Author: KYMA

Samuel Kirk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local back to school event in Yuma gave families a head start on the new school year, providing free supplies, vaccinations and valuable resources for students and parents.

The 14th Annual Back to School Rodeo took place Saturday at the Yuma Civic Center, running from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The free event included backpack giveaways for the first 2,000 students from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

Families also connected with local educators, youth organizations and student clubs.

“District One loves coming out every year. We’ve been attending for many years. We get to engage with upwards of 200 families, which is really exciting, and we get to meet families and students from outside our district too, so it’s a great way to connect,” said Christine McCoy with Yuma School District One.

With strong community support and a big turnout, participants say they hope to see this event continue in Yuma for years to come.

KYMA is a proud sponsor of the event.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – We depend on them to keep us safe but sometimes they need help too.

This is why a new Chaplain Support Program is coming to our area to help our local law enforcement and first responders.

The new service will provide emotional and spiritual support to the Yuma Police Department and the Yuma Fire Department (YFD), their families, and members of the public during times of crisis.

David Padilla, the Public Information Officer for YFD says, “It’s no secret that our firefighters and our law enforcement officers encounter traumatic events.”

Research shows that anxiety and depression among first responders is significantly higher than that of the general population.

That’s why YFD Fire Chief Dustin Fields developed this new service in order to assist these professionals who deal with these issues.

“We need more support and firefighters and police officers are under a lot of stress and having that chaplain to come by and talk to them or give them places or avenues to get some help, it’s going to be very helpful,” Fields shared.

The team will be made up of volunteer chaplains who’ve received specialized training to address the unique challenges and characteristics of first responder issues.

Additionally, they’ll be accessible to the community for help during their trying times.

“They probably will respond to emergencies like big fires or big incidences and be there in a support role, whether that’s helping with water or helping the families get resources,” Padilla explains.

Fields adds, “It’s a win-win. It’ll help the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the community because it will add more capacity to help the community.”

YFD says the service will start rolling out within the next few weeks.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says two people have been identified in serial burglaries.

The suspects were identified as 35-year-old Enrique Rios III and 37-year-old Calrita Carr.

YPD says the suspects attempted several vehicle burglaries in the following areas:

Sheffield Estates (Civic Center area)

La Mesa Manors

Ocotillo Estates

Saguaro Estates

Rios and Carr were arrested on July 9 and booked for the following felony charges:

Third-degree burglary

Theft of credit cards

Fraudulent use of credit cards

During a search of the stolen vehicles and the suspects’ home, investigators found stolen property, guns, drugs and other evidence that YPD hasn’t disclosed.

The investigation is ongoing.

YPD encourages anyone with information on this case to call (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Housing America Corporation is giving Yuma County families a chance to own a home by helping build it themselves.

Based in Somerton, Housing America has been helping low-income families since 1976 and began its self-help program in 1992.

Through the program, groups of 10 to 12 families come together to build about 65% of their own homes under the guidance of certified supervisors. No prior construction experience is needed, and the program is fully funded by USDA Rural Development.

“The families work weekends for about 12 to 15 months,” said Yolanda Galindo, the Executive Director of HAC. “In the end, they not only gain homeownership but build lasting bonds with their neighbors.”

Eligible participants must be Yuma County residents and meet USDA income guidelines. The program also includes credit and income checks during the application process.

Those interested can visit Housing America at 130 N. State Avenue in Somerton, call 928-627-4221, or go to HERE.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Yuma is holding their 14th Annual Back-to-School Rodeo this Saturday.

The first 2,000 students to arrive who are in grades K-8 will receive free backpacks filled with school supplies including pencils, paper and notebooks.

“It reaches over 3,000 students and families in Yuma County, and it’s such a great reach for our coalitions, and we love to support the kids starting the new year,” said Rodeo Sponsor & Yuma County Anti Drug Coalition Executive Director Joanne Fiser.

Thanks to generous sponsors, the City is giving away traditional backpacks for the first time this year. There will also be school age vaccines with the Yuma County Health Department, information booths, and food vendors.

The City shares why events like this are important.

“We love this event because we see a bunch of happy faces. Happy families, happy kids, and we want to make sure that the kids are set up and ready to have a successful school year,” said Adriana Del Rio with the City of Yuma.

The event will take place Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Yuma Civic Center.

KYMA is a proud sponsor of this event.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – APS customers break another record with peak energy use. The new usage record was broken on Wednesday with Yuma hitting 116 degrees and Phoenix at 118 degrees.

APS says customers set a new peak energy demand record by using 8,527 megawatts (MW) of power on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 between 5 and 6 p.m., according to preliminary figures.

Peak demand is the period of time when customer energy use is at its highest. APS crews worked year-round to prepare the energy grid for this kind of high demand.

“It’s very exciting for us to set a record three years in a row for peak customer demand,” said Tim Rusert, APS Director of Power Supply Services. “We expected this need. We’ve been planning for these for multiple years, and so really excited to see our forecast come to fruition and Arizona’s economy be continuing to grow the way it is.”

