Author: KYMA

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma City Council discussed the preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026 Wednesday night.

The current budget for fiscal year 2025 is $521,167,546.

The city administrator and director of finance proposed for it to increase to $547.4 million for fiscal year 2026.

The budget includes all departments within the city such as general government, parks and recreation, and police.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls explains the shock some may have by viewing the early numbers.

“The presentation is always a lot to absorb, so as council, this helps us really understand it and we’ve got some time and some running room to ask our questions and propose changes,” said Mayor Nicholls.

Jay Simonton, the City of Yuma Administrator, shares why the budget will increase.

“We’ve got 15 new full-time employees included in the budget this year. Nine new firefighters for our medic…Seven that we need to have, a couple more in administration that we need, and then a few other employees sprinkled throughout other departments,” said Simonton. 

Meanwhile, Yuma City Council member Art Morales shares where the focus should be.

“We’re seeing the trend of where we want to go, adding staff, first responders, I think we’re going in a good path, but we have to protect the ability to be able to spend as the city’s growing,” said Morales.

This is only the first time discussing the upcoming years budget, so the numbers are not final.

The council and city will have to come to a final budget number in June before the new fiscal year 2026 begins on July 1.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The YumaCats will host their annual scholarship awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. at Gowan Company in downtown Yuma, and the public is invited to attend.

This year, the YumaCats will award more than $40,000 in scholarships to at least 20 students from the Yuma area.

The organization has been supporting higher education in the community for more than 35 years and has distributed over $1.4 million in scholarship funds thanks to the support of local donors, alumni, and businesses.

But this isn’t just a scholarship ceremony, it’s a full-on University of Arizona celebration. Representatives from UA Athletics are expected to attend, including the Athletic Director, coaches, student athletes, and even Wilbur and Wilma, the beloved Wildcat mascots.

The team will join in honoring local students while bringing some “Bear Down” pride to Yuma.

“It’s really about celebrating these students and all things UA,” said John, a YumaCats member and former scholarship recipient who earned his degree in cybersecurity at the UA Yuma campus.

Raquel, another alum and organizer, added, “It’s a great opportunity to pay it forward. Supporting higher education in our community benefits everyone, no matter where our students go.”

The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. UA fans, alumni, parents, and anyone considering higher education is encouraged to attend.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Anaheim Police Department (APD) is asking for help in locating a missing teen.

APD says the teen, 16-year-old Annie Kathleen of Calipatria, was last seen on Sunday at Disney California Adventure Park.

Courtesy: Anaheim Police Department

She is described by APD as five-feet, five-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

“There are concerns for her well-being, and her family is extremely worried,” APD says.

If anyone sees her, or has any information regarding her whereabouts, contact APD at (714) 765-1900.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Western College (AWC) students got the chance to demonstrate their talents during the 2025 Student Showcase and Open Mic events last week.

The events took place on April 16, where students on the Yuma and San Luis campuses not only celebrated their creativity and hard work, but were also awarded over $9,000 in scholarships.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says over 100 students shared poetry, musical and dance performances, artwork and ceramics and other forms or art to reflect on the topics of love, multilingualism, the intersection of technology and nature, and more.

According to AWC, the scholarship winners were determined by AWC faculty and staff, with awards ranging from $125 to $1,400.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

“I am completely grateful for the amazing opportunity to be able to present and showcase my project. It was truly such an amazing experience and opportunity, and I also hope that each showcase continues to snowball the interest and engagement of more and more students so that this event may continue to grow,” said one student who participated in the events.

For a complete list of participants, projects and scholarship awards, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left a man injured.

The crash happened before 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the area of E. Levee Road.

YPD says the 32-year-old man was riding his 2005 Honda ATV eastbound on E. Levee Road “when he lost control and landed in the retaining boulders of the Levee” while the ATV landed in the canal.

The man, according to YPD, was taken to Onvida Health, but was later taken to a Phoenix area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

While speed appeared to be a factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Injury collision 1700 blk E Levee Road 25-25049Download

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local non-profit in Yuma is supporting children who are airlifted out of town for medical care.

The Exceptional Community Hospital (ECH) just received a handful of Addie Packs.

These packs are filled with supplies like teddy bears, blankets, and Walmart gift cards and are designed to help ill children and their families get through some of their toughest times.

Stacy Tams, the COO of Addie Packs, shares the story behind her organization.

“My daughter Addison was born with congenital heart defects and was [air-evacuated] to Phoenix at 10 days old. So, we started Addie Packs in her honor to try to help out families going through the same situation,” she shared.

Tams says her daughter Addie underwent five open heart surgeries during her life and spent over 300 days of her first year being cared for in Phoenix.

Flight nurse Haley Stinson says for children with specialized needs, seeking care out of town is often the only option.

“We do transport a bunch of kids because Yuma doesn’t carry a bunch of pediatric services. You really do have to go to Phoenix or San Diego,” says Stinson.

