Author: KYMA

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Dozens of Yuma County residents are speaking out after they say a new water company took over drastically raising their water bills.

Tierra Mesa Estates is one of the many systems across Arizona that have seen a bigger water bill due to water/utility company Cactus State. 

Cactus State has multiple operations across Arizona, including Yuma, that it took over in late 2021.

Last November, Cactus State got approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission (A.C.C) to increase their rate by at least 300%.

Tierra Mesa Estates resident Deb Parker says some people are struggling to make ends meet.

“I don’t think I ever got the memo that the water price was going up. So when I got home, I didn’t get home until January 9, I opened the water bill so I could get it paid and it was almost $400 and I was used to bills of $40-$50,” Parker said. “I know I’ve been on a fixed income and a few people that are on fixed income. It’s kind of hard for them. I know it’s hard for me. I’m trying to watch my water usage, but it doesn’t make much difference, but it’s more just watching my spending.”

In addition, there is also high amounts of uranium that is above the federal limit. When asked about it, Cactus State said cost plays a factor.

“Uranium treatment is very expensive, and we’ve been reviewing options since we acquired these systems in late 2021. We reviewed the best treatment system, but we’ve also had an eye on the cost,” Fred Kriess, Cactus State Regional Director, said.

As for the higher water bills, Kriess said it’s been a long time since the rate was increased. 

“Where most of our complaints are coming from his Tierra Mesa Estates and their last last adjustment was in 2000,” Kriess said.

Local and state leaders have spoken on the huge increase. Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls wrote a letter to the A.C.C saying the increase is excessive.

“You see a 300% increase of anything, I think it warrants taking time and making sure that a full review and even maybe a second review is needed,” Mayor Nicholls said.

For Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, she was not aware of it but says she would be willing to look into it. 

“We have intervened in a couple of different rate cases. Even in one situation after the fact, we found some problems with the process of the corporation commission,” Mayes said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left one person dead.

YPD said the crash happened at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the area of S. Avenue 3E, near Duwa Playground.

A 65-year-old man, according to YPD, was riding a 2017 Honda Goldwing motorcycle southbound on Avenue 3E.

For reasons unknown, YPD said the Goldwing “crossed the centerline into the northbound lanes,” and crashed into the rear tires of a semi-truck, driven by a 39-year-old man.

The motorcyclist, according to YPD, was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic in both directions was shut down from 40th Street and County 14th Street.

While alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the crash, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Fatal Collision 4700 S Ave 3E 26-70116 (1)Download

Click here to follow the original article.

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A deadly crash in the Foothills is drawing new attention to a dangerous intersection.

The crash happened at Frontage Road and Avenue 10E.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said a 55-year-old man was trying to turn left from Avenue 10E onto Frontage Road when he hit another vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle, 43-year-old Jose “Bimbo” Fernandez Chavez, died after being taken to Onvida Health.

Police said overgrown brush and trees near the intersection have been a concern for drivers for years.

News 11 reached out to Westwind RV Park about those concerns, but officials declined to comment.

“Within the last five to six years, this is our second fatal accident at that intersection. We do get a lot of complaints about the brush and trees from the RV park right there. We are working with the RV park to try to fix that,” said Officer Hayato Johnson, Public Information Officer for YPD.

According to the LexisNexis Crime Map, at least 19 citations have been issued at or near the intersection since 2020.

Alicia Garcia, who works at Taco Fish near the intersection, said she has seen too many tragedies in the area.

“This street is highly trafficked, so the people driving onto Frontage Road get impatient. People don’t slow down to let you turn, so people just go for it,” Garcia said.

Garcia believes a traffic light could help improve safety.

“An intersection with traffic lights would be ideal. That would be respected,” she said.

YPD said local residents can help by reporting their concerns through the city’s ClickFix app.

“If there are more complaints, continue to send those requests in for repairs via the ClickFix app,” Officer Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Fernandez Chavez’s family said he was the sole provider for his family. They have started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and other costs.

His son wrote on the fundraiser, “My father always filled everyone’s hearts with joy and happiness. He was also the pillar of our family.”

A link to the GoFundMe can be found here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Silver Spur Rodeo is teaming up with Bridget’s Gift to help local families battling breast cancer.

The rodeo is hosting a dine-to-donate event Thursday, September 17, at Texas Roadhouse from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

10% of meal purchases will be donated to the “Buckin’ for Bridget” campaign when customers present the event flyer.

Organizers said the campaign started about two years ago, and has already raised nearly $28,000 for local breast cancer support.

“All the proceeds that we get during our campaign is going to go towards Bridget’s gift. And those are families and patients that have breast cancer in the Yuma community,” said Lefty Leifeste, Chairman of the Silver Spur Rodeo.

“This year, of course, we want to get bigger and better, and we’re just excited to keep the funds local in our community,” said Tina McCash, Chairwoman of Buckin’ for Bridget.

Organizers are encouraging the community to come out, grab a meal and help support local breast cancer patients and their families.

