Author: KYMA

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The First Amendment Coalition has filed a lawsuit on behalf of freelance investigative reporter Joey Scott, seeking the release of records related to the county’s dealings with federal immigration agencies.

The lawsuit was filed after the county refused to provide documents requested by Scott under the California Public Records Act.

According to the complaint, Scott submitted records requests while reporting on the the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s activity in Imperial County.

One request sought financial documents from 2018-February 2026, including contacts, purchase orders, invoices, and statements. A second request sought emails discussing the use of county facilities to house prisoners and youth detainees.

County officials reportedly declined to provide the requested records, citing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Comity doctrine as reasons for withholding the information.

The Supremacy Clause State states that courts and officials are bound by the Constitution and federal laws, overriding any contrary provisions in state law.

Attorneys with the First Amendment Coalition argue that the county cannot refuse to disclose public records simply because federal agencies may prefer the information remain confidential. California residents are entitled to transparency regarding local government actions and financial relationships.

“The fact that you can get those records potentially from another agency is not a legal ground to decline to release them.So we sent a letter to the county. Did not receive a response to that. And that’s why we went ahead and filed a lawsuit,” David Loy, Legal Director of First Amendment Coalition told KYMA in an interview.

“This is the first time I have ever encountered an agency citing a supremacy clause in any of my public records request,” Scott told KYMA.

Loy said this is a matter of transparency.

“Every time the Public Records Act is enforced, the public will benefit. The public interest is served,. Transparency is the oxygen of accountability at all public levels,” he said.

He said the county has started releasing some documents following the filing of the suit, and he hopes will continue to cooperate.

Scott noted that there are some documents, particularly those regarding minors, that he understands may not be able to be released, due to privacy and protection.

“Whatever gets released here in the future will help clarify and clear up what’s going on in Imperial County,” he said.

Scott said that outside of journalists, the public has access to this type of information, and citizens have the right to request them.

As the parties move forward, and more documents are released, Loy hopes that the case will resolve itself, and no further actions are needed.

“Technically the government has, I think 30 days from when the complaint is formally served to file a formal answer. We may potentially extend that time if things are moving in a positive direction,” Loy said.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local welding program will be taking part in a major welding education initiative. 

“Weld Like a Girl” is among 76 schools from 26 states chosen by Airgas for the 2026 academic year.

Shanen Aranmor, owner of Weld Like a Girl, said many participants have pursued welding careers.

“Some of them have chosen welding. We’ve got several people who have gone on full-ride scholarships to pipeline welding schools and now they’re working in the industry. We have other people that are trying to figure out how to navigate their path,” she explained.

The Airgas national welding program has empowered over 16,000 students from more than 190 schools nationwide.

Weld Like a Girl is an empowerment project that makes welding accessible to everyone in the community.

“We really try to be as inclusive as possible. Welding is one of the vehicles you can use for empowerment, even if you’re not trying to teach someone a trade, just teach them that they can do something that they think they couldn’t do,” Aranmor said.

The program teaches community members of all ages, even elementary students.

Third grader Luna said, “My favorite part is having fun and like making stuff.”

Teaching the younger generation to weld is important for the future of the trade.

William Crittenden of Weld Like a Girl explained, “It’s extremely important now because the shift is a lot of older welders, tradesmen in general who have been in the industry for years and years, are starting to retire and there’s no one to fill those positions. Within the next few years we are going to have a huge gap of trained professionals and it’s going to impact just about everything in the economy.”

Skilled tradesworkers are the backbone of the economy and society, responsible for building many things we use every day.

For more information on how to get involved in welding programs, you can visit the Weld Like a Girl website.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of a Yuma man accused of shooting another man during a neighborhood confrontation on October 24th, 2024.

25-year-old Gabriel Taddei is facing two count of aggravated assault, including use of a deadly weapon, in connection to the shooting near County 12th Street and East 40th Place.

During opening statements, Taddei’s defense acknowledged he approached the victim with a gun, but argued he acted in self-defense.

Defense attorney, Joshua B. Tesoriero, claims Taddei had been run over during the encounter and feared for his life.

“It wasn’t just a random evening on October 24th, that Gabe decided he saw [name of victim] and he wanted to shoot him,” Tesoriero said.

However, prosecutors pained a different picture. Saying the incident began when the victim drove to his girlfriend’s home.

“The night of October 24th, 2024. [name of victim] drove over to his girlfriend’s house to check on his cats that were there,” Cameron Curtis, Deputy County attorney, said. “And he didn’t even make it out of his car.”

The defense pushed back, arguing the shooting was not random and emphasized their claim of self-defense.

According to the state, Taddei approached the victim’s vehicle and fired a shot through the windshield, striking him in the shoulder and fracturing his right arm.

The victim, who was a 29-year-old man at the time of the shooting, was taken to Onvida Health and treated for the injuries he sustained during the shooting.

