Category: kvia-local-news

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— For one night only, legendary luchadores will headline the Heroes del Futuro fundraiser. The event will directly benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso.

Iconic wrestler Blue Demon Jr. will join El Paso’s very own Cinta de Oro, along with other recognizable names in lucha libre. The event will feature the excitement and thrill of professional wrestling while raising funds for the local club.

For Cinta de Oro, the event is personal. He grew up in the Segundo Barrio and was a local club kid himself.

“I wanted to give back to the community and especially Segundo Barrio. So obviously this place is very important for us.”

Cinta de Oro told ABC-7 this place is dear to his heart.

“I was a kid raised in El Segundo Barrio, born and raised here, and I was a club kid. You know, and I used to come here when I was, like, 9 or 10 years old; I used to play basketball. All kinds of things here. Foosball, pool, all kinds of things. So it was a very great time for me.”

Anthony Tomasheski, the CEO of the local club, said Cinta de Oro understands the opportunities local kids receive. He said Cinta de Oro is an inspiration to many children locally!

“I think it’s one of those just amazing stories where you have a kid that says, ‘I want to be a wrestler,’ and then the next thing you know, he becomes a WWE superstar,’ he said.

Tomasheski also said all of the proceeds raised will support programs that provide children with opportunities to succeed, including academic support, homework help, sports and fitness and other enriching activities.

“So we don’t charge for any of our programming. And we will be using those funds to do many things, like making sure that every child gets a hot meal, making sure they get their homework done. We provide free music classes.”

Additionally, the club also provides a lucha libre school that is led by Cinta de Oro.

The professional wrestler said he just wants to change children’s lives!

“For us, being part of the Boys and Girls Club is very important. I always tell kids, it doesn’t matter if you want to be a lawyer, if you want to be a policeman. At the end of the day, discipline is the most important thing. And that’s what we teach here at the Boys and Girls Club,” he said.

The Heroes del Futuro benefit event is taking place Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso on S. Florence Street. For ticket information, click here.

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Nichole Gomez

EL PASO, Texas — Spicy excitement is heating up in El Paso as the 2026 Chile Pepper Challenge Charity Ride & 5K Walk/Run gears up for Sunday, September 27 at Grace Gardens. Hosted by the El Paso Bicycle Club, this annual event welcomes cyclists, runners, walkers, families, and friends for a day of fun, fitness, and philanthropy—all to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association West Texas Chapter.

With multiple cycling routes, a 5-mile Family Fun Ride, and a 5K Walk/Run, participants of all ages and abilities can find a challenge tailored to them. After crossing the finish line, attendees can celebrate with live music, delicious food, cold beverages, and official Chile Pepper Challenge gear. Every participant receives an event shirt and finisher medal.

Registration remains open through the day of the event, with early packet pickup available at locations across El Paso starting Saturday, September 19. Volunteers are also needed.

Join the fun, feel the heat, and help fight Alzheimer’s this September 27.

https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/TX/ElPaso/ElPasoBicycleClubChilePepperChallengeCharityRide

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Hillary Floren

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Most people are shocked to hear the news. The outgoing, funny guy they listen to on the radio each morning has had some really dark times. He even tried to end his life multiple times.

Fernando Montejano, or “Grizz,” is half of the popular Iris & Grizz morning DJ duo. He had a rough start in life. His troubles started when he was only five.

“It’s tough to talk about but that’s what we’re here for.  My mom had a lot of problems growing up.  She was an alcoholic and went to jail very young in my life…my dad had to come get me,” Grizz says.

With his mother in and out of jail, he struggled.

“I was away from my sisters and they were my support system.  We’d been through the same things and dealt with sexual abuses and being exposed to the drug life. I was angry, sad, but I didn’t know why I felt what I was feeling in side.  

He turned to drugs, alcohol, and eventually suicide.

“The first attempt unfortunately when I was 12 years old. I had about four suicide attempts as a kid before I turned 18.

His traditional Midwest family didn’t believe in mental health treatment. But after a pretty public suicide attempt, a friend intervened. It was Grizz’s first time in a mental health facility.

“When I stayed at the facility I was surrounded by people who had experienced similar things.  It was almost like being understood for the first time.  They’d say ‘you’re hurting. This isn’t normal – you need to fix this,'” Grizz says.

When Grizz turned 18 and moved out of the house, he began seeking out therapy. Money was tight, but he’d go to clinics that offered a sliding fee, sometimes paying just five dollars a session.

