EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Many Americans are struggling to afford groceries. As oil prices rise, grocery prices climb with them.
University of Texas at El Paso economics professor Tom Fullerton said this is most likely to continue.
ABC-7 reached out to Fullerton to ask what consumers should expect.
Click here to follow the original article.EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) –When it comes to kids, mental health and social participation are deeply connected. Some local young people are getting help with socialization and making friends, thanks to UTEP Occupational Therapy doctoral student Desirae Gomez. She partnered with La Mente Behavioral Health as part of her OT Capstone project.
Every week, kids currently being treated at La Mente can gather in a special room to paint, journal, or take part in activities like cupcake wars. They think it’s fun – but it’s actually much more. In this environment, without diagnoses or labels, they begin opening up to others while they create. She provides the art supplies and the safe space.
“I’ll leave less glitter on the table so they have to interact and say, ‘can i borrow the glitter?’ Just get that interaction together,” Gomez says. In the past few weeks, she’s noticed the children are opening up and conversing more. There are more smiles. And more kids! What started as a group of four has already grown to 36. That’s more glitter, glue and art supplies for Gomez to buy, but she doesn’t mind at all.
La Mente employee Alexandra Zuniga agrees. She says this program compliments the work they do every day. She calls it a success, and something their clients can count on.
“Having a support system is super important and can help you in life, no matter the struggles you’re facing. A lot of times the kids who come in have low self esteem so connecting with others increases their joy and happiness.” For more information on La Mente, and how to get your child involved, click here: https://lamentehealth.com/
Desirae Gomez says after she completes the program, she will stay in the mental health field. She says emotions effect people’s everyday life and seeing that children struggle with that, she wants to continue to find ways to help and improve their lives.
For more information on UTEP’s Occupational Therapy doctoral program, click here: https://www.utep.edu/chs/ot/
Click here to follow the original article.SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) — The City of Socorro agreed to rejoin the El Paso Transit Authority (ETA). Starting Oct. 1, Socorro will operate and maintain its ¡ávanzando! microtransit services, El Paso County said.
On July 29, the ETA Board of Directors authorized the proposal to operate and maintain the ¡ávanzando! services. The Socorro City Council accepted and agreed to join the ETA Aug. 6.
The transit service will expand to connect Socorro, San Elizario and Clint, the county said. Passengers can ride for free and use ETA amenities such as bike racks, Wi-Fi, and the ETA app.
Through the subcontractor Transdev, ETA will operate ¡ávanzando! seven days a week. From Monday-Friday, the service will run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday-Sunday, it will run between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the county said.
The county said Socorro will contribute $5,165 for regional transit access and $253,000 for the operation and maintenance of ¡ávanzando!
Socorro will assign two vehicles to ETA for operation and maintenance. The county said ETA will provide administrative support and assist with planning for future bus shelters and anchor stations.
“In the past year, Socorro ¡ávanzando! carried 6,896 passenger trips which shows that transit iscatching on in Socorro and we look forward to ETA taking our microtransit service to the next level,”stated Alejandra Valadez, the City’s Development Director and ETA Board Member.
In 2025, El Paso County commissioners voted to end transit service within Socorro on ETA’s recommendation. The City of Socorro completed its ¡ávanzando! replacement plan July 2025.
Click here to follow the original article.EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – iFLY El Paso bid farewell to El Paso on their Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
The post reads, “iFLY El Paso is now permanently closed. Although this chapter has come to an end, we hope the impact of these seven years continues wherever your next flight takes you”.
The in-door skydiving venue located in West El Paso first opened in 2019. It shut down for eight months after the City of El Paso revoked a 380 agreement which provided economic incentives to the venue. The agreement with FlyZone Inc. was ended after the appraised property value was contested. The economic agreement would have provided the venue over $160,000 in sales tax rebates.
iFLY El Paso, under corporate ownership, reopened in March of 2025 after the facility was refurbished.
iFLY El Paso hosted All Abilities Night for those with special abilities and needs. Something the organizers said was “an empowering night of indoor skydiving designed for individuals of all abilities, with personalized support, world-class instructors, and plenty of fun”.
In their post the company thanked the community.
“Seven years can create a lifetime of memories. Since iFLY El Paso opened in 2019, we’ve had the privilege of watching people experience flight for the very first time, discover a new passion, push themselves to learn something new, and form friendships that stretched far beyond the tunnel. Every flyer left a little piece of their story here. And to our experienced flyers — the indoor and outdoor skydivers who showed up again and again, shared their passion, encouraged the next flyer, and helped build the body flight community in El Paso — thank you. Your dedication to flying, your willingness to teach and learn from one another, and your love for this community are what gave this tunnel its heart.”
