Author: KYMA

Adrik Vargas

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – In honor of Earth Day, the City of San Luis hosted a community tree planting event Tuesday morning at Los Olivos Park.

Organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the event brought together local families, students, and partners like Allo Fiber, Walmart, and Chicanos Por La Causa.

More than 10 trees were planted throughout the park, with kids and volunteers rolling up their sleeves to take part.

Parks and Rec leaders say the event isn’t just about planting trees, but about teaching the next generation the value of green spaces and environmental care.

“Today was a great outcome with the kids,” said Alvaro Escalante, San Luis Park Supervisor. “I see that the kids love it. Last year, we didn’t have any kids, so that’s something we’re definitely going to want to see more of.”

Organizers say the city plans to continue choosing different parks each year to spread the message of sustainability and build stronger community connections.

“We need to pass that message onto the kids, why it’s important. To have trees in our community for natural shade and oxygen, and that’s the idea, to pass that tradition onto our kids,” said Maria Angelica Roldan, San Luis Parks and Recreation Director.

The City of Yuma is hosting a similar event, an Arbor Day celebration on April 24, 2025, at Joe Henry Memorial Park, where they will plant approximately 40 trees approved for the Yuma environment.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Peter Torres has won the Arizona Self-Storage Association’s Manager of the Year Award.

“When I won, Yuma also won, and that’s what makes me feel so proud for the work that we do,” said Torres.

He is currently the manager at All Secure Self-storage in Yuma.

Torres says out of 900 facilities, he managed to win the award.

He shares how it feels to be recognized for his work. 

“It’s meant a lot to me because it’s kind of like letting, you know, that what you’re doing is good. That you are doing a good job for the community, for the customers, for Yuma,” said Torres.

One of the many requirements of the award is giving back to the community, which is something Torres did when he offered free storage to a family who had recently lost their home.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – On Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we featured DMF Living Soils that farms earthworms in order to produce healthier soil.

“Earthworms are the best laborers, soil laborers that we know,” said DMF’s manager David Marchuk.

The farm has been around for around two years and they are located in the counties.

The worms leave behind “black gold” when consuming the waste, which can lead to the soil becoming healthier.

“Our main mission here is to teach and inspire people to grow food as a medicine using indigenous microorganisms that are Indigenous to this desert environment and using it to grow valuable nutrient-dense foods,” said Marchuk.

He, and his wife Sarah, carry out this goal by reaching out to the public.

“We currently are ESA vendors, so we do children’s classes and adult classes, we also do composting classes using worms,””said Sarah.

They also have a 250,000 gallon pond with fish. This allows them to produce a fermented fish product that they say feeds the beneficial fungus in soil.

DMF Living Soils are open Monday through Friday if you like to check out the farm, seek consultations, or if you want some worms of your own.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A event with a powerful message is rolling into Yuma this weekend.

The 10th Annual 428X Suicide Awareness and Prevention Event is set for Saturday, April 26, and organizers say it will be the biggest one yet.

The event, honors the memory of Tony “Big Squatch” Warnock, who passed away 10 years ago. Since then, the family and community have gathered every year to raise awareness, offer support, and bring people together.

“This is the month of his birthday, and we’ve been doing this every year to keep his memory alive and support others,” said Robert Warnock, Tony’s brother.

This year’s event promises fun for the whole family while supporting an important cause. The day will feature a massive burnout show, car show, live bands, a DJ, jumpers for the kids, and local vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to jewelry and accessories.

If you’ve never seen a burnout show in person, Robert says you’re in for a treat.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest burnout shows we’ve ever had in Yuma,” he said. “We’ll have a 100-by-80-foot area with concrete barriers and fencing to keep everyone safe.”

Want to participate in the burnout show or car show? You can sign up on the event’s official Facebook page. The entry fee is $25, whether you want to join the burnout competition, show your car, or register as a vendor.

“Come out and enjoy the show. Bring your cars, bikes, side-by-side…whatever you’ve got. It’s all about community and raising awareness,” Robert said.

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Dillon Fuhrman

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Somerton area.

YCSO says Armando Corona, 61, advised them on living in the area of W. Jackson Street, near Van Brunt Avenue.

Corona is described by YCSO as five-feet, six-inches tall, weighing 163 pounds, has no hair, has brown eyes and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

Corona was sentenced to three years in the Florida Department of Corrections, with a credit for 24 days served, after pleaded no contest back in November of 1981 to one count of sexual battery to a woman who knew him.

He is considered a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend, according to YCSO.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to a fatal hit and run which claimed the life of a Calexico man.

A 49-year-old Mexicali man was arrested last Friday after the attorney of the trucking company he works for called the Calexico Police Department (CPD) the same day the hit and run happened.

Acting Lt. Sean Acuna with CPD says the suspect agreed to come in the next day for questioning saying, “The suspect was taken into custody, without incident, for felony hit and run and officers went to the 500 block [of] Madix Road…and were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle that had damage consistent with the evidence collected at the scene.”

