Category: kyma-local-news

Lynette Niebla

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is asking for the public’s help after a parked vehicle was shot outside a brewery.

Earlier this month, officers responded to the Calexico Brewing Company, located in the area of M L King Blvd, after an employee’s car was shot.

Investigators found a bullet hole and recovered a fragment inside the car, and surveillance video shows a black Toyota RAV4 driving by the business just before the shooting.

“All we know so far is that there’s a female behind the wheel, and we’re not even too sure that person is a suspect of anything, but for sure that person is a person of interest, and we definitely have a lot of questions for that individual,” said Det. Sgt. Shaun Sundahl with CPD.

If anyone recognizes the vehicle, or has any information, call CPD. All callers can remain anonymous.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (4:44 PM): The Yuma Police Department (YPD) has provided an update on the crash where they found a firearm.

In a press release, YPD says the crash happened in the area S. Ninth Avenue and W. 12th Street after 2 a.m. Friday.

YPD says a 13-year-old boy was driving a gray 1993 Acura eastbound on 12th Street when the car veered off the roadway and crashed into a utility light pole.

When officers arrived, YPD says the driver and his passenger, a 17-year-old boy, ran away, but were later caught after a foot chase.

During the investigation, YPD says they learned a handgun, which belonged to the driver, was discarded during the chase, and officers were able to find and recover the handgun.

Both teens were taken to Onvida Health after suffering minor injuries from the crash, YPD says.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Injury Collision 900 W 12th Street 26-43796Download

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A firearm was found while the Yuma Police Department (YPD) was investigating a crash early Friday morning.

In a Facebook post, YPD says they were responding to reports of crash involving a vehicle hitting a utility pole in the area of S. Ninth Avenue and W. 11th Street after 2 a.m.

YPD says the people in the vehicle ran away prior to officers arrival, and says they ran through several backyards before they were later found.

During the investigation, YPD says a firearm was discarded in the area while the passengers were running away, but the firearm was found and recovered.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – Two organizations in Imperial County are teaming up to host an event to help support local families and workers.

Great Community Fair is taking place Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Bill E. Young Middle School, located at 220 S. International Blvd, at 8:30 a.m.

During the event, hosted by Comite Civico del Valle, Inc. and the Becoming Project, attendees “will have access to valuable community resources and educational workshops hosted by state agencies covering vital health and labor topics.”

Courtesy: Comite Civico del Valle, Inc.

These include workers’ rights, extreme heat and pesticides and air quality.

There will also be a variety of fun activities, a complimentary breakfast and snow cones, and free raffles for prizes such as bicycles and scooters.

“Everyone is welcome,” the event organizers shared, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the gathering. “Together, we build stronger communities!”

MEDIA PRESS RELEASE CALIPATRIA COMMUNITY FAIR.062526BDownload

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Jessamyn Dodd

NILAND, Calif. (KYMA) – As temperatures climb across the desert southwest, some of the most vulnerable residents are facing dangerous conditions.

Good samaritans and residents in Niland are joining stepping up to help those in the community stay hydrated and protect themselves against heat-related illnesses until the city’s cooling center is open.

Just off the 111 highway, a pop-up hydration station sits at the edge of a gas station, where Niland resident April Ochoa hands out cold water at a pop-up hydration station.

“I’m trying to help the people, the housed, unhoused, having a hydration station and support them because right now we currently don’t have an open cooling center until July 1st, and as if you notice the temperatures here are already outrageous,” Ochoa told KYMA.

In Niland, one of the most underserved and poverty stricken areas in Imperial County, many seniors and children are living without air conditioning as triple digit heat settles in.

What’s worse, the cooling center in Niland is currently not open. Ochoa said this is due to staffing changes at the fire department, where the cooling center is located.

In the meantime, she and others are checking on seniors and those with health issues daily.

“I have a senior citizen that currently lives in the only one set of apartments…whose AC has been broken down for three weeks,” she said.

Ochoa is getting help with water donations from The Becoming Project, Imperial Valley Equity and Justice, and from other residents in Niland.

Niland’s cooling center is expected to open on July 1.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to support a sweeping state bill aimed at closing a property tax loophole utilized by nonprofit organizations tied to private immigration detention centers.

The 5-0 vote formally aligns local leadership with Senate Bill (SB) 420, an initiative designed to strip charitable property tax welfare exemptions from nonprofits that own or operate these facilities.

The resolution authorizes the board chairwoman to submit a formal letter of support to Sacramento lawmakers.

The legislative push follows a high-profile investigative report by KPBS, which revealed that the Brawley Community Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, successfully avoided paying at least $6 million in local property taxes through California’s “Welfare Exemption” program.

The foundation owns both the building and the land of the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, which is utilized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

While the foundation maintains a nonprofit status, the facility itself is run for profit by a private prison contractor.

State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-District 18), the author of SB 420, argues that California’s tax laws were never meant to subsidize corporate-run lockups.

“California’s taxpayer dollars and our tax-exempt laws should not be used to funnel money to, or to subsidize, private prisons in California or private detention facilities who are holding immigrants,” Sen. Padilla said. “This is clearly one that I thought was very abusive and exploitative of people. Somebody was, you know, laughing all the way to the bank to the tune of six million bucks so that they can continue to get rich off running a private prison.”

