Category: kyma-local-news

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Hundreds of Yuma County residents are still dealing with high water bills, but the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has agreed to a Town Hall with residents who use Cactus State Water Resources.

The Town Hall comes after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Yuma County wrote a letter to ACC after reports of high rates from customers using Cactus State.

“We invited them to come here. They’re not coming. You know, it’s election season, but they are appearing through video. And we just want to make sure that the residents’ concerns are validated or at least heard, so that we can continue working towards a resolution,” said Jonathan Lines, Yuma County Supervisor for District 2.

Residents from Tierra Mesa Estates and Rancheros Bonitos are worried about affordability for their water bills and the amount of uranium.

Lines, who’s also the Chairman of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, said his board receives constant complaints about the quality of water.

“Karen Peters shared with me that there are probably a couple hundred systems within Arizona that are outdated and have needs of infrastructure improvement. And we’re doing everything at WIFA that we can to be able to provide either a grant or a low income loan so they can revitalize and provide clean drinking water,” Lines shared.

Chairman Nick Meyers will be representing ACC virtually, but the Town Hall, taking place Wednesday, October 28, at 5 p.m. at the Yuma County Auditorium on Main Street, is in-person.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officially has a brand-new place to call home in Imperial County.

Local and state leaders, families, and area law enforcement partners gathered in El Centro to cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art facility built to serve the expansive needs of the Imperial Valley.

Officials noted that the project has been a long time coming, marking the culmination of a five-year journey from the day ground was first broken to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new headquarters represents a monumental upgrade in space, expanding the agency’s footprint tenfold from a cramped 4,000 square feet to a spacious 40,000 square feet.

The physical growth directly reflects the massive operational responsibility of the El Centro Area Office, whose units patrol approximately 408 miles of state highways and 2,600 miles of county roads.

To manage this vast and diverse territory, the facility will house a dedicated team of:

36 uniformed employees 14 dispatchers Professional and support staff Eight senior volunteers Eight explorers

The facility introduces several critical upgrades that the previous 60-year-old office lacked entirely.

Capt. Ernesto Ruedas highlighted several new specialized resources designed to streamline daily law enforcement duties.

“We have a briefing room now. We have an actual place where we can hold classes,” Capt. Ruedas said. “We have a big evidence room and an Intoxilyzer room where we can bring people that are in custody. We have an interview room, a media room, a conference room, so all those things we didn’t have in the past.”

Ruedas added that the facility’s new infrastructure is fully open to law enforcement partners across the region, further strengthening a tight-knit network built on mutual respect.

“There’s no place like Imperial County. The amount of support and the love we have for each other is absolutely outstanding, and it’s reciprocal,” Ruedas explained.

Beyond regular operations, the headquarters will serve as a venue for community engagement. Chief Brandon Shipwash of the CHP Border Division expressed excitement over the facility’s capacity to host public programming.

“Whether it be car seat inspections or other trainings or educational events, what an awesome facility to be able to welcome you all to,” Chief Shipwash remarked.

While the event focused heavily on future capabilities, officials also paused to honor the heritage left behind on Highway 86 in Imperial.

CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee offered a salute to the previous base, noting its six decades of honorable service.

“The building served the people of Imperial County well and honorably. A lot of good Highway Patrol officers served out of that building,” Commissioner Duryee said.

The old Highway 86 facility won’t stay vacant for long. The Imperial Police Department is currently scheduled to take over the space to accommodate its own growing space constraints.

Meanwhile, local residents will soon have their chance to take a closer look inside the new multi-million dollar headquarters. A public open house is officially scheduled to take place this December.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – JCPenney presented its largest-ever check to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s Yuma Branch Tuesday.

The organization said JCPenney’s $13,860 check “shows how strongly the community answers when someone asks for help.”

Left to Right: Liz Byrne, Vice President, Regional Impact, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley,Rowena Regalado, Senior Branch Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley – Yuma Branch, Suzanne Mahady, Branch Administrative Coordinator, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley – Yuma Branch,Joy Lopez Pearsall, General Manager, JCPenney Yuma. Courtesy: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley – Yuma Branch

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s Yuma Branch said they “serve hundreds of local youths who may not otherwise have a place to learn and grow.”

They said the check will be used to continue helping kids in the Yuma area.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said a man was injured in a car versus motorcycle crash in Yuma Tuesday morning.

YPD said the crash happened at around 10 a.m. on Redondo Center Drive, near the Home Depot.

The motorcyclist was taken to Onvida Health, where he is reportedly in stable condition, while the driver of the car was not injured.

Redondo Center Drive was closed in both directions for several hours, and there is no word on what caused the crash.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – State employees, represented by SEIU Local 1000, are on strike, including healthcare and corrections workers.

The strike is taking place across California, including El Centro, where union members are picketing.

They’re asking for higher wages and an end to mandatory overtime.

The union accused the state of failing to bargain in good faith after their previous contract expired in June.

“We have not had a contract since June 30 because the state has rejected all our proposals at the last minute. We have negotiated with them for four months and nothing. We got nothing,” said Kimberly Manuel, Vice Chair of SEIU Local 1000.

The union said the strike is about fair treatment and working conditions.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – They found the perfect place, paid for a year and thought their wedding was all set, but the business owner got locked out, and their wedding venue and $19000 is gone.

It can be the venue, the DJ, the flowers, the food, the dresses. pay too fast. 

BBB Scam Tracker complaints show you can avoid most wedding scams if you obey these four words: Research first, pay last!

