Marcos Icahuate
WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – Tribute bands are set to play in the summer months at Quechan Casino Resort.
The following bands will be playing on these dates:
Wanted “Tribute to Bon Jovi” – Saturday, June 20
Crazy Train “Tribute to Ozzy” – Friday, August 21
Voyager “Tribute to Journey” – Friday, September 18
Shows start at 8 p.m. and are 21 and over.
You can buy tickets here.
Lynette Niebla
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A Brawley murder suspect was back in an El Centro courtroom Thursday.
23-year-old Genaro Lemus appeared before a judge for a second pre-trial conference.
Lemus is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 43-year-old Steven Angulo back in February of this year.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the judge ruled to maintain Lemus’ bail at $1 million.
Lemus is due back in court on June 5 for a prelim setting hearing and bail review hearing.
His attorney says they are currently waiting to receive and process an extensive amount of evidence in the case.
“It’s difficult to move forward while we’re awaiting discovery and arrests of other individuals. We just can’t move that quickly unfortunately,” said Veronica Henderson, attorney at law.
Meanwhile, authorities are still working to extradite a second suspect, Nathan Matthew Garnica. He remains behind bars in Prescott, Arizona, awaiting his return to Imperial County.
Moses Femino
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Nurses across Yuma County are being recognized during National Nurses Week for the care, compassion and support they provide to patients every day.
The Yuma County Nurses Foundation hosted its annual gala with this year’s theme “Nurses in the Spotlight.”
The event took place last Saturday at Quechan Casino Resort, bringing together healthcare professionals, community members and sponsors to celebrate excellence in nursing.
The gala was held ahead of National Nurses Week, which began Wednesday and runs through May 12.
Over 60 nurses were nominated across several categories recognizing leadership, mentorship and clinical excellence in healthcare.
Among the award winners was Briana Smith, recipient of the Clinical Nurse Excellence Award. She said the recognition reflects the teamwork involved in patient care.
“Being recognized during Nurses Week is incredibly meaningful because nursing truly is a team effort,” Smith, a Family Nurse Practitioner at Onvida Health Transitional Care, said. “It’s an honor to receive the award, but I think it speaks to the support of my colleagues, mentors and the patients that trust us to care for them during vulnerable moments in their lives.”
A second award winner, Ha’Ani Patchen, recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Mentorship and Nurse of the Year Awards, said some of the most meaningful parts of nursing often come through simple acts of comfort and compassion for patients during difficult moments.
“If you see your patient on the table and they’re shaking because they’re terrified, it’s holding their hand until they fall asleep. So they know they’re not alone,” Patchen, a Clinical Educator with Workforce Development at Onvida Health, said. “That’s really part of what nursing is, it’s just being there for your patient. It’s not always the big dramatic things.”
The third and final award winner, Kristin Parra, recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award, said simply being nominated alongside other nurses in the community was meaningful.
“It was an honor just to be nominated honestly,” Parra, CEO of the Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital, said. “I was shocked and humbled that I won because the list of nominees is truly exceptional, stellar group of nurses and leaders. It means a lot to me. The foundation does great work in recognizing nurses.”
Organizers say the event serves as a way to celebrate the dedication nurses show every day while highlighting the impact they make throughout the Yuma community.
Marcos Icahuate
SAN DIEGO (KYMA) – A cyberattack has affected a program used by schools and universities across the country.
Canvas is a digital hub used by over 30 million people and educational institutions such as Princeton and Harvard.
Some universities have reported receiving a ransom note on their Canvas homepages saying “pay or leak,” threatening its access to millions of users.
The cyberattack happened during finals week for some students.
Jessamyn Dodd
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A man arrested for robbery in Imperial County is now facing additional charges.
Police say 24-year-old Emmanuel Javier Contreras posted a $50,000 bail and was being released, when officers with the El Centro Police Department moved in and arrested him again as he was walking out of the jail in El Centro.
They say he resisted arrest and was initially suspected of murder. However, the district attorney is not filing murder charges at this time.
Instead, Contreras is now facing second-degree robbery charges with a firearm enhancement, which could land him in prison for 18 years.
The victim in the case was hospitalized.
Contreras is expected to be arraigned Thursday along with two defendants.
Lauren Duffel
WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – A sheriff’s vehicle and a government vehicle crashed into each other in Winterhaven.
Locals were impacted by the sudden road closure Wednesday evening due to the crash.
“It impacts me because I want to get home, I had a long day at work and know I have to wait and I don’t understand why I can’t make a right turn right there. I’m calmly waiting…he said 5 minutes so I’m waiting,” local resident Silvia Atando said.
The vehicle crash happened around 4 p.m. at the intersection of San Pasqual School Road and Picacho Road.
Locals say the intersection could benefit from new traffic safety measures to prevent crashes like this from occurring.
“Some kind of precaution or some kind of three-way stop, that’s what I would say,” Atando added.
The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. At this time, we do not know how this crash occurred.
Lauren Duffel
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One local small business is being recognized as the Best Women‑Owned Small Business of the Year in the entire state of Arizona.
“Tacos Marlyn” in Yuma received the recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The administration says they’re being honored not only for their commitment to supporting other local businesses but also for delivering high‑quality food.
