Category: kvia-local-news

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — One person was hospitalized after a fire in South-Central El Paso, according to the El Paso Fire Department. EPFD said it happened at a one-story commercial building.

The fire was reported at 9:31 a.m. Monday, according to the fire department. Crews controlled it within 24 minutes.

Damage seen inside the South-Central El Paso fire on Aug. 17, 2026.

EPFD said one person was found, treated and sent to the hospital with serious injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

EPFD said the cause is under investigation.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted on Monday to close bids for the management and operation of the county-owned coliseum.

The court voted to close bids so the county can issue a revised solicitation with clearer information, according to a news release. It also includes sports tourism promotion program services.

The county said it saw “significant interest” from the vendor community and more than 200 questions during the procurement process.

“The volume and nature of those questions made clear that additional operational detail is needed to ensure potential proposers have complete, consistent and comparable information before submitting proposals,” the county said in the news release.

According to the county, the court chose to close before award to protect the integrity of the process and avoid asking for competition on incomplete information. It hopes reissuing a solicitation will provide a clearer scope for interested parties to compete fairly and for the county to evaluate proposals fairly.

The county said it’s working to obtain more facility, operational, financial, maintenance and transition-related information to support a stronger solicitation.

Future updates about a new solicitation will be made through the county’s official procurement channels, the county said.

The El Paso County Coliseum has long served as a major entertainment venue in the region, hosting boxing matches, concerts, rodeos and other events. It has operated since the 1940s.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 25-year-old man from San Elizario faces an intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle charge after a crash killed a 72-year-old man on the Loop 375 Friday, police said.

According to an arrest affidavit ABC-7 obtained, Julian Lujan allegedly drove his truck the wrong way while intoxicated. Documents said the truck is registered under Lujan’s name.

On Friday at 4:51 a.m., El Paso police officers went to the ramp that connects I-10 East and Loop 375 for a reported crash.

Police alleged Lujan drove the wrong way on Loop 375 going north and crashed head-on into Alberto Gonzalez Juarez’ car.

A witness helped Lujan out of his truck, which was upside down, according to documents. Documents said Lujan told the witness he “messed up” and “should’ve known better since he was a first responder.”

Emergency crews transported Gonzalez Juarez to the hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.

Two officers met with Lujan and noticed he showed signs of intoxication, documents said. Investigators wrote Lujan had an alcoholic beverage smell on his breath and poor balance.

Lujan allegedly refused to do a field sobriety test, documents said. Officers then arrested and transported him for further investigation.

During questioning, Lujan allegedly told police he was driving home from work, according to documents. When an officer asked him if he knew which road he drove, Lujan allegedly said he didn’t know.

The officer said Lujan slurred his speech as he spoke, smelled of alcohol and had red, bloodshot eyes, documents said. He also allegedly said he didn’t know if anyone else was in the truck with him when the crash happened. Documents said he later said he was the only one in the truck.

Lujan allegedly “refused to admit to any drinking,” documents said. He also allegedly said he would “do whatever the officers needed him to do.”

When an officer asked Lujan about giving a breath sample, he allegedly refused, documents said. After the officer explained how blood and breath samples work, Lujan agreed to provide a breath sample.

Documents said authorities sent Lujan to a hospital for medical clearance then sent to the El Paso Police Department headquarters. There, he allegedly admitted to drinking two medium-sized Carta Blanca beers at a local bar and driving the truck at the time of the crash.

Police said the crash marked the 36th traffic death this year compared to 37 at this time last year.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, El Paso County announced it joined a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to withhold 20% of funding for certain grant programs unless states and some local governments comply with new federal requirements governing how elections are conducted.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is part of the DHS, made that decision.

El Paso County joined Harris County, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and the City of Columbus, Ohio. They filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The cities and counties argue the DHS’ new grant conditions would make elections more expensive, difficult to administer and less reliable. They also alleged the conditions violate the Constitution and “jeopardize public safety, El Paso County said.

“Holding critical grant funding hostage to advance a false political narrative is unlawful. It comes at the direct expense of local election offices, law enforcement agencies, and the communities they are entrusted to serve,” said El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez in a statement.

El Paso County said the grants helped local governments prepare for and respond to terrorism, natural disasters and other emergencies. It claimed the new conditions put $1.75 million in funding for law enforcement and more than $170,000 for first-responder equipment at risk.

“Imposing additional requirements is both costly and burdensome, while our law enforcement agencies rely on this funding to purchase critical equipment that helps protect and save lives,”Sanchez said.

