Author: KYMA

Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s Primary Election Day in Arizona, and voters decided on several races that will help shape the November’s ballot.

One of the key races in Arizona is the governor’s race, where voters chose which Republican candidate will go head to head against Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.).

There are four Republican candidates running to be on the November ballot: Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. David Schweikert, Scott Neely and Ken Miceli.

Gov. Hobbs is running for reelection unopposed.

The winner of Tuesday night’s race wins the Republican ticket. We’re expecting initial results shortly after 8 p.m. Keep it tuned to our newscasts and our website.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma mayoral candidates made a final pitch to voters as the polls are now closed.

News 11 spoke with Mayor Douglas Nicholls and write-in candidate Carlos Adams to learn more about what they want to share with voters as the voting centers begin to close.

Mayor Nicholls is campaigning for reelection. He has been the mayor of Yuma since 2014, having served a total of three terms. He says he wants to continue to serve his community in a fourth term.

“The real message is to get out and vote. Specifically what I hope they’ve seen over my time in office is professionalism, well thought out decisions and focusing on the growth of our whole community for opportunity for everyone,” Nicholls said.

Meanwhile, Adams says he has what it takes to bring Yuma into a new era.

“For the people of Yuma, I believe that if you want change, if you want a new Yuma, focus on the quality of life, education, and emphasis on searching for opportunities for our community that you would write in Carlos Adams,” Adams said.

The winner of Tuesday night’s race wins the seat. We’re expecting initial results shortly after 8 p.m. Keep it tuned to our newscasts and our website.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Usually the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) helps the community. This time, they are the ones calling for help.

Capt. Gary Welch has served with the department for over 20 years. In the last few weeks, Capt. Welch has been battling a severe illness and was recently admitted to a Tucson hospital.

To help with this cause, the department is holding a lunch fundraiser.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, shared what Welch has mean to the crew and also the community.

“He was a fire captain and technical rescue technician. So, he would take care of all the training needs for the fire department, for the professional services division. But yeah, he’s just served this community again for over 20 years. He’s also a U.S. Marine. So a good person all around,” Leon said.

The department will be providing a spaghetti lunch next Thursday, July 30 from 11 a.m. To 1 p.m.

Meals are available via drive-thru pickup for ten dollars.

“Also we’d like to set a deadline of buying tickets for Tuesday July 28 at 5 p.m, the end of business hours. And the reason for the deadline is trying to get the most accurate number as possible so we can get the right amount of food and then all the rest of the money can go to Gary and his family,” Leon explained.

The cost is $10. To purchase tickets, visit the Fire Administration, located on the second floor of Yuma City Hall.

For more information about the lunch, contact Deputy Fire Chief Richard Root at 928-373-4859 or Richard.Root@yumaaz.gov.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As Yuma County prepares for another winter growing season, a group of agricultural professionals is already working behind the scenes to help protect the crops that feed communities across the country.

Known as the “Winter Salad Bowl of America,” Yuma produces a significant share of the nation’s leafy greens during the colder months.

Before those crops reach grocery stores and dinner tables, Pest Control Advisors (PCA) are in the fields monitoring plants, tracking insects, and watching for diseases that could impact the harvest.

PCAs act as a first line of defense for growers, using field observations, data, and experience to identify potential problems before they become larger threats.

Local advisors say every growing season brings a new set of challenges, including unpredictable weather and changing pest pressures.

“A lot of it’s weather dependent,” said John Hume, a PCA licensed since 2003. “If we have another warm fall, warm winter, a lot of rain like we did last year, it could be real expensive…a lot of bugs, a lot of diseases.”

One of the major concerns in recent seasons has been increased insect pressure, including the diamondback moth, a pest that can damage crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.

PCA Gordon Goodwin, who has nearly three decades of experience, says conditions can vary greatly from year to year.

“We’ve had extremely heavy pressure in insect and disease years and we’ve had lighter years,” Goodwin said. “Every year is just a new game.”

Advisors say careful monitoring and planning remain critical as they prepare for the upcoming season. By scouting fields, managing pests, and adapting to changing conditions, PCAs help protect Yuma’s agricultural industry and the winter crops relied on by consumers nationwide.

As planting continues across the region, these crop experts say they’ll continue putting boots on the ground to help ensure a successful harvest.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s Primary Election Day in Arizona, and voters are deciding several races that will help shape this November’s ballot.

One of the key races in Yuma County is Arizona’s Legislative District 23, where voters are choosing candidates for two seats in the Arizona House of Representatives.

The lawmakers elected in November will represent Legislative District 23 at the state Capitol and vote on issues including the state budget, education, healthcare and public safety.

Four Democrats are competing in Tuesday’s primary election: incumbent Mariana Sandoval, Emilia Cortez, Naomi Miguel and Juan Manuel Guerrero. The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the November general election.

Republicans Michele Peña and Gary Garcia Snyder are running unopposed in the primary and will automatically advance to November’s ballot.

As of Election Day, early voter turnout in Yuma County sat at about 14%.

Voting centers remain open until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Voters who still have an early ballot are encouraged to drop it off at an official ballot drop box rather than mailing it on Election Day.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – If you have an overdue library book collecting dust on your counter, your wallet is about to thank you.

The Imperial County Free Library system has officially launched its “Fine Forgiveness Bi-Week” program, giving local readers an opportunity to clear their accounts completely free of charge. Officials decided to bring the initiative back after it was a massive hit with the community last year.

Between Monday, July 20 and Friday, July 31, book lovers can return overdue or slightly damaged library materials to have all associated late fees entirely wiped clean.

