Category: kvia-local-news

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — NASCAR champion Kyle Busch died at 41 years old Thursday, his family confirmed. Busch raced full-time — but once made a pit stop to chat with an El Paso star.

El Paso native Marcos “Scooter” Carrera is known for the Netflix show Tex Mex Motors. Professionals transport cars from Mexico to the Sun City to restore them.

In Season 2, Episode 6, Battle for the Benz, “Scooter” Carrera works on a Mercedes, which Busch praised.

“Scooter” Carrera met Busch at a racetrack, where Busch’s engine had blown up before the qualifying race.

“He was truly a gentleman,” “Scooter” Carrera told ABC-7. “Anyone I know could have been extremely upset and could have told us to buzz off! But Kyle was calm and nice!”

(Courtesy: Marcos “Scooter” Carrera)

“Scooter” Carrera told ABC-7 Busch autographed the NASCAR-inspired car they took to the track that day.

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Mia Okubo

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — Thursday, Las Cruces Public Schools celebrated three educators for being recognized by the National Education Association Southwest Region and NEA-New Mexico.

Two of the the finalists were nominated by NEA from Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy. Josephine Lopez, the MVLA office manager was selected as Educational Support Professional of the Year for the entire state of New Mexico.

Anita Martos, MVLA’s principal, was recognized and selected as New Mexico’s Administrator of the Year. Martos was noticed for her “integrity, compassion and commitment to both students and educators,” while fostering a school culture built on relationships, trust and shared purpose.

Lopez and Martos were both recognized at the Southwest Region awards and will be honored during an awards banquet in October.

Additionally, Gail Wheeler from Centennial High School was named recipient of the New Mexico Human and Civil Rights Award. Wheeler has been a longtime educator who has mentored struggling students outside of class.

LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz said, “These recognitions reflect the incredible talent, dedication and heart found across Las Cruces Public Schools. Each of these three educators represent the very best of public education through their service to students, support for colleagues and commitment to building strong, inclusive school communities. We are incredibly proud of each of them.”

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A 40-year-old man suspected of damaging a Las Cruces Catholic church with a gun in early May now faces additional charges. Thursday, Las Cruces police said Matthew Albian Alarcon was charged for attempted burglary and “possession of a suspicious device.”

On May 4 at about 4:30 a.m., security video from St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church on Espina Street showed a man parking a dark-colored car, LCPD said. The man got out of the car and started shooting the gun toward the church.

This image, captured from surveillance video, shows the suspect who discharged multiple rounds into the exterior of St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church on May 4, 2026.

The gunfire damaged two parts of the church, which no one was in at the time, according to police.

A week later, LCPD said one of its officers noticed Alarcon and 36-year-old Juan Manuel Garcia loitering near a car in front of Miller Guns and Ammo on north Telshor Boulevard. The officer determined they were planned to break into and burglarize the store, police said.

After searching the car, officers found a handgun. Alarcon claimed it was his, but LCPD said it was reported to be stolen.

LCPD said officers compared video of the car from the church shooting and determined it matched the car in front of the gun store, which Alarcon drove.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Alarcon’s home May 19 and found a “suspicious device” with components used to start fires. The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb Squad safely took the device for investigation.

Officers arrested Alarcon May 14.

He faces felony counts of desecration of a church, receiving a stolen firearm, tampering with evidence, possession of burglary tools, attempted burglary and two counts of conspiracy.

LCPD said it’s working with federal partners for possible additional charges.

Alarcon was scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing Wednesday. LCPD said he’ll be initially be held without bond.

Meanwhile, Garcia was arrested May 17 and charged with felony counts of attempted burglary and two counts of conspiracy.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a guided Memorial Day hike Monday morning.

We Hike said its holiday hike is open for all abilities; you can run, walk, carry weight or go at your own pace.

The hike starts at 7:30 a.m. at McKelligon Canyon (1500 McKelligon Canyon Rd). We Hike said the group will start at the gate on the right facing the mountain.

We Hike suggests arriving at 7 a.m. for time to park andsign in.

