Author: KYMA

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Multiple politicians such as Senators Ruben Gallego, Tim Dunn and Brian Fernandez advocated for the USDA office to remain open.

“Politics aside, all of us are here just to make sure that our community is able to prosper,” Senator Fernandez says.

The Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as D.O.G.E., planned to close the office for cost-saving purposes.

Senator Dunn says keeping the doors open affects more than just agriculture.

“Just the community outreach and the programs that they have that’s for our community so having that local access is very important instead of having to go three hours to the Phoenix office,” Senator Dunn said.

Meanwhile, Senator Fernandez explained how the local political leaders banded together.

“We sent a letter, Senator Dunn and I and many others to USDA and talked about the importance of Yuma County and the country’s agriculture security, and you know for many other reasons we really needed that office,” Senator Fernandez says.

Meanwhile, Charlene Fernandez, the former USDA Rural State Director shares how influential it was to have both political parties working together to keep the office open. 

“I think it’s important that we see it from all walks of life, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, if you just happen to be that farmer that maybe didn’t even vote it doesn’t matter I don’t have a party affiliation, but I am growing in this community, so that showed that unity was important,” she said.

We reached out to the USDA for comment, but they are unable to speak with us at this time.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Federal funding cuts hit one local non-profit organization.

Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) provides several services for locals like transportation, legal assistance, and senior nutrition centers. But the recent cuts are impacting how many people they can help.

One of those services, “Meals on Wheels” or home delivery meals, now requires a waitlist because of funding cuts.

“Folks that are on service with us right now receiving meals are continuing to receive those meals across the region. But we can’t take anyone new as they call in. We are using a wait list, and we do work to have them assessed,” said senior program manager for aging policy & advocacy Carol Brown.

Yuma and Mohave have wait lists but services are still available in La Paz. In their 2021 to 2023 report, the provider network delivered over 660,000 meals. They said they received additional funding during covid to help provide meals.

“But of course, I would say all of us area agencies on aging have spent that funding serving people, so that funding is no longer in place,” said Brown.

This while costs to provide these services keep going up.

“So we’ve been trying to make the purchases for the products, the food, the storage containers, the transportation, everything that’s involved in providing those meals. It has all gone up exponentially,” added Brown.

As this fiscal year comes to a close at the end of this month, they say they’re looking forward to see what the state determines to do with funding.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A blood drive is being held to support locals and more Arizonans in need.

The Summer Life Savers Blood Drive by Vitalant will be at the Yuma Main Library from July 31 to August 2.

News 11, ABC 5 and Telemundo 3 are partnering with Vitalant to bring this blood drive to Yuma. 

Anyone who donates blood on those dates will be entered to win a 2025 VW Taos S.

The vehicle prize was donated by the Valley Volkswagen Dealers.

You can make an appointment to donate blood by going to their website or calling (877) 258-4825.

You can also find more information about the blood drive here.

Vitalant previously held a blood drive in winter 2024, which collected enough blood to impact over 300 lives.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – 45-year-old Alfredo Enriquez Flores had his plea deal rejected by Judge Roger Nelson Thursday morning.

Judge Nelson felt that the suspect did not show remorse during the sentencing hearing that day.

“I’m really kind of flabbergasted that the defendant did not even offer anything, I don’t see any remorse at all, nothing, and that changes my mind about the acceptability of the plea under the circumstances,” said the judge.

Flores had pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

However, after being denied he could potentially face his original charges of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

He is accused of running over 21-year-old Esteyan Medel on New Years Day.

Esteyan’s father, Steve Medel Jr., is thankful for the judge’s decision.

“I mean I’ve been waiting for this, this whole I mean I think he deserves to get the max, I mean 10 years for taking my son’s life? No. 20 years to make him think about what he’s done,” Steve says.

Esteyan’s younger brother, Uzziel Medel, spoke to us for the first time.

He shared some emotional words with us after court. 

“They say time like kills it, it gets easier, it doesn’t for me, like I don’t know I just feel like it hurts, nothing will ever be the same, you’ll always feel that pain in you like like you’re missing something,” Uzziel said.

Florez is scheduled to be back in court next month for a status hearing.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Yuma and the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (YMPO) are asking for the public’s input for their latest proposed transportation plans.

They say these proposed plans will improve traffic and safety through roadway and intersection upgrades for the long, mid, and short term.

The plans include enhancements to biking, pedestrian, and public transit networks.

Fernando Villegas, the Senior Transportation Planner for YMPO says “Through the list, you’re going to see new roads. Existing roads that have two lanes that are going to be converted to four lanes, for example,”.

As our region continues to grow, YMPO is planning ahead.

Its Long-Range Transportation Plan spans the next 25 years and covers all of Yuma County.

But the transportation plans aren’t solely about getting places quicker and easier, they’re about safety as well.

“When we know that we are having accidents or fatalities in certain areas, those projects are also listed inside the transportation programs,” Villegas shared.

YMPO’s Executive Director Crystal Figueroa says improving roadways and multimodal transportation aren’t the only challenges.

“Funding is definitely a challenge in the transportation network across the state and we need to work with what we have. The community is active in seeking grants as well as utilizing funding that we get by prioritizing projects in our region,” says Figueroa.

She shares why the public’s input is crucial to shaping the future of the area.

“You are the people who live, work, and commute in the yuma region. It’s critical to get that feedback to make sure that the transportation recommendations align with the public’s priorities,” she explains.

The last day to review these plans before their final draft is July 12.

To explore the proposals and share your feedback, click here.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Wednesday, the jury heard from Yuma Police Sergeant Nickolas Davis who recounted the night the crime took place.

The jury also heard police cam audio from the night of the arrests for the twins accused of murder.

Davis says there were a couple of women crying outside the home when he arrived.

When he entered the house he says he witnessed officers attempting life-saving measures on the victim, 15-year-old Cesar Aguilar.

“He was very young, you know small consistent with his age I guess, very pale, losing color very quickly, and then his eyes were open, didn’t see any movement,” Davis says.

The suspects in the case are 25-year-old David and Adrian Perez-Arzola. 

Davis eventually went out and spotted Adrian. 

The suspect initially denied his age and name, saying he was nervous because he had marijuana on him, but later confessed to who he really was.

“Sort of alert and afraid just very trembly, a lot of sort of that intense like stare I guess just looking at me,” Davis said.

But Adrian’s defense attorney, Aaron J. Reed, says that anyone would have been scared in that type of situation.

“He was trembling, and nervous, and terrified, that could have been because he was just shot at right?” Reed asked.

“I suppose anything’s a possibility, that was not my impression,” answered Davis.

Both suspects are charged with first-degree murder along with several other felonies. 

If found guilty of first-degree murder the twins could face a maximum punishment of life without parole.

The trial is set to continue through July 17th.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – After pushback from Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the Yuma Rural Development Office is staying open.

The USDA had planned to close the office as part of a broader lease termination effort, but changed course after Senator Gallego intervened.

Local leaders say the office is important for rural communities, helping secure over $600 million in grants and loans across southern Arizona.

“On behalf of our entire community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Senator Ruben Gallego. When the Yuma Rural Development Office was slated for closure as part of the DOGE lease terminations, it was a dire situation for our town and countless families. Senator Gallego understood the profound impact this would have on access to critical resources and economic opportunities here in Southern Arizona. His unwavering advocacy and fierce fight ensured that this essential office will remain open, a true testament to his commitment to our rural communities.”

Gerardo Anaya, Mayor of Somerton

“The City of San Luis is thrilled that the Yuma Rural Development Office will remain open, a decision that secures vital resources for so many here in Southern Arizona. For our community, this office is more than just a government building—it’s a lifeline, a crucial hub that our residents and businesses rely on daily for essential services. When it was inexplicably slated for closure as part of the Trump-Musk DOGE lease terminations, it sent a wave of concern through our town. Thankfully, U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego immediately stepped in, advocating tirelessly on our behalf. We are immensely grateful for Senator Gallego’s unwavering commitment to rural Arizona.”

Nieves Riedel, Mayor of San Luis, Arizona

Gallego says keeping the office open is a win for Arizona farmers and families.

“The Rural Development Office is vital to keeping Yuma the Lettuce Capitol of the World. Shutting it down would have been a gut punch to Arizona farmers. DOGE’s plan to close it showed just how out of touch they are with rural communities. Thanks to our intervention and the intervention of local leaders, we stopped DOGE in its tracks and kept the office open.”

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A 31-year old man was stabbed multiple times by his 23-year old brother-in-law at an apartment complex in Brawley Monday.

The Brawley Police Department (BPD) says the victim and the suspect got into an altercation after the victim allegedly poured milk on his child.

“They got into an argument over the victim’s son and who the victim was treating his son allegedly pouring milk on his head,” said commander Juan Morales, with the Brawley police department.

Police says the victim then asked the suspect to go outside and talk and led to the stabbing.

BPD say when they arrived, the victim was outside of the apartment sitting down on a chair with multiple stabbing wounds to his back and on the side of his armpit.

The suspect had left the scene.

“The suspect took off and was later located by the sheriff’s department approximately 40 minutes later in a community development in Brawley,” said commander Morales.

The suspect was found on River drive and Havilland avenue, 0.5 miles away from where the stabbing happened.

The suspect is currently at the Imperial County Jail and is being charged with attempted murder.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors approved to contribute $40,000 to support safe water activities during the summer.

“The District is pleased to once again have our esteemed Water Safety Campaign reach thousands of schoolchildren this year,” said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Dockstader. “We are excited to make this financial contribution to our communities so that we can continue spreading the very important water safety message.”

IID says the funds will help “expenses associated with keeping pools open, providing free or discounted swimming lessons, or providing safe water activities for youth and adults, such as water slides.”

According to IID, the funds, which is included in their 2025 Public Affairs Water Safety budget, will be distributed to the following entities:

Brawley

Calexico

Calipatria

El Centro

Holtville

Imperial

Westmorland

Heber Public Utility District

Niland Chamber of Commerce

County of Imperial

The Imperial Valley Desert Museum

To learn more about this, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County has issued a PSA regarding the closure for Silliman Road, located east of Brawley.

The PSA says Silliman Road, from Butters and Green Road, will close from June 23 to July 18 due to the concrete lining of the Osage Lateral.

Courtesy: Google Maps

There will be a detour along Ben Hulse Highway (SR-78) or Shank Road, according to the PSA.

To learn more about the PSA, read the press release below.

6-18-25 Sillman RdDownload

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