Nichole Gomez
El Paso, Texas (KVIA-TV)-The CDC reports that vaccine exemptions among kindergartners have hit an all-time high. The executive director for Immunize El Paso, Henry Brutus, talks about vaccine hesitancy and how current vaccination rates are becoming an increasing concern in the El Paso community.
Heriberto Perez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Catholic Diocese of El Paso and various Borderland community leaders and officials will hold a news conference today at 1 p.m. to address the impact several recent immigration policies and executive orders signed by President Trump could have on the border.
In a press release, the Diocese mentioned they will be joined by y Dr. Glen Fennelly, M.D., MPH, Board President of Doctors of the World USA; Leah Hanany, EPISD Board Trustee Representing District 1; and Melissa Lopez, Executive Director of La Estrella de El Paso, among others.
The Hope Border Institute also mentioned they will join the news conference to address the reversal of the Sensitive Locations Policy which protects schools, hospitals, social service agencies, and places of worship from indiscriminate immigration enforcement actions; the statement said.
City representatives, County authorities, and EPISD officials are also set to join the conference.
“In the face of unprecedented actions to shut down our border, threats to engage in a campaignof mass deportations, and the elimination of crucial protections at the heart of community security with the reversal of the Sensitive Locations Policy, our borderlands community is sending a clear message that we remain united in protecting our identity as a welcoming community,” said Dylan Corbett, Executive Director at the Hope Border Institute.
ABC-7 will livestream the news conference which starts at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
More updates in later newscasts.
ABC17NEWS
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops cookies
D. Coluccio & Sons has recalled its Colussi Canturini Chocolate Drops.
The company issued the recall for the 300-gram blue packages because the cookies may contain undeclared almonds, which puts those allergic to nuts at risk of an allergic reaction.
The Food and Drug Administration says the cookies were sold at stores nationwide and by mail.
The product has a UPC 8002590006020, marked with lot numbers 3540152 BBD 15-01-2025 and lot number L354150 BBD 29-05-2025 on the back of the bag.
No illnesses have been reported, according to the FDA. Consumers are urged to return the cookies to where they purchased them.
Vornado Air space heaters
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled nearly 8,000 Vornado VH2 Whole Room Heaters.
According to the agency, the heater’s power cord can detach and get damaged, which poses electric shock and fire hazards.
The recalled heaters are off-white and have a red “V” printed on the front of the unit with the word “Vornado” and were sold on Amazon between August and October 2024.
The impacted units have a “JUL24” and “AUG24” date code.
CPSC urges users to stop using the heaters immediately and to contact Vornado for a free replacement.
Jeep Cherokee recall
Stellantis has recalled over 63,000 Jeep Cherokees.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the recall was issued because the vehicle’s power transfer unit may become damaged due to a poorly seated input shaft ring. Federal regulators say it can cause the vehicle to lose power or lose its park function, which increases the risk of a crash.
This recall impacts certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles.
Chrysler has not said how it will fix the problem but says owners will be notified by mail by Feb. 13.
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, Texas (KVIA-TV)-NAMI El Paso is working to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health conditions through education, support, and advocacy. They will be offering NAMI basics, which is a free class for parents and caregivers of children who may be experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions. It provides tools, resources, and support to help them navigate challenges and advocate effectively. Classes are free and led by experienced facilitators. If you are interested in the free classes, NAMI El Paso has all the upcoming courses, support groups, and events. You can find the information here: namiep.org/upcoming.
Isabella Martinez
EL PASO, TX (KVIA) — El Paso County Commissioners are set to discuss the recent federal executive orders and Department of Justice directives on immigration during their meeting later this morning.
County Judge Ricardo Samaniego has already emphasized the county’s commitment to community safety and support.
In a press conference last week, County Attorney Christina Sanchez reiterated that her office does not ask about immigration status when helping individuals, particularly those seeking protective orders for domestic violence.
“We will work to ensure that when they go to the courthouse to have their hearing heard, that they feel safe and that their their well-being is not jeopardized.” Sanchez said. “Because immigration status at the end of the day, when you’re talking about public safety and law enforcement response, should have no bearing in how you react to that. “
Sanchez says this is not the first time the county deals with this situation, recalling the 2017 incident when ICE agents arrested a transgender woman, a convicted criminal in the country illegally, while she was filing a protective order at the El Paso County Courthouse. She anticipates challenges in the coming months, including a potential decline in individuals seeking help from law enforcement, as they did back in 2017.