Prosecutors also described video evidence they say shows the moments leading up to the shooting, including the victim attempting to back away from the confrontation.

“You get a chance to see that. You can see [name of victim] car back up as he tries to get away,” Curtis said. “You see the car door open, right. And you see that gunshot go right through the window of his car.”

Jury selection took place Tuesday, and there are six additional dates set.

KYMA will keep you updated as the trial progresses over the next several weeks.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As Imperial County temperatures climb to triple-digits, so do electricity bills, taking a toll on local families and business.

The hottest summer months are just around the corner, but now, community members can breathe a sigh of relief.

This year, customers of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) will receive an approximate 12% of bill credits refunded on their 2026 monthly electricity bills.

“The credit is going to be from June to September but our customers will see it from July to October because our billing system is always a month behind,” said Moises Cardenas, Public Information Officer for IID. “Different customers will see different savings depends on their usage.”

Under this plan, approved by the District Board of Directors on Tuesday, roughly $48.4 million, that was saved in 2025, will be distributed to customers.

“What we like to say is that it was more collection in 2025. So, after getting that number, the board decided to give that money back to the customers to make sure it’s back in the customers pockets,” Cardenas shared.

2025 was a lower-than-expected cost year. That’s due to cooler temperatures, reduced customer demand, and decreased fuel and purchased power expenses.

It’s not the first time we see this action be taken by the IID. Just last year, summer bill reductions were put in place by an $81 million allocation. 

“This is the second consecutive year that this is coming out. Our IID Board is working on a plan so that it can automatically happen to bill credits to customers without waiting for a board action,” Cardenas expressed.

In the meantime, in order to continue seeing reduced prices in your electricity bills, Cardenas suggests other ways you can save.

“The easy ones are not to be using power during peak times from 4 to 9 p.m. Don’t use your laundromat, set your AC at 78 degrees. However, especially for low-income customers, it’s also very important to look into our other programs,” he explained.

IID offers a multitude of programs that customers can apply for to receive other types of discounts on their monthly bill. 

To learn more about this, click here.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Bitcoin ATM machines or kiosks are popping up at more and more convenience stores and gas stations.

The ATMs are an easy way to buy and sell crypto, but scammers have found there’s also a way to take thousands from unsuspecting consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission says during the first half of 2024, the average loss people reported was $10,000.

Much of the money is taken through “imposter” scams. Scammers call and pretend to be a government official with a fake citation or something you owe.

They could pretend to be your bank with a security issue that requires you take money out of your account and deposit it in a new, clean account. Scammers could use the old “tech” scam and notify you that there’s a virus on your computer only they can solve, if you call them.

In most cases, they lead you to a nearby Bitcoin ATM, tell you to pay the fine or deposit the money there. That money ends up in the scammers account.

Bitcoin ATMs allow speedy, anonymous cash-to-crypto transactions that are irreversible and are very hard to trace.  There have been few if any regulations to stop it.

States like Arizona and California are changing that.

Arizona now requires the ATMs to have warning signs. Daily deposits are capped at $2,000 for new users. If you’ve been scammed and report it within 30 days, you can get a refund. Check out the Arizona Attorney General’s crypto ATM/kiosk regulations HERE.

California requires warning signs and limits all daily deposits to $1000. Check all of the California Attorney General’s crypto ATM/kiosk regulations HERE.

If you’re told to withdraw cash and deposit it in one of these ATMs, it’s a scam. No legitimate person will ask you to pay a debt or fix a problem by putting money in these ATMs.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) always advises never responding to texts, computer pop-ups or calls.  If you’re told there’s a problem with an account, like your bank, only go into your account to check and communicate.

Also, don’t answer any calls that aren’t in your contacts. Important people will leave messages while scammers will not.

Check out all the latest scams and tell us what you’re seeing through the BBB Scam Tracker.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Fort Yuma Rotary Club is encouraging local high school seniors to submit their applications before time runs out for its annual scholarship program. The scholarship aims to help students pursue college or trade school opportunities.

The scholarship provides financial assistance to graduating seniors while also recognizing academic achievement and community involvement.

Club members say the goal is to invest in students who demonstrate both strong performance in school and a commitment to serving the community.

“Our goal is to have at least one recipient from every high school here in town,” Brendon Evans, the Fort Yuma Rotary Club Scholarship Chair, said. “Plus, we’re also hoping to get at least one recipient for the charter schools and or home school sector also because we know there is a decent community of that here in town too.”

Applications are currently being accepted, but the deadline is quickly approaching. Students interested in applying must submit their materials by Saturday, April 25.

The Fort Yuma Rotary Club says the scholarship program is part of its ongoing commitment to supporting local youth, investing in the future workforce and leadership of the community.

To apply for the scholarship, click here.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County will have a chance to receive free water this Thursday as two local ministries prepare to distribute thousands of bottles to the public.

