Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) – A Weather Authority First Alert ACTION DAY is NOW in effect for the Desert Southwest, as we will need to take action for the dangerously hot conditions.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for both Yuma and Imperial Counties until 8 p.m. Friday for the major heat risks and highs up to 115 degrees.

Remember to practice heat safety to prevent heat-related illnesses; overexposure can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Also remember to wear lightweight loose fitting clothing, stay hydrated, and utilize local cooling shelters.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro announced the third year of engravings for First Responders Wall.

The wall, located at First Responder Park, honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to keep communities safe.

According to the the city, “Each honoree will be commemorated with a 13-inch-by-5-inch engraved granite plaque, permanently installed on the wall,” and the honorees eligible include peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and public safety dispatchers who “who have served in Imperial County and meet the established criteria.”

“This project reflects our city’s unwavering gratitude to those who protect and serve our community,” said Mayor Sonia Carter. “The First Responders Wall is a lasting reminder of their courage, commitment, and sacrifice.”

Applications must be submitted to the City of El Centro Economic Development Division, located at 1249 W. Main Street, by September 12, and the cost per plaque is $350.

To download the application and learn about the guidelines for the engraving, click here.

2025FirstRespondersWallPREngDownload

2025FirstRespondersWallPRSpaDownload

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY/T3) – El Centro Motors held a blood drive for Imperial Valley residents as well as their own workers.

About a dozen employee, including sales people and administrative staff, joined in contributing to the San Diego Blood Bank.

They collect 150,000 units annually, but due to the high demand they need to collect even more. 

“We invited the whole Imperial Valley to come over here to motors, donate blood. And it’s a wonderful thing to do, you know? I mean, help our community. We’re a local business, family owned, local business, and we’d like to give back to our community,” said John Banda, sales manager.

The blood bank staff says young people are the biggest donors in Imperial County.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Cooperative Extension hosted a meeting talking about pest management.

The extension held its annual fall integrated pest management meeting.

Over 30 pest control advisors and eight University of Arizona extension educators shared updates on their latest research.

These advisors helped agriculture by writing recommendations for products used to combat weeds, insects, and plant pathogens.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A man died after being ejected during a crash, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP).

On August 19, at about 5:38 a.m., a 34-year-old man was driving a Ford F-350 northbound on Dogwood Road south of Fawcett Road.

The driver was about to turn left onto a dirt road when a 30-year-old man on a motorcycle attempted to overtake the Ford.

The motorcyclist was thrown off his vehicle as it hit the left side of the Ford.

CHP says the motorcyclist was pronounced dead on scene.

The driver of the Ford did not sustain any injuries.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The San Luis Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating a missing person.

71-year-old Carlos Sanchez was last seen Monday afternoon leaving his home in his vehicle.

Sanchez drives a green 2001 Ford Excursion.

He is identified as slim, five-feet, seven-inches tall and suffers from dementia.

If you have any information on Sanchez, please call the San Luis Police Department at (928) 341-2420.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Locals are reacting to President Donald Trump’s comments on wanting to end mail-in ballots.

President Trump claims mail-in ballots are corrupt and open to fraud.

“We, as a Republican Party, are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots,” Trump remarked.

In Yuma County, there were over 49,000 mail-in ballots out of almost 69,000 total ballots cast in the last presidential election, meaning more than 70% of all ballots cast were mail-in ballots.

Yuma County Recorder David Lara agrees with Trump, but one local, Carl Chrastensen, says he doesn’t want it to happen.

“It’s convenient for senior citizens to just be able to mail them in and not have to go down and fight a crowd, strand all day in line, to cast a ballot,” Chrastensen explained.

“People will adapt. The people that really want to vote will make the time to come to the Recorder’s Office and vote early, or they’ll come on Election Day, it would cause a little bit of a hiccup in the beginning,” Lara said.

Despite the president’s claims to mail-in voting contributing to his 2020 election loss, no major evidence has been found.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local restaurant is hosting a fundraiser to take kids on the trip of a lifetime.

Raising Cane’s of Yuma will be donating one dollar of every Box Combo sold on Tuesday, August 26.

Proceeds will go towards the non-profit Kidd’s Kids that takes children with life-altering conditions to Disney World.

The goal is to raise $75,000.

“We love to be part of the mission since Kidd Kraddick, he is local to Yuma, and it’s huge for us because it’s on our culture and our values,” said Chris Bolles, Raising Cane’s restaurant leader.

The fundraiser will be all day.

Raising Cane’s is located on 16th Street across the street from the Yuma Palms Mall.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Two raptors are getting a second chance at Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Yuma after being transferred from a facility in Lake Havasu that couldn’t care for them.

The birds were flown to Yuma by Major Scott Myers of the Civil Air Patrol. One raptor has a broken wing, while the other’s flight muscles aren’t fully developed yet.

Staff say Myers’ experience in handling the birds made a big difference in keeping them calm during the trip.

“We rely on the help of the community and the community has really helped us out here,” said Albert Ustaszewski of Vida Wildlife. “Scott knows how to place them in the aircraft so that they’re not disturbed that much, as far as like getting bumped around, moved around, so they came down really good.”

Thanks to the support of the Civil Air Patrol and the local community, both raptors now have a safe place to heal.

With proper care, they are expected to make a full recovery and eventually return to the wild.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is giving local residents a chance to add shade, beauty, and cooler summers to their homes with its Tree for All program.

Since 2022, the initiative has planted thousands of desert-adapted shade trees across the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, helping improve air quality, reduce energy costs, and make neighborhoods more inviting.

This fall, IID will plant 1,300 trees for residential customers. To ensure fairness, participants will be selected through a lottery system, with sign-ups opening August 25 at 10 a.m. and closing September 2 at 5 p.m. One tree per household is allowed every 12 months.

“Trees provide not only the shade that I mentioned that can help lower your electric bills, they help a thriving community. The more green there is, the more peaceful things are. It’s something that benefits the environment, there are multiple benefits which is why we do this,” says Robert Schettler with IID.

Each tree is chosen to thrive in the region’s arid climate and, when planted strategically, can cut home cooling costs by up to 20%.

Winners will be notified 4-6 weeks after the sign-up period closes. For more information and to register for a tree, click here.

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