Category: kyma-local-news

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It is the season of giving, and one local organization is making the holidays brighter for children in the community.

After hosting a toy drive earlier this month, the Housing Corporation of America distributed toys to children at their homes on Thursday morning.

The effort brought smiles and excitement to dozens of young residents as staff members personally delivered the gifts.

“We did get some wonderful sponsorships and we got some toys,” said Dennise Lopez, an occupancy specialist with the organization. “Also, some of our staff helped out with donating toys, and we decided to go ahead and provide this for our residents,” she said.

The initiative aimed to spread joy to children who might otherwise go without a toy this Christmas. For staff members, the experience was especially meaningful.

“It feels like you’re able to give those kids something for Christmas that maybe their parents might not be able to,” said Julia Navarro, also an occupancy specialist.

In total, the Housing Corporation of America handed out toys to approximately 50 children, ensuring they could enjoy a part of the holiday season.

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Paul Vozzella

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Harvest Preparatory School is bringing holiday cheer to the community by challenging its students to combine creativity, cultural learning, and service through a festive initiative known as the “Tunnel of Lights.”

The event is being held at both of the school’s campuses in San Luis and Yuma, where families and community members can drive through illuminated holiday displays in exchange for a charitable donation.

Admission requires either a five-dollar donation or three cans of food per vehicle, all of which will be donated to support the homeless and those in need.

More than 600 students from Harvest Preparatory participated in creating the displays, which feature Christmas themes inspired by countries from around the world.

Students were divided into groups and worked alongside their teachers to bring these international concepts to life, after lessons studied in their social studies classes.

Harvest Preparatory CEO Debra Ybarra emphasized that the event is rooted in giving back to the community.

She explained that while the collection of food donations is an important component, the broader goal is to create a meaningful and uplifting experience for families and children during the holiday season.

The Tunnel of Lights event in Yuma runs from December 19 through December 23. In San Luis, the event takes place on December 22 and 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., offering residents an opportunity to celebrate the season while supporting those in need.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma residents came together to rescue a kitten stranded high above the ground.

The rescue unfolded after a call alerted Homeward Bound Animal Rescue to a kitten trapped with no clear way down, prompting a rapid response from both rescuers and bystanders.

Upon arriving at the scene, Homeward Bound Animal Rescue Director Megan Springer found that others had also stopped to help.

What began as a single response quickly turned into a coordinated effort among strangers united by concern for the animal’s safety.

“I was looking around and then some people came out of their truck and were like, ‘Hey, we’re here trying to help the cat too,’ and I was like ‘Cool,’ so it was like a team effort,” Springer shared.

One of the residents at the scene returned after purchasing a ladder and climbed up to reach the kitten. With careful movements, he was able to retrieve the animal and bring it safely back to the ground.

For Springer, the rescue was about more than saving a single animal. She said the experience reflected the close-knit nature of Yuma and the willingness of residents to step in and help one another without hesitation.

“One thing that I do love about this, is that the humanity of it is turning into ‘Yumanity,’ because we’re Yuma, and Yuma really brought it together. It wasn’t really me, I was just kind of the catalyst of being there and helping,” she expressed.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its next president, marking a historic moment for the institution.

Dhawan will become the 10th president in the college’s history and the first woman to hold the position. She is set to officially assume the role following the retirement of current President Dr. Daniel Corr next July.

Dhawan has been part of the AWC community since 2008 and currently serves as the chief executive officer of the college’s Entrepreneurial College, as well as vice president of workforce development.

Her experience spans faculty and administrative roles, which she says has shaped her leadership approach.

“Every single role I learned so much,” she said. “Being faculty, you work very close with the students, you understand better coaching, you understand faculty needs, so you understand how to support faculty. Being an administrator, you understand how to support students, and faculty, and staff, everybody, and community.”

Looking ahead, Dhawan envisions continued expansion and development for Arizona Western College.

Her goals include strengthening partnerships with Arizona’s three state universities. Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, exploring the creation of a bachelor’s degree program, and expanding workforce training opportunities to meet the needs of a growing region.

She also has a desire to draw students from outside the Yuma area and beyond state lines.

“It’s gonna become bigger and bigger…We wanna have more students even outside the state and even outside the Yuma region come to Yuma and stay in Yuma. We wanna grow our own,” she said.