A California woman had to pay a $750 deposit on a wedding dress. They only accepted cash, which should have been a warning. She never got the dress and lost her money. 

Losing that special dress is bad enough. But losing the venue two weeks before your wedding can be a crisis.

One couple paid a year in advance, but found the hall didn’t get city permits and closed. They lost their $15,000 upfront payment.

Checking out a business thoroughly online first, can make a huge difference.

This business had an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. Some older complaints may have warned the couple about the business financial trouble before it was too late.

Whether it’s a wedding dress seller or planner, research reputations online, pay as little upfront as possible and avoid cash-only transactions.

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Check out all BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

More wedding protections from Better Business Bureau:

When looking for potential vendors or visiting trade shows and wedding expos, BBB has the following tips:

Ask vendors for references. Don’t rely on brochures or online reviews, which can be faked.  Watch for unexpected fees. Some caterers, hotels, or reception venues try to charge extra for “plate splitting,” “cake-cutting,” or “corkage” fees, especially if you bring in a cake or liquor purchased from another source. Ask whether fees such as taxes and gratuities will be added to the cost per person.  Dresses that don’t measure up. Brides have complained to BBB about bridal shops ordering the wrong sizes and colors of gowns and dresses that arrive too late for timely alterations. Ensure your order specifies new merchandise sized to fit you and your bridesmaids. Remind the shop of your schedule in advance. Wedding transportation problems. Get details in writing, including cancellation policies, and ask how the company handles problems if you aren’t satisfied. Don’t pay the entire amount in advance. Musicians. Couples shouldn’t rely on a website, demo tape, or phone conversation when hiring a wedding DJ service, a wedding band, or another music service. Find out where you can hear the musicians play before you hire them. Get a written commitment from the band or musician, including the time they will play and the costs to extend the time the night of the event. Photographer issues. A common complaint is that the photographer a couple hired doesn’t show up for the wedding or fails to deliver wedding pictures until months after the event. Find out when and how the pictures will be delivered. Floral changes. Fresh flowers are a perishable commodity, and your area is full of wedding florists to choose from. Make sure there is a full understanding, in writing, regarding delivery time and how changes or any problems will be handled. If you use a florist to preserve your bridal bouquet after the ceremony, get as much detail as possible. Bridal gown preservation. Check with a reputable cleaner on the cost of cleaning and storage for your wedding dress. Do your research. Look at several sources for ratings and reviews, and a great place to start is BBB.org. Remember, vendor website reviews may not be reliable.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Local leaders, advocates, and families gathered in El Centro on Tuesday to celebrate the retirement of Mark Klaus, the longtime Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC), honoring his remarkable 45-year career of service to the developmental disability community.

Klaus took the helm of the SDRC in November 2021, leading an organization that provides critical support services to 50,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the region, including 5,000 residents in Imperial County.

Reflecting on his decades of dedication, Klaus noted that the deep connections forged during his tenure are what he will value most.

He emphasized that he will deeply miss the diversity, the heart of the people, and the shared community commitment to making lives better.

“More rewarding than I could have ever expected,” Klaus said of his career. “It’s a teammate effort, it’s not a Mark effort. I can have an idea. I can have thoughts. I really don’t believe in the word vision, but our staff is the one that carry that out. They’re an integral part of the community.”

The retirement celebration featured a massive turnout from regional dignitaries who gathered to present awards, certificates, and official proclamations recognizing Klaus’ career achievements.

High-profile attendees included representatives from the City of El Centro, Imperial County, and the County Sheriff’s Department.

Staff members from the offices of California State Senator Steve Padilla and Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez were also on hand to deliver formal legislative honors.

SDRC plays a vital role in the Imperial Valley, helping children, adults, and families navigate developmental challenges to achieve independent and fulfilling lives.

While Klaus prepares for his next chapter, community leaders emphasized that his legacy of advocacy and collaborative leadership leaves a lasting footprint across Southern California.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rural Metro and the United Yuma County Fire Association are hosting the Bridget’s Gift Pink Party Takeover.

The event is taking place at Wheezy’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, located at 11732 S Fortuna Road, Thursday from noon to 9:00 p.m.

The event is featuring live music, taking place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., auctions and raffles.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to Bridget’s Gift in support of breast cancer awareness.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A familiar face in Imperial Valley education is looking to transition from the classroom to the boardroom.

Backed by nearly four decades of hands-on experience in public education, Edward Singh said he’s ready for this next chapter as he runs for the Central Union High School District Board of Trustees.

Singh is a graduate of Central Union High School and brings 37 years of field experience to the race. 

He said although he recently retired, his motivation to help local students remains as strong as ever.

“I retired a year and a half ago, that passion didn’t just dry up and go away. I still have that. It’s deep in my heart, and I want to continue contributing to this community and to the students of this community that still that fire still burns within me,” Singh shared.

His career spans roles as a teacher, counselor, administrator, as well as a college instructor.

“From my lens, it’s pretty broad in terms of being able to provide, you know, some reflection to what’s going on with the school system,” Singh remarked.

Singh’s platform focuses on safe schools, student success, support for staff, and transparent community engagement.

While he acknowledges the district already has strong pillars in place, Singh said, “What they need is resources. So there’s a grant about a $900,000 grant per year. That’s a community grant that would enable those pillars to be sought after.”

The grant would connect students to stronger support services, after school programs, and higher education pathways.

“I want to be their voice. I wanna bring in those resources is not only to support my grandkids but to support the entire community. That’s what I stand for,” Singh expressed.

Singh leaves his vision for the district in the hands of voters during the general election on November 3.

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