Author: KYMA

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In the middle of the desert, one local garden is showing that resilience can grow even when water and irrigation resources are limited.

The University of Arizona’s Moody Garden continues to bloom despite recent water and irrigation challenges, serving as both a community garden and a living classroom for desert-adapted plants.

The garden showcases a variety of plants selected for their ability to withstand the region’s harsh desert conditions while requiring less water than traditional landscaping.

For researchers and visitors, the garden provides a hands-on look at how plants can be selected and maintained to better adapt to Yuma’s climate.

The Moody Garden also serves as an educational resource, giving students and community members an opportunity to learn more about desert landscaping, water conservation and sustainable growing practices.

As water continues to be an important issue across the region, gardens like Moody Garden demonstrate how thoughtful plant selection and research can help create landscapes that are both resilient and productive.

The University of Arizona continues to use the garden as a resource for education and research focused on growing in the desert.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Researchers at the University of Arizona are testing a heat-loving summer crop that could help improve soil health and water efficiency for future desert farming.

The crop, called Sesbania, is also known as summer hemp. Researchers at the University of Arizona Yuma Agricultural Center are studying whether the plant can improve growing conditions for crops commonly grown in the region.

Unlike traditional crops, the Sesbania being grown in the research plots will not be harvested for sale.

Instead, researchers will cut the plants down and till them back into the soil.

The goal is to add organic matter, carbon and nitrogen to the soil as the plant material decomposes.

“The intent of the planting is to improve the soil health, adding organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen,” a researcher said.

Researchers say Sesbania has an additional advantage because it can naturally add nitrogen back into the soil.

The study is comparing Sesbania with more traditional summer crops, including Sudan grass, to determine how each affects soil health and water use.

Once the summer portion of the study is complete, researchers plan to plant iceberg lettuce in the test fields.

That will allow the team to measure whether improving the soil during the summer can benefit the following winter crop.

Researchers hope the results will provide farmers with more information about ways to maintain healthier soil and potentially use water more efficiently in the desert.

The research is part of ongoing efforts at the UArizona Yuma Agricultural Center to find practical ways to improve agricultural production in the region.

Copyright 2026 KYMA. All rights reserved.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The former San Luis High School (SLHS) teacher accused of sexually abusing an underage student appeared in court Tuesday to be formally charged.

27-year-old Genesis Alvarado is facing two felony charges, including sexual misconduct with a minor. During the latest court appearance, the bond was lowered to $100,000.

The San Luis Police Department (SLPD) believes there’s multiple victims.

Alvarado, who was a digital photography teacher at SLHS, was taken into custody last Friday, and SLPD said the investigation involved a 17-year-old student.

News 11 reached out to the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) regarding the arrest, and here’s what they had to say:

“Alvarado is no longer employed by YUHSD. San Luis High School immediately reported the allegations to the San Luis Police Department upon being notified, and the district took action to terminate Alvarado’s employment on August 7. The safety and well-being of all students is the district’s top priority, and YUHSD will continue to cooperate with law enforcement throughout the investigation.”

Alvarado, who is currently being held at the Yuma County Detention Center, is scheduled to be back in court August 17 for his preliminary hearing.

SLPD is asking the community to come forward if they have information on the case.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) announced former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her pick for Lt. Governor.

In a post to social media Tuesday, Gov. Hobbs wrote, “Arizona deserves leaders who put our state ahead of partisan politics. That’s why I’m proud to have former Mesa Mayor [John Giles] by my side as my pick for Lieutenant Governor. Together, we’ll put Arizona first, deliver real results, and keep moving our state forward.”

Former Mayor Giles, a former Republican, also posted to social media saying, “What an honor to join this historic ticket! Arizona, let’s get to work.”

Giles was one of the names on the governor’s short list of running mates, which includes two people with ties to Yuma County: Arizona Democratic Party chair Charlene Fernandez and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who was born in Somerton.

Last month, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who is Hobbs’ opponent in the Arizona gubernatorial election, named former State Sen. Sine Kerr (R-District 25) as his running mate.

In response to the announcement, Rep. Biggs issued a statement saying in part, “As Kamala Harris’ favorite Arizona mayor, Giles is aligned with Hobbs on all the issues that have hurt Arizonans the most over the past four years. From being ‘impressed’ with the Biden Border Policy to supporting the out of control federal COVID spending, which led to record inflation, to voting in favor of an ordinance to allow men in women’s bathrooms in Mesa, Giles has been an aspiring Democrat since he first voted for Joe Biden in 2020.”

