Category: kvia-local-news

Heriberto Perez Lara

UPDATE: EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Pasoans Fighting Hunger will close its on-site distribution on Friday due to storm damage.

The food bank says severe weather on Thursday caused major damage to its offices and warehouse.

“For an organization that takes pride in showing up for the community, this is a heartbreaking interruption,” the organization said in a statement. “Every distribution day, neighbors arrive counting on the food they will bring home. They are parents trying to stretch a paycheck, older adults living on fixed incomes, and families working hard to make ends meet. For them, a trip to the food bank is an essential part of getting through the week.”

EPFH is asking people to follow its social media channels for updates on when food distribution will resume.

ORIGINAL STORY

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday’s heavy rain damaged El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, according to a news release. Wednesday, the food bank asked for volunteers to help repair canopies and its main sign.

EPFH said the rain damaged two of its mercado canopies and forced food distribution to close at 2 p.m. Some neighbors went home empty-handed.

“What you see on the outside is one thing, but there are other conditions on the inside too; this is an older building and we also have some roof challenges. We have water coming in; there are a lot of things that we have to just kind of come out of hiding to fix,” said interim CEO Kris Yagel. “We don’t have a lot of extra money lying around.”

The building’s front entrance shut down as a precaution due to its sign needing to be removed.

EPFH said it needs to remove a damaged sign after heavy rain.(Courtesy: KVIA)

“Canopies, signage, and facility upkeep may not be the first things people associate with hunger relief, but they are part of maintaining a welcoming, functional place for neighbors to turn,” the food bank said in a statement.

A damaged canopy at EPFH’s warehouse.(Courtesy: KVIA)

“This is very hard to predict a year in advance when we do our yearly budget, so we don’t necessarily budget for weather instances like this.” “That means we have to find the money somewhere, so that will come out of our our operating budget that we use to get food and we use for transportation and to keep the lights on and things like that,” interim CEO Yagel said.

The food bank said it’s welcoming volunteers who can help with repairs and removing the sign.

“We’re here on the front lines, but we’re going to solve this as a community; maybe it’s time and maybe if you feel encouraged to join us at this time, maybe give us a donation, come out and volunteer, support us in any way you can, and together we’ll meet the needs of the community,” interim CEO Yagel added.

EPFH reported the damage at its location at 9541 Plaza Cir.

You can also donate to the food bank here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, the El Paso Police Department posted a warning about the “grey death” drug.

EPPD said the “drug cocktail” looks like fine grey powder, concrete mix or rock-like chunks. It’s a deadly combination that can include heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and U-47700.

A photo of the “grey death” drug posted by the El Paso Police Department.(Courtesy: @eppolice on Instagram)

Police said carfentanil is up to 10,000 times stronger than morphine — meaning tiny amounts can cause a deadly overdose. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, U-47700 is seven to eight times more potent than morphine.

The “grey death” mixing ratios vary, according to police. Users won’t know the true strength.

Police said not to touch the drug. Signs of overdose include shallow breathing, loss of consciousness, cold/clammy skin, pinpoint pupils and blue lips/fingertips.

Call 911 immediately for help. Naloxone, or Narcan, can also be used. Police said repeat doses may be necessary due to the strength of synthetic opioids.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The countdown has begun. Paso del Norte Community Foundation invites nonprofits from across the region to sign up for the 11th El Paso Giving Day, the biggest day of giving in our area. The last day to register is Wednesday, September 30, 2026. El Paso Giving Day began with the same spirit as Giving Tuesday and a clear local need: to give all nonprofits a fair chance to succeed and help ensure that money raised here stays in our community.

Sign up at: elpasogivingday.org

Registration deadline: September 30. Early Giving Week: October 8-14. El Paso Giving Day: October 17.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces woman received an eight-year federal prison sentence for trafficking fentanyl. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico said 32-year-old Cassidy Shae Montoya also had a stolen gun and led deputies on a high-speed chase.

On July 30, 2025, Montoya drove away from Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office deputies after they tried to stop her near Vado. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said she drove toward Las Cruces at 90-110 miles per hour.

