Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says they responded to a fire Tuesday morning.

According to a post on Facebook, the fire happened in the area of S. Virginia Drive, near American Legion Post 19.

Upon arrival, YFD says fire crews found smoke “coming from a storage shed on the property,” and said the fire was “caused by weeds being burned too close to the property with a propane torch and left unattended.”

YFD says the facility manager knocked down the fire prior to their arrival, and says firefighters checked the building to ensure the fire had not spread and there wasn’t any remaining hotspots.

No injuries were reported, and YFD is reminding the Yuma community to never leave open flames unattended, “especially near buildings or dry vegetation.”

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Wednesday marks the second day of the preliminary hearing for the man accused of murdering a missing teen.

51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom pleaded not guilty in connection to the disappearance and death of 17-year-old T’neya Tovar.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the first witness, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jacob Cerda, said a search warrant was issued, and said he saw Feinbloom fleeing the property and climbed over the fence, but Feinbloom was caught and then taken into custody back in February.

The second witness, Senior Deputy Dustin Snyder with the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, said he was dispatched to a disturbance called by Feinbloom’s neighbors in December of last year.

While on the stand, Senior Deputy Snyder said the neighbors reported seeing a woman outside Feinbloom’s home screaming, “Give me my daughter back.”

Snyder said he was shown posts from the Salton Sea Neighbors Facebook group, which were videos of Tovar seen inside the home.

After Feinbloom consented to have his house searched, Snyder said he saw the home boarded up with plywood, along with the windows, and padlocked from the outside.

Snyder also said he saw cleaning supplies, the bedroom being covered in plastic tarp, another room being completely draped with tarp, no paint or other construction type items in sight, a queen-sized bed with mirrors around, with a napkin with a reddish substance found on the bed, and said he recognized the inside of the home from Tovar’s videos.

As a result of the search, Snyder said Feinbloom was taken into custody, but was later released, and said he assisted with the search warrant.

The third witness, Special Agent Taryn Hunter with the FBI, who became involved in the case earlier this year, said Tovar’s phone was traced back to Feinbloom’s house, leading the FBI to search the house back in February, with Hunter confirming what the deputies previously testified they saw.

Agent Hunter said she noticed tools, such as a table saw, and collected items that could’ve belonged to Tovar, such as a pink toothbrush and a pink beanie.

Hunter also said a Mini Cooper and a white truck were searched, and said an additional warrant was served on February 13.

Hunter says a Crown Victoria, an additional car previously not on the property, had a front seat removed, with the trunk and seat belt being tested presumptively positive for blood, and says there was also blood found on the light switch in the bathroom.

In addition, Hunter confirmed Tovar’s leg was cut after collecting multiple saws and blades, and says Feinbloom was read and had waived his rights.

While interrogating Feinbloom, Hunter said he told her he was a musician, and said that’s why his house was boarded up: To sound proof for his practices.

When Hunter asked if he knew anything about Tovar’s disappearance, Feinbloom told her no, and when she showed him photos of the items collected, Feinbloom told her they belonged to him.

Hunter then says Feinbloom didn’t know anything after she told him human remains were found, leading to a video of the interrogation being shown during the hearing, with Feinbloom saying he was invoking his right to an attorney.

Hunter also said she had concerns about travel, with CBP confirming certified records that Feinbloom booked a flight from LAX to Hong Kong prior to his arrest, along with an internet search history, which includes eye-gouging, can not remove contact from phone and what happens when a person is missing, being presented in court.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Scammers have upped their game trying to get you to click on an email link.With the help of AI, the emails are better written, have less grammatical errors and appear more legitimate.

Check 3 things:

The sender: Check the sender address. If the email supposedly came from a business or government address, it would not come from gmail or a personal account.

The destination: Hover your mouse over any link to see the destination and where you are really going if you click.

The logic:Are you a customer of the business that supposedly sent the email?

Recognize common tactics. Phishing emails generally use the same tactics over and over to trick victims. Scare tactics and emails that produce a sense of urgency are quite common in phishing scams, as are promises of rewards that sound too good to be true. For example, if an email says there is a problem with your credit card or your account is about to be deleted if you don’t click a link immediately, it’s probably a phishing threat. If you get an email asking you to click a link or log into an account to get a surprisingly good prize, offer or even a government grant, think twice.

Take a closer look at the sender and recipients. An email may come to you in the name of a reputable company, but look closely at the sender’s email address. If the address is unrecognizable, perhaps a long string of letters and numbers that don’t make sense, it’s probably an impostor. Don’t be too quick to trust email addresses with company names in them either. An email may come to you from an address that ends in @my.netflix.work, which is a far cry from an official email ending like @netflix.com.

Double check hyperlinks before you click on them. Roll over any links in an email you receive before you click to see where the link really leads. Suspicious links are one of the main giveaways of email scams. Sometimes, the links are shortened using bit.ly or a similar service so you can’t tell exactly where they are at first glance. Other times, when you roll over what looks like a real link, you’ll find the address doesn’t correspond with what’s stated in the blue link text. Another red flag is if the link looks familiar but contains slight misspellings. Always check that a link is legitimate before you click on it, otherwise it could lead you to a dangerous website or download malware onto your computer.

Don’t be quick to confirm personal information. Most scam emails are designed to look just like emails you receive from a business you trust, but with unusual requests. For example, if your bank suddenly sends you an email asking to confirm personal information, such as your account number and address, don’t reply and delete the message. If any company sends you an email asking you to provide your login credentials via email, this too is a big red flag. If you think that an email could be legitimate, it’s always a good idea to contact the company directly – not via any link or contact information in the email – to inquire.