The California Welfare Exemption is traditionally reserved for legitimate nonprofit, religious, hospital, or scientific organizations that enrich local communities.

Critics argue that allowing the exemption to apply to properties tied to federal immigration enforcement forces local residents to shoulder the financial burden, depriving county public services and school districts of essential funding.

Community members packed into the county board room on Tuesday to voice strong support for the state measure. However, the foundation’s leadership strongly defended the tax structure, denying that the arrangement constitutes a loophole.

Tim Kelley, founder of the Brawley Community Foundation, stated that the organization does pay taxes on the property, and that the exemption only covers the building itself. He maintained that the facility’s revenue is heavily reinvested into the county.

“So where’s all the money go? The money goes to the taxes, it goes to pay the accountants, to pay the attorneys,” Kelley said. “It goes to pay the electricity bill. It pays the water and the sewer in the county, which is the number one user of water and power at the Gateway Center.”

According to Kelley, the Calexico facility grosses $40 million annually and supports 250 local jobs. He cautioned that the state bill politicizes local livelihoods and threatens economic development in a region with historically high unemployment.

“Whether you agree or disagree, or your side of ICE or not, it doesn’t matter…this is a law,” Kelley warned. “And if we continue to go down this path of trying to push business away, then we’re going to see which direction we’re going.”

Because SB 420 is not retroactive, the Brawley Community Foundation will legally keep the $6 million it saved in property taxes since 2016.

Imperial County cannot legally force the organization to repay that past revenue. If enacted, the law would simply compel the facility to begin paying its standard property taxes from the date of enactment onward.

The bill has already cleared the State Senate and is currently advancing through the State Assembly tracking process.

Assembly lawmakers face a final voting deadline of August 31 to review and pass the legislation.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Pump prices in Arizona have dropped for the fifth straight week.

AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 18 cents in the past week to $4.11.

That follows a trend seen across the national as Thursday’s national average is $3.91 per gallon.

AAA says Yuma is sitting at $4.26 a gallon while Phoenix and Tucson are seeing gas prices at $3.99 a gallon and $3.95 a gallon respectively, and Flagstaff is sitting at $4.50 a gallon.

Aldo Vazquez, a spokesperson for AAA, says crude oil prices could continue to fall as the U.S. and Iran work towards a long-term deal.

“Despite lower prices, demand could rise as a record number of Americans prepare to travel for Independence Day weekend, with 85% planning to drive to their destinations,” Vasquez added.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The defendants accused of murdering a man in Salton City made another court appearance Thursday.

Four people are charged in connection with the murder of 34-year-old Pedro Montes Jr. back in May.

The hearing was rescheduled due to evidence that has not been turned over to the defense, including an autopsy report.

55-year-old Andrew Gallegos was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Montes to death, and is being held on a $1 million bail.

57-year-old Robert Gallegos, 37-year-old Crystal Hernandez and 53-year-old Blanca Robles are charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.

The preliminary hearing was rescheduled to July 30, with a bail hearing for Andrew Gallegos set for July 7.

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Carolina Garcia

UPDATE (9:48 PM): Calexico Unified School District voted to rename Cesar Chavez Elementary School to Desert Valley Elementary School.

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Calexico is changing its name.

The decision was made by all five members of the Calexico Unified School District (CUSD) Board following allegations against the farm labor leader.

Superintendent Arturo Jimenez says CUSD conducted a week-long survey and held community meetings, leaving two final name options: Roberto Moreno or Desert Valley.

“All the students in the school, over 600 students, at our school, parents were invited to parent meetings to also be involved and get engaged and, and participate in the process and to provide, a selection. As a parent group, we also had a district committee that involved parents and students,” Jimenez explained.

The name selection will take place Thursday night during a CUSD Board meeting.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced 42 indictments as part of a national healthcare fraud takedown this week.

One of those indictments involves a well-known doctor from Yuma.

Dr. Irfan Fazil, 54, is accused of operating a racketeering enterprise to defraud AHCCCS out of millions of dollars between July of last year and May of this year.

Dr. Fazil, along with his business, “Bio Family Clinic,” were charged with fraudulent schemes, illegal control of an enterprise, theft, conspiracy and drug-related charges.

Fazil is still in custody at the Yuma County Detention Center on a bond of $50 million, facing a total of six felonies, and expected to be back in court later this month.

To learn more about the indictments, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Calexico is inviting residents to attend Family Night @ the Pool – Dive-In Movie Night.

The event is taking place Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Margarita De Necochea Aquatic Center, located at 854 Dool Avenue, at 6 p.m.

During the event, the pool will be open, and there will be live music, snack bar and the City will show Disney’s “Zootopia 2” at 8 p.m.

Courtesy: City of Calexico

However, the City says the event’s capacity is limited, no outside food or drinks are allowed, and those who attend can bring their lawn chair and favorite pool float.

The event will go until 10 p.m.

For more information on the event, call the Calexico Recreation Department Office at 760-768-2176.

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