Author: KYMA

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma County’s bus system, YCAT, is running into money problems that could affect the service people rely on.

YCAT buses are getting busier, but the system keeps losing federal funding because local cities and the county aren’t contributing enough.

Transit Director Shelly Kreger says, “Our local funding is just still not enough. The fares that the riders pay only comes up with about 7% of local match, and local match is cash from the community. So we can match our grants.”

Ridership has bounced back since COVID, but because of the funding gap, YCAT has to send back three to five million dollars in federal money each year. Kreger says more funding would mean better service.

“Better funding would be better service, instead of hour headways, we could probably do half hour headways. And we could also buy more vehicles if needed and provide service in areas that we have not been able to provide service,” she explained.

As Yuma grows, they hope more local businesses will help support the buses so people can keep getting to work, school, and appointments.

Rider Carla Fernandez says YCAT is essential for her.

“In this economy, it’s more difficult to even buy one pump of gas, it’s too much,” she said.

She depends on the bus to get to school saying, “I would have to probably make a lot of adjustments just so I could be able to attend school. Either that, or I would have to probably more than likely, maybe drop out if I’m not able to make those adjustments.”

For now, YCAT keeps running, but it needs more support to keep improving service and serving the community.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we highlight the newest addition to the local University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension.

Dr. Mazin Saber joined over the summer and is the newest weed management specialist. He is currently undergoing trials to see which herbicides, or substances, perform the best in killing weeds.

Dr. Saber is also currently leading a research project comparing manual labor methods of weeding to new automated technologies.

“AI, it’s training itself every time the machine runs in the field, it will collect data, and it’s always improving the algorithm of the software of the AI,” he says.

Multiple agriculture technology companies are participating in the weeding trials due to Yuma’s reputation as an ideal testing ground for farm technology.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – After officially being in office for a little less than two weeks, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) shares what her first couple of days have been like in D.C. 

Rep. Grijalva was sworn in earlier in November after winning Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District in September.

“It’s been really interesting and just really fast,” she says.

Grijalva says she wasted no time in getting to work as being one of the deciding congressional votes to release the Epstein files.

She says her top priority is looking out for the people she serves, which includes parts of Yuma County.

“My priority is Southern Arizona, and my priority is getting services for Southern Arizona, and so whatever legislation that I can do to protect SNAP to make sure that it is not on the chopping block,” Grijalva says.

She says she is enjoying the opportunity to go to different parts of the district as a representative.

“To be able to connect how the federal cuts are impacting these local programs is really helpful to me, I am like a visual learner, so it’s very helpful for me to connect those dots, and it just makes me a better advocate,” Grijalva said.

She also shares how it feels to be in the position her father once held.

“It’s been pretty fun to hear different stories that I hadn’t heard before from his colleagues in Congress,” Grijalva says.

She told us she will fight for programs for working families, comprehensive immigration reform, and protecting Arizona’s environment.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Gila Mountain United Methodist Church held a free food drive-thru for families struggling around the holiday.

The church has been able to feed 130 meals Tuesday, which is about 29 families.

“As a community, we’re struggling right now. And so, I think it’s important for those of us that can help, help,” said Jennifer Ericson, a volunteer.

Families could get a plate to take home, as well as some groceries for everyday needs, not just meals for the holidays.

Families also received a $50 gift card to help cover Thanksgiving meal costs.

Mary Klawuhn, the administrative assistant at the church, shares what she wants the community to know.

“We wish we could feed the entire Yuma County. Through the generosity of our church members, we have been able to serve 130 meals today. We wish it could be everybody,” Klawuhn explained.

It began at 5:00 p.m. at the church located on Frontage Road. 

The church urged members of the community to volunteer their time to help distribute the food to these families in need.

Ericson shared why she wanted to help the community saying, “If you can, whether it’s monetary, your time. Every little bit counts so we can all help support each other,:

With so many families in need, it’s amazing to see the church and members of the community stepping in to help them.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local engineering students are building new projects with the help of advanced machines.

Northern Arizona University Yuma students have five CNC milling machines on campus. CNC stands for “Computer Numerical Control” and helps cut with precision.

