watching the game, there will be free snacks, prizes and soccer player card trading, the city said.

Soccer fans can watch the match at Cleveland Square park in Downtown El Paso. The Mexican American Cultural Center will play the game on a giant outdoor screen, the city said. The park is located at 510 N Santa Fe St.

The city said the watch party starts at 7 p.m.

The city said fans can bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfortable seating. Free snacks will be available while supplies last.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces man received an 18-month prison sentence for stealing from a Lowe’s store and threatening an employee with a gun, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico said Wednesday.

36-year-old Saul Gonzalez will not get parole, officials said.

In Jan. 24, 2025, He stole several pairs of work gloves from a Lowe’s store in Las Cruces, authorities said. When workers confronted him, he took out a small handgun, authorities said.

He then left with the stolen gloves in a white Dodge van with a woman, according to officials.

On Feb. 2, 2025, Las Cruces Police found the van and stopped it as part of the armed robbery investigation. Gonzalez and the woman denied being involved, officials said.

After searching the van under a warrant, authorities found clothes matching what Gonzalez wore the day of the robbery — black latex gloves and the stolen work gloves with the tags still on, officials said.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by threats or violence, officials said. He will be subject to three years of supervised release when he gets out of prison.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso County will host a 4th of July celebration at Ascarate Park, the county said Tuesday. This year marks the country’s 250th anniversary.

During the Independence Day celebration, guests can expect food trucks, an open swimming pool, music and of course, fireworks, the county said.

Here’s what guests can expect throughout the celebration.

Ascarate Pool

The park will have a public swimming session from 12-5 p.m. Adult admission costs $3 while youth admission costs $2.

Food Trucks

A variety of food options will be available east of the lake in the Special Events area from 3-10 p.m.

Picnic Party

The county said this activity offers a nice view of the fireworks. Buying a ticket includes a dinner from Clasico, a parking pass, door prizes, games and live music.

Tickets for adults cost $45 while youth admission costs $10 (ages 6-17), the county said.

Children under 5 years old don’t need a ticket, but a dinner plate isn’t included, the county said.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

Fireworks Display

Fireworks will start at 9:20 p.m. and will take place on the west side of the lake, the county said.

Reserving a Picnic Shelter

Picnic shelters are free on a first-come-first serve basis, the county said. However, you can reserve one for a fee starting at $50. The deadline to make a reservation is June 30.

For more information to make a picnic reservation, call 915-273-3501.

Parking Information

The county said Ascarate Park will limit its car capacity to 2,000 for everyone’s safety. Parking will cost $5, the county said.

America 250 Coin Giveaway

The county said the first 250 guests at the event can get a special coin marking the country’s 250th anniversary. Coins will be at dedicated booths set up around the park.

Military Vehicle Display

Fort Bliss’s military fleet will be on display throughout the day. The 1st Armored Division Band will also play music, the county said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

HORIZON CITY, Texas (KVIA) — Horizon City Police said it arrested and charged a man for allegedly leading police on a pursuit in Far East El Paso Monday.

At 3:06 p.m. Monday, police noticed a Luis Angel Castro allegedly speeding in the Eastlake Boulevard area in Far East El Paso. He went 66 mph when the speed limit was 45 mph, Horizon Police said.

Police went on a short pursuit after the Castro failed to stop for them.

During the chase, Castro allegedly drove dangerously by cutting off other drivers and almost causing a crash, police said.

Police stopped Castro at the 14000 block of Paso Del Este Drive, which is north of Eastlake Boulevard, and arrested him.

They sent him to the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $10,000 bond.

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Gabrielle Lopez

FABENS, Texas (KVIA) — Two Fabens High School seniors will represent their school and Texas at an international health leadership conference, the school announced Tuesday.

Seniors Yadira Gonzalez and Yvette Hernandez will head to Indianapolis for the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) International Leadership Conference on Friday.

HOSA is an international student organization that prepares students for healthcare jobs.

The two qualified for the international competition after presenting their project focusing on the livestock veterinarian career field, Fabens High School said.

“I came. I competed. I accidentally advanced to Internationals,” Hernandez said. “I honestly didn’t expect to get this far, but I’m really glad I did.”

Meanwhile, Gonzalez said the determination and perspective fueled her journey to the international stage.

“To quote Ted Lasso, ‘You know what the happiest animal on earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? Got a ten-second memory. Be a goldfish, Sam,’” she said. “That quote reminds me to keep moving forward, learn from every experience, and focus on what comes next.”

