Author: KYMA

Abraham Retana

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Wellton Police Department (WPD) says one of their officers is still on modified duty following an officer-involved shooting earlier this year.

On January 16, the officer responded to a call where one person was attacked with a hatchet.

WPD says when officers arrived, a 37-year-old woman charged at an officer with the hatchet, and says the suspect ignored commands, leading the officer to shoot the suspect.

The woman died at the scene.

“It’s the standard protocol with an officer involved in a shooting is that the officer will be place on a modified duty status pending the final outcome for Yuma County Attorney’s Office,” said Detective Nathan Hammond with WPD.

The independent investigation was done by the Yuma County Incident Response Team as they reviewed officer-worn body camera footage, witness statements and physical evidence.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Jeff Brady, the man who drowned while saving two boys last year, has been posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism earlier this week.

According to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Brady is one of 18 people who risked “serious injury or death, or were killed, saving or attempting to save others in acts of extraordinary heroism.”

Brady, who moved from San Diego to Yuma two months prior to his death, was posthumously awarded the medal for trying to save his girlfriend’s nephews from drowning during an outing at Martinez Lake last July.

The Hero Fund says Brady struggled to stay afloat while saving the boys, and says once the boys were rescued, Brady went underwater and did not resurface.

While the boys were being evaluated by first responders, local agencies, including the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, found and pronounced Brady dead.

In addition to the medal, a GoFundMe was set up following his death to not only help his family, but to honor Brady’s memory.

The GoFundMe has a goal of $120,000, with nearly $110,000 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Kidney stones are a common reason people visit the emergency room.

Mitzi Pacheco, nurse practitioner from Exceptional Community Hospital in Yuma explains what kidney stones are what should people do if they have them.

“Many people describe the pain as one of the most intense pains they’ve had experienced. Symptoms may include sharp pain in the back or side, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine. If they are experiencing severe flank pain, vomiting, fever, or difficulty urinating, you should definitely seek emergency care,” Pacheco remarked.

ECH Yuma is open 24/7 with low wait times. If anyone experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, go to the ER.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A new book on the history of Calexico, covering 1930 to 1969 is now available at the Calexico Cultural Center.

The book delves into the tales of people who lived, worked, and made history in the city.

Jimmy Dorantes, a native to Calexico, said he wanted to highlight the unseen heroes of the southern most part of the Imperial Valley. The book tells the stories of locals, from hometown sports heroes to war heroes.

“People that go unheard of. A lot of people don’t know about, but they made a difference nation-wide,” he said.

One goal of the book is to take the reader back to a time where Calexico was a small desert town where everyone knew their neighbors.

Jimmy Duron, from the Calexico Arts Council, explained, “What this book is about is having those people share their stories with their children, grandchildren, or whomever and bringing them to what Calexico was.”

The team spent roughly one and a half years sifting through photographs, conducting interviews, and fact-checking stories.

“You have to fact check everything. Make sure that their story, their historical story is actually correct. And once again the picture process is who owns that picture,” Duron said.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – State data shows a sharp decline in SNAP enrollment across Arizona over the past year.

According to the Department of Economic Security, a little over 500,000 people received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in January. That’s about a 40% drop compared to the same time last year.

Senior Policy Analyst Kyle Ross with the Center for American Progress says the decline is part of a broader trend.

“SNAP recipients in Arizona has fallen by nearly 400,000 participants over the last year alone, with the large majority of that coming after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July of 2025,” said Ross.

Ross points to new requirements and administrative changes as key reasons behind the drop. He says staffing shortages and longer wait times have made it harder for people to apply for or stay on benefits.

Last December, Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) announced more than $7 million to help SNAP offices hire temporary staff and upgrade technology to speed up processing.

Meanwhile, local residents say the cost of groceries has not gone down.

“It’s for sure harder now to afford groceries,” said one Yuma resident.

Ross says SNAP enrollment is likely to continue declining over the next year.

State data shows that trend may already be continuing, with enrollment dropping from January to February both statewide and in Yuma.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One local Yuma High School student is making a scientific impact on a national level.

Eniah Endriga shares how her project might even help keep your backyard safe from fires.

“Those three invasive weeds, red brome, buffelgrass, and stinknet, I want them to know that these invasive weeds really cause great harm, so if they have that in their backyard, or in their house, I think it’s best to remove them from there,” says Eniah Endriga, National STEM Champion.

She also gives advice to her fellow peers and other students interested in the stem field.

“To reach out to people because you could have these many ideas in your head, but if you don’t talk about it, or if you don’t reach out to others who could potentially help you, that idea won’t be executed,” says Endriga.

