Author: KYMA

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The voices on the other end of a 911 call are being recognized this week as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

In Yuma, dispatchers play a critical role in emergency response, working behind the scenes to connect police, fire, emergency medical services, and animal control.

All four agencies operate out of a combined dispatch center, using a shared radio and computer-aided dispatch system to communicate in real time when emergencies happen.

“We’re all a team. We all signed up to support the mission of helping and serving others,” Gabrielle Trevino, a 911 Emergency Dispatch Supervisor, said. “We care about our officers, we care about all of our personnel. Our fire personnel, animal control. We want to ensure that we’re providing the best service that we can for the community.”

Dispatchers are often the first point of contact during emergencies, gathering critical information while simultaneously coordinating a response.

Trevino says that even as call-takers ask questions, help is already being sent.

“Our questioning does not delay the dispatch. We have, again, a combined center where we have call takers and dispatchers,” Trevino said. “So, when one person is taking the phone call, they’re inputting the information and it’s being dispatched out by another co-worker. So, it’s all being done simultaneously.”

The Yuma Dispatch Center also takes time during Telecommunicators Week to recognize its staff internally. Each year, the department celebrates with a unique theme. This year’s theme, “Hooked on 911,” highlights the teamwork and dedication that goes into every call.

While they may not be seen on the scene, dispatchers remain a vital link in the chain of emergency response, helping ensure that when someone calls for help, the right resources are on the way.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – If anyone is going to San Luis, Mexico, they will experience some changes coming back to the U.S. at the San Luis Port of Entry.

The vehicle traffic will be detouring to several new lanes to cross the border.

Starting Tuesday morning, the San Luis Port of Entry opened eight lanes, two for sentry travelers and six for all traffic, which is more lanes than before.

By the time the project is complete, there will be a total of 16 lanes.

San Luis, Arizona Mayor Nieves Riedel says this new access will boost the local businesses

“This is unique, something historical. This will help the economic development of the entire region,” said Mayor Riedel.

The new border crossing will be at second street in San Luis, Mexico and will come in to the U.S. through William Brooks Avenue and Urtuzuastegui Street.

“The difference will be how the traffic will come out. It won’t stop. It will flow and it’s going to be very good,” explained Mayor Riedel.

Some locals says this a long time coming and will help ease the long wait times to cross the border

“That’s very good. The traffic won’t stop it will flow faster,” said Juan Carlos Bond, a San Luis, Mexico resident.

However, some border crossers are not so optimistic.

“Serves me if I can get across the border faster, but I don’t think [it’s] going to get any quicker because they don’t have enough employees in to man it,” expressed Michael Knori, a Yuma resident.

“I hope they open all of them to have more cars crossing faster. Because they say they are going to open all of them, but they don’t they just open three or four,” said Edith Carrillo, a San Luis, Mexico resident.

The construction of the port of entry is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2029.

More than 5.5 million people cross through the san Luis Port of Entry every year.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma City Council candidate is responding to misconduct allegations from his time as a police lieutenant.

According to an internal investigation document, Henry Valenzuela is accused of missing work hours, failing to supervise, and misreporting his time between January and April of 2025.

The document also claims he used a city vehicle for personal reasons and skipped required training.

Valenzuela denies the allegations.

He believes the investigation was made public at this time to tarnish his political campaign and in retaliation for past criticism of city leadership.

“I saw it on its face for what it was. Again, more political retaliation because i refused to put loyalty above my honor and my integrity,” said Valenzuela.

We reached out to the Yuma Police Department and they proved us the following statement:

“It is the department’s policy not to comment on individual personnel matters. The department stands by its administrative procedures, guided by law, policy, and fairness. These processes are designed to ensure transparency where appropriate, accountability in our actions, and fair treatment for every member of the organization. These standards help us maintain the expectations and the trust placed in us by the community we serve.”

A memo of investigation is included below:

IQ 25-4 Memo of Investigation_Redacted IQ25-0004Download

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In this week’s Home Grown report, a new program, launching in Yuma, is aiming to improve water conservation and efficiency in local agriculture.

Organizers say the four-day Master Irrigator course will provide hands-on training with tools like moisture sensors and drip systems to help improve water efficiency as drought conditions continue along the Colorado River.

The bilingual program will also include real-time translation tools to support both English and Spanish speakers.

The Arizona Master Irrigator Program is a partnership between the Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two vehicles went up in flames early Tuesday morning in Yuma.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to the call around 12:40 a.m. on 24th Street and 17th Avenue outside of a home.

