Marcos Icahuate
CIBOLA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A fire is spreading between Imperial County and La Paz County.
The South Point fire is in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge area.
The fire is being managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with support from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
No further growth is expected and is reaching about 116 acres, according to BLM.
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Residents in the Imperial Valley are reacting to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, with opinions being divided over what actually took place.
“It’s shocking that we would hear about it online, you know, through alternative media kind of leaking it because it was very secretive,” said Bryan Vega, chair of the Imperial County Democratic Party.
Another local echoed that surprise, saying the news caught many off guard.
“We were a little surprised,” the resident said.
Vega criticized former President Donald Trump, arguing that any U.S. involvement in another country would represent an abuse of presidential power.
“It’s undemocratic. It’s not consistent with our Constitution or within the powers that are granted to the president,” said Vega.
However, not everyone agrees, with one Imperial Valley resident, Donna Jernigan, voicing her support for the former president, saying she believes any action taken was effective and strategic.
“What he did, he did well and his team because there were no American casualties,” she said. “That is a plus, and just thinking of the future and what that means for the United States,” said Donna Jernigan.
Despite their differing perspectives, locals on both sides say they hope the situation could ultimately benefit the U.S.
“Time will tell. I truly hope that after the dust settles, our economy will improve,” said Jernigan.
Even with conflicting views, residents agree they are watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and what it could mean for the United States moving forward.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local law enforcement officer graduated from an academy.
Lt. Samuel Pavlak of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) joined over 250 officers in the FBI National Academy, with members from across the United States.
The FBI academy consists of ten weeks of training for selected officers.
Lt. Pavlak joined YCSO as a detention officer in 2002 and was promoted to Deputy Sheriff in 2006.
He is the first member of YCSO to complete the Southern Police Institute and FBI National Academy.
Adrik Vargas
CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen says the city is taking steps to move forward after years of financial and infrastructure challenges.
One recent change is a new agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District and Golden State Water that is saving the city more than $20,000 a year.
Mayor Luellen says the deal corrected how the city was being charged for watering public parks, allowing Calipatria to cut costs while keeping green spaces maintained.
Luellen says Calipatria has faced long-standing issues, including financial mismanagement and a declining population, but savings like these are helping the city stabilize and reinvest in the community.
The mayor says the city is also focusing on transparency, responsible spending, and keeping residents involved as Calipatria continues work on housing projects, park improvements, and long-term planning.
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lake Havasu Field Office announced it will temporarily close and restrict select public lands next week for the 2026 Parker 400 off-road race.
“The closures apply to the BLM managed public lands between the Shea Road and Parker Airport…that block right out there is where we hold those races,” said BLM public affairs specialist Jason Vanbuskirk.
The areas will be restricted all week long from next Monday, January 12 at 11:59 p.m. through Sunday, January 18.
“The event is actually the 14th through the 17th. The extra days are up front to give us time to make sure there are no campers or users in the area and to get our signage up. And then the final extra day is to get the signage down for infrastructure afterwards,” said Vanbuskirk.
BLM says the restrictions are to keep the public safe. Restricted and closed areas will be marked at key access points with signs, fencing, or barriers.
If you’d like to attend the races and watch, you can find designated spectator viewing areas near Shea Road.
Joaquin Hight
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is leading a cleanup effort at a warehouse in Yuma.
The warehouse, located on East 24th Street, has housed 3.92 million pounds of waste created by a glass recycling company from 2012 to 2013, known as Down Management LLC, or Atlan Recycling Corporation, and abandoned TV screens with big vacuum tubes called cathode ray tubes (CRT).
The glass and parts from these devices hold several hazardous materials, mainly lead.
The EPA and the Yuma Community Food Bank want the community to know that the food at the bank has been held completely separate from the waste.
The bank was made aware of the waste in August of 2025 and reached out to the United States Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), looking for resources to get rid of the materials.
In the back corner of the warehouse, entirely separate from the food bank, a glass recycling company kept these devices, which are described as box projection monitors.
Since the discovery of the materials, the food bank has been trying to raise awareness of the issue and have it resolved.
