Category: kyma-local-news

Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A vibrant celebration of freedom, culture, and community unity returned to the Imperial Valley last Saturday with new interactive experiences for families.

The Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee (IVSJC) hosted its annual Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 13, 2026.

The free event ran from noon to 4 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion, located at 770 Park Avenue in El Centro.

This year’s commemoration placed a fresh emphasis on younger generations, introducing an expanded Kids Corner Arts & Crafts Zone.

The space offered games, prizes, coloring activities, and educational entertainment designed to engage local families.

Organizers also debuted a brand-new feature: the Juneteenth Fashion Walk. The showcase aimed to highlight community pride, intergenerational creativity, and cultural expression through clothing and storytelling.

In addition to the new activities, the event featured live musical and multicultural performances celebrating regional diversity.

The Deep Roots Oral History Project Exhibit was also on display, preserving the legacy of African American families and pioneers in the Imperial Valley.

For community resources, the IVSJC Health Equity Community Outreach Team provided health education, wellness resources, and support services alongside local informational vendors.

Small businesses, including food vendors and regional shops, were on-site showcasing local culinary items and merchandise.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing (IVCM) and its owner, Sebastian Rucci, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the Imperial Irrigation District (IID).

In the complaint, Rucci alleges that the IID denied his application for industrial water service to supply water to his company’s data center.

The lawsuit seeks about 260 million gallons of Colorado River water per year. IVCM claims that IID owes a duty to provide water service to lands within its boundaries on reasonable, equitable, and nondiscriminatory terms and may not arbitrarily refuse or withhold such service.

Rucci says his company leased roughly 160 acres of farmland, and the water used on that land should be redirected to the data center.

IVCM claims that IID owes a duty to provide water service to lands within its boundaries on reasonable, equitable, and nondiscriminatory terms and may not arbitrarily refuse or withhold such service.

“The data center will buy its water by buying land and fallowing it. And if they don’t want to do that, then we’ll do it by assignment where another landowner assigns his allocation to you. Again, the impact of the Colorado River is zero,” Rucci said in an interview with KYMA.

People opposed to the data center pointed out that Rucci and his company initially said that the data center would use reclaimed wastewater to cool it.

In fact, the claim is still on their website. When asked about this, Rucci said that the deal to use reclaimed water fell through, and his website has not been updated.

Rucci says he offered to swap the land for the proposed data center back to the original site, which is reportedly farther away from homes.

“Last Saturday, I notified them. I said, ‘Look, if you want to move it, let’s switch it back to the old site. You guys do a land swap; we’ll take the land, and we’ll make it a park. They want to stay hold, let’s go to court,” he said.

Currently that land is used for growing alfalfa, according to Rucci.

When asked about online videos, news reports, and studies highlighting concerns about living near large data centers, Rucci dismissed those claims.

A recent study by the World Resources Institute found that large AI data centers can place major demands on local resources, with some facilities using hundreds of thousands to millions of gallons of water for cooling.

AI data centers also require huge amounts of water to keep servers cool, which can be a pressing problem for communities already facing drought or depleting water supplies. In addition, data centers need a constant and reliable power supply, which can result in air pollution and climate impacts.

We reached out to the IID for an interview; however, they said they cannot comment on current legal matters.

To learn more about the lawsuit, see attached file.

imperial-valley-computer-manufacturing-v-imperial-irrigation-districtDownload

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer got a major honor Thursday. Law enforcement officers and Elks members gathered to honor the recipient of the Kiki Camarena Salazar Award.

“It’s such an honorable award to have received the Camarena Award. I’m very, very grateful, and thank you all very much,” Officer Adriana Prad of CBP said.

The Elks Lodge Number 476 in Yuma presented Officer Prad with the prestigious award.

Camarena was a DEA agent raised in Calexico, California. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in Mexico in 1985 by members of the Guadalajara Cartel. His legacy continues to inspire drug-free living, and the Elks honor that commitment through this annual award.

