Month: August 2025

Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) is stepping up its patrols after receiving several complaints about e-bikes.

ECPD say people have called saying they almost hit someone riding an e-bike. Police also says riders are running red lights, not wearing their helmets and driving on the wrong side of the road.

ECPD say last week, they saw a group of riders using their e-bikes recklessly and were able to cite the group, as well as tow their e-bikes.

“What we are doing is we are educating the bicyclists. Sometimes we will stop them, not to cite them, but to educate them on the rules of the roads. Make sure they are wearing their helmets and make sure they are following the rules of the cars and just let them know that the drivers are not going to see them,” said Officer Adrian Hirales with ECPD.

ECPD say they will cite you on the second strike and tow your bike.

Click here to follow the original article.

Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Brawley Police Department (BPD) is introducing a new member on their squad.

BPD say Max is the first robot dog in all of Imperial County.

Brawley Police Chief Jimmy Duran says the idea is to help protect officers and anyone around a dangerous situation.

“The idea is to send Max and hopefully scout. It does have thermal as well, so he can see if the individual is hiding. He sees the body heat, even if it’s dark. Max can see right through that, so that is our idea and we find the individual and maybe we can talk him down rather than engaging with our officers,” said Chief Duran.

BPD say Max will also attend community events all over the city.

He will start working for the city soon.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, heat causes more death that any other weather-related event in the United States.

David Padilla from The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says, “The summertime, obviously the concrete, the asphalt is extremely hot, but things that people don’t think about, we obviously don’t want them out with their children at the park, all the metal park structures are going to be really hot, but even the outside of vehicles, we set things down on top of vehicles when were loading up, or getting in…wanna make sure that people are careful.”

When in the midst of extreme temperatures, people often do not think about how hot some surfaces can get.

Anything in direct sunlight is going to be extremely hot and should be approached with caution.

We spoke to YFD about cases where people have gotten hurt from hot surfaces.

“There are times when patients fall and what would normally be just a fall under normal circumstances becomes a much bigger emergency because they fall outside on the concrete, if it’s an elderly couple and let’s say wife falls and husband can’t help her up, it’s not just a fall anymore now we’re concerned about burns,” says Padilla.

Remember to stay hydrated and indoors, if possible, in this extreme

Make sure you are staying hydrated, not wearing thick clothing, and finding shade if you are out in the extreme heat.

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Housing America Corporations says they provide affordable housing either by homeownership or rental subsidy through our apartment complexes.

Yolanda Galindo, Executive Director of Housing America Corporations, says they have a few locations available for those who are interested in low income housing.

“We have a couple of locations in Somerton and one in Yuma. We have 16 apartments, Orchard Street apartments, and we have 32 del Pueblo, 44 of just senior assisted living in Somerton and then we have 42 in Colorado Street apartments here located in Yuma. We also have 24 in Natal apartments in Somerton,” she said.

Galindo says the apartments are kept in great conditions for all tenants.

“These apartments are maintained in a decent, safe environment. Obviously there’s always a maintenance on call, any repairs are needed, and then with funding allowance, we always try to maintain the apartments,” says Galindo

If you’re interested in applying, you can visit the Housing America Corporation offices.

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Housing America Corporation is now implementing a new 504 home repair program.

The program provides loans for low income homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize the home. It also provides grants to remove any health or safety hazards from a home.

Yolanda Galindo, Executive Director of Housing America Corporation, says you can apply for the program if you meet certain requirements.

“You have to be a homeowner, the home has to be owner occupied, and live within the service area of USDA. You have to be current with all your utilities and meet the income limits for this program,” says Galindo.

Galindo adds different types of repairs can be funded.

“We can do from ADA modifications for the accessibility modifications to roofs to air conditioners to plumbing, electrical, anything really that has to do with your health, and even energy efficiency components of your home,” says Galindo.

