Author: KVIA

Yvonne Suarez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Amigo Airsho has a lot of moving parts. One person is in charge of the airspace and focuses on safety above all: the air boss.

Kellie Hudson joined the U.S. Air Force in 1996 and served for 20 years as the Air Force air traffic controller. Now, she’s an air boss.

“We are all very passionate about what we do. Everyone flying those planes, whether they’re military or civilians, we’re all very passionate,” Hudson told ABC-7.

Air boss isn’t just a title. She helps produce and develop air shows across the country, literally from the ground up!

Kelly Hudson ensures her air shows are safe and enjoyable.(Courtesy: Kellie Hudson)

Hudson coordinates the air show aircraft movements, and the planning takes months. She’s been planning the 2026 Amigo Airsho for 10 months!

This year, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and F-22 Raptor Demo Team will headline the two-day event. Hudson had to plan with area airspace officials to ensure the teams can practice and perform safely at El Paso’s altitude.

“I coordinated with six different airline at El Paso International to move almost 45 airlines so that the Blue Angels and the F-22 Raptor demo team can fly in the airspace,” Hudson said.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels landed in El Paso for the 2026 Amigo Airshow. (Courtesy: KVIA)

Hudson said unless there’s an emergency, nobody can fly into the El Paso or Fort Bliss airports while performers are in the sky.

“Everything that I do is focused around safety. If it’s not comfortable, if it doesn’t look right, we don’t do it, and we don’t do anything new,” she said.

Just like how an orchestra conductor aligns each instrument and performer to produce a fine, fluid melody timed perfectly, Hudson orchestrates the movements of each aircraft. She times each sequence of flight miles up in the air and on the runways, providing spectacular performances by the best pilots while prioritizing spectator and pilot safety.

Hudson has been the air boss of more than 90 aerial events in 18 states since she retired from the military.

The 2026 Amigo Airsho kicks off Friday morning. Find the event guide here.

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Yvonne Suarez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fort Bliss recently earned the historic recognition as the best garrison in the world and best installation in the Army. Colonel Michael Soyka reached another feat at Fort Bliss: the top recruiting installation.

Achieving that level of recognition is not easy; it’s a combination of determination and focus.

“I think it’s the great bond that we have with the city of El Paso that really makes that happen. Having a great installation and that helps, but I think it’s the outreach that happens,” Col. Soyka said.

Col. Soyka is the garrison commander at Fort Bliss. He said he’s proud of the opportunities soldiers and El Pasoans have to meet and enjoy the city and learn from each community.

“Bringing young men and women onto our base to see, touch the wonderful things that the military does helps them understand who we are, and I think it makes it so that that going into the military seems like something that’s attainable.”

Fort Bliss is embedded int he community and provides many opportunities for local youth.

“If you’re interested in engineering, we have paths to do that. We have doctors, we have lawyers, we have infantrymen, we have tankers. I’m a tank officer, and I love it. That broad spectrum means that just about every kid out there, there’s something in the military that could support you,” he said.

Commitment continues to make Fort Bliss the standard for military installations across the world.

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Sarah Coria

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) –The UTEP Dinner Theatre opens its 2026–27 season with Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street combining the tale of Sweeney Todd with live musical theatre and dining for a unique night out.

The musical thriller marks the first time the production has been staged at the UTEP Dinner Theatre.

Sweeney Todd follows a barber who returns to London seeking revenge on the people who ruined his life. With the help of Mrs. Lovett and her infamous meat pies, his quest for justice takes a dark and deadly turn.

The show will run from Friday Oct 23-November 8.

Dinner Performances: October 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 2026 and November 5 and 6, 2026 Brunch Matinee Performance: October 25, 2026 Evening Non-Dinner Performances: October 28, 2026, and November 4, 2026 Matinee Non -Dinner Performances: November 1 and 8, 2026

This season also marks the final year of musicals in the Union Ballroom before the building’s scheduled demolition in May 2027.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso County deputies arrested a 34-year-old man wanted for aggravated kidnapping and bodily injury.

On Friday, deputies with the El Paso County Constable’s Office, Precinct Three, learned about Ramiro Portillo Mendivil’s outstanding criminal warrant. His warrant was for aggravated kidnapping and bodily injury with a $50,000 bond.

Ramiro Portillo Mendivil’s mugshot.(Courtesy: El Paso County Constable’s Office, Precinct Three)

The warrant stemmed from an investigation conducted by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in February 2026. A victim had been kidnapped and physically assaulted, the constable’s office said. Jail records said the alleged crime happened Jan. 31.

After the investigation, authorities presented the case to the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office. On Oct. 6, Portillo Mendivil was indicted on the charge, and his warrant became active on Thursday.

Through investigative efforts, deputies with the constable’s office learned Portillo Mendivil may have been in the Horizon area. Deputies went to Peter Noyes Drive near Horizon Middle School. They apprehended Portillo Mendivil at a home, officials said.