Jody Brandt, leading knight officer for the Elks, said, “It’s about recognizing officers all over the states. It’s a very big deal in today’s world. These guys deserve it. They’re out here every day putting their lives on the line.”

The Camarena Award is presented to law enforcement members who best exemplify the qualities and principles for which Agent Camarena gave his life.

Prad has exemplified these qualities and has graciously donated her award money to the Humane Society of Yuma.

“I am very happy because they’re constantly needing donations, and just to be able to help out a little bit means a lot. I feel very happy,” Prad said.

The Camarena Award not only celebrates Officer Prad’s work, but also keeps Camarena’s legacy alive.

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Jessamyn Dodd

HEBER, Calif. (KYMA) – A semi-trailer truck caught on fire at the West Wind Parking & Storage, just off of the 111 Highway and Heber Road.

The facility also houses a tire shop and trailer repair shop where multiple trailers are stored.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) was called to the scene at roughly 2:40 p.m. Tuesday.

“[Upon] arrival, we encountered a single trailer that was on fire, with an extension into the local business here. This is a tire shop. That was my concern. Second and third alarm were dispatched to the incident,” Deputy Chief of Operations for Imperial County Fire Department told KYMA.

The crews fully extinguished the fire and began releasing some of the engines.

No injuries or other damages were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Some residents in Yuma’s Desert Lakes community are raising concerns about a proposed indoor swap meet planned near their neighborhood.

The proposed project would be built on a lot next to the 55+ community near the Civic Center. Earlier this week, residents received notices from the City of Yuma stating that Vega and Vega Engineering PLC is requesting approval to develop the site as an indoor swap meet.

Residents say they are worried about how the project could affect the area.

“There’s other places that they could put it,” resident Brenda Reed said. “Why does it have to be so close to this neighborhood?”

Neighbors say they are concerned the development could increase traffic, noise, and crime.

Those concerns were discussed during a neighborhood meeting at City Hall, where residents heard details about the proposal.

During the meeting, representatives from the engineering firm explained plans for the building, including its location, distance from nearby homes, and proposed conditions related to lighting and noise.

Resident Kathy Kanase said she attended to better understand why the location was selected, especially because her home borders the proposed site.

“I’m very concerned about the crime that it might bring into the community,” she said.

A public hearing is scheduled for July 27 at City Hall before the Planning Commission. Residents say they plan to attend and ask for additional conditions to help reduce noise and traffic concerns.

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Skylar Heisey

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County health officials are urging residents to take precautions after mosquitoes tested positive for viruses that can cause serious illness.

The imperial County Public Health Department says a mosquito pool in the Winterhaven area tested positive for West Nile Virus while a mosquito pool in the Bard area tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis Virus.

The samples were collected on June 11, and mark the first positive tests of both viruses in Imperial County this year.

Health officials say mosquito activity increases during the warmer months, raising the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, and rash.

In some cases, the viruses can cause serious neurological illness, especially in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Officials are encouraging residents to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and eliminate standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.

The county’s vector control program says it will continue monitoring mosquito activity and treating affected areas.

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

NewsRelease_MosquitoPoolDetections _EnglishVersion_061826Download

NewsRelease_MosquitoPoolDetections _SpanishVersion_061826Download

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Dillon Fuhrman

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – Quechan Casino Resort says Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience is taking place later this year.

The resort says Caputo, who is known as the “Long Island Medium,” will be at their Pipa Event Center Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 8 p.m., with the doors opening at 7 p.m.

During the show, Caputo, according to the resort, will bring an evening “filled with personal stories, humor, and emotional moments as she connects with audience members and delivers messages from loved ones.”

“The Experience isn’t about believing in mediums. It’s about seeing something life-changing,” says Caputo. “It’s witnessing first-hand spirit communication.”

To learn more about Caputo, click here. To purchase tickets for the show, click here.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Scammers are always creating new and improved lookalike websites to trick you out of your personal information and money.