Kerr also responded to the announcement, in a post to social media, saying, “Looking forward to the Lt. Governor’s Debate on October 5 with Democrat primary voter John Giles. We should discuss my Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights legislation and SB1583, which protected children from predators. Katie Hobbs vetoed both. Maybe John Giles can explain why.”

The 2026 general election will be the first time voters can choose a Lt. Governor for Arizona after Prop 131 was passed, with 55% of Arizona voters supporting the measure back in 2022, according to AZ Clean Elections.

AZ Clean Elections also said the Lt. Governor will replace the Secretary of State as the successor to the governor if the governor “dies, resigns, is removed from office or is permanently unable to carry out the duties of the Governor and serves until a successor is elected.”

The general election is taking place Tuesday, November 4.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Friday is National Purple Heart Day, recognizing those who have been wounded or killed in combat including several here in our area.

Yuma resident Jesse Martinez is a retired Marine who served during the Vietnam War. He received a purple heart after being wounded twice in combat.

In honor, Martinez built Purple Heart memorials at several Veteran posts across yuma.

“I have three walls placed in different Veterans homes post. And they recognized, honored the Veteran that were wounded in combat. What I did is I put a plaque designating the service the time what war they served in and how they were wounded,” Martinez said.

Martinez added the memorials are a way to make sure the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients never go forgotten.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A new Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Imperial County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in El Centro Monday.

Veterans, healthcare workers and elected officials gathered at the new upgraded outpatient VA clinic, located at 1501 W. Main Street, at 10 a.m.

The clinic is part of the VA San Diego Healthcare System, and has new exam rooms and telecare services.

“The clinic represents an important investment for our Veterans. It will provide expanded access to care closer to home for veterans throughout this Imperial County. The men and women who have served our country deserve this type of quality care,” said El Centro Mayor Michael Crankshaw.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Peggy Price noted that Veterans no longer have to travel out of the county to receive specialty services.

“It’s an opportunity to expand services such as mental health services here at this clinic and even our homeless voucher program,” Chairwoman Price explained. “We’d like to see those increased and more importantly is the specialty services so that our veterans do not have to travel to other counties, other states for services outside of Imperial County.”

The opening came on the heels of a major milestone for Veterans services.

“It’s also the 80th birthday of the Veterans Health Administration…This anniversary reminds us of eight decades of unwavering dedication to those who have served and inspired continued commitment to transforming the way that we provide care for our Veterans,” said Walt Danneberg, Director of Health Services.

The new clinic brings services like mental health, lab work and radiology.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A clean energy company is putting down roots in Yuma.

“Making Yuma more green…that will be our mission,” said Lisa Potok, Chief Financial Officer for Beam Global.

Beam Global designs and manufactures sustainable energy products, with a focus on off-grid electric vehicle charging systems, energy security, and energy storage.

The company said its move to Yuma reflects its commitment to expanding clean technology and renewable energy solutions.

“We want to make a difference, and that’s why we’re here,” Potok shared. “Beam Global wants to make a difference in the world…through EVs, through going green, and through driving on sunshine.”

Beam Global said it expects to hire local talent and is excited to bring more clean energy solutions to Yuma.

Potok added, “The big thing that we are bringing to Yuma is jobs..jobs for the economy. But we’re also bringing EV technology, so you’ll see a lot more of that in Yuma culture.”

Beam Global’s new location will span more than 50,000 square feet and has room to grow as the company expands.

Potok said, “We can easily do 20 to 30 jobs immediately, and then we can do second and third shifts. Over the long run, we’d hope to see over 100 employees.”

With new jobs and new technology on the way, Beam Global said its move to Yuma will bring a greener future.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is searching for the driver in connection to an incident at a liquor store last month.

In a post to Facebook, YPD also released bodycam footage to address misinformation regarding what happened as videos were going around social media saying a man tried to kidnap a 16-year-old girl.

YPD said they received reports of an aggravated assault at Quality Liquor, located in the area of S. Fourth Avenue and W. 21st Street, near the Dairy Queen, on July 21, before 1:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, YPD said officers interviewed the teen and witnesses at the scene.

They told YPD that the teen attempted to purchase a vape at the store, but the clerk did not let her buy it.

The teen, according to YPD, then gave money to someone and asked him to buy the vape for her, but as he was leaving the store, the teen asked if he bought the vape for her, he told her he did not, prompting her to ask for her money back, but the man refused and began driving away.

However, the teen grabbed the driver’s side window for a short moment before letting go and rolling onto the highway.

“For our community’s peace of mind and to not be worrying that some guy is trying to abduct girls or teenagers or anything like that, we felt the need to get it out there and give them the full story,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD. “Again, it’s not the norm for something like this for us to do. When it comes to our community, we wanna make sure they know that this didn’t happen.”