To make the process even easier, residents do not even need to step foot inside a building. Materials can be dropped off directly into the outdoor drop boxes at any of the county’s four participating branch locations in Heber, Holtville, Calipatria, and Salton City.

“We understand life happens, things happen, and not everyone has the means to pay a fine depending on how many books they’ve checked out,” said Imperial County Librarian Mary Jane Guerrero. “We try to be accommodating in that sense.”

Guerrero emphasized that every returned book helps support the local region.

“We are relatively smaller than comparing ourselves to the larger libraries that have more of a central base community,” Guerrero said. “So, we try to ensure that everything brought back allows us to continue providing the services and materials needed by these small communities.”

While the library is offering a clean slate for late returns, administrators noted a few important restrictions to keep in mind before you head out.

The grace period does not cover completely lost items, nor does the program apply to older, unrelated fines already sitting on a patron’s record. However, fees will be waived for minor book damage, provided the total repair cost does not exceed $25.

The push to get books back on the shelves comes just ahead of a system-wide shutdown. All Imperial County library branches will close to the public starting Monday, August 3, to allow staff to conduct an annual inventory audit.

The cleanup will ensure catalogs are accurate and collections remain accessible. Doors are scheduled to reopen just in time for the upcoming school year on Monday, August 17.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is coming to Yuma to hear about bio-solids concerns from residents.

Attorney General Mayes is holding a town hall this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Yuma Civic Center.

She says she’s interested in hearing concerns about bio-solids from the Yuma community.

The issue became a hot topic this year, garnering reaction from locals as well as county leaders.

If anyone is interested in attending, and would like to RSVP, click here.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Summer temperatures in the Desert Southwest can triple, but that doesn’t stop locals from finding ways to have fun in the sun.

Yuma residents are making a splash and enjoying the Colorado River before school is back in session.

For many, it’s the perfect way to cool off and make the most of the final days of summer. Yuma resident Quinton Neely says the river is the place to be.

“Just trying to stay cool and get out of the house. Get ready for the end of the summer, kids got to go back to school. So get them out by doing something before they do,” Neely remarked.

For other Yuma locals, a trip to the Colorado River has been on their summer bucket list.

Chelsea Price, another Yuma resident, said, “We haven’t been here yet this summer, and we just wanted the boys to swim for a little while and play in the sand.”

But as temperatures stay high, experts say it’s important to take precautions, like drinking plenty of water, wearing sunscreen, and taking breaks in the shade to help avoid heat-related illness or painful sunburns

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Yuma community.

YCSO says 38-year-old Jose Luis Torres told them he is living in the area of E. 34th Street near Bright Sun Way, in Yuma.

Torres is described by YCSO says five-feet, 11-inches tall, weighing 265 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In October of 2013, Torres was found guilty of one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation in the Yuma County Superior Court, according to YCSO.

He was then sentenced to 13 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit of 375 days of time served, YCSO says. The victim was a young girl who didn’t know him.

Torres was also sentenced to 10 years of intensive probation, where he is currently under the supervision of the Yuma County Adult Probation Department.

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

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Ernesto Romero

Several contested races across the state and in Yuma County

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Primary Election is underway, with voters casting their ballots in several key races across the state and in Yuma County.

The voting centers in Yuma opened at 6 a.m. They close at 7 p.m. Voting centers include the Yuma Civic Center and the MLK Center, along with voting centers in the Foothills, Somerton and San Luis, Arizona. For a full list of voting centers click here.

There are several major state races we are following, including the Republican Arizona Governor’s race.

There are also several local races we are keeping an eye today, including Yuma City Mayor, Yuma City Council, San Luis Mayor, San Luis City Council, Somerton City Mayor and Somerton City Council.

For a breakdown of all of the races we are following go to our Decision 2026 Voter Guide.

Early results will not be available until at least 8 p.m.

Watch FOX 9 at 9 p.m. and News 11 at 10 p.m. for the latest federal, state and local election results.

Yuma County said several steps will take place as part of the vote tabulation process. Here’s what residents can expect in the coming days.

Tuesday, July 21 – Election Day

At approximately 8 p.m., depending on Vote Center closure times, the first set of results will include all tabulated early ballots and in-person votes received prior to Election Day. Updated results from Vote Centers will be updated throughout the evening.

Late early ballots (early ballots dropped off at vote centers on Election Day) and provisional ballots will be audited at the closing of each voting location, transported to election headquarters, and transferred to Yuma County Recorder Voter Services staff for processing.

The estimated number of ballots left for processing will be reported with the final release of the Election Day results.

Wednesday, July 22 – Post Election Day

Yuma County Recorder Voter Services will audit voters from Election Day electronic poll books and late early ballot submissions.

Yuma County Recorder Voter Services will begin processing late early and provisional ballots received from all vote centers.

Yuma County Recorder Voter Services will transfer to Election Services the verified ballots received in the mail on Election Day.

Saturday, July 25

Hand count will begin at 9 a.m. The purpose of the hand count audit is to compare the results of the electronic count to the limited hand count audit to ensure that the machines are working properly and accurately counting the votes.

Sunday, July 26 at 5 p.m.

Last day for identification verification for provisional ballots and signature curing of early ballot affidavit signatures.

Monday, July 27 through Thursday, July 30

Results will be posted (as completed).

Wednesday, July 29

Post-election logic and accuracy test.

Monday, Aug. 3

Election results will be canvassed during the Yuma County Board of Supervisors meeting that begins at 9 a.m.

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