Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs visited Yuma Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of Medicaid funding.

Gov. Hobbs stopped by Sunset Health Clinic where she toured the facility, and spoke with both doctors and locals.

Following the tour, she heard from several local residents on AHCCCS who are dependent of the Medicaid funding.

After taking the time to listen, Hobbs quoted former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer saying, “You can’t balance the budget by killing people, and you heard from these people, that people are going to die, and we can’t do that.”

Multiple locals shared their perspective about how reliant they are on this funding.

“It’s indispensable that we have medical aid from AHCCCS so that it can help us…the economic situation is tough,” says local Lucas Vizcarra.

Hobbs says that everyday people can help fight for funding.

“Everyone should be talking to their members of Congress, and this doesn’t just affect people on Medicaid, it affects everyone,” she said.

The governor also spoke about her budget and highlighted some of its key points.

“Border security funding, I called for a big investment in childcare. It’s a huge need across the state, I called for raises for our Department of Public Safety officers…those are still priorities. I think they’re areas where we should be able to find common ground,” Gov. Hobbs says.

The governor’s team says she is trying to emphasize the importance of Medicaid, especially in rural communities.

You can watch a livestream of the meeting below:

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local store is asking the community to come together for a good cause. Kabat’s Fortuna Ace Hardware store in the Fortuna Foothills is doing a sock drive to help support Cristina’s Closet.

“You can either buy…donate a pair of socks and at the end of the month, we will deliver them to Cristina’s Closet,” said Sean Toomey, Store Manager.

Cristina’s closet is a safe space where locals can find clothing for job interviews or professional needs free of charge. The nonprofit says they’ve served over 2,000 people with over 7,000 outfits, all from community donations.

Cristina McInnes, the founder of Cristina’s Closet, shares the impact she hopes the drive will have.

“When they asked to partner up with me to do the sock drive, it’s just so incredible! I mean we’re really literally down to our last pair of like ten socks, so this just has come at a perfect time. And with the socks that they’re looking to get, it’s going to almost give us a full year,” said McInnes.

Starting June 1, customers can purchase and donate a pair of socks for $2.

“Our goal right now for our store for the month of June is going to be about 300 pairs of socks,” said Toomey.

If you want to help out and donate a pair of socks, you can visit any of the registers at Kabat’s Fortuna Ace Hardware store.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) isn’t just moving water. It’s growing fish.

At the IID Fish Farm in El Centro, thousands of sterile grass carp are bred, tested, and released into canals each year to help control weed growth, all without the need for chemicals.

“We go production, blood testing, then the stocking, so it’s a year-round process,” said Pablo Cortez, Hatchery Operations Coordinator.

The farm is the only one of its kind in the West and uses science and sustainability to keep the region’s water clean. It’s also saved money in the long run.

“Early 90s, late 80s, the IID was spending about a million and a half for chemical and mechanical clean up,” Cortez said. “With the grass carp, our budget is pretty much the same, but we are attacking the entire Imperial Valley which is about 1,600 miles of canals.”

That kind of impact starts with daily care.

“It’s a year-long process from feeding them to making sure they have alfalfa, feed, making sure that the elements haven’t gotten to them, having proper aeration for oxygen,” said Arturo Guzman, a fish biologist at the farm.

One key step is blood testing the fish to make sure they’re triploid, sterile and safe to release.

The job is labor-intensive, and teamwork is essential.

“It’s definitely a group effort. Not one of us can do it ourselves,” Guzman said.

These fish aren’t just swimming, they’re clocking in to help keep the Valley’s waterways flowing clean and weed-free.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Imperial is in the early stages of planning a brand-new regional park, and the parks and recreation department want the public’s help shaping it.

The future park site spans 143 acres of open space along LaBrucherie Road, between Ralph and Larson. Right now, it’s just an undeveloped field near the new Cambria Hotel, but officials hope it will eventually become a hub for recreation and community events.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department held a town hall meeting to hear directly from residents about what they’d like to see developed at the park.

“No idea is a bad idea, so any ideas are valid. We will give those ideas to the design firm we select to move forward to the next phase of this project,” said Anthony Lopez, Imperial’s Parks and Recreation Director.

This kind of community engagement is part of phase one in the park’s planning process. Lopez says the city has seen increased demand for athletic fields and outdoor gathering spaces, and the new park could help meet that need.

“Over the last few years, we’ve had a growing demand of use of specifically our athletic fields, and we just don’t have the space anymore, so this is an opportunity to expand the resources we have here,” he said.

Although the park is still in development, the city says it’s committed to including the community every step of the way, and they’re still welcoming feedback.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) announced the arrest of two people after they found a toddler’s remains.

YPD says they responded to the area of E. 25th Street, near S. Carolyn Way, before 2:00 p.m. Friday after receiving reports of suspicious activity in the area.

Once they arrived, YPD says officers found “what appeared to be human remains,” possibly of a two-year-old boy.

YPD says they called their Investigations Unit to take over the case, leading to the arrest of a 20-year-old woman, who is the boy’s mother, and her boyfriend, a 23-year-old man.

They were then booked for first degree premeditated murder and abandoning/concealing dead body parts.

The investigation is ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

If anyone’s information leads to an arrest, they may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local brewery in Downtown Yuma is making headlines this week, not for a new beer, but for a brunch. And not just any brunch. A drag brunch.

Prison Hill Brewery is getting ready to host its first-ever drag brunch this Sunday at 11 a.m. The event has generated quite the mix of reactions online, especially after the flyer noted it’s open to all ages.

