Author: KYMA

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma residents came together to rescue a kitten stranded high above the ground.

The rescue unfolded after a call alerted Homeward Bound Animal Rescue to a kitten trapped with no clear way down, prompting a rapid response from both rescuers and bystanders.

Upon arriving at the scene, Homeward Bound Animal Rescue Director Megan Springer found that others had also stopped to help.

What began as a single response quickly turned into a coordinated effort among strangers united by concern for the animal’s safety.

“I was looking around and then some people came out of their truck and were like, ‘Hey, we’re here trying to help the cat too,’ and I was like ‘Cool,’ so it was like a team effort,” Springer shared.

One of the residents at the scene returned after purchasing a ladder and climbed up to reach the kitten. With careful movements, he was able to retrieve the animal and bring it safely back to the ground.

For Springer, the rescue was about more than saving a single animal. She said the experience reflected the close-knit nature of Yuma and the willingness of residents to step in and help one another without hesitation.

“One thing that I do love about this, is that the humanity of it is turning into ‘Yumanity,’ because we’re Yuma, and Yuma really brought it together. It wasn’t really me, I was just kind of the catalyst of being there and helping,” she expressed.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its next president, marking a historic moment for the institution.

Dhawan will become the 10th president in the college’s history and the first woman to hold the position. She is set to officially assume the role following the retirement of current President Dr. Daniel Corr next July.

Dhawan has been part of the AWC community since 2008 and currently serves as the chief executive officer of the college’s Entrepreneurial College, as well as vice president of workforce development.

Her experience spans faculty and administrative roles, which she says has shaped her leadership approach.

“Every single role I learned so much,” she said. “Being faculty, you work very close with the students, you understand better coaching, you understand faculty needs, so you understand how to support faculty. Being an administrator, you understand how to support students, and faculty, and staff, everybody, and community.”

Looking ahead, Dhawan envisions continued expansion and development for Arizona Western College.

Her goals include strengthening partnerships with Arizona’s three state universities. Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, exploring the creation of a bachelor’s degree program, and expanding workforce training opportunities to meet the needs of a growing region.

She also has a desire to draw students from outside the Yuma area and beyond state lines.

“It’s gonna become bigger and bigger…We wanna have more students even outside the state and even outside the Yuma region come to Yuma and stay in Yuma. We wanna grow our own,” she said.

With her appointment, AWC signals a continued commitment to innovation, workforce development, and regional growth as it prepares for a new era under Dhawan’s leadership.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With Christmas just around the corner, a local church in Yuma is offering residents the opportunity to experience the origins of the holiday through a live theatrical production.

Champion Church will present its annual performance, “Jesus Is Born,” this weekend, bringing the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ to the stage.

The production depicts the journey of Joseph and Mary and how they became the parents of Jesus. Preparations for the performance have been underway for nearly two months, with extensive rehearsals involving a large group of participants.

Approximately 200 people make up the cast and crew, ranging from young children to adults.

Champion Church Pastor LaCinda Bloomfield said the production is both a celebration of faith and a reflection of the crew’s growth.

She said sharing the love of Jesus with the city and watching participants develop their talents, especially children who have grown into adult roles over the years, has been especially meaningful.

“Jesus Is Born” will be performed at Champion Church from December 19 through December 21, with each show beginning at 7 p.m.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An 11th grade student became the youngest graduate of Imperial Valley College’s Dual Enrollment program.

Noah Munguia earned four associate degrees before completing high school.

His degrees are in psychology, behavioral science, social science and university studies: social and behavioral science.

Munguia is planning to earn his fifth associate degree by May 2026.

“It’s important to not give up, keep working no matter how hard it is and have people there to support you, that’s what really matters, having people to talk to and be there for you when you really need it,” said Munguia. “It’s just amazing being able to do all of this and being a student-athlete, accomplishing a lot of my goals.”

Munguia wants to continue his education at California State University San Marcos and work towards both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Department of Corrections says the death of an inmate at the state prison in Yuma was gang related.

50-year-old Jacob Major was killed last week after he was attacked by several fellow inmates.

The Department says this targeted attack does not represent a threat to the wider inmate population.

Another inmate who was killed at the Arizona State Prison in Buckeye this week was also due to gang violence, according to the Department of Corrections. 

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Visit Yuma announced the winners for the 2025 Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade.

