Author: KYMA

Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Imperial is in the early stages of planning a brand-new regional park, and the parks and recreation department want the public’s help shaping it.

The future park site spans 143 acres of open space along LaBrucherie Road, between Ralph and Larson. Right now, it’s just an undeveloped field near the new Cambria Hotel, but officials hope it will eventually become a hub for recreation and community events.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department held a town hall meeting to hear directly from residents about what they’d like to see developed at the park.

“No idea is a bad idea, so any ideas are valid. We will give those ideas to the design firm we select to move forward to the next phase of this project,” said Anthony Lopez, Imperial’s Parks and Recreation Director.

This kind of community engagement is part of phase one in the park’s planning process. Lopez says the city has seen increased demand for athletic fields and outdoor gathering spaces, and the new park could help meet that need.

“Over the last few years, we’ve had a growing demand of use of specifically our athletic fields, and we just don’t have the space anymore, so this is an opportunity to expand the resources we have here,” he said.

Although the park is still in development, the city says it’s committed to including the community every step of the way, and they’re still welcoming feedback.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) announced the arrest of two people after they found a toddler’s remains.

YPD says they responded to the area of E. 25th Street, near S. Carolyn Way, before 2:00 p.m. Friday after receiving reports of suspicious activity in the area.

Once they arrived, YPD says officers found “what appeared to be human remains,” possibly of a two-year-old boy.

YPD says they called their Investigations Unit to take over the case, leading to the arrest of a 20-year-old woman, who is the boy’s mother, and her boyfriend, a 23-year-old man.

They were then booked for first degree premeditated murder and abandoning/concealing dead body parts.

The investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

If anyone’s information leads to an arrest, they may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local brewery in Downtown Yuma is making headlines this week, not for a new beer, but for a brunch. And not just any brunch. A drag brunch.

Prison Hill Brewery is getting ready to host its first-ever drag brunch this Sunday at 11 a.m. The event has generated quite the mix of reactions online, especially after the flyer noted it’s open to all ages.

Some folks are excited to see something new and inclusive coming to town. But others are raising eyebrows wondering if drag is something young kids should be around.

“People need to understand what state they live in,” said local resident Chloe Curtis. “But then also, as long as you keep it age appropriate, you can’t have your kids seeing all that.”

Prison Hill owner Chris Wheeler says he stands behind the event and the team who brought it to life.

“My staff brought this idea to me,” Wheeler said. “It was something we hadn’t had before, and I gave them full permission to run with it and organize it…and that’s how it came about.”

He says the brewery has hosted all kinds of events in the past, and this is just another way to bring the community together.

“I like being able to give back to the community,” Wheeler added. “And I think Prison Hill has been a vehicle for me to do a lot of good.”

While debate over the “all ages” detail continues online, others in town say that decision should be left up to parents.

“I saw that a lot of people were saying stuff about the all ages aspect,” said local Kennah Tuffley. “I just feel like if you don’t want your kid to go, then don’t take your kids. It’s not your responsibility to parent other people’s kids.”

Whether you’re excited to attend or just watching the comment section light up, one thing’s for sure: Yuma is definitely talking.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs visited Yuma Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of Medicaid funding.

Gov. Hobbs stopped by Sunset Health Clinic where she toured the facility, and spoke with both doctors and locals.

Following the tour, she heard from several local residents on AHCCCS who are dependent of the Medicaid funding.

After taking the time to listen, Gov. Hobbs quoted former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

“You can’t balance the budget by killing people, and you heard from these people, that people are going to die, and we can’t do that,” Gov. Hobbs says.

Multiple locals shared their perspective about how reliant they are on this funding.

“It’s indispensable that we have medical aid from AHCCCS so that it can help us… the economic situation is tough,” says local Lucas Vizcarra.

Gov. Hobbs says that everyday people can help fight for funding.

“Everyone should be talking to their members of congress, and this doesn’t just affect people on Medicaid, it affects everyone,” she said.

The governor also spoke about her budget and highlighted some of its key points.

“Border security funding, I called for a big investment in childcare it’s a huge need across the state, I called for raises for our department of public safety officers, those are still priorities, I think they’re areas where we should be able to find common ground,” Gov. Hobbs says.

The governor’s team says she is trying to emphasize the importance of Medicaid, especially in rural communities.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma Police Department (YPD) Officer Cassandra Reed was recognized for her work at Ron Watson Middle School.

Officer Reed has been a school resource officer for three years at the local middle school.

This year she was honored with the 2025 Law Related Education Officer of the Year award.

The award recognizes great contributions from Arizona police and probation officers in furthering education.

Reed says she is passionate about the position.

“This is literally what I love to do. I love to come to work, I love to talk to students, and help them and just kind of help them throughout their career here in middle school,” she says.

However, the school is not surprised that she won the award.

“Well, it feels amazing, as I was telling you because we already knew that we had an award-winning SRO without the title, Officer Reed is a huge asset to our campus,” said Ron Watson Assistant Principal Jennifer Stanley.

The school, along with the students, appear to admire her work.

“Yes I love Officer Reed, ’cause she’s such a good cop, and she’s not just a cop, she’s a very good person,” said one local student.