Some folks are excited to see something new and inclusive coming to town. But others are raising eyebrows wondering if drag is something young kids should be around.

“People need to understand what state they live in,” said local resident Chloe Curtis. “But then also, as long as you keep it age appropriate, you can’t have your kids seeing all that.”

Prison Hill owner Chris Wheeler says he stands behind the event and the team who brought it to life.

“My staff brought this idea to me,” Wheeler said. “It was something we hadn’t had before, and I gave them full permission to run with it and organize it…and that’s how it came about.”

He says the brewery has hosted all kinds of events in the past, and this is just another way to bring the community together.

“I like being able to give back to the community,” Wheeler added. “And I think Prison Hill has been a vehicle for me to do a lot of good.”

While debate over the “all ages” detail continues online, others in town say that decision should be left up to parents.

“I saw that a lot of people were saying stuff about the all ages aspect,” said local Kennah Tuffley. “I just feel like if you don’t want your kid to go, then don’t take your kids. It’s not your responsibility to parent other people’s kids.”

Whether you’re excited to attend or just watching the comment section light up, one thing’s for sure: Yuma is definitely talking.

Click here to follow the original article.

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs visited Yuma Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of Medicaid funding.

Gov. Hobbs stopped by Sunset Health Clinic where she toured the facility, and spoke with both doctors and locals.

Following the tour, she heard from several local residents on AHCCCS who are dependent of the Medicaid funding.

After taking the time to listen, Gov. Hobbs quoted former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

“You can’t balance the budget by killing people, and you heard from these people, that people are going to die, and we can’t do that,” Gov. Hobbs says.

Multiple locals shared their perspective about how reliant they are on this funding.

“It’s indispensable that we have medical aid from AHCCCS so that it can help us… the economic situation is tough,” says local Lucas Vizcarra.

Gov. Hobbs says that everyday people can help fight for funding.

“Everyone should be talking to their members of congress, and this doesn’t just affect people on Medicaid, it affects everyone,” she said.

The governor also spoke about her budget and highlighted some of its key points.

“Border security funding, I called for a big investment in childcare it’s a huge need across the state, I called for raises for our department of public safety officers, those are still priorities, I think they’re areas where we should be able to find common ground,” Gov. Hobbs says.

The governor’s team says she is trying to emphasize the importance of Medicaid, especially in rural communities.

Click here to follow the original article.

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma Police Department (YPD) Officer Cassandra Reed was recognized for her work at Ron Watson Middle School.

Officer Reed has been a school resource officer for three years at the local middle school.

This year she was honored with the 2025 Law Related Education Officer of the Year award.

The award recognizes great contributions from Arizona police and probation officers in furthering education.

Reed says she is passionate about the position.

“This is literally what I love to do. I love to come to work, I love to talk to students, and help them and just kind of help them throughout their career here in middle school,” she says.

However, the school is not surprised that she won the award.

“Well, it feels amazing, as I was telling you because we already knew that we had an award-winning SRO without the title, Officer Reed is a huge asset to our campus,” said Ron Watson Assistant Principal Jennifer Stanley.

The school, along with the students, appear to admire her work.

“Yes I love Officer Reed, ’cause she’s such a good cop, and she’s not just a cop, she’s a very good person,” said one local student.

Reed describes how important it is for her to develop these bonds with the students.

“It’s those long-lasting relationships that you’re actually building, that positivity, that role model, and if they happen to one day be in law enforcement then we’re all here for it you know, but just to guide them,” Reed says.

She claims that she is honored and thankful for the award, and hopes to have inspired students along the way.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Summer is getting better for kids in Yuma! A new play space is coming to downtown Yuma this summer.

With the hot summer heat on the way, the Fort Yuma Rotary Club partnered with the Yuma Children’s Museum to build an indoor AC play space.

“It gets really hot in here during the summers, and we have some beautiful parks and some brand-new infrastructure that the city has put in place in those parks. But when it’s over 100 degrees, you know the kids are not using those spaces,” said Juan Guzman, President of the Fort Yuma Rotary Club.

That’s when they brought the idea to the Children’s Museum. Thanks to community support, the Fort Yuma Rotary Club raised nearly $100,000 for the playground.

“There will be slides that represent water and the frame represents green and grass,” said Yuma Children’s Museum Executive Director Sabra Lemmon. “The floor will look like grass and some soil, and we have some things for our sensory sensitive kids that will be included.”

The playground is expected to be ready this summer.

Click here to follow the original article.

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The local American Red Cross is sending help to those suffering from tornado damage in Missouri.

With many people still dealing with the destruction from the natural disasters, local American Red Cross Community Disaster Specialist Jillian Attaway is traveling to help those trying to recover.

Red Cross currently has around 360 people helping with the aftermath.

One of those people joining in on the cause is Attaway.

“We obviously don’t have the large-scale tornados that the Midwest has, so my ability to go help out and then come back to my home, which is safe, is just another reason why I feel it’s good to give back,” Attaway says.

The American Red Cross is currently helping around 4,200 households, and they’ve donated about 30,000 meals.

The Red Cross explains why they need help from other states.

“This is a very large disaster and it’s reached the capacity of the local volunteers and staff in Missouri and Arkansas,” said Mike Sagara, Public Information Officer for the Red Cross.

Attaway shares how you can start to help, even if you’re not from there.

“Anyway that they want to donate, whether it’s, again, their time, their treasure, their talents, start locally, start in your community…If you feel the need or the call to go out on a larger scale event…you can always join the Red Cross,” Attaway says.

If you would like to donate you can call 1 (800) Red Cross, text 90999-RedCross, or click the link HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.