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GoFundMe created for paralyzed Yuma man

KYMA on January 5, 2026

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A GoFundMe has been created to help a Yuma man who has been paralyzed following his surgery two years ago.

According to the GoFundMe’s organizer, Nicky Hurtado was involved in a serious crash back in 2002 that required surgery, and said he had lived with no issues for nearly 20 years.

However, in 2021, the organizer said there were complications from the original injury which began to resurface, and had to undergo another surgery in 2024 that was related to the 2002 crash.

Following that surgery, Hurtado experienced paralysis from the chest down and limited functions to his arms and hands, leading to another surgery in 2025, the organizer said.

As of now, Hurtado is currently receiving specialized care at Craig Hospital in Colorado as, according to the organizer, it is one of the “top five spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospitals in the world,” and his days consist of seven to eight hours of intensive therapy.

This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, and life-skills classes “designed to help him adapt to life with a spinal cord injury,” the organizer said.

However, the organizer added, “While this care is critical and is truly a blessing, it has created a significant financial burden,” saying Hurtado’s family is traveling from Arizona to visit him.

According to the organizer, the GoFundMe was created to help cover medical costs, travel and lodging, lost income, and more for when Hurtado comes back to Yuma.

The GoFundMe has a goal of $1,300, with only $1,030 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Man injured after being entrapped in a chemical mixer

KYMA on January 5, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rural Metro Fire says a man was injured after being entrapped in a chemical mixer Sunday.

According to a post on Facebook, it happened at Gowan Milling, located in the area of E. County Eighth Street, at around 8:20 a.m.

Rural Metro says a “coordinated response involving fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials teams were initiated” due to the nature of the facility, which “handles regulated materials.”

This prompted the Yuma Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team/Technical Response Team and Onvida Health personnel to respond to the area.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Upon arrival, Rural Metro says, “Crews established incident command, secured the area, and implemented safety protocols to protect both responders and facility personnel.”

They also said they isolated power to affected areas, conducted air monitoring and took precautionary measures in order to address potential exposure concerns, and said, “technical rescue resources were utilized to assist with a complex extrication.”

Rural Metro says the man was treated on scene, and was then taken to the hospital for further treatment, and says, “The incident was contained within the facility.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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Local food bank to receive 40,000 pounds of food from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

KYMA on January 4, 2026

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Community Food Bank will receive 40,000 pounds of food from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A full semi-truck of food from the church will arrive on January 6.

The truck will contain over 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable goods, including flour, peanut butter, pasta, canned vegetables, oats, beans, hot cocoa and meat.

Over the next year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will send out 250 semi-trucks of food to all 50 states to celebrate the birth of our country.

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Locals and winter visitors attend Yuma County Cooperative Extension’s U-Pick event

KYMA on January 3, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The “Winter Lettuce Capital of the World” expanded its horizons to a multitude of vegetables to locals and visitors during the Yuma County Cooperative Extension’s U-Pick event Saturday.

The event took place at the Yuma AG Center, located at 6425 W. Eighth Street, at 9:00 a.m.

There was a variety of items during the event like cauliflower, lettuces, beets, Napa cabbage, and radishes.

Janine Lane, a member of the Cooperative Extension, spoke about how they benefit from U-Pick events.

“It shows people how the agriculture is actually growing out in the field, and it’s really fun when families come out here with their kids because then, you know, the kids are more likely to eat the vegetables that they pick that morning,” Lane explained.

The event lasted until 11:00 a.m.

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Locals staying positive for the New Year with rain

KYMA on January 3, 2026

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As the clock ticks down to the start of 2026, residents of the Desert Southwest may be welcoming the New Year under cloudy skies and light rain.

After experiencing precipitation on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the region saw rain return again today, with additional showers expected Wednesday night and into the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The drizzle persisted throughout the day, signaling a wetter-than-usual transition into the new year for the area.

While rain disrupted some holiday plans during Christmas, it appears to be having little effect on New Year’s Eve activities in Yuma.

Many locals and visitors say they are proceeding with their celebrations as planned.

Monique Pollon, who is visiting the area, said the weather has not altered her evening plans.

“As far as our plans, we still plan on being in the pool tonight…rain or no rain,” she said.

David Harrison, who is spending the holiday visiting family, echoed a similar sentiment.

“Not at all,” Harrison said when asked if the rain had changed his plans. “We’re going out to dinner, and since my mom lives here, we’ll probably be in bed by nine o’clock.”

Despite the gloomy skies, optimism remains high as residents look ahead to the coming year.

Harrison added that he is enthusiastic about what lies ahead, saying he believes 2026 “is going to be a great year.”

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YPD warns locals about lottery scam

KYMA on January 3, 2026

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In order to avoid being scammed, one local says you have to educate yourself on how to avoid scams and do the research.

“There’s always places you can go to get research, to find out like what scams are out there, and like things you should look out for in a scam, and all that kind of stuff,” says Jason Bates, Yuma local.

Bates shares one way he protects himself from scams.

Bates adds, “Me personally, like I don’t every take a call coming in, if someone calls me or texts me and says hey come do this deal or we got this thing, and I can’t verify that that information is coming from a place I know, I just don’t even respond.”

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) shares how you can avoid falling victim to these scams.

“Don’t give any personal information over the phone, over the computer, if you have social media account try to protect yourself and your information there as well, just pay attention,” says Officer Hayato Johnson, Public Information Officer for YPD.

YPD says these scammers are reaching out by email or phone calls, trying to get your personal information.

The scammers are targeting anyone, but mostly people with lots of money or those who have a huge savings account.

Officer Johnson adds, “Every year this happens where there’s lottery scams that come around, people claim their with the lottery division, they claim you won some money and they want some personal information, so they get you paid.”

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a scam should report it to law enforcement.

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Onvida welcomes its first baby of 2026

KYMA on January 3, 2026

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Three hours and eleven minutes into the New Year, Onvida Health welcomed its first baby of 2026 with the birth of a baby boy named Raul.

Weighing six pounds, Raul was delivered at the hospital early in the morning. His mother, Aurelia Villa, said the moment was overwhelming and filled with emotion.

“It’s something you can’t describe…It’s something very exciting,” Villa said following the birth.

The name Raul carries deep meaning for the family.

Villa explained that the name honors close relatives, saying, “It’s my dad’s and my brother’s name.”

Raul’s arrival also coincided with another special family celebration. Villa noted that her grandmother shares the same birthday as the newborn.

“It’s my grandma’s birthday today too. She said that it’s her present,” she said.

To celebrate the occasion, labor and delivery nurses at Onvida Health put together a gift basket for Raul, as well as for the first baby girl born at the hospital in the New Year.

The staff joined the family in welcoming the newborn and celebrating the start of 2026.

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