Author: KYMA

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.

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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.

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Adrik Vargas

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Public Service (APS), is proposing a roughly 14% increase to its base rates.

If approved by the state, families could see their monthly electricity bills rise.

Maura Valenzuela, a mother of two who has lived in Somerton for more than 20 years, says the increase would hit families like hers hard.

“Many times, I honestly couldn’t pay my electricity bill in full just to pay for gas or fill the fridge,” Valenzuela said. “I had to sacrifice other things, trips, other bills, other expenses just to cover the electricity bill.”

Valenzuela says families in Somerton who rely on seasonal farm work could struggle even more. Summer bills can reach $500, a time when jobs are scarce.

APS plans to hold three public comment hearings in the coming months to discuss the proposed increase. The utility says customers can also reach out to review options like payment plans or switching to a different rate plan.

“Some of the increases are related to the cost of materials, like poles and wires, and other things we’re doing to maintain a sustainable grid and ensure good reliability for Arizona,” said APS representative Anne Carlton.

Valenzuela says electricity is essential in Arizona, especially during the summer heat.

“I can assure you there isn’t a family or person who doesn’t have air conditioning in their home during this time,” she said. “Maybe people from other states don’t understand…but I invite them to come in July or August to Arizona without air conditioning and see how long they could last.”

She hopes utility leaders and lawmakers will consider how rate increases affect rural and low-income families.

For families like hers, Valenzuela says, an APS rate increase could impact their livelihoods for years to come.

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Adrik Vargas

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story said a man had been arrested, but the man was not arrested, he was detained.

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A man has been detained in connection to the death of 17-year-old T’neya Tovar.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) confirmed a man was detained at his residence in Salton City.

Tovar was reported missing last December after traveling to Thermal, California.

In late December, investigators discovered human remains in the Salton City area.

Weeks later, DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Tovar after her mother provided a sample for comparison.

ICSO says the investigation is ongoing with assistance from the FBI.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Imperial is moving forward with its legal challenge to a proposed data center in the Imperial Valley.

In December, the City filed a petition under the California Environmental Quality Act, arguing the project should go through a stricter review process. The county and the developer challenged the petition in court.

The Superior Court of California, County of Imperial, granted the county’s and developer’s motion but allowed the City to amend its petition.

City officials say they plan to file the amended petition within the 30-day period set by the court.

City Manager of Imperial said the City intends to address the concerns raised by the court and will continue through the legal process if the county challenges the amended petition.

In a statement shared to KYMA, the developer says it is “very pleased with the court’s ruling” and added that it believes the City’s continued actions against the project could affect the region’s economic future.

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Abigahil Padilla

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Public Service (APS) has requested another electricity rate increase that could range from 14% to 16%.

If approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), it would be the third increase in less than five years, following the 8% increases authorized in 2022 and 2024.

The proposed adjustment would have a significant impact on residential customers.

For the average customer, the increase could translate to at least $240 more per year for electricity service.

This situation is causing concern among thousands of families in the state who are already struggling to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, and transportation.

One of the voices that has spoken out publicly is that of Maura Valenzuela, a mother of two and resident of Somerton, who has been an APS customer for over 25 years.

Valenzuela shared her testimony on January 26 during the second public hearing organized by the ACC to review the rate increase request.

Valenzuela brought up concerns for numerous families in southern Arizona, where high temperatures for much of the year make the constant use of air conditioning essential.

For many residents, electricity service represents not only comfort but also a matter of health and safety.

The Arizona Corporation Commission will be responsible for evaluating APS’s request and determining whether to authorize the increase.

The debate continues between those who point to the need to strengthen infrastructure and guarantee electricity service, and those who warn that further increases could worsen the economic burden on working communities.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Sonora Quest Laboratories is expanding cervical cancer screening options with their new HPV self-collection tests.

The test allows patients to order their own FDA approved swab for private self-collection. The test determines if HPV associated with cervical cancer is present so appropriate monitoring and treatment can happen.

Doctors say the test is ideal for patients who decline or are unable to have a pelvic examination.

“They say roughly about 50% of women who get diagnosed have not been screened ever or within the last five years, so we’re hoping to close that gap and promote an increased screening,” said Sonora Quest Laboratories scientific medical director Dr. Stacy White.

The American Cancer Society reports over 13,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year.

Patients can order tests at over 70 Sonora Quest Patient Service Center locations in Arizona.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A 21-year-old man was riding a Honda motorcycle Tuesday morning when he crashed into the back of a Toyota Scion on South Avenue 3E, next the Marine Corps Air Station.

The man was taken to Onvida Health and then later flown to Phoenix, and the Yuma Police Department (YPD) says they believe speed was a factor in the crash.

“Please just slow down that is I guess, one of the biggest things is speed appears to be a factor in several of them, also reckless driving, weaving in and out of traffic,” said YPD Public Informations Officer Lori Franklin.

The 25-year-old man in the Toyota suffered minor injuries, but was not taken to the hospital.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The suspect in the New Year’s hit and run has pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.

45-year-old Alfredo Enrique Flores was arrested last year after hitting 21-year-old Esteyan Madel with his car and leaving the scene.

He was originally charged with second degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

Flores is scheduled to be back in court on March 4.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man charged in a stabbing that resulted in the death of a 54-year-old man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary in the second degree.

34-year old Mauricio Robles was arrested in April of 2025 after officers arrived on scene to find a man killed by stab wounds.

Robles ran into a nearby apartment building, barricading himself inside and said he was armed.

Robles attempted to escape through the back of the apartment building, but was caught and arrested.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 6.

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