Category: kvia-local-news

Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The City of Juárez, along with the State of Chihuahua, have recorded similar numbers of homicides in recent years, but according to the Chihuahua Secretary of Public Safety (SSPE) or the Chihuahua State Police, this year they are set to close 2025 with a decrease compared to last year.

According to Chihuahua Assistant Police Chief Luis Ángel Aguirre Rodríguez, the state has reported 1,814 homicides so far this year, compared to over 2,000 recorded last year.

Assistant Police Chief Aguirre Rodríguez said that since 2017, the state of Chihuahua has seen a trend of over 2,000 homicides per year.

“It’s always 2,400, 2,600, or even 2,700 at the peak, and this also reflects and results in the strategy’s progress; these are strategies that are built little by little,” said Assistant Police Chief Aguirre. “Prevention and citizen participation have been fundamental, as has the support of citizen organizations, community groups, and the Chihuahua business community.”

Juárez has also seen a significant decrease in homicides this year, reporting 920 so far, compared to 1,105 reported in 2024 and 1,163 in 2023 according to the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office (FGE).

“This support has been crucial in strengthening the construction of safe communities and, above all, in implementing technology to protect the community. This improves inter-institutional coordination and makes the work more efficient, not only for the state police but also for municipal police, emergency medical services, firefighters, and Civil Protection—all these institutions that share a single, firm purpose: to restore the peace, tranquility, and security that all Chihuahuenses deserve,” Assistant Police Chief Aguirre added.

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Joseph Montero

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Special Traffic Investigations is looking into a crash involving a pedestrian Monday morning.

The crash happened at 5720 Wren Ave. in Northeast El Paso.

No other details are available at this time. ABC-7 will bring you updates as we learn more.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– “Project Always Beside You”, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 2020 by Marine Veteran Salvador Diaz Jr. and his wife, Sandra Diaz.

This in memory of fallen teams like their son SSGT Christopher Diaz and his K9 partner, SSD P068 Dino.

Christopher Diaz was a K9 handler who died in action in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan. He and his K9 Dino remain a central symbol of courage and devotion for the nonprofit.

The Diaz family adopted Dino after a lengthy retirement process, keeping them connected to Christopher’s memory.

The Diaz family started this nonprofit after Dino died in 2020. Its committed to helping military working dogs, service animals and law enforcement K9s and their handlers.

“Dino didn’t replace our son by no means, but he gave us a piece that that we knew that our son, you know, cared for, you know, and Dino cared for him,” said Salvador Diaz Jr. “Project Always Beside You” President, during an interview.

Sandra Diaz recalls the comfort of touching and playing with Dino, knowing Christopher had done the same while in Afghanistan.

“You bring home a baby, so you’re prepared. But when you get an adoption like this, you’re not as much as prepared, especially for a loss,” said Sandra Diaz, “Project Always Beside You” Treasurer.

“Project Always Beside You” funds medical care, equipment, relocation and memorial programs to help retired K9s and their handlers.

Today the nonprofit continues to assists active-duty personnel, veterans and families across the United States, including providing urgent medical aid and support for K9 retirement and adoption processes.

For ways to contribute, you can visit the nonprofit’s website at https://www.project-alwaysbesideyou.org/ to learn more about how to support retired K9s and their families.

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Andrew J. Polk

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As the year draws to a close, ABC-7 is taking a look back at the year that was.

These past twelve months have certainly been eventful, to say the least. From the return of the Trump administration to the White House, to conflicts and major geopolitical developments around the world and much more, 2025 has been one for the history books.

We’ll likely be talking about some of this year’s stories of them and their impacts for years yet to come.

But what about the most important local news?

We’ve been gathering the most impactful and important stories from the last year, with our news managers meeting to narrow it down.

