Category: kyma-local-news

Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A local business has been red-tagged and temporarily closed after law enforcement found drugs and multiple violations.

The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says VIP Adult Book Store and Arcade on Imperial Avenue and Fifth Street was red-tagged last week.

Officers say they received numerous complaints of drug use at the business — especially in the parking lot.

That’s when CPD, along with the Calexico Code Enforcement Division, conducted an inspection at the location.

“The Calexico Fire Department inspector also joined us for this business inspection. While we were doing the inspection, we located several subjects hanging out upstairs. We also located several methamphetamine pipes upstairs, and we located approximately 4.5 grams of methamphetamine that was packaged for sale,” said Jose Cuellar, CPD Detective.

The inspector also found construction violations that make the building unsafe.

Calexico police say no one has been arrested at this time.

Police say this case is still under investigation, and the store remains closed until code enforcement determines it is safe to reopen.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The suspect accused of killing his own brother was back in court Tuesday.

Their father shares his reaction with us for the first time. 

19-year-old Juan Figueroa is accused of running over his 17-year old brother, Javier Figueroa.

This happened after police say they got into a road rage fight with another person on Saturday night right by the Starbucks parking lot on Fourth Avenue and 15th Street.

During court, the judge denied to lower the bond amount, keeping it at $500,000.

We spoke with the father of the two brothers, Joseph Figueroa, who describes the devastation their family is going through.

“We’re just heartbroken, I mean my son, well he’s gone. I didn’t get to see him, my other one’s detained, I can’t see him. Right now, we all just need to be together as a family,” said Figueroa.

You can donate to the Figueroa family’s GoFundMe here.

 

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – An event is planned to help locals find jobs.

The Yuma Community Job & Education Fair will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Arizona Western College, Schoening Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The public is invited to come out, with priority admission available for veterans, active military & spouses.

Free transportation is also provided by YCAT.

You can register here.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new grant will give Yuma County students a hands-on way to experience history and science.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (YCNHA) has received a National Park Foundation grant to fund its “Yuma Live History Adventures” program.

YCNHA says the all-expenses paid field trip is open every third through firth grade students in the county. 

The program takes kinds to the Territorial Prison, the Colorado River State Historic Park, and the Yuma East Wetlands.

The grant covers admission and transportation, making the experience accessible to all schools.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

2025-26 OOK Press ReleaseDownload

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona’s minimum wage will rise to more than $15 an hour starting Jan. 1, marking the first time it will pass that threshold.

The increase from $14.70 to $15.15 is required under state law, which adjusts the minimum wage each year to keep pace with inflation.

For many workers, the raise may still not cover the rising cost of living.

“Jobs around here are very scarce. A lot of part time. And the cost of living here is not comparable to the minimum wage standards,” said Keri, a local resident.

Ezequiel Urzua, a minimum wage worker, added, “I do think it’ll help people out. But then again, when that increases, other things will also increase.”

Some residents have their own ideas about what a fair wage should be.

“An appropriate amount for bare minimum wage around here should at least be 16 to $17 an hour,” Keri said.

Even with the raise, many say getting by day to day remains difficult.

Clinton Gomez, a gig worker, said, “I don’t even know how most people do it. I know they work multiple jobs, like I live in the city, like in Phoenix, and I remember working jobs there, and people are working multiple jobs just to like, survive.”

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – When four siblings become Eagle Scouts, you know it’s no ordinary family. It’s a legacy of leadership for a local family with four siblings and four Eagle Scouts.

“It’s the first time Yuma has had four scouts at one quart of honor with the Eagle Award,” said Eagle Scout Erin Little.

Local high school senior and oldest son Michael Goodwill partnered with the “Stop the Bleed” program for his Eagle Scout project. It’s an initiative teaching students and teachers how to use a tourniquet to stop life-threatening bleeding.

“We held a big assembly in the gym at Kofa, and about 400-500 kids showed up to take the training,” said Goodwill.

The district has since expanded the program to all its high schools. During most of his winter break, Goodwill also helped organize dozens of school safety buckets for his project which ares used in cases of emergencies.

Erin Little, his older sister, also making a local difference not only as Yuma’s second female eagle scout but also the recipient of the girl scout Gold Award and the first young woman West of the Mississippi to earn dual honors.

“My Gold Award started as just some idea to help make fidget pads, blankets, basically, for people with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Little.

She reached out to the community for a Sew-athon event.

“80 people showed up. We got I think 40 plus blankets done that day. For the ones that weren’t completely done, I finished up later and donated,” said Little.

Little also helped reorganize and clean out the storage closet at a local church as part of her Eagle Scout project.

All four siblings were recognized together at their joint Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

With their parents being long-time scouting volunteers their dad shares how proud he is of all of them.

“We’re at a lot of pride with that because I mean there’s a lot of work. It takes several years to get to that point and to complete the project. It’s a wonderful thing,” said father Gary Goodwill.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A recent study by a University of Arizona assistant professor and extension specialist Ali T. Mohammed shares how to reduce aphid infestation in lettuce.

He suggests managing irrigation nitrogen can significantly lower aphid infestations in lettuce.

Aphids are small bugs that suck the sap out of plants.

Mohammed explains why aphids are typically attracted to lettuce.

“For the ambient conditions of the crop, it would be a good environment for the aphid to be there,” Mohammed says.

This research is important for Arizona’s two-billion dollar lettuce industry.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An Ice Cream + Pie Social event is planned for El Centro locals.

The social will be at the Downtown Town Square on September 27, 2025 from 6-9 p.m.

There will be a pie eating contest, Julian apple pie raffles, music, food vendors and a kids zone.

This event is presented by the City of El Centro Parks & Recreation.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) announced they were a recipient of a $250,000 Perkins Innovation and Modernization grant.

According to a press release, the grant is said to help expand “work-based experimental learning” across their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

“Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue higher education and come from rural communities with limited access to career opportunities,” said Cinthia Reyes, Director of CTE Programs. “This grant ensures they can gain hands-on experience, earn industry-recognized credentials, and connect directly with employers.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says the grant will help them “meet the urgent need for a skilled, job-ready workforce in rural Southwest Arizona by bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry application.”

“This grant is a catalyst for transformation,” said Dr. Reetika Dhawan, Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Workforce & Healthcare Programs. “By strengthening the connection between education and industry, we’re empowering students with real-world skills that lead to meaningful careers. It also reinforces Arizona Western College’s commitment to innovation and workforce development across our rural communities.”

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

CTE programs to benefit from Perkins Innovation and Modernization grantDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro has announced its online payment system for utility bills and other services will be temporarily unavailable later this week.

According to a press release, the outage is taking place from Thursday, September 18 to Friday, September 19 due to a scheduled maintenance.

The City is asking residents to make payments in-person at the El Centro City Hall “during regular business hours,” and only cash or check payments will be accepted during the outage.

To learn more about this, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

onlinepayouttagePREngDownload

onlinepayouttagePRSpaDownload

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