Month: April 2026

Paul Vozzella

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – Ruben Camargo was killed on March 19 while riding his bicycle along California State Route 86.

In the weeks since his death, his family has begun advocating for improved safety measures, saying current conditions put both bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.

His sister, Shandra, said the effort began as a way to bring attention to the dangers of the roadway.

“We started this to try and get change out there because it’s so dark,” she said.

The family has launched a petition on Change.org, which you can find here, urging officials in Imperial to prioritize safety improvements, including better lighting and infrastructure for cyclists.

“I believe that with better lighting and safety for bicyclists, it can be safer for anybody in the community, whether you’re biking or walking,” Shandra said.

The city is currently working on a long-term beautification plan that includes new sidewalks and a dedicated bike path along Highway 86. However, the project could take several years to complete.

In the meantime, community members have begun rallying behind the family’s efforts. According to Camargo, support for the petition has grown quickly through social media.

“It seems like as soon as we started posting in those groups, a lot of people were on board to sign,” she said.

To honor Ruben Camargo and continue raising awareness, the family will hold a vigil Saturday at Mando’s Stereo at 7 p.m. in El Centro.

“To remember him, honor him, and raise awareness to the community about making the streets safer for pedestrians and for drivers,” she said.

The family says they plan to continue sharing the petition and advocating for change as they push for safer streets in Imperial.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma County officials have formally requested that the state terminate a lease held by a biosolids company, arguing that its operations are negatively affecting local residents, agriculture, and businesses.

In December, the County sent a letter to the State Land Department seeking to end the lease for AG Tech LLC. County leaders stated that the company’s activities have contributed to ongoing environmental and quality-of-life concerns in the region.

Yuma County has dealt with a persistent fly infestation for several years, which officials believe may be linked to AG Tech’s operations.

In its letter, the County wrote, “Residents, agricultural producers, and community stakeholders have experienced persistent nuisances attributed to AG Tech’s operations, including overwhelming odors, severe fly infestations, and the spread of dust and debris from the use of biosolids on state land.”

The County also cited economic impacts on local agriculture, noting in the letter that “local date growers have reported significant crop losses, amounting to millions of dollars every year, which they attribute to conditions aggravated by the biosolid application.”

Yuma County District 2 Supervisor Jonathan Lines emphasized the County’s efforts to address the situation, saying, “We have asked for accountability and compliance from [the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality]. We’ve also asked that their contract be reviewed. They are now on a month-to-month because their lease expired and we’ve asked for ADEQ to shut down their operations in Yuma County.”

The issue gained widespread attention after Tyler Woodman, owner of The Lemon Grove, shared his concerns on the challenges faced by his business.

“It’s been affecting us in a multitude of ways,” Woodman said. “I mean, number one, our customers have to swat at everything, and it’s hard for us to keep our kitchen clean. We’re having to bleach every square inch of this place,” he said.

Following the County’s letter, a vector control team, working on Yuma County’s behalf, according to Lines, inspected the land for evidence of fly breeding but did not find any.

While the land in question is owned by the State Land Department, the Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for overseeing biosolids management.

Lines added that County officials have escalated their concerns to state leadership, stating, “We have sent letters to every director, and the governor, as well, asking for them to intercede on behalf of the County, to give the County rights in accepting into our land on behalf of our residents.”

AG Tech LLC was not available for comment. County officials say their efforts to address the issue are ongoing.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) arrested a driver after conducting a traffic stop which led to them finding nearly 43 grams of methamphetamine.

According to a post on Facebook, night shift patrol officers with ECPD conducted a traffic stop Friday night on a vehicle for multiple code violations.

However, the driver did not pull over and continued driving until arriving at their home, where they were later detained.

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

After requesting help from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, ECPD says they conducted a sniff of the vehicle, alerting officers to the “presence of narcotics.”

While searching the vehicle, ECPD says officers found narcotic paraphernalia, a digital scale and approximately 42.8 grams of methamphetamine.

As a result, ECPD says the driver was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail for multiple charges.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A suspect has still not been found in a tragic animal cruelty case that happened earlier this year.

YPD shares how people in our community can help them solve this case.

“We still are looking for leads, any information will help whatsoever, but at this time we’re still waiting for someone to come forward with some information, somebody knows something, it’s just we need somebody to come forward,” explains Sgt. Lori Franklin, Public Information Officer for the Yuma Police Department (YPD).

As the case goes unsolved it hits hard, especially this month.

“The month of April is animal cruelty awareness month, so here at the shelter the staff are wearing new T-shirts saying friends don’t hurt friends, and to stop animal cruelty,” says Annette Lagunas, Humane Society of Yuma Executive Director.

The search continues for the suspect who shot a cat named midget leaving it with life threatening injuries until it finally had to be humanly euthanised.

