Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Deputies have identified a man who died in a crash in Tacna, about 45 miles east of Yuma.

32-year-old driver Missael Orozco Leon of Somerton died near E. County Eighth street and S. Avenue 44 E Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies say he was traveling Westbound on County Eighth Street when he didn’t make a turn and drove off the roadway into a canal.

The passenger and driver were able to get out of the car, but the driver didn’t make it.

“Unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle got swept away from the current or with the current, and he drowned,” said Yuma County Sheriff’s Office PIO Tania Pavlak.

Deputies say Tri Valley Fire District crew responded and attempted life saving measures. Deputies believe the driver may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may have also been speeding.

The case remains under investigation.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Options For All, a San Diego based non-profit, held an inclusive job fair aimed at helping connect employers with disabled adults.

Job seekers were able to meet with potential employers, fill out resumess, and network in addition to finding services.

“Today, we’re having an inclusive job fair for individuals with disabilities to find employment out here in Imperial Valley,” said Brian Nero, Vice President of Options For All.

Rachel Holiday, Director of Business Development at Options For All, explained what the organization does.

“We are a non-profit that works with individuals with all types of disabilities, assist them in finding employment, anything that taps into independence is what we work with, with our clients to help them,” Holiday shared.

I addition to employers, several agencies, such as behavioral health, local clinics and Access To Thrive were on site to offer services.

Ashley Contreras, founder and CEO of Access To Thrive said she was there to help differently abled adults become more self sufficient by starting their own business.

“We are helping individuals that want to start their own business,” she said, explaining her new program called STEP. “It’s a program designed for individuals with disabilities.”

She also noted the employers that came out to support the job fair.

“There’s a bunch of other businesses, businesses and agencies that are helping individuals that are looking for employment opportunities,” Contreras said.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In this week’s Home Grown report, a local elementary school is showing their appreciation for the agricultural industry.

Gary A. Knox Elementary School celebrated their annual Ag Day celebration. Students got the chance to see up close at what the industry is all about.

Local farming companiesM like JV Farms and Top Flavor Farms, showcased their drones, while other displays featured smart cultivators and massive tractors.

“This is our fourth year as a celebration of agriculture here in Yuma County and just to hopefully bring some attention to agriculture and hopefully bring some knowledge to the kids as well as some interest in getting them to be able to perhaps go into the Ag industry someday,” said Anne Ogram, Ag science teacher/coordinator.

Ogram also says because children are so technologically advanced, it is vital for them to see that a career in agriculture involves much more than just manual labor in the field.

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kesqnews

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Imperial County Sheriff’s Department released the booking photo for the man accused of the murder of a 17-year-old girl whose remains were found in Salton City.

Abraham Feinbloom, 51, was arrested Friday at his home in Salton City in connection with the death and disappearance of T’Neya Tovar of Hemet. He is being held without bail. News Channel 3 is working to confirm when Feinbloom will be arraigned.

He faces a murder charge, as well as one count of resisting arrest, after investigators say he attempted to flee when a SWAT team executed a search warrant at a Salton City home.

Tovar was reported missing on December 1. Her family said she traveled more than 70 miles to the Salton City area to meet up with an adult male.

Earlier this month, authorities confirmed that Tovar’s remains were found on December 21, a few miles from Feinbloom’s home in the Salton City area.

For the past two weeks, FBI investigators were out at a home on Harlequin Court, just off the 86 Expressway, in Thermal. News Channel 3 crew at the scene saw law enforcement with tools heading into the property.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – An Imperial Valley event invites locals to enjoy a night of music.

The Imperial Valley Symphony will play the Spring Serenade at the Jimmie Cannon Theater on March 28, 2026, starting at 7 p.m.

The concert includes music by Mendelssohn, Tchaikosky and Beethoven.

Each performance is a way to welcome spring in a relaxed setting.

Tickets are $15 each.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) visited the Imperial Regional Detention Facility Tuesday, calling for stronger federal oversight.

The facility, located near the U.S.-Mexico border, houses migrants in federal custody as they await immigration proceedings.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) maintains that the facilities nationwide meet national detention standards and provides access to medical care, meals, and legal services.

Rep. Ruiz said he was granted access all of the sections of the facility that he requested, including the medical services unit.

“From what I saw, and again, it’s just the one day pre-announced visit to the facility, is that they have their own pharmacy formulary and that they give the detainees their medication. But I have heard from detainees from other locations that sometimes they’re not allowed access to their medication,” he said.

Ruiz detailed a conversation he had with two migrants inside the facility, who expressed their failing hope.

“I spoke with two detainees who had just from exhaustion have given up. One had been under the custody of ICE for over a year and a half. They’ve been in this facility for three years. They get moved from one facility to another. That’s not uncommon. I’m hearing reports that people are removed from their home base where,” Ruiz explained.