Patricia Lara, co‑owner of Tacos Marlyn, said, “I don’t know…we kind of got it by surprise, honestly. We are just so grateful for it. We think it’s so big, and we’re really happy about it.”
A total of nine small businesses in Arizona were honored for their contributions to the state’s economy.
Lynette Niebla
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – For many, a trip to Goodwill is about finding a bargain. But for residents of the Imperial Valley, those household donations are being transformed into a vital “full circle” of community support that leads straight to a new career.
Goodwill Industries of San Diego and Imperial Counties is highlighting how its retail operations serve as the engine for local workforce development, providing free training and employment services for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and jobseekers of all ages.
The mission begins at the donation bin. Revenue generated from Goodwill’s 29 retail stores and five outlet centers is funneled directly into free career workshops.
These programs are designed to remove barriers to employment and provide residents with the tools they need to succeed in the modern workforce.
“We’re here to make sure that everyone has success in their career,” said Ana Chavarin, a Career Advisor for Goodwill Imperial County.
Chavarin and her team provide specialized “soft-skill” workshops that cover essential professional building blocks.
“These are workshops ranging from resume building and conflict resolution to workplace communication and even healthy financial habits,” Chavarin explained.
A key pillar of the organization’s impact is ensuring that local contributions benefit local people. Every item donated within the Imperial Valley helps sustain the social enterprise that currently employs over 1,000 people across the county.
“Everything that is donated here in the Imperial Valley stays in the Imperial Valley,” said Toni Giffin, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Diego County. “We need those donations from the public to sustain the goods we sell, because those proceeds directly fund the free employment services, in both Spanish and English, that we provide at our community employment centers.”
To make these services more accessible, Goodwill is expanding its reach beyond traditional storefronts. This includes a presence at local swap meets and the implementation of home donation pick-up services and online shopping.
Jose Vizcarra, the El Centro Store Manager, noted that the expansion is about meeting people where they are.
“It definitely brings our product to the entire community. Not just in El Centro, but we’re also trying to spread to Calexico with the swap meet. We also have pick-ups in Brawley, El Centro, and Imperial,” he explained.
While the convenience of shopping and donating is a major draw, leadership emphasizes that the ultimate goal is the long-term benefits for the community.
“Workforce development and lifting up our neighbors, it strengthens families and the community,” Giffin said. “Those mission services are really the North Star for Goodwill.”
The El Centro Retail Store and Donation Center is located at 351 Wake Ave and accepts donations daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For those in the wider region, Goodwill San Diego operates more than 50 donation locations throughout the area.
Residents can learn more about free career services by visiting the El Centro location in person, calling 760-235-4371, or exploring the full list of programs at ivgoodwill.org.
Jessamyn Dodd
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As local elections draw nearer, a familiar face has emerged in Imperial County in the race to represent California’s 36th District.
Democratic candidate Tomas Oliva, a former El Centro Mayor, has thrown his hat in the ring, aiming to unseat incumbent Jeff Gonzalez.
Oliva launched his campaign, highlighting issues such as financial equity, economic growth, and environmental conservation. He has been outspoken about his opposition to a planned data center in the county.
“When it comes to gasoline, when it comes to utility, I think we need to make better investments in the infrastructure for IID. I know that recently they announced new investments and new improvements from the federal government and I think that’s great. And that’s going to help them enter into more competitive power purchase agreements,” he said.
Oliva said the region must meet growing power demands, while maintaining local control over it’s share of the Colorado River.
“We ultimately need power and energy in this region to survive and to live some sense of a good quality of life. Water is crucial. It is fundamental to our economy to our quality of life to ag which is part of our identity,” he explained.
Oliva said he believes in law and order, and supports local law enforcement agencies. However, he said, that does not mean that law enforcement can act without impunity.
“What I would like to see is empowering local law enforcement to be better protectors of us if federal agents are acting outside of their prevue and outside of the law. Who do we turn to?” Oliva said. “And I would like for the state of California to empower local law enforcement, our sheriffs, our highway patrol, our local officials to be that person that we feel comfortable to turn to if we’re being target by ICE and other federal agencies.”
A candidate forum is set for May 12 at Imperial Valley College.
“I love the fact that Imperial County has been very rich in forums,” Oliva said.
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Vote-by-mail ballots are beginning to arrive in mailboxes across Imperial County ahead of California’s June 2 primary election.
Voters will help decide which candidates move on to the general election, with federal, state, and local races all on the ballot.
Imperial County election officials say ballots should arrive within the next few days. If a voter does not receive one, the Registrar of Voters Office encourages them to call for assistance.
Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale also reminded voters they can track their ballot online through the statewide “Where’s My Ballot” system.
Voters returning a mail-in ballot have several options. Ballots can be mailed back through the U.S. Postal Service, dropped off at an official ballot drop box, returned at the County Administrative Building, or submitted at a voting center by Election Day on June 2.
Election officials says three voting centers will open May 23, with additional centers opening May 30. All vote centers will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Election officials are also reminding voters to avoid common mistakes that could delay their ballot from being counted.
“We want to make sure that voters sign those envelopes,” Dale said. “That is something some voters forget to do.”
Officials also say voters should make sure the signature on the envelope matches the signature on file, which is often the same signature listed on a driver’s license.
For more information like how to find the closest voting center near you, you can visit the Imperial County Elections website.