She eventually hit a curb near Telshor Boulevard and Terrace Drive. Officials said she ran away from the vehicle before deputies apprehended her.

Deputies found a loaded handgun on the driver’s side. It had been reported stolen in March 2025, officials said.

Deputies also found 356 fentanyl pills and $373 in cash.

Montoya said she meant to distribute the fentanyl and had the gun to protect herself, officials said. At the time, she had a felony conviction and knew she wasn’t allowed to have a gun.

There’s no parole in the federal system.

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Joseph Montero

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and more than 100 members of Congress are demanding medical care and not deportation for a man allegedly shot by ICE in Austin.

On Sept. 20, an ICE agent allegedly shot 28-year-old Garces Perez in the back.

They sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella.

They asked ICE to release Perez from detention so he can receive medical treatment. They also asked ICE to abandon efforts to deport or remove him from Texas.

Additionally, the members of Congress asked the ICE agent allegedly responsible for shooting Perez stay in Texas.

The letter also asked DHS to preserve all evidence related to the shooting, and share it for a transparent investigation.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Rio Grande Honor Flight carries veterans to visit national memorials built in their honor. On Sept. 26, those veterans will return to the El Paso International Airport, and the city invited the community to welcome them home.

Anyone can attend the free celebration. The City of El Paso said families can take American flags, welcome home signs and messages of appreciation to create a memorable homecoming.

Veterans will return to El Paso at 4 p.m. The celebration will be in the airport’s main lobby.

According to the Rio Grande Honor Flight Website, the next trip takes off Thursday.

The first Honor Flight took off in 2008, according to the website.

Earl Morse, a retired Air Force captain, heard veterans talk about wanting to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., but knew some couldn’t afford it. As a private pilot, Morse asked some veteran if they would like him to fly them to see the memorial.

The website said the first Honor Flight carried 12 veterans in four small planes — and the Honor Flight was born.

During Honor Flights, guardians help with luggage, wheelchairs and meals. Veterans travel for free while guardians volunteer and cover their own expenses, according to the website.

ABC-7 previously aired an Xtra depth report on a Rio Grande Honor Flight. ABC-7 Chief Meteorologist “Doppler” Dave Speelman joined a flight and shared the story of Vietnam War Veteran George Want. Watch the full report here.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 29-year-old woman accused of a deadly hit-and-run had a suspended sentence for driving while intoxicated with two children at the time, according to court documents.

On Saturday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said Melanie Christine Cuellar was found in Mexico and returned to El Paso. EPCSO said she was wanted for the deadly crash and for DWI with children.

The U.S. Marshals Service took her into custody and transported her to the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, EPCSO said. From there, the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office took custody to transport her to El Paso.

EPCSO booked her into the County Downtown Detention Facility. Her bond for a collision involving death was set at $150,000. EPCSO said she’s being held without bond on the DWI with a child charge.

An arrest affidavit said Cuellar had her children with her at the time of the deadly crash. Documents said her son told authorities he “saw his mom run over a lady.”

Cuellar allegedly ran over a woman and drove away

The arrest affidavit said Cuellar ran over a woman on July 19, 2025 at 9:22 a.m.

Maria Lopez walked across Alameda Avenue in South-Central El Paso, investigators wrote. She waited for the traffic to clear before walking onto the westbound lanes. That’s when Cuellar, allegedly driving an SUV, hit Lopez, investigators wrote.

Cuellar allegedly drove away without helping Lopez. She sustained major head trauma and died at the crash site, documents said.

At the crash site, investigators received surveillance video from a nearby business that recorded the crash. Documents said the video showed Cuellar driving over Lopez’ body with her left rear tire.

The same day at 9:20 p.m., a person called 911 to report seeing the SUV allegedly involved in the crash. Documents said the reporter saw the SUV parked on Grant Avenue in Central El Paso.

The caller said Cuellar is his uncle’s ex-girlfriend, documents said. He also told authorities Cuellar allegedly left the SUV and possibly went to Mexico with children.

Investigators said the caller’s uncle told him to report the SUV because “he did not want his mother to get in trouble as she was the registered owner of the vehicle.”

Investigators then met with Cuellar’s ex-boyfriend, who was with his son at the time. Documents said his sun started crying because he “saw his mom run over a lady.”

Cuellar’s ex-boyfriend told investigators he met with her after the crash to ask what happened. Cuellar allegedly said she hit something and was going to flee to Mexico.

Her ex-boyfriend noticed damage on the SUV that wasn’t there before the crash, documents said.

Investigators said Cuellar’s ex also said he realized she may have been involved in the deadly hit-and-run after seeing it on the news.

Documents said investigators used surveillance video that showed Cuellar driving to her apartment in the SUV with her two children. Other video showed the SUV at Grant Avenue about 20-30 minutes later, documents said.

Authorities received a search warrant for the SUV. They compared a piece of grill collected from the crash site to the damage seen on the SUV. Documents said they patched.

Investigators wrote they also found hair and body tissue on the left wheel.

At the time of the deadly crash, Cuellar had a suspended sentence for DWI with a child

Court documents said Cuellar was found guilty of driving while intoxicated with her two children. Her sentence was suspended on Sept. 19, 2024. She had a six-month sentence in a state jail. She was then placed on community supervision for two years, documents said.

An arrest affidavit said the DWI offense happened on March 29, 2024.

Police went to the Paso Del Norte Bridge after learning about an impaired driver with children in an SUV, documents said. Investigators said her boyfriend was in the passenger seat.

Customs and Border Protection agents said Cuellar had “red, glassy, bloodshot eyes” and admitted to drinking, documents said. An agent directed Cuellar to a secondary area, where police were called to assist.

Documents said Cuellar went to Ciudad Juarez to visit her brother and was driving home. She allegedly admitted to drinking about four tall-boy alcoholic beverages.

The officer conducted a field sobriety test and determined Cuellar was intoxicated, documents said. The officer arrested and transported her for processing.

Documents said she provided a breath sample, which resulted in 0.157 and 0.159 BrAC.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Independent School District cancelled all after-school activities amid heavy rain in the area.

EPISD shared this statement:

“Due to inclement weather, all after school activities are canceled for today, Tuesday September 22, 2026.

High School Volleyball and after-school day care at all El Paso ISD Extended Day Learning campuses remain in place, as scheduled.

We continue to monitor weather and will keep our community informed. Thank you for your trust and support in keeping our students and staff safe.”

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Raise a glass for wildlife this Halloween season at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. For one night, adults ages 21 and over can attend the annual Brew at the Zoo event.

Brew at the Zoo offers a night of craft beer, live music and animal experiences after the zoo’s regular hours. The City of El Paso said the event supports the zoo’s conservation initiatives and education programs.

Visitors are encouraged to attend the event in a costume.

The night falls on Oct. 17 from 7-11 p.m. The zoo said last entry is at 9 p.m.

VIP early access lets visitors in at 6 p.m., according to the zoo’s website.

Tickets are available for purchase now, but must be purchased online, the city said. It encouraged those planning to attend Brew at the Zoo to drink responsibly and have a designated driver or rideshare plan.

Early Access: $60 General Admission: $40 Group Six-Pack, Early Access: $330 Group Six-Pack, General Admission: $220 Designated Driver: $15

Additionally, the zoo will enforce a “no wristband, no pour, no excuses” policy.

You can purchase your tickets by clicking this link.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fort Bliss will host an ammunition and explosives amnesty day Wednesday. The military installation said anyone can relinquish any unauthorized, found, stolen or misplaced ammunition and explosives without fear of prosecution.

Ammunition and Explosives Amnesty Day will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at two locations. Weapons, firearms or related armaments won’t be accepted.

Public: Texas Army National Guard Armory (9100 Gateway North Blvd.).

DoD ID cardholders only: East Fort Bliss, in the vicinity of the Blackhawk Tank Trail and the vehicle wash rack.

“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this safe turn-in opportunity to help protect your family, friends and community,” said Fort Bliss Safety Specialist Richard Dewitt. “This is a vital opportunity to relinquish these hazardous items safely and without fear of prosecution or disciplinary action. This program is designed to prevent unforeseen incidents and keep our entire community safe.”

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