Category: kvia-local-news

Carpio Griego

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in El Paso reached nearly $5, according to the American Automobile Association. As of Wednesday, AAA said drivers in El Paso are paying an average of $4.49.

AAA said the average price last year was $2.88.

People like UTEP student Leslie Ruiz, are feeling he impact on their wallets saying she commutes to school and only works part time in addition to having to use premium gas for her car.

“I think it’s crazy, personally I use premium gas, so it’s almost $6,” Ruiz said. “I have to use like $80 to fill it up.”

Ruiz even said she has even had to ask her mom for gas money.

Crude oil prices also remain high amid the war in Iran, which has been impacting how the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

AAA spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said this is because the Straight of Hormuz ships one fifth of the world’s oil supply and the global oil markets can be disrupted because there is not enough pipeline to replace the production.

University of Texas at El Paso Economics Professor Tom Fullerton said the connection to crude oil prices and what people pay at the pump comes from multiple factors but the proportional increase works out 3 cents at the pump for every dollar the price of crude oil goes up but added this alone would only lead to $2.64 per gallon.

The conflict in the Middle East, he said, is something he doesn’t see ending soon which is why he said as a result gas and oil prices are not likely to come down either because of the consequences it has on the energy sector.

“Wars are easy to get into, but difficult to end,” Fullerton said.

Fullerton added that the rest of the added costs leading to the $4.49 average is a combination of shipping costs as well as taxes at the state and federal level.

Another effect of the continued conflict in the Straight of Hormuz that translates to the borderland according to Fullerton is higher inflation and interest rates which he said leads to less disposable income and less profits for businesses.

This, Fullerton said, leads to lower demand for labor or less jobs as well as more bankruptcy filings than normal in Las Cruces and El Paso.

It’s this ‘energy shock’ as Fullerton put it which has not had a down turn why he said he cannot rule out a possible recession if conditions do not change.

Ruiz said she doesn’t know what the solution is, but thinks there should be less of a burden for people at the gas station.

To find gas prices you can go to GasBuddy’s website here.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-Weekend Closure Scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard as the Borderland Expressway Project Advances.

Drivers planning to use Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard this weekend are advised to prepare for significant detours due to a full road closure tied to ongoing construction on the Borderland Expressway.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the closure will begin at 4 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, and will continue through 6 a.m. on Monday, October 12. The affected stretch runs from Stan Roberts to the New Mexico state line, impacting both northbound and southbound lanes.

The closure will allow crews to complete paving and move barriers, as well as apply new striping and finish other key tasks needed to redirect traffic onto newly constructed temporary lanes. “This is the second major traffic switch for the project this year,” said Lauren Macias-Cervantes, spokesperson for TxDOT. “Each switch brings us closer to the final roadway configuration, while allowing traffic to keep moving during construction.”

Following the switch, southbound vehicles on MLK will use the new temporary lanes, and northbound traffic will be rerouted onto a newly constructed overpass. Both directions will provide access to the main lanes of the Borderland Expressway.

The Borderland Expressway project aims to eventually create a 7-mile corridor, with the current closure representing just one phase of the larger effort. Drivers are reminded to stay alert for changing traffic patterns, construction crews, and equipment in the area. The speed limit through the work zone remains 55 miles per hour.

TxDOT encourages all motorists to plan alternate routes and exercise caution throughout the weekend closure as work on the Borderland Expressway progresses.

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Mikey Tongko

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Flu season is underway, and Immunize El Paso encourages residents to get their annual flu shot before it spreads.

Immunize El Paso Director Ivan Luna said getting the vaccine is one of the easiest ways to avoid the flu and protect others in the community.

“We are in the middle of the flu season. So it’s important to get vaccinated to prevent getting sick and to protect your loved ones. To protect your circle.” Luna said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said children should start getting their annual flu shot after they turn six months.

Luna said there are more than one type of flu shot available. Immunize El Paso offers:

Fluad — A high-dose flu vaccine for adults 65 years and older Fluarix — A standard-dose flu vaccine for people 6 months and older Flucelvax — A cell-based, egg-free flu vaccine for people 6 months and older mFlusiva — An mRNA-based flu vaccine for adults 50 years and older

The organization said September and October are generally good times for most people to get vaccinated, giving the body time to build protection before flu activity increases.

Luna said flu season can continue into the spring, so people shouldn’t think it’s “too late” to get vaccinated after the fall.

Immunize El Paso has two clinic locations in El Paso, and also offers an outreach program for people who may have difficulty traveling to a clinic. Its mobile service can provide vaccinations at someone’s home at no additional cost with an appointment.

