Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) says San Luis High School is closed Wednesday.

YUHSD says the school is without air conditioning due to “a problem with the chillers at the school.”

As a result, YUHSD says all students will attend class from home through the Canvas Learning Management System.

During that time, students are to visit each other courses through Canvas check assignments, instructions, and updates from their teachers, YUHSD says.

YUHSD says they will update all parents with the status of school for Thursday through ParentSquare and the district’s social media accounts.

In an update later in the day, YUHSD said San Luis High will be closed Thursday, September 25.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new beer event returns to Yuma County.

The second annual Prison to Prison Beer Run is set for October 18, 2025. Locals are invited to dress as criminals and go for a beer run.

Check-in and early festivities began at 8:30 a.m. at Prison Hill Brewing Co. (278 S. Main St.).

Registration is $65 and participants must be at least 21 years of age.

Proceeds will be going towards Yuma Territorial Prison Museum.

You can register here.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) released a notification about a sex offender living in Yuma.

33-year-old Aaron Castillo is living in the area of E. 38th Place and S. Avenida Compadres in the Foothills.

He’s described as 5’4″, 165 pounds, black hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time, according to a press release.

Castillo pled guilty to two counts of attempted child molestation in the Yuma County Superior Court on June 6, and was sentenced to five years.

He is considered a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A fun Halloween event is planned to be held in El Centro.

The City of El Centro Parks and Recreation is hosting Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 24, 2025 at Stark Field (830 S. 4th Street), starting at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Families are invited for a night of candy, music, games food vendors and more.

This annual event has activities for children such as a hay ride, a “Trail of Terror,” and a costume runway.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local hospital earns three prestigious national recognitions. Onvida Health says it’s been recognized for delivering safe high quality care across stroke, diabetes, cancer and bariatric healthcare.

Some of the honors include American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus award, QOPI® Certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Comprehensive Accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation program.

“It’s an assurance that we provide standard of care, quality care for our patients, and it helps to build trust within the community within our physician peers as well,” said Onvida Health Cancer and Blood Disorder Center Medical Director Abhinav Chandra.

Onvida Health says this shows their team dedication and patient-centered care.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – State leaders representing Yuma County came together Tuesday for a public town hall at Arizona Western College (AWC).

From the state budget to local needs, the event gave residents a chance to hear directly from their representatives. Lawmakers from both parties shared accomplishments from the last legislative session and answered questions from the audience.

Education was a major topic, with lawmakers highlighting the value that community colleges like AWC bring to the community.

State Representative Nick Kupper (R) said, “If you look at the outcomes of the students, you’re getting higher outcomes per dollar spent at the college than you are for your universities right now.”

The town hall also offered a look ahead at what legislators hope to focus on in the next session, including prison funding and sentencing laws.

State Representative Brian Fernandez (D) said, “If you get arrested for a serious crime in most places, you might serve five, 10, 15 years. In Arizona, you serve your entire life. You just kind of stay there.”

Lawmakers weren’t just talking about the issues, they also shared ideas for solutions.

Fernandez added, “I would like to see elderly people put in a facility. So, that health care be delivered there directly. We can get Medicare, Medicaid money, and then we can use that savings on education.”

The town hall served as a chance for lawmakers to work together and hear from the community they serve.

Kupper said, “It’s very important to make sure you know who you’re representing. You don’t just represent one party, you don’t just represent one city. You represent the entire district.”

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In Tuesday’s Home Grown report, the University of Arizona is leading a collaborative effort to fight a devastating soil-borne fungus that is infecting lettuce fields in the region.

The fungus, known as lettuce fusarium wilt, clogs the vascular structure of the plant, preventing water and nutrients from reaching the leaves.

This causes the plant to wilt, appear water-deficient, and eventually die, resulting in financial losses for farmers.

Researchers are now testing various chemical formulations to kill the fungus in the soil, while seed companies are trialing different lettuce varieties that may be resistant to the disease.

“You know, we’re finding that some varieties are really resistant to this fungus while some others are not which tells us that if a farmer finds this disease in their field, they can go to their seed salesman and order special seed that’s more resistant to this disease, and they can plant that out and have a better chance for success,” said Robert Masson, agricultural extension agent for the University of Arizona.

The project has been underway for several years with the help of student interns.

The university is also organizing collaborative projects with the USDA, the University of Florida, Yuma Cooperative Extension, and the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) says Merlon Kidwell, their Watermaster for 50 years, has retired.

Joining IID in 1975, Kidwell ensured “the reliable delivery of water to nearly half a million acres of some of the nation’s most productive farmland, as well as to cities, businesses, and industries in California’s Imperial Valley,” IID said.

“Being the Watermaster can be a great job, but you have to be able to accept the world as not being perfect,” Kidwell said, who also trained and supervised staff in the trade. “If the water is in the banks when you get to work, then a smart Watermaster will take that as a win. As we operate over 1,600 miles of irrigation infrastructure, we are always prepared for any challenges that may come up during the course of a day.”

IID says Kidwell is one of six people to hold the job title since 1940, and his contributions include “improving the water scheduling system to allow more effective planning, ensuring timely delivery, shorter-duration orders, and reducing inefficiencies.”

“The work of our Water Department is truly fascinating as it involves so many critical moving parts that need to be in sync in order for us to reliably deliver water 24/7,” said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Dockstader. “We are amazed at the expertise this requires, which is exemplified by such dedicated and respected employees as Mr. Kidwell. We truly thank him for all that he has done over the years and remain in a debt of gratitude.”

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested a woman in connection to a rollover crash where two people died.

According to a press release, the crash happened at around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Interstate 8 (I-8) and Dunaway Road.

CHP says a 59-year-old woman was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche eastbound in the first lane of I-8, west of Dunaway Road, at an unknown speed.

For unknown reasons, CHP says the driver of the Chevrolet lost control, causing it to roll over before landing in the center median of I-8.

CHP says two passengers, a 70-year-old man and an unidentified woman, were ejected from vehicle as a result of the crash.

The driver, according to CHP, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. However, CHP says the two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP says while air bags were deployed at the time of the crash, they said the driver was the only person to wear her seatbelt.

During the investigation, CHP says the driver was arrested for “suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.”

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The man accused of killing his girlfriend near Senator Wash in Imperial County got a new lawyer during his latest court appearance Tuesday.

56-year-old James Hill, who was extradited to Imperial County earlier this month, is charged in the murder of 34-year-old September Lee Weisinger.

Tuesday’s court appearance was supposed to be Hill’s readiness hearing and bail review, but the attorney representing Hill is no longer representing him due to a conflict of interest in another case.

The judge appointed another attorney and the suspect waved his right to a speedy preliminary hearing.

“He gave up the right to have the hearing as soon as possible, which is within 10 court days…so he did not give up on the hearing itself; he just gave up the right to have the  hearing as soon as possible for his new defense counsel to prepare,” said Imperial County Senior Deputy Attorney Wayland Chang.

A new attorney was assigned to Hill, and the preliminary hearing is set to take place on October 21.

Bail is set at $2 million, and bail review was removed due to a change of attorney.

The victim’s ashes were supposed to arrive in Kentucky last Friday, but the victim’s mother says she still hasn’t received them.

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