Author: KYMA

Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – One child has died so far this year in the U.S. after being left in a hot car.

It’s why Imperial County and the El Centro Fire Department (ECFD), along with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), joined forces to bring awareness to this issue.

First responders and health officials say under no circumstance should a child or a pet remain inside a vehicle unattended.

“Since 1998, 1,000 children in the U.S. have died from pediatric vehicle heat stroke. In 2024, 39 children lost their lives this way, so far in 2025, there’s only one death nationwide,” said Battalion Chief Eduardo Ainza of ECFD.

The extreme heat in the Imperial Valley can kick up the temps in a vehicle by more than 20 degrees in a matter of minutes.

It’s even more dangerous for children, as their body temperature can increase up to five times more than an adult.

“I would say is more of a threat here simply because of our climate here. Fortunately, we have not run across at yet this year, but it’s one of those issues that we got to raise awareness because it could so deadly and it happens so quickly,” said Battalion Chief Ainza.

And keep this in mind.

“The message in summer time is just take an extra second look to the backseat, is there anything on the backseat that I need to attend to…It’s mainly with children but also with pets. You can’t leave pets unattended,” said Capt. Ernesto Ruedas of CHP.

If you happen to see a child unattended in a car, call 911 immediately.

People who leave a child in a vehicle can face serious consequences.

“You can see child endangerment even manslaughter, most of these cases they are not on purpose people don’t leave a child in a vehicle unattended especially in this heat,” said Capt. Ruedas.

To prevent deaths from heat stroke, don’t leaving your kids in a car, even if the air conditioning is on.

Check the back seat every time you leave, and always keep the keys out of the child’s reach.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local students put their mechanics knowledge to the test.

Middle school students from San Luis, Somerton and Yuma participated in a race featuring radio-controlled cars.

The goal is to motivate kids to pursue a career in mechanics.

“It gives them the opportunity to learn about mechanics adjustments for suspensions and this is something they can do in the future as a career so it gives them a start for that future and that career,” said Walter Flores, Somerton Middle School instructional strategist.

The Arizona Business and Education Coalition is planning to have more events to involved more students from other schools in Yuma County.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – More questions than answers following a newborn found in a hotel trash can.

KYMA spoke with Yuma Police Chief Thomas Garrity about the case and he shared a few things authorities are asking for during their investigation.

The case is still in the early stages.

Chief Thomas Garrity is asking the mother of the child to step up.

“What I am asking for is the mother to come forward, come talk to the detectives. You may need medical help, we are here to assist you with medical help,” said Garrity.

Garrity says there are ways to give a baby away without putting the child in danger.

“We have safe harbors at all the hospitals, at every fire station and every adoption agency, and even if you have to come to the police department just to say, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ we have the resources for the people who are in this position,” Garrity explained.

Garrity is also asking the community to be patient with this case and the results of the investigation. He says to beware of false donations sites.

“We are working with multiple agencies and multiple resources to find those answers. There will be things come out online and I want to caution the community on who they donate to and please only donate to the reputable organizations that they know,” explained the chief.

The case remains under investigation.

If you have more information, call YPD or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma Border Patrol recently dismantled a temporary processing facility. They say there was no longer a need for it since they are seeing historically low numbers of crossings.

Border Patrol says the facility was set up in 2021 due to the high number of people illegally coming across the border.

“The original purpose of that facility is temporary detention, so we were holding them there until they were taken to the next step of the immigration process,” said Yuma Sector Border Patrol Agent Fidel Cabrera.

At the time it was dismantled, the facility had a holding capacity of a little over 1,300 people.

“At our peak, during that time frame, the 2021 to 2024, we’re arresting approximately 1500 people a day which are our hard sided facility are not capable of holding,” said Agent Cabrera.

They say dismantling the facility also saves a lot of money.

