Category: kvia-local-news

Armando Ramirez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, July 19, the community is invited to the opening night for the high school production of “Shrek the Musical” at Coronado High School.

The play was put together by students and faculty from across the El Paso Independent School District, who worked for several weeks on costuming, sets, choreography and much more.

Students from different high schools went through an audition process before they were selected for their roles.

Enzo Barraza said the role of Donkey was one of his dream roles. Once he learned that EPISD would be putting on the production, he auditioned.

“When I got the email, I was like shocked, considering I’m a sophomore and a lot of people are like, seniors,” Barraza said. “I was just like shocked and excited to take on the role.”

The actors had more than a dozen practice runs both in and out of costume. Other students created and finished props, backdrops and other items for the production, while musicians fine-tuned their playing.

Joy Rios, who plays one of the leading roles of Princess Fiona, said everyone involved in the production plays an important part in putting the play together, and that it takes time to get a show like this ready.

“Twelve-hour rehearsals, we’re just sweating, getting it all done — but we’re all working together to make sure the product is as clean and, like, just as magical as can be,” Rios said.

The student playing the titular role of Shrek, Ruben Martinez, explained to ABC-7 that he has been apart of EPISD’s summer musical productions five times and shared some words for those wanting to get into theatre.

“Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid about what other people think of you, and don’t be afraid of what might happen. Just go out there and shoot your shot and it might work, it might not. Keep on trying again and you’ll have fun,” Martinez said.

Students will perform “Shrek” July 15-18 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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Rishi Oza

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A Little League Baseball team based in Horizon has already made history, and it’s about to cement its in El Paso sports history.

Horizon Elite is headed to the 14u Little League Regionals next week — the furthest an El Paso team has ever made.

With a couple wins, the team will be moving to Michigan for a chance to win the whole thing.

“It’s been a good ride. The boys are not finished yet,” said Raymundo Valdez, head coach for Horizon Elite. “At the end of the day, they’re the ones that are performing out on the field, and we’re just here enjoying the ride with them.” 

The team has had the full support of the community. Registration and travel for the tournament have cost near $100,000, but donations from companies and individuals has helped.

“We try to raise as much to basically take some of the burden off of the parents, because this is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often,” said Jorge Gaspar, president of the region for Little League. He brought Little League to the region 3 years ago.

“The exposure that these kids are getting, not only for themselves, for the charter, but for our community, is something that I didn’t expect to happen when I brought Little League to the region.” 

The team begins their ride next Thursday, July 23rd. They provide updates on their schedule through their Facebook page, which you can find here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Las Cruces Public Schools announced a new online school open to all of New Mexico Wednesday.

The virtual school, Aspire Online School, serves grades kindergarten through 12th grade, according to a news release.

LCPS said the online school complements the district’s Virtual Learning Academy (VLA), which serves LCPS students in grades three-12. VLA primarily serves students in the Las Cruces area, and Aspire broadens access to eligible students across the state.

The first day of classes on Aspire is July 27, according to LCPS. July 24, there will be a transition day for students starting kindergarten, middle school (sixth grade) and high school (ninth grade).

Additionally, students at Aspire will get a laptop and enhanced Wi-Fi, LCPS said.

The virtual school’s teachers have state certifications, according to a news release. There is also a 24/7 tutoring service, an IT help desk and academic support staff.

“Online learning doesn’t mean learning alone,” Ruiz said. “Every Aspire student will have access to a team of educators and support professionals dedicated to helping them thrive. Whether a family is new to virtual education or has previous experience learning from home, we’re ready to provide the resources, instruction, and personal support students need to succeed,” LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz said.

Students ages 5-21 and live in New Mexico may be eligible to enroll, LCPS said.

The enrollment process is available at https://www.aspirenewmexico.com/  or 575-680-1370. 

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Ysleta Independent School District shared a list of campuses giving free breakfast and lunch meals for the upcoming school year, which starts Aug. 3.

Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), nearly 90% of YISD campuses will provide free lunch, according to the district.

Here is a list of CEP campuses by grade level, according to YISD:

Elementary School

Alicia Chacon International 

Capistrano

Del Valle

Desertaire

Dolphin Terrace

East Point

Eastwood Heights

Eastwood Knolls International

Edgemere International

Glen Cove 

Lancaster

Loma Terrace

Mission Valley

North Loop International

North Star

Parkland 

Pasodale

Pebble Hills

Presa

Ramona

REL Washington Int’l

Riverside

Sageland

Scotsdale

Thomas Manor

Tierra Del Sol

Vista Hills

Ysleta 

Middle School

Bel Air

Del Valle

Eastwood 

Hanks 

Parkland

Riverside

Ysleta

High School

Riverside

Ysleta

Pre-K Centers

Parkland Pre-K

Ysleta Pre-K

Other Campuses

Cesar Chavez Academy

Thrive Academy

Young Women’s Leadership Academy

Valle Verde Early College High School

Parents whose children attend a CEP school don’t have to fill out a lunch application, according to YISD.