“We didn’t find the suspect unfortunately, we have not found a suspect on that kitty yet,” says Lagunas.

In January a cat returned home with severe injuries on its face.

Lagunas adds, “It was a kitty that was very much loved, by his dog friend and his human friend, and unfortunately was shot.”

The cat named Midget was taken to the veterinarian where it was determined the injuries were caused by a gunshot wound.

YPD say the cat was shot near the Yuma Golf and Country Club. The cat had to be humanly euthanized.

“Animal cruelty is very very serious, it’s the beginning stages of people starting to abuse other people, so we really want to make sure we are stopping it as quick as we can,” says Lagunas.

Midget’s owner and the Humane Society are still offering a $4,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The California Statewide Direct Primary Election is set for June 2, 2026.

Voting centers will be open from May 23 to June 1 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The following offices will have candidates for the election:

Imperial County Superior Court Judge – Seat 1 | 6 Year Term

Imperial County Superior Court Judge – Seat 2 | 6 Year Term

Imperial County Superior Court Judge – Seat 3 | 6 Year Term

Imperial County Superior Court Judge – Seat 4 | 6 Year Term

Imperial County Assessor | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Auditor-Controller | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Clerk-Recorder | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Superintendent of Schools | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Board of Supervisors – District 1 | 4 Year Term

Imperial County Board of Supervisors – District 5 | 4 Year Term

Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors – Division 1 | 4 Year Term

Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors – Division 3 | 4 Year Term

Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors – Division 5 | 4 Year Term

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Marcos Icahuate

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A power outage in Calexico has now been restored.

According to the IID, the cause of Thursday night’s power outage was caused by a car that crashed in to power pole that impacted over 1,500 customers.

Restoration efforts happened almost immediately and all power was restored after 11:30 p.m.

One nonresidential customer remains without power, with full restoration expected Friday, according to IID.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is taking steps to bring more business back to its downtown streets with a new program aimed at cutting startup costs for entrepreneurs.

The Downtown Development Fee Waiver Program waives select city permit fees for projects along Broadway Avenue, Main Street, and State Street between Fourth and Eighth Streets.

A wide range of businesses are eligible, including restaurants, cafés, retail shops, gyms, event spaces, and certain professional services.

Marlene Swanegan, owner of Aunt Molly’s BBQ and Soul Food, says she hopes the program will help bring more life to downtown.

“Main Street is special to me because I grew up in the ’60s, and my dad actually worked right across the street when he was a Chevrolet dealer,” she said.

The program grew out of a city survey conducted last summer asking residents what changes could support downtown businesses. Responses were overwhelmingly positive toward fee waivers.

Swanegan hopes the program will help restore the energy she remembers from her childhood, when Main Street was bustling with shoppers and pedestrians.

“It was a great feeling that anytime you drove down Main Street, you would see dozens of people going in and out of the shops,” she said.

Aunt Molly’s grand opening is scheduled for April 19, a milestone Swanegan calls the realization of a longtime dream.

“If it’s something that you dream, dream big and believe that you can do it. I’m believing that I can do it. This is a lot, but it’s wonderful,” she said.

Applications for the program open today and will be accepted over the next two years.

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Jessamyn Dodd

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Fire crews in Imperial Valley sharpened their skills on April 1, with a wildland fire training exercise.

El Centro, Brawley, Imperial County, Calipatria, and Holtville Fire Departments participated in hands-on training.

The scenario based activities aimed at preparing fire fighters for wildfire season included hose laying and portable pump stations.

The yearly training gets the new recruits ready in the event that a strike team needs to be deployed to areas like Riverside County, L.A. County, or Ventura County.

“You’re gonna have to at least have completed your probationary period. And for us here in El Centro, that entails the EMS training, search and rescue, the structure, and of course ultimately the wildland training,” El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) Battallion Chief Eddie Ainza told KYMA.

Jesse Llanas, Fire Captain for The City of Holtville Fire Department, said the trainees are put through a rigorous course, testing both their physical and mental abilities.

“It’s a three-mile hike. It’s has to be done within 45 minutes with 45 ponds. Yeah, and then once you get that done, then you go to other stations which is communications, fire shelter deployment, handline construction…Weather reading as well cause weather actually, we can predetermine with weather fire behavior, fire pattern and how it’s gonna act,” Llanas remarked.

Although this particular training event was a two-day event, the department’s training continues year round.

“With fire season now year round, it’s just an ongoing thing so just constantly be up health wise, educational wise, and physical fitness training,” Llanas said.

ECFD says these exercises and trainings help crews from multiple different agencies work together smoothly when minutes count.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One person was injured in a motorcycle crash Thursday morning in Yuma.

The crash happened around 7 a.m. on Avenue 3E near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

For unknown reasons, the motorcycle hit the semi-truck from behind. The motorcycle rider was taken to Onvida Health.

The cause of the crash remains under investgation.

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