Click here to follow the original article.EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — KVIA ABC-7 is proud to announce the return of one of the Borderland’s most familiar faces.
Mauricio Casillas, an El Paso native and former ABC-7 anchor, is returning to KVIA-TV to join Marcel Clarke as co-anchor of ABC-7’s weekday 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
Casillas returns to El Paso after four years reporting and anchoring at NBC4 in Washington, D.C., where he covered major breaking news, politics, public safety and stories affecting communities throughout the nation’s capital. He also reported in Spanish for Telemundo Washington.
But for Casillas, the opportunity represents more than a new job. It’s a return home.
“El Paso is home. There is no place like it anywhere else. The opportunity to come back to my community and tell stories was one I couldn’t pass up,” Casillas said.
Casillas began his career at ABC-7 in 2016 as the station’s first-ever morning traffic reporter. He soon moved into reporting and anchoring, including Good Morning El Paso, ABC-7 at 4 and ABC-7 at 10, before becoming anchor and executive producer of Good Morning El Paso. During his six years at KVIA, he earned an Emmy for Best Morning Newscast in the small-market category.
“KVIA is a legacy station — one that the Borderland has trusted for nearly seven decades now — and I want to help carry that legacy forward,” he said.
He left El Paso in 2022 to join NBC4 Washington, where his work earned two additional Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award.
“His Emmy Award-winning journalistic work will continue to build on the in-depth reporting that viewers have come to expect from ABC-7 on all platforms,” said ABC-7 News Director Sean Flanagan.
“This is a great full-circle moment for Mauricio,” said KVIA-TV General Manager Brenda De Anda-Swann. “KVIA is where he started his career. He then left to work at one of the top stations in the country, and now he comes back home to put all that knowledge to work right in his community. I couldn’t be more excited to have him back in the newsroom. Mauricio and Marcel will make an incredible team.”
Mauricio Casillas, his wife, Diana, and their son, Luca.(Courtesy: Mauricio Casillas)
Casillas and his wife, Diana, are both El Paso natives. The couple welcomed their son, Luca, in March 2025.
“I had an incredible four years in Washington, D.C. I had the chance to work with some of the best journalists in the country,” Casillas said. “The growth I’ve experienced in D.C. will only allow me to better serve El Pasoans when I make my return.”
For Casillas, returning to ABC-7 also means returning to the community that helped shape his career.
“El Paso is where my wife and I met. It’s where our families live. And it’s where we want to raise our son,” Casillas said. “The privilege to report on a community I love, surrounded by people I love, is one that I will be eternally grateful for. I can’t wait to help tell the story of El Paso, Las Cruces and Juárez. ¡Nos vemos pronto!”
Casillas will join Clarke on the ABC-7 anchor desk as the station continues its commitment to providing the Borderland with trusted, local journalism across El Paso, Las Cruces and Ciudad Juárez.
Casillas will begin anchoring ABC-7’s evening newscasts at the end of September 2026.
Click here to follow the original article.CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) – The Canutillo Independent School District is now looking for a new principal for Canutillo High School after former Principal Casey Rangel submitted his resignation.
Rangel said he is resigning effective Wednesday, Aug. 19 due to ongoing health concerns. His resignation comes just months after beginning his position on May 21 earlier this year.
“We are grateful for Mr. Rangel’s service to Canutillo High School and his commitment to our students, staff and families. We wish him a speedy recovery, continued good health and every success in his future endeavors,” Canutillo ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josue Borrego said.
Executive Director of Secondary Schools Nidia Avila will be overseeing day-to-day operations at Canutillo High School while the district looks for a permanent principal.
Dr. Borrego says identifying the right leader for the school is now a top priority for the district.
Click here to follow the original article.HORIZON, Texas (KVIA) — According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) two minors were arrested after allegedly taking deputies on chase in El Paso County.
Officials say that on August 9, 2026, around 10:24 p.m., El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called out to the area of Buck Street and Mule Deer Drive regarding a reported disturbance involving multiple juveniles.
When deputies arrived, officials say they observed a vehicle leaving the area and subsequently determined it had been reported stolen. When deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, officials say the driver did not stop, which started a car chase.
