Author: KYMA

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A town hall meeting was held in Yuma to discuss federal firings and DOGE funding cuts.

Dozens came out to the Historic Yuma Theatre in Downtown, many of them in favor of the work being done by Arizona’s Attorney General. Items discussed include Medicaid cuts, social security, tariffs, and education.

Brian De La Hoya, a teacher in San Luis, says he supports Mayes’s resistance to cuts on public education.

De La Hoya, also the Chair of LD23 Democrats of Arizona, says, “I don’t think public school districts should be defunded at all. If anything, we should fund them more.”

Attorney General Mayes, along with several Attorney Generals from other states, have filed 18 lawsuits against the Trump Administration.

One of those lawsuits is in regards to the administration’s sweeping tariffs.

Attorney General Mayes says, “I’m very worried about the tariff impacts on Yuma, especially the farmers that export their goods to other countries and I’m worried about the small businesses in Yuma that imports their goods from China.”

Another focal point of the town hall was the cuts to Medicaid.

Mayes says these cuts, if successful, would be catastrophic to rural communities throughout the state.

“The Medicaid cuts carry the biggest potential for catastrophe, not even to speak on the impact that’s going to have on Yumans themselves, who may not have a hospital to go to if these Medicaid cuts go through,” Mayes explains.

But not everyone in attendance was in favor, one local applauding the President for keeping his promises and saying he doesn’t agree with the bombardment of lawsuits.

Mayes adds, “I love that I was challenged by a couple of folks that didn’t share my views. This is about letting people sound off, tell me how they’re feeling, and gathering evidence.”

This is Mayes’s 11th town hall she’s hosted in the state on the topic of federal firings and DOGE funding cuts.

She’ll host her 12th in Apache County on Monday.

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Dillon Fuhrman

(KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma man has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman in a Michigan hotel last year.

ABC 7 Detroit reports 37-year-old Joel Delavara was sentenced to at least 22 years in prison on Tuesday. He was convicted of criminal sexual conduct as well as home invasion.

The assault happened at a hotel in the Detroit area last August.

Police say Delavara went to the front desk of the hotel and requested a key to the victim’s room. That’s how he was able to get into the victim’s room and sexually assault her.

A week later, the Auburn Hills Police Department sent the Yuma Police Department a warrant for Delavara’s arrest, where he was then extradited back to Michigan to be charged.

Delavara is eligible for an appeal.

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Miriam Ordonez

SAN DIEGO (KYMA, KECY) – A Calexico man has been sentenced to over a year in prison for conspiring to smuggle over $3 million worth of unapproved pesticides and veterinary drugs into the U.S.

60-year-old Ruben Montes was also ordered to pay more than $12,000 in forfeiture after coordinating the illegal import of harmful chemicals not approved by the EPA and FDA.

These smuggled substances, including toxic pesticides, posed serious risks to both human and the environment.

“Bringing in and selling pesticides and veterinary drugs illegally puts both people and the environment at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “These unregulated products can be harmful to animals, insects, and humans. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who chooses profit over public safety.”

“A secure border is vital to ensuring the health and safety of Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate our environmental and customs laws and jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens.”

To learn more about Montes’ sentencing, read the press release below.

PR Montes Sentencing – BrownDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Gila Vista Jr. High School has received recognition as a Purple Star School.

According to Yuma School District One, the recognition is to reflect on the school’s dedication to ensure “military-connected students have the resources, stability, and community they need to thrive.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

During a monthly Governing Board meeting earlier this week, a banner was presented to the school, thus making Gila Vista the 10th school to earn this recognization along with other District One school such as:

C.W. McGraw Elementary School

Desert Mesa Elementary School

Dorothy Hall Elementary School

James B. Rolle Elementary School

James D. Price Elementary School

Mary A. Otondo Elementary School

Palmcroft Elementary School

Sunrise Elementary School

Ron Watson Middle School

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

“We’re honored to receive the Purple Star School designation, recognizing Gila Vista’s strong support for military-connected students and families,” said Sandra Carbajal, District One Military-Connected Advocate. “This reflects the school’s commitment to meeting the unique needs of military children as they transition to new schools.”

To learn more about Gila Vista receiving the recognition, read the press release below.

Purple Star School Gila VistaDownload

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A jackpot-winning ticket from the Arizona Lottery was sold in Yuma, according to O.H. Partners.

The Triple Twist ticket was sold on May 13 at the Chevron Self Serve on 2092 E. 24th Street.

The ticket was worth $320,000, which had the winning numbers: 8, 10, 15, 17, 37, and 40.

A Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was previously sold in Yuma on Saturday, May 10.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local school held an exercise Tuesday to have teachers, students, parents and first responders on the same page.

