Category: kvia-local-news

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-T)-It’s time for Celebration of Bagpipes IV. The event was announced that May 16th will be proclaimed by the City of El Paso, the County, and the State of Texas as the official Celebration of Bagpipes Day at Bel Air High School. This year’s event theme is “Be a Bagpipe Warrior.”

This year in particular, we are honoring that legacy and will feature a salute to our military, soldiers, veterans, and first responders.

The 1st Armored Division’s Brass Band from Fort Bliss will join the program and lead that salute. This year, in addition to CoB IV, the BA Classes of 1966 and 1971 will be celebrating their 60th and 50th Reunions with us. Those details, along with all the information about the event, can be found here: Bel Air Classic Highlander Clan – Home.

Click here to follow the original article.

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fifty-six-year-old Guadalupe Ornelas, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant, went missing over the weekend after traveling from El Paso to Santa Ana, California, to visit his family for Mother’s Day weekend.

According to Ana Rose Ornelas, Guadalupe’s wife, the last time she spoke with her husband was last Saturday after the Frontier Airlines incident in Denver, Colorado, and she received a phone call this morning from a hospital in Denver saying he had been found and was stable.

Ornelas’ family issued a missing person alert saying that on May 8, Guadalupe boarded his flight that departed at 10 p.m. from the Denver Airport when a Frontier Airlines plane ran over a pedestrian and killed one person, according to reports.

The family also said that Guadalupe fainted on the plane due to shock and was rushed to the hospital.

“Once discharged, but sounding disoriented and with none of his belongings, he called his wife and let her know part of what had happened. Unfortunately, his cell had no battery and the cell phone died,” Guadalupe’s family said. “He never arrived to California or back to Texas.”

According to his wife, Guadalupe is still at the hospital in Denver, where he is set to undergo several medical tests and examinations before being released again; she hopes he can come back home soon.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Banana Ball is coming to Southwest University Park this weekend, and with the entertainment comes an economic boost for El Paso, according to El Paso Chihuahuas spokesperson Angela Olivas. The Texas Tailgaters and the Firefighters will face off in a “baseball spectacle.”

The Savannah Bananas said Banana Ball includes choreographed dances and “epic scoring celebrations,” including running through the crowds.

“When we score, you never know what will happen next,” the Savannah Bananas said on its website.

The two sold-out games, set for May 15-16, is expected to attract thousands of people, including from Mexico, Olivas said. Tickets sold out within just a couple of hours.

Olivas said the Banana Ball experience includes a street party before the game at 3:30 p.m. exclusive to ticketed guests.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m., according to the ballpark.

Courtesy: Southwest University Park

You can find a full guide, including parking info, here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Fire Department is asking residents to “fill the boot” to help families affected by neuromuscular diseases, EPFD said Monday.

EPFD’s boot drive will last through May 16. Firefighters will collect donations across the city to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A QR code will be available on the boots to scan with donation instructions.

Firefighters kicked off the first day of the drive at Chester E. Jordan Elementary School in Far East El Paso during pick-up time.

At the campus, El Paso Association of Firefighters (Local 51) Captain Jay Nicholson said the donations go to research and treatment.

“Another part of it too is over the last few years we’ve seen a large uh uptick in the number of Lou Gehrig’s disease cases amongst firefighters,” Captain Nicholson said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — GECU announced it appointed a new president and CEO Monday. Alex Rascón, who has been with the company more than 20 years, will take on the role effective immediately, GECU said.

The current CEO, Crystal Long, retired May 1, according to officials.

 “Crystal Long was a true visionary and extraordinary leader shaping who GECU is today, and I am excited to build on that legacy,” Rascón said.

Rascón recently worked as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of GECU. He’s been with GECU for 28 years.

GECU said Rascón’s new leadership role comes as the credit union announced its intent to acquire Bank of the Southwest, which needs approval.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Tech Health El Paso is hosting its graduation ceremonies all day Saturday.

The ceremonies, which take place May 16, are at the Plaza Theater in Downtown El Paso, the school said.

Hunt School of Nursing: 8 a.m.

Hunt School of Dental Medicine: Noon

Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences: 3:30 p.m.

Foster School of Medicine: 7 p.m.

The school said 124 students will walk the stage after completing nursing programs at Texas Tech Health El Paso.

This year’s graduating class at the dental school is only the second since it opened in 2021, the school said. Just 61 dental students are graduating.

Texas Tech Health El Paso’s graduate school will honor 32 students.

Lastly, the medical school will honor 106 students receiving their Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — With graduation season around the corner, El Paso Community College announced its 2026 commencement schedule. Three ceremonies will take place at the Don Haskins Center, EPCC said.

The following ceremonies will take place May 18 at the Don Haskins Center:

9 a.m.: Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Science and Certificate of Completion

1 p.m.: Associate of Arts (not Multidisciplinary Studies) and Associate of Arts in Teaching

5 p.m.: Associate of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies

EPCC said more than 2,300 students will walk the stage, including 948 high school students taking college credit classes.

According to EPCC’s website, general parking is free at these UTEP parking lots:

SB7

GR1

GR2

Disabled parking at SB8 (permit required)

Find the UTEP parking map here.

Additionally, EPCC said its ceremonies will comply with UTEP’s clear bag policy. You can find a list of the types of bags you can bring in here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Rock legend Gene Simmons will take the stage at Speaking Rock Casino in August, the venue announced on social media.

The bassist and co-founder of Kiss will perform a free concert Aug. 1. The casino said concertgoers must be at least 21 years old. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Rock band Slaughter will also perform that Saturday night, the casino said on social media.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Some residents in Northeast El Paso may experience reduced water pressure Monday, El Paso Water said. The utility is improving the water system, which could impact water pressure.

EPWater said it started working at 6:30 a.m. Monday and will finish by 6:30 p.m. in the Mesquite Hills and Futureland neighborhoods off Dyer Street.

A complete water service disruption isn’t expected, EP Water said. Below is a map of the possible impact area:

Courtesy: El Paso Water

Monday’s work is part of a city project to improve connectivity from U.S. 54 to Dyer Street, the utility said. Controlled water release may be seen at Sean Haggerty Drive at Stonebridge Drive and Aaron Street.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Basketball in the Barrio is excited to announce its 34th camp season in El Paso. The camp will take place at the Armijo Center, 700 East Seventh Avenue, from June 19 to 21, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It welcomes girls and boys ages 6 to 10 from the Segundo Barrio and Chamizal neighborhoods.

The camp celebrates border culture and community pride. Between basketball skill sessions, campers will enjoy performances from musicians, storytellers, dancers, and artists. For only $1, each child receives a t-shirt, a basketball, a bilingual children’s book, a musical instrument, and a free lunch.

This year’s special guest is Shawn Harrington from Chicago, who played point guard for New Mexico State University during the 1995–1996 season.

Previous camp guests have included NBA star Greg Foster, boxing champion Juan Lazcano, Coach Nolan Richardson, NFLPA director David Meggyesy, Olympian John Carlos, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and poet Benjamin Saenz.

A generous grant from Household Furniture makes Basketball in the Barrio possible. For just $1, every camper gets instruction, lunch, a basketball, a T-shirt, a peace poster, and a bilingual children’s book.

Steve Yellen and Rus Bradburd founded the camp and have worked together every summer since.

For more information, contact Steve Yellen at 915-300-5970 or Rus Bradburd at rus.bradburd@gmail.com. You can also reach out to camp publicist Liz Bellegarde at 915-731-5139 with any questions. https://basketballinthebarrio.org/

Click here to follow the original article.