Author: KYMA

Jalen Fong

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is continuing work on its 2026 Street Overlay Project, applying asphalt on several streets starting Tuesday, August 25 through Thursday, August 27.

Drivers traveling through the affected areas should use caution, follow posted traffic control signs and directions from construction crews, and allow additional time for possible delays.

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Residents are also asked to avoid parking vehicles within active construction areas to allow crews to complete the work safely and efficiently.

For a full list of where the affected area are in the city, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

StreetOverlayProjectPREngDownload

StreetOverlayProjectPRSpaDownload

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – State Rep. Michael Carbone (R-District 25) is attending the Yuma County Republican Party’s monthly meeting Tuesday.

The meeting is taking place Tuesday, August 25, at the Yuma Community Food Bank from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with check-in starting at 5:30 p.m.

State Rep. Carbone, who is running for reelection, and Chris Larson, who is running for the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board, are serving as guest speakers.

Reporter Lauren Duffel will have the full story later this evening.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, CNN) – Locals across Yuma County are sharing their reaction to Dolly Parton’s passing Tuesday.

In a post to social media, Parton’s family said she died peacefully at her home in Nashville.

The news came after Parton recently missed the opening of a new ride at Dollywood due to ongoing health issues.

A rescheduled Las Vegas residency was also canceled due to what she called “health challenges.”

She wrote more than 3,000 songs over her half-century-plus career. These include “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.”

She also ventured into films, starring in 1980’s “9 to 5,” co-starring with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, 1984’s “Rhinestone,” co-starring with Sylvester Stallone, and 1989’s “Steel Magnolias,” co-starring with Sally Field and Julia Roberts.

Parton was also one of the country’s most beloved philanthropists, with her library program gifting more than 300 million books to children around the world.

In addition, her numerous scholarship donations and programs stand alongside her efforts to help residents in the U.S. South in the wake of natural disasters.

In Yuma County, some residents are devastated by the news of her passing, saying she was one of a kind.

One resident, Mariana Jensen, said she has been listening to Parton all of her life, and is shocked by the news.

Jensen watched her for years, saying Parton was one of the most influential women in the world to her.

“Well, I’m 84 so as long as she has been around Ive been a fan…she’s done so much for so many people with Dollywood and all of her charities and its very sad to see that she is gone. We all will miss her, I’m sure,” Jensen expressed.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following statement regarding this story:

“Our job is never fully accomplished until there is a guilty plea. What was witnessed by [reporters] in the Salton City area was law enforcement officials ensuring any and all facts and evidence that fill any holes in the case are collected to ensure successful prosecution.

Any further questions or comments will be forward to FBI as we continue to work in collaboration with them and the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.”

UPDATE (4:41 PM): The FBI said they were serving a search warrant with help from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.

Tovar’s mother, according to our reporter in Imperial County, has been subpoenaed, and will be in court on September 28.

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KYMA) – Federal agents are on scene at a Salton City home belonging to a man accused of murdering a missing teen.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) told our sister station KESQ the FBI is leading the operation located in the area of Harlequin Court, where crews are digging at the home belonging to Abraham Feinbloom.

The street, according to KESQ, has been blocked off, with a canopy being set up near the dig site. However, it is unknown whether the operation is in connection to either the investigation into T’neya Tovar’s murder, or the case against Feinbloom.

Feinbloom, 51, is accused of murdering Tovar, a 17-year-old girl from Hemet, California, who was reported missing last December.

Her remains were discovered later that month.

Feinbloom, according to KESQ, is facing one count of murder with a firearm enhancement, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial is set to being September 28.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A plea agreement has been filed in the case against a Yuma doctor accused of using his patients to steal millions of dollars from Medicaid.

Dr. Irfan Fazil, 54, founded Bio Family Clinic, where he practiced for more than 15 years.

He was arrested in June and accused of being involved in a fraud scheme that investigators say totaled more than $36 million.

Under the proposed plea deal, Dr. Fazil would be sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud, illegal control of an enterprise and theft. Two other charges, conspiracy and possession of dangerous drugs, would be dropped.