Starting at 7 a.m., Benevolence in Action Ministries and the Gethsemani Food Ministry will hand out five truckloads of water at American Legion Post 19.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Organizers say the effort is part of their ongoing commitment to support families and individuals across the region, continuing decades of outreach work throughout Yuma County.

“We’ve been doing pretty good ever since we started,” Rev. Alex Montoya, a minister at Benevolence in Action Ministries, said. “The line gets around two or 300 cars sometimes…Every penny counts. Every penny counts.”

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

The free distribution is open to the public and water will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

Organizers encourage residents to arrive early as previous events have drawn large crowds and high demand.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

The ministries involved say they hope the event helps ease the burden for households during a time when basic needs continue to stretch family budgets.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls delivered his State of the City address, highlighting the city’s progress over the past year and outlining plans for the future.

During the address, Mayor Nicholls touched on several topics, including economic development, public safety, and ongoing city projects. He also recognized city employees for their role in moving Yuma forward.

Nicholls said public safety remains a priority, noting that crime in the city has decreased for the fourth year in a row.

The mayor also discussed a possible ballot measure that would raise the city’s spending limit, as well as how Yuma is responding to growing interest in data centers.

“If you use your phone today, you’ve used a data center,” Nicholls said. “What does the Yuma community want to do with that industry? That’s what we’re looking at right now as a community-wide discussion.”

Nicholls emphasized the importance of community input and having up-to-date information when considering potential data center development, including factors like water and power use.

He also addressed the long-awaited reopening of Smucker Park, saying progress is being made after earlier construction issues.

Nicholls said he expects the park to reopen soon and expressed optimism about the year ahead for the city.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 3 Peggy Price was served with a Notice of Intent to recall. The notice was served during a the public comments of a regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday.

A video posted on Facebook shows resident Belen Donato speaking to the board from the podium.

“I’m serving you with a notice of intention to recall. You have seven days to file a response,” she said. “She voted to approve a massive lot merger, paving the way for a 950,000 square-foot data center right next to our homes and schools.”

She continued her comments stressing that Price voted for the lot merger without requiring any environmental review, and the decision was made despite objections from the residents.

County planners have allowed the project to move forward, designating it as exempt from the state’s mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process.

A statement posted on California Senator Alex Padilla’s website reads, “In the County’s official notice of the approval of the project, the County asserted the development was eligible for an exemption from a California Environmental Quality Act environmental review.”

This follows a heated Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month where residents who were unable to gain access to the meeting were left outside, sparking protests.

De Fajardo claimed that Price had residents removed from the hearing.

“One person was arrested, simply for speaking out against this project,” she said.

KYMA contacted Peggy Price and Not In My Back Yard Imperial for a statement, but comment was not received at the time of press.

Peggy Price shared a comment with KYMA Wednesday afternoon stating:

“The item before the Board of Supervisors was a lot merger. It was not for a project. I followed the law in my vote for a lot merger.

I ran an orderly meeting, so the public, both in support and opposed, had a safe environment free from distractions and disruptions. This was to be fair to all.

I’m confident that the voters will consider all of the facts.

I believe the citizens in my district will see that I follow the law, and I ran an orderly meeting to ensure a safe environment for all to have their time during public comment.

The citizens will understand that and I’ll continue to serve my community.”

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CNN Newsource

YUMA, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA) – A 10-year-old in Yuma is being hailed a hero as the Yuma Police Department (YPD) say her quick actions on the Colorado River helped save a woman from drowning.

It was a typical Sunday afternoon for Grace Lyons and her family at the Colorado River, but everything changed when Lyons got that feeling someone needed help.

“There was a tube and it was popped, so I kind of had like a gut feeling that maybe someone is in trouble…maybe someone is drowning. Maybe someone is hurt,” Lyons shared.

She asked her uncle to come look with her.

“So, we look and I was screaming like, ‘Hello? Is someone down there? Does anyone need help?” And they were like, ‘Help, help. Somebody help. We are stuck in the bush…911 is on their way,'” Lyons detailed.

It was a woman who did not know how to swim, and a man and they were in distress.

According to YPD, the couple tried to swim to shore but stuck in the plants and began to panic. That’s when Lyons heard the cries for help and sprung into action.

“We ran as fast as we can. We grabbed a paddle board and we go on the trail with the paddle board and we have our uncle with us and our dog,” Lyons spoke.

Lyons hopped onto her paddle board along with her uncle and began to paddle down the stream looking for the woman.

“And there was this girl…her name is Christian, and she was lying down like this, but her head was up and she was kind of tangled in these weeds,” Lyons added.

Lyons found her, and with help from her uncle, they put the woman onto Lyons’ paddle board.

“She was crying because she was in shock,” Lyons remarked.

In two years of visiting the river, Lyons says that was the strongest current she has ever seen, but she did what he thought was right.

“I always help everyone, no matter…bigger than me smaller than me,” Lyons expressed.

The woman who was saved was out on the water with her family, and they all got to shore safely.

As for Lyons, she’s taking all this in stride.

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