“The facility here in Yuma was costing approximately $16 million a month, and the benefits of it being gone…we have our agents being able to deploy out to the field and conduct law enforcement operations,” said Cabrera.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Invenergy held a ribbon cutting Friday for a new solar power and battery energy storage center bringing clean and reliable energy to Yuma.

Yuma Solar is Invenergy’s 1st solar energy facility in Arizona, and its 11th project to successfully complete development in the Copper State. APS is purchasing the power from the technology to better serve customers.

“Projects like this help to ensure that, you know, the cost of power is reliable, affordable, clean, so no emissions coming from all of this and stable, so it’s there exactly when you need it,” said Paul Burman, Invenergy Director of Renewable Development.

The center has 70 megawatts of solar energy and energy storage. It brings power to 21,000 American homes and plans to invest $30 million directly into the community.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local father saved his seven-year-old daughter from a dog attack while walking her to school.

He spoke with reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo and takes us through this terrifying experience.

David Fleck says, “When that dog came at her up on its feet and opened his mouth, her whole head would’ve went in his mouth.”

It was a usual Monday morning at a quiet RV park in the Foothills when neighbors woke up to the sound of gunshots.

Fleck says it was frightening and close call, sharing, “You got to understand, this all happened in a matter of, what, 3-4 seconds.”

Fleck was walking his daughter to her bus stop when from around the bushes came a ravaging pit bull.

“That dog lunged up, I’m not going to shoot my gun into the air, so I kicked it as hard as I could, and I was wearing my boots,” Fleck shared.

Fleck says the animal just finished killing a neighborhood cat and was on a rampage.

He fired a warning shot into the ground but says that only invigorated the dog.

“You see that hole right there? That’s where I took the next shot. The dog moved; I just grazed it. I was trying to get its heart; I didn’t want it to suffer. The kill shot, the third shot, was right here. It went into the dog; the dog gave up. It went over there under that van and died,” Fleck explains.

Following the incident, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) and Animal Control ruled the killing as a justified act of self defense and defense of another.

Fleck reiterated “This little girl means everything to me.”

An unofficial watchman of the neighborhood, Fleck’s says he’s sorry he had to do it, but would do the same if the child were someone else’s.

He says this all happened the day before he finalized the adoption of his little girl.

“I would’ve done it for, not just my daughter, but their daughter, and their son. I’m a foster parent. I almost lost her the day before I adopted her. That was scary.”

The owner of the dog is still unknown.

If you any information, please reach out to YCSO.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Over 6,000 troops and personnel have been sent to the border for more security by the Department of Defense.

This includes the Roosevelt Reservation, which is a 60-foot-strip stretching over 600 miles through Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

170 miles of the land in New Mexico has been transferred to the DOD.

Local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chief Justin De La Torre sharing on Wednesday how beneficial it is to have military backup.

“Now we’re actually able to deploy those soldiers out to remote stretches of the border and they’re bringing technology with them in areas where we previously did not have technology,” Chief De La Torre says.

Yuma County Board of Supervisor Tony Reyes feels this much support is excessive.

“If you dare to do something that is related to national security, that makes some sense, but if it’s there to help with illegal immigration, let me tell you: There isn’t much to help with so to me this is just overkill,” Reyes said.

While fellow Board of Supervisor Jonathan Lines is in favor of the military presence.

“I think that anytime we can augment those numbers, it serves as more of a deterrent to the cartels and to people who would be the bad actors pushing people and narcotics into the United States,” Lines says.

According to the CBP website, around around 11,000 migrant encounters were recorded in March of this year, which is below the 189,359 number from last year.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Charitable donations blessed the Yuma Boys and Girls Club. With the help the Optimist Club of Yuma, JCPenney Communities Foundation, and Prison Hill Brewing Company, the Boys and Girls Club has been able to transform the old teen center to a teen takeover.

The re-imagined space includes several rooms for the kids to enjoy including an art room, computer lab, STEM room, and music space.

