Category: kyma-local-news

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Halloween night is full of costumes, candy, and fun, but it also brings some real health and safety risks.

Leala Martinez, nurse practitioner at Exceptional Community Hospital in Yuma, shares what parents should watch out for and to keep kids safe and healthy.

“We often see falls from costumes that are too long or shoes that don’t fit, as well as minor cuts and scrapes in darker neighborhoods. There’s also a higher risk for pedestrian injuries. Parents can help by choosing safe costumes, adding reflective tape, and making sure kids carry a flashlight,” says Martinez.

Martinez adds some medical concerns to keep in mind about candy.

“For children with peanut, tree nut, or milk allergies, Halloween can be tricky. Also read labels carefully before letting them eat, and if a child has a history of severe reactions, keep an EpiPen nearby. Parents should also check candy to make sure it’s sealed and safe,” says Martinez.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – A new state law, originally introduced as Senate Bill 461, will allow the City of Imperial to take over a soon to be vacated California Highway Patrol (CHP) building and turn it into a new police station.

Around 24 Imperial police officers will move into the CHP offices on Imperial Avenue once the highway patrol relocates next year. The current police facilities are too small to meet the needs of the growing community.

“Our existing facility right now is the original probation slash juvenile hall. It’s not a purpose built law enforcement facility. The highway patrol, on the other hand, is a purpose built law enforcement facility,” said Imperial Police Chief Aaron Reel.

Chief Reel said Imperial is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, and the department will benefit from the extra space.

“This gives us an additional 1200 square feet of building size, but even more facility when it comes to parking, the radio tower, just the covered areas where we can actually park police cars, park personal vehicles collected, maintain evidence,” Reel said.

Before the move can happen, the city must work with the Department of Governmental Services to finalize the transfer.

“And once that takes place, we first we have to wait for CHP to leave. And then when CHP is out, we can start that process of designing a renovation and updating it to meet our needs. And I would hope, fingers crossed, to be in there this time next year,” Reel said.

The building was constructed in 1960 and will soon serve as the new home of the Imperial Police Department.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – When it comes to court cases, sometimes there’s a misconception on why a defendant walks out of custody without any charges filed.

Some people think this means the defendant will never be charged, however, this is not always the case.

When a person gets arrested, the judge has to look for a probable cause to keep them in custody.

Based on that information, they look for any victims and if the victim received a notification.

“Based on that information is where we determine if we are going to release the person or set a bond, a high bond, a low bond, do they have a criminal history,” said Scarlett Harper, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.

In Arizona, the county attorney or the prosecutor has 48 hours to collect the police reports and all the information needed to file charges.

“Now that time is for the officer to summit the report to the city prosecutor or county attorneys, now if if they didn’t receive the report then the person get a no complaint filed, no charges are filed,” explained Judge Harper.

In the case the prosecutor needs more information, they will do what’s called a follow up.

Even if charges are not filed while the suspect is still in custody, they can be filed later.

“A misdemeanor, if no charges are filed after the 48 hours, then we advised them they have up to a year to file charges on a misdemeanor and on felonies they got up to seven years to file charges,” said Harper.

Harper clarifies that the prosecutor or the county attorney is the one who can charge the defendant.

“It is clear that the judge does not charge a person, it’s the state, it’s the prosecutor, the county attorneys, the city prosecutor. They make the charges that they are the state of Arizona. The judge in these cases we are like the referee,” said Harper.

The judge reads the charges, goes over advisement, lets the defendant know their rights and helps assign an attorney if needed.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Water Users’ Association (YCWUA) would like to remind the community that it is illegal to dump trash or waste material into our canals, drainage ditches, access roads or agricultural fields.

Trash can contaminate our water supply, harm crops, and damage vital irrigation infrastructure. They say it’s important to keep these areas clean and debris-free to protect local water quality and agricultural resources.

YCWUA’s General Manager Tom Davis says it’s even more crucial during this time of year as we enter into produce and production season.

“What is termed is field to fork products and so any kind of contamination…any kind of dumping in our canal system immediately results in contamination on the produce fields,” said Davis.

All incidents of illegal dumping will be reported to county authorities, and violators will be prosecuted.

They suggest residents can use dumping stations around the county or municipal dumps.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is investigating a two-vehicle crash which left a man injured Friday morning.

According to a press release, the crash happened at around 10:35 a.m. in the area of Laguna Dam Road and County 5 1/2 Street.

YCSO says a 2007 Dodge Dakota was driving northbound on Laguna Dam Road while a 2001 Ford Ranger was driving east on a dirt road.

For unknown reasons, YCSO says the driver of the Ford attempted a wide turn in front of the Dodge, resulting in the Dodge to crash into the front passenger side of the Ford.