The constable’s office turned Portillo Mendivil over to the sheriff’s office’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit.

Jail records said Portillo Mendivil was booked into the Downtown El Paso County Jail on Friday. His bond is pending.

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Gabrielle Lopez

ANTHONY, N.M. (KVIA) — La Union Maze said it’s closing Friday due to anticipated severe storms.

The maze said tickets purchased for Friday can be used on another day.

In the closure announcement, La Union said it will reopen on Saturday at 9 a.m.

ABC-7’s StormTrack Weather Team issued an ABC-7 First Alert for severe storms throughout the weekend. Storms could bring large hail and damaging winds.

Saturday could also see several rounds of thunderstorms. They’re expected to move through quickly, according to Chief Meteorologist Doppler Dave Speelman.

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Doppler Dave Speelman

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Thousands of miles away, the Pacific Ocean is heating up, and the effects could reach all the way to the Borderland this winter.

The phenomenon, known as El Niño, could become one of the strongest on record since 1950, raising hopes for increased precipitation in a region struggling with years of drought. Elephant Butte Reservoir, a critical source of water for southern New Mexico, sits at just around 5% capacity.

El Niño develops when Pacific trade winds weaken, allowing warm ocean water to spread eastward. That heat influences atmospheric circulation, shifting the jet stream and potentially steering more Pacific storms across the southern United States, including El Paso and surrounding communities.

Historical records offer some encouraging signs. Since 1950, El Paso has experienced nine strong El Niño winters, and seven brought above-normal precipitation. The winter of 1982 stands out, delivering an extraordinary 35 inches of snow.

However, El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter. The 2023 El Niño brought dry conditions to the region, highlighting how other weather patterns can influence local outcomes.

Even a stormy winter would not erase years of drought overnight, and replenishing reservoirs will take sustained precipitation and runoff.

For now, El Niño offers a reason to watch the forecast closely. Residents can prepare for the possibility of a wetter, stormier winter while staying informed with KVIA’s StormTRACK Weather team.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Every day, 1,400 crashes occur on Texas roads, underscoring the urgent need for defensive driving. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), defensive driving habits can help prevent accidents and save lives.

In 2025, Texas recorded more than 538,000 traffic crashes, resulting in nearly 4,000 fatalities—an average of 10 lives lost each day. TxDOT spokesperson Lauren Macias-Cervantes emphasized that adopting defensive driving techniques, such as staying alert and anticipating hazards, is crucial for reducing these tragic numbers.

“Defensive driving means making choices that lower your risk on the road,” Macias-Cervantes explained. “Simple actions like using turn signals, allowing extra space, and slowing down in neighborhoods foster a safer environment for everyone.”

TxDOT encourages drivers to practice kindness behind the wheel, especially in frustrating traffic situations. Avoiding road rage, maintaining patience, and showing courtesy—such as letting other drivers merge and moving over for emergency vehicles—can help ensure everyone gets home safely.

Speeding remains the leading contributor to crashes statewide. Authorities remind motorists to obey posted speed limits and adjust driving to weather, traffic, and road conditions. Distractions like texting or talking on the phone should be avoided at all costs, as even a moment’s inattention can have deadly consequences.

Drivers are also urged to scan the road ahead, not just the car in front of them, and always buckle up. “Seat belts save lives,” Macias-Cervantes said, “and making sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up is one of the easiest ways to stay safe.”

Finally, TxDOT stresses the importance of never driving while impaired. Alcohol, drugs, and certain prescription medications can significantly impact a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.

As crash statistics continue to rise, TxDOT’s message is clear: Defensive driving can make a life-or-death difference on Texas roads.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The 11th El Paso Giving Day broke a record, according to the Paso del Norte Community Foundation.

Friday, PdNCF said on Oct. 15, El Paso raised $7,276,340 in support of 309 participating local nonprofits.

During the campaign, PdNCF recorded 13,167 donations made to organizations specializing in a wide range of causes, including education, health, arts, hunger relief and more.

“This year’s record-breaking El Paso Giving Day is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community,” Kellie Burns-Franco, PdNCF’s Director of Engagement, said. “Now in our 11th year, we continue to see giving grow year after year, reflecting the incredible support for the nonprofits that make a difference in our region.”

El Paso Giving Day started in 2016. PdNCF said the day is one of the largest fundraising opportunities.

Larger companies made large donations on Giving Day, according to PdNCF. Meta provided $2.3 million in matching funds to “amplify the impact of community giving.” Marathon Petroleum Corporation and the Shiloff Family Foundation contributed $537,000 in matching funds.

To close out the celebration, nonprofits, donors and community partners gathered for an El Paso Giving Day After Party inspired by a Lucha Libre theme.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials gathered Friday at the Bridge of the Americas to announce end-of-fiscal-year border security statistics.