The agreement also calls for Fazil to lose his medical license and his DEA registration. He would also have to provide authorities with passwords to his cell phones and laptops.

Fazil, who is still being held at the Yuma County Detention Center on a $50 million bond, has not yet formally entered his plea in court.

His next court appearance is set for September 4.

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Joaquin Hight

(KYMA) – U.S. citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution due to a potential threat in Mexicali.

Due to threat information, U.S. government activities in and travel to Mexicali have been suspended Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.

Citizens are being asked to : avoid government buildings in Mexicali, seek shelter in the event of an incident, Notify friends and family of your safety in the event of an incident, follow instructions from Mexican law enforcement, monitor local media for updates, and be aware of your surroundings.

It’s still unclear what the threat is, but we’ll update you with more information as soon as it becomes available.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Main Library is helping children improve their reading skills, with the help of a four legged friend.

The library hosted its “Barks and Books” event to where children enjoyed reading to Gabriel, a local service dog.

Gabriel’s owner Alice Tulio says they’ve been doing this for 10 years. She shared what she hopes the children can gain from these events.

“Gabriel is willing to be a friend with them, but I just want the kids to learn from this experience, get their confidence and encourage the reading so they want to read more and more and more,” Tulio said.

If you would like to attend, “Barks and Books” is hosted every second and fourth Monday of the month at the Main Library from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

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Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Villa officially filed his paperwork for the November election at the end of July, and this isn’t his first time running.

He previously ran for the same board in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and this time he has a new plan.

“Now I’m strategizing a little bit differently to do more outreach to the people in person on their doorsteps, and even more community events to get to know the people more and share with them my platform,” Villa told KYMA in an interview.

His platform focuses on safety and academics for the students as well as employee rights for school staff.

“Safety above above in everything, because our kids should be safe while attending schoo,” he said.

However, he said discipline isn’t always the appropriate method to dealing with unruly students.

“Showing the students that you are willing to listen and giving different options on how to resolve the issue,” he said, is key.

“Another focus I really emphasize is career technical education. So really preparing our kids for the workforce,” Villa explained.

“Working at Brawley Union High School District for the past 8 years has given me a good foundation about leadership and working together,” Villa stated.

In addition to working security, Villa has been involved in ASB, Class Office, Link Crew, FFA, and assistant coaching for the swim team.

Villa will face off against three other candidates on November 3.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Federal officials announced over the weekend that there will be major cuts to water deliveries to the Colorado River for the next two years.

The Department of Interior has approved a new plan that will reduce the water deliveries by 1.2 million acre feet each year between Arizona, California and Nevada.

Dr. Ali Mohammed from the Agriculture Center says he believes Yuma will receive more water because of the high priority.

“Yuma water district, the seven water districts have senior rights and if it would be some reduction currently it will be less as we have a high priority in the region,” Dr. Mohammed said.

Arizona will see the biggest cut in a 30% reduction of water allocation at over 700,000 acre feet.

This will also play in effect towards the agriculture as farmers could see less crops and produce.

“Hope this will be less impact at Yuma currently, but after the two years, we have to be prepared very well in order to minimize this impact, as we are a very productive region in the entire nation,” Mohammed said.

Federal officials say the new guidelines are designed to protect the Colorado River system while negotiations continue over its long-term future.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Farmers are facing higher diesel and fertilizer costs heading into harvest season, and an economist says consumers could eventually feel the impact at the grocery store.

Diesel prices have climbed as global fuel supplies are disrupted by the war with Iran. Farmers are also dealing with higher fertilizer costs and uncertainty around tariffs.

Breyon Williams, chief economist with Groundwork Collaborative, says diesel is a major expense for farmers because it is used to power tractors, irrigation equipment and transportation.

Those higher costs can make it more expensive to grow and move crops, and Williams says some of that pressure is already showing up in food prices.

He says wholesale costs are still elevated, meaning businesses have yet to pass all of those higher expenses on to consumers.

Williams says shoppers could continue to feel the impact of higher food prices through next year, with elevated prices potentially lasting beyond 2027.

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