Author: KYMA

Consumer Reports

YUMA, Ariz. (CONSUMER REPORTS) – An important warning from Consumer Reports: Your child may love those soft, squishy sensory toys, but federal safety officials are warning that counterfeit versions of popular “squishies” could pose serious health and safety risks.

Consumer Reports has important safety information parents need to know.

On August 5, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about fake and counterfeit squishy toys that don’t comply with federal safety standards and “may pose serious risks to children.”

The agency says it has stopped over 350,000 squishy toys from entering U.S. ports. However, counterfeit squishies are still showing up online, on social media, and in discount stores, and may contain potentially hazardous or unsafe materials.

This government warning comes months after a Consumer Reports investigation found concerning reports filed with the federal SaferProducts.gov site, claiming children suffered chemical burns after their squishy toys burst open.

The risks are not just limited to counterfeit products, and know that because as part of the investigation, CR’s safety experts bought several toys and tested the gel inside.

One had an acidic pH, similar to lemon juice or vinegar, and a pH like that can cause severe skin irritation, especially in children who have more delicate skin.

It’s difficult and sometimes impossible for a parent to determine, based on a package or an online listing, whether a particular squishy toy is counterfeit, and many of the incidents reported to the CPSC involve name-brand products purchased at major retail stores.

It’s encouraging that the CPSC is taking action against counterfeit and violative products. But, right now, parents need more information because the safety risks may extend beyond fake or off-brand toys.

If your child is playing with these squishy toys, a few strategies can help keep them safe. Don’t give gel-filled toys to babies or toddlers. Check for holes or tears frequently, and if one does break on your child’s skin, wash it off right away and throw out the toy.

If you have concerns about a toy’s safety, report it to the CPSC on SaferProducts.gov.

The warning also comes as dangerous social media videos encourage kids to microwave squishy toys, which safety experts say is never safe. Heating these toys can cause them to burst, releasing hot, sticky material that can cling to skin and cause serious burns

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County are sharing their reaction to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ call for a statewide pause on data center construction.

In a press release Monday, the pause is said to be “necessary amid rising energy bills and after the Department of Interior cut Arizona’s Colorado River water supplies by almost 30%.”

“The only sane thing to do is to pause the approval of new data centers,” Attorney General Mayes said. “Data centers are power- and water-intensive, and Arizona is challenged on both fronts right now.”

Mayes is also calling on lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) to pass “legislation to halt data center approvals until Arizona develops a plan to manage the industry’s growth.”

In addition, Mayes announced she will be holding a town hall in Ahwatukee, a village located in Phoenix, on October 14, where she will hear “from concerned community members about Menlo Digital’s planned hyperscale data center project.”

Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said she shared similar concerns Mayes had regarding water supply and demand, and said she supports a national moratorium on new data center construction.

In a statement to News 11, Rep. Grijalva said, “A moratorium would give us the time needed to develop a national strategy and establish clear rules of the road for artificial intelligence. We need to ensure that the rapid growth of AI doesn’t come at the expense of our workers, our water, or our communities.”

Locals News 11 spoke, like Albert Cajigas, to said they want more information from their elected representatives before the projects move forward.

“Right now, I just don’t think the public is informed enough on what those data centers can really do to the to the area that, I think, maybe putting a little bit more time and research into it is going to be something that, I think, maybe we may need,” Cajigas explained.

Grijalva said Arizona’s drought, water supply cuts and higher utility bills are all reasons to take a closer look at data center growth.

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Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif.- Brawley became the backdrop for a Lowrider Magazine video shoot featuring local models and talent.

Nethaneal Zechariah Banaga, the designer and director, had a vision to bring the Imperial Valley center stage.

“Lowrider Magazine car show is one of the most prolific biggest car shows and lowrider events specifically here on the West Coast. Low rider Magazine is one of the publications that has just been a monumental giant to push our culture forward in terms of Chicano culture. It’s one of the first publications to put our culture out there.

Imperial Valley artist JAY ROXXX, who has over 30 million streams on Spotify, over 40 million views on YouTube, and over 3 million followers on TikTok, was a featured model for the production.

“This is really, really a big move for, for everybody here, especially because we’re from such a small, a small little valley,” she said.

