Author: KYMA

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Drivers across the country are facing record-high gas prices heading into the Labor Day weekend, and Yuma drivers are paying more than the national average.

According to GasBuddy, the national average reached $4.14 a gallon Friday, the highest price ever recorded for Labor Day weekend and approximately 88 cents higher than last year.

For local drivers, the higher prices are already being felt at the pump.

“I think the gas prices should be a lot cheaper,” said retired Yuma resident Randal Ayers. “I would say that here in Yuma, Arizona, the prices should be a lot cheaper.”

AAA reported the average price of regular gasoline in Yuma is $4.49 a gallon, above the national average.

Diesel prices are also reaching record levels, with the national average hitting $5.85 a gallon. Higher diesel costs can affect more than just drivers, since diesel powers freight trucks, trains, agricultural equipment and construction machinery.

More than 45 million Americans are expected to travel this Labor Day weekend, according to AAA, meaning higher fuel prices could add to the cost of holiday plans.

For some Yuma residents, the uncertainty surrounding prices is making it harder to plan.

“It changes every day and they’re upsetting,” said local resident Sharna Levitt. “You know, you can’t really predict if you’re going to be able to make plans or if you should stay home.”

The spike in fuel prices comes as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global oil markets, keeping crude oil prices elevated and adding uncertainty for drivers this holiday weekend.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Candidates held a meet and greet in Calexico to present their proposals to city residents.

Candidates running for Calexico City Council are Diana Nuricumbo and Alexis Rangel.

They were joined by Lorena Minor-Montes and Karla Flores, who are seeking to represents Districts 1 and 2 of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District.

The candidates shared their visions for the city and the community.

“We ended up doing these men and greets together because we felt the need in our community that our voices need to be heard,” Flores shared. “We felt that we really don’t have good representation in some of these areas, and together we will be a voice for our community, our our citizens of Calexico.”

For the first time, residents will be able to elect their healthcare district representatives by electoral district.

In November, representatives for Districts 1, 2 and 3 will be elected to fill in those seats.

To learn more about the candidates, as well as other candidates running in different races, click here.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – This week, OneAZ Community Foundation announced they are partnering with the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to launch the Capital Readiness Program.

The program is six weeks that will help micro businesses across Arizona when it comes to accessing capital and accelerate growth.

A $125,000 grant was awarded by the OneAZ Community Foundation to create a better opportunity for small business owners.

Robert Raygoza, the Executive Director of the OneAZ Community Foundation, said it reflects their message of helping businesses reach their goals.

“Supporting programs like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce capital readiness program is really about living out our mission of improving the lives of our members and associates in the communities we serve. And then, there’s a motto in the credit union industry where we’re basically people helping people,” Raygoza said.

If you want more information about the program, click HERE.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man has been sentenced to three years of probation after a fight during a softball tournament earlier this year left another man seriously injured.

Nofoa Fagaima, 27, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

The fight happened during a men’s softball game at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex in May of this year.

Court documents said Fagaima punched another man in the face, causing fractures to his orbital bone and nose.

The victim’s family said the injuries could have long-term effects, including trouble eating and being unable to drive.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma doctor accused of using his patients to steal millions of dollars from Medicaid pleaded guilty in court Friday.

Dr. Irfan Fazil, 54, pleaded guilty to fraud, illegal control of an enterprise, theft, and illegal procurement of a dangerous drug.

Under the plea agreement, Dr. Fazil, who founded Bio Family Clinic, will serve 7.5 years in prison for the fraud and illegal control of an enterprise charges.

Fazil will also serve 7.5 years of probation for the theft and dangerous drug charges, as well as lose his medical license and DEA registration.

As part of the agreement, Fazil must provide passwords for his cellphones and laptops, forfeit assets including planes and cars, and turn over all financial records.

Fazil, who will also have to pay $36 million in restitution to ACCHS, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2.

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Jessamyn Dodd

WESTMORLAND, Calif. (KYMA) – When temperatures start climbing, schools in Imperial County have to make some changes to keep students safe.

The Westmorland Elementary School District (WESD) monitors the heat throughout the day, and depending on conditions, the school may add extra shade and water breaks, or move activities like recess and lunch indoors.

Educators use an app to check the daily conditions.

“It’s a heat safety app, and the app shows two temperatures. It shows a heat index and a wet bulb temperature. So, every morning throughout the day, we check the app…if it hits red or black on the app, then we go to indoor recess, indoor lunch, indoor PE,” said Rauna Fox with WESD.

WESD provides updates through their website, and families can get notifications about changes affecting their children.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A recent Border Patrol operation in the Yuma area resulted in the arrest of 95 commercially licensed truck drivers, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The week-long operation ran from August 10 through August 14, and was conducted with local law enforcement partners.

CBP said the operation targeted drug and human smuggling and resulted in 183 total arrests involving people from 18 different countries.

CBP says all 95 commercial drivers had valid state-issued commercial driver’s licenses but were unauthorized to be in the country.

Of those licenses, 76 were issued in California and six were issued in New York. None were issued in Arizona.

The operation also led agents to stop two human-smuggling attempts involving 21 people. Authorities also seized a firearm, methamphetamine and marijuana.

The arrests have raised concerns among some local truck drivers about safety and competition within the trucking industry.

Tommy Chappell, a Georgia native and longtime truck driver of over 15 years, says improperly trained or unqualified drivers can create dangerous conditions on the road.

“It’s dangerous when they can’t even read the street signs. It’s real bad,” Chappell said. “Not to mention the jobs that they’re taking, which lowers our pay.”

Toby Norman, the manager of Yuma Truck Driving On-Site School, said proper training is critical for anyone entering the industry.

“Obviously proper training is paramount,” Norman said. “It’s a lot of responsibility driving the truck. It’s not as easy as people might think it is from watching the movies. So we make sure they get plenty of practice and wheel time.”

This marks the second major enforcement operation involving commercial drivers in the Yuma Sector this year. A similar operation in June resulted in 52 arrests, including 36 semi-truck drivers.

Federal officials continue to increase their focus on commercial driver safety and immigration enforcement.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Firefighters are battling a vegetation fire in Imperial County Friday morning.

According to WatchDuty, the fire is burning in the area of Harris Road and Highway 86, north of Imperial.

So far, there isn’t any reports of how many acres it burned, nor how much of the fire has been contained.

To keep up-to-date on the fire, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Buckin’ for Bridget and Silver Spur Rodeo, Inc. are holding a dine and donate fundraising event later this month.

The event is taking place at Texas Roadhouse, located at 594 E. 16th Street, Thursday, September 17, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This is to support Buckin’ for Bridget, and those who attend must present the flyer to Texas Roadhouse, where they will donate 10% of customers’ food purchases to the organization.

In addition, there is a raffle where those who attend can win a ride-on truck and trailer.

For more information about the upcoming event, call Tina McCash at 928-920-6299, or Michael Leifeste at 928-210-3395.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Gila Mountain United Methodist Church Blood Drive is happening later this month.

The blood drive is taking place at Callaway Hall, located at 12716 N. Frontage Road, Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For those who donate between September 11 and September 30, Vitalant will give donors a Halloween T-shirt, as well as entering to win one of two $10,000 gift cards.

To schedule the appointment, click here, enter Blood Drive Code: Gilamntn, or scan the QR code on the post.

For more information on the blood drive, call the church’s office at 928-342-0345.

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