During the investigation, YPD said store employees told them there was video, but they did not have access to the surveillance system as it could be only accessed by the store’s owner.

After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain the footage, YPD said it was recovered on July 30.

YPD told News 11 they’re trying to identify the driver and no charges have been filed.

“They are trying to locate the driver. I don’t have an update as far as where we’re at right now with it. I know that is something they are looking into between speaking with the store itself, looking at video from the store, witnesses again. They have a good description for everything so they’re working on it,” Sgt. Franklin said.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Summer break is officially over for thousands of local teens. On Monday, the Central Union High School District (CUHSD) became the very first school district in the Imperial Valley to officially open its doors and welcome students back for the new academic year.

More than 4,000 high school students flooded regional campuses, bringing life back to Central Union, Southwest, Desert Oasis, and Phoenix Rising High Schools.

While other districts across the region prepare to start later this month, CUHSD students already have day one in the books.

“Welcome back to all of our students and all of our families,” said CUHSD Superintendent Dr. David Farkas. “It’s one of the best parts of the entire school year, that first day and all the smiles coming in.”

District and campus leaders emphasized that this school year focuses heavily on student experience. Resources have been poured into standout athletics, student clubs, and expanded Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways.

At Southwest High School, Principal Joe Derma highlighted the non-stop activity that defines his campus culture.

“We have a slogan at Southwest that says ‘Southwest never sleeps,'” Derma said. “We have so many things going on constantly here. We have our CTE programs, an excellent AP program, and our SAVAPA and SACHS programs.”

Meanwhile, Central Union High School Principal Craig Lyon pointed to the tight-knit school spirit that centers around campus life and student engagement.

“I think one of the things about our Friday nights is it’s not just about football,” Lyon noted. “For us, it’s about our cheerleaders, it’s about our band, it’s about our top flags, our drill team, and the spar-teens.”

That same administrative energy extends to the district’s alternative education sites, ensuring that no student feels left behind or isolated.

Monica Martinez, Principal of Desert Oasis and Phoenix Rising High Schools, explained that building immediate, meaningful relationships with the incoming student body is a primary objective.

“We have many extracurricular activities on site,” Martinez said. “We also have ‘Lunch on the Lawn,’ mock trials, and we’ve had sporting events against other high schools.”

Superintendent Farkas noted that the sheer variety of programs across the entire district gives students a unique advantage.

“There’s a fit for everyone, and I think that’s something that’s hard to say at most districts,” Farkas said. “I think that’s what I’m most proud of…that we can tailor everyone’s experience to work for them.”

When asked what advice they would give to students navigating the upcoming school year, campus leaders offered the exact same roadmap: Get involved.

“There’s a lot of things to get involved with…there’s something here for every single student,” Derma advised.

Principal Lyon warned that time moves quickly for those who stay on the sidelines. “We really want them to be actively involved because if they do, those four years are going to fly by and they’re going to go, ‘Man, where did it go?'”

While each individual high school highlights its own unique identity and traditions, administrators agree that the backbone of the entire district remains the surrounding El Centro community.

“Our parents, our students, our staff, our administration…everybody makes it what it is,” Derma said, adding that the district works hard to support both families and staff.

Principal Martinez agreed, noting that the stability of long-term educators helps students anchor themselves.

“Staff has been here for many years. We have to quickly focus on getting to know and making connections with our students and hopefully have them find their ‘reason why’ and move forward to be successful,” she added.

Principal Lyon credited local merchants and residents for extending the boundaries of the traditional campus.

“That family extends beyond our campus into our community. Local businesses find ways to support our students, whether it’s sponsorships or displaying a football helmet or shirts,” he explained.

From award-winning clubs and sports teams to traditional Friday night football games, district officials saID the stage is set for a memorable year ahead.

CUHSD plans to build on its recent achievements, with administrators projecting record student participation across all extracurricular programs.

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Abigahil Padilla

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The San Luis, Arizona Commercial Port of Entry could turn into a new crossing for both vehicle and pedestrians.

The proposal is part of a regional plan to address growing border traffic and improve connectivity between San Luis, Somerton and Yuma.

The state of Arizona and the Greater Yuma Port Authority (GYPA) already have funding for environmental and planning studies needed to move the project forward.

San Luis Vice Mayor Javier Vargas, a board member for GYPA, shared how this would help the city.

“This would change a lot. it would be better helpful with traffic in the city,” Vice Mayor Vargas explained. “A lot of people in the community always ask what we are doing to mitigate traffic, especially during the winter, when farm workers are in the city. this would benefit a lot to our community.”

If approved, the project would take several years to complete.

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