Category: kvia-local-news

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Filmmaker Gregory Nava and actress Ann-Margret will visit El Paso for the 19th annual El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival. Both will have special appearances alongside screenings of some of their iconic movies at the Plaza Theatre.

Nava will appear with two of his best-known films, “Selena” and “El Norte.” Tickets for both showings are $10, according to EPCF.

Fans can see Nava and “Selena” July 24 at 7 p.m. There will also be a free lecture about the movie at 6 p.m.

“El Norte” will show July 25 at 3 p.m. The movie follows Guatemalan siblings’ immigration journey.

During the film festival, he’ll receive the Plaza Classic Award for Career Achievement, EPCF said.

Ann-Margret is known for the 1963 musical “Bye Bye Birdie” and the 1975 musical “Tommy.” At the film festival, she’ll have sit-down interviews at the Plaza Theatre before both movies.

EPCF said tickets for “Bye Bye Birdie” are $20 and her interview is set for July 17 at 7 p.m. There will be a free lecture before the movie at 6 p.m.

Tickets for “Tommy” are $10 and is scheduled for July 18 at 3:30 p.m.

This year, EPCF Plaza Classic Film Festival starts July 16 and ends July 26. The foundation said it will show more than 100 films.

Beyond movies, the festival has free outdoor concerts, family programming and local filmmaker showcases.

The full film festival schedule and ticket information can be found here.

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Carpio Griego

DONA ANA COUNTY, New Mexico (KVIA) — The trial for the last of the four teens accused of a mass shooting that left three dead began Wednesday afternoon. Gustavo Dominguez was 17 years old at the time and faces three counts of first-degree murder.

The mass shooting happened at Young Park on March 21, 2025, three teen died as a result. 16-year-old Andrew Madrid, 17-year-old Jason Gomez, and 18-year-old Dominick Estrada. The shooting also injured more than a dozen people who were attending an unsanctioned car show at the park.

Prosecutors showed bodycam footage from Las Cruces Police Sergeant Derek Duran. He said it was “chaos” when he arrived at the shooting scene as everyone tried to leave at the same time either by car or by foot.

The video showed a man who yelled, “It was the Riveras! I know it!”

Bodycam video also showed Duran and another officer treating gunshot wounds.

In February, brothers Tomas and Nathan Rivas were convicted of three counts of first-degree murder.

In April, the third and youngest suspect, Josiah Ontiveros, was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and not guilty on conspiracy charges.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 57 pounds of methamphetamine at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. The drugs had an estimated street value of $521,100, according to CBP.

June 18 just after noon, a woman with U.S. citizenship tried to cross from Mexico, CBP said in a news release. Officers chose her SUV for a second inspection and found bundles of methamphetamine hidden.

Officers confiscated the SUV and narcotics. CBP said federal authorities took the woman into custody.

In total, officers found 57.9 pounds of methamphetamine.

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Across the Borderland, fans of Team USA gathered to watch the Stars and Stripes represent their country in the FIFA World Cup. As the team’s surprising success in the tournament has continued, the attention and attendance of watch parties across El Paso has grown with each passing match.

Now, for the second consecutive night and the fourth time in the last two weeks, Cleveland Square Park in Downtown will be filled with avid soccer fans, as the El Paso Parks & Recreation Department hosts another free watch party of the tournament.

The watch party starts at 5:30 p.m., according to the city.

Wednesday, Team USA will take on Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, as the Red, White & Blue look to win a “knockout round” match at the World Cup for the first time since 2002, when the Americans reached the quarterfinals.

El Paso Parks & Rec. set the watch party alongside the Mexican American Culture Center, in which the match will be displayed on the building’s large outdoor screen.

Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to be comfortable on the park’s greenery, as well to wear your red, white, and blue to “enjoy an exciting evening filled with soccer, community spirit, and an unforgettable atmosphere surrounded by fellow fans,” according to the city.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (6:15 p.m.) — EPISD’s board unanimously voted to accept applications from community members to fill vacancies.

Board members Jack Loveridge, Alex Cuellar and General Counsel Cezy Collins proposed announcing applications online and through a media release Wednesday.

From July 2-27 they would accept applications and review them. T

hen during the week of Aug. 3, the district will host a special meeting to interview candidates.

The interview process will be open to the public and the board will interview candidates separately.

