Category: kvia-local-news

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Two El Paso beauty queens continue to celebrate following a victorious weekend.

Gia Soleil Espinoza and Mia Autumn Navarro were crowned Miss Earth USA and Miss Teen Earth USA in Orlando, Florida, last Saturday. This marks the first time Texas representatives, both from El Paso, have earned the national titles in the same year.

Both titleholders will now serve as ambassadors for the Miss Earth Organization, which champions community service, environmental awareness, and youth leadership.

Navarro said this was her first national pageant. She was surprised she walked away with the crown.

“It was so exciting. I remember I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, and then they said it and I started crying immediately,” she explained.

And the winning streak didn’t stop there. That same day, Espinoza was crowned Miss Earth USA.

“It was this thing of, oh my gosh, I actually just won this.”

Both said they prepared arduously for this moment.

“We just spent the last three months working incredibly hard and truly making a difference. And it was just like, we just did this,” Espinoza said.

The teen titleholder is a type 1 diabetic. She created her platform called “Healing Without Harm” to help advocate for change. She told ABC-7 that the best part of this process was growing closer to her pageant sister, Gia.

“We would go to the gym. We did walk practices. We hung out just to build a stronger connection,” she said.

Espinoza is currently a criminal justice major who is preparing to enter the El Paso Police Academy. She started competing in pageants at a young age.

She said they have helped her develop her self-confidence and break out of her comfort zone.

Both said sharing this moment together made their wins extra sweet.

“It was insane. It was so meaningful to me to know that I’m a 15-year-old girl from El Paso, and I got to go represent our city on the national stage,” said Navarro.

“We’re real people, and we’re just two girls from El Paso. So it’s truly, it was amazing. We had so much fun. And now being able to spend the next year together is going to be such an honor and a privilege. It’s going to be amazing,” Espinoza added.

Now the real work begins. They’ll be representing this in 2026.

Navarro said she is excited to connect with even more people during her reign. Espinoza will be competing on an international stage at the end of this year in Asia.

We wish them the best of luck.

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

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Nicole Ardila

Not only do you need to get ready for dropping temperatures this weekend, but so does your car.

ABC-7 met with expert Austin Adams, owner of A&W Automotive in East El Paso, he says the main thing is to check on your battery and make sure your car has proper freeze protection.

The cold weather makes engine harder to start, so before taking off, let your engine warm up.

Wait until the gauge reaches the middle — which should take 10 to 15 minutes — making it safer to drive.

During this time of year, they mostly replace batteries, as he says winter time is the hardest time of year on the battery. 

“Nothing’s worse than trying to get ready, run early in the morning to get to school, and the battery just clicks,” says Adams. “So, make sure that’s good.”

He recommends you have your battery checked often especially during every vehicle service. 

Another important thing is to check your tires.

Use a penny to test the tire tread, put it upside down on the grooves of the tire, and if you can see the crown of Lincoln’s head, the tread depth is too low.

It’s important to check the tread depth since there are slicker road conditions in the winter.

Also, check for tire inflation — you can see what tire pressure your car needs on the side of the driver’s door. 

Since there might be wet conditions, it’s important to check wiper blades and see if they’re torn. 

Also make sure to check your lights if they work for low visibility days with fog.

You also go to your local repair facility or an O’reillys or Autozone store to get your battery tested.

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Nicole Ardila

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Public Health, Safety, and Quality has confirmed eight new cases of New World screwworm in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. That is near the border with Texas.

The number of total confirmed cases in Tamaulipas since December 30, 2025, is now 11.

“It’s just plain cowboy logic—when you’re seeing this many cases, this fast, it tells you there may be established screwworm fly populations in Tamaulipas,” Commissioner Miller said. “We’re grateful sterile fly deployment has begun, but make no mistake: Texas producers need to stay on high alert along our border.”

The Texas Department of Agriculture says there is no history of the infected animals having traveled outside of Tamaulipas.

