Author: KYMA

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Elizabeth Cooley, a former teacher turned agriculture book author, shared her story with a local school.

She says she was inspired to write her book “Deserts Grow Veggies” because of agriculture’s importance in Yuma.

While driving by an AG field one day, she decided to write an AG story for kids.

She says she regularly attends schools to read her book and inspire students.

“So many local companies are really investing in our students and giving our children the education on agriculture because we really are at the forefront here in Yuma and so I just think it’s so neat and I’m glad my story can be a part of it,” said Cooley.

Cooley will have a book signing at Barnes and Noble on May 10.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma local says Mexican National Guard Troops stole from him during a border crossing stop.

Jose Sanchez just received his second award for Best Employee at the Marine Corporation Hospitality Service.

He was recently visiting his mom across the border after she had a stroke to show her his new award. On his return back home, he was stopped at the Baja California and California border crossing.

He says it was for the type of music troops said he was playing.

During his car search, he says troops stole 400 pesos which is a little more than $20 and his honorary coin. He posted about the incident on social media, and the next day, troops responded back about finding his items.

“So I got a response from Mexican National Guard. They sent me a message ‘Aye you now what we see your post, and then we got the coin, and then we got this, and we got your money’ because they took 400 pesos, it’s a little bit more than $20,” said Jose Sanchez.

He says he’s thankful to have his items back, but advises those who go through similar experiences to make a complaint so these type of problems don’t happen again.

“If you don’t make a complaint they don’t know about it. I mean, they really got to take care of those kinds of problems, so if nobody complains, I mean do the right thing,” said Sanchez.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Western College (AWC), the City of Yuma, Visit Yuma and Caballeros de Yuma are looking for volunteers to assist with the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series this month.

AWC says the event is taking place at Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex from Monday, May 19 to Saturday, May 24.

This is the third time Yuma hosted the event, AWC says.

“Supporting student-athletes from around the country is a huge honor,” said Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Volleyball Coach Lorayne Chandler. “These players are getting their two-year degrees while playing national-level softball. The competition will be fierce, and we’d love to see lots of the community come out and help.”

AWC says the organizations are looking for volunteers to fill the following roles:

Team Hosts (20 needed): Welcome team to town, act as a local expert and point of contact, and/or cheer for the team at games. Team Hosts will be connected with a team contact prior to the tournament.

Gate volunteers (many needed): Take tickets and check credentials at the venue entrances.

Game Stats and Live Stats volunteers: Record game statistics live online. Should have some working knowledge of softball or baseball stats. Refresher training can be provided, if needed. One will enter the stats in the computer and the other will track with paper and pencil. Materials & Laptop provided.

Recorded music host: Plays mood music between games & innings to create a lively, fun atmosphere. Equipment provided.

“Volunteering for the softball tournament gives our community a part in welcoming these 250+ players and coaches to our special spot here in Arizona,” shared Lori Stofft, Vice President for Advancement. “Yumans really take pride in their city and in our amazing way of life, from the river to our agriculture fields, to our restaurants and downtown area. You can really make a difference for these players by taking on one or two shifts at the event.”

If anyone is interested in volunteering, click here. To purchase tournament passes, click here. Children 12 and under are free to attend. To learn more about the event, click here.

Volunteers needed for national softball tournamentDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A teen boy is in custody after law enforcement responded swiftly to an online threat of a school shooting targeting the San Pasqual School District.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) and the Quechan Police Department launched an investigation Tuesday night after a social media post surfaced threatening violence on campus. Investigators tracked the threat to a juvenile in Winterhaven.

Deputies searched the teen’s home and found no weapons, but the minor was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for making criminal threats.

“At this time, there are no additional threats or no additional suspects in this case,” said Sgt. Moises Badena with ICSO. “The juvenile arrested was the sole suspect in this matter. Parents and students are encouraged to continue to work with law enforcement to report all concerns regarding community and school safety.”