Peak demand has more than tripled since the 1970s. This is the third year in a row APS customers broke a record for peak energy use.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – From Memorial Day to Labor Day, summer vacation starts for teenagers all around the world.

The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) says, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents during this time.

“Texting and driving, overcrowding their vehicles with friends, and then not being properly restrained, and on top of that, just them playing games in the car causing distractions amongst each other,” says Hayato Johnson, Yuma Police Department PIO.

Local Cordelia Claridge shared the safety tips she discusses with the teenagers in her life.

“We talk about making sure you watch all your mirrors and that you’re paying attention and basically treat driving like everyone else is crazy and they’re out to get you,” says Claridge.

Driving safely is highly important for teens during these summer months, and making sure to remind kids to drive carefully provides extra safety precautions.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – An excessive heat warning remains in effect across the region and officials say these condition can be especially dangerous.

This kind of heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s dangerous.

Local fire crews and health officials say staying hydrated and cool is critical right now, especially for those who take certain medications or don’t have reliable shelter.

It’s the kind of heat that can turn deadly, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In 2023, there were 990 heat-related deaths in Arizona, with 31 being from Yuma County.

Yuma is bracing for another spike, with temperatures expected to reach 116 degrees and up to 118 degrees in the Imperial Valley.

“We also see water related emergencies and so people take refuge out at the river or they’re using their swimming pools. Unfortunately. we have already responded to a few drowning and near drowning call this year,” said David Padilla, Yuma Fire Department PIO.

It’s not just water, firefighters say just being outdoors in this heat can quickly lead to exhaustion or worse.

“If you can avoid being outside, avoid it. If you must be outside pre-hydration is better than rehydration so stay ahead of the fluids the day before. Long sleeve shirts, SPF, plenty of sunscreen is gonna help keep the sun off of your skin,” explained Padilla.

Ryan Butcher with the Yuma County Health Department (YCHD) also warns about hidden risks, especially for those who take certain medications.

“You might think that you’re hydrated enough, but depending on the medication you might become a little more dehydrated. Some side effects of certain medications maybe make you dizzy,” said Ryan Butcher, YCHD PR and community engagement coordinator.

For those who may need extra help, cooling centers are open throughout the area.

“These facilities volunteer and let individuals into the facility to cool down and kind of get out of that heat for a little bit,” said Butcher.

For more information about cooling centers and heat related tips, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma County is tackling a massive waste problem: More than 440,000 tires piled up at its facility. Officials say progress is underway, thanks to recent funding boosts and new policies.

“Last fiscal year, Yuma County Board of Supervisors gave us an additional $200,000 in our waste tire budget, and this made a big difference on how we were able to get those tires out,” said Kelly Fricke with the Department of Public Works. “It didn’t fix the problem, but it made a big difference.”

The tires are hauled to Phoenix by a rubber manufacturer to be recycled. But with thousands still remaining, the county is exploring long-term solutions, like purchasing its own shredder.

“Seeing what we can do in terms of trying to dispose of the tires using a tire shredder, because it’s cheaper to dispose of shreds than the actual tires,” said Santos Guerrero.

An additional $850,000 from the state could help clear the rest.

“I think it will allow us to clear out all the tires we have in our facility,” said Fricke.

The county also updated its tire drop-off rules. Residents can still bring in up to five tires a year for free and after that, there’s a per-tire fee.

“So, we’ll monitor that for a year or so, and if we do need to make additional changes that tire shredder could be an option in the future,” Guerrero added.

Officials say clearing the current backlog is only the beginning. A long-term fix is still in the works.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Extreme heat is covering the Yuma region, making it hard to keep cool, but one non-profit is helping people in need beat the heat.

With extreme heat covering the region, one local we spoke to says keeping cool has been hard, but with the help of a local non-profit, its been easier for them to get by.

Crossroads Mission is one of many cooling stations in the area, offering a place to cool down, relax and grab a drink of water.

During the summer months, Sassa Culver with Crossroads Mission says they see an increase of 15-20 guests, which means they need more resources.

“During this extreme heat, the biggest struggle we have is keeping enough water in the cooling stations, water donations, and asking people to come inside,” said Sassa Culver, Crossroads Mission PR Director.

For longtime Crossroads Mission guest Terry Hinzman, the extreme heat has been difficult to deal with.

“It’s miserable out there, and with the wind blowing sand in your face, it’s really tough,” said Hinzman.

But says the support he receives is very encouraging.

“It’s very uplifting, especially when you’re feeling down. It brings you right back up, and God’s here too,” expressed Hinzman.

Crossroads Mission is open to the public 24 hours for whatever relief locals may need.

Hinzman says he’s here daily doing everything from washing clothes to catching up with friends.

“I do laundry, shower, food, companionship, you know. There’s friends here and its great,” said Hinzman.

Culver says they’re still in need of donations to continue extreme heat relief efforts. If you’d like to help, click here.

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