Other changes to how elections run include these requirements, according to the county:

Transition to hand-marked paper ballots instead of electronic voting systems.

Manually audit at least 5% of ballots.

Use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify the citizenship of every registered voter and election worker.

El Paso County claimed transitioning to paper ballots could cost $3 million to print ballots. It also claimed manual auditing would “add significant new costs and be contrary to state law in some cases.”

The county also called the SAVE system “error-prone.”

The local governments suing DHS argued the new conditions violate the Constitution’s separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act. El Paso County said the Constitution gives Congress the authority to set the terms of federal spending and provides states with the power to make rules for elections.

El Paso County said it’s asking a judge for an order to “pause” the federal decision and declare the new rules unlawful so the full amount of funding can be released.

Additionally, 25 states and the District of Columbia filed a similar lawsuit asking to block the election conditions in their states. El Paso County said the local governments involved in the lawsuit filed Monday are located in states that didn’t participate in the previous lawsuit.

You can read the full lawsuit below.

Complaint – 26-cv-02886Download

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Miroslava Lem Quinonez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – El Paso Fall Home & Garden Show will return to El Paso Convention Center from Aug. 28-30 with free admission.

The three-day event will feature home improvement, garden vendors, demonstrations and experts on gardening, design and landscaping.

The show will run;

2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 28.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 29.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug.30.

The event will also include cooking seminars with El Paso Community College Culinary.

Parking will be available at the Convention Center parking garage for $13 accepting only cash. A $3 parking coupon will be available online.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (5:55 p.m.) — According to arrest affidavits ABC-7 obtained, Christian Forest Carbajal allegedly exposed himself in public on three separate occasions. The victims who reported him took pictures of his car, which helped investigators find and arrest him, documents said.

First Incident

One affidavit said on April 30, a victim alleged Carbajal touched his private parts with all the windows down near a gym, documents said. The victim alleged he continued after acknowledging her.

“I was leaving the gym at about 12:40 p.m. when I saw a black car parked very close to my car on the driver’s side,” the victim told police, according to the affidavit. “I thought it was weird he was parked next to my car so close. I also thought it was weird he had his windows down because it was raining.”

The victim said she had to squeeze between her car and his. She told investigators she saw Carbajal allegedly touching himself when she looked into his car, documents said.

Documents also said when the victim took pictures of his car, Carbajal allegedly tried to hide himself by sitting lower in his seat. The victim told her husband about the incident, and the gym called police to report Carbajal.

Second Incident

In a separate affidavit, a victim reported Carbajal for allegedly exposing himself in the parking lot of the Sam’s Club in East El Paso on July 4.

Documents said the victim was in the store parking lot with her 3-year-old daughter. Carbajal allegedly parked close to her vehicle.

“I was about to ask him if he could move his car, and mid-sentence, I stopped because I saw what he was doing,” the victim said, according to documents.

Documents alleged Carbajal touched himself with the windows down. He allegedly drove away and circled the parking lot, documents said.

The victim said as she went to a different area of the parking lot, Carbajal allegedly followed her from a distance. She told investigators she took pictures of Carbajal’s car and his license plate.

Third Incident

On July 8, El Paso police went to the Album Park area in East El Paso after a report of “public lewdness,” documents said. At the park, a victim told police she was getting ready for a run when she noticed a shadow in the corner of her eye.

The victim said she saw Carbajal allegedly touching his private parts while his window was down, documents said. The victim alleged Carbajal parked near her, saw her and touched himself, investigators wrote.

The victim alleged Carbajal drove away in a black car, documents said.

Police weren’t able to find Carbajal after the incident near the park. Documents said one of the officers had been assigned to cases involving Carbajal’s car — the incidents near the gym and the Sam’s Club parking lot.

In the previous cases, the victims took photos of the car. Documents said the car was registered to Carbajal.

On July 31, officers conducted surveillance on Carbajal at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store where he worked, police said. Another officer helped conduct a traffic stop and identify Carbajal, documents said. Officers cited and released him.

On Aug. 7, police saw Carbajal’s car without a front license plate, documents alleged. Officers initiated a traffic stop and saw Carbajal was the only person in the car. They then arrested him for indecent exposure, investigators said. He was transported to a command center for booking.

At the command center, a detective allegedly said he was the only person in the black car on the day of the incident at the park, documents said. He allegedly said he went to Album Park to go to his step-dad’s house, investigators wrote.