The San Pasqual School District worked closely with law enforcement throughout the investigation and praised the rapid response.

“We are thankful for the immediate action taken by our law enforcement partners,” the district said in a statement. “Their efforts helped bring a quick resolution and allowed us to maintain a safe school environment.”

Officials say tips from families and students remain critical in helping prevent violence. Deputies are urging parents to be proactive in monitoring their children’s online activity.

“Really our information that we get is from the parents,” Sgt. Badena added. “The more active the parents are in monitoring social media of their children, the better it is for us. The sooner they can notify us, the sooner we can investigate. We’re available 24 hours a day. There’s nothing too small that we’re not willing to look at.”

Law enforcement says the safety of students remains a top priority and that they will continue collaborating with school districts and local agencies to address threats swiftly and seriously.

Winterhaven School ThreatsDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma residents are reacting to having to use REAL ID to travel across the United States.

Beginning May 7, 2025, travelers are required to use the REAL ID or any other accepted forms of identification when boarding flights as well as entering secure federal facilities.

Reetika Dhawan, a local traveler, says using the Real ID is efficient and simple.

“It will help you to make your travel easier and faster, it will really benefit you and make your travel less stressful and easier if you have that travel ID,” Dhawan says.

While Jimmy Butler, another local traveler, is not a big fan.

“Honestly I didn’t see the difference between that one and the original driver’s license I had except for the little gold star and 25 more dollars out of my pocket,” Butler said.

Joshua Crosby, also traveled by plane earlier Wednesday morning, and explains why he might not get a Real ID.

“I mean I wouldn’t think about getting a Real ID just cause like the way that I do it is very efficient now but if it’s required by law then I guess I would have to get it you know,” Crosby says.

However, Colene Geleason, a Real ID holder for over a decade, shares why she enjoys it.

“I got my Real ID about 15 -20 years ago I think so that I can travel to Canada and Mexico, I’m grateful to have it,” Geleason said.

If anyone has yet to apply for a REAL ID, visit the local DMV located at 2165 Gila Ridge Road or visit the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division’s (AZMVD) website HERE.

If you would like to see which other forms of federal identification are acceptable, click the link HERE.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma barber is creating a more inclusive experience for kids with autism and sensory sensitivities.

Jose Landeros, owner of Royalty Barber Studio, is opening a special sensory studio inside his shop after seeing the challenges his nephew faced during haircuts.

“I just thought to myself, ‘What can I do to make the experience for these parents easier in any way?'” Landeros said.

The sensory studio is designed to be flexible and calming. Landeros says he meets kids where they’re comfortable.

“If they don’t like to sit in the chair, I don’t force them to. If they go to a certain part of the room, I’ll cut it there,” he said.

The goal, Landeros says, is to make all families feel supported and at ease.

“I just hope that we can help out, that the people who need the help because of their circumstance feel welcome,” he added.

The grand opening for the sensory studio is set for May 10 at 6 p.m. at Royalty Barber Studio, located at 1799 South First Ave in Yuma, behind the Staples.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) – National nurses week starts Tuesday, and local nurses share why it’s important to recognize the contributions nurses make in our community.

“To me, nurses are the heart of healthcare…It’s a calling, not a job.” says Deborah Aders, the Senior V.P. of Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Onvida Health.

Starting May 6, the City of Yuma, along with the most of the country, have declared it Nurses Week.

Yuma is home to many nursing professionals, nursing school programs, and tons of community support.

Aders shared some characteristics of what makes a quality nurse.

“Nurses have special powers. The power of holding a hand, the power of being in the room when it’s not the nest news offered, and the power advocatng for our patients and families,” she explains.

But no profession goes without challenges.

There is a global nursing shortage and aders says the solution is an uphill battle.

“It’s an aging population as well. The average age of a nurse is probably mid-40s, early 50s. So, I think the nursing shortage is something we’re all seeing and anticipating, as more nurses retire,” shares Aders.

