US woman with arrest warrant found in San Luis, Mexico

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Marcos Icahuate

SAN LUIS, Mexico (KYMA, KECY) – A U.S. fugitive wanted for drug possession was arrested in San Luis, Mexico.

The Sonora Attorney General’s Office says 29-year-old Janelle Yadai “N,” had an outstanding arrest warrant issued in March by the U.S. Marshals in Yuma County.

The arrest warrant was for drug possession, specifically fentanyl.

The suspect was located following a coordinated investigation between Mexican and U.S. authorities.

She was handed over to U.S. authorities at the San Luis Port of Entry.

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Brawley water tower to be demolished

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Hinojosa Park water tower is set to be demolished in August and many locals are sad about the news.

Brawley Mayor Gil Rebollar says the process started three years ago when the previous council got a grant from then State Senator Ben Hueso.

The mayor says they brought in a contractor in hopes of keeping the tower as a historical monument but it did not meet the standards.

“As we went through this process from the material, we were hoping to repurpose the material but due to the rust the paint, there is some toxicity that does not allow us to repurpose the parts for a stage or a community amenity,” said Mayor Rebollar.

The water tower is 150 feet tall and has stood for 90 years, nearly a century. The tower was once used to provide water pressure to the locals.

“I’ll mourn it. I’ll mourn it like I lost a special friend, but I understand that it’s time has come,” said Max Reyes.

Bellarosa Valdez says she grew up in Brawley with all of her family but she moved when she was just 18.She says the tower hold many memories. It’s why she came to see it one last time.

“I felt eager to come out here and take a look at it one last time before it goes away. I am excited to see what the future holds and what there is plans for it and hopefully it’s another iconic feature,” said Bellarosa Valdez.

Demolishing plans are set to start at the beginning of August.

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Local medical group is giving back to educators

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A local medical group is giving back to educators just in time for the new school year.

Legacy MD Medical Group says they are giving out 150 bags to school teachers for the new school year.

The medical group says they will be giving them out in the rural schools including Calipatria and Seely.

“Every year there is a lot of organizations. A lot of organizations that have the backpack giveaway for students so this time we wanted to make sure that we focus on the heart that what leads this education system which is out teachers,” said Angie Peña.

Inside the bags, teachers will find school supplies like notebooks. The medical group says this is the first time giving out bags to educators.

  

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Back to school vaccines available

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) –  The Yuma County Public Health District is offering vaccines before the school year begins.

As kids start going back to school, it’s necessary to stay up to date with vaccinations to keep them safe and healthy.

Miriam Galindo, Yuma County Immunization Program Coordinator says, “We want to have all our kids protected, our community protected, so in order to have that, we need to have all our kids immunized.”

Kids from ages six weeks to 18-years-old, as well as adults can all get their vaccines from the clinic.

They provide all back-to-school shots like the polio, and the measles, mumps, and rubella shot.Galindo explains that it can be very easy for kids to get sick at school and advises parents on how to prevent disease.

“You know hand washing, and everything, keep your kids at home if they are sick, but I mean the number one thing if you want to protect them from those diseases, vaccinate,” says Galindo.

One local, Carol Strickland, shares what she thinks of the clinic and the importance of getting vaccinated.

“I think it’s great, I mean we had, this is our grandchild, and we’ve had her sister vaccinated, and her vaccinated, and they’ve gotten flu shots when they were little, you know, and so it’s always been important and we want to keep them healthy,” says Strickland

The Yuma County Public Health District will be offering another clinic August 6 to August 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Yuma County Main Library.

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Local medical center creates program to help those losing healthcare coverage

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif.(KYMA, KECY) – A local medical center has created a program to help people who could be losing healthcare coverage.

“Legacy MD Medical Group” says it’s offering a direct primary care membership for people impacted by the budget reconciliation act better known as the “One, big beautiful bill.”

The medical group says the program will offer all the services the center has including labs and urgent care.

“Probably next year, the big beautiful bill will be in effect in our county and a lot of people don’t have insurance. That’s why we will make this to help the people to get healthier and better in their health so like you said help is our best asset that we have,” said Dr. Vo.

Click here for more information about the program.