Vice President of the Regional Impact Boys & Girls club of the Valley, Liz Byrne, says they are so grateful for all the donors to make this all possible.

“We are a nonprofit, and in order to actually provide the services that we need to serve the community, we need that assistance, and we really, really appreciate their support,” said Byrne.

The Boys and Girls Club opened in 2022 with less than 40 kids. Now, they’ve grown to around 200.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

Reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo gives us an inside look at what it takes to earn the title Weapons and Tactics Instructor.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The United States Marine Corps’ Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, also known as WTI, is one of the most challenging and prestigious training programs in the military.

It’s designed to bring out the finest in Marine aviation and exclusively takes place in Yuma.

The WTI course is not for the faint of heart and only the most capable Marines are selected.

They’re required to undergo over 150 hours of classroom education and 220 hours of flight training over the course of 7-9 weeks.

To better understand what it takes to earn this prestigious title, 20-plus community members got the chance of a lifetime and jumped on a helicopter and got a first-hand look at the training.

It was just a glimpse into the fast-paced, high-stakes environment Marines operate in on a daily basis.

Due to the Commanding Officer’s request, certain restrictions were placed on media and we weren’t able to interview any Marines, but we did speak with some fellow passengers.

That includes Army veteran Christopher Bilbrey who says he’s been on military aircraft before, but not like this.

“I spent of time flying in the Army with blackhawks and chinooks and I thought they leaked a lot. Oh god, the Marines have it,” Bilbrey shared.

As they boarded the helicopter it was clear that comfort was not a priority.

Hydraulic oil leaked from various parts of the aircraft, the space was cramped, and the noise of engines and propellers could drown out your thoughts.

But for the Marines, efficiency and mission success are far more important than comfort.

Devon McPherson, the President of Yuma County Fair Board, says, “I had no idea what the inside of the aircraft looked like and I agree, it was a little warm in there and I couldn’t imagine on a hot summer day or overseas deployed.”

Despite the noise, it was fascinating to see the communication between the Marine pilots and crew.

The coordination from the front to the back of the aircraft was seamless.

Their movements were quick and precise, as there’s no room for error if lives were on the line.

“I think it’s really amazing to get to see what our Marines do and to feel it hands on and see what they go through every day when they fly,” McPherson shared.

When they arrived at Kiwanis Park and Crane Middle School, Marines on the ground were already securing the area, ensuring the landing spot was clear of any disruptions.

The entire operation is a well-oiled machine that showcased the skill, coordination and precision needed for successful missions.

McPherson says, “So, at any given time that they’re needed to go overseas or in the case of an emergency, they’re prepared. They had a lot of great leaders on that aircraft and we were all honored to be there.”

Bilbrey adds, “It gives the civilians a real understanding of what these guys go through. These guys have a hard job. We should really give them more recognition for what they do.”

In the end, the WTI course is about becoming an exceptional Marine, capable of leading and training others in the most challenging environments.

It’s clear that those who graduate from this program are among the finest in the Corps.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Western College (AWC) has announced the date for the 2025 Commencement next month.

The ceremony is taking place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Stadium, located at 7150 E. 24th Street.

AWC says this is in collaboration with Northern Arizona University-Yuma, Arizona State University Yuma Campus, and University of Arizona-Yuma.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says the ceremony is to celebrate graduates across Yuma and La Paz Counties, “including local high school students earning Associate of Arts degrees through the Dual Credit program.”

“Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning,” said Ana English, Dean of Enrollment Services & Athletics. “On behalf of Student Services, we wish you all the best on your new journey.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says they selected Alexia Gil, “a Kofa High School alumnus originally from Mexicali, B.C.,” as the 2025 AWC Student Commencement Speaker. To learn more about Gil, click here.

The ceremony will be aired live on the following options:

Cable TV: Channel 74

AWC’s Facebook Page

The official AWC YouTube channel

AWC TV

AWC celebrates commencement May 16Download

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