Sunday night on ABC-7 Xtra, join host Andrew J. Polk as he’s joined by main anchors Paul Cicala and Marcel Clarke as they break down the top seven new stories and topics of 2025. 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) — The Mexican Association of Importers and Exporters (ANIERM) submitted a petition to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The organization works in parallel with the Mexico-United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) and ANIERM, along with other business and industry associations, want to oppose the removal of commercial cargo crossings from the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA); they now say the request was accepted and are awaiting a response.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has initiated a modernization project for ‘BOTA,’ set to start next year. The project involves closing the commercial cargo crossing, which, according to ANIERM, could have several potential economic and environmental impacts in Juárez and on the border.

“One of the things we did to prevent the closure of the cargo crossing at ‘BOTA’ was to file a petition with the CEC, and we asked this organization to review whether the United States conducted the necessary studies to ensure that there would be no environmental impact on the border region,” said ANIERM Chihuahua delegate Marcelo Vázquez Tovar.

“We requested this because the 190,000 cargo shipments that cross through ‘BOTA’ annually will obviously be diverted to Ysleta-Zaragoza, shifting the pollution to that area, which is more densely populated on the Juárez side,” delegate Vázquez added. “Well, this environmental organization told us that it has already begun its investigation to determine whether the decision to close cargo traffic at ‘BOTA’ would affect tens of thousands of Juárez residents.”

Chihuahua Delegate Vázquez believes there is a lack of understanding about what closing this crossing entails, in environmental, economic, and logistical terms, and that is why they wanted to communicate it with the CEC.

According to ANIERM, if the commercial cargo crossing at ‘BOTA’ is closed, neither the city of El Paso nor Juárez has the infrastructure to handle the 190,000 annual truck shipments through Zaragoza, because they would hardly go to the Marcelino Serna Port of Entry in Tornillo-Guadalupe or the Santa Teresa bridge.

“The Bridge of the Americas is the only one equipped with certifications for the crossing of certain goods that cannot be crossed through the other bridges,” delegate Vázquez said. The GSA project would significantly increase pollution because it involves eliminating the commercial cargo crossing but increasing the number of inspection booths for private vehicles from the current 14 to 40.”

Data ANIERM shows that 34,000 private vehicles cross daily with the current 14 booths at ‘BOTA,’ and increasing to 40 booths would mean approximately 97,000 vehicles crossing there daily.

So far, there has been no binational dialogue between federal authorities to announce the closure of the commercial crossing on which hundreds of maquiladoras depend.

“We have seen some protests from people in El Paso demanding the closure of the cargo crossing because it pollutes their neighborhoods. Of course, they have the right to do so, but we find it somewhat irresponsible that they are doing it without adequate information,” Delegate Vázquez said.

“It’s like a neighbor sweeping their house, gathering all the trash, and dumping it on the next-door neighbor; that’s how we see it,” Vázquez added. “They want to send all that pollution to the east side.”

ABC-7 spoke with Familias Unidas del Chamizal earlier this month; they said they never asked to send all commercial traffic to the Ysleta-Zaragoza Port of Entry, they would like to have them cross through Tornillo or Santa Teresa.

“For us to be able to cross and for the people of Juárez-El Paso to be able to eat, clothe themselves, and have jobs, it is necessary to transport cargo across the border. Today, it is impossible to live without this impact, which we call a carbon footprint,” he added. “Of course, we can look for alternatives to reduce pollution, but it’s not about shifting the problem to our neighbors or closing a bridge without the corresponding studies.”

ANIERM is currently waiting for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to take action.

“We believe they will stop this project because it is not environmentally viable, it generates much more pollution, and at the same time, it hinders the economy of our two cities,” Vázquez also said.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Thousands of borderland kids left the “Santa Bombero” event with a smile today after local firefighters held the 86th edition of this traditional campaign.

Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, along with other local officials and departments, kicked off the event at 8 a.m. today. Hours before, tens of thousands of families were already lining up to be among the first to receive a Christmas gift for their kids.

“This is a beautiful tradition from Ciudad Juárez that has been carried out without interruption for 86 years, so we must protect and preserve it; it is something that unites the people of Juárez,” Mayor Pérez Cuéllar said.