Its clinics are at 1400 George Dieter Dr. #225 and 6292 Trowbridge Dr.

According to its website, Immunize El Paso will also have public flu clinics, but is currently updating the schedule. It will update at this link.

The organization says its mobile service can provide vaccinations in the home at no additional cost with an appointment.

For more information or to schedule a vaccination, Immunize El Paso can be reached at 915-533-3414. You can also book an appointment online.

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Nicole Ardila

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — After two months of waiting, El Paso residents were invited by the Marathon Refinery in South-Central El Paso to a meet-and-greet presentation and forum organized at Riverside High School in the Lower Valley on Tuesday night.

Elected officials at the city and state level from Mayor Renard Johnson to State Rep. Vincent Perez were present and spoke to attendees who hoped to receive accountability from the company, according to them.

But to the hundreds of residents who attended, and even other city officials, the entire event was not what they had hoped out of Marathon.

El Paso’s Marathon Refinery general manager spoke with reporters before the meeting started, but didn’t take any questions.

Marathon Refinery officials shared details about an “odor event” that happened Aug. 4. (Courtesy: KVIA)

“I had very low expectations for tonight, and it didn’t even meet that,” City Representative Josh Acevedo said.

For nearly an hour, Marathon officials shared details of the Aug. 4 incident — which they referred to as an “odor event.”

Preliminary reports show that the El Paso Marathon Refinery released more than 15 tons of pollutants on August 4, and now residents are encouraged to join their public meeting on Tuesday to learn about the investigation results. 

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality previously reported that the refinery released 20 air contaminant compounds, including nearly 4,000 pounds of carbon monoxide, over 1,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and more than 10,000 pounds of propylene.

The El Paso Hispanic Chamber says the meeting is expected to discuss the air monitoring results, operational changes, improvements to community notification and details of the release of contaminants.

Some nearby residents said the gases irritated their eyes and caused nausea, and several others even reported smelling a strong odor during the incident.

Sisters Connie and Josie Hernandez have lived in El Paso for over 60 years and currently reside just a few blocks from the Marathon Refinery, and they say they have every intention of attending this meeting to demand transparency.

“I’m hoping that this meeting will bring some sort of commitment, accountability from them to place safety features,” said Josie. “Because it’s our lives, it’s our lives, and I think most of us did not realize that until this big flare up happened.”

The sisters told ABC-7 they remember working outside at the time of the flare-up, and smelling what they called “toxic air.”

Now, Josie says they’re concerned for their health, knowing now what’s in the fumes and realizing that they’re ingesting the fumes daily.

She told ABC-7 exactly what she experienced that moment while doing her yard work.

“I noticed that the flame was like really roaring, and I called Connie and I said ‘Look at this thing!” Josie says. “It was dark with the orange flame and it was really nasty looking, but I didn’t know what had happened until I heard the news later on that night. So when I found out, I said ‘Gee, that’s a lot of stuff that we ingested’ and we’re like maybe three blocks away from it.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, some residents said they didn’t get the answers they wanted.

“We know that nothing’s really going to happen, they keep saying if it happens again, it’s going to happen again. We know it’s going to happen again,” Chris Telles said.

Rep. Acevedo said Marathon could have gone in a different direction about the incident report.

“They could have had a map in sight that said, if you want to go talk about the emissions, go over here: the pollution, the health scare, or whatever. They did this as a very performative measure, something to check the box.” Acevedo said.

Marathon declined an interview with ABC-7 prior to Tuesday.

Marathon Refinery leadership, including Vice President Les Davis and Operations Director Bryan Hass offered an official apology to Lower Valley residents and presented a detailed breakdown of the August 4 chemical release.

Company executives outlined how a mechanical failure escalated into a widespread chemical odor event and disclosed official emergency response timelines and air monitoring readings.

How the Release Happened

According to Marathon, the incident originated at the refinery’s Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC) described by officials as the “heart of the refinery” that breaks down crude oil into gasoline and diesel.

3:00 PM: An internal electrical glitch caused the FCC charge pumps to trip, triggering an automated emergency shutdown. 5:20 PM – 5:30 PM: Engineers made adjustments and attempted a unit restart. However, pressure and temperature issues in the gas recovery section caused Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) to mix improperly with gasoline. Hydrocarbon Leak: The volatile mixture was routed into Tank 4118. Unable to contain the LPG vapor, airborne hydrocarbons escaped into the surrounding neighborhood, creating strong odors. System Changes: Marathon confirmed Tank 4118 has since been removed from service to prevent future leaks.

Emergency Response & Communication Delays

Community members raised sharp questions regarding the hours-long delay between the initial internal failure and public notification.

