Category: kyma-local-news

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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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Prison Hill Softball Team is hosting a fundraiser for a man who was injured in a crash last month.

The fundraiser is taking place at Prison Hill Brewing Company Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

15% of all purchases, which includes alcohol, will help Nathan Guerrero, a man who was injured following a crash in the area of E. 32nd Street and Winsor Avenue, near Bici Park, back in February.

There is also a GoFundMe set up to help pay for Guerrero’s medical expenses. It has a goal of $6,500, with nearly $5,600 raised so far.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

Nathan-Prison Hill FundraiserDownload

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Jessamyn Dodd

HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA) – The Barbara Worth Country Club is officially under new ownership, and repairs, renovations, and improvements are underway.

Roben LLC purchased the Imperial Valley landmark recently. The company has already begun construction on the motel. The restaurant, golf course, bar, and event space are also going to be renewed.

Adrian Paz, the general manager of the property told KYMA the focus is on cleaning up the grounds following a major fire in 2025, and years of delayed maintenance.

“The major goal here was to stabilize  the property,  get the previous tenants out clean, clean, clean. So those are our goals right now. Get the grass green again, get the water going. Get this place back to what it once was,” Paz said.

He noted that they want to preserve the history and vintage charm of the property, while still modernizing the facilities.

“We know the historical value that Barara Worth has, so we’re not coming in here to reinvent the wheel, by any means. We want to preserve that historical value,” Paz explained.

Despite the ongoing construction, the Country Club is still hosting events, with plans in motion to host the Holtville High School Prom. The golf course is also available to the school’s golf team, and to locals.

Paz also dispelled any rumors that the motel would be turned into low-income housing.

“It’s still going to be a functional motel. There were a lot of rumors, unfortunately. And we had to combat those rumors,” he said.

The Barbara Worth Country Club is approaching its 100th anniversary next year.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma has started several road work projects, including a citywide road striping, which started Monday.

There’s also a sewer line replacement on Avenue 4E, between the B Canal and 28th Street, and road work on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, between Third and Fourth Avenue.

These projects are estimated to be completed in May.

“They’re part of our commitment to maintaining the infrastructure within the City of Yuma. Again, we do this each year in conjunction with our slurry and oil projects to enhance the safety and make sure these are visible and readily able to use for drivers,” said Angel House, Superintendent for City of Yuma Public Works.

Yuma Public Works asks for the Yuma community’s patience as they make the city a safer space.

If anyone encounters work crews, slow down and give them space so they can get the roads back up to speed.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is hosting their annual Easter Eggstravaganza this weekend.

The event is taking place at Bucklin Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and will feature more than 12,000 Easter eggs.

“This is one of the most joyful events we host each year,” El Centro Mayor Mike Crankshaw said. “Seeing families come together, children running across fields in excitement and our community celebrating side by side truly shows what makes El Centro special.”

In addition to the egg hunt, there will also be a kids zone, food vendors, a photo booth, a hay ride and an appearance from the Easter Bunny.

The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, call the Parks and Recreation office at (760) 337-4555.

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

EasterEggstravaganzaPREngDownload

EasterEggstravaganzaPRSpaDownload

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