Category: kyma-local-news

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two stores in Yuma County were cited after state investigators found they were selling tobacco products to minors.

The inspections were part of the Arizona Attorney General’s Operation Counter Strike program, which checks stores to make sure they are not selling tobacco to people under 18.

Last year, the program inspected more than 1,000 stores across Arizona. Nearly 500 citations were issued to clerks and businesses that sold tobacco to minors.

In Yuma County, two stores were cited: Chevron Food Mart near the Big Curve in Yuma and Super Gas Mini-Mart on Main Street in Somerton.

Some local residents say they are disappointed to see this happening in their community.

“It’s sad to see that in our hometown. It’s gotten to the point where just to make a quick buck, businesses are selling to minors, but almost as a way of like targeting them as well,” said Richard Nunez, a local father.

Nunez said he hopes businesses take more responsibility when it comes to protecting kids and says protecting kids from tobacco sales should be a bigger priority.

“The future of the U.S., or our state of Arizona, is in our kids, you know, and if we’re not protecting them, then we’re not protecting the future. So I do think statewide, they should crack down a little bit harder,” he said.

Operation Counter Strike has been running since 2002. During the checks, youth volunteers work with investigators to try to buy tobacco from stores.

If a clerk sells to an underage volunteer, both the employee and the business can receive a criminal citation.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – We’re digging into just how many crashes there have been on 32nd Street in Yuma that led the city to lower the speed limit.

The city reported 159 crashes from 2021 to last year on 32nd Street, between Arizona Avenue and Avenue 3E.

“Four of them have been fatal and several more have had serious injuries,” said City of Yuma Director of Engineering David Wostenberg.

The city shared crash data with us from that area over the past five years.

2022 saw the most crashes at 48. The lowest was 20 crashes in 2023.

“Over those five years, there were a reduction in crashes over the most recent three years. However, that was due to enhanced enforcement by Yuma Police, and they also recommended a reduced speed limit for that area,” said Wostenberg.

When I asked the city director of engineering why the changes now, they said they’ve seen an increase in vehicles on the road since 2020 with about 13.7% of truck traffic now.

“Over the past several years from 2020, there’s been an average increase in the volume of traffic by 10% a year, so we are now at 30,000 vehicles per day on that segment, and, it’s continuing to grow,” said Wostenberg.

That’s why the city is dropping the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour on a stretch of 32nd Street starting next week.

They say the changes will help improve traffic flow and reduce crashes.

“The reduction of speed will improve the safety for all road users, not just the motorists, but also our vulnerable road users, the bicyclists, and the pedestrians,” said Wostenberg.

Some locals agree.

“I like the idea. I don’t like giving up my speed, but I do like the idea for safety because it does get a little hairy down there, and if you miss the light, you’re really trying to get it. Yeah, 35 would be a good place to go,” said local Marde Randall.

They say the city will continue to study the road if any futher imrpovements need to be made to help with road safety.

“The city traffic engineering will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the speed reduction. And about 60 to 90 days, I’ll look at it to see how well the enhanced enforcement work- how well the speed reduction has been working,” said Wostenberg.

They remind those on the road drive the speed limit, stay alert, and don’t drive distracted.

“Distracted for one second can mean the difference between a crash and a non crash,” said Wostenberg.

Public works will install the new speed limit signs next Monday morning.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Gas prices are climbing in California, with prices jumping 62 cents a gallon in the last week.

The statewide average, according to AAA, is now hovering at over $5 per gallon. Some stations in California are charging more, with many drivers paying over $7 a gallon.

The growing conflict in the Middle East is causing crude oil prices to spike, directly impacting fuel costs.

As costs surge nationwide, some residents say filling up is taking a hit on their wallets.

“I have to take my kids to school in the morning. And I’m running about doing my business and yeah, it’s gonna be more gas, more money,” said Brawley resident George Prieto.

California also requires a unique fuel blend during the summer months which is more expensive, and the state has fewer refineries and higher gas taxes.

The overall trend shows gas prices continuing to climb across Southern California, with Chevron warning that prices could go even higher.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) says a pedestrian is dead after being hit by a vehicle Tuesday night.

