Paul Vozzella
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A private plane made a crash landing on State Route 95 Friday afternoon.
The plane was heading southbound and landed near Milepost 25.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the pilot said he was experiencing engine failure, forcing him to put the plane down on the highway.
The pilot was the only person on board and was uninjured.
No vehicles were struck during the landing.
Marcos Icahuate
BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A mom was arrested for the murder of her child in Brawley, according to Brawley Police Department.
On January 8, 2026, a child was found dead in an apartment on 18th Street near Main Street.
Brawley police say the child’s mother, Leia Lentz, was a person connected to the murder, and investigators found probable cause which lead to her arrest.
Lentz was arrested on February 11, 2026 at about 3:55 p.m. Pacific.
Previously, 24-year-old Isaac Elizondo, the boyfriend of Leia Lentz, was accused of the murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case is still under investigation.
If you have any information on this case, Brawley police encourages to call at (760) 344-2111.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – An event will be held in downtown Yuma for children to learn about the arts.
The Children’s Festival of the Arts will be at the Yuma Art Center (254 Main Street) on April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The public is invited to the free event, which will highlight the 50 states, national monuments and U.S. presidents.
Food vendors, live performances, and community booths are planned for the event.
“Children’s Festival of the Arts is a celebration of creativity, imagination, and young voices,” said Kristyn Trujillo, Recreation Program Coordinator. “The festival gives students a chance to see their artwork displayed in a real gallery setting, building confidence and pride in their work.”
Marcos Icahuate
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro announced the winner of the 2026 NAF El Centro Airshow poster contest.
Marco Bejarano of El Centro was announced as the winner.
NAF El Centro says his design and artwork are the foundation of the poster.
“We are thrilled with the level of talent and creativity we saw in the poster submissions,” said Captain Ryan Carstens, Commanding Officer of NAF El Centro. “Mr. Bejarano’s design truly captures the excitement and spirit of the NAF El Centro Airshow. We are proud to have his artwork represent this year’s event.”
Dillon Fuhrman
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is investigating a crash which left multiple people injured.
According to a press release, the crash happened in the area of S. Fortuna Road and E. 24th Street at around 2:30 p.m. Friday.
YCSO says a 2025 Jeep Wagoneer stopped at the railroad crossing north of 24th Street when a Dodge Ram 2500 approached stopped traffic, failed to stop and crashed into the rear of the Jeep.
YCSO says Rural Metro arrived on scene to aid those involved in the crash, and says the driver and passengers of the Jeep were taken to Onvida Health for minor injuries.
The driver of the Dodge was also taken to Onvida Health, but YCSO says the driver was later flown to a Phoenix area hospital after suffering serious injuries.
While neither speed nor impairment appear to be a factor in the crash, the investigation remains ongoing.
If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The local Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo is helping raise awareness for breast cancer. The rodeo has their Buckin for Bridget campaign which supports locals battling breast cancer.
The campaign raises money all year long and will be selling merch at the rodeo and a saddle raffle. 100% of the funds raised are donated to Bridget’s Gift and go right back into our community.
One Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo pick up men is battling cancer and says he hopes to spread more awareness to locals through campaigns like this.
“One of the great things about being involved with Yuma is they have Buckin for Bridget, and unlike a lot of organizations that you know that raise money for cancer research, these guys are raising money to help people in this community” said Yuma rodeo pick up man Bill Stinemates.
“We’ve got a lot of our own personal people here in our rodeo family that are dealing with cancer and breast cancer, so you know, what was a better way to team up with a local community. We knew where our money was going,” said past Rodeo Chairperson & co chair for Bucking with Bridget Tina McCash.
100% of the funds raised are donated to Bridget’s Gift and go right back into our community.
“One of my favorite things about the Yuma’s Silver Spur Rodeo is it’s not just about the rodeo but ways to give back to the community, so we do that in several different ways,” said rodeo announcer Bob Edmonds.