Time Event / Action Taken 3:00 PM Initial electrical failure occurs; FCC shuts down automatically. 8:29 PM Facility personnel begin formal investigation of hydrocarbon odor. 8:45 PM El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) is notified. 8:55 PM Initial contact made with 911 dispatch. 9:19 PM On-site industrial emergency response team deploys (125 industrial firefighters). 9:44 PM First community 911 call logged. 10:30 PM Local elected officials and news media are officially notified.

Marathon leadership acknowledged severe communication breakdowns, admitting their phone systems failed after being flooded with over 500 resident calls. Executives conceded the facility was unprepared for the volume, leaving hundreds of calls unanswered, a delay community members labeled unacceptable.

Air Quality Readings vs. Resident Health Concerns

Marathon presented air monitoring data collected during the incident, arguing that volatile organic compound (VOC) levels remained well below established industrial hazard guidelines (such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association threshold of 200 PPM over 8 hours).

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Out of 628 air readings, monitors detected VOCs 4 times, with levels ranging between 0.4 PPM and 6.1 PPM. Hydrogen Sulfide: 0 detections across 623 readings. Sulfur Dioxide: 0 detections across 304 readings.

Health experts note that inhaling concentrated VOCs can trigger nausea, headaches, dizziness, and severe respiratory symptoms in asthmatics.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Water customers can manage their water use and payments through a new app.

The utility said the MyEPWater app will make it easier for customers to manage their accounts, monitor usage and access information to help save water — and maybe some money.

Users can set up customizable alerts, pay their bills and view payment history.

EPWater said it hopes the app will modernize customer service and make managing water more convenient.

The app is available to download for Apple and Android devices. The utility said to search for “MyEPWater” in their app store.

Existing My Account users can sign in with their current credentials, while first-time users can register through the app.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Two cars and a Sun Metro bus crashed in West El Paso on Tuesday, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

EPFD said it happened at Belvidere and N Mesa Street just after 3 p.m.

In a statement sent to ABC-7, Sun Metro said one of the other cars lost control after crashing. That vehicle then hit the bus while it was stopped at a light.

“A Sun Metro bus carrying six passengers was involved in a chain-reaction collision today. We are grateful that the passengers and the bus driver were not injured. According to initial reports, the bus was stopped at a traffic signal when it was struck by a vehicle that lost control after being involved in another collision. El Paso Police were called to the scene. As part of standard protocol El Paso Police and Sun Metro will review the incident. A back-up bus was promptly dispatched so passengers could continue the route.”

At the crash site, ABC-7 saw two sedans and the bus.

Pictures of a crash involving two cars and a Sun Metro bus in West El Paso.(Courtesy: KVIA)

Officials are still assessing the scene and haven’t confirmed whether anyone has been sent to the hospital. Sun Metro said six passengers were on board at the time of the crash. It said the bus passengers and the driver weren’t injured.

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Gabrielle Lopez

CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) — The final structural beam went into place on Tuesday for the future Canutillo Middle School campus. To celebrate, the Canutillo Independent School District held a Topping Out Ceremony for the milestone in the $106.7 million project.

The new middle school campus’ funding came from the 2024 Canutillo Bond. The district said the new campus will serve the Upper Valley portion of the district as it grows.

It will also replace the current Canutillo Middle School located on Bosque Road, which is more than 40 years old. CISD said the current campus has “substantial and instructional needs.”

Students and teachers weren’t the only Canutillo community members watching the beam rise into place. CMS Principal Andrea Esparza said the school’s custodians joined the ceremony.

“It’s the heart of our school, starting from the custodians all the way up to our students and teachers,” Esparza said. “We want everyone to share that welcoming vibe.”

The beam was painted white to stand out from the other beams. Community members scribbled messages onto the beam.

Construction crews placed the final structural beam on the new Canutillo Middle School campus. It was painted white to stand out from the other beams already in place.(Courtesy: KVIA)

Esparza said the new campus will bring in new families and new traditions.

“We are putting this in the center of the Upper Valley, where we are welcoming and enjoying the new kids that are coming into our campus,” Esparza said.

She emphasized that students and staff can expect modern spaces to collaborate with each other at the new campus.

Construction for the new CMS campus started in November 2025. The district said it expects construction to finish in late 2027.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A teenager is accused of a hit-and-run that killed another teen, Doña Ana County said. Authorities arrested the suspect teen on a murder charge.

The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the teen’s death.

The hit-and-run happened Monday around 5:30 p.m. at the 3800 block of South Main Street near the Dove Canyon Trailer Park. Deputies went to the area for the reported hit-and-run.