To apply for the program, you can you can visit the Housing America Corporation Offices.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A Brawley man convicted of killing his wife could be sentenced to life in prison later this month.

Rodrigo Flores Gomez, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2024 killing of his wife, 36-year-old Sandy Fabela.

According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, Gomez strangled Fabela inside their home in Brawley last April.

Investigators say he later moved her body to a parked car and eventually admitted to the killing.

“Prosecution is gonna argue that this man should never see the light of day again, life without the possibility of parole, which is what we’re going for and what he deserves,” said Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez.

The case brought to light 16 years of abuse, a restraining order that was never served, and a threat made just one day before the killing.

“The facts of this case are egregious, they’re egregious. The fact that he did this in the home where she lived with her family. At the end of the day, she was a woman trying to protect her family, she didn’t want drug use in her home,” Marquez added.

Just a month before the murder, Fabela’s daughter submitted a written declaration saying she feared her father would kill her mother.

“There are indicators of domestic violence in advance,” Marquez said. “Psychological, coercive control over someone’s life, violence, patterns of control, those things are indicators of domestic violence.”

He added that taking action when those signs appear can make a difference.

“In this case you look at the mother, she left three kids behind, a three-year-old, a seven-year-old, and a 16-year-old, and they don’t even have a father,” they said.

Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22 at the El Centro Courthouse.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are local resources ready to help.

Sure Helpline Crisis Center in El Centro offers confidential support, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. They also provide advocacy and referrals to additional support services. The link to their website is here.

WomanHaven Center for Family Solutions, also based in El Centro, supports individuals and families affected by domestic violence through emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education. Find more about their services here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A major job fair at the Imperial Valley Mall drew hundreds of job seekers Friday, as the community works to help those hit hardest by recent layoffs.

The event comes after the sudden closure of the Spreckels Sugar Plant in Brawley, which wiped out around 400 jobs and sent shockwaves through the local economy.

Employers from across the Valley came ready to hire, looking to help people get back on their feet.

“We’re looking for EVS, pharmacy techs, but mostly RNs, but we’re looking for everything,” said Marselle Cooke with Pioneers Memorial Healthcare.

One program, ForeverGreen Farms, offers an eight-week paid training for farmworkers to move into better-paying agriculture jobs.

“The training is gonna pay $25 an hour, the training is for 8 weeks completely paid, they’re even gonna get transportation if they don’t have any to get to the training,” said Ruben Partida with Comité de Acción del Valle.

Congressman Raul Ruiz, who helped organize the job fair, said he’s working with growers and the USDA to save jobs.

“We’re working with the growers, and the USDA, to salvage what we can of the beet industry, so that people in that industry can continue to work. We’re also working with the Lithium Valley companies to create the manufacturing base of jobs that many people here have skills for,” Congressman Ruiz said.

Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez also encouraged companies to see what the region has to offer.

“Come see the jewel, the gem, of what Imperial County is, so that way they can understand really the beauty, the hard working people here,” Assemblyman Gonzalez shared.

County officials say they hope to host two job fairs every year.

For more information and employment resources, visit the Imperial County Workforce Development Board.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Helping local police train K9s. The K9 Officer Partner Support (OPS) Foundation donated a bite suit to the Yuma Police Department.

The non-profit says it’s important to support local law enforcement.

“Money is so tight everywhere, they need equipment, they need things that can help them train, so it’s important for us and to us to be able to provide them with that help,” said Mark Sims, Vice President of the K9 OPS Foundation

The bite suit has a price tag of nearly $2,000.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) say this a much-needed tool for both the officers and the K9s.

“It’s going to help to make our decoys more safe, it’s good for the dog as well. It’s a different color, different suit, different material. It’s good for them to see it, but really is for our decoys to be safer,” said Officer Blaine Blanton of YPD.

If you would like to support the K9 OPS Foundation, they are hosting a restaurant takeover on Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse on 16th Street.

Click here to follow the original article.