Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro said their City Council unanimously approved El Centro Regional Medical Center’s (ECRMC) transfer, including their related properties and assets, to the Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD).

The council approved the transfer during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, and the City said this comes “after three years and negotiations and coordination.”

In addition, the transfer’s approval comes three years after Assembly Bill 918’s passing, establishing IVHD “to create a unified healthcare system for Imperial Valley residents,” the City said.

“This is a significant moment in the history of El Centro and healthcare throughout the ImperialValley,” said El Centro Mayor Michael Crankshaw. “For three years, this process has required extensivecollaboration, difficult decisions and a shared commitment to the future of healthcare in ourregion. Today’s unanimous decision brings us one step closer to completing this importanttransition.”

As part of the agreement, the City said, “IVHD will assume certain financial obligations associated with ECRMC, including obligations related to the hospital’s existing financing arrangements.”

The transfer is expected to be finalized Thursday. To learn more about the transfer, as well as the council’s unanimous vote, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

ECRMCTransferPREngDownload ECRMCTransferPRSpaDownload

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Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) – The VFW Post 1763 is hosting a Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 31, 2026 at VFW Post 1763, located at 2485 E 14th St, Yuma, AZ 85365.

Halloween night, dress up in your favorite costume then come out and join all the fun, in a safe and friendly environment.

The event is FREE and open to the public. All of the spooktacular fun kicks off at 5 p.m.

Tricks, treats, and community sweets in store for this free event, their will be candy for kids, family fun and most importantly a safe space to enjoy the Halloween holiday.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – KBLU 560 AM is back on the air in Yuma under new local ownership, with a familiar voice returning to weekday mornings.

Derek Egeberg, a Yuma mortgage professional who previously hosted a mortgage show on KBLU for years, is now the station’s owner. He said he decided to step in after the station went off the air.

“I really wish somebody would do something about that,” Egeberg said. “And I had to stop and pause for a second and say, wait a minute, I can do something about that.”

The station has also brought back “The Russ Clark Show,” which airs weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m.

Clark has hosted local talk radio for more than 25 years. As the station begins this new chapter, he says he wants to give more people in Yuma a chance to join the conversation.

“We want everyone to have a voice,” Clark said. “Make me a moderator and let’s get the voice of Yuma in here more often.”

Clark hopes to bring more local guests into the studio, including politicians, business owners, students and school groups.

He also wants to take the show out into the community and talk about issues affecting Yuma residents.

Both Egeberg and Clark said they want KBLU to build stronger connections with the community as the station moves forward.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Among the challengers seeking a spot on the El Centro City Council dais is lifelong local, retired law enforcement officer, and community volunteer Luis Minor.

Minor is stepping up what he describes as a lifelong mission to public service, pivoting from his extensive work in local community programs toward municipal leadership.

“If I’d been working behind the scenes on all these nonprofits, why not take it to the next level on a bigger platform,” Minor said.

With over 20 years deeply involved in regional community and business organizations, Minor plans to leverage his local network to foster collaboration between the city and surrounding municipalities.

His platform places a heavy emphasis on building regional partnerships to address complex, countywide pressures, most notably, homelessness and localized healthcare shortages.

“We need to work together with the county to establish parameters, guidelines, and financial fiscal responsibilities amongst both of them to work on this issue together,” Minor noted regarding the homelessness crisis.

When it comes to addressing regional medical shortages, Minor expressed optimism regarding the recent formation of local healthcare infrastructure.

“They established a healthcare district, and I think with that being there, I think we’re going in the right direction,” he said.

Despite his background in public safety, Minor has emerged as a vocal critic of Measure T, the city-sponsored initiative on the upcoming ballot that proposes a half-cent local sales tax increase.

Taking to his campaign social media pages, Minor has openly voiced his opposition, arguing that local families should not be forced to bear additional financial burdens without absolute transparency from city hall.

“I was prior law enforcement, so I am for public safety,” Minor explained. “Although Measure T has not put any guardrails around it to say specifically for public safety. I see the community members struggling, you know, working two, three jobs to make ends meet, and I don’t wanna be imposing another tax on them if we can’t be black and white and transparent with them.”

Minor insists that before asking residents to fork over higher taxes, city officials must provide complete financial clarity and justify how existing revenue streams are utilized.

If elected by El Centro voters, Minor pledges to break away from traditional political posturing and run an office centered entirely on accessibility.

“I want residents to come and tell me what’s wrong in their neighborhood, what’s a change they’re willing to look at, what do they think, what input they have,” Minor said. “I’m not looking to be a politician, I’m just doing it to be one of them, but with a greater voice.”

