Author: KYMA

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Locals share their reaction to the anticipated ban on the social media platform TikTok.

The government says the main reason for the ban centers around national security and the risks related to data privacy and personal information.

The locals we spoke with say the potential threats don’t seem that imposing.

“I don’t know a lot of the specifics of the ban and I haven’t really been keeping myself updated on it. I’ve just been posting as normal and having fun with it,” says Naya Ott.

Valeria Rodriguez, a News 11 Reporter, says, “I like to watch home recipes and I like to watch anything that’s artsy and crafty.”

Ott, a young woman from Yuma with over 25,000 followers on TikTok shares how she utilizes the app: “Random vlogs of my day and I also like to talk about Jesus and my faith on TikTok. That’s the most important thing to me on there.”

Rodriguez has had her fair share of the spotlight on the app as well: “I was standing right here (on 4th Avenue) when a car splashed me and I went viral on TikTok.”

Ott says she understands where both sides are coming from.

“It would be cool to see people get involved more hands-on in their community and influencing that way instead of through social media…But I do have sympathy for those who it’s their full-time job and it’s their main source of income,” says Ott.

Rodriguez says the app is great for sharing, connecting, and making a difference.

“I think it is going to make a really big impact because it’s helped a lot of people. I know there are a lot of moms out there with kids that have special needs and don’t know what it is until they see other kids that look like them,” she explains.

One local says a lot of people are just overreacting.

Alan Ridley says, “There’s Instagram, YouTube, and a bunch of other media apps you can use to do that. It’s not like it’s the end of the world for short-term media.”

The locals share their thoughts on a possible return.

Rodriguez says “I think that TikTok will be making a comeback because it has been super helpful in informing people about what’s going on in the world especially now that we are living in such a fast-paced environment.”

Ott adds “I think it would be cool if someone in America bought it so we can continue using it,”.

Ott says there are some apps that will fill the role of TikTok.

“I’ve been really wanting to start YouTube and start posting on that consistently and you can make the same content on Instagram reels as you can on TikTok,” Ott adds.

Experts expect the app to be removed from Apple and Google stores on Sunday.

They say a sale of the popular app by its current owner can restore access for U.S. users.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A serial burglar is caught by Yuma Police. The thefts took place over several weeks ranging from late December to mid January.

During that time, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) received a total of seven reports of vehicle burglaries at various retail establishments. Stolen credit cards belonging to the victims were used at various locations throughout the city.

Friday night, just after 7:00 p.m. in a parking lot at the Yuma Palms Mall, YPD identified and arrested the suspect, who is a 43-year-old man.

YPD reminds everyone to not leave valuables in your vehicles, especially in plain view.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call Yuma Police or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. 

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is investigating a crash that left one man dead.

In a press release, the crash happened on Friday before 5:00 p.m. in the area of S. Avenue E and W. Clip Street.

YCSO says a 1984 Jeep Scrambler was driving “eastbound on Clip Street from Avenue E when, for unknown reasons,” the Jeep veered off the road and “rolled over into a farm field.”

YCSO says field workers reported the crash and “attempted to render aid to the driver who was unresponsive,” but YCSO’s deputies and Rural Metro Fire Department (RMFD) arrived on scene and “continued to perform life-saving measures,” but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

YCSO says the driver was identified as 78-year-old Douglas Lee of Yuma, and that next of kin was notified.

While alcohol did not factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information on the crash, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. You can also visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KEC) – People across Yuma County got to go for a run Saturday morning for a good cause.

American Cancer Society hosted Zo’s Cancer Crushers Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. at Arizona Western College’s (AWC) Main Campus’ parking lot 7.

The fun run is in collaboration with Relay For Life of Yuma County and is to help them fund childhood cancer research.

Zoiey Gaines, one of the event’s hosts, shared what made her want to host the fun run: “I did this because when I was younger, I had leukemia, which is a blood cancer, and I’m standing here today doing this run for my relay team, Zo’s Cancer Crushers. It’s been fun. Been teaching people about how my life was and showing them about what ‘Gold Together’ really means.”

The first 50 participants’ registration will receive a special goodie bag, according to the organization.

Relay for Life Yuma is hosting another event on Saturday, March 22. To learn more about the event, click here.

Dillon Fuhrman

MARTINEZ LAKE, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Locals and winter visitors across Yuma County got a chance to take tour the Colorado River Saturday.

Lower Colorado River Excursions hosted its inaugural Liberty Jet Boat Tour at around 11:30 a.m. at Fisher’s Landing, where attendees got to see the sights, such as the Imperial Dam and Senators Wash.

