Category: kvia-local-news

Rosemary Montañez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)–14-year-old Daniel Carmona-Pinheiro is known for his competitive spirit. The eighth grader at SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School continues to break barriers.

Daniel was diagnosed with autism at just two years old.

“As parents, I think we go into denial for a while. But, thankfully, my wife and my family, everybody around us supported us. And we could just focus on him and what he needs to do to be the best he can be,” Daniel’s dad, Rafael Carmona, told ABC-7.

The teenager also continues to inspire his fellow classmates and his teachers. Wanona Hendrix, a special education teacher, at Puentes Middle School, said Daniel shines bright in all aspects.

“Daniel’s title is the superstar of the classroom. Daniel is my go-to for everything. He tends to be the first one finished in the classroom. And the thing I love about Daniel is as soon as he’s done, he likes to go help,” Hendrix said.

Daniel is also a rising athlete. A few weeks ago, he competed in the annual Socorro ISD Spring Games. Daniel brought home two gold medals.

“It was awesome. You could see him, that he was very, enthusiastic and ready for it. He did his best. Yeah, he was awesome,” Carmona said.

“I was screaming right along the line as he was running because he knew how proud I was of him, and he knew that he was going to come home with the gold because he gives it his all,” Hendrix said.

To this day, Daniel continues to proudly sport his medals.

Daniel also holds an orange belt in Taekwondo. Hendrix said he has grown from the shy boy he once was. She attributes much of his growth to athletics.

“I met him as a sixth grader; he was very kind of timid and just was very unsure about his own abilities, and to just watch him blossom and grow has been fantastic. He is so positive in his own abilities now,” she said.

Hendrix said students like Daniel make the job worthwhile.

“I give my heart and soul into this job because they are what drives me. Every day I walk into this classroom, and I feel like a superstar every day,” she explained.

Hendrix also said it was special seeing Daniel gain confidence and witness his personal growth up close.

“And I tell you just what, try your best and you’ll succeed. Right? And look at you. You’re doing an amazing thing,” said Hendrix.

Daniel recently qualified for nationals in Taekwondo. He’ll be traveling to Utah in July to compete.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, email news@kvia.com.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) –Property owners near the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Nobel Street in El Paso are reporting an increase in criminal activity associated with a nearby vacant lot.

Frank Larios, a local property owner, has documented several incidents of drug use and altercations, including a dumpster fire, occurring on and near his apartment complex.

Residents and property owners have expressed concerns for their safety, particularly those who are elderly or caregivers.

Property owners plan to continue discussions with city officials to address the ongoing issues.

Larios noted that these issues have caused some tenants to abandon their leases due to safety fears.

“If anything, what you’re seeing here is there are elements within our community that will prey on the most vulnerable within the community, and it’s those elements that are attracting what is happening around the building, ” said John Martin, Deputy Director with the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, regarding the incidents occurring at the nearby vacant lot.

ABC-7 reached out to the El Paso Police Department for an update on the situation but did not hear back.

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Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The state of Chihuahua’s health department released its latest confirmed measles cases, which are 417 and 17 new cases in the last 24 hours.

Chihuahua shares border with Texas and New Mexico and is the state south of the border with the most confirmed cases across Mexico.

In a news release, the state of Chihuahua said Vaccination efforts have increased, and they urge all residents to complete their vaccinations to prevent infection.

“The Ministry of Health is responding head-on to the measles cases reported in the state. Since the outbreak began in neighboring Texas, and in response to the increase in cases, epidemiological surveillance of febrile exanthematous diseases such as scarlet fever, chickenpox, sudden rash, rickettsiosis, infectious mononucleosis, and dengue fever has been intensified in the state to rule out the occurrence of measles cases,” said the news release.

These are the numbers of confirmed cases by municipality in Chihuahua:

Cuauthémoc – 199 cases

Chihuahua – 76 cases

Riva Palacio – 34 cases

Ahumada – 27

Namiquipa – 21

Ojinaga – 16

Ciudad Juárez – 10

The state of Chihuahua encourages all residents and people traveling south of the border to get their measles vaccine. More information here.

ABC-7 reached out to the Chihuahua Department of Health and the Mexico Health Secretariat to learn more about their efforts to prevent additional confirmed cases nationwide and along the border.

More updates in later newscasts.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso will host the 5th Annual Memorial Run this Friday, April 18th, at 6 PM, 3233 N Mesa St.

This run aims to honor Fire Suppression Technician Eddie “Lurch” Ramirez who died in the line of duty in 2020.

This event is organized by his widow Vanessa Gosseck-Ramirez and benefits the Eddie Ramirez Memorial Fund through the El Paso Community Foundation.

Ramirez was known as a 19-year veteran of the El Paso Fire Department and for his dedication to fitness, service and being active in the Special Olympics.

Friday’s event will feature a ladder truck display, a flag representation from Veronica Escobar’s office, a tribute at Fire Station 8, and the National Anthem performed by a retired firefighter.

The memorial fund aims to support local firefighters while keeping Ramirez’s legacy of service and family alive.

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localnews8newsteam

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The deadline to file your taxes has passed, and the 2025 tax season is winding down. Financial experts tell Local News 8 it’s been a pretty standard tax season.

People using direct deposit can expect to see their returns in their bank account 5 to 10 business days after processing.

Checks will usually take a bit longer to arrive. If you missed the deadline, you can still file your taxes without penalty if you’re expecting a return.

If you do owe money, financial experts suggest that you take immediate action, and late filing penalties can be expected. 

“The biggest problem that we have is people that start new businesses. A lot of people aren’t aware that partnership and corporation returns are actually due on March 15th. And so every year we get several people that come in here that have started new leases or new partnerships or corporations after March 15th, and they’re already late,” said Brett Zollinger, CPA at Sutton & Simmons PLLC.

The next tax deadline is for nonprofits that have a regular calendar year end, and that’s May 15th.

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abc17news

A hard deadline for getting a REAL ID has arrived after years of delays.

Starting next month, people without a REAL ID-compliant form of identification will not be allowed on domestic flights. REAL ID includes a series of verification requirements laid out in a federal law passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The deadline for requiring a REAL ID to fly has been pushed back multiple times over several years. And in Missouri, drivers are not required to have a driver’s license that complies.

Have you gotten your REAL ID? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)—The Classic Highlander Clan will host the 3rd Celebration of Bagpipes.

https://myevent.com/belairclassichighlander

https://www.yisd.net/o/belair

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abc17news

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Travelers have missed the deadline to get a REAL ID ahead of a May 7 change to flying regulations.

However, the sooner people get their REAL ID-compliant documents, the sooner they can board domestic flights.

Beginning May 7, non-REAL ID driver’s licences will no longer be accepted to board regulated domestic flights. Military cards and U.S. passports will still be valid. However, for convenience and document security, U.S. residents are urged to make the switch.

“I just turned 18, and I heard it was kind of like your birth certificate and everything else, it just made it a lot easier, didn’t have to carry around as many papers, I was like, ‘Why not?'” said Thomas Flanery who got his REAL ID Wednesday.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, only 45% of Missouri licenses are REAL ID’s.

Temporary paper copies of REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses aren’t accepted to board a flight, and the hard copy can take 10 to 15 days to arrive by mail.

Trish Vincent the Director of Revenue for the state of Missouri recommends travelers to factor in this mailing time.

“If they’re traveling in September, they can wait to do that because there’s still plenty of time, but for those that are planning maybe a summer vacation, now would be a good time or within the next month or so,” Vincent said.

The REAL ID requirement started after the REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the change was to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.”

The law came after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the airplane hijackers were able to get government identification as they plotted.

REAL IDs are also used to get into certain federal facilities and nuclear power plants. They are not needed to drive or vote. Children under 18 are not required to have a REAL ID when traveling with an adult.

“Missouri is one of those states that it’s an option for you, you don’t have to get a real ID,” Vincent said. “So, again, if you’re not traveling or don’t plan to go to Fort Wood or Whiteman, or going to a nuclear power plant or even go to a federal courthouse, you know, it’s up to you whether you want it.”

Source: Missouri Department of Revenue

To apply for REAL ID, applicants must have a document to prove their identity, a document to verify citizenship, a document to verify their Social Security number and at least two documents that verify their address. A birth certificate is a common document used to prove identity and citizenship.

Applicants will also take a new ID photo.

The DOR has a REAL ID guide to help applicants find which documents comply with each category. The website also features a checklist at the end for users to print out to remember what documents to bring to the DMV.

A standard class F REAL ID driver’s license costs around $27.

Hours vary across licensing offices, so the DOR recommends checking online for the office’s hours first.

“It’s a short wait and just it was a simple in and out,” Flanery said. “Just had to bring address and birth certificate and whatnot, and then they were able to set it up for me just fine.”

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abc17news

ABC-7 has reported on how lawmakers in Texas have filed several bills that would require local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with ICE to enforce immigration laws.

A 1996 federal immigration law allows ICE to delegate to local forces. This law deputizes local officers, giving them the ability to question inmates in local jails and residents about their immigration status, and to serve administrative warrants.

Do you think law enforcement agencies in the Borderland should have limited immigration enforcement ability? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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