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Grease fire breaks out in Yuma commercial kitchen

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says having fire safety technology in commercial kitchens is important, following a fire at a local restaurant.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, says, “Investigations entered the restaurant, and found that a hood system had gone off and had put out a kitchen fire. At that point, they decided they can handle the incident themselves, they canceled the balance of the commercial assignment.”

YFD says a grease fire ignited in one of the cooking pans at the Panda Express on Avenue 8E and 32nd Street, right by the Foothills Walmart.

The fire alarm activated the hood suppression system, which helps prevent grease fires through ventilation.

YFD applauds the business for having the up-to-date fire safety equipment.

“The fire could have been a lot worse, so thanks to that suppression system, the fire was extinguished right away, nobody was hurt, they were able to go back, they were able to reopen once the system was recharged,” says Leon.

YFD Fire inspector Jaymie Jones shares information and tips on how to stay safe in commercial kitchens.

“For a commercial kitchen, the fire code recommends, it requires actually that they get them cleaned, their pit systems cleaned, minimum every three, more if they do a higher volume of cooking they should get them serviced every six months, so that stuff’s imperative just to make sure those systems don’t get clogged up with grease and they do activate like this one did,” Jones says.

When it comes to cooking in the kitchen, YFD says it’s important to practice safety not only for yourself but for others around you.

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Job fair to be held at Imperial Valley Mall in August

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A job fair is planned to be held in August.

The Desert Region Career & Resource Expo is coming to the Imperial Valley Mall on August 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 pm.

Attendees can meet employers, explore job opportunities, and connect with local resources.

Registration is required to attend, which you can do here.

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Yuma’s oldest swimming pool celebrates 100th birthday

KYMA on August 2, 2025

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – This weekend, the City of Yuma will be celebrating a milestone in our history, Marcus Pool will be turning 100 years old.

Marcus Pool is a historic spot in Yuma that represents water safety and a welcoming space for all.

AJ Mosqueda, City of Yuma Recreation Manager, says, “We are very thankful for it, and it does an amazing job at serving the needs and desires of the community. We obviously need more, we need more pools, but we do treasure what we have here and Yuma really is founded on tradition, and this is a tribute to that.”

The pool was built in 1925 when the residents of Yuma decided they needed a place to cool off from the heat.

At that time, it took only $15,000 to construct.

Marcus Pool has also evolved into representing water safety in our community.

“Practices, the safe water practices , fencing, and obviously having vigilant eyes on the pool, so a lot has changed over the past 100 years,” says Mosqueda.

The pool was named after its first manager, Abe Marcus, who had a huge impact on water safety in Yuma.

Mosqueda says, “All the records that we’ve researched is stating that he really reached out and helped infuse water safety and gave swim lessons to over 10,000 Yumans, over his time in Yuma.”

In honor of the pool’s 100th birthday, city staff will be hosting a big birthday bash Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Marcus Pool.

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Wildfire watch CAL FIRE prepares for peak season

KION on August 2, 2025

Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) – It’s mid-summer, and wildfire season is reaching its peak across California. As conditions dry out and rainfall becomes increasingly scarce, CAL FIRE crews are keeping a close watch on how the season is unfolding and what lies ahead.

“I’m concerned about wildfire all year long,” a local resident said.

CAL FIRE says conditions right now are pretty much where they expected them to be for this time of year.

“We’re not any drier or wetter. We’re right on track for the amount of rain that we had this winter. We’re tracking on where our conditions are for June and July every other year,” a CAL FIRE official said. “We’re just getting to the point where our grasses are cleared out and very receptive,” said.

Locally, fire activity tends to spike as summer transitions into fall. CAL FIRE says they’re now preparing for the most active stretch of the year.

“Very typical busy fire season, which for us locally is usually August, September, October. That’s where we on the coast, Monterey County, really see our call volume start to transition into more volatile conditions,” the CAL FIRE official said.

“June was a busy month for CAL FIRE San Benito-Monterey Unit, with firefighters responding to a total of 661 calls for service. The breakdown includes 266 medical emergencies, 101 vegetation fires, 4 structure fires, 76 vehicle accidents, 7 technical rescues, and 207 other types of incidents,” a CAL FIRE official said.

For those living in high-risk fire zones, this time of year always brings heightened anxiety.

