Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local barber is taking steps to make haircuts less stressful for children with autism and sensory sensitivities.

Royalty Barber Studio, located at 1799 South First Avenue in Yuma, held a grand opening ceremony Saturday evening to unveil a newly designed sensory-friendly studio. The space is tailored to children who may be overwhelmed by the typical sights and sounds of a barbershop.

Owner Jose Landeros said the idea came from personal experience.

“I was inspired by my nephew and the challenges he faced during haircuts,” Landeros said. “I started thinking about what I could do to make the experience easier for parents and kids like him.”

Landeros said the sensory studio had been in development for several years, and he’s proud to finally bring the concept to life.

“Especially giving them an area where it’s judge-free – it’s what we’ve been wanting to do for a few years now,” he said. “We’re happy that we finally got the opportunity to do it.”

Landeros hopes the new space not only supports families in the community but also sets a new standard for inclusivity across Yuma’s barbershops.

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Samuel Kirk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Middle school students across Yuma got a taste of adulthood this week during the final BizKidz simulation of the school year, hosted by United Way of Yuma County.

The program, held Thursday, gave students a hands-on opportunity to role-play as adults, from managing monthly budgets to paying bills, and making real-world financial decisions.

“It’s just getting them ready and giving them some vision of what the real world is like,” said Karina Jones, CEO of United Way of Yuma County. “We want all of the kids at United Way to be as successful as they can be.”

BizKidz is part of a larger effort to prepare young people for life beyond the classroom by promoting financial literacy and career readiness.

Organizers say they plan to continue running the simulation in future school years.

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Samuel Kirk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A night of wine, music, and giving back brought the community together Thursday at City Hall.

Hosted by Yuma & Imperial Valley Wealth Management (YIVWM), the “Come Wine With Us” fundraiser benefited two local causes: The Hansen House and the Yuma County Burn Survivors Foundation.

Guests donated $50 each to attend the event, which featured wine tastings and a relaxed atmosphere with a charitable mission at the heart of it all.

“We typically have a lot of events and invite more nonprofits as much as we can,” said John Durazo with YIVWM. “It’s great to give back in this kind of way. We have a ton of people come and just have a really good time.”

Organizers say the goal is to raise both funds and awareness for burn survivors in Yuma County while supporting the ongoing work of The Hansen House, which offers recovery services for those in need.

The evening was a reminder that doing good can also bring people together for a night they won’t forget.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Helios Education Foundation awards $500,000 to Arizonans, including seven locals from Yuma County.

The seven Yuma recipients are:

Anjuly Gomez Calderon

Leeza Jones

Sheccid Ortiz

Damara Rodriguez

Yaquelin Garcia

Daniela Limon

Vladimir Gurrola

Each person received up to $20,000 for their education.

“Our journey over the past two decades would not have been possible without the numerous partners we’ve collaborated with over the years,” said Vince Roig, the founding board chair of Helios Education Foundation. “Our commitment to ensuring postsecondary success for all students remains just as strong as it was when we began — and will continue for generations to come.”

Helios has invested millions to recipients across Arizona.

You can read more about Helios Education Foundation here.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A woman from Imperial County was found to have received thousands of dollars in fraud, according to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

Multiple felony charges were made against Natalia Nicole Castro, who is alleged to have received over $16,000 in CalWORKS and CalFresh benefits.

The charges include:

Making multiple applications for aid with fake identities

Using someone else’s identifying information

Forging state-issued documents

“This case highlights the importance of integrity in our public assistance programs,” said District Attorney George Marquez. “Our Public Assistance Fraud Unit is committed to holding accountable those who exploit safety net systems meant to support vulnerable members of our community.”

The investigation was made by the District Attorney’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will be at a meeting in Yuma to discuss federal firings.

The town hall meeting will be on Wednesday, May 14 at the Yuma Arts Center (254 S. Main St.) starting at 5:30 p.m.

Kris Mayes will be speaking about budget cuts proposed by President Trump and Elon Musk.

The meeting is open to those who are willing to speak and were affected by DOGE funding cuts.

If you wish to speak at the town hall then you can fill out a form here.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Suspicious activity led to some Yuma schools placed on a brief lock down. 

Around 9:30 Friday morning, Yuma Police Department (YPD) responded to a report of a suspicious man near 4th Avenue Junior High School.

The person was believed to be carrying a backpack potentially containing firearms.

As a precautionary measure, nearby schools including Yuma High School, Mary E. Post, 4th avenue Junior High School, and Roosevelt, were placed on lockdown.

It was soon discovered that the man had a backpack of toy guns and there was no threat to public safety.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma organization volunteered to support the community.

Keller Williams Realty’s Red Day was founded in 2009 to help locals, whether it’s by distributing food, relief efforts for natural disasters, or raising thousands of dollars for charity.

Volunteers in Yuma spent Red Day at the Arizona State Veterans Home and participated in hands-on activities.

“RED Day is rooted in the belief that when people unite with purpose, they can accomplish extraordinary things for others,” said Kim Hill Olsen, ALC Culture Chairperson at Keller Williams Realty Yuma.

“Our associates and staff are proud to give back by supporting the vital work of the Arizona State Veterans Home. RED Day is just one example of how the Keller Williams culture lives and breathes service year-round,” said Olsen. “When a need arises, we rally and take action—it’s simply who we are.”

Keller Williams Realty Yuma is located at 2553 E. 24th Street.

You can read more about Red Day here.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A minor in Imperial County was arrested after riding his electric bike on the highway.

Law enforcement says e-bikes are becoming a huge issue in the Valley and it’s illegal to ride them on the streets.

The Imperial Police Department (IPD) says a 14-year-old boy was riding his e-bike on Highway 86 when he was spotted by a sergeant.

“They are not street legal so that was the violation that the person was going to get pulled over for and the person decided to flee our sergeant, which started the pursuit,” said Capt. Max Sheffield of IPD.

It ended on Belford and La Brucherie road but not as peacefully as officers would have liked.

“He was not obeying the commands that the officers were giving him at the time of the arrest and he put up just a small little struggle with the officer at the time,” explained Capt. Sheffield.

The teenager was taken to Imperial County Juvenile Hall. He is being charged with fleeing an officer and resisting arrest.

IPD say there’s been a huge problem with teenagers riding e-bikes and they’ve received numerous complaints from locals.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A man with flown to a Phoenix hospital after he was found with a gunshot wound on Arizona Avenue, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

At about 1:50 a.m. on May 9, officers were called about a man with a gunshot wound in the area of Arizona Avenue near W. 32nd Street.

YPD says officers found a 32-year-old man suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was first taken to Onvida Health then later flown to a Phoenix hospital.

No arrests have been.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous

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