“Producers should be checking livestock every day and treating any wound as a potential entry point,” Commissioner Miller said. “Pay close attention to navels on young animals, isolate anything suspicious, and report concerns without delay. Early detection and aggressive surveillance are how we protect Texas livestock.”

Update (1:26 PM): A second New World screwworm case has been reported in a cow in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a warning to livestock producers after news of the second case in just over a week broke.

The case was detected in a seven-year-old bovine in González, Tamaulipas, which is located 215 miles south of the border with Texas. Officials say the cow had no reported history of movement outside of the state.

“The screwworm now may be moving closer on its own, with no apparent link to commercial animal movement,” Commissioner Miller said. “Texas producers must act now—stay informed, stay vigilant, and prepare immediately. We cannot drop our guard for even a moment.”

ORIGINAL STORY (January 8, 2026): Veterinarians have a new warning for pet owners after a recent New World screwworm case was reported in Mexico, less than 200 miles from Texas.

ABC-7 spoke with Dr. Priscilla Bowens, President of the El Paso Veterinarian Medical Association about how pets can get affected.

Last week, the NWS was detected in a six-day-old calf in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

“We need to be vigilant because we are along the border, the southern border, with our neighbor Mexico,” said Bowens. “And it can make its way potentially to the United States and devastate, not only agricultural, livestock, but also it can affect pets and people.” 

It all starts when a fly lays their eggs in an open wound of a living animal and the eggs could hatch within 12 to 24 hours.

Your pet can come in contact with a screwworm if the fly lays an egg in an open wound, cut or even a suture from getting spayed or neutered.

The veterinarian recommends keeping an eye out for an unpleasant odor, if your pet is licking excessively, in pain or if you see something moving.

Depending on where the screwworm is located on the body, it can cause severe health issues for your pet like difficulty for chewing or breathing.

“I know this sounds really gross, but if you see something moving around in live tissue, quickly, alert your veterinarian,” she said. “Do not try to get it out yourself because this condition can worsen quickly and can cause further tissue damage and even death in pets.”

Right now the border is closed to cattle import, but stay alert for your pet and check their skin.

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Hillary Floren

The holidays are over, and this week means back to school for tens of thousands of borderland students.  If you’re having a hard time getting back into the swing of things, don’t be too hard on yourself.  It’s a transition that could take some time, and experts say that’s ok.

Psychologist Dr. Adriana Hort says the month of January tends to bring with it feelings of sadness, blues, depression, and more.  

Experts recommend keeping routines as stable as possible, while making sure they stay active and connected to others. 

“There is this thing we call behavioral activation, which is a treatment tool for symptoms of depression and depression itself, that’s just getting us to do something. Instead of waiting to feel good and motivated, you do it and then the mood will follow,” Hort says.   She sa ys parents can talk to their children about how they feel about going back to school.  Asking if they’re nervous or stressed, and then sharing problem solving tactics with them.  

For younger children, help them label their feelings, since they may not have the words to express their emotions.  One coping skill is to set small goals, like setting aside 15 minutes for a dedicated activity to get children invovled.  Involve praise, and positive reinforcement.

“Let’s say, oh, my child’s in bed all day, and they don’t want to do anything. A small goal can be 15 minutes of a fun activity, and then you really want to focus on the praise and making it feel good, because what, what really Battles depression is that positive reinforcement,” Hort adds.

And no matter what age you are…time outside in the sunlight can do a world of good.  Sunlight helps with seratonin levels, and has a positive impact on mood. 

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Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – Project ARRIBA is a nonprofit that helps people who want to continue their education and attend college. According to the non-profit, they work with students to create an educational roadmap and provide aid for rent, bills, and childcare. Project Arriba stated that a recent study found that since they began offering services, they have generated an economic impact of $1.17 billion in the city of El Paso. You can find more information by clicking on this link: https://projectarriba.org/

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Díaz Jurado family in Juárez has been helping the homeless population for over two years, saying they will keep doing it until they can’t.

Now the family is asking anyone willing to help them to continue providing them with food and clothing.

They often cook dozens of meals and give them away on the streets of Juárez, saying that one of their sons started this tradition and expects to continue it for years.

