Author: KYMA

Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Library has set up a special Santa mailbox for kids to drop off their letters to Santa.

Enriqueta Nunez, the library assistant, says kids from all over the valley can drop off their letters from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The library also has two stations where kids can write their letters to Santa, and Nunez says kids will receive two Christmas cookies one for them and another for Santa.

“We are also going to have Santa here on the 18th…Thursday the 18th we are doing family night which is called Santa Workshop and he is going to show up here…so after you guys send your letters, he is also going to come here to pick up your letters,” said Nunez.

Nunez says Santa will write back if you provide an address. The last day to drop of your Santa letter will be on December 13.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County residents had their voices heard regarding a proposed data center at the board of supervisors meeting.

The room was full of locals that had signs that read “not in my backyard.”

Some locals voiced their concerns about the health issues the proposed data center could bring and the area the center will be in.

The planning and engineering consultant of the company who proposed this project says the area was designated for commercial use 50 years ago.

“If you were to look at the zoning map in the city of Imperial that was recently inside the recently updated service area plan for the city. It shows industrial land on the east side of the railroad tracks, running north and south along the railroad tracks industrial land belongs next to the railroad tracks, and that’s why it’s industrial,” said Tom Dubose, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing consultant.

Locals say they did not know about this data center and were informed by the City of Imperial, and are asking for transparency.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Each November, the Arizona Department of Child Safety kicks off its annual Giving Tree Program.

For the past seven years, Nova Home Loans has participated in the Giving Tree Program and this year, they are sponsoring 20 foster kids for this Christmas season.

Amelia Olvera, Nova Home Loan Officer says, “I’ve been at nova fourteen years, and one thing I’ve learned is that Nova is a bog part of the community, they like to help the children of our community.”

Foster youth submit a short list of gift wishes placed on paper hearts for the community to help fulfill.

“Grab a name, we go shopping for the items on their list, and then, we wrap it up and have it ready for them, it’s a big part of who we are here at nova giving to children,” says Olvera.

In the state of Arizona, there are more than 6,000 names of foster kids who want gifts for Christmas.

One Nova Home Loans representative is actually a former foster kid, and shares why this program is so special.

Jennifer Humphrey, Nova Homes Credit Analyst says, “Having that something that is yours under the tree, just makes you feel good. You know before Christmas you think, ‘Oh, I might not even get anything, I feel invisible, unseen, I’m separated from my family.'”

We spoke to the Arizona Department of Child Safety about what this program means to these foster kids.

“To be honest with you, and I have to do this without crying, it’s just an opportunity for these kids to know that people see them, and that they means something to somebody because often times they don’t,” explains Mary McGee, Department of Child Safety Program Manager.

Nova Home Loans has a message for the Yuma community.

“I would just like to challenge the yuma community to help out the children in need, help out the foster children,” says Olvera.

If you’d like to help out or get involved, visit the link HERE.

The Giving Tree Program helps ensure the foster youth across the state of Arizona get to experience a memorable holiday season they will never forget.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The man charged with murdering his girlfriend in Calexico last year will not be heading to trial after accepting a no-contest plea deal.

48-year-old Agustine Baca III was originally charged with first degree murder. Now, he will be charged with second degree murder and could receive 15 years to life in prison.

Baca’s attorney says there were some defensible issues in the case and mitigating factors regarding the weapon used during the murder.

She says one theory is that the gun may have gone off accidentally due to the weapon’s condition.

“The firearm was in a very poor condition, missing some key parts, and I am not an expert myself on firearms, but my investigator is,” said Veronica Henderson, Baca’s attorney.

Baca is scheduled to back in court to be sentenced next month.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO.Calif(KYMA)- The Calexico Police Department (CPD), along with other law enforcement agencies, hosted their annual “Kids and Badges” event Wednesday morning.

CPD have hosted this event now for 22 years. They picked 30 children from the Calexico School District to participate.

The event started with a lovely breakfast at a local Denny’s.

After that, the children participated at a parade and took pictures with Santa and the Grinch. CPD also took the children on a $150 shopping spree at Walmart.

“It’s an important event…it’s important to still have that connection with the younger generation. It’s something that we do to connect the police department with the community…it’s something we are very proud of being the 22nd year that we have been doing this. We have to thank our sponsors and all the agencies that have contributed,” said Chief Armando Orozco with CPD.

CPD are also hosting their “Teens and Badges” event Thursday morning.

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Joaquin Hight

PHOENIX (KYMA) – A smuggling ring from Yuma County was arrested, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona.

The United States Border Patrol were cracking down on an organization called La Mesa, who were known to smuggle people across the border.

La Mesa was a group of eighteen people that operated out of Yuma and Somerton, according to the Attorney’s Office.

The Attorney’s Office says La Mesa smuggled or attempted to smuggle hundreds of people from Mexico, while providing stash houses and money distributions.

More of La Mesa’s crimes include kidnapping, robbery, and extorting smugglers who worked for the organization.