“I do get worried about people not properly putting out their fires, especially as the wind starts picking up and it’s hot. Really just feels like a perfect storm for another fire to hit,” a concerned resident said.

So far, CAL FIRE says the largest wildfire incident they’ve responded to this year was several months ago.

“Our largest fire to date was out in the solar fields up in March. That fire was right around 600 acres. But for the most part, all of our fires are being contained at a relatively small size, which is, you know, great for us locally,” the CAL FIRE official said.

Some residents are taking extra steps to make their homes more fire-resilient by clearing brush and creating a buffer zone.

“Our home became fire safety certified. So someone actually came out and checked everything that we did. We cleared all the brush within five feet,” a homeowner said.

As dry conditions persist and no significant rainfall appears in the forecast, CAL FIRE says it’s a recipe for rapid fire spread if people aren’t careful.

“We get a few days of rain, followed by a week or so of sun, which really let that grass crop—or our light, flashy fuels, really have those ideal conditions to thrive. So, yeah, we are concerned, looking forward as things get into that very typical busy fire season,” the CAL FIRE official said.

Despite the risks, CAL FIRE reports they are fully equipped and ready.

“We were able to hire back our seasonal workforce, which was huge. We have all the tools in the toolbox to have a very aggressive and successful run towards the end of the year. We’re at full staffing,” the CAL FIRE official said.

As the peak season approaches, CAL FIRE is urging people to create defensible space around their homes, be prepared to evacuate if needed, and stay informed on current fire conditions.

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Bacteria detected in dead seals raises health concerns along the coast

KION on August 2, 2025

Briana Mathaw

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) – If you’re planning a beach day anytime soon especially with your dog you’ll want to be aware of a dangerous bacterial infection that’s been spreading along the Central Coast.

Wildlife experts are sounding the alarm about leptospirosis, a disease that’s affecting marine mammals in Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas.

“Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that in California, sea lions and other marine mammals can cause kidney failure. It is a severe disease,” Giancarlo Rulli said. Giancarlo Rulli is a spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center.

The Marine Mammal Center has rescued more than 150 California sea lions with suspected symptoms of leptospirosis.

Just within the month of July, however, it’s been more than 100, so we have seen a very sharp uptick, Giancarlo Rulli said.

Rescue teams have been responding to increasing numbers of calls stretching from Del Monte Beach in Monterey up through Santa Cruz.

“We’re responding to anywhere between about a half dozen or so California sea lions almost daily now, between Monterey and Santa Cruz County. Now, that’s not necessarily unusual in that more than 40% of our rescues occur in those two counties alone annually,” Giancarlo Rulli said.

As for what the public should look for when spotting marine mammals on the shore, there are a few specific signs.

“Some of the telltale signs for a California sea lion impacted by this disease are tightly tucked front flippers. Basically crossing kind of their lower abdomen or stomach region,” Giancarlo Rulli said.

“California sea lions and most marine mammals get all the hydration that they need from the food that they eat. And so if they’re actively drinking water separately, that’s a flag,” Giancarlo Rulli said.

While leptospirosis has been surging in marine wildlife, veterinarians are reminding pet owners that dogs can catch the disease too, often by coming into contact with contaminated water.

“It’s bacteria that enters the dog usually by them drinking contaminated water that has the bacteria in it,” Kelly Akol said. Kelly Akol is a doctor of internal medicine at Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists.

Fortunately, local veterinary clinics have not seen a rise in dog infections, even during the recent surge in marine cases.

“About 12 cases a year for us. The peak is usually in summer in the fall, but we have not been experiencing any uptick in our levels of patients that we’ve seen,” Kelly Akol said.

Still, vets strongly recommend keeping your dog on a leash during beach visits and getting vaccinated against leptospirosis, as it makes a noticeable difference in recovery.

“The number of patients that come in, about 50% of them are vaccinated and 50% aren’t. But again, the ones that are vaccinated are the ones with better survival, shorter term in the hospital,” Kelly Akol said.

“The earlier that we treat these dogs, the quicker. And so these dogs are going to usually feel sick. Maybe have a fever, vomit, not want to eat, which of course is a presenting signs for lots of diseases,” Kelly Akol said.

Experts say the best things dog owners can do are to talk with their vet about vaccination, keep pets leashed during beach trips, and wash paws and water bowls after every visit.

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