Then, Grizz was rocked by tragedy. A long-term relationship ended, and his sister Bianca died of a fentanyl overdose. He moved back to El Paso to lay Bianca to rest, and help care for her young daughter, Aria and his mother, who was still dealing with addiction.

“This moment sort of sparked a big shift in my life, something that needed to change.  it was the therapy that I received before i moved here that finally set me up – finally finding the right therapy specifically!  Attachment therapy  dialectical behavior therapy, where they map your mind and you have to do homework. That changed my whole life,” Grizz says.

This month is a celebration for Grizz and his mom, who is celebrating her one year mark of sobriety. He says the family has been living a much better life together.

He’s proud of his mom, and proud of himself. Working with the tools he’s learned to regulate his mood and navigate his emotions, he is making progress. But some days are still a struggle. If you are going through difficult times, Grizz has this to say:

“Don’t give up. At some point you’re gonna get past this.  If you try.  you will.”

Together, he and co-host Iris Lopez, who is also a vocal champion for mental health, are spreading a message of hope throughout the borderland.

“We have like a brother sister relationship,” Iris says. “If one of us is having a bad day, the other will just sit and listen and not judge.”

Grizz hopes that by sharing his struggles and the fact that he has found a way to move forward, his message will urge someone else to take healing steps.

If you ever have suicidal thoughts or need someone to talk to, call 9-8-8.

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Carpio Griego

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — The Sunland Park Fire Department saved a woman and her children from her flooded home. It happened Wednesday around 5 a.m. after heavy overnight rainfall.

SPFD said Michelle and her three children started seeing water come in around 4 a.m.

Fire Chief Daniel Medrano said calls for help aren’t unusual for monsoon season. Medrano said people should get out as soon as possible if their home begins to flood — even with a few inches.

Michelle was told she couldn’t return to her home for some time. She was one of four rescues the fire department had. They also had two car rescues.

“If you’re out on the roadways and you see water, there’s this pooling and especially known ponding areas,” Medrano said. “Do not drive through them. Your vehicles will stop and it becomes an issue. It becomes a safety issue not only for the motorists, but also for the responders. They’re trying to get in and help you out.”

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Joseph Montero

CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, the Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a lower tax rate for the 2026-27 school year.

The rate is slightly lower than last year. CISD said the average homeowner within the district will pay about $11 less in school taxes than last year.

According to the district, the calculation considered the homestead exemption voters approved last November.

“We are pleased to be able to remain good stewards of the taxpayers’ money in our efforts to provide our students with aworld-class education,” said Board President Sergio Martinez. 

The district has a nearly $65.7 million budget for the upcoming year.

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Nina Gallegos

DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KVIA) — Flooding across Dona Ana County brought up to three feet of floodwater to the Brazito neighborhood . For some residents, the pooling covered their only way out of their properties.

Just north of Vado, one Brazito resident told ABC-7 the flood didn’t just bring damage. It made her worried about her safety.

“If there’s an emergency, we only have one way in, one way out, and that’s the road we just came in on or what’s left of a road, the lake we came in on,” said Misty Skinner.

Skinner said she lived in Brazito for five years. While she’s seen flooding, she never dealt with as much as she did after this week’s rain.

ABC-7’s Nina Gallegos standing in three-foot-deep floodwater in the Brazito area.(Courtesy: KVIA)

“It has never been this way as far as we’ve lived here. We’ve lived here for five years now. And the last three rains is what really destroyed everything on our property,” she said.

A nearby dam nearly breached, and arroyos sent water directly into her backyard.

(Courtesy: KVIA)

Skinner said she loves her secluded property, but the cost of flooding is forcing her family to think about moving. With $35,000 of damaged equipment, she doesn’t know if her family will ever recover.

“We love this property and we love having nothing. I mean, the freedom to be able to just be us. And it feels like everything that we wanted is gone,” Skinner said.

Even after cleaning the damage from this week’s flooding, there’s a chance for more in the coming days.

ABC-7 reached out to Dona Ana County officials about what they’re doing to help residents like Skinner.

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Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Less than a year after the North View Apartments opened, El Paso’s monsoon season brought more than a foot of floodwater to some first-floor residents.

The property’s general manager said the area’s landscape directed Tuesday and Wednesday’s rain into the apartment complex in Northeast El Paso.

“We do have our arroyo here that was made for ponding,” said Mike Baca, general manager of M7elp Property Management, told ABC-7. “Evidently the rain overtook that, and we’re dealing with the aftermath.”

