Category: kyma-local-news

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Vitalant held a blood drive in Yuma Saturday morning at the Elks Lodge 476.

Donors who showed up to Saturday’s event were asked to donate blood during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The event took place at the Elks Lodge 476 located on 32nd Street in Yuma.

Donors were able to give blood, relax and enjoy a snack after their donation.

Vitalant – a non profit organization says just one blood donation can help save up to three lives and make a lasting impact on someone in need.

Click here to follow the original article.

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Crane Schools Nutrition is hosting Fall Break Meals and are available to all kids under 18-years-old.

From October 12 to October 16, kids 18 and under are eligible to receive an A.M. snack and lunch for free.

Fall Break Meals sites are HLS Elementary School, Pueblo Elementary School, Gary A Knox Elementary School and Salida Del Sol elementary School.

The A.M. snack is available from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and lunch is available from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – News 11 saw some of the storm damage Sunday after the strong winds moved through our region Saturday night. 

While News 11 saw thunderstorms and showers throughout the day Saturday, the heavy winds we also experienced damaged a home in the Foothills.

Howling winds overnight left local resident Cheyenne Johnson picking up the pieces earlier Sunday.

Multiple retaining walls around the property collapsed as well as a tree that was fully uprooted from wind gusts over 50 miles per hour. 

“Last night, the winds were kicking up very high, we could hear the howling of the wind and this morning at around 6 o’clock when I got up and walked out and noticed in the back what had happened to the brick wall and I thought, okay this is some damage done here,” said Johnson.

Johnson said the storms couldn’t have come at a worse time as her and her husband had just sold the property.

Now, they await next steps with insurance as their move will be delayed due to the damage these storms brought. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With heavy rain and strong winds expected to hit the Desert Southwest this weekend, local departments across Yuma are helping residents get ahead of the storms.

With harsh storms expected across the county this weekend, Yuma County residents are being encouraged to take proper precautions now before it’s too late.

Multiple departments across the county have opened sandbag stations to help residents protect their homes from potential flooding.

The City of Yuma is offering self-serve sandbags at the Civic Center, while the Yuma County Public Works Main building and San Luis Fire Station 1 also set up stations. 

City of Yuma Public Works Director Joel Olea said the service has become a vital way for residents to prepare for possible flooding.

“This sandbag operation is critical to the Yuma residents. We started this probably about five years ago. And so we’re starting to make this a regular habit for residents to come and help themselves to be prepared. Just in case if there’s any localized flooding in the area,” Olea explained.

For some residents, preparing means protecting areas of their homes that could be vulnerable to even a small amount of water.

Yuma resident Martin Marquez said his home’s layout makes it particularly susceptible to water entering through the garage, prompting him to take advantage of the city’s sandbag station.

“My house does not have a curb and the garage is even with the street. Any amount of water can infiltrate there. So I came up here to take advantage of the service provided by the City of Yuma. Filling up my bags. As you can see, I’m sweating. It’s a good workout and it’s to protect the property,” Marquez shared.

County officials are encouraging residents to plan ahead and take steps now to protect themselves and their home ahead of this weekend’s storms.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Democratic candidate Laura Huber is hoping to bring her background in mental health and her family’s farming roots to the Arizona State Senate.

She’s running to represent Legislative District 25, which includes parts of Yuma and the West Valley.

With water being one of the biggest concerns facing the state, she wants stronger groundwater regulations while making sure Yuma farmers have the water they need to keep growing food.

Her work as a licensed professional counselor has also shaped her priorities.

After working in jails, psychiatric hospitals and homeless outreach, Huber said she wants doctors and patients to have more say in medical decisions instead of insurance companies.

She also wants more oversight of data centers, arguing the companies should help pay for the water and electricity infrastructure they need instead of leaving taxpayers with the bill.

Huber is challenging Republican incumbent Tim Dunn for the District 25 Senate seat.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a time to honor babies remembered by their families and support parents grieving a loss.

According to the CDC, one in 175 pregnancies in the United States ends in stillbirth, and roughly 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Behind every statistic is a deeply loved baby and a family experiencing grief that can last a lifetime.

News 11 Chief Weather Forecaster Melissa Zaremba and her partner, Kurt Nelson, are sharing their experience to bring attention to the pain families face after a loss.

“Even though your baby is not here, it’s good to remember and to know that they are never forgotten. They’re always with you in your heart. People need to understand it doesn’t make you any less of a parent. It doesn’t make you any less of a mother or father,” Zaremba said.

Zaremba and Nelson lost their daughter, Evelyn Rose, last year at 16 weeks gestation after doctors were unable to find a heartbeat.

“It’s hard for me to move on without her. It’s hard for me to be happy,” Zaremba said.

The couple worked together to have October proclaimed Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by the City of Yuma.

“I, Douglas J. Nicholls, mayor of the City of Yuma, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month throughout the City of Yuma,” Mayor Doug Nicholls said.

Mayor Nicholls said the proclamation is a way to recognize grieving families and remind them that they are not alone.

“To make sure we are honoring our full population, that people don’t feel isolated or alone, because this is very much a private type of grief and loss, but they need to know their community is behind them,” Nicholls said.

Nelson said the proclamation is also meant to bring people together and raise awareness.