According to the Juárez Fire Department, approximately 50,000 toys and bicycles were collected to distribute to children, and around 3,500 people attended the event.

Donations were made by the community, local businesses, private donors and the city of Juárez, along with some of its departments.

ABC-7 was at the “Santa Bombero” event today and spoke with some of the children after they received their Christmas gifts; full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Dozens of people have begun camping out in front of ‘Parque DIF’ to secure a spot and a Christmas gift for their children at the 86th annual “Santa Bombero” event.

Some residents say they live far from the event location, even on the outskirts of the city, and that it’s difficult for them to travel on the day of the event.

The City of Juárez, Fire Department, and the DIF (Family Development Institute), among other local agencies and organizations, expect to receive and distribute thousands of toys and bicycles to children in the border area.

Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar reported on Monday that families began arriving at DIF Park Sunday night, hoping to secure a spot for the traditional ‘Santa Bombero’ toy giveaway event, which will take place next Wednesday, December 24, at 8 a.m.

Mayor Pérez Cuéllar also mentioned that this situation was unexpected, as in previous years, families had not arrived so early. He acknowledged that, although appeals have been made to discourage people from spending the night at the park, the number of people is expected to continue increasing as the event approaches.

Mayor Pérez Cuéllar also highlighted that the toy drive has been very successful and reiterated that, as every year, all children will receive a toy. However, he warned that long lines usually form for those hoping to receive a bicycle.

ABC-7 spoke with the municipal Civil Protection director, Sergio Rodríguez, who recommends the community not to spend the night at the park, even if the weather conditions are not adverse, as it is safer to arrive on the day of the event.

Nevertheless, Director Rodríguez indicated that his department maintains a constant presence and a security detail to protect those who have decided to remain at the park.

Authorities reiterated the call to follow official instructions and to arrive in an orderly and cautious manner so that the ‘Santa Bombero’ event can proceed safely and without incident.

Full story tonight on ABC-7 at 6.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Binational residents in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez have been reporting longer wait times and lines at all ports of entry to cross into either city.

Last-minute holiday shopping and travel are among the most common reasons more people have been crossing the border recently.

ABC-7 spoke with some residents waiting in line at the Bridge of the Americas, who said they hope to buy what they still need before Christmas this week. Others said they crossed to Juárez to buy groceries for this week’s dinners.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection advises all those crossing into the U.S. after buying items in Mexico to always declare to avoid any fines and penalties.

CBP’s list of prohibited and restricted items can be found here.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with CBP, also has a list of items you can cross into the U.S. for personal use.

The Juárez Road Safety Department (CGSV), or Traffic Police, says they encourage all residents on both sides of the border to always travel with time to spare and to respect all traffic signs and speed limits south of the border. They also advise those crossing from Juárez to El Paso not to cut in line at any port of entry, or they could face a fine of around 4,520 Mexican pesos, which is about $251.45.

There are Juárez Traffic Police officers and agents at all international bridges patrolling and checking to make sure no one is cutting in line while crossing to El Paso.

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Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso’s IM NOVELTIES is strengthening the local fashion scene by continually hosting rotating collections and public pop-ups that connect designers with downtown shoppers.

“When people recognize your brand or they know what you’re doing. And they know that you’re not doing it just for the money. That’s always big because you have to have a purpose and money can’t be your only purpose,” said the owner of IM NOVELTIES, Mariano Adame, during an interview.

Sophia Bencomo, owner of Bencomo Couture and employee at IM NOVELTIES, agreed.

“Just seeing their ideas come to life and they can have it physically. I think that’s just a great feeling, seeing them happy,” said Bencomo.

The store, located on Texas Avenue in downtown El Paso, has helped foster new street life as neighboring businesses grow alongside it. Adame added, “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been lucky to have new neighbors. And that’s kind of like, given the street life.”

The boutique is always on the lookout for new designers and artists. Even when space is limited, it supports pop-ups and events to expand local fashion’s reach.