According to a press release, it happened in the area of E. Main Street and Fairfield Drive, near Booker T. Washington Elementary School, after 9 p.m.

Upon arrival, ECPD says officer found an unresponsive man in the roadway, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

ECPD says the driver involved in the crash remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

While neither alcohol nor drugs were factors in the crash, ECPD says the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the crash, call (760) 352-2111.

ECPD is also asking drivers and pedestrians to remain attentive and use caution, especially during the nighttime hours when visibility is reduced.

Press Release – Traffic Collision 3-11-2026Download

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local car club made a donation Wednesday that will put a smile on local kids’ faces during their medical treatments.

The Foothills Cruisers Car Club donated more than 1,000 teddy bears and stuffed animals to Onvida Health.

The goal is to give comfort to children while they are being treated or recovering at the hospital.

“They basically hang out with them and say this is mine and have something to hug. It’s a good brave for them when they have to go through all those tests and stuff with them,” said Doris Casey, Chairwoman of the Foothills Cruisers.

“These bears bring smiles to children while they go through difficult time at the hospital. It’s just a little token of care and comfort we can give to these kids,” said Rosa Rubio with the intensive care unit at Onvida Health.

The Foothills Cruisers plan to continue donating toys to kids to other local health centers and clinics in Yuma County.

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Lauren Duffel

Reporter Lauren Duffel spoke with Sgt. Lori Franklin with the Yuma Police Department on the status of the Amberly Ann Mendoza case.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The month of March marks 30 years since nine-year-old Amberly Ann Mendoza was tragically murdered in her bedroom.

The case remains unsolved, but her memory lives on as an advocacy group has stood in her honor for over 26 years.

Executive Director Tori Bourguignon shares how residents across Yuma County can access these resources.

“Amberly’s Place is a family advocacy center here in Yuma country. We are the only advocacy center here. We provide services 24/7, 365 [days], to victims of [domestic violence], sexual assault, elder abuse, sex trafficking and child abuse, both physical and sexual,” Bourguignon explained.

Mendoza’s case has remained unsolved since her murder took place back in 1996, and investigators are still trying to bring justice for her family.

“All it takes is that one person with that one clue that we’re missing to come forward and help us solve this case,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin, Public Information Officer for the Yuma Police Department (YPD).

YPD urges anyone with information to come forward.

“If anybody knows anything, please come forward…Please give us that, so we will be able to add closure to the family and give Amberly some justice,” Sgt. Franklin expressed.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Those who enter sweepstakes and lotteries always await that special phone call notifying them that they’ve won big.

Unfortunately, scammers know just how to play into our emotions and are tricking people into paying for prizes they haven’t actually won.

BBB has received several reports of phone calls that impersonate Publishers Clearing House to BBB Scam Tracker.

How the scam works

You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a Publishers Clearing House employee. They tell you you’ve won millions of dollars and a brand-new car—how exciting!

The person sends you a photo of your new car and all the money you will receive. Even better, they tell you that real celebrities will come to your house in the coming days to award your prizes.

However, there’s a catch. Before you can receive your prizes, you must first pay a fee for an “IRS requirement” or a “broker’s fee.”

To pay these “fees,” the individual on the phone may instruct you to purchase a gift card and provide them with the numbers on the back of the card.

They may also tell you to send money to a specific bank account or mail it to an address in another state. These fees can be hefty, ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

The person on the phone may also ask for more personal information from you, like your bank name, bank account and routing numbers. They may also ask you about your current financial situation or the savings accounts you currently hold.

If you catch on to the scam and hang up the phone, the scammer may call you back multiple times and leave you several messages asking for the money, making it difficult to end communication with them.

One consumer shared their experience to BBB Scam Tracker: “I was called…by a man named [redacted], claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. He told me I had won secnd prize of $13 million and a BMW. He said [celebrity names redacted] would be coming to my house to present the prize…They also told me, in order to avoid paying taxes, to get a Vanilla card for $750…I contacted BBB…and was told this is a scam.”

“If you are told you have won a prize but have to pay any money, hang up the phone, rip up the letter, delete the social media contact, and report the contact to your local law enforcement agency,” said Christopher L. Irving of Publishers Clearing House, a BBB Accredited Business. “[Publishers Clearing House] will never call or private message a consumer on social media to let them know they have won and will never ask for payment.”

