Category: kyma-local-news

NBC News

(NBC, KYMA) – Oscar-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Cher turns 80-years-old Wednesday.

Cher was born Cheryl Sarkisian in El Centro, California in 1946. She left school and home at age 16, taking acting classes and dancing in nightclubs for money.

Cher became a star through her singing, ultimately recording number one hits in seven different decades, with songs like “I Got You Babe,” “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves,” “Strong Enough,” “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “Believe.”

She then lit up the silver screen, winning an Oscar for her performance in 1987’s “Moonstruck,” where she co-starred with Nicolas Cage.

On TV, Cher hosted a popular variety show with her then-husband Sonny Bono called the “Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” that ran for three years in the 1960s, earning her a Golden Globe Award.

With all her accomplishments, Cher has become an American icon like unlike any other.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As college students gear up for a new school year with tuition payments and supply purchases, it’s also a good time to stay alert to common scams targeting students.

Understanding how these schemes work can help students protect their finances and personal information.

Whether you are starting school away from home or have young students who may be vulnerable to such scams, BBB recommends watching out for these financial scams before heading into the new semester:

Impostor scams. Impostor scams can take on many forms. One tactic used to get a student’s personal information is a phishing email that claims to be from the school’s “Financial Department.” Messages via text or email may appear, instructing the student to click on a link provided in the email and log in with a student username and password. If a student follows these instructions, the username, password, and other personal information could be given to scammers.

Fake credit cards. Offers to apply for your first credit card are tempting to many students. Not only could this create credit problems down the road due to unchecked spending, but some deals could be phony offers designed to access personal information. Research the offers from the credit card flyers and the banking institutions before applying. Review the BBB tip on credit card scams.

Too-good-to-be-true apartment listings. It’s hard not to jump on a convenient apartment so close to campus, especially if it advertises affordable rent. It’s tempting to hand over credit card information online to lock in a great spot, but it’s always worth seeing the apartment in person before a money transfer. This also applies to Craigslist and social media ads appearing to be from other students looking for roommates. Read more about rental scams.

Identity theft. It’s a good idea to start practicing healthy money habits, and one such habit is regularly checking your credit report for unusual activity and possible identity theft fraud. The official government website to do this for free is annualcreditreport.com. Read BBB’s article on how to know if someone stole your identity.

Scholarship and grant scams. Be wary of phone calls from companies guaranteeing they can help reduce loan payments or offer a hefty grant. Searching the company’s name online could bring up scam alerts or negative reviews from other consumers. Read reviews and complaints about the company at BBB.org and contact the school’s financial aid office for advice and help regarding financing your education. Scholarship scams can affect college students even after graduation. Read our tips on scholarship scams.

Check your student loan options only through your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov.

Test preparation scams. Scammers pretend to be companies that can help students pass exams, but once students correspond with the company, the scammers use the messages to blackmail the students into sending funds out of fear of being expelled for cheating. Always read reviews on BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker to look up a potential scam.

As tech-savvy as current college students can be, a surprising number of scams reported to BBB’s ScamTracker are from students who learned their lesson too late. One of the best ways to protect your personal information and finances is to stay alert and aware of new scams. Use BBB’s Scam Tips to learn the latest scam trends and read local reports of specific incidents.

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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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Students at Valley Horizon Elementary School in Yuma recently stepped into a new kind of classroom experience through a virtual reality field trip program created by Arizona nonprofit organization Act One.

The program combines technology and education to expose students to art and culture in an interactive way.

Using virtual reality headsets, students were able to experience a 360 degree visual and audio journey designed to immerse them in art and creativity. Teachers say the experience connects with students because it uses technology they are already familiar with and enjoy.

“Technology is something that our kids understand,” said Eloisa Arviso, a teacher at Valley Horizon Elementary School. “They’re surrounded by it, so it’s a way we can bring the outside world to them in a way that they understand and that they like.”

Students shared excitement about the experience and what they learned from it.

“It was cool. I really liked it. I learned a lot,” one student said.