“The sentencing of the La Mesa smuggling organization members is a testament to the relentless pursuit of the rule of law and the cooperative efforts between the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Bringing these smugglers to justice serves as a clear warning: the U.S. Government will hold individuals accountable for their criminal actions,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle. “I am extremely proud of our agents and their dedication to our mission, which ensures the safety of our communities and our great Nation.”

The defendants were charged via Indictment or Superseding Indictment in November 2023 and September 2024 with Conspiring to Harbor and/or Transport Illegal Aliens. Judge Krissa M. Lanham sentenced the defendants to the following sentences:

1. Victor Eduardo Araiza-Ponce, 24, of Yuma was sentenced to Time Served; plus 3 years of supervised release2. Antonio Aparicio III, 24, of Somerton was sentenced to 68 months’ imprisonment3. Alonzo Esparza, 27, of Yuma was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment4. Carlos Moreno-Serrano, 24, of Yuma was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment5. Xasiel Noriega-Gonzalez, 21, of Somerton was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment6. Joshua Guillermo Leon-Fuentes, 21, of Somerton was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment7. Angel Rodriguez, 23, of Yuma was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment8. Crystobal Figueroa, 23, of Somerton was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment9. Saul Ponce Jr., 23, of San Luis was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment10. David Leon-Pallanes, 23, of Yuma was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release11. Manuel Uriel Alvarado, 26, of Yuma was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment12. Elian Lopez, 24, of Yuma was sentenced to 12 months’ probation13. Raymundo Delgado-Diaz, 35, of Yuma was sentenced to 3 years probation14. Isreal Zeveda, 23, of Salinas, California was sentenced to 12 months’ probation15. Francisco Javier Esparza-Macias, 21, of Somerton was sentenced to 12 months of supervised release16. Alex Chiquete, 25, of Yuma was sentenced to 24 months’ probation17. Hector Eduardo-Valdez, 31, of Yuma was sentenced to 18 months’ probation18. Jose Gabriel Marquez-Mendiola, 32, of Yuma was sentenced to 18 months’ probation

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Holiday Magic Toy Drive is accepting donations Friday.

Walmart on Pacific Avenue is taking donations until 7 p.m.

Stop by Walmart, pick up a couple of toys and drop them off.

All of the toys collected will go directly to the Salvation Army in Yuma for local children.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – About 50 imperial county locals received free laptops Wednesday afternoon at the El Centro Library.

AT&T, along with Human IT, provided 50 dell Chromebooks to the Imperial Regional Alliance to give away to locals in need.

Timothy Kelley, the Imperial Regional Alliance CEO, explains how these laptops will help locals.

“As things like the broadband advance, everything to come get digital that if you don’t have access to the Internet, either just having the service or having a computer, then you’re just falling further behind and we’re seeing that are furthest from the services need the service is the most,” said Kelley.

Last year, about 200 laptops were distributed to locals. Kelley says they hope to continue helping locals in Imperial County.

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Abraham Retana

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – An Imperial Valley healthcare provider announced a program that ensures patient care in the years to come.

The Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD) will have the largest nurse residency in Imperial County history.

The nurse graduates will be trained at Pioneers Memorial Hospital and El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) in a variety of specialties including, emergency medicine, surgeries and maternal care.

“It has been a huge success for us in terms of able to recruit new nurses to our community and to our organization. Since its inception, it has been our current strength to hire nurses,” said Carol Bojorquez, IVHD Chief Nursing Officer.

“The number of beds that our hospitals have combined…it’s just enough to provide care to our community of this size. The more the community grows, the more nurses will be needed in the future,” said Kimberly Probus, ECRMC Chief Nursing Officer.

The goal is to develop a local workforce to meet the needs of the valley’s growth.

“To have these nurses to be part of the team that takes care of the community is highly important because we are managing the care of the community,” said Bojorquez.

“Because there’s no one better to take care for our population than people who are members of it,” said Probus.

So far, 28 nurses have been hired under this new program.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona lawmaker Nick Kupper is pushing two bills he says would give families more financial support.

Kupper, a Republican representative in the Arizona House, says House Bill 2004 would give refundable tax credits to low-income parents after they have a baby. Single parents would get $2,000, and married couples filing jointly would get $4,000 if they are at or below the federal poverty line.

The amount gets smaller as income rises, ending at one hundred forty-five percent of the poverty level.

The bill, the lawmaker says, is meant to give financial support to women who may struggle after having a child. He says the goal is not to influence abortion law, but to offer “a little bit of help” for parents with limited means.

His second bill, House Bill 2011, expands Arizona’s current adoption tax credits to cover the adoption of frozen IVF embryos.

Kupper says the state already helps families who adopt children, and this bill simply adds another type of adoption.

He says it does not change the legal status of embryos and is not meant to spark a political fight. He believes only a small number of families use embryo adoption, so the cost to the state would be low.

Kupper says both bills are part of his goal to support families and make it easier for parents to raise children in Arizona.

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