According to YISD, high school students at Bel Air, Del Valle, Eastwood, Hanks and Parkland who qualify for reduce-priced lunch will instead get lunch meals for free. The district credited state funding under the General Appropriations Act. However, parents have to fill out a lunch application, which can be found here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (July 16, 2026) — A high-speed pursuit Wednesday morning involved a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper and U.S. Border Patrol, according to a DPS news release.

At 6:33 a.m., a DPS trooper tried to stop a red Jeep on I-10 in Hudspeth County, and the suspected driver — 31-year-old Adrian Leonardo Sandoval — failed to yield, prompting the pursuit.

During the chase, Sandoval allegedly drove over 100 miles per hour, according to DPS. He allegedly passed traffic on the improved shoulder and hit another vehicle.

The pursuit ended when Sandoval reportedly crashed into a canal.

Authorities arrested Sandoval after being pulled out of the canal. A woman was also in the Jeep and sent to a hospital.

Authorities charged Sandoval with evading arrest or detention causing serious body injury, reckless driving, fail to stop/render aid and human smuggling.

Officials are still investigating the incident.

SOCORRO, Texas (KVIA) — The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed a crash in Socorro Wednesday. It happened near North Loop Drive.

Our ABC-7 photographer reported seeing a vehicle crashed into a canal near Bauman Road. Border Patrol, state troopers and Socorro police were at the scene.

ABC-7 reached out to DPS, and it said the scene was still active at 7:39 a.m. The department said it will have more details later Wednesday.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (July 18, 2026, 10:13 a.m. ) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday morning that water has been restored at the Downtown Detention Facility.

The following is a statement from the Sheriff’s Office about the restoration of water service at the facility:

“El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte is happy to report that water service at the Downtown Detention Facility has been fully restored.

As of this afternoon, all floors within the facility have fully functioning showers, toilets, and sinks. Maintenance personnel have completed inspections throughout the facility and confirmed that the water system is operating normally with adequate pressure.

The Sheriff’s Office will notify the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the U.S. Marshals Service that the water interruption has been resolved and that the facility has returned to normal operations.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to the El Paso County Commissioners Court, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, County Administration, El Paso Water, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and our maintenance personnel for their continued support and assistance throughout this incident. Their collaboration and commitment were instrumental in restoring normal operations while ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care.”

This comes after a water main break in the facility, which was reported by officials back on Wednesday, July 15, caused water service issues to several of the floors in the detention center.

UPDATE (July 17, 2026, 1:43 p.m.): The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said crews are still working to restore full service as of Friday morning. Crews made progress restoring pressure to some of the floors at the Downtown Detention Facility.

“As of this morning, crews continue working to restore full water service throughout the Downtown Detention Facility.

Late last night, water pressure had been restored as high as the ninth floor but was unable to reach the upper levels. As of this morning, hot water has reached the eleventh floor, while cold water service is currently available only through the fourth floor.

This morning, maintenance personnel replaced the facility’s backflow preventer, a component that had not previously been replaced. Crews are now working to gradually repressurize the facility’s water system to determine whether the repair restores consistent water service throughout the building. El Paso Water continues to work alongside our maintenance team throughout this process.

To ensure inmate needs continue to be met, some inmates from the upper floors have been relocated to the second floor to access showers, and those efforts will continue throughout the day. Staff are also continuing to manually deliver water to housing areas for sanitation and other essential needs. Laundry operations will continue this weekend at the Jail Annex to ensure inmates have access to clean clothing and bedding.

Throughout this incident, inmates continue to receive bottled drinking water and meals on their regular schedule. We appreciate the continued assistance of El Paso Water and our maintenance personnel as they work to safely restore full water service to the facility.”

UPDATE (July 17, 2026): The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday said maintenance replaced affected parts that disrupted water service at the Downtown El Paso detention facility after a water main break. Crews are still trying to fully restore water pressure.

EPCSO sent the following statement:

“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office continues working to restore full water service at the Downtown Detention Facility following issues with the building’s internal water system.

After identifying the suspected faulty components, maintenance personnel removed and replaced the affected parts. During the repair process, the removed components were found to have significant corrosion and sediment buildup, which is believed to have contributed to the loss of water pressure.

Throughout the incident, the Sheriff’s Office has implemented contingency measures to ensure the health and safety of inmates and staff. Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), El Paso Water, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office have supplied pallets of bottled drinking water to the facility. El Paso Water has also provided a potable water trailer to supplement the facility’s water needs.

