Author: KYMA

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Opening statements in the trial of a Yuma man accused of murdering his own son got underway Wednesday.

The prosecution is saying 38-year-old Daniel Harris was intentful when he murdered his own son, 24-year-old Michael Patrick Reiter, in September of last year.

Meanwhile, the defense is arguing that it all happened in the heat of the moment as they claim the victim was inappropriately touching an underage family member, leading to the fight.

Harris is facing one court of first-degree murder while Harris’ daughter, 22-year-old Danica Watts, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, has a plea agreement hearing next month.

The trial will continue Friday, and is expected to go until the end of the month.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A student from Kofa High School received a scholarship worth $20,000.

Enrique Diaz was selected as the recipient of the El Valle Puede Scholarship.

The scholarship was funded by the Helios Foundation and other Arizona organizations who awarded five seniors with the opportunity to further their education.

“It feels like a load I’ve been carrying on how to pay for nursing school without going into debt has finally been lifted,” Diaz said. “Before this, I was seriously considering enlisting in the Navy just so I could afford school and have my education paid for. Because of this scholarship, I now have the opportunity to focus fully on my goals without that pressure. It still leaves me with a grin every time I think about it, and I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse with this kind of support.”

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

PR – Kofa student earns El Valle Puede scholarship worth $20,000 (1)Download

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Last month, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a new solid waste rate and collection system for unincorporated areas to comply with California’s Organic Waste Reduction Law, aka Senate Bill (SB) 1383.

Effective July 1, the county will transition to a mandatory three-container system, replacing the long-standing reliance on self-hauling to local landfills.

Residents will receive 96-gallon bins color-coded for household trash (black), recycling (blue), and organic waste (green).

The service will cost residents approximately $26.51 per month. The fee, totaling roughly $320 per year, will be billed annually on the county property tax roll. Under the new mandate, no residential waivers are permitted.

Commercial businesses will also be required to use the three-bin system, with service levels tailored to their specific needs and billed monthly by the hauler.

Unlike residential users, commercial entities may apply for certain waivers if they meet specific state criteria.

While the deadline to implement SB 1383 passed in 2022, Imperial County has operated under a series of extensions.

With those extensions set to expire, the Board moved forward to bring the county into compliance and avoid potential state-mandated penalties.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – You receive what looks like an urgent text message from your state’s “Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).”

The text states this is your “final notice” that you have an outstanding traffic ticket and that it must be paid soon to avoid penalties.

The text outlines various serious penalties like being reported to the DMV violation database, suspension of your vehicle registration, suspended driving privileges, prosecution, damaged credit scores, paying additional fees, and more. 

The text message includes a link to “pay now.” The link looks legitimate because it includes a “.gov” in the web address.

However, if you click on the link and provide your personal and financial information, you may have handed your information over to an unknown person. 

BBB has received several reports of these text message scams to BBB Scam Tracker. One consumer shared their experience:

“I received a text stating, ‘Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on June 3. Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket…You may be prosecuted and your credit score will be affected. Pay Now…'”

Verify your outstanding traffic tickets on your own. Instead of clicking on the link or calling the phone number provided in the text message, verify your outstanding traffic tickets with the legitimate local or state agencies. Contact your local police department or call your state’s DMV.

Know the warning signs of a fake text message. If you receive an unusual text message out of the blue, especially originating from an out-of-country area code, there are several things to look for to help you identify if it’s fake. Read BBB’s tips for spotting the red flags of fake text messages.

Don’t click on links or download files that are unexpectedly texted to you. Scammers can disguise links to make them look legitimate. Even if the link’s domain looks real, take steps to identify whether it is a safe link. If you’re unsure, don’t click on the link and visit the website on your own. For example, in this case, instead of clicking on the link that was sent to you, go to your internet browser and visit your state’s DMV website.Block and report the number and delete the message. If you suspect the text is a scam, block and/or report the number. Some smartphones and cell phone providers allow you to report phone numbers as spam. Be sure to delete the message. 

Never give out your personal information to someone you don’t know. Phishing scams often ask you to provide personal information like your birthdate, Social Security number, and more. Never provide this information to someone who contacts you out of the blue.

File a complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Always read reviews on BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker. More scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Central Union High School District (CUHSD) says Alynn Alvarado, a student at Central Union High School, created an inclusive dance for Extensive Support Needs (ESN) students and their families.

According to a press release, the dance, called “A Night with the Stars,” took place last month at the schools’s multi-purpose room, and was created as part of Alvarado’s ASB project after CUHSD says she was inspired by a recent United PE Olympics.