Rodeo goers are encouraged to wear yellow or gold on Friday for “Pick Up Man” day for suicide prevention awareness. Pink attire is encouraged on Saturday for Buckin for Bridget’s breast cancer awareness.
“The big thing for me is I want to get the awareness out there to men that they need to do self-exams. We don’t need to be tough. We need to get things looked at, and I just want to make sure men know what to get checked for. Women to make their men go get checked, you know, and do self-exams because I don’t want anybody to be ignored like I was, and you’ve got to advocate,” said Stinemates.
Stinemates shares some words of advice for others batting cancer.
“One of the biggest things when you fight cancer is it’s a mental attitude. And, you know, I develop the attitude of every day is a good day. There is no bad days. And then there’s some great days, you know, and surround yourself with people that are positive. I’ve had a great support group behind me that has helped me through, and it’s a lot of it’s mental and just stay active. And it’s not a death sentence,” said Stinemates.
Jessamyn Dodd
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Calexico is cracking down on homeless encampment sites. The Calexico Police Department (CPD), along with community workers, cleared several homeless encampments earlier this week.
Calexico Police Chief Armando Orozco says this is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the city.
“We try to do details on a regular basis to you know, again, offer services. That’s always gonna be our primary mission is to offer services. Try to help people out and then, you know, obviously people have the right to refuse services,” Chief Orozco explained.
The effort aims to enforce state and city bans on “urban camping” The Departments issued multiple citations during the encampment sweeps.
“But now we also have an ordinance on camping on private property. So, because that ordinance and the governor’s direction, you know, starting to enforce those ordinances and establish those ordinances, citations are starting to be issued,” said Orozco.
However, William Cooper, Executive Director of The Becoming Project, a local non-profit, says citing and arresting unhoused individuals doesn’t solve the problem, it just makes it worse.
Cooper raised ethical concerns, stating, “First of all, it makes no sense to fine and cite and penalize people who have already proven that they don’t have the means to pay a fine or the means or the transportation to show up to court.”
Meantime, Ozorco says the City will continue the encampment sweeps, and try to keep downtown clean and safe.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals are invited to a fun, family-friendly event for Easter.
The Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, March 21, 2026 starting at 11 a.m. in the village area.
Children will be split into age groups to hunt for eggs.
Other fun activities include, face painting, crafts, games, and a visit with the Easter Bunny.
Age groups and times are included in the attached flyer.
The event is free.
Jessamyn Dodd
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Vega Family Clinic celebrated their official grand opening Friday. The clinic is spearheaded by Family Nurse Practitioner Ivan Vega.
Located at 100 East 24th Street in Yuma, the clinic offers routine primary care, as well as weight management, preventative health screenings, chronic disease management, and acute illness visits.
Ivan Vega, Family Nurse Practitioner said, “We’ve been working closely with the community and a number of different agencies including nursing homes, assisted living, to expand our services.”
A patient of the Vega Family clinic, Darlene Gelsleichter, said she values the level of personalized care she receives from Vega and his team.
“He’s very personable, he’s wonderful, he really cares about you as a patient. I’m really happy to have him as my physician,” said Gelsleichter.
Vega says he is looking forward to taking on new patients, and that all insurances and private pay are available.
Adrik Vargas
WESTMORLAND, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Westmorland is getting nearly $4 million in federal funding to build a new Emergency Operations Center for its fire and police departments.
Right now, the fire department is working out of old FEMA trailers after Tropical Storm Hilary damaged their building. The police department operates in a small room inside City Hall.
The money will be used to remodel an existing building and add space for fire trucks, living quarters for firefighters, and modern facilities for police.
Chief Anthony Lynn Mara said, “The public will be able to walk in, and speak to the officers. Obviously, we’ll be open 24 hours but there’ll be a phone outside so they can call us anytime.”
The new facility is going to be at 198 East Third Street. Residents can expect faster response times and easier access to both departments.
The new facility is expected to be finished by 2028.