Charles Stankovich, General Manager for Lower Colorado River Excursions, shares why this was important for Yuma County: “There’s a lot of winter visitors [that] come out here. They’re looking for something extra to do, you know, out of the norm. And you know what better thing to do than go take a boat ride out to the beautiful Colorado River and see all the scenery and the wildlife out there.”

Stankovich also said locals and visitors have been “eagerly anticipating the Liberty’s service for years.”

If you want to participate in the tour, you can book online HERE.

Samuel Kirk

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico East Port of Entry made a shocking discovery Saturday afternoon.

In a press release, the incident happened at around 2:50 p.m. when two people, a 52-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man, in a 2002 SUV applied for entry into the U.S., but was sent to secondary inspection after officers noticed irregularities.

Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Using non-intrusive technology and the help of a K-9 unit, CBP says officers uncovered liquid methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle’s gas tank.

More than 254 pounds of the drug were extracted and tested positive for methamphetamine, according to CBP.

Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Courtesy: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

“Drug traffickers will go to great lengths in attempt to deceive our officers,” said Roque Caza, Calexico Area Port Director. “I’m proud of our highly trained officers working diligently every day to combat these dangerous drugs that have claimed so many lives.”

Both occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for processing, CBP says while adding that their officers seized the vehicle and drugs.

2025-0117 Calexico CBP officers discover liquid methamphetamine concealed in vehicles gas tankDownload

Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (6:24 PM): The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says they also responded to the crash late Sunday morning.

In a press release, YFD sent Yuma Battallion 1, formally Yuma Duty Chief 1, Yuma Engine 2, Yuma Medic 2, Ladder 1 and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Engine 1 to the area, where they found a small passenger truck “actively burning.”

YFD says the Rural Metro Fire Department (RMFD) dispatched crews “due to the jurisdictional uncertainty,” and the passenger, an 18-year-old woman, who ejected from the truck, received care from them.

YFD also says their crews assisted Rural Metro with the woman who ejected from the truck, and that Rural Metro took the woman to Onvida Health while Yuma Medic 2 took the man, also 18-years-old, to Onvida Health.

No other injuries were reported, according to YFD.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash that left one person dead and one person injured.

In a press release, the crash happened Sunday at around 11:30 a.m. in the area of W. 88th Street (County 18th Street) and Avenue 1E.

YPD says an 18-year-old man was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger southbound on Avenue 1E when he lost control and rolled the vehicle, with the passenger, an 18-year-old woman, being ejected.

YPD then says both the driver and passenger were taken to Onvida Helath, where the 18-year-old woman was later pronounced dead while the 18-year-old man suffered minor injuries.

While speed appeared to be a factor in the crash, YPD says the investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the crash, call YPD at (928) 783-4421, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Fatality collision W 88th St (Co 18th St) and S Ave 1E 25-3797Download

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – On his first day in office, President Donald Trump shut down the CBP One app, a tool introduced by the Biden Administration to manage migrant entry at the southern border.

The app allowed migrants to schedule appointments to seek asylum, helping to create an orderly process at border ports of entry.

Since its launch in 2023, the app facilitated over 900,000 appointments, but now, its functions have been discontinued, leaving thousands of migrants in limbo.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the app’s closure Monday, saying, “Appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is now longer available, and exisiting appointments have been cancelled.”

One local resident of San Luis, Mexico, Victoria Mejia, shared her reaction to when she found out the CBP One app was no longer available: “I’m scared because I don’t know if there is going to be an alternative or different process, but that means I would have to wait all over again. Meaning these seven months were for nothing.”

News 11’s Valeria Rodriguez spoke with Mejia, and asked her if she would risk crossing the border illegally and Mejia said, “I mean I come with my kids and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them. I know the risk crossing illegally and that’s why we wanted to wait and cross legally.”

However, Mejia said she’s still hopeful there will be another way to cross legally, but she already has a plan B in mind: “If nothing else pops up, well just stay here and make our life here in San Luis.”

The Port of Entry in San Luis was closed briefly for about an hour as CBP agents appeared to be under some type of training. KYMA reached out for comment, but are waiting to hear back.

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Valley held events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2025.

About 100 people participated in a ceremony about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., starting with a walk at 11 a.m.

“I love the fact that we walked these few blocks and it just made me feel really like…It put me in the space where MLK was back in his time,” said Antoinette Tukes, and Imperial Valley College (IVC) student.

After the march, many people took a stand at the courthouse to reflect on the dream Dr. King once had.

“The dream did not die when he died. The dream continues through you and me. The dream continues everyday when we wake up and we decide to make a difference,” said Marlene Thomas, founder of the Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee.