Category: kvia-local-news

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— A senior at Valle Verde Early College High School has been recognized for her volunteer work.

17-year-old Eveny Covarrubias was named the 2025 Youth Volunteer of the Year by Hospice El Paso.

Since she is underage, she is not able to meet patients personally, but she is still involved in meaningful tasks. She has helped inform people about Hospice during health fairs, personally written letters for families who have lost a loved one, and also crocheted items for patients.

The teen told ABC-7 that volunteering at Hospice has been a different type of experience.

“You do encounter more serious things. So I feel like it did prepare me a little bit more to be more, like, compassionate as well, because a lot of it is just making sure that the patient knows you’re there for them and the family. So it did help me with that as well,” she said.

She started in 2024 and volunteers several times a month. Covarrubias said she was stunned when she found out she had earned the achievement.

“I was actually at home, and somebody came knocking, and I was like, who was at my house? So I opened it, and they had like a nice little box put together for me. And it did tell me,like, that I won volunteer of the year. So I was so excited, and I told my mom, and she was excited as well.”

Covarrubias already obtained her associate’s degree from El Paso Community College. She’s currently taking classes at UTEP.

She’s also involved in multiple high school clubs, including the Chemistry Club, the National Honor Society, and the Honor Society.

Sarah Welsh, a teacher of Pre-AP Chemistry at Valle Verde ECHS, said Covarrubias helps other students get involved!

“For chemistry club, she does on her own time. They meet during lunchtime, and she’s able to get a lot of other students who maybe are not necessarily into science. She gets them interested in science. But because of her leadership, she’s able to encourage others. And then she makes it fun for them. So she makes science a fun learning experience for the kids.”

Covarrubias explained she wants to go into nursing to help others. This recognition further motivates her.

“It meant a lot, actually. Like you go, you volunteer, and it’s like you’re doing it out of your heart. But like when you when it comes back to you, and they reward you, it’s a little bit more rewarding that way.”

Hospice El Paso representatives said Eveny’s commitment, positive energy and her heart for service have all inspired everyone around her.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please e-mail rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Nicole Ardila

This weekend, you can catch hot air balloons in the Land of Enchantment for the very first time this year with the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally.

MVBR kicks off Friday with media and school day.

Visit Las Cruces is debuting their brand new balloon at the rally at 7 a.m., and they will be joined by the NMSU balloon, who made their debut at the balloon rally last year. 

Another first is the Zozobra hot air balloon, making it’s first round south of Albuquerque. 

MVBR’s main mission is to inspire curiosity in the community about hot air ballooning, and to encourage the youth to become excited about what they learn in school and its practical applications. 

Here are the times for the balloon rally events this weekend:

January 16: Kick off glow – 6:00 pm  to 8:00 pm at the Downtown Plaza on 100 N Main St, Las Cruces.

January 17: Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot on 2300 Tashiro Dr, Las Cruces, NM 88007.

January 17 – Evening Glow – sunset (around 5:30pm) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

January 18 – Morning Ascension – sunrise time (around 7am) at the Field of Dreams dirt lot.

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Paul Cicala

EL PASO (KVIA) –  More than a thousand Iraq war veterans and their families are gathering in El Paso this weekend for the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Ramadi.

The Battle of Ramadi was a turning point in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It was relentless combat against insurgents in the middle of the city at tremendous cost in terms of casualties, and it brought major changes in U.S. military strategy.

The “Clear, Hold & Build” strategy focused on taking one neighborhood at a time in Ramadi, Iraq.

It also concentrated on building combat outposts for defense.

At the same time, the strategy served to develop and train local Iraqi Police Forces, earning the trust of local tribal leaders, and supporting restoration of services like water.

As the reunion continues through this weekend for the brave fighters who were part of this battle, ABC-7 Anchor Paul Cicala was able to get an exclusive interview with Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, who commanded the troops to a historic victory.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The El Paso Department of Public Health is urging residents with disabilities and medical needs to sign up for a statewide registry designed to help first responders identify people who may need assistance during emergencies.

Who Should Register?

The STEAR program is designed for individuals who may need additional assistance during an emergency, including:

People with disabilities

Medically fragile individuals

Those with access and functional needs, such as:

Limited mobility

Communication barriers

Medical assistance requirements

Individuals requiring personal care or transportation assistance

How to Register

El Paso residents can register using the following methods:

Online: STEAR.tdem.texas.gov

Call: 211

Fax or email completed forms to: (866) 557-1074 or STEAR@dps.texas.gov

In-Person Registration Assistance

To make registration easier, staff will be available for in-person assistance at the following locations throughout January:

Pavo Real Senior Center9311 Alameda Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 8

Grandview Senior Center3134 Jefferson Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 9

Jessie M. Happiness Senior Center563 N. Carolina Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Monday, January 12

Hilos De Plata Senior Center4451 Delta Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 13

Memorial Senior Center1800 Byron St.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 14

Polly Harris Senior Center650 Wallenburg Dr.9 to 11 a.m., Thursday, January 15

San Juan Senior Center5701 Tamburo Ct.9 to 11 a.m., Friday, January 16

South El Paso Senior Center600 S. Ochoa St.9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 20

Wellington Chew Senior Center4430 Maxwell Ave.9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 21

For more information, visit ElPasoReady.org or EPHealth.gov under the Emergency Preparedness tab, or call 211.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – Girl Scouts will launch the 2026 cookie season with a Mega Drop in El Paso. Rebecca Reyes with Girl Scouts Desert Southwest joins us to explain how volunteers, and trucks will come together Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The Cookie Mega Drop serves as the primary pickup site for Girl Scout troops to receive their cookie orders in preparation for sales starting Sunday, January 18, 2026.

