Month: September 2026

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez (R-District 36) kicked off his reelection campaign in Brawley.

Assembly member Gonzalez is the incumbent for California’s 36th District, which covers all Imperial County and parts of Riverside County.

News 11 asked Gonzalez what he’s most proud of looking back at his time in the California Assembly.

“The crowning achievement was fighting back against the governor when he wanted to cut $700 million dollars from in-home supportive services for the most vulnerable people in our district, in our community. That’s the crowning achievement,” Gonzalez shared.

Gonzalez recently introduced a bill to help ensure Lithium Valley and its clean energy potential are included in longterm planning for the state.

The bill will designate critical mineral development zones and prioritize state investments.

“We just got it signed by the governor was making sure that Lithium Valley. Lithium Valley here in Imperial County was looked at every time that they wanna do work inside of California for procurement to making sure that we are recognized,” Gonzalez explained. “No one else was able to do that. We did that and we got it signed.”

One resident, Joanna Caballero, said Gonzalez has her vote.

“We really love what he’s been doing for Imperial County representing the community. We love that he’s been representing the most vulnerable such as the IHSS employees,” Caballero expressed.

Gonzalez, who is facing Democratic challenger Ida Obeso-Martinez in the November 3 election, is hosting a free community BBQ Saturday, September 26, in El Centro.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma restaurant is growing alongside its loyal customer base and now has more room for customers to enjoy its popular menu.

4 Lokos recently moved into a larger location in Yuma. With its popular food and unique atmosphere, it’s easy to see why customers keep coming back.

The authentic Mexican-American restaurant moved a few miles down Fourth Avenue from its original location near the Shell gas station.

4 Lokos is now located in the former Applebee’s building near Catalina Drive.

The restaurant is known for its Sonoran twist and wide variety of menu options.

Co-owner Martin Ramos says the restaurant’s success quickly outgrew its previous space, prompting the move to a larger location.

“Going from a 65-person capacity, seating-wise, we can now accommodate 170. It’s been great. The Yuma community has been very good to us. We are very busy, and we feel very blessed,” Ramos said.

The restaurant’s Western and Sonoran-style theme was inspired by the backgrounds of several of its co-owners.

“We wanted to stick to Western-Sonoran-style décor because that’s where our roots come from. My mom is from Sonora, and some of the other owners are from Sonora as well. We wanted to keep that Sonoran theme,” Ramos said.

The food at 4 Lokos also stands out because of the restaurant’s authentic grilling style.

I tried the asada and chicken tacos, and they certainly lived up to the hype.

“Here, we do all of our grilling outside. Everything gets grilled outside on a charcoal grill. That’s how it all begins,” Ramos said.

One returning customer says she recommends 4 Lokos to anyone looking for a new place to try.

“This is our first time at the new location, but we went lots and lots of times to the old location. I got the Taco Yaki. These are my absolute favorites, and I have to get them every time,” 4 Lokos customer Melissa Matues said.

The new location is 3101 S. Fourth Avenue.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 21 Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) teachers were awarded the Arizona Public Service (APS) “Supply My Class” grant.

The grant provides educators with $500 to use on classroom supplies. 

The annual program awards 500 randomly selected public school teachers within APS service territory. 

In 2026, the program received over 8,000 applications and 62 teachers from the Yuma County area were selected.

Representatives from APS visited the classroom of each grant recipient to surprise them with the award. 

The “Supply My Class” program is in its ninth year and has supported over 6,000 teachers since it started.

PR – 21 YUHSD teachers receive APS ‘Supply My Class’ grant.docx (2)Download

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona State University and Arizona Western College are giving Yuma students a faster path to becoming teachers.

The schools are partnering to offer three-year bachelor’s degrees in elementary and special education. Students can start at AWC and finish their degree through ASU’s Yuma extension.

The program comes as schools across Arizona continue to deal with a shortage of qualified teachers.

Audrey Garcia, a clinical associate professor and rural strategist at ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton College, says students will still get the same academic and hands-on classroom experience through the program.

“Students are still getting that academic rigor. They’re still also getting clinical experience exposure. So they’re still going into classrooms and still getting that experience working hands on with students as well.”

Garcia says the program also gives students a way to meet teacher certification requirements while staying in Yuma County.

AWC Transfer Center Director Martha Cordova says about 68% of AWC students transfer to universities. Of those students, about 14% pursue elementary education and 4% pursue special education.

Cordova says creating more opportunities locally could help more students see teaching as a career they can pursue close to home.

“If we invest in our students, we’re truly investing in our community,” Cordova said.

For Yuma students interested in teaching, the new pathway offers a faster way into the classroom while helping build the local teacher workforce.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Local history is coming alive this week as a deeply personal look at the people, families, and milestones that shaped the region goes on display.

The El Centro Library officially opened its highly anticipated Imperial Valley Community Archive Exhibition Monday, welcoming the community to explore a curated collection of local historical keepsakes.

Titled “Our History. Our Stories. Our Community,” the self-guided exhibition features photographs, historic documents, and unique keepsakes entirely contributed by residents.

The initiative was launched to preserve memories and provide a grassroots perspective on the history of the Imperial Valley for future generations.

Visitors navigating the display can explore dedicated sections representing the history of local law enforcement, regional schools, and the agricultural industry that built the valley.

For project creator and library assistant Ruby Duran Ramirez, building the collection was a profound learning experience.

“I didn’t realize how pulled in I was going to get into it and how much more I learned about our valley,” Duran Ramirez said. “And how many people in our community have contributed, learning about our community, bringing people forward, learning these stories about what built us and who built us.”

Duran Ramirez hopes the exhibit shifts how residents view the library as an institution, viewing it not just as a building for books, but as a hub for personal empowerment and lifelong growth.

“Remind the community that the library is a place for everyone, it’s a place for learning,” she added. “It’s a place for encouragement to pursue higher education on your own as well.”

Organizers encourage visitors to drop any preconceived expectations and step through the doors with an open mind, promising that everyone who attends will walk away having discovered something cool or learned something entirely new about the Imperial Valley.

While the exhibit features sprawling coverage of civic life, Duran Ramirez noted that one particular piece of local history stands out as her favorite: A display dedicated to the historic Barbara Worth Hotel fire, which includes rare, original on-scene audio recorded by KXO Radio broadcasters.

“My favorite part of the exhibit is we have a part of the Barbara Worth fire, and we have the original audio of when two people from KXO radio went in and was on scene, and we do have the audio of that,” Duran Ramirez said.

Location: El Centro Library, 1198 N. Imperial Ave. (Community Rooms) Dates: Monday, Sept. 21 through Saturday, Sept. 26 Admission: Free (No library staff check-in or appointments required) Hours: Monday–Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, contact the El Centro Library at 760-337-4565.