Be wary of attachments, even if they are sent by a friend. If you receive an email with an unexpected attachment, don’t be too quick to open it. If you click on a malicious attachment, it could download a virus or malware onto your PC or network. Even if it looks like you know the person or company who sent the message, check with them first to make sure the attachment is safe.

Keep your security software up to date and running. The FTC recommends protecting your computer and mobile devices with security software that can help you recognize threats before it’s too late. Keep any software you install up to date so it can protect you against new threats. In addition, if you think you clicked on a dangerous link by accident, you can open up your security software and run a scan right away to identify and potentially contain the threat.

File a complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Always read reviews on BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker. More scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A waste truck falls in to a sink hole in Yuma.

It happened around 7:30 Wednesday morning.

The Republic Service waste truck driver said he felt like the load moved to one side of the truck or like he had a flat tire.

He quickly realized the truck fell in into the sink hole, and the parking lot was closed as a precautionary measure.

No injuries or other damages were reported. Yuma Public Works and the Yuma Police Department were on the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Lynette Niebla

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – In the small, quiet town of Calipatria, tensions at City Hall were running high as residents packed the chambers to defend City Manager Laura Gutierrez against a sudden termination.

At Tuesday night’s regular meeting, the community made their voices heard, flooding the podium during public comments to urge officials to reconsider their decision to terminate.

Gutierrez began her tenure as the city manager of Calipatria in June 2023.

According to residents, she has since led significant efforts in city beautification and the planning of various community events.

Many residents are now left questioning the council’s reasoning behind the sudden leadership shift.

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Marcos Icahuate

WASHINGTON (KYMA) – Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) pushed for a commitment to the New River in Imperial County.

Rep. Ruiz pressed Lee Zeldin, the administrator for the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), to visit the New River era and gain support in addressing the crisis.

Communities along the New River are facing severe conditions, which includes raw sewage and industrial waste flowing down the river.

“The New River is considered the most polluted waterway in North America,” the congressman said. “The difference between the Tijuana River and the New River is not legal authority or technical capacity, it is attention and urgency.”

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Events for local businesses will be held to discuss resources on growing and succeeding.

The Arizona Small Business Forum will be held on May 5 at 1351 S. Redondo Ctr. Dr., Room 164, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This forum will discuss the following:

Business Tax Account

Individual Online Account

Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill

Executive Order 14247 – Discontinuation of Checks

You can register here.

A Small Business Resource Fair is also planned for May 6, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Career Center from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The fair is where locals can ask other organizations and agencies questions on how to succeed.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Grad Night is completely free to all 2026 senior graduates in Yuma County for a safe, fun, and substance-free environment.

There will be a DJ, games, food, prizes, and a chance to win an e-bike from Mr. B’s Bicycles.

Donnie Bennet, owner of Mr. B’s Bicycles, said, “With this bike that whoever ends up being the winner of it, they will be able to ride it to hopefully their next job or hopefully college. Getting back and forth and has plenty of room for all of your supplies and everything.”

The Grad Night event will be on Friday, May 22. It’s all made possible thanks to the Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition.

For more information on Grad Night, visit YCADC.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma native who has gained global attention for groundbreaking brain technology shared his story with students at Arizona Western College (AWC).

Noland Arbaugh spoke on campus about his journey following a life-changing spinal injury in 2016 that left him paralyzed.

In 2024, he became the first person to receive a Neuralink brain implant. A device that allows him to control digital devices through bluetooth. The implant reads the neurons that fire in his brain and translate it to the screen.

The technology has opened new doors for independence, allowing him to complete everyday digital tasks without physical movement.

While the science behind the implant draws interest, Arbaugh emphasized a deeper message during his talk.

“I want people not only to see that this technology is incredible and it’s going to change so many people’s lives. That it’s going to help so many people,” Arbaugh said. “But more than just the technology. I want people to understand how important perseverance is in their lives.”

His message resonated with those in attendance. AWC staff said the impact was immediate, with some becoming emotional as they reflected on their own challenges.

“I had a gentleman while we were still asking questions, go out and tell me his story and what he said. It hit him and he was, you know, tearing up,” Jeff Kleinwachter, a Military and Veteran Services Specialist at AWC, said. “Being able to share that story, you know, and I think that’s a big part of it all.”

Arbaugh has since returned to school at AWC, where he is continuing his education with the goal of becoming a neuroscientist.

He said the implant not only changed how he interacts with the world, but also how he views himself.

“Being able to do things on my own, it’s empowering, and it just makes me feel that I can be useful again,” Arbaugh said. “I don’t feel like a burden like I used to.”

Arbaugh told those in attendance he hopes his story encourages others to push beyond their own perceived limitations.

He wants everyone to recognize what’s possible through perseverance and innovation.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local man says his fight with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) has reached the Arizona Court of Appeals.

The local, Jason Lujan, says the DES’s actions have caused him significant harm.

“It’s just really shocking that this happened to me and it caused me real life harm. Nobody should have to go through what I had to go through because they made an unlawful decision,” Lujan explained.

During the pandemic, emergency rental assistance program benefits were administered, and some people suddenly lost their benefits without warning or receiving the rest of their funding.

That left residents without income and at risk for homelessness.

“The purpose of that program was defeated by the DES. The government sent out money during that time to prevent everything that happened to me and they didn’t do that. They didn’t honor it,” Lujan said.

Lujan says the court granted his application for appeal and is ordering a briefing on whether DES exceeded its statutory authority by creating eligibility restrictions that he argues contradict federal law.

We have reached out to DES for comment and are still waiting to hear back.

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