Trustee Cuellar made the motion to approve the process, Trustee Sutton seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Superintendent Brian Lusk attended the vote virtually.

According to the Texas elections code, Texas education code and common law, the candidate has to fill these requirements:

Must be 18 years or older

A U.S. citizen

A qualified voter

Resident of the district (6 or 7) for six months before applying

Must not be a district employee

Must be of “sound mind” (not being adjudged totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated)

The candidates who meet the requirements will move forward to the evaluation process, where their qualifications will be reviewed.

Finalists will be a part of the forum and participate in a question-and-answer interview portion during the week of Aug. 3-7.

The board said the process will run through the first week of school. Since quorum is vital, the board said the dates for the process had to be set now to ensure all board members could attend.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees will discuss the next steps to fill two vacancies on its board.

Former board members Daniel Call and Valerie Beals announced their resignations shortly after the district voted to declare financial exigency, which is similar to bankruptcy for educational institutions.

During the June 4 vote, Call was the only member to vote against the declaration. Beals was absent.

EPISD held the vote when it dealt with a multi-million dollar deficit. The district’s board later voted to cut 54 teacher positions by June 15 to bring its deficit down to $4 million.

The district has two options to Call and Beals’ spots:

Call for a special election, which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Appoint two community members to serve their unexpired terms.

This is a developing story.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

UPDATE (July 9, 2026): Thursday, U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar sent the Federal Bureau of Prisons a letter sharing her concerns about the La Tuna prison.

She included a list of 18 questions expressing her concern for staff, inmates and public safety. She also said her office wasn’t told about the decision to close the prison.

“The decision affects real people. It affects the federal employees whose livelihoods are now at risk, the families who rely on those jobs and the surrounding communities that would economically suffer as a result of such massive layoffs,” Rep. Escobar said.

You can read her full letter below.

escobar_la_tuna_closure_oversight_letterDownload

ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said it will close several facilities, including the La Tuna Prison in Anthony, Texas. The BOP said the closures will address “decades of deferred maintenance and extreme staffing challenges.”

The BOP said La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, Federal Satellite Low and Satellite Camp will see a reduction-in-force.

It also said “minimal staff will be affected” at La Tuna FSL since it’s already non-operational.

The BOP said it’s confronting a deferred maintenance backlog exceeding $4 billion. In a news release, it said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will provide funding, but it won’t be enough to fully resolve the operational and infrastructure challenges.

“We are a Bureau that acts,” said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. “These actions are necessary to address longstanding infrastructure and staffing challenges while ensuring the Bureau remains focused on its core mission of operating safe, secure, and efficient correctional facilities. We will support our workforce throughout this transition and responsibly position the agency for the future.”

The BOP also said it is committed to addressing these challenges through decisive and strategic action to ensure the continued safe and secure operation of its facilities and to support the agency’s mission.

20260701_pr_facility_closuresDownload

ABC-7 reached out to the BOP for comment today, a spokesperson said beyond the attached press release, they had no additional information to provide at this time.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A mechanical runaway truck ramp opened on a median on Loop 375 on Transmountain Road, the Texas Department of Transportation said Wednesday. While it’s the fourth runaway ramp on the road, this is the first mechanical ramp.

TxDOT said the mechanical ramp provides a safety option for drivers who lose their brakes closer to the I-10 on the left lane of Loop 375 West. It’s designed to safely stop a 90,000-pound truck traveling 90 miles an hour, officials said.

The ramp slows trucks down using eight energy-absorbing net stations bolted into concrete walls, according to TxDOT.

“Unlike other runaway truck ramps on Transmountain, this truck arresting system was constructed in the median due to the narrow footprint available at that location,” said TxDOT El Paso District Engineer Tomas Trevino. 

TxDOT said drivers who use the ramp should stay centered on it. The ramp can reset in just four hours after typical impact.

Transmountain has three other ramps — one westbound and two eastbound.

Project designers said mechanical ramp is usually constructed on mountainsides in France and Canada.

Crews still need to install permanent signs to let drivers know they should switch to lower gear on the steep road.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — In 1972, rock band WAR sang, “We met down on the border of the Rio Grande.” In September, the group will perform two shows at Las Cruces’ Rio Grande Theatre September, according to a news release.