Another student explained the lesson they took away from the virtual experience, saying, “It doesn’t matter what you paint as long as you express your true self and express your feelings.”

Arviso said the program provides opportunities students may not otherwise have because of school budget cuts.

“We no longer have access to art and music the way we used to before,” Arviso said. “That is why I contacted Act One for this experience.”

The virtual reality field trip experience, also known as Arts Immersion, is designed to provide access to students regardless of income level or geographic location.

The nonprofit organization travels to schools throughout Arizona, often focusing on Title I schools that may not have art programs or access to advanced technology.

“Act One’s main goal is to make art accessible,” said Sydney Ruby, an Act One virtual reality specialist. “One of our biggest ways of doing that is through our virtual reality experience where we travel to schools all throughout the state and bring the experience to the kids.”

The program launched in 2021 and has since reached nearly 50,000 students across Arizona.

Ruby said the experience is meant to inspire students and encourage them to pursue their goals.

“I think it mainly inspires them to pursue their dreams and really learn that even though the doors may not be open for them now, there is a way for them to open them themselves,” Ruby said.

Teachers and organizers say the program continues to resonate with students by exposing them to artists and ideas they can connect with personally while encouraging creativity and self expression.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma’s spring melon season is facing a significant agricultural challenge this year as an early and aggressive virus outbreak spreads through local fields, threatening cucurbit crops across the region.

Agricultural experts say unusually warm winter temperatures are largely to blame, creating ideal conditions for virus-carrying pests to survive and multiply earlier than normal.

According to experts with the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension, the region also did not experience a hard frost this season, something that typically helps eliminate harmful insects and reduce plant disease pressure heading into spring.

Christopher Detranaltes, a plant pathology associate with the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension, said the lack of a hard freeze has had a direct impact on crop health and virus spread.

“The problem with that is that the earlier that the infections occur on the melons, the harder it is for that plant to put on sugar, and so it’s going to be very difficult to get sweet melons this year. There’s no cure for a viral infection on melons. The best thing that can be done is preventative measures,” Detranaltes said.

With fewer natural temperature controls this winter, silverleaf whiteflies have thrived in the region. These insects are a known vector for plant viruses and are now spreading infection through melon fields much earlier in the growing season than typically seen.

The outbreak is primarily impacting cucurbit crops, which include cantaloupes and other melon varieties grown throughout Yuma’s agricultural fields.

Experts say the timing of infection is especially critical, as earlier transmission limits the plant’s ability to properly develop sugars, potentially affecting both crop quality and yield.

They emphasize that prevention and early management remain the most effective tools available to growers, as there is no cure once a melon plant is infected with the virus.

The Yuma Plant Health Clinic at the Yuma Agricultural Center continues to offer diagnostic services to help growers identify virus activity and manage pest pressure as the season continues.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The trial of a Yuma man who shot a man in a neighborhood is being retried after a hung jury.

On Tuesday, the defendant, 25-year-old Gabriel Taddei, was back in court for a retrial. Taddei was accused of shooting the 29-year-old victim back in October of 2024.

The defendant was offered a plea deal, but rejected it and the trial is moving forward.

Jury selections are being decided.

Taddei will face charges again of aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated assault.

We will have a camera in the courtroom and will keep you updated as the trial unfolds. 

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Jessamyn Dodd

EDITOR’S NOTE: In a previous version of this article, we wrote that the Board of Supervisors will vote again on the lot merger needed for the proposed data center. They have not determined that a vote will occur.

Chairwoman Peggy Price gave direction to CEO staff to bring back Data Center Guidelines for consideration by the Board of Supervisors on June 2.

Supervisor Maria Cardenas-Singh requested to bring a Resolution on June 2 regarding putting in safeguards when talking about large scale projects to include the Date Center. (Board member Reports/Announcement).

Supervisor Escobar, requested modifications to Board Rules relating to the order the Board may bring an action back to the Board (under item 17).

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors continues to hear public comments on a planned data center.