El Paso Cookie Mega Drop

Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM (MST)

Location: 9701 Railroad, El Paso, TX 79924

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) -Music offers extensive benefits, including reducing stress, anxiety, and pain, and boosting your mood. If you are thinking about pursuing a music degree, now is the perfect opportunity.  El Paso Community College instructors, Dr. Melissa Gurrola and Daniel Becker, join us to discuss the music program.

The Associate of Applied Science Degrees specializing in Audio Engineering and Music Business follow professional industry standards of recording studios, live music venues,

record companies and event presentations for public announcements and presentations.

Students will learn techniques for recording musical instruments, managing artists, and promoting within the music industry.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Today was the second day of the capital murder trial for Atruro Ortega Garcia, the man accused of stabbing and killing a family of three in East El Paso in 1994.

As ABC-7 has reported, Dante Santoni, 3, his mother, Connie Villa, 28, and Villa’s longtime partner and Dante’s father, Francisco Santoni, 59, were found stabbed to death on Aug. 11, 1994, in their East El Paso home.

The District Attorney’s Office called two witnesses to the stand today: an El Paso Police Department detective who translated Ortega Garcia’s 2022 interrogation and an El Paso County chief medical examiner.

During the interrogation, Ortega Garcia said he couldn’t give any names or information to detectives because he and his family had been threatened in the U.S. and in Mexico.

At some point, Ortega Garcia told EPPD detectives that “he was innocent and that he was going to fight for him,” adding that he had the answer to the murder case but was afraid of retaliation and of telling the truth to detectives because he knew who committed the murder.

This afternoon, both the prosecution and the defense rested their cases, and the trial is set to continue with closing arguments tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

ABC-7 previously had in-depth coverage of this case. You can watch and listen to the full Borderland Crimes Podcast here.

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – It’s a new year. Moving more, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep are great habits that can boost your health. Joining us now is Doctor Jorge Acosta, the medical director of Las Palmas del Sol Bariatric Clinic, who is here to talk about how he can help maintain and achieve those goals.

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Andrew J. Polk

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — What is the future of the Sun Bowl and the college football bowl game system overall – and could it be in jeopardy?

An increasingly common phenomenon is top players with draft aspirations sitting out the end-of-season games that were seen in years past as a reward and capstone for teams with the best records.

A notable escalation this year was Notre Dame refusing any bowl invitation in response to being snubbed from the college football playoffs.

And the trend can be traced back to the Sun Bowl game.

In 2016, then-Stanford Cardinal player Christian McCaffrey announced he would sit out the game so he could begin his “draft prep immediately” – one of the first ever to do so for non-medical reasons.

And now, with further changes such as the NCAA student athlete payment settlement and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) licensing possibilities, what will this mean for schools, teams, coaches, players and fans going forward?

Join host Andrew J. Polk as he talks with Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas and ABC-7 Sports Anchor Bea Martinez about how the college football playoffs, bowl economics and more could affect the Sun Bowl and dozens more going forward. Tune in Sunday at 10:35 p.m., right after ABC-7 at 10 Weekend.

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Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— With the start of a brand new year, chances are you are probably setting new goals and starting new habits. Developing a positive mindset is a great start!

Recently, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood actor, former governor of California, and bodybuilder, set out a mental challenge for his followers.

Schwarzenegger’s Crash Diet is for the brain, not the body! He said negativity is a mood killer.

He encouraged his fans to give up doom-scrolling, where you spend an excessive amount of time consuming media. He recommended only checking social media for 10 minutes each day.

He also wants everyone to reframe their negativity into a map forward.

Finally, he said everyone should practice self-gratitude. Schwarzenegger encouraged everyone to write one thing down they are grateful for. He said challenges, obstacles, and disasters will only make you stronger!

Kristen Weindorf, the Director of the Crisis Intervention Team at EHN in El Paso, said negative words can significantly affect your confidence, make you become isolated, and lead to long-term effects like depression.

“So it’s very easy to compare yourself to others. And remember that not everything that you see on social media is really true or accurate,” she said.

Instead, she recommends writing down self-affirmations and leaving them somewhere you’ll see them frequently.

“Reading them every day before you go to work, before you get ready. You’re going to use the bathroom. The shower. That way you keep reading it and reading it, and you start believing it.”

She also suggested finding positive skills and being honest with yourself!

“When you’re feeling a certain type of way, especially if you’re having that negative self-talk, ‘Why am I having this? Like, what made me have that thought about myself right now?’ And really questioning that so that you can understand where that’s coming from. If you’re able to figure that out, that might be something that you could potentially work on in therapy or talk to somebody else about and see if they can help you figure out why you’re feeling that way.”

For mental health resources, click here.

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