As part of the drill, Ed Pastor Elementary School in San Luis, Arizona evacuated its students from the classrooms to a safe spot a few blocks away.

School officials were informing parents through texts messages about the situation and how to pick up their kids at Eligio Ramirez Park.

“Moving them from location to another the school has to be very prepared in releasing the students in a safe proper manner as well the community and the parents,” said Lina Galvan, Gadsden Elementary School District (GESD) associate superintendent.

Associate Superintendent Galvan says it took a lot of effort to coordinate and move more than 500 students to a safe location.

“It took a lot of planning with the city, the police department, the fire department with our staff, our technology department, maintenance and transportation department. It took the collaboration of the whole school district,” explained Associate Superintendent Galvan.

A grandparent we spoke to says it’s important to have this kind of drills because everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.

“This is very important especially nowadays, the kids have to be prepared in case of any problem they could face,” expressed Marisol Garcia, a grandmother of a student.

Gadsden Elementary School District is planning to have another emergency drill next school year involving all schools within the district.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County has approved new funding to help keep two housing programs running, including one that supports domestic violence survivors.

WomanHaven’s Safe Home Program will now be funded through 2027, helping keep its emergency shelters open for people escaping dangerous situations.

“The funding is gonna be able to let us keep the doors open,” said Gina Vargas, Executive Director of WomanHaven. “It’s gonna allow us to continue to operate a 24/7 emergency shelter.”

Thanks to past grants, the program has already grown from two shelter spots to three full emergency shelters.

“We have expanded from offering room for two to having three emergency shelters due to grant funding,” Vargas said.

Johana Ramirez with Sure Helpline, a group that works closely with WomanHaven, says the need for shelter space in Imperial Valley is ongoing, especially for people with kids.

“Many times, the reason they don’t leave is economic reasons, or they don’t have a place to move to with children,” she said. “And many times when they contact local resources, shelters are already full.”

Ramirez says stable support like this gives survivors real options and hope.

“When they do experience victimization, we want them to have that support,” she said. “And to make that happen, we need to grow housing services in Imperial Valley.”

With this new support in place, WomanHaven says they’re focused on continuing to offer safety, and a fresh start.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma law enforcement is honoring those who died or were killed in the line of duty.

The Fraternal Order of Police Yuma Lodge #24 is holding the 48th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

It will take place at the Fallen Officer Memorial Monument at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex, located at 1700 E. 8th Street.

Everyone is invited to attend. To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Arizona Department of Education has reported a decline in children’s literacy levels.

“The Arizona Department of Education, their stats and the data that are showing that from 2023 until 2024, there has been a decline. So it was 41%, but now it’s 39% of third grade readers deficient,” said Yuma Arizona’s Children Association language and literacy educator Denise Ramirez.

That’s why the Yuma Arizona’s Children Association started a home library project to support 100 Yuma County families with a personalized home library.

“Our goal was 100 families – to serve 100 families. They will get a complete kit…a book nook kit where there will be a cozy chair, a reading buddy, a carpet, and a set of ten books,” said Ramirez.

They’re partnering with Nova Home Loans to create library kits and need your help to make it happen.

Items they need:

1,000 Books of different genres. Preference age appropriate for children 0-8

100 Bookshelf’s

100 Cozy sitting pieces

100 Small soft rugs

100 Stuffed animals

“So what we’re asking is for our industry, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, if everybody did a little, no one would have to do a lot. And there’s no reason why we can’t all come together, buy ten books, buy a shelf, buy a single stuffed animal or sitting piece, and help Arizona Children’s Association get this over the finish line for these hundred families,” said Vice President Branch Manager of Nova Home Loans Jarrod Holiman.

They’ll be accepting donations through mid June. You can find drop off items at the locations below. They say they are thankful for the generosity of each of these partners:

Drop off Locations:

Nova Home Loans

Arizona’s Children Association

Primelending

Realty One Group Gateway

Elite Engraving & More

If you need to reach out for donations, you can email them below:

HomeStartsHere@novahomeloans.com

dramirez@arizonaschildren.org

salvarez@arizonaschildren.org

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – News 11 is following law enforcement activity on 16th Street and 7th Ave. in Yuma.

Yuma police are on scene, but they tell us this is a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) case.

We reached out to HSI who responded by saying, “This morning, as part of an ongoing investigation, special agents with HSI served a state search warrant at Beijing Spa in Yuma, Arizona.”

HSI was helped by local police and U.S. Border Patrol.

No arrests have been made, according to HSI.

Keep it tuned to News 11 for the latest details. 

We went live on-scene below:

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