Reed describes how important it is for her to develop these bonds with the students.

“It’s those long-lasting relationships that you’re actually building, that positivity, that role model, and if they happen to one day be in law enforcement then we’re all here for it you know, but just to guide them,” Reed says.

She claims that she is honored and thankful for the award, and hopes to have inspired students along the way.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Summer is getting better for kids in Yuma! A new play space is coming to downtown Yuma this summer.

With the hot summer heat on the way, the Fort Yuma Rotary Club partnered with the Yuma Children’s Museum to build an indoor AC play space.

“It gets really hot in here during the summers, and we have some beautiful parks and some brand-new infrastructure that the city has put in place in those parks. But when it’s over 100 degrees, you know the kids are not using those spaces,” said Juan Guzman, President of the Fort Yuma Rotary Club.

That’s when they brought the idea to the Children’s Museum. Thanks to community support, the Fort Yuma Rotary Club raised nearly $100,000 for the playground.

“There will be slides that represent water and the frame represents green and grass,” said Yuma Children’s Museum Executive Director Sabra Lemmon. “The floor will look like grass and some soil, and we have some things for our sensory sensitive kids that will be included.”

The playground is expected to be ready this summer.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The local American Red Cross is sending help to those suffering from tornado damage in Missouri.

With many people still dealing with the destruction from the natural disasters, local American Red Cross Community Disaster Specialist Jillian Attaway is traveling to help those trying to recover.

Red Cross currently has around 360 people helping with the aftermath.

One of those people joining in on the cause is Attaway.

“We obviously don’t have the large-scale tornados that the Midwest has, so my ability to go help out and then come back to my home, which is safe, is just another reason why I feel it’s good to give back,” Attaway says.

The American Red Cross is currently helping around 4,200 households, and they’ve donated about 30,000 meals.

The Red Cross explains why they need help from other states.

“This is a very large disaster and it’s reached the capacity of the local volunteers and staff in Missouri and Arkansas,” said Mike Sagara, Public Information Officer for the Red Cross.

Attaway shares how you can start to help, even if you’re not from there.

“Anyway that they want to donate, whether it’s, again, their time, their treasure, their talents, start locally, start in your community…If you feel the need or the call to go out on a larger scale event…you can always join the Red Cross,” Attaway says.

If you would like to donate you can call 1 (800) Red Cross, text 90999-RedCross, or click the link HERE.

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Calexico held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the New River Improvement Project – Calexico Reach last week.

Several lawmakers, including Calexico Mayor Diana Nuricumbo, attended the ceremony, which happened near the banks of the New River last Friday, May 23, at 10:00 a.m.

The project received over $48 million in investments from “the State of California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Department of Water Resources (DWR), Salton Sea Authority and Department of Parks and Recreation,” according to the City, and also reflected “years of collaborative advocacy.”

According to the City, the project consists of three of the following primary construction components:

Trash screen and diversion structure for the New River downstream from the

International Boundary with Mexico.

Bypass encasement infrastructure for the New River from a point downstream of theInternational Boundary to a point downstream of the eastern boundary of the City ofCalexico to address the public health threat that New River water quality poses to thesouthern area of the city.

“The third component is the pumpback system…it will be bringing in the treated water and delivering it to the diversion structure trash screen area and that way it would be diluting the water and it will not be polluted as much,” said Lily Falomir, Public Works Manager for the City of Calexico.

Falomir says this project is more than 30 years in the making and hopes it finally helps clean up the new river.

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Dillon Fuhrman

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of San Luis’ Economic Development Department is hosting the Second Annual Small Business Resource Fair this week.

The fair, taking place Thursday, May 29, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center, is for “local entrepreneurs, small business owners and aspiring business professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow,” according to a press release.

During the event, the City says they will present the “first graduating class of the Fuerza Local San Luis Business Accelerator Program.”

“The Small Business Resource Fair is a cornerstone initiative to strengthen our local economy by empowering business leaders with the tools and support they need to thrive,” said Armando Esparza, Director of Economic Development and Government and Foreign Affairs. “This year’s event is even more special as we celebrate the success of our Fuerza Local graduates a true example of our community’s entrepreneurial spirit in action.”

The fair is free and open to the public. To learn more about the event, click here.

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Abraham Retana

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – As Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month is wrapping up, an Imperial Valley health provider encourages the community to take action.

The Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD) says climate change and longer growing seasons have led to increased pollen levels and extended allergy seasons in the Valley, especially affecting children with respiratory issues.

“Kids that already have been diagnosed with asthma…they have controlled medications they can take everyday to try to prevent symptoms, and if they are already experiencing symptoms, they use their rescue medication, which are the inhalators,” Lwbba Chait, an IVHD Pediatrician, said.

To reduce the risk of asthma, the IVHD recommends to monitor the air quality, plan outdoor activities for late afternoon, keep windows closed and pay close attention to any of the symptoms.

“Usually cough, also you can hear noises in their chest when it’s escalating to more severe problems. They may have difficulty breathing, shortness of air, chest pain. Those are usually severe symptoms so by that time usually we will be taking patients to the ER,” explained Chait.

Anyone diagnosed with asthma or allergy should follow-up with a primary doctor to receive the right treatment.

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