Author: KYMA

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Nationwide efforts are aiming to raise awareness about the impact of poor air quality in Mexicali and the Imperial Valley, especially during the holidays.

The campaign is part of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Task Force. They’re urging people to avoid setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires during the holidays.

The campaign says in recent days, unhealthy air quality was reported in Mexicali at least twice, which directly impacts Imperial County.

“It’s the no burning of tires, no burning of wood, no burning of fireworks and trash, and we try to do this binationally because what we practice in Mexico, we also practice in the U.S., or from the U.S. we take it to Mexico,” said Belén León López, Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer.

Imperial County has issued at least 52 sanctions for illegal burnings in 2025.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is having its annual State of the City Address on Thursday, November 20.

The City is inviting residents, businesses, and the community to attend. It’s taking place at the El Centro Library community room.

El Centro Mayor Sonia Carter says city leaders will also provide updates on long-term projects like the Imperial Avenue complete streets plan and ongoing housing development efforts.

“I just want to see the community come together and be happy. I think this is going to be a night where it brings everybody from all of our sister cities. We see each other at State of the City events and I think that this is going to be phenomenal with everybody coming together and just having a wonderful night,” said Mayor Carter.

The mayor says seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma community came together this morning for the Ninth annual “Breakfast with Champions” to raise money for local Special Olympics athletes.

The funds help athletes train, compete, and do what they love year-round.

Jamie Heckerman said the program has grown a lot over the years.

“I’ve seen that evolution, started just a small program that mainly did one or two sports here, and now they do several…five or six in the fall, another five or six in spring,” Heckerman explained.

For the first time, the event was open to the public.

Lisa Ball said, “This year, we wanted to make sure that the whole community could come celebrate our athletes and see how awesome they are.”

Athlete Michelle Hornung said she plans to keep competing as long as she can.

“For as long as I can still do it,” she said.

Ball added that all the proceeds stay in Yuma to support equipment, uniforms, transportation, and more for the athletes.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local non-profit is hosting an event to appreciate the people who put food on our tables.

Campesinos Sin Fronteras is hosting the Dia del Campesino Appreciation Breakfast on December 5 from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

More than 20 agencies will providing their services for day laborers and migrant farm workers, along with food and music.

“We are going to have information about immigration, education, housing health, legal services everything that we think our workers need,” said Emma Torres, Campesinos sin Fronteras executive director.

The farm workers breakfast will be at the campesinos sin fronteras parking lot on Main Street near C Street in San Luis, Arizona.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Patrick O’Malley says he was in his garage when he started his motorcycle, and something went wrong, sparking the fire on Tuesday evening.

Rural Metro Fire Department says that when they arrived at the home near E. 49th Drive, and S. Sandra Avenue, the garage was engulfed in flames, along with a motor home and parts of the house.

Fortunately no one was injured, however, both the home and motor home were a total loss.

“Going through picking out a couple of things, there’s not much in the house that’s left, the whole house, the whole roof is gone,” O’Malley says.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

O’Malley describes what was going through his mind when the fire went out of control.

“I’m normally able to think things through and I wasn’t able to I just…it just took me all off guard, but the first thing I did was make sure my wife and dog were out of the house and call the fire department,” O’Malley continued.

Rural Metro Battalion Chief Jeff Woodruff describes how severe the fire was when they arrived on scene.

“It was a pretty intense fire. The homes around it, the roofs were starting to smoke so we put up blinds and cooled off other homes to make sure the other homes didn’t ignite in the process,” said Chief Woodruff.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Meanwhile, O’Malley shares how he and is wife are dealing with the loss of their home.

“We’re just going to try to clean up today, and talk to who we need to talk to and let God straighten it out,” he says.

O’Malley also appreciates the all the support he has received.

“I’m grateful to have family, I’m grateful that God is still on the thrown and that God is always good no matter what,” he said.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

The owners are working on making a GoFundMe for those who would like to donate. If you would like to donate to the families GoFundMe, click the link HERE.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Health Department (YCHD) presented new statistics on local overdoses.