Endriga is one of thousands of students nationwide who submitted a project last year for consideration in this year’s National STEM Festival, and her wish came true as she was selected as a finalist and named the sole 2026 National STEM Champion from Arizona.

“Really, really good. I’m so excited. I was not expecting it,” expresses Endriga.

The National STEM Festival is a nationwide initiative designed to inspire and challenge students of all different ages to create solutions in key STEM fields.

Endriga’s project analyzes the impact of forest fires and the spread of invasive weeds.

“Eventually, I, with the help of my mentor from the U.S. Forest Service, created management solutions to reduce that invasive weed spread,” says Endriga.

In her project, she used mapping, ecosystem stress analysis, and species identification to track how plants can spread across burn sites, causing wildfires to burn faster and hotter.

“I was actually looking at the list of finalists in my state, and there was ten people, and so, to be chosen as the only one representing Arizona is honestly a great honor,” says Endriga.

Endriga’s hard work will be sending her to Washington D.C. in June to present her project on a national stage.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (5:43 PM): The Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department (SCFD) has provided an update regarding the crash on Somerton Avenue.

According to SCFD, the crash happened before 4 p.m., and it involved two vehicles, with one vehicle rolling over.

Courtesy: Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department

Courtesy: Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department

Upon arrival, SCFD says crews found two vehicles with severe damage and multiple people injured, with a total of seven people, three adults, two children and two infants, being taken to Onvida Health in critical condition.

SCFD says due to the number of people injured, they request help from the San Luis Fire Department, Yuma Fire Department and Rural Metro.

Courtesy: Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department

Courtesy: Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department

In addition, SCFD says Border Patrol help in “providing initial first aid” to the victims while they, along with the Somerton Police Department help in traffic control.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, according to SCFD, remained on scene to investigate the crash.

Press Release2026, March 25Download

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is on scene of a crash Wednesday evening.

According to a reporter on scene, the crash happened in the area of Somerton Avenue and County 14th Street.

Our reporter says no lanes are closed and both vehicles are on the shoulder, and deputies told our reporter some people were taken to the hospital.

KYMA will keep you updated on this developing story.

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Lauren Duffel

Reporter Lauren Duffel spoke with Kailee Bunte about her educational journey to achieving her dream as an OB/GYN.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – National Match Day for medical students was this month, and one local marked the day by getting accepting into a highly coveted program.

Local Yuma native Kailee Bunte is a first-generation medical student. She accepted a residency position in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) at the University of Colorado Medical School of Medicine.

Matching in OB/GYN is highly competitive, and matching with her top choice program is a testament to her dedication and hard work.

“Being a first-generation means so much to me. I think that even going through medical school and seeing the different backgrounds from my colleagues that mine is very different, and that holds a lot of value,” Bunte expressed.

Bunte will start her residency program in June and is looking forward to giving back to the community.

Her mother couldn’t be more proud of her daughter’s accomplishments of becoming a doctor and advocating for her community’s health

“It’s hard to talk about her without crying because I do get overwhelmed. I think every parent wants their child to do better than they do and have a better quality life. I’m just so proud to be able to call her my daughter,” she shared.

Bunte is a pillar in the Yuma community as a volunteer and serves on the National Board of the Latino Medical School Students Association, and is an inspiration to her community and her family.

From being a first-generation student to earning a place in the OB/GYN residency, Bunte’s journey proves that perseverance and heart can move mountains.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial Valley College (IVC) is hosting a housing forum next week.

The forum is taking place Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the campus, located at 380 E. Aten Road, in room 2131, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

IVC says during the forum, attendees will learn how they can join the student housing community at SDSU Imperial Valley in Calexico.

They will also learn about the housing features, eligibility requirements, the application process and how the housing option supports student success.

To register for the event, scan the QR code on the press release below. For more information, click here.

IVC Student Housing FORUM flyer ENG SPANDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says two people were arrested and indicted for sexual conduct with a minor.

According to a press release, YPD received information earlier this month regarding a delayed sex offense, which happened in the area of S. Avenue B, near W. 18th Place.

YPD says it happened prior to March 12, and the suspect was identified as 28-year-old Ethan Kotlinski.

During the investigation, YPD determined 31-year-old Amanda Kotlinski “was also implicated with the reported offenses.”

As a result of the investigation, YPD says they arrested the Kotlinskis last week in the area of Arizona Avenue and 17th Street.

The Kotlinskis, according to YPD, were indicted on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of sexual abuse.

They are currently held at the Yuma County Detention Center, with Ethan having a bond of $350,000 while Amanda has a bond of $200,000.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 373-4700, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Sexual conduct with minor 26-018604Download

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