These websites may have a very similar URL or look nearly identical to the real website you are searching for, which means they can be hard to identify.

Recent examples of this kind of scam include fake streaming service activation prompts, DMV/MVD impostors and fake postal service websites.

Even BBB.org has been impostored, when scammers have tried to look like BBB to collect information fraudulently.

Protect yourself with the following tips to help you spot fake websites set up by scammers:

Look closely at the domain name. One way fake websites trick people is by using a domain name that is extremely close to a real business’ or organization’s domain name. Upon closer examination, you might notice that two letters are swapped or it’s just slightly misspelled. If you find a spelling error in the domain name, you’re not on the official site and it’s best to close the tab. In the case of BBB impostors, if you don’t see BBB.org, it is probably not BBB. If you’re not sure, contact your local BBB.

Watch out for tricky subdomains. Sometimes attackers hope you will confuse a subdomain with the real domain name of their website. For example, a scammer might use the domain name netflix.com.movies.com hoping you won’t notice the real domain name is actually movies.com.

Be careful with links in emails. Phishing scams are extremely common. A scammer might send you an email that looks like it comes from a reputable business in hopes that you’ll click on the links without a second thought. Always hover over links in unsolicited emails and even in emails that come from a brand, business, or person you think you know. If the link doesn’t match the blue text or if it’s a short link and you can’t tell where it leads, don’t click it. If you do, you may end up on a lookalike website where your personal information could be compromised.

Check the design quality. Kaspersky warns that low quality visuals, odd layouts, and poor web design can all be warning signs of a fake website. Before you take action on a site, ask yourself if the design quality measures up to the reputation of the business or person it represents.

Pay attention to contact information and shop policies. Legitimate online stores should provide you with a physical address and working phone number in the contact section. If those elements are missing, it’s best to take your business elsewhere. Return and shipping policies should be clear and easy to understand. If a shop has policies, but you aren’t convinced it’s legitimate, try copying and pasting the policy section into your web browser to see if it’s been copied and pasted from another website.

Do a search for reviews and potential scams. If you still can’t tell if a website is real or fake, try typing the website name along with the word “scam” or “reviews” into your web browser. If other people have been victims of a fake site, you’re likely to find reports when you search for scams. A reputable store should have plenty of reviews for you to examine. Be alert to reviews that are generic, sound robotic or unnatural, or are too brief as these could be fakes.

Try a fake website checker. Website checkers, such as Google’s Safe Browsing tool can also help you decide whether a website is safe to visit.

For more information

Before trusting any website or business, check them out at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker. More scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

Read the BBB Tip: Smart Online Shopping  Report scams at BBB.org/ScamTracker.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local partnership is working to help meet one of the Yuma Community Food Bank’s greatest needs by collecting protein-rich food items for families facing food insecurity.

Keller Williams Realty Yuma is sponsoring its “10 Days of Protein” food drive in collaboration with the Yuma Community Food Bank.

The campaign focuses on collecting non-perishable protein items, including canned tuna, canned chicken, beans and peanut butter.

Food bank officials say protein products are among the most difficult items to keep stocked because they are more expensive to purchase and are donated less frequently than other food items.

“Protein is really hard to come across as a food bank,” Johanna S. Calderon, a Controller at the Yuma Community Food Bank, said. “Our cost to purchase protein is at a higher level versus other items. We do get donations, but not that much protein. And then also it’s shelf life.”

Community members can drop off donations at Keller Williams Realty Yuma, located at 2553 East 24th Street, through June 29.

As an added incentive, organizers are offering raffle tickets for every protein item donated, giving participants a chance to win prizes while supporting a local cause.

Organizers hope the drive will help strengthen the food bank’s inventory and ensure local families have access to nutritious sources of protein during times of need.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Arizona Primary is coming in July.

The last day to register to vote is June 22.

Early voting and ballots will be mailed out on June 24.

You can find a list of drop box and voting locations attached below.

2026 Election Cycle Voting Locations with Drop Boxes1Download

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