Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police and Fire Departments are collaborating with mental health agencies to support locals in crisis.

YPD and YFD created a mental health co-responder unit this year to get resources to community members in crisis.

Officers presented the program to the community Tuesday at the Yuma County Anti Drug Coalition meeting to partner with local mental health agencies on how to offer support.

“Basically we go into the community and people that are having mental health disabilities, we try to get them resources, so that they can get the help that they need and live productive lives,” said Sgt. Raul Fiveash with YPD.

The unit includes two police officers trained with mental health resources. They plan to add a YFD Paramedic at the beginning of next month.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Annual Yuma Family Pumpkin Patch is back in town! The three-week event is at Champion Church in Yuma. It features family friendly attractions from face painting, jumpers, hay rides, photos ops, and more.

The church is open to the public on the weekends for a $5 entrance fee. Locals can bring a canned food item as well for the church to give to families during the holidays. They encourage everyone to come out.

“We have so many beautiful things! We’re a patch! We’ve got pumpkins grown just for us, and they’re here. All kinds of fun things to do for the family. Today, we are in field trips and then the weekend we’re open to the public,” said Champion Church pastor LaCinda Bloomfield.

“We’re celebrating our 20 years, so it’s very family friendly, and it’s something that you can come to and enjoy and make memories,” said pumpkin patch coordinator Estalee Villarreal.

The Pumpkin Patch is open Fridays and Saturdays 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Sundays 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. until October 26.

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Dillon Fuhrman

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) has identified the victims of a possible murder-suicide in Winterhaven.

According to a press release, the victims were identified as 19-year-old Matthew Vargas and 23-year-old Jonathan Vargas.

ICSO says it happened Friday, October 10 in a home located in the area of Railroad Avenue and E Street, near Winterhaven Drive, at around 6:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, ICSO says deputies found a distraught man who had found the bodies of his two sons, Matthew and Jonathan Vargas, who both died from apparent gunshot wounds.

In addition, ICSO says they recovered a firearm and spent shell casing at the scene.

This prompted ICSO’s Investigations Unit to initiate an investigation, with assistance from the Scientific Investigations Unit and Coroner’s Office.

During the investigation, it was determined that the shooting may have been a murder-suicide between the two brothers, and ICSO says, “There are no indications of any outstanding suspects,” and there is no threat to the community.

ICSO also says, “Autopsy and forensic testing are pending to determine the official cause and manner of death,” and says their investigators have been in contact with the Vargas family to provide them updates on the case.

The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call (442) 265-2052.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two board members with the Gadsden Elementary School District are facing recalls this November.

Gadsden Elementary School District board members Liliana Arroyo and Luis Marquez are facing a recall.

Arroyo and Marquez say the accusations against them are false.

“There is a recall because they say I don’t know how to communicate with the community, that I have a barrier with the community because of my English,” said Arroyo.

“Because I mistreat the teacher, parents and children. Because I’m arrogant and because I abuse my power,” said Marquez.

Yuma County voters are starting to receive their ballot by mail on Wednesday.

Both Gadsden Elementary School board members are asking the community to make their voices heard this upcoming election.

“It’s very important to fill out the ballots, it’s very easy. It takes one minute to fill it out and send them back by mail or take them to the box at the library. It’s important because your vote counts,” said Marquez.

“Your vote is free, every voter has the right to vote freely for who they considered is the best option,” said Arroyo.

The recall election is on Tuesday, November 4.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma’s main agriculture season is officially here, but some growers are struggling to find field workers.

Yuma is responsible for about 90% of the leafy vegetables grown in the United States from November to March.

However, with growers struggling to find workers, John Boelts, the President of the Arizona Farm Buereau is at our nation’s capitol looking for assistance.

“We look forward to folks on Capitol Hill and with the administration working together to find solutions that we’ve been asking for for three decades now,” Boelts says.

There are other alternatives to hire out of country workers, such as the H2A program.

However, Boelts says this can be too expensive for some growers.

“It’s a cumbersome and challenging program you have to work with a number of federal agencies, it’s time consuming and expensive, and it frequently requires you to have lawyers and HR folks involved that many farms and ranches don’t have,” he said.

Boelts shares how this is impacting the agriculture industry.

“Not only can we not produce enough food and fiber in this country especially high labor intensive crops like fruits and vegetables in our country, we also have to be able to compete with imports,” he says.

According to the American Immigration Council, the agricultural industry saw a drop of 155,000 workers from March to July.

They say it could be due to immigration enforcement operations ramping up, with the Trump administration targeting work sites for immigration raids including farm workers, meat packers, and street vendors. 

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Marcos Icahuate

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – San Luis High School had an early dismissal, according to a message sent to families.

School was dismissed at 9:36 a.m. because of problems with their HVAC system.

After school activities off campus will continue as scheduled, but activities on campus are canceled.

San Luis High School reminds families that fall break begins on Friday, October 10 through October 13.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The vice mayor of San Luis, Arizona was in court Thursday morning to learn what formals charges he’s facing. 

42-year-old Tadeo De La Hoya is facing one count of unlawful flight from law enforcement, which is classified as a felony.

The incident happened on Sunday, September 28. In court, the judge said De La Hoya failed to stop and drove away from San Luis police.

San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel shares what’s going to happen to De La Hoya as a city official during his case. 

“He is the vice mayor he will continue as vice mayor. Thank god for this country, he’s not guilty until proven guilty,” said San Luis, Arizona Mayor Nieves Riedel.

Vice Mayor De La Hoya will be back in court on Monday, October 27. 

 

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals throughout Yuma are preparing for the upcoming rain that is expected to hit this week.

We went live from the Yuma Civic Center where people are taking some last-minute measures to be prepared for the remnants of Tropical Storm Priscilla. 

It was very cloudy with some wind in the Yuma area.

At the civic center, people have been coming to fill up bags with sand.

This is in preparation of the remnants from Tropical Storm Priscilla.

People throughout the City have dealt with rain and water damage in the recent weeks.

However, despite the damage, one local says she still likes the weather and just wants to be prepared this time around.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A teenager from Yuma died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

At about 9:26 p.m. on September 12, 2025, YPD were called about gunfire at a home in the area of S. 17th Avenue near the East Main Canal.

Officers found a 14-year-old boy inside the living room with a gunshot wound to the head.

The teenager was taken to Onvida Health, then airlifted to a Phoenix hospital. The teenager later died from his injuries on September 19.

A 21-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody on October 9 after probable cause was established by YPD.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Some may be wondering how to keep kids and parents healthy and how to know when symptoms may be more than just a passing bug.

Leala Martinez, nurse practitioner at Exceptional Community Hospital, says the flu is highly contagious.

“It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or even touching shared surfaces. Once one child or coworker is sick, it can spread rapidly, especially if crowded classrooms or offices,” Martinez shared.

Martinez adds symptoms you should watch out for.

“A cold is usually mild with a stuffy nose or cough, but the flu comes on suddenly and often includes high fever, body aches, chills, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting. It can make both children and adults very sick very quickly,” Martinez explained.

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