Inmates have continued receiving meals on their regular schedule and have been provided bottled drinking water and buckets of water to maintain toilet operations. Academy cadets have been assisting with distributing water to all floors of the facility. Additionally, approximately 63 female general population inmates were temporarily relocated to the Jail Annex to reduce the immediate demand on the water system while crews work to restore pressure.

At this time, all suspected faulty components have been replaced, and maintenance personnel are working to rebuild pressure throughout the facility. If sufficient pressure can be restored on the lower floors, the facility’s booster pumps are expected to deliver water to the upper levels. If those efforts are unsuccessful, replacement of the booster pumps will be the next step.

The U.S. Marshals Service visited the facility to assess conditions for the federal inmates housed at the jail and determined that the temporary measures currently in place are acceptable. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) was also notified of the situation and has advised that the Sheriff’s Office’s efforts to ensure inmates continue receiving water are acceptable.

Our personnel remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in the facility. Staff will continue manually distributing water and addressing operational needs while repairs continue. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said a water main break has been causing water service issues at the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility since Tuesday.

EPCSO said the water main has since been repaired, and the facility is dealing with a pressure regulator issue. The sheriff’s office’s Maintenance Division is working to restore service.

Additionally, EPCSO said inmates have been able to use the restroom and access drinking water as needed. Portable restrooms were brought in for staff, and El Paso Water delivered bottled water for inmates, according to a news release.

“The safety and well-being of those in our custody and our staff remain our top priority, and we appreciate the assistance from our partner agencies as we work to resolve the issue,” EPCSO said.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management helped secure resources to take in water during repairs, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – A Segundo Barrio mural honoring Hispanic heritage has been painted over. The mural — which stood on the side of a clothing store at 701 S El Paso St. — disappeared three years after its creation.

El Paso native Kelsey Kilcrease painted the mural. She said it made a difference to the people that lived in the community.

“We had so many people that would walk by every day and just tell us, either in English or in Spanish, just how meaningful it was to have something that felt just like it honored their culture, and that they loved that their neighborhood was being brightened up,” Kilcrease said.

She said it was her favorite mural to work on because of its impact.

Now, there’s a blank space left where the piece she worked so hard on used to be.

Kilrease found out about her mural’s disappearance through an artist who painted to the right of it, Adrian Lopez. Lopez sent her a video of his mural intact.

To the left was a blank space.

“I immediately just felt, I don’t know, I felt weird. I felt sad. I felt kind of angry. And I’d say most of all, I just felt caught off guard. And didn’t quite understand what had happened,” Kilcrease said.

Kilcrease took to social media to honor the experience she had painting the mural. When scrolling through old photos and videos of the process, she realized her memories and connections will outlast the art.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kelsey Rose Kilcrease (@kelskilla)

“I just remembered how meaningful it was. And that to me, like that was what I needed, was just to like, remember the meaning behind it and really what I gained from it. So yeah, I still, I don’t know what happened or who did it. And I’m getting to a place where I think that’s okay,” Kilcrease said.

Kilcrease was one of four artists recruited for the SHEIN X Art Discover Project during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2023. SHEIN, a clothing company, commissioned several El Paso artists to paint murals, including Kilcrease and Lopez.

During the process, the two formed a special bond.

“Our art artistic styles just messed really well. Our personalities meshed, and we decided to just merge our murals into one big image to like, just really look celebratory and colorful,” Kilcrease said.

She said they only had four days to complete the mural after sanding down the wall.

Kilcrease is based in Albuquerque now, but she is originally from El Paso. The mural was a way for her to reconnect with her home.

“I’ll always have a special place in my heart for El Paso and its people. And since I had moved away for school and whatnot, it was just nice to like, feel that reconnection and to feel really like rooted and grounded with that mural,” Kilcrease said.

Kilcrease based the mural off an image of her baby sister, someone she said she uses as her muse in a lot of her artwork.

“When I was contacted about painting the mural, and the prompt was, you know, to paint something celebratory for Hispanic Heritage Month, I don’t know, I just thought, like, I think it’d be great to just, you know, paint my sister, who to me is like a symbol of our family, of being proud, being Hispanic and just joyful,” Kilcrease said.

Kilcrease said her and her sister were both sad about what had happened, but surprised to see all of the support from the community on her Instagram post. People told her walking by the mural every day brightened their day.

“It just like it made me feel happy. And so, like, I’ll be sad that it’s gone now. While it is a sad sentiment, it made me feel nice that like it was still causing like a positive impact,” Kilcrease said.

ABC-7 reached out to SHEIN to ask why the mural was painted over.

Kilcrease said she chooses to believe who ever did it didn’t have bad intentions, and doesn’t want them to be targeted for it.