ABC-7 spoke with Joiser Díaz, the father of the Díaz Jurado family, to learn about the frequency of their assistance to people across the border and to encourage anyone willing to donate winter clothes or food to contact them.

If you are interested in donating to support the Díaz Jurado family, you can contact them at the following numbers: +52 (656) 317-7447 or +52 (656) 285-1213.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Three years ago, on January 1, 2023, an attack and prison riot at CERESO No. 3 in Juárez left 17 people dead (10 detention officers/guards and seven inmates) and 27 inmates who escaped from the prison in Ciudad Juárez.

This week, the Chihuahua State Police Department (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública del Estado de Chihuahua) paid tribute to the 10 officers killed during the attack.

SSPE also presented this week what they called “Historical Advances in the Penitentiary System and Strengthening of Social Reintegration,” highlighting significant changes made at state prisons since they took control and assumed operations after the 2023 attack.

As part of the actions implemented within the Social Reintegration Centers (CERESO), the main advances included strengthening operational staff, with the incorporation of 193 new correctional officers trained in academies since 2023, which directly reinforced security and control in the penitentiary centers.

Likewise, this year, the salary standardization of penitentiary personnel was completed, which they also called “a historic action that dignified the work of more than 1,200 officers,” including not only the base salary but also compensatory bonuses and monthly risk bonuses, thus strengthening their working conditions. Similarly, complete uniforms were provided for two consecutive years, an action that had not been recorded previously and that contributes to the order, identity, and professionalization of the custodial staff.

In terms of infrastructure and to prevent overcrowding, the Penitentiary System created more than 800 new spaces for inmates, mainly in CERESO No. 3 in Ciudad Juárez, in addition to eliminating undue privileges and the so-called “VIP cells.”

These actions reduced prison overcrowding, decreasing from 42% to 11.26% during the period in which the current administration has been in charge of the system. On the other hand, inspection operations have been carried out continuously in all state penitentiary centers, increasing from 119,000 inspections in 2023 to nearly 400,000 in 2025. This resulted in the seizure of more than 42,000 prohibited items, reflecting a firm strategy for control and risk prevention.

383 inmates were also transferred to other federal prisons across Mexico, as well as 1,088 transfers to state prisons, as part of the strategic management of the inmate population, saying this is aimed at guaranteeing security and stability in the penitentiary system in Chihuahua.

Finally, more than 4,900 inmates participated in work programs during 2025, 3,904 inmates registered in cultural programs, and 4,618 people registered in sports programs.

“These actions are part of the comprehensive social reintegration strategy promoted by the Chihuahua State Public Security Secretary, Gilberto Loya Chávez, aimed at strengthening security, governance, and respect for human rights in penitentiary centers, under the premise that with Security we deliver results,” SSPE Chihuahua added.

Full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6.

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Andrew J. Polk

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A new way of talking about events, organizations and businesses – with a local touch.

ABC-7 launched our new initiative “7 in the City” just eight months ago. 

You may have seen some of the reports from a familiar face on-air and on social media.

So what goes into making it happen?

Sunday night on ABC-7 Xtra, join host Andrew J. Polk as he talks with 7 in the city reporter Isabella Martinez and we see some of the best reports from the last year. Tune in Sunday at 10:35 p.m., right after ABC-7 at 10 Weekend.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — As 2025 draws to a close, it’s no surprise that people from our region frequently cross the border to celebrate important dates like today. Thousands of border residents are expected to celebrate in Juárez, whether at a bar or nightclub, at a restaurant, or with their families.

Businesses and nightlife venues in Juárez are rushing to organize one of the year’s most important nights to welcome 2026 in style. Local business owners and managers expect to host hundreds of people tonight at various Juárez restaurants and bars.

ABC-7 spoke with Carlos Cisneros, general manager of “The Normal Ciudad Juárez,” one of the most popular nightclubs south of the border, who said they expect a large crowd tonight and that it will be a great night. Cisneros has been working in nightclubs in Mexico for almost 11 years.