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Andrea Turisk

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial Irrigation District (IID) crews repaired a breach along the Westside Main Canal.

The breach followed heavy rainfall due to Tropical Storm Rachel, which sent floodwaters rushing through desert washes and into the canal running along the western edge of Imperial Valley.

The force and volume of the floodwaters caused the canal to overflow.

IIID Water Department worked to lower water levels by directing storm water into nearby canals and drains, allowing repair crews to safely reach the damaged bank.

Additional repairs and inspections will continue as the district works to restore normal canal operations.

To learn more about this, click here.

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Paul Vozzella

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The four defendants in the murder case of a Yuma man were in an El Centro courtroom Tuesday, where they learned when they could be going to trial.

Jacob Sims, 23, was murdered in November of 2024 in Winterhaven.

Sadie Hiatt, 22, Daniel Martinez, 36, Gabriel Mills Sr., 42, and Gabriel Mills Jr., 22, will be back in court on November 17 for a pre-trial conference.

The official trial is estimated to start in April of 2027.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – News 11 is introducing one of the candidates running for the Imperial Valley Healthcare District Board.

Javier Gonzalez is a former president of the Calexico Police Advisory Commission, and he was previously elected to the Imperial Irrigation District Board.

He said one of his main reasons for running is to ensure the responsible use of resources, and said he proposed conducting audits as well.

“The most important. Our health in California are having a financial difficulties. But here in the Valley we are low income and we have a lot of people that are used for Medicare or Medicaid. We also have a lot of people from Mexicali that come to visit,” Gonzalez explained.

The district represents 24,000 people across Calexico, Holtville and Winterhaven.

In addition to Gonzalez, Lorena Minor-Montes and Christina Rojas are also running to be on the board. To learn more about these candidates, click here.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Toys “R” Us is back in the Desert Southwest as the popular toy store is now at the Gran Plaza Outlets in Calexico.

The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2018. That’s when the Calexico location closed, marking the end of an era for a generation of children.

However, last weekend, Toys “R” Us returned to the city, offering board games, electronics, and collectible toys.

The opening has been welcomed by residents on both sides of the border.

“We want to make sure that we’re keeping our childhood alive. We never want to grow up, and we want to make sure that we’re giving everybody the chance to, like, grow with Toys ‘R’ Us,” said Jose Maris, Assistant at Toys “R” Us. “I know that it was a big thing closing down here in Calexico a few years back, but we’re here again and we’re excited to welcome everybody back to.”

The store will be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Students at Gary Knox Elementary School are learning about agriculture by getting their hands dirty in the school’s Garden of Learning.

Now, the school is looking to the community for help expanding the program with a new outdoor classroom.

For 14 years, the school’s agriculture science program has introduced students to the process of growing food, from planting seeds to harvesting crops.

The program also helps students explore the science and technology behind modern agriculture.

Local partnerships have played an important role in the garden’s success.

JV Farms has been a longtime sponsor, while interns from the Yuma County Cooperative Extension have helped students manage fall and spring plantings for the past five years. Keithly-Williams also supports the program by providing seeds and transplants.

“I don’t think we would be nearly as successful if we didn’t have them as a partner,” said Ann Ogram, the school’s agriculture science teacher.

Expanding the Garden of Learning

The school has received a $20,000 allocation from the Arizona Department of Education to help build an outdoor classroom.

However, rising construction costs mean additional support is needed to complete the project, including adding bench seating and a shade structure.

The outdoor classroom is part of a larger vision to give students experience with the entire food-production process.

Plans include starting plants in a greenhouse, growing and harvesting produce in the garden, and eventually preparing and eating that food in an outdoor kitchen.

Connecting students to local agriculture

The program also gives students opportunities to learn about agriculture beyond the classroom.

At the school’s annual Farmer’s Market, held in mid-January, students sell crops they have grown themselves.

The school’s Ag Day brings together more than 500 students to learn about the region’s agricultural industry.

Local agriculture professionals, JV Farms, Top Flavor Farms and FFA students take part in the event.

Students can see farm equipment, learn about agricultural technology and watch demonstrations involving agricultural drones.

Organizers hope these experiences help students discover the many career paths available in agriculture, including opportunities involving science, technology and innovation.

How the community can help

Gary Knox Elementary is seeking monetary donations, building materials and volunteer labor to help complete the outdoor classroom.

Donations can be dropped off at the school’s front office or the district office. Contributions should be marked “Gary Knox Garden Expansion.”

With additional community support, the school hopes to create more space for students to learn about where food comes from and the role agriculture plays in the Yuma community.

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