Like I said, it’s a really huge honor and it was great working with everybody today and it was super exciting and I love it cause I feel so connected with my people back to my roots,” she exclaimed.

The shoot took place outside of the Dream Center, a space for local artists to nurture their craft. They host workshops, pop-ups, and vintage markets.

“This Dream Center was created to really create a place where artists can come and venture into their dreams,” owner Octavio Banaga, who is also Nethaneal’s father, said.

The video and collection will be featured at the Lowrider Super Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 5th.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rural Metro responded to a motor home fire in the Foothills Monday.

In a Facebook post, the fire happened before noon in the area of E. 38th Street and S. Tucson Drive.

Upon arrival, Rural Metro said crews found the motor home 50% engulfed in flames, “with exposures to the North and South.”

This prompted them to quickly deploy hose lines and work to extinguish the fire, Rural Metro said.

The fire was eventually contained to the motor home, “with some scorching to the North and South exposures,” Rural Metro added.

While there were no injuries reported, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Police Department (IPD) says a teen has been arrested for attempted murder.

In a press release, IPD responded to reports of two separate victims related to a stabbing that happened near Imperial High School Friday, August 28, at around 8:30 p.m.

The first victim, a teen, told IPD they were stabbed near the front of the school, and was taken by an acquaintance to El Centro Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Meanwhile, IPD said the second victim, an adult, was also stabbed after reportedly confronting the suspect, identified as a 13-year-old Imperial resident.

After conducting an investigation and obtaining witnesses’ statements, IPD said the suspect was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Juvenile Hall on two counts of attempted murder.

The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call IPD.

For Immediate Release_ IMPERIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT ARREST JUVENILE FOR ATTEMPTED MURDERDownload

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Travis Manion Foundation will host its second annual 9/11 Heroes Run in Yuma Saturday, September 12, at the Colorado River State Historic Park.

The 5K event is held to honor the people who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks while also recognizing military members, veterans, first responders and law enforcement.

Dale Dumo, the race director for the Yuma event, encourages people to register for the run or volunteer.

“If you want to be a part of the 5K, please register as soon as possible,” Dumo said. “If you don’t want to partake in the 5K, you can register to volunteer.”

The event will begin with an opening ceremony and speeches before runners, walkers and participants who choose to ruck begin the race.

Family and friends are also encouraged to support participants along the route with flags and other patriotic items.

Dumo said the event is about more than remembering 9/11.

“It’s also a two part event where we celebrate and honor our current and former active duty military, Veterans, first responders and law enforcement all in one event,” he said.

This year marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks.

Dumo said remembering the events and teaching younger generations about their significance is an important part of the event.

“Remember and show our youth, our younger generations, what 9/11 was all about,” Dumo said. “We never want to forget those tragic events, but also the men and women that sacrificed their lives that day and afterwards because of what happened.”

The run will begin at the Colorado River State Historic Park, with a halfway point at Joe Henry Park, before finishing back at the historic park.

The event will also include vendors, community booths and local law enforcement agencies.

The 9/11 Heroes Run begins at 6:30 a.m., with gates opening at 6 a.m. All proceeds from the event will go to the Travis Manion Foundation.

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Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) – Water is restored to customers in Brawley following a pipe burst.

The pipe burst Sunday, flooding parts of the streets as crews worked to find and repair the leak.

Some residents were without water for several hours.

“We got a call from a customer saying that water was leaking from the street…We come and check it out. We saw it was from the main. Exposed it. Saw the main. Saw the block. So, we cleaned it. Shot off the water. And now, we’re putting a clamp on it,” said Peter Sanchez with the City of Brawley.

Crews have since repaired the broken pipe and water service has been fully restored.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A candidate running for Calexico City Council said the city needs to be doing more to combat pollution and address environmental issues.

John Anthony Canaris is running for one of the open seats on the council. He has never run for public office before, but said his concerns for the city motivated him to enter the race.

Canaris, who is a Calexico native, questioned the quality of the city’s water as he specializes in water treatment, and said the city needs to reallocate workers to better maintain public parks.

“Adjust the budget here, which is $44 million to the general fund to adjust it. And, get efficiency from the workers, the street workers and the park workers and have an alternative basis, for, you know, cleaning up and also the parks we focus on the parks, the rise in park and the Cordova Park,” Canaris explained.