With her appointment, AWC signals a continued commitment to innovation, workforce development, and regional growth as it prepares for a new era under Dhawan’s leadership.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With Christmas just around the corner, a local church in Yuma is offering residents the opportunity to experience the origins of the holiday through a live theatrical production.

Champion Church will present its annual performance, “Jesus Is Born,” this weekend, bringing the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ to the stage.

The production depicts the journey of Joseph and Mary and how they became the parents of Jesus. Preparations for the performance have been underway for nearly two months, with extensive rehearsals involving a large group of participants.

Approximately 200 people make up the cast and crew, ranging from young children to adults.

Champion Church Pastor LaCinda Bloomfield said the production is both a celebration of faith and a reflection of the crew’s growth.

She said sharing the love of Jesus with the city and watching participants develop their talents, especially children who have grown into adult roles over the years, has been especially meaningful.

“Jesus Is Born” will be performed at Champion Church from December 19 through December 21, with each show beginning at 7 p.m.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An 11th grade student became the youngest graduate of Imperial Valley College’s Dual Enrollment program.

Noah Munguia earned four associate degrees before completing high school.

His degrees are in psychology, behavioral science, social science and university studies: social and behavioral science.

Munguia is planning to earn his fifth associate degree by May 2026.

“It’s important to not give up, keep working no matter how hard it is and have people there to support you, that’s what really matters, having people to talk to and be there for you when you really need it,” said Munguia. “It’s just amazing being able to do all of this and being a student-athlete, accomplishing a lot of my goals.”

Munguia wants to continue his education at California State University San Marcos and work towards both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Department of Corrections says the death of an inmate at the state prison in Yuma was gang related.

50-year-old Jacob Major was killed last week after he was attacked by several fellow inmates.

The Department says this targeted attack does not represent a threat to the wider inmate population.

Another inmate who was killed at the Arizona State Prison in Buckeye this week was also due to gang violence, according to the Department of Corrections. 

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Visit Yuma announced the winners for the 2025 Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade.

The event, which took place on Saturday, December 13, featured over 100 entries from marching bands, bicycle groups, floats and more.

The winners are as follows:

Best Vehicle – Spectrum

Best Float – Champion Church

Best Animal Group – Saddles of Joy

Best Walking/ Performance – Glam dance studio

Best Depiction of Theme – Fourth Avenue Junior High School

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Law enforcement is advising locals to secure their vehicles after several jeep wranglers and other similar cars were stolen in Imperial County.

The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) say they are seeing an increase of stolen Jeeps in the city.

“They are taking Jeeps away, it’s the Wranglers and the Gladiators mostly,” said Karla Ville, investigator with ECPD.

ECPD say the vehicles with a push to start systems are the ones being targeted. 

“They don’t use the key, they use the push start because it is electronically, so they are using an electronic device to cut of the alarm system and then breaking into it and opening it and starting it electronically with the system that they have themselves,” said Ville.

Ville say the jeeps are being stolen between midnight and 4 a.m. She also says it takes at least one to five minutes to take a vehicle. 

“The people that are doing it, what they have in common are juveniles, so they are under 18 the ones who are the drivers of those vehicles, However there is a follow up car right behind them that drops them off and then the juvenile picks up the stolen car and takes it with them,” said Ville.

Police say sometimes the vehicles are taken to Mexico.

Jeeps are also being stolen in Yuma, San Diego and Riverside, California.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A proposed data center in Imperial County continues to spark debate as locals for and against the center speak out at the Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting.

During the regular meeting on Tuesday, the deputy CEO of Natural Resources provided a timeline outlining the data center review process.

The deputy says although the County has received the site plan documents, they’ve initiated a health risk assessment and other related processes.

The County has not approved a grading permit for the project.

Imperial County Supervisor Peggy Price stated that the County is aware of emails and phone calls from local residents regarding the center.

“I want to acknowledge the many emails, calls and comments we have received from members of the public regarding the proposed data center. We hear your concerns and understand the desire of responses and dialogue. However, it is important to know that an anticipation of any administrative permit that may come before this board regardless of the project we have an obligation to remain neutral and unbiased,” said Supervisor Price.

The Board says they won’t be commenting about the project at this time.

The Imperial County Planning Commission is having a meeting regarding the data center Thursday.

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