Author: KVIA

Gabrielle Lopez

MESILLA, N.M. (KVIA) — A 46-year-old woman was arrested and charged after deputies found her naked in a bath tub in someone else’s home, according to the Mesilla Marshal’s Office Tuesday.

On June 19, a someone caring for the home noticed an open door and heard noises upstairs, the marshal’s office said. He called deputies, who later found Cristi Marie Poston naked in the tub.

Deputies covered her with clothes and took her out of the tub, the marshal’s office said.

Jail records said it happened near 3044 Mcdowell Pl., which is near Zia Middle School.

The homeowner was out of town at the time, the marshal’s office said. She said no one had permission to be in her home.

Poston allegedly damaged the home, according to the marshal’s office.

Poston was arrested and charged with burglary of a home, breaking and entering, trespassing and two counts of failure to comply with conditions of release, officials said.

She was booked without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center, jail records said.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El paso County Constable’s Office Precinct Six said deputy constables arrested a Chuco Tango gang member for allegedly violating his parole.

According to the constable’s office, deputy constables with Precincts Six and Four went to a home at the 3100 block of Douglas Avenue near Montana Avenue in Central El Paso Monday. They were looking for 36-year-old Jonathan Samaniego, who was wanted on a felony parole violation warrant.

Samaniego is a confirmed Chuco Tango gang member on parole with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Assault on a peace officer, the constable’s office said.

Deputies found one of Samaniego’s family members, who confirmed he was inside, according to the constable’s office. Inside, they found Samaniego in the basement and took him into custody.

The constable’s office said deputies arrested him for the felony parole warrant and sent him to the El Paso County Detention Facility.

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Adrian Ochoa

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On July 1, the two-year wait will finally be over for the UTEP Miners as they embark on a new era in the Mountain West Conference.

For Athletic Director Jim Senter, it’s been quite the journey.

When he took the job at UTEP in 2017, fans were hopeful he would be the one to get the Miners into the Mountain West Conference.

Senter fulfilled that goal in 2024 when he announced the Miners would be leaving Conference USA in two years, and would officially join the Mountain West Conference in 2026.

UTEP has been a member of Conference USA since 2005.

The two years have come and gone, and Senter’s message to UTEP fans has never wavered.

If the Miners want to be successful in their new conference then more support from fans and donors will be needed.

“Well it’s here that day has finally arrived,” Senter said. “It’s very exciting for me, the staff, our coaches, our student athletes, and especially our fan base. However now we need our fan base to join us come be part of it.” 

Leaving Conference USA came at a cost. For the last two years UTEP, has had to count its pennies.

But thanks to the Climb Higher Initiative, last year UTEP donors contributed $12 million dollars — $8 million dollars of that went to cover Conference USA exit fees.

The money was also used to make much-needed improvements to the Sun Bowl Stadium locker rooms.

“So that was another $2 million dollars, so lots of different people have stepped up,” Senter said.

The move to the Mountain West Conference also brings new opportunities. In Conference USA, most UTEP games were streamed on ESPN Plus. In the Mountain West, while some games will be televised on linear channels, fans who want to watch every UTEP game will have to sign up for the new Mountain West Plus.

However, the difference between the two streaming services is that now UTEP will get a cut from subscribers who sign up and specify they follow the Miners.

“We have a chance to earn money from those subscriptions,” Senter said. “It’s right about 60% of all the money that everybody pays will be coming back to UTEP in the form of a subscription fee. And in an ideal world, we would like to lead the Mountain West Conference in the number of subscriptions. You would think we could do that.”

Changes are also in store for the fan experience.

“We know we need to spend more money on marketing,” Senter said. “It’s really critical that we do that because it’s been one of the areas that we’ve had to cut.”

That will change starting with this upcoming football season.

Fans can expect giveaways, special food items and even drone shows.

The student section and marching band will also see changes. Both will now be seated right behind the opposing team’s bench.

However, investment is still the name of the game for UTEP.

This season UTEP is projecting a revenue-sharing pool of $3.45 million dollars.

It’s a good start, but when compared to fellow Mountain West Conference rival UNLV, the difference is staggering.

UNLV projects its revenue sharing pool to be at nearly $11 million this season.

“We’ve been able to increase probably two to three times the amount of money that we’ve been able to do,” Senter said. “We think that has allowed us to recruit some better players in addition to having better recruiting battles with folks (other schools), but there is always somebody with a bigger checkbook.” 

Senter enters the Mountain West era under a new contract.

Some questioned whether he was deserving of an extension, but Senter remains committed to building winning programs at UTEP.

“I’ll be judged by that I understand that some people will think it’s good, some others will not think it’s good, but I’m appreciative of the contract and the extension,” Senter said. “I will continue to work my tail off to do the best job that I can.” 