“The truth is that every day is different; there are days that are very good, there are days that are bad, average, but yes, every year is very different, it brings you something different every night, every experience,” Cisneros said.

Preparing for a busy night like New Year’s Eve requires a lot of time, stress, and help from Carlos and his team, but he says it’s totally worth it in the end.

“Well, in the days leading up to it, it’s normal; they don’t get that stressed. It’s only on the day itself that they get a little stressed, and then at the end of the night, you can feel them breathe, they take a break, and obviously, they clean up all the mess people make, right?” Cisneros said. “But then at the end, I try to give them a drink so they can relax and toast with the team, because at the end of the day they’re the ones who get the job done.”

The Juárez Municipal Government has been raising awareness among all residents on both sides of the border about the importance of not drinking and driving, a key measure to prevent accidents and protect lives during this holiday season.

Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar explained that one of the main reasons for the recent amendment to the Traffic and Transportation Regulations for the Municipality of Juárez was to discourage this type of behavior through stricter penalties that deter driving under the influence of alcohol and promote “greater responsibility behind the wheel.”

“Checkpoints alone are not effective, since offenders do not voluntarily go to a checkpoint, while random checks do contribute to a greater preventive effect,” said Mayor Pérez Cuéllar.

“So far, there has been no report of a significant increase in violations, which reinforces the fact that the objective of the reform is not to impose more penalties, but to prevent accidents and encourage safer and more defensive driving based on awareness of the new regulations,” Mayor Pérez Cuéllar added.

The City reiterated its call not to drive after consuming alcohol and emphasized that during the holidays, people can celebrate responsibly by choosing alternatives such as using taxis, ride-sharing services, or a designated driver to avoid endangering their own lives and the lives of others, and to ensure safe celebrations without tragedy.

Residents crossing to Juárez to celebrate are expected to see an increased law enforcement presence on the city’s streets, with both the Juárez Municipal Police Department (SSPM) and the Juárez Road Safety Department (CGSV) patrolling across the city.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Juárez Civil Protection Department (DGPC), along with its branches, the Fire and Rescue Departments, reactivated its warming center/temporary shelter for those in need to stay overnight due to the cold temperatures.

In a news release, the Civil Protection Department said that, due to early warnings of low temperatures, the temporary shelter has remained open continuously since last Sunday, “to safeguard the well-being of people experiencing homelessness.”

As part of preventive measures, during the night and early morning hours yesterday, agency personnel, in coordination with the Juárez Department of Public Safety or the Juárez Municipal Police (SSPM), conducted search and rescue operations for people experiencing homelessness who were exposed to harsh weather, safely transporting them to the temporary shelter.

“The shelter maintains a warm temperature and provides basic care, including hot drinks and food, to protect the health and well-being of those who need it most during this winter season,” the Civil Protection Department said.

The City also urges the public to report any person experiencing homelessness who requires assistance by calling 911 so they can be assisted or taken to the shelter.

This warming center/shelter is located in Downtown Juárez at the intersection of Constitución and 20 de Noviembre streets, next to the ‘Monumento a Benito Juárez’ statue.

Given the drop in temperature recorded in the city, the Civil Protection Department issued a preventive alert and urged residents to take extra precautions when using heaters and other heating systems in their homes to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, and fatal accidents.

Sergio Rodríguez, the agency’s head, recommended not sleeping with the heater on and always keeping two windows facing opposite directions to allow for proper ventilation inside the home.

He also asked citizens to immediately turn off any appliance that shows signs of malfunction or failure and take it to a qualified technician or any fire station, where personnel can inspect it and provide safety recommendations.

The Municipal Government is keeping the ‘El Barreal’ shelter open to assist homeless people when extremely low temperatures are recorded in the city, to prevent health risks during the winter season, announced Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar.

The shelter offers services from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., but in extreme weather conditions, people can remain sheltered throughout the day.

“This space offers safe shelter, mattresses, and hot meals as part of the preventive measures implemented to protect the most vulnerable population during cold fronts,” Mayor Pérez Cuéllar added.

Full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6.

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