Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial Valley College (IVC) is hosting a housing forum next week.

The forum is taking place Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the campus, located at 380 E. Aten Road, in room 2131, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

IVC says during the forum, attendees will learn how they can join the student housing community at SDSU Imperial Valley in Calexico.

They will also learn about the housing features, eligibility requirements, the application process and how the housing option supports student success.

To register for the event, scan the QR code on the press release below. For more information, click here.

IVC Student Housing FORUM flyer ENG SPANDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says two people were arrested and indicted for sexual conduct with a minor.

According to a press release, YPD received information earlier this month regarding a delayed sex offense, which happened in the area of S. Avenue B, near W. 18th Place.

YPD says it happened prior to March 12, and the suspect was identified as 28-year-old Ethan Kotlinski.

During the investigation, YPD determined 31-year-old Amanda Kotlinski “was also implicated with the reported offenses.”

As a result of the investigation, YPD says they arrested the Kotlinskis last week in the area of Arizona Avenue and 17th Street.

The Kotlinskis, according to YPD, were indicted on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of sexual abuse.

They are currently held at the Yuma County Detention Center, with Ethan having a bond of $350,000 while Amanda has a bond of $200,000.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 373-4700, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Sexual conduct with minor 26-018604Download

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Hiring a professional tax preparer can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and they may be necessary in some cases. 

If you’re looking for a tax professional, check reviews and for trusted Better Business Bureau Accredited preparers at bbb.org, but if your tax picture is fairly simple, there are a number of ways to file your federal and state taxes for free, if you qualify!!

The IRS partners with various tax preparation services to offer free file: https://www.irs.gov/e-file-do-your-taxes-for-free

California residents may be able to file state taxes for free through the Franchise Tax Board: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/index.asp

Arizona residents may qualify for free file through the state’s Department of Revenue: https://azdor.gov/file-and-pay/e-file-services/free-tax-return-preparation

TurboTax offers free federal and state tax filing for simpler returns if you meet certain requirements: https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp

H&R Block offers free file for simpler returns if you qualify: https://www.hrblock.com/online-tax-filing/free-online-tax-filing/?srsltid=AfmBOoqjy4QV_v7QOlOZsquFf2wxJzBrGs0VpUwEPVzhwtEYhT-9aNWk

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Moses Femino

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – A GoFundMe has been created for the family of the man who died after being hit by a vehicle in Imperial last week.

41-year-old Ruben Camargo was traveling southbound on State Route 86, north of Aten Road, after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Imperial when he was hit by a GMC Sierra.

After the Imperial Police Department (IPD) arrived on scene, they, along with the Imperial County Fire Department, performed life-saving measures before Camargo was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center, but he was later flown to UC San Diego Hillcrest Medical Center, where he later died.

According to IPD, the driver of the GMC remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation, and says impairment did not factor in the crash.

The GoFundMe was created to help ease Camargo’s family with the “financial burden of arranging funeral services” to honor his memory.

The GoFundMe has a goal of $7,000, with over $5,500 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A new space dedicated to fastpitch softball players held it’s grand opening on Wednesday, March 24.

National Fastpitch Prospects is officially open in Brawley, featuring a store with gear, apparel, and resources for young softball players.

Community members, city council members and families came out to meet the staff and celebrate the growth of E-1 sports in the region.

Fastpitch Prospects aims to help give resources to student athletes in rural areas, like Imperial Valley.

“While opportunities flourish in major metropolitan areas many of our local athletes were left without exposure they needed to pursue their dream,” said Victor Nava, President of the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers say they hope the store and the organizations can become a resource hub for beginner and advanced softball players looking to take their game to the next level.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – Starting in April, there will be a new way to pay for parking in Downtown San Luis, Arizona.

San Luis will have two new ways to pay for parking, with the first one being through a phone app called “Park Smarter.”

“The application will give the parking you just put the license plate you change the time and put the information to charge for parking,” said Francia Alonso, Public Information Officer with the City of San Luis.

The app is available for iPhones and Androids. However, the second way to pay is by sending a text message.

“Another option you guys have is text to a number that is going to be displayed at all the parking stations which will be text ‘PAY’ to 77447,” Alonso shared.