Officials say the chase traveled through the Montana Vista and Horizon City areas, including residential neighborhoods and major roadways. During the pursuit, the driver allegedly reached speeds exceeding 100 mph and disregarded multiple traffic signals and traffic control devices. EPCSO says the pursuit continued onto Interstate 10 and surrounding roadways before eventually ending in a desert area near the 13000 block of North Loop Drive.
The Sheriff’s Office says that deputies from the East Montana Patrol Station, Peter J. Herrera Patrol Station, and Special Operations Unit, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Clint Police Department, and Horizon City Police Department were involved in the chase.
Officials say the two minors were caught and the stolen vehicle was recovered. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The juvenile driver was charged with Evading Arrest/Detention with a Motor Vehicle, Evading Arrest/Detention, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. The juvenile passenger was charged with Evading Arrest/Detention.
Both juveniles were referred to the Juvenile Probation Department for further proceedings.
Below is an edited video provided by the Sheriff’s Office showing some of the pursuit and apprehensions.
Click here to follow the original article.LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The America First Policy Institute is hosting a policy forum Monday in Mesilla, New Mexico, featuring U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar. He’s set to speak about border security and law enforcement in the region.
The event is part of the organization’s America First Speaker Series. The session will focus on policies related to border security, law enforcement and community safety.
Greg Cunningham, a Marine, combat veteran and former detective for the Albuquerque Police Department, will also be a featured speaker at the event.
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia is serving as the moderator for the presentation. Before the event, Garcia emphasized the forum’s focus on law enforcement and southern border policies.
“America’s Comeback begins with restoring safety, security and the rule of law. We are proud to welcome Deputy Edgar to New Mexico to discuss the America First policies that are strengthening our southern border, defeating the drug cartels, combating human trafficking and protecting communities,” Garcia said. “This event, as part of the America First Speaker Series, allows New Mexicans to hear directly about the policies that are securing our homeland and ensuring a safer and stronger future for Americans.”
The America First Speaker Series serves as a platform for senior government officials, community members and policy leaders to address public policy issues across the nation.
You can watch the full story in our afternoon newscasts.
Click here to follow the original article.EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — After a jury was selected Friday, opening statements started Monday in a capital murder trial for a man accused of killing his aunt and girlfriend on Christmas in 2022.
Police said both alleged murders happened in separate locations.
That day, El Paso Police went to a house on Truman Avenue in Central El Paso after a woman told 911 she was stabbed.
Authorities found 79-year-old Irma Ramirez with stab wounds all over her body. She went to the hospital and later died.
Crimes Against Persons investigated and secured an arrest warrant for Gabriel Antonio Ramirez. They found him bleeding from cuts to his neck and wrists in the front yard of a house. He was taken to a hospital nearby for treatment.
During the investigation, detectives discovered he allegedly stole his aunt’s SUV from the murder scene and drove to West El Paso. Investigators said a witness saw Ramirez covered in blood and using a garden hose.
In his aunt’s SUV, detectives found the body of 24-year-old Kathia Rosales, Ramirez’ girlfriend.
Ramirez was released from the hospital Dec. 31, 2022, and arrested. He was charged with capital murder on a $1.5 million bond.
The prosecution played the 911 made by Ramirez’ aunt which sounded as if she was being attacked while on the phone with police dispatch before calling one of the officers, Edward Shurkitt, testified to describe what the crime scene was like.
Shurkitt described seeing drops of blood around the outside of the house before knocking on the front door waiting for an answer while his partner went to the carport on the side of the house while Shurkitt kept knocking to see if anyone was home.
After there was no response and the officers notices more drops of blood using their flashlights leading to the door Shurkitt’s partner was at which was when he said he pulled out his gun as they started trying to look through the windows to see if anyone was inside.
Shurkitt said curtains were blocking most of the windows but when he was able to get a look inside through a small opening by the house’s carport he thought he saw a foot which to him gave them permission to come inside the house as an emergency situation.
Both officers came in through the door attached to the kitchen where they saw blood and during cross when Shurkitt admitted he felt scared in the moment.
This was when Shurkitt said him and his partner looked through the house room by room looking for anybody hiding or anyone who needed help calling out to anyone in the house but still didn’t hear anything until they found a woman’s body laying face up in the living room by the front door who turned out to be Irma Ramirez.
Shurkitt said he checked for a pulse after seeing the stab wounds in her chest and the body holding a shite trash bag in its left hand but after seeing ‘no signs of life’ he focused on preserving the crime scene and where he eventually said he found the weapon, a large kitchen knife with blood on it and even a roll of toilet paper with blood one it.
