Author: KYMA

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One person has been taken to the hospital after a single vehicle car crash occurred on the southbound side of the Interstate 8 Fourth Avenue exit.

The driver of the truck crossed over the median and drove through the side railing, falling into the Colorado River.

The truck was in the water but authorities at the site of the crash said the person taken to the hospital was the only one found after searching for other potential people involved.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Imperial says it has filed a formal objection over how Imperial County is handling a proposed data center project.

In a post shared on social media, city officials say they have submitted both a formal objection and a protective appeal, arguing the County is not following its own process.

The filing comes after the Imperial County Planning Commission voted to delay consideration of the project, directing the developer to meet with the City of Imperial, the City of El Centro, and nearby residents before returning to the Commission.

City officials say the County later announced the project would instead move directly to the Board of Supervisors after an appeal was filed by the developer a move the City says contradicts the Planning Commission’s action.

“Since the lawsuit was filed, there are some new and different things the City has learned, and there may be an amended pleading filed. That’s been part of the discussion, and scheduling a response to that amended pleading would happen as part of that process,” said Dennis Morita, public information officer with the city of Imperial.

The city’s objection follows a CEQA lawsuit filed earlier this month, raising concerns about environmental review and public involvement.

We reached out to Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing President and CEO Timothy Kelley, who provided a statement saying:

“The proposed Data Center being planned Imperial County will be a game changer for our region.  They sales tax and future Real Estate and Property Taxes will benefit everyone in the Imperial County that drives on a road, crosses a bridge, receives devices from the many Imperial county agencies. Local schools will receive the taxes needed to build new schools, pay it teachers, and pay down their debt so that can put money back into education rather than servicing debt. Imperial county has the services and Infrastructure to develop new industries, and we are training a workforce for the jobs that will be created. There has been a lot of research on the proposed site, and the Imperial county planning department has done a great job processing the application for this project.

Some people have legitimate concerns and those are being considered but many statements related to Energy, Water, labor, pollution are just false and are being spread by people who don’t want investment into our region.

If you look at each argument logically this project will bring a much greater benefit to our community than what those opposed could imagine.”

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is reminding drivers that several new traffic laws take effect on January 1, with changes aimed at improving road safety throughout the city.

According to CPD, multiple new assembly bills will go into effect, many of them impacting everyday traffic laws.

“Tomorrow, the new laws will be coming into play here, several assembly bills which will be mostly affecting traffic,” said Calexico Police Officer Nicolas Monninger.

One of the changes affects electric bicycles. Police say all e-bikes must now have a mandatory rear red light or reflector at all times to increase visibility and reduce crashes.

Another law reinforces the “move over” requirement for drivers approaching vehicles with emergency lights activated. Drivers must change lanes when possible or slow down if they are unable to move over.

“If you can’t move over, you can’t move over your lane. You need to slow down to avoid the collision. People are getting out to assess their vehicle. Who knows what’s going on…they could be having an emergency of some sort. You need to get over to the side or slow down to protect those drivers as much as possible,” said Officer Monninger.

Police also say speed limits in school zones may soon be reduced. While changes depend on each city, Calexico could lower school zone speed limits to 20 miles per hour.

“The speed may be reduced down to 20, but it depends on the city. So Calexico may require that the speed limits in school zones come down to 20 miles an hour, and they’re saying by 2031 all school zones will be reduced down,” said Monninger.

CPD warn that drivers who fail to follow these new traffic laws could face citations or possible jail time. Police also urge motorists to stay informed and drive safely as the new laws take effect.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Both Arizona and California saw their minimum wage increase by forty cents or more on January 1, 2026.

California’s minimum wage increased from $16.50 to $16.90. Meanwhile, Arizona’s increased from $14.70 to $15.15.

Arizona’s is now nearly double the federal minimum wage which is $7.25.

Local business owner and employee CJ Alberts, says she likes the increase, but believes it should be even more.

“I think it’s great. I don’t think it’s nearly enough,” she says. “I don’t think that’s enough for people to live on by any means. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis and anything employers can do to reinvest in their workforce and their employees they should be doing.”

Alberts says as a business owner she likes to reward her employees for making the business work.

“Every time our business is profitable, I try to do everything in my power to again, reinvest it back into the people that make this place run,” she explains.

Meanwhile, Ashley Simms, the owner of the local coffee shop Cafecito provided this statement:

“We understand the cost of living is rising and we also knew this would be coming. We may have to raise prices a little bit because not only is the wage increase happening, but the cost of goods sold is higher now than ever! Even through COVID, when prices rose so drastically, it didn’t impact us like it is now. We will raise wages and encourage people to tip on services provided…Those few extra percentages on a check really help small businesses like us to help support our workers and their families.”

This new minimum wage equals over $31,000 dollars a year.

More information can be read through an informational poster below.

2026 THE FAIR WAGES AND HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT_1Download

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On New Year’s Eve and Day, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) received almost 60 calls regarding firework activity.

This is almost half the calls they received compared to last year, which was almost 100.

“It’s the end of the year…we had a rough year. Everybody wants to let off some steam and celebrate and that’s fine to do it in a manner that’s safe, and in a manner that doesn’t offend your neighbors,” says Yuma local and board member for the Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY) Wendy McKay.