Ruiz said he was pleased that the facility accommodated him and his staff.

“The court order allows for members of congress to go unannounced and not to be denied entry. That right has been violated at Adelanto. This facility [in Calexico] was accommodating, and we did give them notice before coming,” he said.

Previously, Ruiz attempted a congressional oversight visit to the Adelanto ICE Processing and Detention Center.

Officials refused to grant him entry, saying he did not have the required approval, although Ruiz maintains that his office provided advanced notice.

A recent federal court ruling affirmed that members of Congress have the right to conduct oversight visits without restrictive notice policies.

Ruiz said he plans to continue pressing for transparency and accountability as the national debate over immigration continues.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to a vehicle fire early Tuesday morning.

In a press release, the fire happened in the area of W. 20th Place and S. 25th Drive at around 2:40 a.m.

Upon arrival, YFD says fire crews found a pickup truck fully involved in the driveway of the home, with fire conditions threatening the home.

This prompted firefighters to quickly deploy hose lines to bring the fire under control, “preventing it from spreading into the home,” YFD says.

YFD also says fire crews then ventilated the home and conducted a “thorough check of the garage and attic for any extension of the fire,” but they didn’t find any additional fire spread.

The fire was contained to the vehicle and was limited to the exterior of the home, YFD says. While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

005 Truck Fire DrivewayDownload

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Adrik Vargas

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – More than 60 dogs were removed from a single home in Brawley. Shelter officials say the animals were found in extremely poor conditions.

The Humane Society of Yuma took in 23 of the dogs after seeing the case online and connecting with the Humane Society of Imperial County.

Staff say they were able to help because they had open kennels and room for small dogs.

Courtesy: HSOIC

We’ve reached out to Brawley PD to hear if the person living in the home is facing any charges and we have yet to hear back.

Since Friday, six of the dogs have already been placed into foster, rescue, or are pending adoption.

If you’re interested in adopting one of these dogs reach out to the Humane Society of Yuma.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – We’re continuing to celebrate Black History Month and highlight local leaders with not one but two entrepreneurs this week.

A mother-daughter duo own a local salon and are changing the game in the beauty supply industry.

“Co-owning the shop with my family, not just my daughter, is so rewarding…so humble. It’s just an honor and a privilege from God for me,” said Dinnie’s Beauty Supplies and Braiding Salon owner Amerita Hamlet.

Dinnie’s Beauty Supplies and Braiding Salon is a family-owned shop in Yuma that offers everything from wigs, hair extensions, natural hair products, and hair services for all ethnicities.

The family wears many hats in the community. Daughter Emilie Hall is a professional wedding photographer that’s been traveling and had her work featured in several high profile magazines.

“Last year, I did New York Fashion week, and I’ve been featured in a couple like very wonderful magazines. It’s very exciting,” said Hall.

Mom Amerita Hamlet is also a retired active duty navy nurse, instructor at Arizona Western College and nursing professor at Northern Arizona University Yuma, plus has another small business with mobile health and wellness training classes.

She named and created the shop Dinnie’s in honor of her mom who had Alzeimers.

“It’s very humbling to see that the community actually supports this type of store. I’m a small local business owner, and it’s a privilege to be in the community and helping people who really need help. When you have a type of store like this and people are going through cancer or losing their hair, bringing a smile on their face is the most important thing in my mind,” said Hamlet.

“Watching my mom create magic is beautiful,” said Hall.

For many customers, they say they feel that magic when they walk through the door.

“Honestly, it’s really amazing because living in Yuma my whole life is really a thing of like not having enough representation or anything like that, just in this area, in this locale, and so there’s always been like the little small shops that never really lasted. But seeing that the shop is here and it has a lot of things to it is really beautiful, honestly. It’s like opened my eyes and makes me want to come back more and more. Even just my first time being here, I’m already like wanting to buy everything literally,” said first time customer Cruz Haddock.

Whether you’re a first time customer like Cruz or a regular over the years, they say the shop brings much needed representation to the community and feels like home.

“Black hair is difficult. You know, you can’t just go up to Walmart or go to CVS and just find something that’s just going to fit your bill, so coming here, this is a place where you not only get products that you need, but you also get a coach. You also get someone who knows the hair and will kind of walk you through everything that you need to look beautiful, as beautiful as you can. But the most important thing is that it feels like family, and when someone knows you, they can feel you, and they know where you’re coming from. It’s really nice to have that confidence, to be able to go someplace and get whatever you need and be fabulous. One stop shop” said returning customer Luz Rios.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man accused of sexually abusing a child under the age of five for more than ten years has accepted a plea deal.

46-year-old James David Schultz pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor, molestation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Under the agreement, there is no probation available and Schultz will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Schultz faces a presumptive sentence of 20 years in prison, with a minimum of 13 years and a maximum of 27 years.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 9.

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