Hikers can take strollers and their pets, but pets must be on a leash, the organization said.

The hiking nonprofit suggests bringing:

Water (at least two liters)

Closed-toe shoes

Sun protection like a hat

Snacks and personal medication

Hiking sticks

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (4:10 p.m.) — All lanes reopened, according to TxDOT.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Loop 375 west between Padres and Yarbrough closed after a semi leaked fuel, El Paso Police said Thursday.

Police said the call about the spill came in at 11:55 a.m. They sent a traffic alert at 1:26 p.m.

(Courtesy: TxDOT)

On X, police said the lanes will stay closed until further notice.

This is a developing story.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso woman pleaded guilty to murdering her husband and received a 20-year prison sentence, according to court records.

Court records show Martinez pleaded guilty May 13.

In December 2023, Luz Elena Martinez reportedly told police she shot her husband, Jose Luis Avalos Reyes after he attacked her.

Crimes Against Persons detectives interviewed Martinez after and found “inconsistencies” in evidence.

It happened on a House on French Place off Delta Drive in South-Central El Paso. According to documents ABC-7 obtained, Martinez called 911 to report herself for shooting her husband.

Police met with Martinez, who sat inside a van parked in front of the house, and three witnesses, documents said.

Inside, police found him dead at the house with a pistol on a nightstand next to the bed where he was laying.

Officers also found a knife in his non-dominant hand, according to documents.

Martinez told officer she was sexually assaulted and requested a lawyer, documents said. She also reportedly told the witnesses she shot her husband. She also called one of the witnesses before calling 911 to report herself.

Documents said a sexual assault nurse examined Martinez, who told the nurse her husband came at her with a knife, so she shot him.

Investigators found out Martinez’ husband had an affair. Martinez hired a private investigator to follow him and hired a lawyer for divorce, documents said.

Evidence from the murder scene suggested her husband was laying on the bed and Martinez shot him at a close distance, documents said.

Documents said the evidence contradicts what Martinez told the nurse because she alleged he stood up with the knife.

In March 2024, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Martinez at the 5700 block of Alameda Avenue.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector honored the lives of 161 agents who have fallen in the line of duty during a memorial ceremony held in Far East El Paso on Thursday.

Family members of some of the fallen agents, members of Border Patrol, CBP and BORTAC, among other local law enforcement agencies, gathered today at the Socorro Independent School District Student Activities Complex (SAC).

“It just reminds me how important what we do is and I want them (family members of the fallen agents) to know that when we say never forget, we mean it; never forget,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “But it’s also looking forward and making sure that agents that are in that audience today, and the families that are watching this, understand that we really respect the service that their loved ones are providing and that we have their back and we’re going to take care of them if anything unfortunately does happen to them.”

ABC-7 also spoke with Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent in El Paso Sector, Jesse D. Muñoz, about the lives the agency has lost in the field and the message they have for the families of those lost.

“I’m so proud of the Border Patrol, I think we do so many things great, but I think the thing that we do best is how we take care of the families of our fallen agents,” said Chief Patrol Agent in the El Paso Sector, Jesse D. Muñoz. “Family members that were here or that were not here, I just want them to feel like they’re still part of the family and if they need anything, El Paso Sector is going to take care of them.”

CBP Commissioner Scott also spoke about the current decrease in migrant encounters on the border.

“We do have the most secure border that we’ve ever had in this country, but the cartels want to make money, and they’re getting more and more desperate every day and throughout my career, anytime we really lock down the border and impact the bottom line of the cartels, we found out they start acting out,” CBP Commissioner Scott added. “The violence that we always see on the south side of the border starts to come north, whether it’s rockings or people that fight more, or literally taking pot shots at our vehicles from the south side of the border; I fear all of that is coming again as we lock down the border, history is an indicator, it will and I want to make sure our agents, all law enforcement agents, are prepared for that mentally.”

According to CBP Commissioner Scott, without massive illegal immigration, his agencies can still see the cartels, but can respond more. “We’re going to be arresting them, going after them and that creates more friction points,” he added.

