Category: kyma-local-news

Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro City Council has named Kelly Brown as the new Chief of Police during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday.

According to a press release, Brown served as Acting Chief since May of this year, and he brings more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement and leadership to the role.

“I am truly grateful for the trust the City Manager and our City Council has placed in me to lead such a dedicated team of professionals,” said Chief Brown. “I am honored to serve the City of El Centro in this new role and believe the heart of policing relies on partnerships with the community. My commitment is to provide the highest standard of police services through innovation, cooperation, and teamwork. Together, we will continue building a safer, stronger, and more connected community.”

Brown, according to the press release, began his career in law enforcement with Brawley Police Department back in 2002.

The press release says Brown also served as Interim Chief “before joining the Chula Vista Police Department in 2019, where he spent more than three years before accepting the Deputy Chief position with the City of El Centro in February 2023.”

“Chief Brown has demonstrated exceptional integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the residents of El Centro,” said City Manager Robert Sawyer. “His broad experience and deep understanding of community policing make him an excellent choice to lead our department moving forward.”

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

BrownChiefofPDPREngDownload

BrownChiefofPDPRSpaDownload

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – One of the focuses this election was on the Gadsen Elementary School District Board Member Recalls, where we have four candidates running.

Two recall petitions were filed against school board president Luis Marquez and board member Liliana Arroyo.

The petitions claim that Marquez has been on the board too long and has abused his power, while the recall against Arroyo claims that she is unfit for the position because she cannot speak English proficiently.

Mark Concha, who is running against Luis Marquez, says it’s time for a change, whereas, Marquez says concha has been after him for two years, and now it’s time for the community to decide.

We spoke to Luis Marquez and mark concha about their reaction if they won the election.

“You know I got a congratulations, I mean that’s what democratic is, you know you have too accept the will of the community, if the community wants me to stay, I’ll stay, because I’m defending my position, I’m not running,” says Luis Marquez.

Mark Concha says he would keep his campaign promises.

Concha says, “but, if I get elected, I can assure that I will do my 120 percent or more to satisfy what I’m saying during my campaign.”

The final results for this election will be in on Friday.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – San Luis, Arizona residents are casting their votes Tuesday as three items are on the ballot.

One of the focal points of this election is Proposition 434, which would end the pay and benefits for the San Luis mayor and City Council members.

San Luis city council member Lizeth Servin was against proposition 434.

If Prop 434 is approved, The San Luis mayor and council members would serve the public without compensation, benefits, and travel allowances.

Servin told me that it would be difficult, and very hard to afford to be able to do the job without this pay and benefits.

She says she hopes people understand the council’s perspective, and is glad with the voter turnout.

“I’ve been here all day since morning, and it’s just been consistent, it hasn’t been like a multitude of people coming at once, but it’s been steady, like constant movement so I’m happy with the turn out,” Servin says.

As a reminder these are not the official results, just the early ones.

Official results should be in by Friday.

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Adrik Vargas

UPDATE (9 P.M.) California Prop 50 is projected to pass, according to NBC News and several other news outlets.

MPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County residents are casting their votes Tuesday as Proposition 50 is on the ballot.

It is a measure that aims to redraw the state’s congressional districts, similar to recent redistricting efforts in Texas.

As of Friday, about 15,000 Imperial County residents had already cast their ballots out of roughly 95,000 registered voters.

About 25 polling stations across the Imperial Valley opened at 7:00 a.m. Pacific and will close at 8:00 p.m. Pacific.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says a man was arrested and extradited back to Yuma in connection to the Zales Jewelers burglary last year.

According to YPD, it happened last August at around 4:05 a.m. when officers responded to an alarm at Zales Jewelers, located in the Yuma Palms Regional Center, and found the front glass door was damaged upon arrival.

YPD says the suspect “entered the store through the broken door, shattered display cases and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of merchandise.”

Three months into the investigation, YPD says their detectives identified the suspect as 36-year-old Deandre Lamar Wells.

Back in September of this year, YPD says the grand jury was presented the case, and said an arrest warrant was issued for Wells.

Later that month, Wells was arrested in Tarrant County, Texas by the U.S. Marshals Service, and has since been extradited back to Yuma.

Wells is being held at the Yuma County Detention Center, on a bond of $500,000, on multiple charges, including third-degree burglary.

Business Burglary 24-43665 UPDATEDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is inviting residents to apply for the 2026 Neighborhood Leadership Academy.

According to a press release, it is a 12-week in-depth course where residents get a behind the scenes look at different functions, departments, services and facilities in the City of Yuma.

The City says the academy starts January 15, 2026, and the graduation ceremony is taking place April 9, 2026.

The event is free, and applications will remain open “until the academy reaches its 25-person capacity,” according to the City.

If anyone wants to apply to participate in the academy, click here. To learn more about the academy, click here.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) unveiled Ladder Tender 1, which they say is a specialized support vehicle designed to assist their ladder company “while improving operational efficiency and safety.”

According to YFD, the vehicle carries the same tools and equipment found on a traditional ladder truck, like ventilation saws, forcible entry tools, lighting and medical supplies. However, it does not include an aerial ladder.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YFD says this is to allow their ladder company to respond to lower-risk calls like medical assists, alarms and public service incidents.

YFD also says they will use the aerial ladder truck to respond to structure fires, rescues and other major emergencies.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

In addition, this will help YFD minimize fuel consumption and enhance overall response capabilities while demonstrating their commitment to operational efficiency, fiscal responsibility and community safety.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

037 Ladder Tender IntroDownload

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An event will be held in El Centro for Veterans Day.

The City of El Centro, in collaboration with VFW Post 9305, will host a ceremony.

The ceremony is planned for Tuesday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at Bucklin Park Memorial Wall (1350 S. Eighth Street).

Veterans will be recognized for their courage and sacrifice for the United States.

Locals will gather to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – An elderly man was found dead at a business in Brawley Monday morning.

The Brawley Police Department (BPD) says the body of the 87-year-old man was found inside a business on Main Street and North Palm Avenue.

Officers say they were flagged down by a local to do a welfare check.

“Once officers arrived at the location, officers looked through the window and they saw an elderly man laying on the floor. Officers made entry to the business and located an elderly man that was deceased,” said Sgt. David Pham of BPD.

Police do not don’t believe foul play was involved but are still waiting on the coroner’s offices for a full report.

This case is still under investigation.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – An air conditioning unit caught fire in a Yuma home, according to Yuma Fire Department (YFD).

On Monday, November 3, at about 9 a.m., firefighters were called about a mini split AC unit fire in the area of South 11th Avenue.

Crews found a single-family home with smoke coming from inside and all its residents were safely outside.

Firefighters determined an AC unit inside the home was the cause, as it could have mechanical failure, improper installation or high-resistance electrical connection, according to YFD.

No injuries were reported and its residents returned to the home.

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