The event, which took place on Saturday, December 13, featured over 100 entries from marching bands, bicycle groups, floats and more.

The winners are as follows:

Best Vehicle – Spectrum

Best Float – Champion Church

Best Animal Group – Saddles of Joy

Best Walking/ Performance – Glam dance studio

Best Depiction of Theme – Fourth Avenue Junior High School

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Law enforcement is advising locals to secure their vehicles after several jeep wranglers and other similar cars were stolen in Imperial County.

The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) say they are seeing an increase of stolen Jeeps in the city.

“They are taking Jeeps away, it’s the Wranglers and the Gladiators mostly,” said Karla Ville, investigator with ECPD.

ECPD say the vehicles with a push to start systems are the ones being targeted. 

“They don’t use the key, they use the push start because it is electronically, so they are using an electronic device to cut of the alarm system and then breaking into it and opening it and starting it electronically with the system that they have themselves,” said Ville.

Ville say the jeeps are being stolen between midnight and 4 a.m. She also says it takes at least one to five minutes to take a vehicle. 

“The people that are doing it, what they have in common are juveniles, so they are under 18 the ones who are the drivers of those vehicles, However there is a follow up car right behind them that drops them off and then the juvenile picks up the stolen car and takes it with them,” said Ville.

Police say sometimes the vehicles are taken to Mexico.

Jeeps are also being stolen in Yuma, San Diego and Riverside, California.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A proposed data center in Imperial County continues to spark debate as locals for and against the center speak out at the Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting.

During the regular meeting on Tuesday, the deputy CEO of Natural Resources provided a timeline outlining the data center review process.

The deputy says although the County has received the site plan documents, they’ve initiated a health risk assessment and other related processes.

The County has not approved a grading permit for the project.

Imperial County Supervisor Peggy Price stated that the County is aware of emails and phone calls from local residents regarding the center.

“I want to acknowledge the many emails, calls and comments we have received from members of the public regarding the proposed data center. We hear your concerns and understand the desire of responses and dialogue. However, it is important to know that an anticipation of any administrative permit that may come before this board regardless of the project we have an obligation to remain neutral and unbiased,” said Supervisor Price.

The Board says they won’t be commenting about the project at this time.

The Imperial County Planning Commission is having a meeting regarding the data center Thursday.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – William Gresser, St. John Neumann Parish Parishioner says, “Reach out to anyone and anything that they know, if they have connection in Washington, if they connections in Phoenix, if they have connections with our senators or congressman, I’d like they to reach out and ask them for an expedition for these two men so they do not have to return to Nigeria.”

Father Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen of St. John Neumann Parish has to leave at the end of the month. Father Tamen’s work visa has expired, but because of a huge application backlog, he’s not able to renew it.

A second priest from Nigeria, Reverand Ukeyima who serves in Kearney, Arizona, will also have to go back.

Gresser hopes that by getting this information out there, it will reach someone in Washington and the priests will be given refugee status.

“Asking for something outside of the normal visa process and that is that they would be able to stay on an extended visa, it’s just my hope, it’s my prayer,” says Gresser.

We spoke with one of the parishioners of the church who says he worries about the safety of the two priests due to deadly violence in Nigeria targeting Christians.

Gresser says, “Their lives are in great danger if they go back, they have a target on their back, if they go back to Nigeria, and I don’t think that we want to be responsible for putting that target on their back.”

Both priests are part of the Diocese of Tucson.

Gresser adds, “And here we are sending back two very well-received, gainfully employed, filling a need in the united states, who are no burden to the United States.”

Father Tamen is set to return to Nigeria on December 26.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The man accused of murdering his girlfriend near Senator Wash in Imperial County had his court hearing postponed Thursday.

56-year-old James Hill appeared in court for his preliminary hearing setting.

It was rescheduled to March 12 after Hill‘s attorney requested more time to review the case after hill changed attorney’s in October.

After the hearing, we spoke with one of Hill‘s friends, Melanie Morris, who has attended all of his court appearances. She’s frustrated the hearing was pushed back again.

“It is unfortunate, but it needs to be done right to prove they have the wrong person. It angers me and it makes me sad. It is just ridiculous, it’s all ridiculous, but it is what it is,” said Morris.

Hill is accused of murdering 34-year-old September Lee Weisinger from Kentucky. The victim was found burned to death outside of her trailer in June.

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