CBP, Border Patrol and CBP AMO officials highlighted an increase in drug and weapon interdictions alongside a sharp decrease in illegal border crossings across the El Paso Sector.

Ray Provencio, CBP El Paso Field Office director, discussed increased narcotics seizures at official border crossings over the past year. Provencio attributed the increase to officer inspections, nonintrusive inspection technology, low-energy portals, and specialized canine teams. Officers also conducted southbound inspections to stop illicit weapons, ammunition and currency heading into Mexico.

“Our U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are seizing two to three times more narcotics in some categories during inspections this fiscal year when compared to last year. Our CBP officers are also conducting southbound inspections to interdict illicit currency from narcotics sales, firearms and ammunition to deny the Mexican drug cartels arms and revenue,” Director Provencio said.

“Mexican cartels operating south of the border in our region have been declared Foreign Terrorist Organizations and anyone aiding or working for them can now be charged with material support for a terrorist organization (18 U.S. Code § 2339),” Provencio added. “Along with our other CBP components, the Homeland Security Joint Task Force and our Department of Justice partners, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to dismantle the illegal activities of these drug cartels and other criminal organizations.”

Jesse Muñoz, U.S. Border Patrol chief patrol agent for the El Paso Sector, reported that stricter enforcement of Title Eight immigration laws, additional manpower and expanded border infrastructure contributed to a drop in illegal border crossings.

Manpower in the sector has included Border Patrol agents and Department of War military personnel, while infrastructure additions include new border barriers and surveillance technology. El Paso Sector recorded fewer than 20,000 apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2026, compared with more than 420,000 in Fiscal Year 2023.

“In Fiscal Year 2023, El Paso Sector was seeing 2,700 encounters per day. Today the Sector is averaging less than 50 encounters per day,” Munoz said. “Our known got-away numbers are down to single digits. We have not released any illegal aliens into the interior of the country in the last 17 months. We are seeing the most secure border in the history of our nation.”

Munoz noted that Border Patrol agents rely on a multilayered enforcement strategy. That strategy deploys agents directly along the border, uses anti-smuggling units to disrupt human smuggling networks and maintains interior checkpoints to prevent illicit narcotics and unauthorized movement further into the United States.

Efren Gonzalez, CBP Air and Marine Operations El Paso director, detailed the role of air support in joint operations, humanitarian rescues and border security.

During Fiscal Year 2026, personnel with the El Paso Air Branch supported operations that resulted in more than 2,000 apprehensions, 10 arrests and nine rescues. The branch also increased its total narcotics seizures by more than 700% during the fiscal year.

“El Paso Air Branch increased total narcotics seizures by more than 700% in Fiscal Year 2026, delivering a significant blow to transnational criminal organizations,” Gonzalez said. “With the Homeland Security Task Force’s support, we are bringing together the full capabilities of our federal, state, local, tribal and international partners to find cartels, disrupt their operations, seize their drugs and illicit proceeds and deny them the ability to profit from criminal activity that threatens American communities.”

“The operations were carried out under the direction of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, alongside the Homeland Security Joint Task Force and Department of Justice partners,” said CBP El Paso Field Office.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Cesar Chavez Academy of the Ysleta Independent School District will be renamed “The Academy.” Wednesday, YISD board members voted 6-1 for the name change.

Board member Shane Haggerty was the only member to vote against the change.

“I understand why we are changing the name of our school, but renaming the campus to The Academy doesn’t honor anyone. My opinion, it erases the community. Our district serves numerous families who have deep Mexican-American roots, and there is no shortage of people with that same heritage that are worth putting on our building,” Haggerty said.

Haggerty mentioned three people whose names could be added to the school: Silvia Mendez, Pat Mora and Lauro Cavazos.

Haggerty said Mendez was a student at the center of Mendez v. Westminster (1947), which was the case that ruled forced segregation of Mexican American students into separate schools as unconstitutional.

Mora is an El Paso-born poet. Haggerty mentioned she started the Dia de los Libros program and received numerous honorary doctorates.

Lastly, Cavazos was president of Texas Tech, the first Hispanic cabinet member who was also the Secretary of Education.

The talk of renaming the school comes after recent sexual abuse allegations about labor rights activist Cesar Chavez came out in March.

Initially, YISD said it couldn’t rename an existing facility unless its “educational function or support activity is changed and/or redirected,” per its policy. In April, the board voted 5-1 to change its renaming policy. Haggerty opposed the vote, while Board Secretary Connie Woodruff was absent.

In Wednesday’s meeting, Board President Carlos Bustillos said he met with his community who are on board for renaming the school “The Academy.”

In April, Las Cruces Public Schools voted to rename one of its elementary schools after Chavez. It has since been renamed Desert Bloom Elementary School.

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