Several residents stepped up to the podium during the public comments part of the meeting Tuesday to voice their concerns over the data center.

Some called for transparency, while others demanded action.

One resident pointed to a recent environmental study by Next Ten, an organization focused on environmental studies that highlight’s the County’s water scarcity and long term sustainability.

“The Imperial Valley is 3.8 out of five in vulnerability. 3.8 and we’re five out of five in water scarcity. Bringing a data center in is the worst possible thing you can think of,” said Jake Tison, an Imperial County resident.

These issues are expected to return in future meetings as community pressure grows.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – This month marks five years since an 18-year-old Yuma man was killed in a hit-and-run that remains unsolved.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says Alan Cunningham was riding his bike with friends when they were struck by a vehicle.

Cunningham tragically passed away, and the driver of that vehicle has still not come forward.

YPD say the suspect was driving a silver 2011 to 2013 Chrysler 200 with heavy damage on the driver’s side and a broken headlight.

Officers are urging anyone with any information to come forward.

Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD said, “It’s going to take some to come forward that knows something to be able to break this case.”

If you have any information, call YPD or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – A cobalt processing facility planned for Yuma County could bring new jobs and industry to the region while expanding Arizona’s role in the electric vehicle and defense supply chains.

Evelution Energy says it plans to build what would be the first commercial-scale solar-powered cobalt processing facility in the United States.

The project is planned near the Wellton area, where the company says early site work is already underway.

The facility would process cobalt used in electric vehicle batteries, defense systems, and other advanced technologies.

“It’s the critical material that is used in a lot of defense applications, like jet engines and radars,” said Navaid Alam with Evelution Energy. “It’s on the critical minerals list from the Defense Department and the Department of Energy.”

The company recently announced an $850 million long-term agreement with Japanese company Mitsui & Co. to supply a large portion of the facility’s future cobalt production.

They say the agreement helps move the project forward by securing a future buyer for the material and helping attract financing for construction.

Yuma County stood out to them because of its transportation access and year-round dry climate, which they say is ideal for processing and storing metals.

The company also says it plans to prioritize local hiring and work with Arizona Western College’s Wellton campus to create workforce training programs.

According to the company, studies by Baker Tilly estimate the project could create about 3,300 indirect jobs and generate more than $750 million in economic development for Yuma County.

Evelution Energy says the facility would recycle about 70% of the water it uses, operate using solar power, and send non-hazardous waste to a landfill designed to handle industrial material.

The company says it hopes to begin construction sometime early to mid next year.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local military base is getting a new school.

The Yuma Proving Ground had a groundbreaking Tuesday for the new school.

It will replace James D. Price Elementary School, and it will have 125 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

“The school was built in the mid-50s so it has aged quite a bit still great facility but this one will be so much better because the space provided will be more flexible, more modern more relevant to the way we want to teach and the way we want kids to learn,” said Dennis Ponder, Yuma Elementary School District 1 Superintendent.

The school is expected to be completed by May of next year and has a price tag of $10 million.

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Lynette Niebla

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Cyber Risk Workshop has been postponed, with a date yet-to-be determined.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (IVRCC) hosted an in-person training session Tuesday, aimed at helping local businesses defend against modern digital threats.

The workshop, titled “Cyber Risk & Business Readiness in 2026,” ran from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the IVRCC Office, located at 1095 S. Fourth Street in El Centro.

As cyber threats rapidly evolve, small and mid-sized businesses have become prime targets for digital criminals.

This session is specifically designed to help local business owners, professionals, and corporate teams understand their current risk profile and build stronger, more resilient security practices.

The training is presented by Jaime Wood, owner of Imperial Valley Info-Tech, a local cybersecurity and technology consulting firm.

Wood brings specialized expertise on how global cyber trends directly impact regional operations.

Participants can expect actionable insights tailored to the local business landscape.

The hands-on workshop provides Imperial Valley professionals with the tools and awareness needed to safeguard their data, protect their customers, and ensure long-term business continuity.

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