Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Yuma is holding their 14th Annual Back-to-School Rodeo this Saturday.

The first 2,000 students to arrive who are in grades K-8 will receive free backpacks filled with school supplies including pencils, paper and notebooks.

“It reaches over 3,000 students and families in Yuma County, and it’s such a great reach for our coalitions, and we love to support the kids starting the new year,” said Rodeo Sponsor & Yuma County Anti Drug Coalition Executive Director Joanne Fiser.

Thanks to generous sponsors, the City is giving away traditional backpacks for the first time this year. There will also be school age vaccines with the Yuma County Health Department, information booths, and food vendors.

The City shares why events like this are important.

“We love this event because we see a bunch of happy faces. Happy families, happy kids, and we want to make sure that the kids are set up and ready to have a successful school year,” said Adriana Del Rio with the City of Yuma.

The event will take place Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Yuma Civic Center.

KYMA is a proud sponsor of this event.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – APS customers break another record with peak energy use. The new usage record was broken on Wednesday with Yuma hitting 116 degrees and Phoenix at 118 degrees.

APS says customers set a new peak energy demand record by using 8,527 megawatts (MW) of power on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 between 5 and 6 p.m., according to preliminary figures.

Peak demand is the period of time when customer energy use is at its highest. APS crews worked year-round to prepare the energy grid for this kind of high demand.

“It’s very exciting for us to set a record three years in a row for peak customer demand,” said Tim Rusert, APS Director of Power Supply Services. “We expected this need. We’ve been planning for these for multiple years, and so really excited to see our forecast come to fruition and Arizona’s economy be continuing to grow the way it is.”

Peak demand has more than tripled since the 1970s. This is the third year in a row APS customers broke a record for peak energy use.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – From Memorial Day to Labor Day, summer vacation starts for teenagers all around the world.

The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) says, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents during this time.

“Texting and driving, overcrowding their vehicles with friends, and then not being properly restrained, and on top of that, just them playing games in the car causing distractions amongst each other,” says Hayato Johnson, Yuma Police Department PIO.

Local Cordelia Claridge shared the safety tips she discusses with the teenagers in her life.

“We talk about making sure you watch all your mirrors and that you’re paying attention and basically treat driving like everyone else is crazy and they’re out to get you,” says Claridge.

Driving safely is highly important for teens during these summer months, and making sure to remind kids to drive carefully provides extra safety precautions.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – An excessive heat warning remains in effect across the region and officials say these condition can be especially dangerous.

This kind of heat isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s dangerous.

Local fire crews and health officials say staying hydrated and cool is critical right now, especially for those who take certain medications or don’t have reliable shelter.

It’s the kind of heat that can turn deadly, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

In 2023, there were 990 heat-related deaths in Arizona, with 31 being from Yuma County.

Yuma is bracing for another spike, with temperatures expected to reach 116 degrees and up to 118 degrees in the Imperial Valley.

“We also see water related emergencies and so people take refuge out at the river or they’re using their swimming pools. Unfortunately. we have already responded to a few drowning and near drowning call this year,” said David Padilla, Yuma Fire Department PIO.

It’s not just water, firefighters say just being outdoors in this heat can quickly lead to exhaustion or worse.

“If you can avoid being outside, avoid it. If you must be outside pre-hydration is better than rehydration so stay ahead of the fluids the day before. Long sleeve shirts, SPF, plenty of sunscreen is gonna help keep the sun off of your skin,” explained Padilla.

Ryan Butcher with the Yuma County Health Department (YCHD) also warns about hidden risks, especially for those who take certain medications.

“You might think that you’re hydrated enough, but depending on the medication you might become a little more dehydrated. Some side effects of certain medications maybe make you dizzy,” said Ryan Butcher, YCHD PR and community engagement coordinator.

For those who may need extra help, cooling centers are open throughout the area.

“These facilities volunteer and let individuals into the facility to cool down and kind of get out of that heat for a little bit,” said Butcher.

For more information about cooling centers and heat related tips, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma County is tackling a massive waste problem: More than 440,000 tires piled up at its facility. Officials say progress is underway, thanks to recent funding boosts and new policies.

“Last fiscal year, Yuma County Board of Supervisors gave us an additional $200,000 in our waste tire budget, and this made a big difference on how we were able to get those tires out,” said Kelly Fricke with the Department of Public Works. “It didn’t fix the problem, but it made a big difference.”

The tires are hauled to Phoenix by a rubber manufacturer to be recycled. But with thousands still remaining, the county is exploring long-term solutions, like purchasing its own shredder.

“Seeing what we can do in terms of trying to dispose of the tires using a tire shredder, because it’s cheaper to dispose of shreds than the actual tires,” said Santos Guerrero.

An additional $850,000 from the state could help clear the rest.

“I think it will allow us to clear out all the tires we have in our facility,” said Fricke.

The county also updated its tire drop-off rules. Residents can still bring in up to five tires a year for free and after that, there’s a per-tire fee.

“So, we’ll monitor that for a year or so, and if we do need to make additional changes that tire shredder could be an option in the future,” Guerrero added.