“Not a lot of people like to talk about it, and our goal is to spread the awareness and try to bring people together throughout the Yuma community,” Nelson said.

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 23 million miscarriages occur worldwide each year, an average of about 44 every minute.

Onvida Health Perinatal Palliative Care Coordinator Jenn Driscoll recommended that families experiencing loss connect with Onvida Health’s Spiritual Care Team, the LDRP Perinatal Care Committee or Postpartum Support International for support and resources.

“Another way we bring families together is through our annual Walk to Remember, which will be held Saturday, November 7, at Gateway Park,” Driscoll said.

This month is a reminder to lead with compassion, listen without judgment and offer support to those who are grieving.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Brawley community rose up in prayer after a 16-year-old girl was shot Monday.

Residents, church members, and bikers gathered at Abe Gonzalez Park to pray for the teen’s recovery and to support her family.

The victim’s father, Joe Cross, said the gunman entered through the back gate and shot the girl as she sat outside her home. The suspect remains at large.

Her father said despite the tragedy, he remains grateful.

“I feel like I want to do something,” Cross told News 11. “Everybody’s here for the same reason, and we want to help our youth.”

The victim, Mia, was overwhelmed and brought to tears at times by the outpouring of love and prayers, as her friends from school and church showed up and surrounded her.

“I’m thankful that they pray for me and are here for the community,” she told News 11.

The victim’s father put out a call to action for the community to stand up against violence.

“So what can we do?” he asked the crowd. “We can bring together churches, schools, parents, counselors, community leaders, law enforcement, businesses, and volunteers. Create mentorship opportunities, youth activities, outreach programs, and safe places for our children.”

Cross described what he sees as rising violence among the youth in Brawley.

“I’ve been living here in Brawley for a few years, and man, it’s dark. It’s dark out here, but darkness, the light is bigger,” he said.

Reflecting on the tragedy, he said, “Yes, we have faith in God and faith without works is dead. So we got to put in work, you know. And sometimes something like this, it’s an eye opener. I just praise God that he didn’t take my daughter because, man, I don’t know. Even if this would have been happening, I would have been so broken that I probably would have been able to come.”

Speaking to his faith, Cross said he prays for the young man who shot his daughter.

“I don’t even wish him anything bad, you know. That’s God. God’s going to deal with it. But I would like also for prayers for him and that he repents from his sins and that he gives his life to Christ,” he told everyone at the event.

“We need to stop pointing fingers and start working together to find solutions,” he added.

Law enforcement urges anyone with information to call the Brawley Police Department.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is preparing for potential rainfall this weekend by making sand and sandbags available for residents beginning Friday.

The city is taking a precautionary approach to ensure residents have resources available should conditions change.

City crews have delivered empty sandbags to the city’s three fire stations and sand to designated distribution locations.

Sandbags are limited to 10 per address and proof of residency is required.

Residents are encouraged to remain alert, secure loose outdoor items, avoid driving through flooded roadways and take precautions in areas historically susceptible to flooding.

The city will continue monitoring weather conditions and provide updates through its official communication channels as necessary.

TSRachelSandBagsPREngDownload TSRachelSandBagsPRSpaDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The suspect tied to the deadly Yuma house party shooting pleaded guilty in court Friday afternoon.

Aden Arviso, 23, has agreed to a plea deal to one count of aggravated assault, which is a Class 3 felony.

This comes after the state prosecution called for a status hearing during the fourth day of Arviso’s trial.

Arviso will serve five years minimum under the plea agreement. Probation was not offered as part of the agreement.

Arviso will be back in court on November 5 for sentencing.

The other suspect in the shooting, Abraham Colin, 22, was sentenced to serve 20 years for the murder charge, and an additional ten years for the assault charge consecutively, after pleading guilty back in August to second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Families looking for a unique twist on a classic fall tradition can head to the pool this weekend.

The El Centro Aquatic Center is hosting its annual Floating Pumpkin Patch Saturday, October 10, featuring a grand Renaissance theme. The event runs from noon to 3:00 p.m., and admission is completely free for the public.

Instead of searching through a traditional field, children and families are invited to splash straight into the facility’s Lazy River to scoop up a free pumpkin of their very own.

“It’s unique,” says Angel Rosas, Aquatics Coordinator for the city. “We see a lot of pumpkin patches, but we don’t see a lot of pumpkin patches at the pool. Given that we’re so popular around the county, we want to promote the idea of everybody gets a pumpkin. We have 700 pumpkins, and we want 700 kids to get a pumpkin.”

Beyond the water attraction, the festivities will expand poolside to feature:

Live music Local food vendors Pumpkin crafting and decorating stations Carnival games with festive prizes

While entry to the event is free, organizers note that pumpkins are strictly limited to one per person, and participants must be present at the pool to claim their gourd.

For those looking to relax, shaded poolside cabanas are available to rent. Small cabanas are priced at $15.00 per hour, while large cabanas are $25.00 per hour.

Because space is limited, families are encouraged to lock in their reservations online ahead of time.

For more information regarding the event or to book a cabana, residents can contact the El Centro Aquatic Center directly at 760-335-4550 or visit the city’s official portal.

Click here to follow the original article.