Assistant CNO V.P. of Patient Care Services at Onvida Health Liz Chapin says in response to the nursing shortage, recruitment efforts go up and with that comes a high training demand.

“One of the things we’ve faced is a population of new nurses, so we need to support those nurses in a different way than experienced nurses. So we have to focus on that differently than historically,” Chapin explains.

Onvida Health says they tackle the training demand by teaming with local colleges, offering them extern positions, and helping current employees further their education.

Aders says it all comes down to three things.

“It’s about wanting to care for your community, patients, and each other,” says Aders.

As a visual celebration, Yuma City Hall will be illuminating their building red.

Onvida Health will be illuminating its buildings blue, the same color as nursing scrubs.

“If you see the blue, that’s to remind you. If you see a nurse, know a nurse, thank a nurse,” Aders says.

If you’re looking for a way to support a local nurse, Sunkissed Coffee in Yuma is hosting their annual Caffeinate-A-Nurse Drive, where locals can pay for a cup of coffee and a local nurse can redeem it for free.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Rural Metro Fire and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were on hand to battle a river brush fire Tuesday afternoon.

According to Rural Metro, the fire happened in the area of Water Street near Joe Henry Park, and Rural Metro received the call at around noon.

Upon arrival, Rural Metro said they found a brush actively burning along the river, and it was a 1,000 foot by 50 foot river brush.

Rural Metro says they sent out one fire truck and two water tenders to help battle fire.

BLM, according to Rural Metro, also arrived on scene and took over to put out the fire using an active backburn.

No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged, Rural Metro says.

BLM is currently on scene to check for any hotspots, according to Rural Metro.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (1:20 PM): The Calexico Fire Department (CFD) has identified a substance found inside the package.

Employees at this  “O’Reilly’s auto parts” automatically thought it was  suspicious due to not having  a return address or label. 

The substance was identified as sodium bisulfate, which makes people itchy and causes redness, CFD says.

“The police chief called and said our units responded to an unusual substance package at O’reillys,” said Juan Contreras, Calexico’s interim fire chief.

Calexico fire along with Imperial County fire and the El Centro fire department quickly removed the package from inside the store.

The Calexico interim fire chief says it was a small package similar to an envelope and inside they found a green substance.

“Hazmat team went inside and removed the package after going through proper operations… The hazmat team also tested the substance being sodium bisulfate which is a common product… household products that do have one of those properties that cause redness and itchiness,” said Contreras.

CFD says three people, including a police officer, touched the substance and started to get itchy.

“Upon opening the package the store manager started getting redness to her hands and itchiness and that is when the concern came about but it was a two by two package,” said interim fire chief Contreras.

They also said they were able to track the address on the bag back to an abandoned house in Arizona.

UPDATE (12:26 PM): Karina Bazarte is live to provide updates regarding the activity at the O’Reilly store in Calexico.

UPDATE (12:02 PM): According to Calexico Fire Department, the suspicious package had no returning address.

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – There is activity happening at an O’Reilly store in Calexico late Tuesday morning.

According to the Calexico Fire Department (CFD), there’s a suspicious package inside the O’Reilly store located in the area of Imperial Avenue and Fourth Street.

CFD says they are still analyzing the package and have closed off Imperial Avenue and Fourth Street as a result.

The Imperial County Fire Department, the Calexico Police Department and the El Centro Fire Department responded to aid CFD.

KYMA will have more information on this developing story.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A missing five-year-old girl was found in the desert after she was reported missing last weekend.

According to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO), they received the call at around 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

ICSO says the child was found three hours later, and says she was with her grandfather riding their quad bikes in the desert.

Apparently, ICSO says the bike the girl was riding ran out of fuel, and she hopped off her bike to walk back to her family. However, she got lost.

When she was found, ICSO says the girl was a little dehydrated and was taken to a nearby hospital.

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