The cost of parking remains 50 cents per hour, with a five-hour parking limit. The new ways to pay to park start April 1.

To learn more about this, click here.

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Skylar Heisey

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) says a man has been arrested in connection to an assault from earlier this week.

According to a press release, the arrest happened Tuesday in the area of Bucklin Park where the suspect, a 45-year-old man from El Centro, was taken into custody without incident.

ECPD says the man was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer.

The arrest stemmed from an assault, which happened Monday, where a victim was hit with a baseball bat and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to ECPD.

The investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has information regarding the case, call ECPD at (760) 352-2111.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – You may be losing some change at the register when you pay in cash.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) has signed new legislation, House Bill 2938, in Arizona about cash payments, into law and in now in effect.

“I don’t like that. Stores need to adjust accordingly,” says Nancy Ripp, Yuma local.

The law says retailers that take cash and do not have pennies or accept them, can round the final sale to the nearest five-cent increment.

If the total ends in one, two, six, or seven, the bill will be rounded down to the nearest nickel.

If the bill ends in three, four, eight, or nine the total will be rounded up.

“I personally hate going to the bank when we run out of pennies. It’s just not the biggest convenience at all to be honest with you, but yeah, I will be rounding up. When I’m out of pennies, I’m out of pennies, so I’m pretty happy about this,” says Nicole Millis, local business owner.

The decision comes after the government decided last November that making pennies was causing businesses to lose money.

“It costs more money to mint one, than it is worth so,” says Marlo Foss, local.

According to the United States Mint, it costs 3.69 cents to make a one cent penny, making it more expensive to produce a penny than it’s actually worth.

Locals we spoke to say they dont mind this new legislations and say pennies were a waste anyways.

Candice Foss, another Yuma local, states, “I think it’s fine. I mean it really was misleading anyway, it really was $10, but they just made it $9.99 to catch your eye or $79.99 to catch your eye, so let’s just get rid of it.”

The law does not apply to customer paying with credit ot debit cards and merchant still have to charge the exact amount.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Cali. (KYMA) – The ACLU Foundation of San Diego and Imperial Counties has introduced a new hotline for residents to report misconduct by federal law enforcement officers.

The hotline is intended to document, track, and report potential abuses. Reports are divided into two categories: First Amendment violations and Fourth Amendment violations.

Frederick, the affiliate’s legal director, said, “We are our own court reporters right now, so to speak. We are documenting what’s happening. We are our historians.”

Officials say it’s not always clear when a person’s rights may have been violated, and they don’t expect people to know the law. That’s where the hotline comes in.

“What we will do with that then is track, monitor and observe what’s going on. We will have the data so that should litigation become appropriate, we will have been gathering it early on and we can respond appropriately,” Frederick said.

Residents in Imperial County can call the hotline at 760‑645‑9335. Callers leave a message, and someone from the office will return the call within 24 hours. Reports can also be filed online.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new program in Yuma is taking aim at one of agriculture’s biggest challenges: Water conservation.

The Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona, in partnership with the Yuma County Cooperative Extension, is developing a Master Irrigator Program designed to help farmers use water more efficiently while adapting to ongoing drought conditions along the Colorado River.

The program will offer training for both experienced agricultural professionals and students interested in entering the irrigation field.

Participants will learn how to use advanced tools like soil moisture sensors and automated gate systems to better manage water use.

The goal is to help farmers make precise decisions about when and how much water to apply, reducing waste and improving overall efficiency.

In addition to irrigation training, the program is also partnering with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to address wildlife challenges that farmers often face in the field.

Animals like deer and birds can sometimes damage crops, leading to financial losses for growers. Officials say it’s important for farmers to avoid feeding wildlife and to keep a safe distance from any animals that may be sick or injured.

Working with Wildlife

The Arizona Game and Fish Department says it’s available to help farmers dealing with wildlife-related issues.

“If you’re experiencing wildlife issues, like deer or birds impacting your crops, give us a call,” officials said. “We’ll work with you to help reduce those losses and keep your operation successful.”

The program aims to strike a balance between improving agricultural efficiency and promoting safe interactions with local wildlife.

As water resources remain limited in the region, efforts like the Master Irrigator Program could play a key role in helping Yuma’s farming community continue to thrive.

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