Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The San Luis City Council, along with San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel, approved the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget, which went into effect Tuesday.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, the budget totals $143,178,500 “across all operating and capital funds.”

The total, according to the City, includes $52,159,270 for capital improvement projects, which includes:

Highway 95 Water and Sewer Project

Merrill Avenue Improvements Phase II

Joe Orduño and East Community Parks Upgrades

Water Storage Tanks Rehabilitations and Upgrades

West Wastewater Treatment Plan Expansion

The City says the budget is to reflect their commitment “to addressing current needs and future challenges through careful planning and strategic investment” while also highlighting their commitment to “fostering growth, supporting a thriving economy, preserving the environment, and enhancing public services while maintaining financial sustainability.”

To learn more about the budget, click here.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – It’s a hot day for everyone in Yuma, but especially for people without a roof over their head.

Tammy Torrence has been living without a home for more than 10 years. She says right now the goal is to stay hydrated.

“I’m in my wheelchair for a few hours a day and then I go where I need to go and then I just try to lie down for a little while,” said Torrence.

There are cooling centers in Yuma County.

You can find a full list here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro is reminding residents to be safe and responsible when celebrating the Fourth of July.

The City says residents should use fireworks labeled safe and sane and to “to avoid illegal fireworks that pose serious risks to the community.”

Illegal fireworks, such as those that explode, shoot in the air and move uncontrollably, are prohibited in the City of El Centro

The City is also asking residents to report any illegal fireworks activity to local authorities and plan their celebrations “with safety in mind.”

To learn more about this, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A DNA scientist took the witness stand in the trial for the twin brothers charged with the murder of a Yuma teenager.

Theresa Ritna, the DNA scientist, found that DNA from a ski-mask recovered at the crime scene was 13-octillion-times more likely to belong to one of the twins compared to a random stranger.

Ritna says that since the twins have the exact same DNA, it’s unclear which brother it belonged to.

The mask was one of several items detectives wanted scientifically examined.

The defense argues the possibility that some items may have been left out.

“There’s a black ski mask, as well as handgun, and a spent shell casings,” Ritna said while reviewing her documents.

Zach Dumyahn, the defense attorney, replied, “Those were the only items you’re aware of for this investigation, correct?”

A detective will testify next where the jury will learn about messages recovered from the defendant’s phones.

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The founder of “Brawley Feed the Need” says she started at a local park with one mission and that was to help her community fast forward to ten years that mission is still the same. 

“I can never give God too much credit because honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to do it unless I had the Lord in my heart and the faith to just continue to hold on to him,” said Rosalind Servin, founder of “Brawley feed the need.”

Brawley “Feed the Need” is celebrating their 10 year anniversary.

The founder of the non-profit says she started giving out food and ice cold water to unshelted people at a local park on July first of 2015. 

“Somebody invited me to do it…they were doing it in El Centro and they asked me if they would like to do it here in Brawley and that’s how it started,” said Servin.

She was later invited to help distribute food to four different churches

It was an experience that eventually inspired her to open her own non-profit.

“When I came into this, I never thought I would be able to do half of the things that I am able to do and I would have not ever thought that I had I guess what it takes to be able to, you know, run a ministry,” said Servin.

The founder has received awards and recognition, including receiving the Latina of the Year Award in 2020.

“The mission and the motivator behind it is to spread the love of Jesus Christ and to let people know that God is a savior and a helper to everybody,” said Servin.

The founder says she appreciates the people that help her including her assistant. 

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Two teenagers were arrested at the Calexico border after attempting to cross into Mexico in a stolen vehicle.

The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old were taken into custody after officers received a report of a stolen vehicle last week.

Police say one of the teens was spotted driving toward Mexicali.

“They stopped the car, arrested the driver and during the course of investigation, they discovered that the vehicle in front of it, which is the same model just a different color, also came back stolen. Both cars stolen out of Downey, California,” said Officer Victor Garate with CPD.

The owners traveled to Calexico to retrieve their vehicles.

The two teenagers are now facing auto theft charges and were booked into Imperial County Juvenile Hall.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Election day is just two weeks away and voters are already making their voices heard in Arizona’s Congressional District 7 Primary.

Early voting is already underway. Officials say they’ve seen a steady stream of voters and they encourage more residents to get involved ahead of the July 15 primary. 

As of June 30, Yuma County has sent over 27,000 ballots to registered voters. So far, over 2,000 ballots have been cast, over 2,400 by mail and 31 in person.

