Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma mayor is running for re-election in 2026.
Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls made the announcement on social media. He made the following statement:
Thank you, Yuma, for allowing me to serve! Aiming to continue the work to strive for a brighter and stronger Yuma!
The Arizona Primary Election is on August 4, 2026.
He also shared a link to voter authentication, which you can find here.
Marcos Icahuate
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County and a private developer are asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit blocking a proposed $10 billion data center.
The lawsuit aims to stop construction of the AI data center planned for unincorporated Imperial County near Aten and Clark Roads.
In the filing, they argue the project is already permitted and that the City failed to appeal an earlier decision, making that approval final.
The developer says the project would create more than 1,600 construction jobs, generate millions in tax revenue, and provide treated water to the Salton Sea.
A hearing on the motion is set for February 10.
Paul Vozzella
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Some like it sweet, but for spice lovers, International Hot and Spicy Day is the perfect excuse to turn up the heat.
Plenty of local restaurants are known for their bold and spicy salsas, and two spots in particular stood out for delivering some of the hottest options in the city: Taco Salsa and Alvara Dos.
The owners and staff shared what makes their salsas so intense, and which ones customers dare to try.
According to the restaurants, achieving that level of spice requires the right ingredients, especially the chiles.
At Alvara Two, owner Jesus Alvarado shared his two hottest options: Chile serrano with chopped avocado, and a pico de pajaro and tomato based chile.
For Taco Salsa Restaurant, their spiciest option isn’t even listed on the menu, but made upon request. It’s main ingredient is red chile peppers and also includes some vinegar.
While some salsas are designed to challenge even seasoned spice lovers, others are more approachable, and customer favorites vary. Binney said Taco Salsa patrons tend to play it safe.
“They mostly go for the jalapeño salsa, but a lot of our older customers go for the red salsa because it’s mild,” she said.
Whichever salsa you choose to indulge in to enjoy International Hot and Spicy day, you can’t go wrong when trying the abundance of options in Yuma.
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved steps to move forward with an expansion of the Northern Horizons Behavioral Health Clinic in Brawley.
The project will remodel and expand a county-owned facility to provide mental health and substance use treatment for adults.
County officials say the expansion is needed to address growing demand and reduce reliance on emergency rooms and jails.
Behavioral Health Director Leticia Plancarte-Garcia explained the goal of the project during the meeting.
“To address the critical gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, by providing adequate facilities to reduce their reliance on hospitalizations, emergency rooms, or jails as a solution for a lot of these problems,” Plancarte-Garcia explained.
Some residents and members of the Board raised concerns about safety, particularly loitering around the facility.
Supervisor Ryan Kelley asked for more details on security plans before moving forward.
“I want to know what the security plan is in detail, to be able to assure the public and the neighbors that you are going to address it. There’s no lingering going on around the site,” Supervisor Kelly shared.
Plancarte-Garcia responded by outlining how the department plans to prevent loitering and ensure safety.
“We provide transportation to and from for those individuals that that don’t have transportation. No one stays roaming around the clinic. Everyone gets transported back to their location wherever we pick them up at their home,” Plancarte-Garcia added.
Behavioral Health Services says it will continue working with the Brawley Police Department and keep the Board updated on safety plans as the project moves forward.
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The AdvoKate Foundation is hosting the ‘Dancing Queen’ dance invitational with the support of The Howard V Moore Foundation.
The annual dance invitational will be held on Saturday, January 27 at 7 p.m. It’ll be at the McBride Auditorium at Yuma High School.
You can expect a Performance from local dancers from high schools and from the local dance studios.
Tickets are $20.
Danyelle Burke North
WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – One person is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Wellton.
The Wellton Police Department (WPD) says officers responded to reports of a stabbing around 5 a.m. Friday.
During that response, an officer-involved shooting occurred. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and police say no officers were injured.
WPD has declined to comment further at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.
Marcos Icahuate
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – A music and dinner event is planned for the Imperial Valley.
The Moonlight Serenade by the Imperial valley Symphony Association is an evening of dinner, dancing and live music.
Funds raised during the night will go towards the symphony.