IM NOVELTIES hosted its first fashion show last year, creating a hub for local creativity beyond the traditional nightlife scene.

Bencomo says that fashion-focused gatherings offer a healthy way to build meaningful connections within the community. “I feel like when a lot of people go out, we’re searching to meet other people or to build that connection, but I think this is a very healthy outlet to build connections,” says Bencomo.

Adame says these fashion shows can offer an alternative way to connect with the community outside the usual party scene. He adds that these fashion shows may also inspire study and collaboration across artistic disciplines.

“You can focus on something positive, like art, and maybe someone will be inspired or to study fashion or film, anything art related,” said Adame.

IM NOVELTIES next show is planned for January 10th at Smolder and Brass, just two doors down from the boutique. This signaling ongoing momentum for El Paso’s emerging fashion ecosystem.

IM NOVELTIES’ succeeds in its role of weaving together designers, artists, and residents into a shared downtown narrative.

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Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — ABC-7 reached out to University Medical Center of El Paso to learn more details about the recently announced pay raise for CEO Jacob Cintron, which the board approved this week.

Cintron is now making almost $1.5 million a year.

According to UMC’s Administrative Director of Public Affairs, Estefanía S. Morgan, Cintron’s new salary is $1,128.582.42, effective Oct. 1, 2025. This compares to the $990,340 he earned the previous year.

His new incentive compensation, based on FY2025 metrics, is $346,449.33, compared to $49,388 in bonuses in 2024.

In an email statement, Board Chair Dr. Kristina Mena said this about CEO Cintron’s evaluation:

“Mr. Cintron has led our Hospital District with exceptional stability, vision, and integrity for nearly a decade. Under his leadership, our system has expanded services, delivered record financial performance, and improved access to high-quality care for families across El Paso County. Each year, our Board undertakes a fact-based evaluation that includes independent market analysis and a comprehensive review of performance metrics. This year, the data show that Mr. Cintron continues to perform at a level that strengthens our entire Hospital District and healthcare system for the region. The compensation adjustment we approved reflects both his achievements and the need to ensure our organization remains competitive in attracting and retaining top-tier executive talent.”

ABC-7 requested an interview with UMC CEO Cintron and other members of the board of directors; they have not responded to our interview request and only provided us with a written statement and the following information:

“The Board of Managers also took into consideration many of the District’s FY25 achievements under the direction of Mr. Cintron, some of which include:”

Successful passage of the November 2024 $396 million bond, addressing capacity constraints, expanding critical services, and investing in new service lines around a burn and a cancer center. 

Preserved all bond ratings from the previous year, demonstrating ongoing stability

Adoption of the No New Revenue Rate for Maintenance & Operations for the fifth time in six years, with the 2025 increase attributable solely to the voter-approved bond.

El Paso Health’s expansion into the STAR+PLUS program, serving 10,000 El Paso residents, along with two new Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans and work to expand into Medicare Advantage.

Districtwide volume growth, including:

12% increase in outpatient visits

11% increase in surgeries

Record financial performance:

Total revenues of $1.8 billion, a 29% increase over FY 2024

The District’s 2025 total revenues were $1.8 billion. In 2017 (Mr. Cintron’s first full year), the District’s revenues were $700 million – a 157% increase

Change in Net Assets of $20 million, outperforming the FY 2025 budget forecast of ($2) million by $22 million

Expand the number of facilities to include:

UMC’s first urgent care

UMC’s East Neurosurgery Clinic

UMC’s Northeast Orthopedic Clinic

UMC’s Anemia Clinic

El Paso Children’s Hospital second urgent care

El Paso Children’s 8th floor expansion to include Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Expanding system recognitions in 2025, a few of which include:

Named one of Healthgrades’ Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S. for spine surgery

Reaccredited as the region’s only Comprehensive Level 1 Trauma Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services

Achieving geriatric accreditation for our clinics from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and emergency department from the American College of Emergency Physicians

Received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology

Achieving Level 3 Epilepsy Center accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers

Pinnacle Healthcare Community Impact Award

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