Good morning, El Paso.

On Jan. 1, Jalisco Cafe in Segundo Barrio selected five winners to receive free menudo for a year—each winner gets meals for two—following New Year’s festivities.

Ruvi Saenz, a program coordinator for Communities in Schools and the BIC program, was named ABC-7 Do Gooder and awarded $1,000 (for her charity work) to help inspire at-risk students and uplift youth in El Paso.

Jalisco Cafe celebrated World Menudo Day on New Year's Day in El Paso by awarding five winners free menudo for 52 weekends in 2026 — continuing a tradition that has spanned over 70 years.

An El Paso film crew is auditioning a young woman to portray Selena in film La Reina Que Quiero Ser.

Auditions are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Outlet Shoppes' courtyard (applicants must be 18 to 30 or 16 to 17 with a guardian).

Senior Ian Ortega-Huerta from Eastlake High School marched in the Honor Band at the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena yesterday.

He said he was proud to represent his school and the region as the only tenor saxophone player from Texas.

El Paso recorded its third-warmest year in 2025 with 28 new daily high marks (and no record lows set), including a record warm December that averaged 55 degrees.

The data shows that ongoing climate change is causing a steady rise in daily temperatures.

University Medical Center welcomed Austin Alvarez at 1:18 a.m. as the first baby of the new year, and Hospitals of Providence East Campus delivered Eden Marie Flores at 1:20 a.m. Both babies were born healthy, continuing a long local tradition.

At 1:18 a.m. on Jan. 1, University Medical Center of El Paso welcomed its first baby of 2026, a boy named Austin Alvarez who weighed 6 lbs, 8 oz.

The hospital shared the joyful news on social media & a picture of the mother and baby accompanied the announcement.

Community members celebrated the new year with a New Year’s Day hike at Chuck Heinrich Memorial Park while exploring the scenic Franklin Mountains.

Hosted by We Hike with routes for all abilities, the group will launch a series of health-themed hikes on Saturday, Jan. 3 — an event that underlines mental wellness.

Before winning the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve, Duke players missed a scheduled visit to Providence Children's Hospital because they stayed late at Las Palmas Medical Center + the Sun Bowl Association explained that miscommunication led to the cancellation amid strong local reactions on social media.

Days of Remembrance - Bridal, Quince & Sweet 16 Expo

11 AM – 5 PM — El Paso Convention Center — Admission details not specified — Discover the largest and longest-running bridal and quinceañera expo in the region.

1st Meetup Fundraiser Luncheon at L&J Cafe

1-3 p.m. — L & J Cafe — Fundraising event — Enjoy a cozy luncheon while supporting a community-driven Meetup group for those 50 and over.

Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings

6:30-7:29 p.m. — St. Rogers Depot — Tickets required — Experience the enchanting melodies from 'Bridgerton' by candlelight with a talented string quartet.

EMORFIK Live Performance

9-11 p.m. — 11:11 EP TX — Tickets from $51 — Emorfik brings unforgettable vibes to El Paso in this lively concert.

Tips for Winter Gardening

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Ascarate Teaching & Demonstration Garden — Free entry — Explore winter gardening techniques and enjoy family-friendly activities in the garden.