The event will be at Cheval Farm (346 Larsen Road, Imperial, CA 92251).
Tickets are $100 and be purchased online here.
Abraham Retana
SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – A busy street in San Luis, Arizona is getting a facelift to be ready when the expansion of the new port of entry is completed.
Cesar Chavez Boulevard is one of the main streets in San Luis, Arizona.
It runs from east to west.
This much needed project will allow more traffic to travel faster to and from the downtown area.
“Cesar Chavez Boulevard is a collector’s street and it’s only two lanes. It’s going from two to four and truly is going to be able to move the traffic in a more efficient manner,” said City of San Luis, Arizona Mayor Nieves Riedel.
The price tag of the construction is more than $60 million.
Mayor Riedel asks the community to be patient and use alternate routes when the construction begins.
“It is going to cause problems with the traffic. My thing is I would like to ask everybody to be patient with us, it’s a good thing this is a sign that we are growing and this is progress,” said Riedel.
The construction is set to start in March and will be completed in two years.
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – President Donald Trump announced his new healthcare plan Thursday. The new proposal, called the “Great Healthcare Plan,” comes after subsidies for the Affordable Care Act expired at the end of last year.
The new plan touches on lowering drug prices and reducing health insurance premiums. The White House posted to X, and on their website, explaining how it will address American affordability concerns.
“Next, my plan would reduce your insurance premiums by stopping government payoffs to big insurance companies and sending that money directly to the people,” said President Donald Trump.
However, those opposed to the plan say premiums paid by consumers will more than double this year without the subsidies.
“And more than four million Americans will now go without health insurance,” said former senior official at U.S. Department of Commerce Alejandra Y. Castillo.
Castillo says this plan makes it harder and more expensive for working families to make a living.
“Now health care costs are soaring. So what does this mean? This means that for many people, they will have to make a really tough decision. Health care costs or food? Health care costs or rent? Health care costs or just being able to live day to day,” said Castillo
The open enrollment period for families ends this month.
Jalen Fong
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – No matter how much you need a loan, don’t overlook this big red flag. Companies that allegedly “guarantee” loans without seeing your credit history are likely scams.
These scammers charge upfront fees to lock in a loan, but once you hand over the payment, the “lender” vanishes along with your promised money.
Advanced fee loans are illegal in Canada.
In Canada and the United States, it is illegal for companies doing business by phone to promise a loan and require payment before they deliver.
How the scam works:
You receive an email or phone call, or see a flyer or online ad, offering you a great deal on a car, mortgage, payday, or other loan.
The company may promise a “guaranteed” low interest rate, or tell you that you qualify for a special program.
There are many versions of this con: home mortgage refinancing, low-cost government loans, student loan consolidation, special grants, or just an emergency loan to pay the bills.
The catch is some kind of fee up front, such as a “processing fee” or insurance to get the loan or to lock in the low-interest rate.
Once you hand over the payment, the “lender” vanishes along with the money.
Tips to spot this scam:
Vague or unclear fees are charged before you get the money. There are often fees charged for loans: Application fees, appraisals, credit report fees. A real lender will post those fees prominently and collect them from the money they are lending you, but a scam lender may try to collect them as a condition for you getting money. Any up-front fee you need to pay before getting the loan is a cue to walk away.
Avoid guarantees and unusual payment methods. Real lenders never guarantee a loan in advance. They will check your credit score and other documents before providing an interest rate and/or loan amount and will not ask you to pay an upfront fee. Fees are never paid via Green Dot MoneyPaks, iTunes cards, or wiring money. Unusual payment methods and payments to an individual are a big tip off.
Do your research. Scammers try to trick you by pretending to be from official or trustworthy institutions (including Better Business Bureau or your current lender) or sounding like a known organization. Contact the agency directly to check the program is real. Lenders and loan brokers must register where they do business. To check registration, in the U.S., call your state Attorney General’s office or your state’s Department of Banking or Financial Regulation. In Canada, contact the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
For more information
Go to bbb.org to check reviews, complaints and to hire trusted BBB Accredited Businesses.
If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker and the Federal Trade Commission (https://www.ftc.gov/).
