Author: KYMA

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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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – San Luis, Arizona is hosting an event with talent from all over the world.

The 14th Annual San Luis Film Festival runs from November 18 through the 21.

It will screen three independent films and they’re having a short film competition with filmmakers from different countries.

“This year we received close to 300. We have received projects from all over the world from Canada, Japan, China, Russia, Ukraine and all latin America,” said Antonio Carrillo, San Luis Film Festival President.

The San Luis Film Festival will be at the PPEP Tech High School on San Luis Plaza Drive near Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

For more information, you can check out the San Luis Film Festival site here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Voters across Yuma County will have their voices heard as Tuesday is the Special General Election.

Voting centers across the county opened at 6:00 a.m. for the Special General Election in Congressional District 7.

Two candidates, Republican candidate Daniel Butierez and Democratic candidate Adelita Grijalva, are running to fill the seat left vacant by the late Congressman Raul Grijalva.

Grijalva says she’s fighting to protect Medicaid and restore funding for public education while Butierez says he wants to improve border security and battle the fentanyl crisis.

The voting centers will close at 7:00 p.m., and officials said thousands of people have already turned in their early ballots.

For a full list of voting locations, click here.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local hero is being recognized as “Kid of the Year” after a brave rescue.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) named nine-year-old Zayin Berry “Kid of the Year” for his compassion and courageous spirit toward animals.

Berry saved a small kitten after he saw a group of children abusing one at a local Somerton park. He sacrificed his own skateboard to save the kitten and take it in as his own.

After a year at the Berry home, he says the kitten, Peaches, has become a big part of their family.

Berry will be recognized with the ASPCA Humane Awards in New York City in early October.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

Reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo was there to catch all the action and breaks down how they got it done.

(KYMA, KECY) – The Airborne Test Force (ATF) at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) successfully performed a water landing plane jump.

One by one, U.S. Army soldiers leap from the aircraft, a task they’re used to but this time with a twist.

Staff SGT. Jonathan Harris, a Medic with YPG’s ATF, explains “Had a nice little jump, an easy jump into the water, nice easy landing compared to landing on the ground like we usually do, so that was really nice.”

The airborne soldiers are equipped with parachutes and floatation devices.

They spend around two months prepping for the rare water landing into Senator Wash.

“As we’re coming down, you’re adjusting to the wind making sure you’re steering your canopy in the right direction, stay over the water and have a nice safe landing. We always try to face canopies into the wind at about 200 feet to make sure we’re going to land straight down into the area that we’re targeting,” SSGT. Harris shares.

Harris says the mission went as planned and that this water landing highlights YPG’s capabilities which are constantly expanding and evolving.

“I really just learned we have a lot of capabilities in the Army to insert ourselves into different places as necessary and with proper preparation and training, we can really go anywhere in the world and do anything that we’re asked to do for our jobs,” Harris explains.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol were on hand to provide support in the water with boats and jet ski’s equipped with soldiers, deputies, and members of CBP’s BORSTAR team.

Michael Espinoza, an U.S. Border Patrol Agent & Marine Instructor, adds “We have never done anything like this before. I think they mentioned they haven’t done this here in 20 years.”

The partners all tell us if possible, they’d like to perform this rare exercise as often as they can.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County is facing the aftermath of a storm that affected the area throughout the weekend.

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) says about 100 power poles were down with about 80 customers have no power at the time of this writing.

The area with little to no power is south and north of Evan Hewes outside of Holtville.

Calexico’s power has been restored fully.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The non-profit held it’s annual Night of Liberty Dinner and Auction Gala on Saturday, September 13.

The primary purpose of the event was to raise funds for the Freedom Library Education and Scholarship Program.

The gala was held at the Elks Lodge #476 in Yuma.

It was also a chance to celebrate and honor the U.S. Constitution.

You can find more information about the Freedom Library here.

A special shout out to all the great work the Freedom Library does for our community!

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Voters across Yuma County will have their voices heard Tuesday for the Arizona Special General Election.

In Yuma County, final preparations are underway as voters get ready to cast their ballots in September 23 election.

Two candidates, Republican candidate Daniel Butierez and Democratic candidate Adelita Grijalva, are running to fill the seat left vacant by the late Congressman Raul Grijalva.

Voting centers open starting at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday until 7:00 p.m. For more information on where to find the closest voting center near you, click here.

Madeline Murray will have the full story later this evening.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A grand jury has indicted a young man charged with murdering his brother in a road rage fight Thursday.

19-year-old Juan Figueroa was indicted on one count of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.

The indictment was announced late Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) is speaking out regarding the social media rumors that have sparked from this case.

People have been questioning why the 36-year-old man, who was questioned by police, is not facing any charges, some even questioning if he’s in law enforcement.

Police Chief Thomas Garrity says that the man is not affiliated or employed with any law enforcement in Yuma County.

They also say they have no relationship with the man.

“We are not trying to hide any information on the 36-year-old that’s involved in this case. Right now, there is still an on going investigation, so yes, all the names haven’t been released, but that’s because of certain rules and restrictions that we are required by,” said Chief Garrity.

YPD says the case is still under investigation.

They ask if you have any more information, including video or other forms of evidence, to please send it their way immediately.

You can contact them at 78-CRIME.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – New details Friday on the road rage murder that claimed the life of a Yuma teen.

The probable cause statement KYMA obtained from court reveals the 36-year-old man who was released on scene claimed that 17-year-old Javier Figueroa stepped out of the vehicle allegedly threatening him with a knife.

Officers confirmed that a knife was found at the scene, but no information as to who the knife belonged to.  

The man says he and the teen then got into a physical fight, grabbing each other. 

Meanwhile, Juan, who is in custody, claims that Javier was hit in the face by the 36-year-old man.

That’s when Juan decided to hit the man with his car, running over his brother Javier in the process.

Figueroa’s father says his son was in shock and was not in the right head space when he spoke to police. 

“Well, I think his statement he was just saying what they were telling him…I know that on scene they kept on telling him that he killed his brother, he killed his brother, so he’s in a state of shock,” said Joseph Figueroa, the boys’ father.

Juan Figueroa is still in custody facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges. 

On Saturday night, the family will hold a vigil for Javier Figueroa on the corner of 16th Street and Fourth Avenue at 8 p.m.

 

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