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Joseph Montero

UPDATE (6:17 a.m.) — All lanes are now open.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — All eastbound lanes on Montana Avenue just before the intersection of Joe Battle are closed after a crash.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation the crash happened at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The El Paso Fire Department has confirmed to ABC-7 that one person was airlifted to the hospital after the crash.

This is a developing story and ABC-7 will continue to bring updates.

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Rishi Oza

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — El Paso Electric hosted a public meeting where New Mexico residents expressed their frustration on a potential rate increase.

The increase would see the average home in Doña Ana County pay about $42 more per month next year. It’s the first rate increase since 2015, with El Paso Electric saying the increase is to recover costs from over $400 million in investments to New Mexico infrastructure.

“In the New Mexico case, the bulk of that what we’re talking about is local investment,” said Jim Schichtl, VP of Strategic Regulation for El Paso Electric. “That is investment into the poles and wires and substations and transformers that serve customers on the distribution side. There’s also been investment primarily in transmission, in this case, and that’s about it.”

Residents at the meeting were not happy about the increase.

“I think that that may sound like a little bit to a CEO whose company brings in $140 million in profit a year, but $42 is a couple bags of groceries,” said Israel Chavez, a local attorney in Las Cruces. “It’s a tank of gas to get to and from school or work. It’s a lot of money, and El Paso Electric stands to benefit immeasurably from what they’re calling a modest increase.”

El Paso Electric said that they likely won’t get a resolution on the rate increase until some point next year, but the process has officially begun with these meetings.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The City of Las Cruces has a new assistant director of finance. Josie Treviño will bring more than 17 years of accounting experience and 14 years of governmental accounting, the city said.

Treviño has worked of the city since 2012 as an accounting technician, accountant, financial reporting analyst, budget analyst, senior accountant, accounting manager and comptroller, the city said.

She graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, according to the city.

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Mia Tricarico

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — This July, El Paso Community College proudly presents William Shakespeare’s “Taming of The Shrew.” Instead of purchasing a ticket, EPCC asks attendees to bring one non-perishable food item.

The show will premiere on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., and will run through July 19, 2026. Showtimes are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. 

Inspired by the rich history of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, EPCC said this adaptation brings a bold fiery twist of romance, rivalry and larger-than-life personalities to the Southwest stage in a fresh take on the classic “Taming of the Shrew.”

Director Ted Karber, Jr. said, “Almost all of the cast are EPCC students, and they are really doing a great job. It is so exciting to see them find the rhythms and actions of the play and make them their own as they maneuver the play.”

To help support EPCC’s food pantry — Tejano Mercado. Admission price is one non-perishable food item.

The showing will take place at the Transmountain Campus Forum Theatre, located at 9570 Gateway Blvd. North.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (June 23, 2026) — ABC-7 obtained arrest affidavits detailing a stabbing at a Vista market store. Documents allege 20-year-old Isaiah Jonathan Cardenas is responsible for stabbing and injuring a man.

According to documents, Cardenas allegedly punched, kicked and stabbed a man inside a Vista Market store in Far East El Paso. It happened June 20 at 8:49 p.m., documents said.

Video recorded at the store showed him allegedly stabbing the victim multiple times in the back and stomach area, according to documents. The video also showed Cardenas allegedly going leaving in a dark SUV.

The victim’s injuries weren’t life threatening, documents said.

Later, at 10:45 p.m., the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fight at a home on Sun Beam Drive, which is about a 10 minute drive north of the Vista Market.

According to a separate arrest affidavit, during a cookout at a nearby house, Cardenas and an unnamed “involved other” talked about how they just fought someone.

Marisela Zamora dropped off her nephew at a home on Sun Beam Drive after the cookout. She alleged Cardenas and the involved other then assaulted her nephew, documents said.

Zamora tried to separate them and started recording the incident with her phone, documents said. She was able to separate her nephew and left the area with him while recording.

She said either Cardenas or the involved other took her phone, documents said. After she left, she said she wanted her phone back. Documents said Cardenas allegedly threw the phone into a fire. A deputy later found the phone, which was destroyed.

Deputies could not find Cardenas or the involved area because they left the area, documents said.

At the home, deputies saw a dark SUV similar to the one seen at the grocery store at the time of the stabbing, documents said. The SUV was registered under Cardenas’ mother, documents said.

Deputies met with his mother, Janet Garcia, who also owned the Sunbeam Drive property, according to documents. While searching the property, deputies found white shoes matching what Cardenas allegedly wore in the video seen at the store.

Deputies noted the shoes also had possible blood, documents said.

Deputies compared Cardenas’ mugshot and video from Vista Market. Documents said both showed a distinctive back tattoo led officials to believe he stabbed the man.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrested three people following a stabbing investigation at a Far East El Paso grocery store. The suspects were arrested after a brief standoff at an apartment in West El Paso.