To learn more about the candidates, click here.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Big 5 Sporting Goods in Yuma is temporarily closed after smoke was seen coming from the building.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) said firefighters responded to the store Sunday night.

Firefighters looked inside and outside the store to find the cause of the smoke, but didn’t find anything.

YFD said fire alarms and smoke detectors are important because they can help a small situation from getting worse.

“In a commercial structure or home smoke detectors will save lives. This situation here if there was not a smoke detector present or if it was not working properly, it could’ve been a lot worse and possibly burned down the building,” said Capt. Francisco Leon with YFD.

Big 5 remains closed, but one employee said they plan to reopen in the coming days.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – August 31 marks the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day, a global initiative dedicated to remembering those lost to drug overdoses and taking definitive action to end the crisis.

Running under the theme “25 Years On. Still Needed,” the day serves as a stark reminder that despite progress, drug overdose remains one of the world’s most devastating public health challenges.

On the front lines of this crisis, healthcare workers in the Imperial Valley emphasize that overdoses are preventable. At El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), medical staff regularly treat patients experiencing fentanyl or opioid overdoses, as well as individuals arriving in severe withdrawal.

According to hospital leadership, the first step to saving lives is reframing how society views addiction.

“A lot of people view opioid use disorder as some sort of moral failing or an issue with the person themselves, and we preferred to view it more as a treatable medical condition,” said Dr. Rahul Nene, ECRMC’s Bridge Program Champion.

To address addiction as a medical reality, ECRMC operates the Bridge Program, a multi-layered support system integrated directly into the emergency department.

The program provides 24/7 evaluation, immediate medical treatment, and ongoing care navigation.

“Patients and families can come in at any time of the day,” Dr. Nene explained. “The providers, physicians, or staff will evaluate the patient and see exactly what resources they require. We can start treatments directly in the emergency department, so if they’re withdrawing or having cravings, we can start them with treatment on Suboxone, do a full needs assessment, and evaluate what is required to set them on the pathway to recovery.”

The care does not end when a patient leaves the emergency room. ECRMC utilizes dedicated substance use navigators to bridge the gap between emergency intervention and long-term rehabilitation.

“There will be a substance use navigator who will also meet with the patient, help provide them additional resources, and then link them to community partners to help further care,” Nene said. “We partner with a couple of outpatient clinics that ECRMC aligns with, and the substance use navigator helps coordinate patients to go to those clinics and continue with those next steps in treatment.”

Even with continuous resources available, healthcare professionals acknowledge that deep-rooted social stigma remains an uphill battle, often preventing individuals from seeking help before it is too late.

“Unfortunately, one of the barriers to treatments is stigma,” Nene noted. “Approaching these patients with a lot of empathy, listening to them, listening to their struggles, and understanding what’s going on with them on a daily basis really allows you to connect with the patient better and provide better care for them.”

Medical professionals stress that saving a life often happens before a patient ever reaches the hospital doors. Knowing how to identify an active overdose and having the right tools on hand can mean the difference between life and death.

Key Warning Signs of an Opioid Overdose:

Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”

Loss of consciousness or falling asleep

Slowed, shallow, or stopped breathing

Cold, clammy skin or discolored skin and lips

If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, officials urge you to call 911 immediately and administer naloxone (Narcan), a safe medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

“Having Narcan on you is amazing,” said Nene. “I say that is one of the steps that has been most impactful in decreasing deaths from opioid overdose—how available naloxone is.”

ECRMC actively utilizes harm reduction tools as a core component of its community health strategy, aiming to mitigate lethal risks for active users.

“We know that patients, unfortunately, are going to continue using, and so having these available so that you can test and see if whatever substance that they are using has fentanyl, and being aware of those risks [is vital],” Nene said.

Hospital staff urge parents and community members to have open, honest conversations about the realities of synthetic drugs.

“It is incredibly important families and parents just know that, unfortunately, this stuff is out there. Talk to your family. Talk to your kids about that,” Nene urged. “Just know that it is a thing, know that naloxone (Narcan) can help reverse it, and also be aware that fentanyl test strips are a thing.”

To support local families, the Emergency Room at El Centro Regional Medical Center distributes fentanyl test strips and Narcan completely free of charge to any individual or family who requests them, no questions asked.

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