In the future, Kilcrease said she hopes to paint another mural again and collaborate with Lopez.

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As much of South Texas has bared the brunt of torrential rainfall this week, a tornado also touched down in Northwest San Antonio Wednesday morning.

Some El Pasoans in San Antonio told ABC-7 about experiencing the disaster first hand.

Alexa Aguilar, an architecture student at University of Texas at San Antonio, and her twin sister Daphne were in the heart of the storm, as was much of campus.

“It was like out of, like a scary movie. Like, honestly, I was shaking,” said Alexa.

ABC-7’s Max Zepeda spoke with both students about what they witnessed and the lessons they learned while looking for their friends within their apartment complex, who will now be recovering from the harsh weather for weeks.

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El Paso Matters

by Priscilla Totiyapungprasert

El Paso health officials have confirmed one case of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, this year. The report comes during a multi-state outbreak that has prompted the Federal Drug Administration to investigate contaminated produce.

The cyclospora parasite, known for causing severe diarrhea, is not new to the region. Isolated cases of cyclospora infections occur each year in El Paso, said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, city and county health authority. The El Paso Department of Public Health is monitoring the situation and the level of concern for the community remains low, he said.

This year’s case, a man in his 60s, was reported to city epidemiologists June 16. The man was not hospitalized and epidemiologists did not identify a confirmed source of exposure. This was the first case of cyclosporiasis reported in El Paso since July 2025.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,645 cases across 34 states, including Texas, as of July 13. But national reporting lags significantly behind state reporting, resulting in an undercount of cases.

“Because no single source has yet been identified, the investigation remains active and continues to receive significant attention,” Ocaranza said.

What is cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine, causing watery and explosive diarrhea. The parasite spreads when people eat raw produce or drink water contaminated by infected feces. Unlike other stomach bugs, cyclosporiasis does not transmit directly from person to person.

(Courtesy: El Paso Matters)

The parasite is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions. Cases tend to rise in the summer because cyclospora requires a warm environment to mature to an infectious stage, it is the peak season for many fruits and vegetables, and people are spending more time in pools, lakes and splash pads.

Many people recover from cyclospora infections without seeking medical care, which contributes to the undercount of cases, Ocaranza said. 

Diagnosing cyclosporiasis requires health care providers to order a stool test, which is not routine. The diarrhea caused by cyclospora often cannot be distinguished from other common gastrointestinal illnesses, such as norovirus or rotavirus, based on symptoms alone, Ocaranza said.

What makes the parasite infections so bad this year?

A sudden surge in cyclosporiasis cases and hospitalizations, starting in the Midwest, has stumped investigators and revealed gaps in surveillance. More than 3,000 cases have been reported in Michigan and Ohio alone, where contaminated lettuce is a suspected source, but state health officials have not identified a specific type, grower or supplier.

In July 2025, the Trump administration scaled back the CDC’ Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network and made monitoring cyclosporiasis optional for states, though Texas continues to report cases as a notifiable condition. The administration last year also made massive budget and staffing cuts to the FDA, the agency in charge of investigating foodborne illness outbreaks along with the CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The CDC and FDA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

How can I protect myself from the diarrhea outbreak?

The El Paso Department of Public Health recommends the following measures to reduce the risk of cyclospora infection and spread:

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before consumption.

Cook foods to their recommended internal temperatures.

Avoid drinking untreated water from recreational or natural water sources, including lakes and creeks.

Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing or eating food and after using the restroom.

Avoid swimming or participating in recreational water activities if you are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms.

When traveling, use caution when consuming raw produce or food from unregulated street vendors.

If you develop persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and be sure to share any recent travel history, particularly to areas experiencing outbreaks or where cyclospora is endemic.

If you care for someone with a weakened immune system, avoid providing care while experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms.

Ocaranza said the health department is conducting outreach with healthcare providers. 

If patterns or potential sources of illness are identified, the department may coordinate with the city’s Food Inspection Division to collect samples for testing and request help from the state health department’s rapid response team, which investigates food contamination, traces the source of infection in outbreaks and implements measures to control transmission.

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Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (1:46 p.m.) — El Paso police said I-10 West after Vinton reopened at 12:40 p.m.

UPDATE (12:23 p.m.) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said one person was sent to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Deputies said several vehicles are invovled.

According to TxDOT’s El Paso map, the lane is still closed.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The right lane on I-10 West at Travel Information Center closed after a crash, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Wednesday.

According to TxDOT’s map, the crash was confirmed at 10:08 a.m.

According to the El Paso Police Department, the area should be cleared within an hour. There’s currently backup to Vinton.

(Courtesy: TxDOT)

(Courtesy: TxDOT)

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