Category: kvia-local-news

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The current Trout Fire north of Silver City has burned more than 76,000 acres.

The Buck Fire, burning southeast of Aragon, in Catron county, has burned more than 58,000 acres.

Both fires have worsened El Paso’s air quality due to the smoke.

El Paso’s air quality is poor for today and exposure may result in eye and throat irritation, aggravated asthma, and difficulty breathing.

Today’s main pollutant is PM 10, which are particles less than 10 micrometers.

Particles like PM 10, which are larger than 2.5 micrometers, are deposited in airways and result in irritation.

Those with severe asthma and allergies, the elderly and children are at risk of complications due to the poor air quality.

In addition to the heat in the Borderland, residents are reminded to stay cool and avoid using swamp coolers as they pull in air from the outside.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—Adult Protective Services will host the “It Pays to Partner with APS” conference on Thursday, June 26th, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center (Building A Board Room) 9050 Viscount. The session will explore topics such as elder exploitation, common scams targeting seniors, responding to dementia-related behaviors, and an introduction to APS.

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Heriberto Perez

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KVIA) — U.S. Border Patrol’s Horse Patrol Unit was the first one that ever existed in the agency’s history; they were called mounted watchmen.

The unit saw its beginning back in 1904 in efforts to prevent illegal crossings and the Mounted Guards first operated out of El Paso, Texas.

Border Patrol’s Horse Unit at the Santa Teresa station currently houses a total of 21 horses, making it one of the largest units in the nation.

“I personally never owned horses, I never had horses and never grew up with horses, so border patrol was one of those things that I grew up seeing on the border, because I’m from the border town,” said Horse Patrol Wrangler Ricardo Merjil. “I would see them on the border, and I was always so envious and jealous as a kid.”

Agent Merjil has been with the Border Patrol for nearly two decades and with the horse patrol for about six years, which, according to him, have been the best years of his career.

“The border patrol allowed me, they gave me the opportunity to do this for a living, and not a lot of people really get to do this. Me, myself being a city boy, I can’t ever say how appreciative I am for this opportunity,” said Horse Patrol Wrangler Merjil.

In an era where the Border Patrol, along with other federal agencies, has all sorts of technology and resources to secure the southern border, ABC-7 asked about the importance this unit still has.

Watch the full special report, Thursday on ABC-7 at 10.

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Paul Cicala

RUIDOSO, NM (KVIA) — One year ago today, hundreds of homes and buildings could be seen smoldering after the South Fork Fire began its path of destruction.

ABC-7 anchor Paul Cicala spent several days covering the devastation caused by those fires, and is in Ruidoso today to report live in the 4, 5 & 6 p.m. newscasts & as the popular tourist town continues its recovery.

 It’s a celebration of recovery for Ruidoso residents today, including El Paso native and Eastwood High grad James Rupley.

“It’s just, hmmm.. it’s really tough,” proclaimed James Rupley as he tried to contain his emotions just over a year ago after the South Fork Fire swept through Ruidoso.

The El Paso native also co-owns “Downshift Brewery” and lost thousands of dollars because of the wildfire and its effects on tourism, yet, he remained open to help first responders and others in town to help for wildfire cleanup and recovery.

“Literally worked from 4 in the morning to 9 at night every single day,” said Rupley.

 Now, customers are returning steadily to Ruidoso.

“You don’t really call it a comeback. The re-building and just kind of getting back to a normal type of life. It’s slow, but, you just have to work every day. You can’t stop,” said Rupley, who also told ABC-7’s Paul Cicala:”The first time we put on the Octoberfest at the end of September, and that was the first time that we felt like we are going to be okay, because so many people, came out, it was such a good atmosphere.”

ABC-7’S Paul Cicala will air this story, and several others on ABC-7 at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m. from Ruidoso, NM during the one-year anniversary of the start of the wildfires.

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Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Business leaders in Juárez wrote a letter to U.S. authorities asking to keep commercial traffic at BOTA last weekend. They said they first gave one to CBP officials and then will continue to ask other entities on both sides of the border to push for keeping cargo once modernizations start.

Cargo at BOTA has been highly criticized due to its pollution and how it has impacted the South-Central El Paso community for years.