How to avoid sweepstakes scams

Remember, you have to play to win. If you’re being told you won a sweepstakes but don’t remember entering one, that’s a red flag for a scam. If you do enter sweepstakes, keep track of your entries so you can confirm any winning notifications you may receive. Read the fine print and rules for the sweepstakes you enter to know how prizes are claimed and how long the sweepstakes lasts.

Never pay upfront fees to claim your prizes. No legitimate sweepstakes company will ask you to pay fees to receive your prizes. Any fees that claim to be for taxes, shipping and handling, or processing are fake and a red flag. If someone is asking you to pay money to claim a prize, stop communicating with them. Publishers Clearing House has shared that their winners will never have to pay to claim a prize.

Don’t get caught up in the excitement. Sweepstakes scammers will try their best to get you very excited about your winnings, but don’t let that cloud your judgment. Take a step back and consider what the person is telling you – if you’re being told to pay money or asked to hand over personal or financial information for a sweepstakes you never entered, stop communicating with the caller.

If you’re being asked to pay with a gift card, it’s likely a scam. Paying with a gift card is one of the most common tactics scammers use to steal money from people. If you’re given urgent, specific instructions from a stranger on the phone about what type of gift card to buy, where to buy it, and how much money to put on the gift card, hang up and do not proceed with the purchase.

If you’ve been targeted by a scam like this, share your experience with BBB Scam Tracker to help others avoid similar scams.

Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission HERE. Check for trusted accredited businesses at bbb.org.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma announced Tuesday the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are coming to Yuma after nearly 40 years.

During that time, MCAS Yuma says they will be performing high-speed formations and precision maneuvers over the base.

The Blue Angels have been in El Centro for winter training since January, where they execute two to three flights per day.

“It’s a pretty rigorous schedule. We have to stay on top of our nutrition, hydration and overall health, but it definitely does a lot to get us prepared for the shows,” said Lt. Ronny Hafeza with Blue Angel 7.

In El Centro alone, they have 120 flight takeoffs and landings, just to prepare for their first flight demonstrations.

However, now that the NAF El Centro Airshow has been canceled, they will be able to perform at the Yuma Airshow.

“We were just very grateful and fortunate that Yuma asked us to come perform. We’re fortunate and very grateful that it worked out with our schedule,” said Cmdr. Lily Montana with Blue Angel 8.

The Blue Angels are excited to be here performing in Yuma and tell me there is a lot for the Yuma community to look forward to.

“This will be what is considered a remote show site, which is unique, normally when we’re flying over near field, we’ll operate out of that air field, and so this instance, we’re going to be flying from El Centro overhead,” says Cmdr. Montana.

The Blue Angels perform in tight formations, sometimes even 18 inches apart, using their sense to operate the aircraft.

“Definitely visual. We don’t rely on the instruments to tell is where were at in time and space, however the pilots are so well in tuned with their aircrafts, the stick sensations, the feel of the aircraft, how each aircraft influencing one another,” says Lt. Hafeza.

The U. S. Navy Blue Angels are performing at the 60th Anniversary of the Yuma Airshow after nearly 40 years.

The Yuma airshow is happening this Saturday, March 14, at MCAS Yuma. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the show starts at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A fire last week destroyed a Yuma home filled with decades of family history.

Charles Cook, the homeowner, says the house, located in the area of Seventh Avenue and 24th Street, has been in his family since 1956.

He took over in 2008 and spent years repairing and improving it, but the home was not insured when the fire struck.

“This was not just my life, but it was my parents and my siblings. We all grew up here. And so, it’s not just the financial right now, which is a lot, but it’s family history that went up in smoke,” Cook said.

The home will have to be torn down, but Cook says not having the funds makes it even harder to face.

“I’ve been out here every day trying to get something done. But it’s just a roller coaster. Sometimes I don’t even want to get out of bed to come over here and deal with it,” he added.

Family members are working to salvage whatever they can from the debris.

Rachelle Cook, whose husband is Charles’ nephew, helped set up a GoFundMe to support Charles and the families affected by the fire. She says the effort is about helping Charles save the property if possible.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and people who want to donate can find the link here.

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