CPD says the suspect was on his way to Los Angeles when he allegedly hit and killed the 29-year-old victim in the area of Jasper Road and State Route 111 last Thursday.

The suspect is being held at the Imperial County Jail, and is being charged with felony hit and run, causing the death of another person.

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Dillon Fuhrman

News 11’s Andrea Turisk spoke to local faith leaders about what qualities they believe the next Holy Father should bring to this role.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – As Catholics around the world mourn the passing of Pope Francis, attention now turns to the future of the church.

In Yuma, the faithful are not only reflecting on his legacy, they’re also thinking ahead as both faith leaders say they hope the next pope follows in Francis’ footsteps, carrying forward his compassion, justice and humility.

“No matter what happens, God is in charge,” said Sister Janet Rose with Immaculate Conception Grade School.

At Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma, prayers for Pope Francis echo with gratitude and anticipation for what comes next.

“People loved him, and I believe they will try to imitate his principles and he has the principles of the Catholic Church,” Rose expressed.

For nearly a decade, Pope Francis challenged the church to go beyond its walls, emphasizing care for the poor, the environment and marginalized communities.

Rose says she hopes the next pope builds on that momentum saying, “I would like to see him have an interest in immigration. I would like to see him have an interest in world peace, work for the dignity of all human people.”

While the decision rests in Rome, the prayers and hopes are global.

“To become a new pope is a process lead by the Holy Spirit. Whoever is coming, he knows and we know that he needs to work for the people of God,” said Father Manuel Fragoso with Immaculate Conception Church.

Typically, it takes 15 to 20 days for a new pope to be chosen. Until then, Catholics in Yuma, and around the world, are watching, waiting and praying.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro is bringing back a tradition after being on hiatus for over a decade.

The Ice Cream Social and Rain on Main is returning on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in Downtown Town Square.

The event was said to have shut down for the past 10 years due to water droughts. However, El Centro Mayor Sonia Carter decided to bring it back for this year.

The event will feature live music, food vendors, a kids zone and a beer garden.

Different ice cream vendors will be handing out free ice cream and the El Centro Fire Department will make it rain on Main Street with a water hose.

“We had this event looking back over 10 years ago and one of the reasons why we stopped having it was because of the water drought restrictions but now that the drought was been declared over we can have an event like this one…bring back a lot of the family fun joy that we used to have,” said Adriana Nava, Community Services Director for the City of El Centro.

Mayor Carter will also be there to talk and listen to concerns and ideas from the community.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) – The City of El Centro is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Buena Vista Park next month.

The ceremony is taking place, Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at 1010 Fieldview Avenue.

Guests can bring a picnic blanket and a lawn chair during the event, as well as enjoy lawn games, music, and free hot dogs from the first 200 visitors.

The park, according to the City, “is the latest addition to El Centro’s growing park system and was made possible through Measure P funding and a grant from the California Climate Investments Urban Greening Program.”

In addition, the park is said to offer El Centro residents “a fresh new space to enjoy the outdoors and connect with neighbors.”

For more information about the ceremony, and the park itself, contact the El Centro Economic Development Department at (760) 337-4543.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) hosted a town hall in Imperial County after he hosted a series of them throughout California.

More than 300 locals voiced their concerns at the Congressman Ruiz’s town hall meeting. However, the main concern is the actions by the Trump administration.

“My goal is to ensure that every single person in our district has a voice and that their concerns are heard in Washington D.C,” said Ruiz.

Before the meeting, I caught up with the California lawmaker who explained some of the concerns he’s hearing.

“The Imperial Valley communities…communities of the working class who are struggling day in and day out to make their paycheck last month to month, and so any increase of cost for what the tariffs are going to do is very concerning for them,” said Ruiz.

Besides tariff concerns, one local says many people in Imperial County have Medicaid or Medicare, or both. She says many programs also help locals with their health. 

“It appears that all of these programs are helping our most vulnerable population but are now at a tremendous risk of being eliminated or cut to the point of coming ineffective and you have mention that as well…so when are you going to get ready to impeach Trump?” said the local.  

However, the congressman says it will be hard for an impeachment to happen due to the lack of representatives being on the same page. 

“Many of them agree with what he is doing and those that don’t and I’ve spoken with them are afraid,” said Ruiz.

Ruiz says his staff will be in attendance to help out with other concerns. 

“If any individuals have any difficulties with Medicare, Social Security…The VA, [the] IRS or Small Businesses Administration, those are federal agencies they can come and meet with my staff who can start advocating for them through case work,” said Ruiz.

At the end of the meeting, some locals voiced their discontent of where they feel the congressman stand with certain issues. 

Ruiz had this to say about their discontent.

“I am not for pro any Israel…Gaza war. I want peace, I want the war to end,” said Ruiz.

He also talked about the next step.

“Based on what I hear, I’ll take that with me to Washington D.C. and I’ll advocate for the ideas that have been brought up,” Ruiz expressed.

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