Category: kyma-local-news

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Two raptors are getting a second chance at Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Yuma after being transferred from a facility in Lake Havasu that couldn’t care for them.

The birds were flown to Yuma by Major Scott Myers of the Civil Air Patrol. One raptor has a broken wing, while the other’s flight muscles aren’t fully developed yet.

Staff say Myers’ experience in handling the birds made a big difference in keeping them calm during the trip.

“We rely on the help of the community and the community has really helped us out here,” said Albert Ustaszewski of Vida Wildlife. “Scott knows how to place them in the aircraft so that they’re not disturbed that much, as far as like getting bumped around, moved around, so they came down really good.”

Thanks to the support of the Civil Air Patrol and the local community, both raptors now have a safe place to heal.

With proper care, they are expected to make a full recovery and eventually return to the wild.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is giving local residents a chance to add shade, beauty, and cooler summers to their homes with its Tree for All program.

Since 2022, the initiative has planted thousands of desert-adapted shade trees across the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, helping improve air quality, reduce energy costs, and make neighborhoods more inviting.

This fall, IID will plant 1,300 trees for residential customers. To ensure fairness, participants will be selected through a lottery system, with sign-ups opening August 25 at 10 a.m. and closing September 2 at 5 p.m. One tree per household is allowed every 12 months.

“Trees provide not only the shade that I mentioned that can help lower your electric bills, they help a thriving community. The more green there is, the more peaceful things are. It’s something that benefits the environment, there are multiple benefits which is why we do this,” says Robert Schettler with IID.

Each tree is chosen to thrive in the region’s arid climate and, when planted strategically, can cut home cooling costs by up to 20%.

Winners will be notified 4-6 weeks after the sign-up period closes. For more information and to register for a tree, click here.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The first group of El Centro firefighters are back after 14 days of fighting two fires in California.

The El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) says 16 firefighters returned home Sunday after assisting with battling the Gold Fire in San Bernardino County and the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo County.

ECFD says it was a tough journey, but they’re glad they were able to help.

“Usually the main difference in a fire when you talk about going from the difference between one assignment to another. You’re assignment are pretty much going to be the same. If you’re on a type six, you’re going to have the same type of work. If you’re on one fire or the other one, the main difference is the terrain you’re going on and fuel types.”

Eduardo Ainza, Battalion Chief, El Centro Fire Department

As of Tuesday, the Gold Fire is currently 85% contained and has burned 1,036 acres. At the same time, the Gifford Fire is 95% contained and has burned 131,589 acres.

The rest of the fire task force returned home Monday evening.

To keep up-to-date on the Gold Fire, click here. To keep up-to-date on the Gifford Fire, click here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Onvida Health says it saw a big leap in ratings online.

The hospital has gone from 2.4 stars to a four-star rating on Google. They say this is a milestone achievement.

Dr. Robert Trenschel, President and CEO of Onvida Health, talked about what the rating means to the hospital.

“That’s really exciting for us to see because we take all the feedback, that our patients and our visitors that come to our campus give us, and we take it all to heart, and we make changes that we need to make,” Dr. Trenschel explained.

Onvida Health would like to shout out their staff and also the Yuma community for bringing them to where they are today. 

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – During the Board of Supervisors meeting, they approved for consideration the renewal CrowdStrike Falcon, which has provided Yuma County with advanced threat detection, response, and protection against cyberattacks since 2021.

The renewal cost is $160,108.73, with coverage through August 6, 2026. 

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved to renew software that uses artificial intelligence to neutralise cyber-threats.

The security needs of Yuma County are focused on prevention, and renewing this new software will help keep online records safe.

Jonathan Lines, Vice Chairman of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors, said, “It’s a threat intelligence based platform that prioritizes, and is able to act swiftly and respond to every single threat almost, in a ground zero setting, immediately as it’s detected.”

The platform Crowdstrike Falcon prioritizes prevention and rapid response to threats.