According to the county, a group of teenagers planned to meet at the trailer park after an argument. A verbal argument started.

While one of the teens tried to leave, another allegedly stood in front of the vehicle. The driver allegedly hit the other teen with the vehicle, the county said.

The teen who was hit later died from their injuries at a hospital.

Authorities took the driver into custody and booked them on the following charges: first-degree murder with a depraved state of mind and aggravated battery.

Since those involved are teens, officials haven’t released any information about their identities. The investigation is ongoing.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced on Monday that four school districts across the state will undergo a detailed review to “ensure taxpayer funds are being spent responsibly.” One was the El Paso Independent School District.

In a news release, the Texas Comptroller announced the selection of Austin, Barbers Hill, Prosper and El Paso school districts for these performance reviews.

EPISD has around 46,244 students enrolled across all its schools.

“This review is an important step to ensure transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds,” Huffines said. “I’ve informed Gov. Greg Abbott about the school districts we are examining. Our office is committed to providing a clear assessment that helps Texans understand how their education dollars are being used.”

The release also says Texas Governor Greg Abbott formally requested the Huffines Performance Review back in August, which will examine “whether district spending complies with state law and is directed toward students, classrooms and teachers, rather than toward administrative expansion or non‑instructional bureaucracy.”

The final reports are scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026, which will give the 90th Legislature sufficient time to consider any reform recommendations, the news release added.

ABC-7 has reached out to EPISD, EPISD’s board president and vice president for comment.

EPISD Board of Trustees vice president and chair of the audit committee Dr. Jack Loveridge said he heard rumors about these reviews the last time Texas Gov. Greg Abbott came to El Paso in August.

“I’m a bit surprised at the way they’re proceeding with this review at the state level because it’s unusual to use the Comptroller’s Office in this way,” said Dr. Loveridge. “It raises questions of what the ultimate objective of a review like this is, but we’re ready for it as a school district, I’m sure.”

“Looking into it, I haven’t seen another example of the Comptroller’s Office being used in quite this way because usually this is done by the Legislative Budget Board,” Dr. Loveridge added. “A review like this would have open and very clear objectives and the criteria for which these schools were selected.”

On social media, EPISD Board President Leah Hanany shared the following statement:

“The Comptroller’s focus on administrative spending reflects a concern that this Board had already identified and begun addressing well before this review was announced.

In July 2025, Dr. Jack Loveridge and I requested an analysis from El Paso ISD’s independent Internal Audit Department because we believed the district’s administrative structure and costs warranted closer scrutiny. That concern was part of a broader recognition that the district needed stronger financial discipline, a leaner administrative structure, and a more sustainable operating model — with resources directed as closely as possible to students, teachers and campuses.

Since taking office, Dr. Brian Lusk has moved quickly to address those challenges. Under his leadership, the district has reduced 851 positions, including 326 central-office and non-campus positions, eliminated vacancies, reviewed contracts and operating expenses, strengthened financial controls and forecasting, and restructured central-office staff. The goal throughout has been to ensure that a greater share of the district’s resources is supporting the work closest to students.

The financial context was significant. From the end of the 2021-22 budget cycle through 2025-26, the district’s General Fund reserves declined by approximately $100 million during the prior administration, reflecting several years in which recurring operating deficits were covered in part by drawing down reserves. By 2026, it was clear that the district needed not only to reduce administrative costs, but also to restore structural balance and put its finances on a sustainable path.

The progress since then has been substantial. A projected $37 million deficit for 2026-27 was reduced to approximately $4.3 million when the budget was adopted, and additional savings identified since then are expected to eliminate that remaining deficit. The district is now positioned for its first balanced budget in several years while maintaining more than $60 million in reserves.

So, to the extent the Comptroller is saying El Paso ISD needed to take a hard look at administrative spending and financial sustainability, we agree. We reached that conclusion ourselves, began the work before this review was announced, and have taken significant steps to correct it.”

“I’m very confident that EPISD, at least right now, after all that we’ve done: we cut our budget by 10%, we have gone through some very painful layoffs that have affected our whole community and most importantly, we’ve changed from one administration to another a year ago, which means that year on year, excessive spending really has come under control as we are fixing that,” Dr. Loveridge added.

EPISD also sent to us the following statement:

“El Paso ISD’s strong academic gains in the Texas Education Agency accountability ratings, including a two-point increase over last year’s score and the district’s highest gains in five years, reflect its steadfast commitment to student success and directing resources to the classroom.

Since Dr. Brian Lusk became superintendent in December 2025, the district has reduced 326 central-office and non-campus positions, eliminated vacancies, reassessed contracts, streamlined operating expenses, and strengthened financial controls and transparency. 

The district recently launched a Financial Budget Dashboard, available at:

http://www.episd.org/financialdashboard

and shared details of its Financial Stability Plan at:  

http://www.episd.org/fsp.

El Paso ISD will continue working to improve efficiency and align resources with current needs while partnering with the State of Texas to advance outcomes for El Paso’s children.”

“The runway for this audit will go through December 31, so I do wonder what is the overall objective and why are we constantly using fear in public education finance to get what we want from a political perspective?,” Dr. Loveridge also said. “I think that’s very concerning coming from the state level; it’s on us to be open and honest and to make sure that we put the people of El Paso and most importantly, the students of El Paso ISD first.”

Vice President Loveridge added, the district will have 100% cooperation with the state of Texas and with the Comptroller’s Office during this performance review until the end of the year.

“The district stands in a much stronger financial position than it did a year ago; we know where our major challenges lie, and I think that it’s very much incumbent upon this administration to meet those challenges,” Dr. Loveridge added. “It’s our job as the board of trustees to hold them accountable and to make sure that they deliver right by the public.”

“I do want the public to know they need not be worried about this in terms of saying that EPISD is in trouble, because it is not in trouble with the state of Texas.” “We’ve heard every single one from TEA saying that we’re nowhere near the concerns that would be required for a state takeover, so that’s not what this means at all,” Dr. Loveridge added.

ABC-7 also reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office for comment; they referred us to this news release regarding the Governor’s request for the Comptroller to investigate school district finances and ensure taxpayer dollars reach students and teachers.

EPISD Board of Trustees will have a meeting next Monday, October 12, 2026.

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Mia Tricarico

DOÑA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KVIA) — After severe flooding, Doña Ana County leaders unanimously approved a local emergency disaster declaration Tuesday. The declaration aims to fast-track relief, unlock emergency funding and streamline the recovery process for residents.

Preliminary damage estimates across the county and surrounding jurisdictions have already topped $17 million, a figure officials expect to rise as floodwaters continue to recede and assessments progress.

Emergency Manager Amanda Bowen briefed commissioners on the extent of the storm’s toll, noting that while the southern part of the county was hit hardest initially, subsequent rainfall hammered northern areas, leaving virtually no corner of Doña Ana County untouched.

Some areas received 5-8 inches of rain over a short window. Some regions logged more than 8 inches within the last 30 days.

Despite widespread property damage and access issues, Bowen said the immediate life safety threat has passed, largely due to proactive evacuations and the performance of regional flood control systems.

While local drainage infrastructure reached, exceeded, and overtopped capacity, officials emphasized that the structures prevented a worse disaster.

“We didn’t fail,” said Commissioner Manuel Sanchez. Sanchez pointed out the sheer rarity of the weather patterns. “We’re not planning to have two 100-year events back-to-back.”

The emergency declaration opens up critical operational flexibility, allows the county to utilize emergency reserves, eases permitting requirements for residents trying to rebuild and positions local governments for state and federal reimbursement.

Bowen presented a preliminary tally of damage costs accumulated so far across local entities:

Doña Ana County Flood Commission: $1,250,000 Doña Ana County Roads: $561,000 Doña Ana County Utilities: $21,000 Animal Control: $2,000 Elephant Butte: $9,000,000 City of Las Cruces: $2,200,000 CRRUA (Camino Real Regional Utility Authority): $1,100,000 Caballo Soil & Water Conservation District: $1,000,000 City of Anthony: $15,000

Officials noted that the county still retains $199,000 from previous disaster relief balances to support initial operations.

Residents can submit descriptions and photo documentation online through the Crisis Track system. For those without internet access, calling 2-1-1 will connect residents with an operator who can complete the intake over the phone.

The county is also seeking funding for Disaster Case Managers, providing each affected household with a single point of contact to navigate relief options. Unmet needs will be escalated to a Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and partner agencies.

Addressing communication accessibility, District 4 Commissioner Susana Chaparro emphasized the need for inclusive outreach, advocating for bilingual, Spanish-speaking case managers to ensure residents without smart devices or English fluency aren’t left behind.

During public comment, local residents voiced frustration over aging infrastructure, unmaintained arroyos and damaged private access routes that currently leave homes with exposed gas and water lines.

One resident urged officials to address long-term river maintenance and route repairs so that roughly 400 local students missing school due to washed-out roads can safely return to class. Community members also noted that neighboring areas like Socorro are actively responding to ongoing flood impacts.

County officials are moving swiftly to finalize signatures and formally petition the state government to issue a state-level emergency declaration, paving the way for additional resources to repair and replace suffering infrastructure.

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