“It knows where the actual material is, and it knows where the actual part is within that material. It just cuts it out. It does all the visualizing for you. All you have to do is program and program it where to cut and how to cut with the right tools,” said engineering student Leonardo Rojas.

Some students are using it to build parts for a car built entirely in house.

“This upper control arm and lower control arm are examples of what we would be sensing, as well as we have our knuckle right here in combination with our 3D printer.,” said engineering student Cesar Duarte.

The students say it’s a great resource on campus to learn industry skills.

“CNC machines are used for a whole variety of different things we make, especially with cars. The spindle, different pieces of the motor,” said engineering student John Beeler. “This would be a broad application to many different parts of different jobs.”

The students will be taking the car to compete in a competition in Washington in May of 2026.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says they are seeing an increase in stolen packages, and are offering tips to keep packages safe.

YPD says people should use an alternate delivery location, like their work, a neighbor’s house, or a “local pickup spot like an Amazon locker or UPS Access Point.”

Another tip, YPD says, is to request a signature confirmation in order to “prevent carriers from leaving packages unattended.”

YPD also says to install security cameras and motion-activated lights.

In addition, YPD says people should get a lockable drop box and put on their porch. This will allow “delivery drivers a safe place to leave packages,” and says to track their deliveries by signing up for delivery alerts to know when their packages arrive so they can bring it inside immediately.

Finally, YPD says people should restrict the package’s visibility by providing delivery drivers specific instructions on where to leave packages “to conceal them from view.”

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Black Friday isn’t all about shopping, it’s also about giving back.

This Friday in Yuma, Crunch Fitness & Friday Night Munchies will be teaming up to host their Black Friday Toy Drive.

The event will take place at Hyundai of Yuma on 32nd Street from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

Toys, as well as non-perishables, are greatly appreciated. There will also be tons of raffles, vendors, and special guests. 

Those who donate will be entered in a raffle for a free one year membership to the local gym Crunch Fitness. 

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Housing America Corporation is partnering with Toys for Tots to hold a toy drive through next month.

According to a letter obtained by KYMA, they will be collecting toys for kids living in their housing communities across Yuma County.

They are asking the community to donate a new and unwrapped toy for a child in need, and the toys can be dropped off at the following location and times:

Housing America Corporation, located at 130 N. State Avenue in Somerton.

Monday through Thursday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Cash donations are also accepted. The donation deadline is Friday, December 12.

Courtesy: Housing America Corporation

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The First Presidency of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the location of the future temple in Yuma.

This will be the seventh “House of the Lord” announced for Arizona.

The Yuma Temple will be located on the corner of E. 36th Street and Avenue 8E. It will be a single-story structure with an additional building. Once built, it will be the western-most temple in Arizona.

Eight additional temples in Arizona are operating, have been announced, or are under construction in places like Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson.

To learn more about this, click here.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Tuesday, November 25 is the first day of Crossroads Mission’s annual Three Days of Thanksgiving.

Crossroads Mission hosted the first of three-day Thanksgiving.

Crossroads Mission CEO Mayra Garlit said they expected to serve 700 meals and deliver another 700 plates.

“We couldn’t do it without the Yuma community helping us and some people say, ‘well that’s not all the homeless’ but we open this up to the Yuma community,” said Myra Garlit, Crossroads Mission CEO.Some locals we spoke to said they’re thankful for having a place to celebrate thanksgiving.

“This is amazing, that’s when the community comes together. They don’t see race, creed or color we are all one under god,” said Bill Gonzalez, a Yuma local.

“I feel blessed from the creator and all the people who are working on his behalf and I’m glad I came,” said Thaddeus Garrett, another local.

The meals served were made possible thanks to the Yuma community and local businesses like Karnas Law that were part of the event.

“It feels really good giving back to the community putting our part on that I know a lot of people don’t have families don’t have funds or for whatever reason can’t have thanksgiving we are happy to part of making that happen,” said Carolina Barrios, Karnas Law marketing manager.

The thanksgiving celebration continues on Wednesday with roast beef on the menu and Thursday with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner including turkey.

The meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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