Saturday, deputies went to the Vista Market grocery store off Montana Avenue in Far East El Paso at 8:51 p.m. Deputies learned four people left the area before law enforcement showed up, EPCSO said.

The preliminary investigation revealed two men allegedly assaulted two people. During the alleged assault, one of the suspects stabbed both victims and caused serious injuries, EPCSO said.

EPCSO’s Special Operations Unit then launched an investigation to find the suspects and victims. The sheriff’s office said the victims were at a local hospital getting treatment.

Deputies found a suspect vehicle behind a mobile home at the 15500 block of Sun Beam Drive, which is in the Homestead Meadows North area, EPCSO said. A search warrant was obtained and investigators found evidence in the vehicle.

Sunday, deputies found two people involved in the alleged assault, EPCSO said.

Law enforcement arrested 20-year-old Isaiah Jonathan Cardenas, EPCSO said. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury and criminal mischief. His bond totaled $267,500.

They also arrested 22-year-old Felipe De Jesus Cardenas, who was charged with assault causing bodily injury and a $15,000 bond.

Isaiah Cardenas (left) and Felipe Cardenas (right)(Courtesy: EPCSO)

Further investigation led deputies to an apartment at the Retreat at Mesa Hills, EPCSO said. Both suspects were there, and Isaiah Cardenas went into the apartment.

EPCSO said he, his brother, sister and mother barricaded themselves into the apartment.

Investigators got a search warrant for the apartment, and EPCSO’s Crisis Negotiations Team and SWAT went to help with the operation.

After a brief standoff, the family surrendered.

A third person, 24-year-old Zaithed Janet Cardenas was charged with hindering apprehension of a wanted person with a $3,000 bond, EPCSO said.

Zaithed Janet Cardenas(Courtesy: EPCSO)

All three arrested booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Six Texas Tech Health El Paso faculty appeared on the Stanford-Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List, TTHEP said Monday. The ranking recognizes research impact from across 22 scientific fields.

The named scientists’ fields focus on diabetes, heart disease and cancer, TTHEP said. Such conditions disproportionately affect the Borderplex area, according to the school. Focusing on these fields can help improve and extend the quality of life for the community, TTHEP said.

Here are the recognized scientists, according to TTHEP:

Deborah Joy Clegg is the university’s vice president for research and a professor of internal medicine. TTHEP said she spent 30 years researching how metabolism findings from studies of men often don’t apply to women.

Her research contributed to a federal mandate requiring sex to be included as a biological variable in National Institutes of Health-funded studies, TTHEP said. She moved to El Paso to apply the same framework to Hispanic women in the Borderplex.

Biff F. Palmer is a professor of internal medicine and medical education. His study on obesity is his most-cited work, according to TTHEP. In 2025, he earned the American Society of Nephrology’s premier award, the Robert G. Narins Award. Nephrology studies the kidneys.

Debabrata Mukherjee is the chair of internal medicine and chief of cardiovascular medicine, TTHEP said. He published more than 500 studies with focuses on generic therapies with results comparable to expensive branded medications, the school said.

Attilio Orazi, chair of pathology, worked with the World Health Organization to develop blood cancer classification systems used in clinical practice around the world, TTHEP said.

Subodh Kumar got a grant to study Alzheimer’s disease in Hispanic patients. He said that population is underrepresented in research and early diagnosis in the community “remains essentially incomplete.”

The sixth recognized scientist is the late Richard W. McCallum, who founded and built the university’s internal medicine department, TTHEP said. His research focused on gastroenterology, which look sat the digestive system and its disorders.

McCallum would become one of the most published figures in his field, TTHEP said. He had more than 600 journal articles, 150 book chapters and 18 textbooks.

His work helped 4,000 people a a year with procedural options for severe gastroparesis, TTHEP said. Gastroparesis happens when the stomach muscles don’t move food as they should for digestion, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes it’s linked to diabetes.

Later this fall, the university’s will mentor the first biomedical doctoral students in Far West Texas, TTHEP said. The Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has five students concentrating in diabetes, cancer, infectious diseases and neurological conditions.

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Within the last week, El Paso Animal Services has seen an expected but significant increase in missing or unhoused pets as the summer begins and the Fourth of July holiday nears.

According to EPAS, nearly 600 pets have been entered into their two local facilities in the last week alone. The shelter now has more than 1,000 pets in its care — potentially putting EPAS over capacity.

In addition, with the holiday next Saturday, EPAS needs help preparing for its largest intake day of the year. Celebratory fireworks often scare pets and cause them to run away, the shelter said.

By fostering a pet, even temporarily, you can help free up valuable kennel space for animals who may arrive after the holiday. ⁠

EPAS said all you need to foster is to be 18 years or older, live in El paso and have a valid photo ID. You can learn more about fostering by visiting its website.

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