According to Baca, only the first-floor residents in the building closest to the arroyo saw flood damage. He said four units have complained about the 1.5-foot-deep water.

He said tenants have to provide their own renters insurance.

“Whether or not they decide to not stay tonight would be up to them,” said Baca. “Renters insurance typically kicks in at that point, and hopefully it covers to where they’re allowed to stay a night or two in a hotel.”

Baca said trucks have been extracting water at the complex.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — After heavy rain and flooding, the El Paso Fire Department received 57 storm-related incident calls, the city said. Storms caused leaks at the El Paso airport.

Calls included stranded vehicles, home flooding, damaged roads, downed trees and utility lines, traffic light malfunctions and crashes.

The City of El Paso said the West Side experienced most of the incidents — 24 of the 57 reported calls.

At one location, floodwater stranded seven vehicles, the city said.

On the roads, crews worked to clear water, mud, rocks and trees. EPFD reported a sinkhole in Central El Paso.

Travelers at the El Paso International Airport saw parts of the building leaking. The city said the terminal is still open and operational. It encouraged travelers to go to the airport early and check with their airline for the latest flight information. Leaks have been cleaned and cleared.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced it’s removing conservators from the Socorro Independent School District. SISD said it finished exit criteria and corrective actions.

In March 2024, TEA and SISD agreed to appoint two conservators after an investigation revealed the district graduated students who didn’t meet requirements, failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest with a vendor and didn’t pay $283,000 in unauthorized stipends.

Michael Hinojosa and Andrew Kim acted as the district’s conservators.

In Wednesday’s announcement, TEA said the district “stabilized district leadership and rectified identified issues.”

The announcement noted the district chose a permanent superintendent, restored a balanced budget, resolved a $42 million deficit, implemented stronger academic compliance and transparency. For example, SISD “strengthened its graduation credit review processes. “

“TEA’s announcement marks the end of conservatorship in Socorro ISD and reflects the significant work completed over the past two years to strengthen governance, improve financial and operational systems, increase transparency, address academic compliance concerns, and support long-term student success,” SISD said in a news release.

Kim shared the following statement on the conservator removal:

“I appreciate our partnership and collaboration with Socorro ISD’s Board of Trustees and staff in addressing longstanding challenges and the district’s commitment to sustained compliance moving forward. Through newly established systems in budgeting, procurement and governance, Socorro ISD will be able to restore public confidence and better support its mission of serving students, families and its community.”

TEA broke down its findings after two years of conservatorship with SISD:

Restoration of a balanced budget and resolution of a $42 million deficit

Stronger budgeting, operational planning and accountability systems. Compensation plan processes corrected to ensure stipends receive proper authorization. Added enhanced controls and monitoring systems for budgeting, procurement, compensation and operational oversight. Established oversight systems to prevent unauthorized expenditures.

Implementation of stronger controls and monitoring systems to address academic compliance concern

Stronger graduation credit review process. Improved attendance monitoring, loss-of-credit procedures, transcript analysis and ADA reporting. Implemented graduation verification procedures and controls to make sure students meet state and local requirements. Established stronger attendance monitoring, transcript accuracy and academic achievement record compliance. Developed systems to address monitoring deficiencies found in previous audits and reaffirmed in the TEA investigation. Corrected deficiencies related to graduation certification, academic records and accountability reporting that led to the conservator appointment.

Improved transparency and community engagement practices that support public trust and accountability

Expanded community engagement with advisory committee, budget process, facility planning, surveys and public updates. Public meeting environments have stabilized and reflect improvement. Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, the City of El Paso broke ground on the Montwood Drive Extension Project. The $18.2 million investment will extend Montwood from Shreya Street to Rich Beem Boulevard.

The city said once the project is done, residents will see a dramatic improvement in access to homes, schools and businesses in the area. Plus, reduced travel times.

City Representative Ivan Niño said District 5 saw a 47% growth from 2010-2020.

“With that growth there was a lot of lacking infrastructure” Niño said.

On Sept. 1, city council awarded $30.8 million in construction contracts for the Montwood Drive and Resler Drive projects. Voters approved the 2022 Community Progress Bond, which will fund the two projects, the city said.

International Eagle Enterprises took the contract for the Montwood project. IT includes 1.4 miles of new roadway, landscaping, storm sewer systems, ADA-compliant facilities and street lights.

Construction for the project has an anticipated end date for spring 2028.

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