Lines says it’s important to safeguard the entire system, which includes the Recorder’s Office, elections, and the Assessor’s Office.

“I think it was july last year, there was a breach, but 97% of the effected computers or sensors were back online, I believe, in less than a week,” says Lines.

Lines says this software detects any direct threats, but they still ask everyone to be cautious online explaining, “We still ask people not to click on suspicious links, and all of that, and that is still a threat.”

We also asked the community how they prevent cyber hacks online.

One local, Amanda Sandoval, says in order to prevent online cyber attack, they avoid anything suspicious.

“Don’t open any links. If you see any emails, don’t click on them…you have to read the top of the bar first, if you don’t read that, then it’s easy,” Sandoval expressed.

Once the final details of the budget for the software are approved, they can deploy it.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma School District One says James B. Rolle Elementary School will be releasing students Tuesday.

District One says they’re releasing them as early as 1:00 p.m. due to a power outage near the school, and says Arizona Public Service is working to restore power.

They also say parents have been notified and are “encouraged to check their school messages for details on early dismissal.”

District One says they will continue to monitor the outage and will keep students and families up-to-date about school Wednesday.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma School District One says their students outperformed the Arizona state average on the 2025 Multi-State Alternative Assessment (MSAA) for students with special needs.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, the MSAA is the state’s “annual assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities,” providing them “the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of grade-level standards.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

District One says MSAA administered the assessment to third through eighth grade students in English and math, and fifth and eighth grade students in science.

In addition, District One said, “Each grade level met or exceeded the state’s average scale score for each subject,” and has “a higher percentage of ESS students scored ‘proficient’ or ‘highly Proficient,’ compared to the state average.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

“The results of standardized assessments are one way our students demonstrate success,” stated Matthew Kaste, Director of Exceptional Student Services. “Their achievement also reflects the impact of our highly qualified team of teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff who are dedicated to providing personalized instruction, high quality learning environments, and specialized programs that help students excel.”

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

ESS Outperforms AZ StateDownload

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is searching for a vehicle involved in a hit and run.

According to a post on Facebook, it happened in the area of S. 21st Avenue on August 6 at around 2:30 a.m.

YPD says the vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, dark in color, was driving southbound on 21st Avenue when it crashed into a residential fence.

After it sustained heavy front-end damage, the Malibu was then seen driving away going westbound on Eighth Street.

Courtesy: Yuma Police Department

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

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Karina Bazarte

NILAND, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A mobile home was completely destroyed after it caught on fire in Niland Sunday night.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says no one was in or near the mobile home at the time of the fire.

“It took about an hour for units to clear the scene but we had initial knocked out with in the 15 minutes of the call,” said Cedric Ceseña with ICFD.

Fire crews say no one was on the property Sunday night when the fire started, but it looks like the place was still being used.

ICFD says one of the challenges was the lack of water in the area.

“What we work is making sure we have the equipment to bring water into these emergencies, so we have water tenders or water tanks that [brings] 2,500 gallons of water at a time in order for us to fight the fire. For example, this fire more less it took about 1,300 gallons of water to put out,” said Ceseña.

Firefighters says it’s difficult to know where the fire started or how, but it’s under investigation.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A toddler in El Centro dies after being left inside a hot car Monday, according to the El Centro Police Department (ECPD).

According to a press release, officers responded to the area of Woodward Avenue and N. Seventh Street at around 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports of an unresponsive toddler.

Upon arrival, ECPD says officers performed lifesaving measures, and the child was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center.

However, ECPD said despite efforts by officers and medical personnel, the child later died at the hospital.

ECPD says the child had been left alone inside a vehicle “for an extended period of time,” and the child’s father, a 37-year-old man from El Centro, was arrested for “various charges related to the child’s death.”

The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding the case, call (760) 352-2111, visit ECPD headquarters in person, or reach out to their social media platforms.

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