Sanchez is also calling on local lawyers to volunteer for pro bono work, “If there’s ever a time to use that legal license and your legal background for something and you want to help your community, this is it now,” she said.
The Commissioners Court meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse. Stay with ABC-7 for the latest development.
Nicole Ardila
Local El Paso jails are almost at capacity, and if local law enforcement is forced to house migrants in those facilities, the El Paso County Sheriff worries that it would cause problems for the county.
“We don’t have the manpower, we do not have the training, you know, to go after immigration,” said Sheriff Oscar Ugarte.
Sheriff Ugarte said they still haven’t met with federal authorities about orders to detain migrants in their jails.
Yet he says a lot of questions are up in the air if they are forced to — such as if they’ll get federal funding, or if it’s even legal. That’s something he said would need to be considered with the county attorney once they do get executive orders.
And the biggest worry he says, is capacity.
“We don’t have the resources,” said Ugarte. “As we stand right now, detention officers, we are short on staff. Deputy patrol officers, we are short on staff and our infrastructure. We don’t have the bed space right now. We’re almost at capacity.”
The Annex has a capacity of 1,896 inmates, and currently has 1,751 already.
Ugarte said while his deputies are not working with customs and border patrol right now, they are understaffed and working a large amount of overtime — an issue that can worsen if they are ordered to follow federal immigration laws and President Trump’s Administration policies which he said he does not agree with.
“I think it’s going to cause a great separation and trust issues between law enforcement and the community,” said the Sheriff. “I believe a lot of crimes are going to go unreported because they will feel fear, you know, in calling local law enforcement because they might be deported.”
Sheriff Ugarte said that their office is not focusing on immigration laws, and that their main priority is public safety.
KTVZ
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The founder of a Bend nonprofit that fights to prevent human trafficking revealed Thursday that he’s the person behind the “googly eyes” affixed to numerous pieces of roundabout art in recent months, a prank that drew international attention.
Jeff Keith was not immediately available for an interview.
Here’s the full news release revealing the humorous moves that Keith says “took on a life of its own,” followed by the city response sent to KTVZ News:
Behind the Laughs: The Story of Bend’s Googly Eyes and the Fight Against Sex Trafficking
How a Lighthearted Act Became a Metaphor for Awareness and Vigilance
BEND, OREGON—Bend, Oregon, has recently become the unlikely home to a series of googly eyes placed on sculptures throughout the city. These unexpected additions have sparked smiles, laughter, and widespread curiosity, even earning global media attention from outlets like BBC and a playful mention on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
However, the story behind these googly eyes is about much more than simple mischief. Jeff Keith, the person behind the trend, has quietly used these acts of lighthearted creativity as a form of self-care, balancing the emotional toll of his intense work at a national nonprofit that focuses on identifying young trafficking victims online to law enforcement for recovery in the United States.
That nonprofit is Guardian Group, a Bend-based organization dedicated to combating human trafficking in the United States. For over a decade, Guardian Group has worked 24/7 and 365 days to prevent and disrupt the trafficking of women and children. Since launching its victim identification program in 2018, the organization has partnered with law enforcement across 33 states, identifying over 1,011 potential victims of trafficking.
In 2022, Guardian Group expanded its reach with the launch of Project 1591®, a groundbreaking volunteer-driven initiative that has already led to 650 victim identifications. Project 1591® represents a monumental step in scaling victim recovery efforts. The program leverages a global team of 188 certified volunteers across 36 states and 12 countries. Together, they have contributed over 6,800 investigative hours, saving resource-strapped law enforcement agencies valuable time while directly enabling victim recovery and trafficker accountability.
“I’ve always used pranks and humor to relieve the stress of my work with Guardian Group, but I never expected a prank like this to take on a life of its own,” said Jeff Keith, the organization’s founder. “I understand the city’s concerns, and I’m in conversation to address any unintended effects. But even when I’m just trying to bring a little levity, my mind always drifts back to the mission. It’s hard not to see the connection. Just like the googly eyes made people pause and notice something new, my work at Guardian Group is about stopping and recognizing the realities of human trafficking happening in our communities.”
Guardian Group invites the public to learn more and donate to strengthen their efforts at combatting trafficking. Every contribution helps expand the organization’s programs and enhances its ability to identify victims, disrupt trafficking networks, and bring perpetrators to justice.
—
Asked for any comment or response by KTVZ News, the City of Bend provided this statement:
“The City staff is focused on City operations, wildfire preparedness, Council Goals and budget development. Our understanding is that a community member may be interested in recognizing the impact of the googly eyes, but we are not pursuing anything at this time nor are City staff in direct conversations with him.”