WAR’s top songs include “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”

On Sept. 26 and 27, doors open at 6 p.m. and shows start at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $85-95 for general admission, according to Hardin’s Music Saloon. Reserved front-row seating costs $150.

You can find ticket information here.

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Nina Gallegos

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The family of a Andrew Brown, who died in an alleged hit-and-run, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former treasurer of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Antonio Brown described his brother, Andrew Brown, as a protective figure who was consistently present for his family. He recalled Andrew’s support during a difficult time.

“He literally helped me with my mom,” Antonio Brown said. “When my mom got sick with cancer. He was there all the time.”

Antonio Brown said that his brother, like himself, had made past mistakes, but emphasized their shared commitment to self-improvement.

“Like what you’ve been through in your past. Like he made mistakes, I made mistakes, but we’ve we’ve learned from them and literally did everything in our power to become better people,” he said.

Upon receiving the call about the incident, Antonio Brown immediately traveled to the scene. He recounted the shock of finding his brother had already passed.

“Immediately I got in my car and I went to go see if it was him. And of course it was. When I got there, he had already passed. It was just shock,” Antonio Brown said.

Andrew Brown’s mother was not ready to speak publicly about her loss. However, Antonio Brown expressed his determination to see accountability. “I want my mom to know that that lady is going to pay for what she did to him,” he said.

According to documents ABC-7 obtained, Kimberly Skaggs allegedly hit and killed Andrew with her SUV and left without helping. Andrew rode his bike when he was hit.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and alleged Skaggs failed to drive with reasonable care, traveled at an excessive speed, failed to keep a proper lookout and left the scene without rendering aid.

Skaggs faces criminal charges of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with evidence.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Paul Schulz

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — The family of Andrew Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kimberly Skaggs, the former treasurer for the Republican Party of New Mexico, alleging she struck Brown with her SUV while he was riding his bicycle, left him critically injured in the roadway and fled the scene without rendering aid.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. on behalf of Brown’s family.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and alleges Skaggs failed to drive with reasonable care, traveled at an excessive speed, failed to keep a proper lookout, fled the scene without rendering aid and attempted to conceal evidence after the collision.

Brown, 40, died after he was struck June 22 while riding his bicycle on North Fairacres Road in Las Cruces. According to the lawsuit, the impact shattered his bicycle into several pieces.

According to court documents cited in the lawsuit, a witness told investigators Skaggs exited her vehicle after the crash, observed Brown lying in the roadway, then returned to her SUV and drove away without attempting to help or call 911. Authorities later arrested Skaggs in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.

Investigators documented nearly 200 feet of skid marks at the scene and recovered broken pieces from a General Motors vehicle. Surveillance video from a nearby business allegedly showed a vehicle matching witness descriptions traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision.

The lawsuit states investigators later used GPS data to locate the suspected vehicle. During the execution of a search warrant, deputies reported finding damage consistent with the crash, including missing pieces from the front bumper that allegedly matched debris recovered at the scene, blood beneath the vehicle and markings consistent with contact with Brown’s bicycle.

“This lawsuit is about accountability for every decision that led to Andrew Brown’s death and every decision that followed,” James Tawney, partner at Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., said. “Our clients believe those decisions robbed a young man of his father and shattered a family. They deserve their day in court, and we intend to pursue justice on their behalf.”

Brown’s former partner, Santana Santiago, said the greatest loss belongs to the couple’s 14-year-old son.

“I lost one of my best friends, and my son was robbed of his father. Andrew loved our son with all his heart,” Santiago said.

Santiago said Brown remained committed to being a father despite living in a different home, regularly writing letters to his son, offering guidance and staying involved in his life.

She said Brown hoped to attend barber school and eventually open a community radio station where he could mentor at risk youth. She also described him as a kind person who loved writing poetry and singing R and B music.

“Knowing he was left to die alone after the crash is something that no family should ever have to live with and we intend to fully uncover why Skaggs left the scene,” Tawney said.

The lawsuit also includes a loss of consortium claim on behalf of Brown’s son, alleging he has been deprived of his father’s love, guidance, companionship and support.

ABC-7 previously reported Skaggs faces criminal charges of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with evidence. A Doña Ana County judge ordered Skaggs held without bond pending trial after prosecutors argued her actions following the crash demonstrated she posed a danger to the community.

The criminal case remains pending, and a trial date has not been set.

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