When authorities showed him a picture one of the victims took, Carbajal allegedly signed the picture and wrote, “This is my vehicle, and it’s me driving.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Police Department on Monday said it arrested and charged a 33-year-old man with indecent exposure.

According to a news release, police arrested Christian Forest Carbajal after he allegedly exposed himself in front of several victims.

Police said they opened an investigation following the report and obtained warrants for three charges of indecent exposure.

Carbajal was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on the charges. His bond totaled $60,000.

Police said anyone with information about Carbajal’s case should contact the police department at (915) 832-4400. The investigation is ongoing.

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Miroslava Lem Quinonez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – El Paso Community College’s women’s half marathon team was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NCJAA) team of the year after earning a team GPA of 3.78 during the 2025-26 academic year.

The team earned the honor after earning the highest GPA among women’s half marathon teams, EPCC said.

EPCC also announced the three other athletic teams earned NJCAA recognition reaching GPAs above 3.0.

Baseball: 3.45.

Softball: 3.36.

Women’s Cross Country: 3.45.

Student athletes were also named to NJCAA All-Academic Teams based on their individuals GPAs.

“These awards celebrate not only academic achievement but also the character and determination that define our programs,” said Felix Hinojosa, director of athletics and head cross country coach at EPCC. “We are proud to see their efforts recognized on a national level.”

NJCAA All-Academic First Team (4.0 GPA)Baseball: Matthew Martinez, Jonathan Meza, Alejandro Ruperto and Pablo VargasSoftball: Danna Castillo, Kimberly Chavez, and Dulce OntiverosWomen’s Cross Country: Frida Kandie

NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80 – 3.99 GPA)Baseball: Jaziel Boekhoudt and Gus KoehnSoftball: Ariel Alvarado and Abigail RiosWomen’s Cross Country and Half Marathon: Maureen Jepkosgei, Antonia Ronoh and Faith Rotich

NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (3.60 – 3.79 GPA)Baseball: Riquelmi Febles, Deule Malave, Jordan Morales and Ihosvany RodriguezWomen’s Cross Country & Half Marathon: Nhamoinesu MabvukaMen’s Cross Country & Half Marathon: Joaquin Moya

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A car caught fire on Loop 375 near Mile Marker 19 on Transmountain Monday, according to the El Paso Fire Department. One person was sent to the hospital, EPFD said.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) cameras showed the car drove off the highway. El Paso fire confirmed it happened before 6 p.m.

A photo of a car that drove off Transmountain on Loop 375.(Courtesy: TxDOT)

Mile Marker 19 is between LP 375 at Tom Mays Park and Museums.

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Andrew J. Polk

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Socorro Independent School District will be asking voters to approve nearly $50 million in funding from a tax increase in the next election.

The SISD Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved putting a Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election or VATRE item on the Nov. 3rd ballot for voters in the district.

If approved, the district’s Proposition A would be expected to bring the district an additional $49.2 million in additional funding for the current and each future fiscal year.

According to a release from SISD, Prop A would cost the owner of an average $250,000 home in the district an additional $10 per month in taxes.

The district says it would use the increase in funds to support teacher and staff compensation, student programs, safety and security, technology, and HVAC and bus replacements.

“On behalf of Socorro ISD, I want to express my appreciation to community members for their dedication and thoughtful discussions during this process,” Socorro ISD Superintendent James Vasquez said in the release. “I also want to recognize the Board of Trustees for their leadership and service to our district. This proposal aligns with the district goals, student programs, and community priorities.”

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously approved it’s new tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year budget, which is expected to be approved and enacted this October.

In a quiet public hearing in Downtown Monday night, only three residents appeared for public comment, voicing their opposition for the tax rate first discussed in last Monday’s meeting.

“By not taking the voter approved rate, we have $46 million less to do the things that people have discussed,” Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso County Judge said Monday night.

For next year’s budget, a $0.451113 tax rate will be used, which is the “No-New-Revenue Rate” the county typicallys use

The reasoning for this is because of the voter-approved rate, which gives the county flexibility to address various needs and negotiate the final rate.

In regards to the public’s frustrations, commissioners urged their constitutions to vent their frustrations to their state legislators in Austin.

“I really hope that people will go and talk to their state legislators,” said David Stout, the commissioner for Precinct 2. “Ask them to put a moratorium on unfunded mandates for counties, because that is really what’s driving your county budget up.”

A second public hearing on the tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 14th, when the county could adopt the proposed budget.

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