YFD says one of the vehicles had a gasoline leak that caused both cars to ignite. Firefighters were able to control the fire.

A garage and some motorcycles nearby were damaged. Both of the vehicles were destroyed.

No injuries were reported, and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man was arrested during a search of his home by the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force, according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, April 14, at about 6:52 a.m., the narcotics task force served a search warrant in the area of S. Virginia Drive.

The search of a home led to the task force finding the following:

284 grams of meth

Nearly 7 grams of cocaine

1.4 grams of Xanax bars

Multiple items of drug paraphernalia

The specific items of drug paraphernalia were undisclosed in the press release.

A 56-year-old suspect was suspect was arrested with the following counts:

Possession of a dangerous drug

Possession of a dangerous drug for sale

Possession of a narcotic for sale

Possession of a narcotic

Possession of drug paraphernalia

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma city leaders say they are focused on turning plans into action after recapping their annual strategic planning retreat during a recent council work session.

City Council members and staff outlined several key priorities that will guide future decisions, including continued economic development efforts and evaluating emerging industries.

Leaders also discussed a long-term, phased approach to annexation as the city continue to grow.

Public safety remains a central focus, with officials working to align budget decisions with departmental needs while ensuring readiness for a growing population.

Other priorities include advancing projects identified in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, increasing community outreach on the city’s annual expenditure limitation and expanding efforts to address extreme heat through partnerships and preparedness strategies.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls emphasized the importance of making tangible progress rather than simply creating plans.

“I think it’s always important to make sure we’re making progress, and not just creating documents,” Mayor Nicholls said. “So that was key, individual things are important but really that whole task was big. But really I think all the things that we did to look to the future…Not just some marginal improvements, we want to see some major, some major things.”

City leader say the retreat highlighted a clear shift from planning to implementation, with those priorities expected to help shape upcoming budget decisions and the city’s long-term strategic plan.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A handful of residents gathered at Elks Lodge in Brawley to hear a presentation on Imperial County’s Lithium Valley Project.

The presentation, hosted by Los Amigos de la Comunidad, touched on lithium uses for electric vehicle batteries, cellphones, and energy storage systems.

They discussed job creation, new tax revenue for Imperial County, and the possibility of new manufacturing plants.

However, there are environmental concerns about lithium mining, water use and longterm sustainability.

Brawley City Councilman Tim Kelley also mentioned that Lithium Valley will support data centers and other industry, and urged the public to get behind the project.

“We can come back on about three years when there’s an opportunity for new business to come in and we say, we were there at the table. We supported that. And we want to make sure that those projects met the requirements that the community wants,” Councilman Kelley explained.

The public is urged to submit comments and concerns online as the project enters it’s planning and approval phase.

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Jessamyn Dodd

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Caltrans workers, families, community members, and local officials gathered Tuesday to honor those who lost their lives while working on California highways.

During the observance, names of fallen workers are read aloud, accompanied by symbolic orange cones placed in their honor as a reminder of the dangers highway crews face every day.

Since 1921, 195 Caltrans workers have been killed on the job, many due to inattentive drivers.

The event also served as an opportunity to remind drivers to pay attention to the road and avoid distracted driving.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is inviting the Yuma community to an event featuring inspirational speaker Noland Arbaugh.

Arbaugh, who is a Yuma native, was the first recipient of the Neuralink brain implant after suffering a spinal injury a decade ago that left him paralyzed, according to AWC.

AWC says the implant allows Arbaugh to “perform digital tasks with his mind,” and says he has returned to independent ventures like continuing his studies, competing in chess and starting a business.

AWC also says Arbaugh enrolled at the campus this year and is studying Biology as his goal is to become a neuroscientist.

26-noland_arbaugh_flyerDownload

“At Arizona Western College, we’re passionately committed to our community and mission of dismantling educational barriers for everyone,” said AWC Director of Military and Support Services Jose Vega, “Join us for an unforgettable afternoon with Noland Arbaugh, whose resilient journey mirrors that very promise.”

“Paralyzed after a diving accident, Noland defied overwhelming odds to pursue higher education, captivating the world through features in The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg, and The Joe Rogan Experience,” Vega continued. “He’ll inspire you to shatter your own limitations and affirm AWC’s unwavering support for its students.”

The event is taking place Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Matador Activity Center, room 106.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

Noland Arbaugh speaks at AWC on April 28Download

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