Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, NBC) – A produce company with ties to Yuma, headquartered in Salinas, California, is being investigated as a possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Investigators are looking at shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, a source familiar with the investigation shared with NBC News.

It is unclear whether the outbreak has anything to do with any of the Salinas facilities.

Taylor Farms also has a processing plant in Yuma, and the lettuce was sold to several Taco Bell restaurants.

The stomach illness has spread to 34 states, including Arizona and California. Arizona has 19 cases, with some in Yuma County, but it is not clear if those cases are tied to this specific outbreak.

News 11 will have the latest details as this story develops.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As the heat warning is still in effect, a local nonprofit is opening its doors to help those who want to cool off inside.

Hot weather calls for a cooling solution.

During severe heat advisories, the Salvation Army Cooling Center often extends its hours to provide a safe place to rest, hydrate and cool off.

They also have relief kits, snacks and most importantly water.

Trisha Backman, a local volunteer, said Salvation is open to everyone as they want to provide relief during this extreme weather.

“It’s not just the people that are homeless or that have swamp coolers as their air conditioner that don’t work. We’re here for anybody that needs it. Even if you just need a bottle of water, come by and say hi. See what we have to offer,” Backman explained.

While Salvation Army sees roughly between 15 to 30 visitors a day, Backman said that she would like to gather more people inside.

“We do have a regular population. Usually, we do have around 15-30 that come in. We’d like to see more, that’s what we’re here for. I know there are other cooling centers around the area as well. We just want to help aid that because it gets unbearably hot,” Backman said.

Salvation Army welcomes any donations to help with the cooling center. To learn more about how you can help, click HERE.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) officially opened its new evidence storage facility dedicating the building to fallen Lt. Daniel P. Elkins in honor of his service and sacrifice.

The facility provides a larger, more secure space for storing and processing evidence while also serving as a lasting memorial to Elkins and Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Michael Crowe, who were both killed in the line of duty in 1995.

According to YPD, Elkins and Sgt. Crowe were investigating missing evidence when they were shot and killed while serving as supervisors with the Southwest Border Alliance, a multi-agency law enforcement task force.

YPD said naming the facility after Elkins ensures that the legacy of both officers will continue to be remembered.

“It’s special that we can let the legacy of these men who lost their lives serving their country, serving the department to live on for people to know,” Sgt. Lori Franklin of the YPD Public Affairs Unit said. “And I think it’s important for the families too. So that they know that they will never be forgotten.”

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said the dedication serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers in the community.

“Those that give the ultimate sacrifice for our community are never forgotten,” Mayor Nicholls said. “That was 31 years ago. It’s one of those things that we remind ourselves that the men and women who don the uniform, put their lives on the line for us. And that there are some that have lost it in the service, unfortunately. And it’s our obligation as a community to continue to honor that through time.”

The new evidence storage facility is designed to improve the department’s handling and security of evidence while ensuring the memory of Elkins and Crowe remains a permanent part of the YPD’s history.

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Jalen Fong

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A lawsuit against a nonprofit organization accusing them of civil defamation has been dismissed Thursday in court.

The Imperial County Superior Court granted a special motion, essentially dismissing a lawsuit against Comite Civico del Valle (CCV) and Luis Olmedo, its executive director.

The court determined the lawsuit, filed by Imperial County Computer Manufacturing, LLC and Sebastian Rucci, presented no admissible evidence supporting their allegations.

They claimed CCV or Olmedo participated in, directed, or orchestrated an alleged defamatory campaign concerning the proposed Imperial Valley data center.

CCV previously said the lawsuit was an attempt to silence critics of the data center.

To learn more about the lawsuit’s dismissal, read the press release below.

CCV & anti-SLAPP – Legal Victory Final Press Release 7.16.26Download

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local bank is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for Yuma residents.

OneAZ Credit Union is celebrating its 75th anniversary by buying residents free coffee.

Courtesy: Desert Buzz Cafe

They’ll cover customer orders at Desert Buzz Cafe, located at 2451 W. 16th Street, next Wednesday.

This will go from 9 a.m. to noon, or until the tab reaches $1,500 tab runs out.

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Abigahil Padilla

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona primary election is a week away, and News 11 is introducing another candidate running for Somerton City Council.

Mireya Bran says her involvement in the community, including hosting a podcast where she interviews local residents, has given her a first-hand understanding of the city’s needs.

Bran’s platform focuses on supporting families, strengthening public safety and encouraging the growth of small businesses.

“Transparency and accountability, we need accountability…Those are the two main areas I am heavily focused on, and with working with children, young people, and the seniors,” Bran explained.