Meanwhile, over the last couple of days, the HSOY took in 41 pets.

Annette Lagunas, the Humane Society Executive Director, shares the best way to reconnect with your lost furry friends.

“Come down to the shelter. Don’t call us. We can’t tell you over the phone whether you’re dog is here or not, so just come on down to the shelter, look for your pet, that should be you’re first action is missing,” Lagunas says.

McKay shares how these fireworks can lead to more missing pets.

“They are not permissible by law in our county, in our community, in our state, so those are the problem, it’s cause and effect, if we didn’t have those fireworks we wouldn’t have all these missing animals,” she said.

Lagunas also explains why you should keep an eye out for your pets this weekend.

“I’m concerned that the partying is going to continue through the weekend, so I’m a little worried about that and the number of animals that are going to be entering the shelter,” Lagunas says.

HSOY also recommends posting you’re missing furry friend on Yuma Lost and Found Pets on Facebook.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – New state projections show Yuma County is expected to keep adding jobs over the next ten years, with healthcare and technology related work leading the growth.

According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, jobs in Yuma County are projected to grow by about 0.7% each year through 2034.

The largest source of new jobs is expected to be healthcare and social assistance.

Doug Walls with the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity says an aging population is increasing the need for medical care and support services.

Yuma County is currently seeing faster job growth than other rural areas in the state.

As more people reach retirement age, demand is growing for healthcare workers beyond doctors and nurses. Jobs such as medical assistants, lab technicians, and positions that require certifications or short term training are also expected to increase.

The report also shows growth in the information sector, which includes media, technology, and digital services like web design and data management. While this sector is smaller overall, it is projected to grow faster than any other.

Some industries are not growing. Employment in agriculture and livestock continues to decline. Some jobs are disappearing as work becomes more automated, and others are going unfilled because employers can’t find enough workers.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Drivers in Imperial County appeared to prioritize safety over the New Year’s holiday, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Over the two-day enforcement period, CHP officers conducted 183 traffic stops and issued 110 citations, the majority for speeding. Despite the increased enforcement, no DUI arrests were made.

“Based on our holiday enforcement period, it shows us that people were driving a lot more responsibly out on the roadways,” said Jose Marquez of CHP.

One of the main issues officers observe during the holidays, Marquez said, was drivers rushing to reach their destinations. “One of the biggest issues that we see people traveling during the holidays is the need and feel to get to their destination as fast as possible, and that can affect your safety,” he said.

CHP is urging drivers to remain cautious as holiday travel continues, reminding motorists to slow down, maintain safe following distances, and drive defensively. “The roadways will be busy as people start making their way back home, and just be a defensive driver and make sure that you’re aware of your surroundings,” Marquez said.

He also warned about weather-related hazards. “Just know that inclement weather conditions can affect driving and people driving around you,” he said.

As drivers continue to prioritize safety, CHP will maintain patrols on local roadways to help ensure safe travel.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Flu season is in full swing, with cases continuing to rise following the holiday season.

Health officials say this period often brings increased spread, and symptoms from the flu can linger for weeks after infection, making prevention especially important during this time.

There are steps people can take to protect both themselves and those around them, especially when symptoms appear. Limiting contact with others and practicing good hygiene are key to slowing the spread.

“If you have any symptoms, stay home, stay away from other people,” said Veerauo Konkankit, M.D., assistant director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. “A lot of people are getting sick just from close contacts alone from someone else that was sick…so, it’s just the necessary precautions…good hygiene, good handwashing. Those are great starts.”

Health officials also encourage people to seek medical care if symptoms begin to worsen. Local hospitals are available to help determine whether someone has the flu or another virus.

“If you’re starting to have symptoms and you feel like you’ll get worse, you can come in here. We can always swab you, and then test for the exact virus,” Konkankit said.

Flu season generally lasts through May, meaning precautions should continue well beyond the winter months.

Health experts urge residents to remain cautious, stay home when sick, and seek care when needed to help reduce the spread throughout the season.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the new year officially kicked off, some local shops celebrated by kicking off new sales, and clearance events.

So let’s take a look at how some shops did after the holiday.

Owner of Rebel & Rove, Selena Koogle, shared how they had lines right outside the doors around 6:30 in the morning, just trying to get to those sales.

She says this exceeded her expectations as it does every year.

Now is the perfect time to start supporting your local shops, as the start of the year can be tough for them.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the start of the new year, most people have already started their own New Year’s resolution.

For some, it’s a perfect reason to start working on their physical health. However, it’s not exactly easy to commit to a new lifestyle of exercise beyond the new year hype.

Most people tend to abandon or drop their resolutions early in the year, while some struggle to begin altogether.

This causes gyms around the country to have a sudden rise and drop in both memberships and traffic.

Personal Trainer at Crunch Fitness, Jennifer Herrera, says that if you’re struggling to get started at the gym, you can even start by just sitting casually in the gym to get yourself comfortable with being inside the gym.

“This is a lifelong journey. There is no hurry. There’s no rush. You know, this is an everyday thing. We all just want to be better. And so just give yourself some grace because sometimes that can be so much more, push you more into the negative as far as being too tough on yourself,” said Herrera.

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