Stephany Gaucin, a Fabens High School teacher, registered nurse and HOSA sponsor, said students like Gonzalez and Hernandez remind her why she chose her career path.

“Their success is the result of countless hours of preparation, dedication, and a willingness to push themselves beyond their comfort zones,” Gaucin said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KVIA) — In an effort to teach New Mexico residents about the Project Jupiter data center planned for Dona Ana County, Oracle announced an open house meeting planned for Wednesday in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

In a news release, Oracle said it wants to teach residents about the data center’s economic, community and environmental benefits.

Oracle said outreach efforts include bilingual conversations and advertisements to answer questions and gather feedback and partnering with local people on social media.

Part of the bilingual conversations includes an open house in Santa Teresa, Oracle said.

According to the City of Sunland Park, the open house includes a career fair. Representatives from Oracle, OpenAI, STACK Infrastructure and Bloom Energy will be there.

The open house takes place Wednesday, June 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Sunland Park Sports Complex (4700 McNutt Rd.).

Oracle said the data center is expected to bring more than 4,000 construction jobs and 1,500 jobs when construction is done. Additionally, it said Project Jupiter will bring $384 million during construction and $113 million a year once the data center operates.

Project Jupiter committed $50 million to improve local water systems; $360 million to support schools, infrastructure and local services; and $6.9 million for workforce development, the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces and habitat restoration, Oracle said.

Oracle plans to fund all of the project’s energy costs and adopted a new power plan to reduce water usage, it said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

SAN ELIZARIO, Texas (KVIA) — The San Elizario Independent School District Board of Trustees approved closing two of its elementary schools, Superintendent Jeannie Meza-Chavez confirmed with ABC-7 Tuesday.

Chavez said Lorenzo G. Alarcon Elementary and Lorenzo G. Loya Primary School will close. She said the district also approved a reorganization of some grade levels.

Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School will serve Pre-K through second grade students, she said. Alfonso Borrego Sr. Elementary School will serve third through sixth grade students.

In a letter Meza-Chavez sent to faculty and staff, she said the district’s decision to close the campuses and reorganize grade levels is because of statewide enrollment declining, increasing costs and limited funding.

Staff members working at closing campuses will move to other schools on their first day back, the letter said.

“This transformation allows us to build a stronger, more sustainable foundation that will support excellence for generations of students to come,” Meza-Chavez said in the letter.

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Rishi Oza

UPDATE (June 17, 2026) — At Tuesday’s meeting, board members mentioned the resignations of members Daniel Call and Valerie Beals, who resigned after the district voted to declare financial exigency earlier this month.

Call voted against the declaration, and Beals was not at the vote.

The district said it will accept applications and to appoint people to take over their seats until their terms finish in May 2027.

When the terms finish, there will be an election to fill their spots.

ABC-7 previously reported that community members can apply for the open seats.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Independent School District trustees approved a budget for the 2026-27 school year that significantly reduces the district’s projected deficit following months of spending cuts and personnel reductions.

The board adopted a budget with $522.9 million in expenditures and $518.6 million in revenue, resulting in a deficit of approximately $4.3 million.

The shortfall is substantially lower than the more than $50 million deficit district leaders had previously projected.

District officials said a series of cost-saving measures implemented over the past several weeks helped stabilize the district’s finances.

“I think we feel very confident that now we’re in a position that we understand where our budget is. We understand how to navigate the school year to ensure that we don’t have any hiccups financially,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk said. “And we feel very confident and good about where we’re headed for the next school year.”

According to the district, EPISD lost more than $22 million in revenue compared with the previous year because of reduced state funding.

Lusk acknowledged the financial challenges facing the district but said administrators focused on actions they could control locally.

“If we just spend our time worrying about the problem, that’s not going to help us with it,” Lusk said. “I’m really proud of our district, our trustees, and our team for figuring out a path forward, because we’re in a very good position now to have a budget that’s going to set us on a good path for next school year.”

The district reduced expenditures by $57 million from the previous year and eliminated 851 positions overall, including 525 campus-based positions and 326 central office positions. District officials said some of those positions were vacant, while others were eliminated through retirements and terminations.

EPISD also reduced payroll costs as a percentage of total expenditures. District leaders said payroll accounted for about 88% of expenditures last year and is now closer to the Texas Education Agency’s recommended range of 80% to 82%.

Despite the progress, district officials said work remains to fully balance the budget. Administrators will continue reviewing staffing assignments and other cost saving opportunities throughout the school year.

The district is also working toward ending its financial exigency status and hopes to be out of financial exigency by October.

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