The Chihuahua delegate of the Mexico National Association of Importers and Exporters (ANIERM), Marcelo Vázquez went to an international bridges and ports of entry meeting in Mexico City last week, where they gave this letter.

carta puente libreDownload

Along with Vázquez, other business, industry and cargo transportation leaders signed the letter as well.

According to them, if cargo is removed, the El Paso – Ciudad Juárez regions could see a big hit in the local economy, plus the environmental and social impacts.

“More pollution will be created, and it will spread to areas that currently don’t have it,” the letter says.

Currently, BOTA sees about 10% of the total crossings of the area, Ysleta-Zaragoza sees the most with around 70%; the rest cross through Santa Teresa and Tornillo.

In April, around 124,405 semi-trucks crossed through all four Ports of Entry; only BOTA saw 16,232.

“In March, $8.5 billion in exports crossed through these four international ports. Last year, combined exports through these four ports totaled $82.656 billion. BOTA carries at least 10% of these exports, which generate jobs on both sides of the border,” they added.

ABC-7 reached out to ANIERM for more updates on the proposed closure of commercial traffic at BOTA once modernization projects start in 2026-2027.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As El Paso experiences triple-digit temperatures, smartphone overheating becomes a major concern for residents.

This can be frustrating for residents who, even while taking a short ride in their car, find their smartphone has stopped working after sitting in the sun.

Residents are urged to avoid exposing their phones to direct sunlight for extended periods as this can significantly increase the risk of overheating.

Ensuring your device stays cool during intense heat is essential for optimal performance of your device.

Temporary and permanent damage may occur to your smartphone and other electronic devices, leading to automatic shudowns or device failures, reduced battery life, issues with screen display, slower device speed, and even smartphone camera damage.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The Make-A-Wish El Paso team will celebrate an open house.

Wednesday, June 18

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

801 N. El Paso St., Suite 200 (Corner of Yandell & El Paso St.)

RSVP to Jennifer Maturino at jmaturino@ntx.wish.org.

https://wish.org/ntx

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The El Paso Center for Children is creating a Parent Café to empower parents and caregivers to connect and learn.

 Gabby Carpenter and Jose Alamillo explain how families can get involved.

To learn more, visit epccinc.org or call 915-307-8043.

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Rosemary Montañez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Throughout the year, students worked hard to earn good grades as they refined their skills in the classroom.

14-year-old Alan Rubio is one student who came out on top. He went from being the worst typist in his class to the best!

However, it took considerable hard work and dedication to reach this milestone.

“I used to be the worst one in this class. I used to get, everyone was getting 30s (WPM) and 40s, and I was getting tens and fifteens. Then I started, I was like, ‘No, I can’t let this slide.’”

Sibrena Sinegal, a business teacher at Charles Middle School, said she decided to start the six-week typing course after discovering that many of her students did not know how to type the correct way.

Alan, the soon-to-be freshman at Andress High School, immediately got up to speed. He told ABC-7 that he practices constantly at school and at home using his school-issued computer.

He was committed to improving his score. The teen told ABC-7 he would practice up to four hours every night.

Sinegal said she was impressed by Alan’s dedication and initiative to keep practicing even outside of school.

She said she even put Alan’s skills to the test!

“And I’m like, well, this race, he beat me. And I felt so good about him beating me because we always want our students to do better than us.”

Within weeks, Alan was able to raise his score from an average of 10 words per minute to 110 WPM. Alan said it happened quickly!

“I don’t know. I just looked at everyone’s screens, and everyone was getting 50s and 60s. And I’m over here getting 70s and 80s. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s. That’s awesome’.”

Despite criticism from his peers, Alan knows typing can take him far in the future. He said he takes typing very seriously.

“It’s very useful to know how to type because you’re going to need it later on in life. It’s it sets up a lot of different opportunities for jobs and stuff,” he said.

Now, Alan has a goal to reach 147 WPM.

“I just love typing so much.”

Alan said he still doesn’t know what he wants to study in college.

But he hopes he can follow in his brother’s footsteps and become an immigration court interpreter and make typing his full-time job.

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

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—This weekend, an event celebrating love, unity, and community will take place. Jon Tapia will tell us all about the Pride pool party celebration. 

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