Officials say clearing the current backlog is only the beginning. A long-term fix is still in the works.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Extreme heat is covering the Yuma region, making it hard to keep cool, but one non-profit is helping people in need beat the heat.

With extreme heat covering the region, one local we spoke to says keeping cool has been hard, but with the help of a local non-profit, its been easier for them to get by.

Crossroads Mission is one of many cooling stations in the area, offering a place to cool down, relax and grab a drink of water.

During the summer months, Sassa Culver with Crossroads Mission says they see an increase of 15-20 guests, which means they need more resources.

“During this extreme heat, the biggest struggle we have is keeping enough water in the cooling stations, water donations, and asking people to come inside,” said Sassa Culver, Crossroads Mission PR Director.

For longtime Crossroads Mission guest Terry Hinzman, the extreme heat has been difficult to deal with.

“It’s miserable out there, and with the wind blowing sand in your face, it’s really tough,” said Hinzman.

But says the support he receives is very encouraging.

“It’s very uplifting, especially when you’re feeling down. It brings you right back up, and God’s here too,” expressed Hinzman.

Crossroads Mission is open to the public 24 hours for whatever relief locals may need.

Hinzman says he’s here daily doing everything from washing clothes to catching up with friends.

“I do laundry, shower, food, companionship, you know. There’s friends here and its great,” said Hinzman.

Culver says they’re still in need of donations to continue extreme heat relief efforts. If you’d like to help, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Calexico is proposing a new housing plan that could bring thousands of new homes, and residents, to the city over the next few years.

The draft plan, recently released by the city, identifies 53 sites for possible development through 2029. Some of that land would need to be rezoned for higher-density housing, including options for low-income families.

“This plan would allow for up to 8,000 units within the city, so we’re looking at maybe an additional 20,000 people in population, and it would help with our housing needs,” said Planning and Building Director Michael Coyne.

Coyne adds that more housing could also mean more demand for services and businesses.

“So of course, with more rooftops that would entail additional commercial needs, service needs, and so that would help foster growth within our commercial business sector as well,” he says.

Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi said the city is already hearing from developers eager to build.

“A lot of developers are reaching out to us in reference to coming in, waiting for these zone changes, and I’m excited,” said Legaspi.

Legaspi says new development could also support local schools.

“I know it’s gonna help out our impact fees when it comes to the schools. You have more kids coming in to schools, more students. I think it’s a great thing,” Legaspi shared.

The next step is a public workshop in August, where residents will be able to weigh in before the city finalizes the plan.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) reminds locals that illegal dumping is a crime.

In a press release and a post to social media, YCSO encourages locals to report illegal dumping.

Criminal littering can range from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony, with fines up to $150,000.

A list of free waste disposal sites can be checked here.

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Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Calexico is moving closer to bringing back its downtown parking meters. The City Council recently gave early approval to updated rates and upgraded solar-powered meters.

Under the new plan, meters would charge $1 per hour with a two-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and $2 per hour overnight. The goal, city officials say, is to address concerns raised by both business owners and locals.

“I think it’s good they charge minimally, so that people don’t stay parked longer than they’re supposed to, and also to respect the local businesses,” said Sebastian Romero, who works downtown.

But not everyone is convinced. Some residents are worried that higher parking costs could drive shoppers away.

“Because if people pay a price they’re not used to, especially if it’s more expensive, they’ll think twice about coming by,” said Jesus Mayoral, a local.

Another concern is people leaving their cars for days while crossing into Mexicali.

“A lot of people start to play the system, like they’ll park the car and leave it there for days,” Mayoral said.

Business owner Joong Kim thinks a separate lot for overnight parking could help.

“To the people staying in Mexicali long hours, we could find some way to charge them, that is more constructive than charging the people every minute,” Kim said.

Brand new meters aren’t expected to be installed until sometime next year.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – 51-year-old Candice Hurt has accepted a plea deal for causing the crash that killed 75-year-old Cocopah Tribal Council member Irwin Twist in June 2024.

Under the agreement Hurt will serve 10.5 years in prison and pled guilty to manslaughter.

According to the court, Hurt was under the influence of multiple substances at the time of the crash.

Shelyne Twist, Irwin’s niece, says there is a little comfort knowing this case is coming closer to closure.

“Just the tiniest sense of relief that this is finally somewhat coming to a close, that some justice has been served. It doesn’t bring anything back, it doesn’t change anything,” Sheylne says.

Heather Twist, another one of Irwin’s nieces, echoes Shelyne’s view that hurt should serve more time .

“It was such a tragic loss, you know there’s no words for what somebody should get, but when you know the factors of the case, and you know the underlining irresponsible acts that somebody took…it’s a hard pill to swallow for 10.5,” Heather said.

While it may be hard to swallow, remembering the kind of person Irwin was brings some comfort.

“He worked with many organizations with the tribe, with the City of Yuma, with Yuma County, he was a leader. He was a great man. He was a helpful man,” Shelyne says.

Candice Hurt was out of custody for the duration of the proceedings, but after Friday’s court hearing, she will remain behind bars until her sentencing which is scheduled for early August.

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