Category: kvia-local-news

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Some El Pasoans have been feeling a sense of relief when pumping gas in 2026.

According to GasBuddy, 2026 is set to be the cheapest year for fuel since 2020. The national average is expected to be at $2.97 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, explained that gas prices are typically lowest at the start of the year. He said that in 3 to 5 weeks from now, gas prices will begin to climb, which is normal. Gas prices increase in the spring due to a rise in demand.

GasBuddy reports that each year, American households spend $2,083 on fuel.

With the projected trend for 2026, consumers are projected to spend $100 less than in 2025.

El Pasoans said right now they spend anywhere between $40 and $70 each time they fuel up. Some said they are always in search of a good deal to help save some money.

“I have family on the east side that’ll tell me, like, “Hey, you know, gas is this cheap. Like, if you want to come over, come get it now. Like, it’s at this price,'” one El Paso resident said.

“I try to watch my speed at the same time, trying to get as much miles to the gallon as I could, just so I’m not burning all my gas in one time,” another El Pasoan added.

Another said they rely on the Circle K app to help track gas prices around El Paso.

With the news that gas will fall below $3 in 2026, some are feeling hopeful this will be a year of savings.

“It makes me feel good. I’m glad. So that way I can go on more trips, especially around the country, like road tripping. So that’s good. But I mean, the price of groceries is still up, so it kind of balances out.”

“I feel like I want to be hopeful, but at the same time, I’m like, I don’t know.”

“It gives me a lot of hope.”

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— 12-year-old Arykah Brown has been recognized by the Recording Academy, the music industry’s highest honor.

The 7th grader at Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle School is heavily involved in fine arts. She sings and plays piano and guitar.

She’s also a member of Sound Stage 9, which offers performance-based music education. During middle school, she was also involved in theater and choir.

“Since I was a baby, I’ve always loved music. It’s just like I’m really passionate about it,” she told ABC-7.

Arykah and her sister were invited to sing background vocals on the children’s album “Brillo, Brillo” by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. She learned the songs in just two days and recorded the musics tracks at an El Paso music studio. Arykah said the songs were fun and entertaining.

“So me and my sister did it, and we didn’t think much of it until, like, a couple months later,”

The album would go on and win Best Children’s Music Album at the 2025 GRAMMYs. Arykah was shocked when she learned the news.

“My mom was like, ‘You won a Grammy.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ So, like, that’s how that happened. It was like really unexpected because I didn’t know it was like that big of a thing,” she said.

The preteen already has a manager, and she even has her own stage name, Chriz-Ti.

Arykah is proud of her official Grammy certificate she received. It currently sits in her family’s home entrance.

“I’m really proud of it because I know not a lot of people get the opportunities that I do as a 12-year-old, and that I’ve done it like this soon in life, and a lot of for a lot of artists, it’s like a lifelong goal.”

Arykah also thrives in the classroom. She’s a straight-A student and a member of the National Junior Honor Society.

Middle school math teacher at Hernando Middle, Ruby Cervantes, said Arykah occasionally sings to the class.

“It’s so exciting. It’s exciting for her and her family. And just goes to show how hardworking she is and how self-driven she has to be at 12-years-old and go on to such a wonderful accomplishment,” she said.

She described Arykah as creative, brilliant, self-driven and humble.

“It’s so exciting. It’s exciting for her and her family, and just goes to show how hardworking she is and how self-driven she has to be at 12-years-old and go on to such a wonderful accomplishment,” she said.

Jesse Sepulveda, the principal of the middle school, said Arykah’s success can be largely attributed to her involvement with Socorro ISD’s Fine Arts Programs.

“She is going to be a big hit one day. We’re going to hear her name somewhere, and then we’re all going to remember that we had the opportunity to meet her,” he said.

Arykah said she enjoys performing and seeing the joy it brings others.

“I love being on stage, and I love performing. And a lot of times I’m performing with bands, whether it’s my band or other bands that they put together. I love that because then you can, like, look around, and you see like other people,like, enjoying it as much as you do, and you’re just surrounded by people who, like, have the same passions as you. And so it’s a great thing,” she said.

Arykah wants to pursue music after high school and become a touring artist. Until then, she’s focused on her academics and releasing new music of her own.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please e-mail rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Nicole Ardila

The organization We Hike is aiming to take teens off of screens and up summits with their now free teen introduction to mountain hiking.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, they’re expecting at least 30 teens to participate in their first teen hike of the year.

We Hike says it’s taken them a couple of years but they finally created access for teens to the Franklin Mountains State Park without permit fees.

On the 3-mile hike introducing teens to mountain hiking, they’ll be discussing safety, leadership and connecting with the community.

We Hike President Lisa Enriquez shares how important this is for building lost social skills.