Heriberto Perez
JUAREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Mayor of Juárez Cruz Pérez Cuéllar spoke this morning about recent deportation flights by the Trump administration saying the city has not seen a rise in the flow of people yet or deportees since last week.
“In some ways, it is positive that the deportations are in some cases by plane and to different countries, because one of the fears we have is that all deportations that the United States Government are conducting could arrive here at the border; In this case, we have seen that if you are from Colombia you go to Colombia, if you are from Guatemala you go to Guatemala and if you are from Mexico you are welcome as the program ‘México te Abraza’ says, that keeps us in a calm situation and I hope we continue that way,” said Mayor Pérez Cuéllar.
Today Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum also said her country has received 4,094 migrant deportees since last week, mostly Mexican nationals.
“So far there has not been a substantive increase, a few days that decreased with the start of President Trump, but if we take it by week it is a number that our country has had on other occasions,” President Sheinbaum said.
Lauren Bly
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — ABC-7 talked to residents in the Sunland Park, New Mexico neighborhood who say they feel migrant crossings have slowed down within this last week, since President Trump took office. They say that they have seen a larger presence of law enforcement, and therefore more arrests.
“We’ve been seeing a lot more Border Patrol, but as far as seeing people we’re seeing lot more people getting caught,” Mrs. Aguilar, resident of Sunland Park.
The Sunland Park Fire Chief, Daniel Medrano, says this time of year is what he calls a “slow season” for migrant crossings.
“We haven’t seen a change at all. To be quite honest with this is a slow season, for rescues and for my department in this area,” Daniel Medrano, Sunland Park Fire Chief.
Isabella Martinez
EL PASO, TX (KVIA) — The El Paso Promise Program, a new county initiative, is focused on providing job skills, workforce training, and educational opportunities for youth who have previously been in the justice system.
Precinct 4 County Commissioner Sergio Coronado has been working on this initiative since 2018. He told ABC-7 this is something critical in our community, that will also help the county save resources.
“We’ll commit with them, if they commit to us for 2 or 3 days out of the week and make sure their attendance sets up, their grades are up,” Coronado said. “It’s a win-win because we keep them out of the justice system, that saves us resources and money, and then we provide them with workforce training or education.”
Coronado told ABC-7 that 93% of individuals arrested between the ages of 17 and 28 lack education beyond a high school diploma, according to a sampling he obtained.
“It’s going to be the model program, not just for the state, but for the country,” Coronado emphaszied.
He also mentioned the program has required minimal funding from the county, they currently only have one paid position for the lead coordinator who will help organize it. Coronado says he anticipates two-thirds of the funding to come from private sector contributions and one third from public entities.
The program is already gaining traction, during Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting, the court approved several partnerships with organizations like Project ARRIBA, Ysleta Community Learning Center and Center for Employment training. These partnerships will provide educational and workforce training opportunities to the participants.
Project ARRIBA is a local nonprofit organization that has been investing in El Pasoans’ futures for 25 years. ABC-7 spoke to Roman Ortiz, CEO of Project ARRIBA, who says being part of the success stories is ‘wonderful.’
Through this partnership, participants in the El Paso Promise Program will receive a personalized case management design.
“Our case managers not only help them with, tuition, books, materials and supplies, but we also can help with daycare assistance,” Ortiz explained. “Participants will meet with their case manager on a weekly basis, which teaches them time management skills, teaches them to work well in groups, and then also helps them develop for the workplace.”
Ortiz says he has seen graduates of Project ARRIBA earn up to $60,000 a year compared to less than $12,000 before they started. “For every 100 people that start our program, about 94 are continuing on 12 months later, and it takes about two and a half years to get people graduated,” he said.
He also highlighted the current impact the organization has had in the county, “For every dollar that’s invested in Project ARRIBA, $28 is being returned back into the El Paso County, that we’ve now added over $893 million in economic income, powered by getting people off of poverty and into the middle class.”
The El Paso Promise Program is focusing on providing pathways to high-demand careers in fields such as healthcare, IT, and education.
Commissioner Coronado noted the program was inspired by existing promise programs in other Texas cities, “By having an educated workforce, we can start to attract other industries, just like Dallas did, just like San Antonio did,” he said.
The first phase of the El Paso Promise Program will focus on those involved in the justice system, but Coronado said they already have plans to expand the program countywide in the future.
For more information on the program or if you are interested in becoming a partner, you can call 915-273-3353 or email EPpromise@epcountytx.gov