As a result, YCSO says the driver of the Ford, a 67-year-old man from Yuma, was trapped inside the vehicle, and says “life saving measures were performed by medical personnel on scene.”

YCSO says the man was taken to Onvida Health for serious injuries.

While alcohol did not factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) arrested a teen they say is connected to vehicle burglaries in Yuma.

YPD said early Friday morning, shortly before 4:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of W. 14th Street and S. 35th Drive.

Officers say a homeowner saw the suspect, a 13-year-old boy, partially inside his car, and says when the homeowner confronted the teen, the latter threatened the former with a handgun and then fled the area.

YPD says the teen entered or attempted to enter 25 vehicles in the neighborhood, and says investigators later served a search warrant at the teen’s home and found a firearm stolen during one of the burglaries and other crime-related evidence.

The teen, according to YPD, was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for numerous felony charges, which includes aggravated assault burglary, attempted burglary, assisting a criminal street gang and theft.

If anyone has information regarding the case, or if anyone believes their vehicle may have been broken into, call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Aggravated Assault-Vehicle Burglaries 25-66569Download

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Joaquin Hight

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Brawley Post Office, located on 401 Street, had its name changed in honor of Walter Francis Ulloa.

The post office will now be known as “The Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building.” A commemorative plaque was built and installed in the lobby of the facility, which visitors can see at any time.

Congressman Raul Ruiz hosted the ceremony outside the post office to officially change the name.

Brawley Mayor Gil Rebollar shares more on Ulloa’s impact.

“A man born and raised in Brawley, who went on to found Spanish-language media platforms, that was transforming. He was essentially a pioneer for the media industry,” Mayor Rebollar spoke.

Ulloa co-founded and built his own company, Entravision, which diversified media by acquiring more Spanish-language media across the country.

For his work, he was appointed to the Kennedy Center Honors by President Barack Obama.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On October 24, the Yuma campus of Arizona Western College held the Fourth Annual Hispanics Serving Institutions (HSI) summit.

The conference invited Hispanic students and leaders from other universities throughout Arizona to collaborate and give advice for new Hispanic students.

Mara Lopez, Inaugural Director for the HSI Research Center, explains more about the summit.

“We’re bringing together people from all across the state of Arizona that are representing levels of administration, staff, faculty, even a lot of our students, coming from all over the state,” Lopez shared.

A small pre-conference event was also held on the Yuma Campus in the 3C Breezeway on Thursday, October 23, and allowed students and staff to network and collaborate before the summit.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 19-year-old Juan Figueroa is back in court Friday morning for a case management conference.

Juan is charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder after allegedly accidentally running over his brother, 17-year-old Javier Figueroa, while trying to hit a 36-year-old man during a physical altercation.

According to official court documents in a Conditions of Release Hearing, earlier this month, the alleged 36-year-old victim says he does not consider himself a victim, and disagrees with Juan being prosecuted for offenses in which the 36-year-old is labeled as a victim.

During the same hearing, Juan had his bond reduced from $500,000 to $100,000, and has since posted bail.

Joseph Figeruoa, the father of the two brothers, is thankful that Judge Claudia Gonzales gave Juan the opportunity to attend his brother’s funeral and grieve with his family.

“[She] Gave me at least time for me to grieve with my son, and my dead son, and my other son, and he got to see him, and it was priceless,” Joseph says.

However, despite the recent developments, the state is still looking to prosecute Juan.

He is scheduled to be back in court for a Final Management Conference on November 21.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Community Food Bank is preparing to help more locals as the government shutdown continues.

Since the government shutdown started, the food bank has seen an increase in people needing assistance, along with plenty of calls.

The food bank says they might no longer receive federal funding if the shutdown continues, meaning they would struggle to buy extra food.

While they still have supplies to give out right now, those are dwindling.

“Our mission is to provide for our Yuma Community. If people have needs because of the shutdown, or for whatever reason, come see us, we’re going to try to help in whatever way we can,” said Andy Robinson the CEO and President of the Yuma Community Food Bank.

The food bank, along with millions of others, could lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, if the shutdown is not over soon.

Robinson shares just how crucial the money for the federal government is to their operation.

“It’s hard to say the amount we get, but it’s significant that it’s going to affect us longterm if the shutdown doesn’t get handled soon,” Robinson says.

The Yuma Community Food Bank shares how you can help.

“We are emergency prepared so we have a backup, but as this continues our backup will dwindle, so anything that people can help us with, food donations, anything like that would be greatly appreciated,” says Robinson.

If you would like to receive help from the food bank, all you have to do is show up and bring an ID.

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