The EPA says that the waste has some heavy metals in it, and that they can’t handle it like normal waste, that they have to be careful with it. They estimate the cleaning process will take about two months. After this cleaning process, the bank will be able to expand to allow for more storage space.
“Just know that when we show up, it means that you’re safe. You know, you’re in good hands. We have a great crew, very experienced.” said Celeste McCoy, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, EPA.
Operations at the food bank will continue regularly, and the food will remain clean and safe, especially during the cleanup process.
The process begins with sealing the room with a layer of large plastic sheets with a vacuum seal, installing air monitoring and sampling devices inside and outside the work area, and removing waste in covered boxes from the back entrance.
From there, they will clean all surfaces from floor to ceiling, and will replace the insulation in the room as well.
Dillon Fuhrman
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has provided more information regarding the truck that drove off a bridge and landed into the Colorado River Friday.
According to a press release, the crash happened on the Fourth Avenue Bridge, in the area of S. Fourth Avenue, at around 7:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, YFD says crews found a full-sized pickup truck partially submerged in the river and had significant damage, and says a man driving the truck may have gotten out of the vehicle and left the area.
Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department
Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department
However, due to low visibility, water hazards and other factors, YFD says they requested assistance from agencies such as the Yuma Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and the California Highway Patrol.
During the search, YFD says the man was found approximately 100 yards downstream and partially submerged, prompting their Special Operations team to deploy a rescue boat and jet ski to rescue the man.
After being rescued, YFD says the man was taken to the wetlands ramp, but was then taken to Onvida Health to be treated, and says the man’s condition is not known.
The investigation is ongoing.
Dillon Fuhrman
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Keller Williams Realty Yuma is hosting a real estate training event next week.
The event, titled “Triple Your Business and Love Your Life,” is taking place Wednesday, January 14, at The Kress, located in Downtown Yuma, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
According to Keller Williams, the event is designed for real estate professionals and business professionals to help them achieve actionable strategies for “business growth, leadership, leverage, and long-term success—while maintaining balance and fulfillment.”
In addition, Jason Abrams, Head of Industry and Learning for Keller Williams International and host of the MREA Podcast, is serving as the event’s special guest.
Registration is now open, and it costs $25. To register for the event, click here.
Manoah Tuiasosopo
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local Veteran is recovering after being struck by a car.
Retired Army service member Karla Roche was struck by a vehicle last month at the Quechan Casino.
Roche suffered multiple broken bones, damage to her teeth, and received stitches to her face and mouth.
The 58-year-old Veteran is now recovering but still in need of surgery.
She says once fully healed, she plans to return to her passion which is connecting fellow Veterans with service animals.
Roche, who has two service K-9’s of her own, is also a certified dog trainer.
She has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for some medical bills. To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local lawmakers across Yuma County are sharing their reaction to to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a large-scale strike against the country over the weekend.
The Pentagon says President Donald Trump gave the order to arrest President Maduro just before 11:00 a.m. Friday.
Troops from 20 military bases and 150 U.S. aircraft took part in the mission, which saw an elite strike force arrive at President Maduro’s compound around 1:00 a.m. Saturday.
After arriving in New York Saturday night, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York courtroom Monday where they both pleaded not guilty.
In a post to X Saturday, Arizona State Rep. Nick Kupper (R-District 25) said, “I think that this will likely be a net benefit for the people of Venezuela & the people of America. However, I’m not sure it was carried out in the most ethical way. I would rather we do things the right way to get the correct result, rather than just do things the way we want.”
Xanthe Bullard, Chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party, released a statement Saturday regarding the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest. To read the statement in full, see attached file.
YCDP Condemns President Trump’s Unconstitional Action In VenezuelaDownload
Arizona State Sen. Brian Fernandez (D-District 23) says he’s not completely against it, but does not agree with the way it was done.
“I think that the problematic part of this is not seeking congressional approval, this is something that there are consequences to this, and I think that the president should have taken those consequences into account,” Sen. Fernandez expressed.
Meanwhile, Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines is fully on board, saying Maduro had it coming.
“I appreciate President Trump following up on that it has been reported that he was manufacturing narcotics for the United States and we could see those trucks, I mean those boats full of narcotics that were being taken out,” Lines explained.