The county says 37 drug overdose cases were eligible for review in 2024, which is three less than the previous year.

Meanwhile, the highest total they have seen in the past four years was in 2021 with 56 cases eligible for review.

These cases do not count people under eighteen years old, people who were pregnant at their time of death, or if the overdose was ruled a suicide.

Ryan Butcher, the Deputy Chief Health Officer for the health department, explains why spreading awareness is important.

“The more awareness we can get out there, where we can direct individuals to seek help…it’s just something more people know about it and where to direct people…We all have a smart part to play in that, and that’s something we can all do,” said Butcher.

Joanne Fiser, the Executive Director of the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, explains how these meetings provide useful information.

“It could be for your family, it could be for your kids, it could be for your grandkids…The information you receive from these coalition meetings is education, and education is power,” Fiser says.

YCHD, the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, and several other local organizations came together to discuss these latest local drug use trends. 

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we share how researchers at the University of Arizona are creating new ways to defend one of Yuma’s most important winter vegetables.

The researchers are using the plant alyssum to help fight thrips in organic lettuce. Thrips are insects that spread a dangerous disease into the winter vegetables.

Since organic farming is strict on chemical sprays, researchers needed a non-toxic way to combat the insects.

“What I’m really trying to do is have thrips be attracted to the sweet alyssum and try to pull them out of the organic lettuce, because we are limited on the tools we can use on organic IPM as far as chemistries,” says Macey Keith, a U of A Cooperative Extension Assistant.

The plan is for the thrips to be attracted to a trailer full of the alyssum.

The project used one trailer the previous year, and will now begin to try it with three.

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Dillon Fuhrman

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

According to a press release, the crash happened in the area of Eighth Street and Avenue B before 7:00 p.m. Monday.

Courtesy: Dexx Taylor

Courtesy: Dexx Taylor

YPD says a 58-year-old man was driving a Toyota Avalon westbound on Eighth Street and was making a left-hand turn onto Avenue B when he crashed into a Suzuki CXR motorcycle, ridden by a 33-year-old man, traveling eastbound on Eighth Street.

YPD says the motorcyclist was taken to Onvida Health, but was later flown to a Phoenix area hospital in serious condition.

Courtesy: Dexx Taylor

Courtesy: Dexx Taylor

While impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash, and no other injuries were reported, the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Injury collision 8th Street and Avenue BDownload

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida health is expanding care for local Veterans as they announce plans for a new state-of-the-art medical clinic.

In partnership with the Southern Arizona VA, the 30,000-square-foot facility will break ground this December at the Onvida Health Foothills Medical Plaza.

The clinic will add key services for Veterans, including “physical and occupational therapy,” women’s health, and primary care.

Dr. Robert Trenschel, President and CEO of Onvida Health President, says the partnership helps meet the unique medical needs of Veterans, calling the project necessary and an honor.

The new facility is expected to be completed by summer of 2027.

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Karina Bazarte

HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA) – The Holtville Chamber of Commerce says applications are now open for anyone who would like to become Carrot Queen, Princess and Junior Princess.

Jennifer Parra, Chief Executive Officer for the Holtville Chamber of Commerce, says the winners will be selected based on raffle ticket sales, public speaking and a live interview.

KYMA spoke to last year’s winners who encouraged every little girl or boy in the Imperial Valley to participate in the contest.

“Just go for it…just do it the process may be hard so don’t get unmotivated about it, but when you get the title, there is no other feeling like it,” said Grace Cerda, Carrot Princess.

“Follow your dreams…If you really want to do something, do it. Even if you aren’t totally hooked on it, and you want to do something else, do it. Just go with the flow,” said Avery Sutter, Carrot Junior Princess.

Parra says anyone in the Imperial Valley can participate in the contest. The deadline to register is on December 10. To apply to participate in the contest, click here.

The winners will be announced at their Coronation Royalty Banquet on Friday, January 23, at the Casa Blanca Venue.

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