Author: KYMA

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – If you’re in the market for a new place to call home, it’s important to be aware of online listing scams targeting new renters and buyers.

Scammers are advertising properties they do not own or have permission to rent. They copy legitimate listings, then repost them at a lower price to pressure potential renters or buyers into acting quickly.

Local realtor Matias Rosales knows this scam all too well after one of his own listings was copied and reposted by a fraudster.

Rosales said, “This past week, I had a listing where two people called me and said, ‘Hey, I see your sign. You’re advertising it for a lower amount on Facebook,’ and I said, ‘Well, that’s not us.’ So we tell people to report it to Facebook as a fraud post, and hopefully Facebook or Meta will remove it.”

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is warning residents not to send any money until a listing has been verified.

If you believe a listing is a scam, you can report it to YPD or any local law enforcement agency.

Officer Hayato Johnson of YPD said, “Also, if you’re looking for properties, verify that they’re for rent before you start doing any paperwork, handing over personal information, or even sending money.”

We also spoke with investigative reporter John Summer, who specializes in real estate fraud and home title theft. He says anyone who owns property is a target of this scam.

Summer said, “No one is not vulnerable to this. It can be a home, a piece of property, open land, someone’s Airbnb, or a property they’re not watching, like their grandmother’s home. Everyone, anywhere, can be a victim.”

Property owners can take extra steps to protect their home titles, including using a monitoring service that alerts them to suspicious activity, like Home Title Lock.

If you come across a listing that appears to be fake, report it immediately and watch for red flags before sending any money or personal information.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma says three aquatic facilities will be closed until further notice.

In a post on Facebook, Carver Pool, Marcus Pool and the Valley Aquatic Center closed due to the power outage at the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility.

In addition, the City says, “All programming at these facilities is canceled during the closure,” and says residents and businesses in Yuma are urged to reduce non-essential water use while crews work to restore power.

For questions about the pools, call 928-373-5200.

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrea Turisk

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A residential citrus tree in Calexico tested positive for an incurable plant disease.

The disease is called called huanglongbing (HLB) that infects and kills all citrus tree varieties. This is the first detection of the deadly citrus tree disease in Imperial County.

HLB can be spread by a small pest called Asian citrus psyllid, or ACP for short, as it feeds on leaves and stems of citrus trees.

While HLB is not harmful to humans or animals, once a tree is infected, it will die and must be removed.

To limit the spread of HLB, a citrus plant quarantine was done in Imperial County.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is the first college in the region to roll out a plan for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).

In a press release, this is part of an effort to expand access to AI education in order to ensure “faculty, students, businesses, and community members prosper in an AI-enabled future.”

While many campuses across the state experiment with AI, AWC said they are taking an “intentional, coordinated approach to integrate AI across all learning and operational models.” These include:

Professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

Certificate and degree programs in AI and Machine Learning, community workshops and noncredit learning opportunities.

Advanced AI tools and training through partnerships with industry leaders like Google.

The establishment of the physical AI Learning & Innovation Lab as a hub for innovation, workforce development, and lifelong learning.

“The Regional Center for Emerging Technology is about expanding opportunity for everyone,” said Dr. Reetika Dhawan, President of AWC. “At AWC, we want our students, employees, businesses, and community members to feel confident and supported as technology continues to evolve. By providing accessible education and practical learning opportunities, we can help people build new skills, explore new possibilities, and use AI responsibly in ways that strengthen our communities.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC also said AI’s impact is evident across Southwest Arizona in the following fields: Agriculture, healthcare, military and defense, education, government, and manufacturing.

In addition, AWC said the Regional Center for Emerging Technology aims to “get ahead of the curve by equipping residents with the skills to compete in an increasingly AI-driven economy.”

“The future competitiveness of Southwest Arizona depends on our ability to turn emerging technologies into real opportunities for people, businesses, and communities,” shared Dr. Shadi Kilani, Executive Vice President of the Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College. “AWC is bringing together education, industry, and community partners to build the talent, knowledge, and innovation ecosystem needed to position Southwest Arizona as a recognized hub for AI innovation and workforce excellence. Our goal is to ensure our region is not simply adapting to change, but helping shape what comes next.”

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

AWC leads the region in comprehensive AI integrationDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Calexico was sued by the state of California last month over failing to comply with the state’s Housing Law.

Now, they shared their plan with the community.

The City identified 53 area as potential construction sites in different parts of the city, with a total of 5,700 housing units being built on the sites.

The goal is to increase the housing supply and help lower home prices.

“Every indication is that they’ll go ahead and certify this plan. We do have a lot of work ahead of us in terms of rezoning numerous sites throughout the city,” said Michael Coyne, Planning & Building Director for the City of Calexico. “We also have to make numerous changes to the zoning ordinance in terms of relaxing standards, addressing farmworker housing, emergency shelters.”

The proposal was supposed to be presented back in 2021.

Calexico was one of the five cities across California being sued by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Click here to follow the original article.

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Rio Colorado Republican Women awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Cristina Luera, a Yuma resident and student of Grand Canyon University.

Luera is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nursing Science with a focus on education. 

She is currently balancing a full-time role at Onvida Health, studies toward her degree, and family responsibilities.

The scholarship will alleviate financial stress and help her empower current and future nurses, particularly women, to excel in their roles and strengthen the community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

UPDATE (5:42 PM): The City of Yuma has provided an update regarding the power outage at the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility.

In the update, the City says an electrical failure at the facility took it offline and “prevented it from operating on either APS power or its emergency generators.”

The City says the Main Street Water Treatment Plant supplied water to the community “while crews worked to maintain system pressures” throughout the day, and says, “Areas east of Avenue 3E experienced the greatest impacts.”

At around 2:15 p.m., the City says crews began restoring water pressure at the facility “using emergency generators,” and says another generator is being delivered Wednesday evening that “will be integrated into the facility as soon as it arrives.”

While the additional generator will allow them to return the water system to normal operations, the City says it will continue operating at a reduced capacity during the recovery process, with customers experiencing lower than normal water pressure.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma said the Agua Viva Water Treatment Facility in the Foothills area is experiencing a power outage Wednesday.

The City said crews are working to restore power “as quickly and safely as possible,” and is asking residents and businesses to “reduce water usage” during that time.

News 11 spoke with Greg Stack, Assistant Director of Utilities for the City of Yuma, who says they are bringing generators from Phoenix, which should be up and running within the next three to four hours.

“This morning, we experienced a small electrical snafu at our Agua Viva water treatment plant. This cost us to have no electrical power available either emergency or utility power,” Stack said.

One local resident said that they didn’t know who to call when it came to having no water.

“I called but I couldn’t get a hold. I was getting voicemail and I had to know. Do I call a plumber or don’t I call a plumber,” Dennis Gomez, a local resident said.

Many schools including Arizona Western College sent students home because of the water outage.

One student said he enjoyed staying home and focus on finishing his assignments

“I wasn’t really concerned. It was just more like okay cool I get to have more of a break. Get to do more homework at home. It was just like a relief, I don’t have to go anywhere today. I can just do all of my work at home,” Emmanuel Cibrian, an A.W.C student said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Insurance may not cover it and out of pocket costs can be too expensive, so a lot of people are searching for GLP-1 deals online and scams are waiting.

Polls show about one in eight U.S. adults say they’ve used a GLP drug for weight loss or a medical condition and BBB Scam Tracker shows an increase in complaints from people trying to get it cheap.

A Yuma man saw a Facebook ad and authorized a $40 payment. They took $91 instead, credited a portion and never sent the product.

A California man signed up for compounded GLP-1 medications online. They sent a bill, but no product. He says “literally, $297 monthly for absolutely no merchandise” and no refund.

Compounded GLP-1 medications are pharmacy mixed alternatives to brand names and ads tout low prices.

But the FDA has warned dozens of telehealth online GLP-1 sellers about making false claims in their ads.

Beware of:

Ads saying no prescriptions required. They are after a medical evaluation.

Fake celebrity endorsements.

Meds that say for “research purposes only.” 

Demands to pay by cash app or wire and no credit cards taken.

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Check out BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

More GLP-1 buying protections from Better Business Bureau:

Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of their demand and limited availability by tricking people with fake offers and fraudulent websites.

BBB Scam Tracker has received many reports of scammers using weight loss and GLP-1 medications to get people’s money and personal information. Scammers use several methods to carry out these scams.

AI Generated ads with fake endorsements

Scammers are increasingly using deepfake videos and AI-generated images of celebrities, doctors, and other trusted figures to promote GLP-1 medications and weight loss products.

These ads look convincing but are completely fabricated, tricking consumers into believing the endorsements are real. 

Learn more about deepfake celebrity endorsements of Lipomax and Prozenith weight loss products.

BBB Scam Tracker reports

A consumer clicked a video link about the “pink salt trick” and saw what appeared to be Oprah Winfrey and a doctor promoting Lipo Max as a safer alternative to GLP-1 injections. Believing the endorsement was real, they purchased the product, spending over $300, but later suspected the video was AI-generated. When they tried to request a refund, the support email bounced back as non-deliverable.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

In a different example, a consumer watched a 30-minute presentation by Dr. Mark Hyman promoting healing and weight loss with gelatin, green tea, and other ingredients. However, the product received, called Ozemburn, contained only Garcinia Cambogia, which was never mentioned. The buyer later found no connection to Dr. Hyman on his official website and expressed concern, recalling past negative health effects from similar supplements.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

A consumer ordered six bottles of Prozenith after watching an online presentation about the “pink salt trick.” After 13 days of use with no results and chest discomfort, they requested a refund. Despite repeatedly submitting forms and contacting customer service, the refund was never processed, even after receiving a pop-up stating it was approved. The buyer later found online reports calling Prozenith a scam and warns others not to spend $315.68 on the product.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

Fake online pharmacies and health retailers

Fake websites may advertise GLP-1 medications at discounted prices. Victims who enter payment information may never receive any products, or they may get unsafe or watered-down medications.

Learn how to identify a fake website.

BBB Scam Tracker reports

A consumer searching for a cheaper price than their doctor’s office found an online ad for a GLP-1 shot. After paying a $32 membership fee and entering credit card information, they were hit with repeated $670 charge attempts, despite contacting the company multiple times to cancel. The charges continued nearly every other day, leaving the consumer worried the company would eventually succeed in debiting their account.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

Another consumer reported a fraudulent online pharmacy posing as a legitimate source for GLP-1 drugs and tirzepatide. After charging over $750 to their card, the company stopped communicating. Initially, the website appeared credible, but follow-ups through a chat box led to vague delays and then silence when the consumer tried to cancel. The consumer has since reported the scam to the FTC, BBB, and disputed the charge with their credit card company.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

In a different example, a consumer purchased weight loss patches advertised as containing “SMGT-GLP-1” with promises of great results. After paying over $70, they received products with no instructions, unclear ingredients, and later discovered the patches were simply collagen. Despite a “100% refund guarantee,” the company ignored multiple refund requests, leaving the consumer, a senior on a fixed income, out the money and warning others not to fall for the scam.

Read the full BBB Scam Tracker report.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) said Gila Ridge High School (GRHS) is closed Wednesday.

In a message sent out to parents, this is due to water and power malfunctioning at GRHS and the surrounding areas.

YUHSD said students who either walked or drove to school left campus, but those who rode the bus were picked up at 9:15 a.m., and were taken home “using their regular bus routes.”

YUHSD also said, “All students will attend class virtually from home” using Canvas, and said they are expected to visit each other courses on Canvas to “check assignments, instructions, and updates” from their teachers.

In addition, the students, according to YUHSD, “will need to submit their attendance by clicking on the E-Learning button located on the homepage of each Canvas page.”

YUHSD will send out information regarding athletic practices, after-school clubs and meetings at noon, as well as send out an update regarding the school’s status for Thursday, at around 5 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One suspect is facing multiple felony charges after several firearms were seized from homes in Yuma.

18-year-old Emiliano Duran and a 17-year-old boy were arrested after the Yuma Police Department (YPD) searched two homes Wednesday and seized 12 firearms.

YPD said the search warrants stemmed from investigations into previous vehicle burglaries.

In court Friday, a judge read Duran’s four charges.

“Count one, participating in a criminal syndicate. This is a Class 2 felony. Count two, participating in a criminal street gang, a class two felony. Count three, misconduct involving weapons, a class three felony. And count four, misconduct involving weapons, a Class 3 felony,” the judge shared.

Duran, who is currently being held at the Yuma County Detention Center on a bond of $200,000, is expected to be back in court Friday, August 21, for his preliminary hearing.

Click here to follow the original article.