Throughout Shurkitt’s testimony, prosecutors showed the courtroom the states pictures of the house as he continued in an effort to show what he was talking about whcih showed the blood drops on the outside of the house in the carport and in the house’s patio area as well as the blood in the house’s interior.
The court saw evidence photos of the body and of the knife’s tip with blood on it as well as the handle and even a picture of the blood stain left by the body with what looked like a puddle of vomit next to the blood stain.
The Degree to which the house was covered in blood was truly shown when camera footage slowly going around then through the house showed blood even on the white Toyota Corolla in the carport and even all over both doors and knobs including the screen door before showing blood in almost every room of the house and even on the walls of the main hallway.
Upon cross examination, the defense made it a point to explain their issues with the police response beginning with the unit taking almost 40 minutes to get to the scene which they said showed they ‘weren’t in a rush’ to get there and even taking an issue with the radio playing music in the squad car.
Shurkitt even admitted they initially went to a 3728 address but on the wrong street, Harrison Avenue, about four blocks from the actual house on Truman Avenue and when reviewing the dash cam footage the defense felt the officers were ‘too relaxed’ in the way they approached the house which Shurkitt admitted they were not in hurry to get into the home because it wasn’t considered an emergency situation just yet.
Another issue of the defense was what they considered ‘sloppy work’ at the crime scene like one photo of the knife with the officers boots clearly in the frame and even not wearing gloves immediately after coming into the house.
Something Shurkitt defended on the stand saying he was more concerned with getting to anyone inside that needed help.
Something the defense made a point to do were numerous objections on the matter of hearsay whenever Shurkitt mentioned something his partner told him or heard his partner say which became so frequent from the defense team both sides were called to the bench multiple times before court let out.
This is a developing story.
Click here to follow the original article.TULAROSA, N.M. (KVIA) – Two weeks after Tularosa declared a water emergency, residents and business owners are growing frustrated as the village continues to restore its water supply.
The owner of local restaurant Casa De Sueños, Matthew Kaplan, said people in the village are angry.
Tularosa Mayor Deborah Cooksey said storms up in the Mescalero area pushed debris and ash down the creek, blocking a pipe to the water intake.
The blockage prompted Cooksey to declare a water emergency in Tularosa. According to the Aug. 3 declaration, officials prohibited all outdoor watering, irrigation and nonessential water use.
The declaration prohibited lawn sprinkling, watering landscaping, washing vehicles or driveways and filling or topping off swimming pools, hot tubs and decorative fountains.
Village officials urged residents to conserve water by taking shorter showers, running full loads of laundry and dishes and repairing any plumbing leaks.
Village officials distributed free cases of drinking water each day since the declaration. Kaplan said bottled water doesn’t solve the problem for residents who need water for landscaping and trees.
“I mean, they’re handing out drinking water, but you can’t hand out enough water to water trees and gardens and bushes and stuff. This is a rural community that relies a lot on their vegetation and all of their own trees and their yards and stuff,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan said he has spent years growing fruit trees in his yard, but the restrictions have left him unable to water them.
“Everybody’s very angry — very angry and upset,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan said Cooksey visited Casa De Sueños one afternoon and told him the restaurant would run out of water by 5 p.m.
“It was about 3, 3:15 in the afternoon and told me that I was going to have to close because of the water shortage, which I have abided by, closed at 4 because by code we’re not allowed to be open without water,” Kaplan said.
For the past couple of weeks, Kaplan said he’s had to pay extra for an ice service to bring the business drinkable water.
“My main concern is, is having to limit, you know, open time at the business because this is our livelihood and I provide a livelihood for 15 employees. So if we’re not open, then that’s 15 people that aren’t making a living, including myself,” Kaplan said.
Tularosa Utility Director Angel Voorbach said for the last couple of weeks he’s been working 18-hour days trying to unclog the pipe.
Voorbach said crews temporarily bypassed the blocked intake and used another valve to pump water into the system. They then increased the pressure to push debris out of the blocked pipe.
He said his team has been pumping water nonstop since Aug. 4.
Voorbach said he feels more prepared to handle cases like this in the future.
“Now that we actually have a game plan how to keep this open, I think we’re in better shoes now than what we were,” Voorbach said.
Cooksey said she hopes to lift the water emergency by Wednesday. She said she does not expect the same problem to happen again.
Kaplan, however, believes the village has a larger infrastructure problem.
“I think it’s going to be an ongoing problem because it’s systematic here and it’s not been addressed. I know that they’re trying to do their best, but it’s a bigger issue,” Kaplan said.
Click here to follow the original article.