“Talking about border security, one thing that I always try to relay is that if you have a secure border, you have a safe border; the more secure the border is, the fewer people are dying,” CPA Muñoz added.

According to CBP, since its inception on May 28, 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol has seen the passing of 161 agents in the line of duty, 28 of whom were from the El Paso Sector.

During the ceremony, all 161 names were read aloud, followed by the somber ringing of a bell and a 21-gun salute.

Today’s memorial featured the following honors for those 161 agents:

The U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Group and the El Paso Air Branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) performed an honorary freefall.

The aerial tribute was followed by the rhythmic hoofbeats of a riderless horse, to which all uniformed personnel rendered honors.

The ceremony concluded with the retiring of the colors by the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector Honor Guard.

The El Paso Sector commemorative ceremony honoring fallen agents is an annual event held on or near the anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Border Patrol; the first U.S. Border Patrol station was established in El Paso.

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Lauren Bly

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz continues, gas prices aren’t the only thing going up. The American Automobile Association said motor oil prices are rising too, which means your oil change could be a bit pricier.

AAA said it’s still important you get an oil change if you need it ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.

Mike Melendez says customers at Rudolph Chevrolet have not yet felt the impact of rising motor oil prices, despite a slight increase tied to a nationwide shortage.

Melendez, the service manager at Rudolph Chevrolet, said the dealership is absorbing the added costs by purchasing oil in bulk to avoid passing price increases on to customers.

“We’re absorbing the difference to be able to take care of our customers,” Melendez said. “We are just buying in bulk.”

The U.S. is currently facing a shortage of Group III base oil, a key ingredient that makes up at least 75% of the motor oil used in most modern vehicles.

According to Caitlin Jacobs, a spokesperson for the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association, or ILMA, independent lubricant manufacturers produce about 25% of the engine oils sold in North America.

“They make about 25% of the engine oils that are sold here in North America,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said roughly 44% of Group III oil comes from the Middle East, where shipping disruptions and damage to production facilities have slowed supply.

“There’s a lot of shipping issues. Product can’t get out,” Jacobs said. “On top of that, there’s been damage to some of the base oil production facilities there.”

Because of those issues, Jacobs said consumers could continue seeing higher oil prices for at least another year.

“This is definitely a long-term problem,” she said.

Despite the rising costs, both Jacobs and Melendez stressed that drivers should not delay routine oil changes.

“The worst-case scenario, the engine gets ruined, the transmission gets ruined,” Melendez said. “If those get avoided long enough, the vehicle actually just starts breaking down, and it causes bigger and bigger expenses.”

ABC-7 reached out to local mechanics and AAA to learn what drivers can expect to pay now. Watch the full report ABC-7’s evening newscasts.

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Gabrielle Lopez

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KVIA) — A Santa Fe-based photographer will showcase his work featuring White Sands National Park later this month.

Craig Varjabedian is an award-winning photographer who captured White Sands’ landscape for years, the National Park Service said.

On May 31, he will reflect on his time photographing the national park at the visitor center theater (19955 US-70, Alamogordo, New Mexico). The presentation is free and lasts from 1-3 p.m.

Varjabedian’s online portfolio has various shots of White Sands’ dunes, visitors and skies. He’ll also sell and autograph books with his photos.

NPS said his presentation will help visitors appreciate the natural environment the park protects.

You can find more information on the presentation at the Western National Parks website.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — To celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week, the Hospitals of Providence delivered meals to firefighters in El Paso County. Wednesday, THOP stopped by Fire Station 18 in the Lower Valley.

Trey Megason, who received a meal and gift at the fire station, said they weren’t expecting to have a “good lunch” consisting of chicken wings.

“We work as a team throughout the sleepless nights,” Megason said. “It’s nice to the hospitals on our back.”

Tasha Hopper, THOP East Campus CEO, said former President Gerald Ford started EMS Week in 1974 to recognize the sacrifice first responders make to ensure the community’s safety.

National EMS Week takes place May 17-23 to thank EMS first responders for being the first at the scene of an emergency, THOP said.

“When everyone’s running away, they’re running to us,” Hopper said.

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