Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

It’s finally here! Today kicks off the first night of the Christmas at the Crossing event in Yuma. The magical holiday event will take place here at the Colorado River State Historic Park. Families can enjoy everything from train rides, photos with Santa, local performances, and more.

“We’ve got local entertainers, dance groups, singing, we have lots of crafts and activities for the kids. We have food and retail vendors, so there’s just a little bit of everything for everybody including a bar,” said Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Cathy Douglas.

Onvida Health will also be giving out hundreds of free stuffed animals.

“We held our teddy bears last year. This year we’re doing it again. There’s a little mix of animals not just bears, but we’ll be handing out while supplies last,” said Onvida Health community liaison manager Julie Engel.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is putting on this fundraiser event in partnership with Onvida Health and RL Insurance to raise money to preserve the Colorado River State Historic Park.

“So last year was our inaugural event. We had about 3,000 people that came out, so we’re really hoping we get you know maybe up to 5,000 people,” said Douglas.

The event is Friday and Saturday from 5 -10 p.m. You can buy tickets online here or at the gate.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The parade will run from Friday, December 19, to Sunday, December 21st.

Friday’s route will be the Neighborhood Route, and participants are asked to line up next to the Dollar General on 46th Street and Foothills Boulevard.

You can find the full map on their Facebook page, and paper versions of the map routes can be found in various locations in the Foothills.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – If you’re looking to give back and win big this holiday season, we’ve got you covered

The 4th Ave Gym Foundation is hosting a truck raffle to benefit high school athletics in Yuma.

From now to midnight on Christmas, locals can purchase a ticket for $20 and be entered into a raffle for a brand-new Toyota Tacoma, donated to the gym by Alexander Toyota.

The man behind the charity, Founder Justin Haile, says the support has been overwhelming and the impact is real

“The schools get a wish, a budget, and then the schools give me a wish list of what they would like and then we make sure that it’s purchased correctly, the money is well spent, and everything is installed correctly for our children. In the last 8 years, we’ve given back $402,000 in new equipment to our local high schools here, and that’s all 8 of them. This year, we are at $58,300 alone on just the truck raffle,”. Haile shared.

To make it even bette, the high school that sells the most tickets will receive additional funding, and the student-athlete who sells the most tickets will earn a free year membership to the 4th Avenue Gym.

To purchase tickets click here, or just stop by the 4th Avenue Gym to learn more. .

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona leaders are calling out several republican leaders in the state for supporting Trump tariffs. Arizona democratic party chair Charlene Fernandez and Yuma leaders spoke out in the Foothills. They called out three Republican gubernatorial candidates saying their support for Trump’s tariffs are raising holiday costs.

“But right now, the tariff policies of Andy Biggs, Karen Taylor Robertson, and David Schweikert are leading to an affordability crisis that puts our community at risk,” said Arizona democratic party chair Charlene Fernandez.

“Families are suffering right now. The cost of living has gone too high,” said healing journey CEO and mental health professional Estrella Fitch.

Yuma leaders called out Republican gubernatorial candidates Andy Biggs, Karrin Taylor Robson, and David Schweikert.

“Schweikert bragged that he was doing the calculations with the White House, which called it- tariffs a brilliant economic strategy. Taylor Robson encouraged Trump to keep fighting for tariffs, to keep fighting for higher costs,” said Fernandez.

Both Robson and Biggs took to Twitter commenting in support of Trump tariffs. And in an interview with 12 News in Phoenix, Schweikert said he worked on the tariffs saying quote “I’m probably on the phone with the White House every other day.”

“Tariff hurts Arizona more than they hurt other states. We export much more agriculture product than we import. If we lose those markets, those farms fail. It’s that simple,” said Fernandez.

They say tariff’s are also hurting local small businesses.

“Rent is higher than ever. Groceries are more expensive every single week. Coffee prices are up more than 20% compared to last year. It’s the biggest increase since the 1990’s on coffee,” said Yuma County democratic party chair Xanthe Bullard.

I stopped by a local coffee shop to hear if they are impacted by the tariffs. The owner says she gets her coffee beans exported from Mexico and will now have to raise prices and wages as a result of the higher cost.

“We used to have a flat rate from our vendor. Now that flat rate has increased by 25%, and that’s a huge impact when I don’t have prices that much into my cost already, so prices are going up. Tariff’s now affecting some of that cost,” said Nichim Cafe owner Karime Hayer.

We reached out to the three Republican leaders that the democrats called out, and we are still waiting to hear back from them.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The ceremony took place Thursday, December 18th at 7 P.M. at the school’s Taylor Dean McBride Auditorium.

At least 50 students are slated to graduate during the ceremony, and the school’s principal, David King, shared what an honor it is for these students.

“December ceremonies are special because they include a number of students that are graduating at an accelerated pace and ahead of their peers,” King said. “Whether they are early, on time, or at their own pace, these students are the epitome of our vision for student success at Vista; we are committed to connected, personalized, and growth-focused learning that will prepare every student to be college, career and community ready.”

“This isn’t just a conclusion to your high school journey; it’s a springboard into the next chapter of your story,” Vista Principal David King said in his speech. “Graduates, the world is calling—and I have no doubt you are ready to answer. Whatever path you take next, carry with you the confidence, resilience, and fire that every Lobo in this auditorium possesses. Know that your Vista High School family stands behind you—today, tomorrow, and always. Thank you for the mark you’ve left on our halls, our hearts, and our community.”

Principal David King during his speech.

VHS graduates Isabel Alexis Raygoza, Ziara Turner, and Jessie Arvizu Lazo spoke to their classmates. 

“Vista makes you feel seen and that’s what makes this place special,” Raygoza said in her speech. “To my classmates, we’ve all had our own battles in school and in life but we made it. Every single one of us has proven that we’re stronger than our circumstances and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us.”

This is the complete list of graduates for the winter ceremony:

Hector Aguirre Mireles; Richard Alejandre; Deanna Alvarez; Jessie Arvizu Lazo; Destiny Ayala; Jonathan Banuelos; Arturo Bedoy Galvan; Cameron Billings; Sonny Brown; Eduardo Camacho Vega; Giselle Campos; Joseph Carrasquillo; Luis Contreras; Frank John Cortez Jr.; Lexie Estrada; Valeria Estrada-Bedoya; Fernando Felix; Mariah Felix; Amy Futrell; Eliel Garcia; Alan Garcia; Russell Gardner Urbalejo; Mason Gurney; Andrea Gutierrez; Aliya Lara; Josiah Hernandez; Brianna Jarrett; Yurem Leyva Ocampo; Veronica Daniella Magana; Xavier Lamont Manigault; Jade Lysette Meza; Serenity Miller; Sofia Isabella Miranda; Renee Amelia Moncada; Eric Nunez; Xavier Orozco; Socorro Pacheco-Pimentel; Jazmyn Jade Phillips; Alexandria Porter; Raul Efrain Prieto Garcia; Vanessa Pureco; Isabel Alexis Raygoza; Alyah Renteria Lopez; Ismael Reyes; Nathaniel Jacob Robles; Gabrielle Santos; Chris Segovia; Keiona Lai Ann Skinner; Cora Stanley; Sterling Max Tashner; Ziara Turner; Jareth Urbalejo; Mia Guadalupe Villafana; Jocelin Wood; Destiny Zacarias; Mayrin Zaizar Egurrola; Isaac John Zamorano.

The commencement ceremony can be viewed in its entirety on Vista’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DTSFbjaQN/. 

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The hospital partnered with Catholic Community Services to host a toy drive, and those who donated any unwrapped gift were entered into a raffle to win one of two kids’ bikes.

There was a girl bike, and a boy bike, and the winners of both bikes were drawn today at the hospital.

Girls bike.

Boys bike.

The winner of the boy’s bike was Darcy Hamel, and the winner of the girls’ bike was Marisol Magallon.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Veterans were in the holiday spirit today. The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 19 hosted their 3rd annual Christmas party at the Arizona State Veterans home in Yuma.

The auxiliary has been raising funds all year and donated nearly 70 gifts for veterans off their wish lists. Veterans also enjoyed desserts and a visit from Santa.

Volunteers say it’s so special to see the smiles on the resident’s faces.

“It really touches your heart. It makes you even cry. Some people don’t have families, and this is their home,” said auxiliary unit 19 treasurer Sandie Deutsh.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Daniela Rubio, the mother of a local young woman killed in a fatal hit and run, is looking for answers following her daughter’s death.

21-year-old Mariella Acosta was hit and killed on the morning of December 6th on South Avenue B and West County 14th Street near Somerton.

A man turned himself in and was in court, but he was released because no charges were filed.

The prosecution says it’s an ongoing investigation.

Rubio is at a loss for words and says she is growing impatient.

“I believe that in this moment there is no justice, honestly, after I left the courtroom and I found out that the suspect was free, that just finished me even more,” says Rubio.

She says it’s difficult to keep going but she’s trying to stay strong for her other children.

“I have my other daughters, and I have to continue being a mother, I have to get up every day, even though I don’t want to, even when I don’t have the motivation, I have to do it for them,” Rubio explains.

The grieving mother describes the kind of person her daughter was.

“She was very caring, she cared about her sisters lot, she was good with kids, she loved to do make up,” Rubio says.

The Yuma County Attorney’s Office can still file charges within the next seven years.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Was your home built before 1990? If so, you’ll be the first to be notified of any upcoming water line inspections.

As per new nationwide requirements from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City of Yuma will be notifying residents of any homes built before the year 1990 of inspections to the home’s water line. This is to ensure that the water in the home is safe and clean for the residents.

This year, the City has completed well over 12,000 inspections with no findings of lead service lines, a great sign for our safety in drinking water.

While lead in drinking water has never been an issue in the City of Yuma, these inspections are the most important step towards ensuring that fact remains true.

The EPA and the City of Yuma want residents to know that getting an inspection notice does not mean there is lead in your water, or that it is unsafe. It simply means that the service line has not been inspected.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – This week Hanukkah started on Sunday, December 14th, encouraging family and friends to come together and celebrate.

The holiday, also known as the festival of light, celebrates the story of perseverance, hope, and blessings.

Each night, people gather together to light another candle on the menorah.

“The nice thing is you can spread it out and be with friends one night or family the other night, and kind of spread it through the week, we exchange small gifts, we share lots of stories, and light and love,” says Rachael Barkley, a member of the local Jewish community.

Meanwhile, Kristine Lavotshkin, another local member, says everyone is welcome to celebrate the holiday.

“You want to come, come on in, come check it out because it’s really special,” Lavotshkin said.

She says she loves to hear different discourse.

“It’s about debating with what we believe and in sharing knowledge, and wisdom, and having conversations, and still laughing and eating laoticus at the end,” Lavotshkin explains.

Barkley also shares what the holiday is all about.

“Sharing out light with everybody, and spreading the light by lighting our candles hopefully with the world to make it a better place, make more people love each other than hate each other,” said Barkley.

There are still six days left, this means six candles are left to light as the festival and celebrations continue.

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