“I think that community connectedness is not the same as it was six, seven years ago,” she says. “We have youth who are not used to communicating, who are used to doing everything online, working in groups, giving that social connection, giving that environment, giving that nature and getting them out with what they’re using and how to expand and grow into those leadership and communicative programs.”

They’ll also be teaching teens about the desert, its flora and fauna, and about “Leave No Trace.”

It’ll give teens the chance to dig deeper into our ecosystem before temperatures get too warm later in the year.

“Our internet world today and with AI has really given us opportunities to stay behind closed doors,” says Enriquez. “Now is the time to learn, if you’re curious, come on out, put your jacket on. It is really not that cold, when you get out here it’s almost magical coming from the couch.”

Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. for quick introductions, giveaways and a safety course.

They recommend teens come layered up, with sneakers or hiking boots, and bring snacks and water.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso City Council will consider a plan to prevent ICE detention facilities within city limits, addressing concerns about human rights and public safety. The proposal involves collaboration with the County of El Paso and El Paso Water to explore legal and regulatory options.

Here’s what the City Council agenda published today:

“Item 34: Discussion and action to direct the City Manager, in collaboration with the City Attorney, to develop a plan of action to prevent the installation of any Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in the city. Additionally, to collaborate with the County of El Paso and El Paso Water to support this measure.”

ABC-7 spoke with City Representatives Lily Limón and Chris Canales, who are co-sponsoring this item.

Watch the full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6 and 10.

ABC-7 also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), El Paso Water, the County of El Paso and to the office of Congressman Tony Gonzales for comment; they all have not responded to our request yet.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso family said they had to go request medical help for George Vargas because jail workers were not doing anything about him not feeling well for days. He later died.

Vargas, 27, was being held at the El Paso County Jail since March of 2025. He was accused of transporting/importing meth.

ABC-7 spoke with the Vargas family. They said some things are still unclear after they learned he died. The family said he was dealing with some health issues since last Monday.

Vargas’ mother said she went to the jail Friday. She said she demanded that her son receive medical help.

“My son told me he was feeling really bad, that he couldn’t breathe anymore, that he felt weak, his bones ached, and he felt like he was going to faint,” Rosa Vargas said.

ABC-7 obtained the custodial death report, which said Friday is when medical staff were requested. He was later taken to a hospital. He died Sunday from blood clots in his lungs, according to the report.

The Vargas family said no one from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office or any other local or federal agencies reached out to them since he died.

ABC-7 reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for comment and for an interview, but they had previously declined interviews for individual in-custody deaths.

In a statement, the EPCSO said:

“I can confirm that our detectives have been in contact with the family on different occasions,” a spokeswoman said. “Regarding the medical treatment, the death is still under review. As the Sheriff stated, every custodial death is independently investigated by our Major Crimes Unit, the Texas Rangers, and TCJS. Our Internal Affairs Division also conducts a separate administrative investigation to determine whether any policies or procedures were violated.”

The Vargas family set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs. You can find it here.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The El Paso Central Business Association (CBA) will host the first luncheon this month with El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego. This event will take place on Wednesday, January 28th, at 12:00 PM at the El Paso Convention and Visitors Center. It will bring together community leaders, business professionals, and stakeholders.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A hearing to discuss the case of the second migrant who died while in federal custody at Camp East Montana inside Fort Bliss happened today at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Downtown El Paso.

56-year-old, Geraldo Lunas Campos from Cuba was pronounced dead on Jan. 3 of this year and recently the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide.

U.S. Senior District Judge David Briones recently granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the deportation of two detainees who witnessed the death of Lunas Campos.

Attorneys Christopher Benoit, Max A. Schoening and Will Horowitz are representing the children of Lunas Campos and attorney Darryl S. Vereen is representing the Department of Homeland Security in this case.

Watch the full story and reactions after today’s hearing, tonight on ABC-7 at 5 and 6 p.m.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- Save the Date:  Paso del Norte Community Foundation’s Reimagine Nonprofit Conference returning in April:

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026Where: ESC Region 19 Head Start, 11670 Chito Samaniego Dr, El Paso, TX 79936

visit their website at www.pdnfoundation.org

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX ( KVIA-TV)- A recent clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics reinforces that breastmilk is the best nutrition source for infants born with very low birth weight, offering strong protective benefits during a critical period of development. Dr. Fernando Najar, neonatologist at Las Palmas Medical Center, joins us to talk about the importance of breastmilk to the development of underweight infants.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The Nusenda Credit Union Sun Bowl Pickleball Tournament is BACK on March 20-22, 2026, at Eastwood High School. Registration is now open.

Event Page on Website: Nusenda Credit Union Sun Bowl Pickleball Tournament – Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | December 31, 2025 | El Paso, Texas

Registration Page on Pickleball Tournaments’ site: Nusenda Credit Union Sun Bowl Pickleball Tournament

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