The Arizona primary election is next Tuesday, and early voting is underway. To find out where you can vote, click here.

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Moses Femino

BLYTHE, Calif. (KYMA) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says a Yuma Sector Border Patrol agent was stabbed and the suspect was shot and killed.

It happened at the Blythe Station Friday, July 10 at around 7:10 p.m., CBP said in a statement provided to News 11.

CBP said the suspect “posed an immediate threat to civilians and agents” at the station, and as agents intervened, the suspect stabbed one of the agents, leading to the suspect being shot and killed.

While the injury was not fatal, CBP said, “The agent remains hospitalized,” and says a civilian was also injured at that time.

CBP said law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, are investigating the shooting.

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Abigahil Padilla

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the Arizona primary election happening next week, KYMA is introducing a candidate running for Somerton mayor.

Jose Mena has lived in Somerton for more than 30 years.

Mena says his platform focuses on listening to residents, strengthening city departments that are short-staffed, and promoting economic growth by creating new jobs and retaining the city’s workforce.

“I see that a lot of people actually start here and they leave to a bigger department.” Mena explained. “I understand some of that, but then, why not try to look for something to retain our employees here and try to have departments with employees that plan to retire in our local community?”

Mena is running against current Mayor Gerardo “Jerry” Anaya.

The Arizona primary election is Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and early voting is now underway. To find out where you can vote, click here.

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Skylar Heisey

UPDATE (2:56 PM): The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office says Ramsey McNeal was found dead, and next of kin was notified.

He was 55-years-old.

2026-55-Missing-Person-Mcneal-Ramsay-UpdateDownload

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is asking the public’s help in locating a missing person.

YCSO says 55-year-old Ramsey McNeal of San Diego was last seen Tuesday, at around 7 p.m., near the boat ramp at Mittry Lake.

McNeal, according to YCSO, left the area on foot, leaving his phone, medications and personal belongings behind, and he may be suffering from a mental health condition.

YCSO describes McNeal as an African American, around six-foot, one-inch tall, weighing 250 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing brown camouflaged pants, a long white sleeve shirt and water shoes.

If anyone has information regarding McNeal’s whereabouts, call YCSO at 928-783-4427, 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

PR-2026-Missing-Person-Mcneal-RamsayDownload

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A touching act of kindness from inside the secure walls of a local detention center is bringing warmth and hope to Imperial County youth facing difficult times.

Female residents at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility (IRDF) recently traded their regular routines for crochet needles, handcrafting and donating 100 colorful blankets to the Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home in El Centro.

The initiative is shedding light on the profound human stories and compassion unfolding within the facility.

The Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home serves as a temporary shelter and vital safe haven for local infants, toddlers, and teenagers who have experienced neglect, abuse, or abandonment.

Receiving 100 handmade blankets provides a major boost to the facility’s mission of comforting children during their most vulnerable moments.

“I feel like every time we get kiddos, any small gestures count,” said Nohemy Saldana, Social Worker Supervisor at the receiving home. “Any type of little support gives that little extra comfort.”

Because children can arrive at the shelter at any time under unpredictable circumstances, having a steady supply of resources is crucial for the staff.

“It’s very unpredictable…the amount of children that we serve or the ages of those children,” explained Pablo Cerda, Program Manager. “So we have to be prepared for any age, any gender of child. So those donations do help us.”

While the residents navigate their own complex legal situations and short-term stays, facility leaders state that community-focused projects like this offer the women a powerful sense of purpose and a meaningful way to connect with the outside world.

“The individuals that are at the regional facility, they have other things that they could probably be doing or worrying about given the situation that they’re in,” Cerda said. “And so, that they’re able to do something like this for us…it means a lot.”

Shelter administrators strive to make the transition into the foster care system feel as safe and welcoming as possible.

“We try to make the home as homey and as welcoming as possible for our children, whether they’re infants, toddlers, or teenagers,” Cerda noted. “And that type of a gift really helps to achieve that goal for us.”

Crucially, these handmade items are not just temporary loans. They ultimately become the personal possessions of the youth. For children entering foster care in a moment of crisis, having a blanket of their own to keep makes a world of difference.

“Blankets are a great resource because we do try to give the blankets out to them,” Saldana said. “Whenever they leave, those are among the few items that they get to take with them.”

The vibrant, stitched yarn serves as a tangible reminder to the children that they are not alone.

“To show the kids that there’s support, even though sometimes they might not feel it at the moment,” Saldana shared. “I mean, there’s always someone out there that does care.”

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