To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Chamber of Commerce held their community expo over the weekend.

Over 70 vendors, businesses and non-profits from all over the county were a part of the event, which took place Saturday at the Yuma Civic Center.

The Chamber of Commerce said Jay’s Party Shop donated a special America 250 themed balloon station.

Hundreds of visitors stopped by the Civic Center throughout the day to make new connections and learn more about Yuma’s vibrant business community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is hosting a Town Hall of Yuma County’s state elected officials, highlighting recent accomplishments and changes in legislation affecting the Yuma community.

The Town Hall will take place Tuesday, September 22, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Schoening Conference Center at AWC Yuma Campus.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

“Arizona Western College is honored to continue bringing our legislators and community together for these annual Town Halls,” said AWC President Dr. Reetika Dhawan, who is moderating the town hall. “These conversations give students, local residents, and elected officials the opportunity to discuss the issues shaping our region and how they connect to the work happening at the state level.”

While State Sen. Brian Fernandez (D-District 23) will appear virtually, AWC has named the following politicians participating in the Town Hall:

State Sen. Tim Dunn (R-District 25) State Rep. Michael Carbone (R-District 25) State Rep. Michele Peña (R-District 23) State Rep. Mariana Sandoval (D-District 23)

“Our community has made it clear that issues such as water, education, public safety, border security, affordable housing, and economic and workforce opportunities are among their highest priorities,” State Sen. Dunn said. “This upcoming Town Hall is an important opportunity to listen, engage, and have an open dialogue with residents about the issues that matter most to them. I encourage everyone to attend, ask questions, share their concerns, and help shape the conversations that will guide our community moving forward.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

While the event is free and open to the public, individuals interested in attending are encouraged to reserve their seat.

For more information on how you can attend, click here, or read the press releases below.

Arizona Western College hosts fifth-annual Legislative Town HallDownload Legislative Town HallDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and Imperial County first responders are taking life-saving training directly to the community.

Local Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) gave “hands-on” compression-only CPR lessons to shoppers at the Walmart in El Centro Wednesday.

Their goal is to get ordinary people comfortable with taking action in an emergency where every second counts.

“We have about [five-to-seven] minutes of oxygen stored in our blood, and pumping on the chest, we circulate that blood and we help keep that patient’s organs alive until EMS is able to arrive,” David Creiglow, EMS and Disaster Preparedness Manager for Imperial County Public Health, told News 11.

He said this is a modified version of traditional CPR.

“Statistically, it was found that a lot of people, even trained personnel, didn’t want to do the mouth-to-mouth portion, so they’ve come out, and we’ve started teaching hands-only CPR,” he explained.

Click here to follow the original article.

Carolina Garcia

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Hundreds of people attended the Mexican Independence Day celebration event organized by the Mexican Consulate in Yuma.

The event was held Tuesday night at the Yuma Civic Center.

Guests enjoyed traditional Mexican food, live music, and artwork from Indigenous artists from Sonora, who presented their work in the U.S. for the first time.

During the event, Campesinos Sin Frontera received the Ohtli Award, honoring their work alongside farming, working and migrant communities on both sides of the border, and Telemundo anchor Oswaldo Rivas was recognized as an Outstanding Mexican in the U.S.

“For all Mexicans on both sides of the border, this can be considered a binational celebration, because Mexicans living outside of Mexico have a special sensitivity to feeling this type of celebration as something of belonging,” said Dulce María Valle Álvarez with the Mexican Consulate in Yuma.

According to the Consulate, applications for Mexican nationality have increased by 40%

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – An inmate at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, California has filed a racial bias claim against Imperial County.

Warren Lamar Berryman, 42, was convicted of murder back in 2005, and is serving 33 years to life in prison. Now, he is seeking relief under California’s Racial Justice Act.

Berryman said his co-conspirators, who are Hispanic, got probation while he got a harsher sentence.

“It was easier to convict a black man, basically, and the Mexicans got off the hook. And that’s what this racist justice is about because now, there’s a racial bias clearly,” Berryman expressed.

Berryman also said while one of his co-defendants got off, the other two were offered a deal.

“When we got bounded over together, we were all supposed to stand trial, and somehow, the D.A. decided to give the two brothers a deal to testify against me,” Berryman shared.

Berryman is set to make a court appearance next month.

News 11 reached out to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office and to Berryman’s attorney for a statement, and we’re waiting to hear back.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) announced their Board of Directors unanimously approved a new Large Load Tariff Tuesday.

IID said this will establish how they “will evaluate and serve very large electricity users, including data centers and other high-demand projects.”

IID said the tariff will apply to customers who request at least 20 megawatts of electric demand as well as meeting an 80% minimum load factor.

Under the new framework, IID said, “Large-load customers will be responsible for the costs and financial risks associated with serving their projects.” These include needing infrastructure and power supply rather than shifting the costs to current “IID rateplayer.”

In addition, IID said the tariff establishes a formal process to determine whether they can serve a “proposed large load and what system improvements may be required.”

To learn more about the vote, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.