A trip that would take three hours by ground only takes one hour by air.

With the help of the Addie Packs, patients will be able to receive a more well-rounded care.

Stinson says, “It provides that emotional support that we don’t always have the ability to carry on the aircraft so it’s a great way to support our patients in a different aspect.”

Young or old, the Air Methods team says their flight volumes in the area are steadily increasing.

Flight pilot Rob Olmstead says, “The need for air transport in Yuma is constantly growing because the population is growing and we’re glad to be here to facilitate that.”

Luis Cebreros, the ER Manager at ECH, says keeping a strong relationship with the helicopter team and hospitals in Phoenix are crucial for quality patient care, especially pediatric patients.

“Most of us working in the field are parents so we put ourselves in their positions, and we feel bad. So, finding the right place for them, that is important. We have built a very good relationship with hospitals in the valley as well,” shared Cebreros.

The Addie Packs organization solely relies on grants and donation, and if you would like to help out, click here.

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Adrik Vargas

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – In honor of Earth Day, the City of San Luis hosted a community tree planting event Tuesday morning at Los Olivos Park.

Organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the event brought together local families, students, and partners like Allo Fiber, Walmart, and Chicanos Por La Causa.

More than 10 trees were planted throughout the park, with kids and volunteers rolling up their sleeves to take part.

Parks and Rec leaders say the event isn’t just about planting trees, but about teaching the next generation the value of green spaces and environmental care.

“Today was a great outcome with the kids,” said Alvaro Escalante, San Luis Park Supervisor. “I see that the kids love it. Last year, we didn’t have any kids, so that’s something we’re definitely going to want to see more of.”

Organizers say the city plans to continue choosing different parks each year to spread the message of sustainability and build stronger community connections.

“We need to pass that message onto the kids, why it’s important. To have trees in our community for natural shade and oxygen, and that’s the idea, to pass that tradition onto our kids,” said Maria Angelica Roldan, San Luis Parks and Recreation Director.

The City of Yuma is hosting a similar event, an Arbor Day celebration on April 24, 2025, at Joe Henry Memorial Park, where they will plant approximately 40 trees approved for the Yuma environment.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Peter Torres has won the Arizona Self-Storage Association’s Manager of the Year Award.

“When I won, Yuma also won, and that’s what makes me feel so proud for the work that we do,” said Torres.

He is currently the manager at All Secure Self-storage in Yuma.

Torres says out of 900 facilities, he managed to win the award.

He shares how it feels to be recognized for his work. 

“It’s meant a lot to me because it’s kind of like letting, you know, that what you’re doing is good. That you are doing a good job for the community, for the customers, for Yuma,” said Torres.

One of the many requirements of the award is giving back to the community, which is something Torres did when he offered free storage to a family who had recently lost their home.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – On Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we featured DMF Living Soils that farms earthworms in order to produce healthier soil.

“Earthworms are the best laborers, soil laborers that we know,” said DMF’s manager David Marchuk.

The farm has been around for around two years and they are located in the counties.

The worms leave behind “black gold” when consuming the waste, which can lead to the soil becoming healthier.

“Our main mission here is to teach and inspire people to grow food as a medicine using indigenous microorganisms that are Indigenous to this desert environment and using it to grow valuable nutrient-dense foods,” said Marchuk.

He, and his wife Sarah, carry out this goal by reaching out to the public.

“We currently are ESA vendors, so we do children’s classes and adult classes, we also do composting classes using worms,””said Sarah.

They also have a 250,000 gallon pond with fish. This allows them to produce a fermented fish product that they say feeds the beneficial fungus in soil.

DMF Living Soils are open Monday through Friday if you like to check out the farm, seek consultations, or if you want some worms of your own.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A event with a powerful message is rolling into Yuma this weekend.

The 10th Annual 428X Suicide Awareness and Prevention Event is set for Saturday, April 26, and organizers say it will be the biggest one yet.

The event, honors the memory of Tony “Big Squatch” Warnock, who passed away 10 years ago. Since then, the family and community have gathered every year to raise awareness, offer support, and bring people together.

“This is the month of his birthday, and we’ve been doing this every year to keep his memory alive and support others,” said Robert Warnock, Tony’s brother.

This year’s event promises fun for the whole family while supporting an important cause. The day will feature a massive burnout show, car show, live bands, a DJ, jumpers for the kids, and local vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to jewelry and accessories.

If you’ve never seen a burnout show in person, Robert says you’re in for a treat.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest burnout shows we’ve ever had in Yuma,” he said. “We’ll have a 100-by-80-foot area with concrete barriers and fencing to keep everyone safe.”

Want to participate in the burnout show or car show? You can sign up on the event’s official Facebook page. The entry fee is $25, whether you want to join the burnout competition, show your car, or register as a vendor.

“Come out and enjoy the show. Bring your cars, bikes, side-by-side…whatever you’ve got. It’s all about community and raising awareness,” Robert said.

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