Yuma County Recorder David Lara says this could be due to convenience.

“Everything that is moving forward is mostly mail in ballots. For some reason, I think it’s just the convenience people like to go that way,” says Lara.

But in-person voting becomes more popular closer to Election Day. 

“The emergency voting is a weekend before the election and some people like to come in here and vote in person,” says Lara.

For some locals the approach is simple. Be ready and expect the rush.

Jose Garcia, a Yuma local says, “Prepared or unprepared elections will arrive and we have to be ready. We can’t say they won’t arrive because they will eventually.”

Other say they’re watching closely and taking their time.

Sally Pottratz, a Yuma local says, “I took it in last time and I may take it in again. You know I’m still up to the last minute thinking I’m I doing the right thing.”

Voters can submit their early ballots up until July 11. Lara reminds voters to avoid common mistakes. When sending in your ballot, don’t forget to sign it.

“Of course it’s done unintentionally. We all forget we’re in a hurry. We fill it out, seal the envelope, and forget to sign it. Very common,” says Lara.

For more information on Arizona’s Congressional District 7 Primary, you can click here.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Hernandez held a press conference Tuesday in Yuma.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, Hernandez slammed Senate Republicans for “their dangerous budget bill that cuts access to Medicaid.”

“What it’s going to do is negatively impact tens of thousands of people in rural communities just like Yuma, whether it’s Santa Cruz, Cochise, or Yuma County,” Hernandez expressed.

Hernandez is also calling on Arizona House Republicans to vote against the bill’s passage.

“Rural hospitals are going to be negatively impacted by this, and I think that’s why we have an opportunity when it goes back to the house to really apply pressure to people who are in the house to say this is not good enough, and we need to go back,” Hernandez said.

The press release says Yuma City Council member Karen Watts, who is also a nurse, is joining Hernandez during the press conference.

“It’s estimated about 370,000 something like that are going to lose insurance here, so that’s going to be a hard pill to swallow,” said Watts.

Hernandez’s personal story has inspired his passion for fighting for healthcare.

“When I was 17 years old, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and almost died because I didn’t have health care. And if it hadn’t been for the state children’s health insurance program through the medicaid program, I wouldn’t be here today. So when I’m talking about fighting for these things, it’s not just because it’s a good idea, it’s because it literally will help keep people alive,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez says he wants to update the rules and invest more into rural communities.

“Those are things that congress can do to make sure that we’re creating more jobs for doctors and nurses and other practitioners in rural communities that will not only help create more jobs and opportunities for those people but actually help make sure that we expand access,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez is running against several Democratic candidates, including Adelita Grijalva and Deja Foxx, in the Arizona Special Primary Election on July 15.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) will have an impaired driving detail on July 4 and July 5.

More officers, with help from the Office of Highway Safety, will be patrolling the city as locals celebrate Independence Day weekend.

Driving under the influence and being impaired can come from more than alcohol, as medication can also lead to impaired driving.

YPD would like to give the following tips for those planning to celebrate Independence Day:

Plan a safe way home before celebrating

Designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home

Use a taxi, Uber, or call a trusted person

If you see an impaired driver, call 911

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Communities across Imperial County are gearing up for Fourth of July celebrations but with the celebration comes the need for safety.

Law enforcement agencies and fire departments want you to have a safety celebration whether you are celebrating inside or outside.

Every year, the U.S celebrates Fourth of July and this time the holiday lands on a Friday.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says they will have extra firefighters on Friday going into the weekend.

“We are going to have staffing for deploying a command trailer, as well as a quick response vehicle to Calipat for their fireworks event, and will also have two engines plus a battalion chief on duty at the events happening at the fairgrounds for their drone show,” said Cedric Ceseña with ICFD.

The Brawley Police Department will also be looking out for drivers under the influence.

BPD says they will be using drones to detect any illegal use of fireworks in the city.

“For the first time, we are going to deploy a drone for enforcement action and we aren’t going to be flying the drone just looking for stuff. Basically, we are going to deploy the drone if we getting a call from the citizens of Brawley saying that he there is fireworks at that time we will respond deploy the drone and look for it,” said Juan Morales with BPD.

You could serve up to six months in jail or be fined up to $1,000 dollars for using illegal fireworks.

“If anyone is caught lighting a firework, or we see the fireworks coming from private properties, we are able to cite them for a misdemeanor, which could be a thousand dollar fine, and if we don’t see the person, we can cite the actual homeowner as well,” said Morales.

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