“I wanted to create something that hadn’t been done before at our school, something that our ESN students and their families could enjoy,” said Alynn Alvarado. “I chose something for ESN students because they’re not as involved in school activities since they are more within their classroom. I wanted to let them and their parents have a night to themselves.”

Courtesy: Central Union High School District

While Alvarado led the planning and coordination for the dance, CUHSD says she had some help from some of her peers, which includes United PE student leaders, who helped with setting up and bringing the event to life.

“Alynn has been an outstanding leader planning several activities partnering our ASB students with ESN teachers and classes,” said Mrs. Sara McFadden, Central Union High School ASB Advisor. “She organized arts and crafts, coordinated having ESN students as part of senator meetings, and talked to the teachers to find out how we can partner our classes. I am very proud of the work she put into organizing this event.”

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

CUHSD NEWS RELEASE – CUHS Senior Creates Inclusive Dance for ESN Students and FamiliesDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Lutes Casino and the Yuma Jazz Company announced the dates for their upcoming Summer Jazz Series.

The event kicks off Friday, May 22, 2026, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will feature a live performance by Eloisa Arivso.

KAWC 88.9FM and Border Radio 94.7FM are sponsoring the event.

The casino also listed off the other dates, also happening every Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., including the following performers:

June 5: Mia Delgado

June 19: Eloisa Arviso

July 3: Charles Shepherd

July 17: Jennifer Wayman

July 31: Mia Delgado

August 14: Jennifer Wayman

August 28: Mia Delgado

The event will go until Friday, August 28, 2026. To learn more about the event, which is free and open to the public, click here.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is outlining its plan for the future as leaders discussed a proposed $570 million budget during Tuesday’s City Council work session.

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget focuses on strengthening public safety, improving infrastructure and supporting long-term growth.

The proposal includes major investments in road maintenance, water and sewer lines, additional police and fire resources as the city works to keep pace with growth.

Officials say many of the projects outlined in the budget are part of a long-term strategy, meaning residents may not see immediate changes.

“There’s a lot of really big investments,” Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said. “So you’re actually not going to see a whole lot today. You’re going to see it as it starts to build out year to year.”

City leaders also discussed ongoing financial challenges tied to the state’s annual expenditure limitation, which restricts how the City can use available funds, even when revenues are there.

Leaders say Yuma residents should be concerned about the limitation.

“The expenditure limitation, that Yuma is kind of bumping up on that ceiling, is something we’re going to need to deal with as a city as we continue to grow,” Mayor Nicholls said. “I think it’s important that we remember this is not a tax increase.”

In addition to the budget overview, the work session included a Yuma Police Department update, a quarterly financial briefing from the city’s finance director and a presentation from Onvida Health on the future of healthcare in Yuma County.

City leaders say they are working to keep the budget balanced without raising the sales tax, which has not been increased in decades.

City Council is expected to continue discussions during its regular council meeting as leaders work to finalize the budget in the coming weeks.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Freedom Library recognized local students and encouraged respectful political conversation during its 30th Annual Awards Forum Tuesday night.

The event highlighted students who completed Freedom Library classes, awarding select participants with academic scholarships and travel seminar opportunities.

The travel scholarships allow students to attend educational seminars outside of Yuma, expanding their understanding of civic principles and leadership.

Alongside the student recognition, attendees heard from retired U.S. Army Captain Barry D. Todd, the evening’s featured speaker.

He focused his message on the importance of freedom, honor and engaging in meaningful, respectful dialogue. Especially in today’s often divided climate.

“We need to stop shutting people down,” Todd said. “And stop worrying about the words that people are saying and listen to the content of what they’re saying. That’s so important.”

Todd also emphasized that Americans enjoy freedoms that are not as widely available in other parts of the world.

He encouraged those in attendance to lead with honor, stand firm in their beliefs and foster more productive conversations within their communities.

The Freedom Library says events like the annual forum are designed to promote education, civic awareness and the principles of liberty among Yuma residents.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Jury selection is underway in the trial of a Yuma man accused of murdering his own son.

38-year-old Daniel Harris pleaded not guilty to first degree murder.

Harris was arrested in connection to the murder of his 24-year-old son, Michael Patrick Reiter, in September of last year.

Harris’ 22-year-old daughter, Danica Watts, has a plea agreement hearing next month. She was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

We will be back in the court room Wednesday for day two of the Daniel Harris murder trial where opening statements are expected this week.

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