Category: kyma-local-news

Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – News 11’s highlighting Breast Cancer Awareness Month Thursday with a special workshop held at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Center in Calexico.

Participants took part in an express painting class, creating a piece inspired by breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

Fifteen women participated, saying these activities are a gift they give themselves, and the paintings they take home serve as a message they can share with their families.

“I do a couple of paintings, but they decide which one to do. I have a stencil that they look at. Painting here is like going to fast food; it’s a two-hour painting class, and they leave with a masterpiece of art to take home,” said Eduardo Quintero, Cultural Center Coordinator.

These activities are made possible through funding from the California Arts Council.

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Jessamyn Dodd

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With news of a possible storm approaching, Imperial County is preparing for potential flooding.

Sandbags will be available staring Friday morning at 10 a.m. at fire stations across the county. Make sure to bring your own shovel.

The Brawley Fire Department (BFD) also reminds residents not to attempt to drive through flooded areas.

BFD said they have been in communication with other agencies in the region.

“We’re looking at predictions and possible impacts in the area. Obviously, we’re following and just being in touch with Imperial County Fire and Mercy Services and with state partners as well. We’ve been following this pretty closely. We just had a briefing a little while ago,” said Deputy Chief Juan Rodelo with BFD.

BFD also recommends bringing all pets inside even if it’s just for a little while.

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Connor Emery

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – San Pasqual High School hosted a Native American assembly Thursday to celebrate Indigenous culture.

Students and other community members gathered at Warrior Gym to honor Indigenous tribes through dancing, songs and special presentation.

The event also recognized recently crowned members of the “Strong Heart Royalty.”

Members of the royalty, such as Nareese Dugan, who was crowned the Strong Heart Princess, said events like this are important for the community.

“It’s definitely an honor. I’m still learning myself, and it’s so inspiring to come out here and dance and see these younger girls be able to lead in their own way,” Dugan explained.

The assembly also included recognizing the Warriors football team before their game against Antelope for the Telegraph Pass Cup.

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Carolina Garcia

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A former Calexico flag football coach has been released from custody after being accused of abusing two underage students.

According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, the decision was made because the alleged incidents did not happen in Imperial County.

The Calexico Police Department also said the case will be forwarded to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation remains active.

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Andrea Turisk

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of San Luis is preparing for possible heavy rainfall by offering residents sandbags.

If residents need sandbags, the City said they’re available at San Luis Fire Station No. 1. They can also get them across the street from the fire station.

The sandbag station is self-service and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so residents are encouraged to bring their own shovel.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 928-341-8577.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma announced they are offering a free self-serving sandbag filling station.

Those will be available Friday and Saturday at the Yuma Civic Center, with the station being open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On-site shovels are limited, so residents are encouraged to bring their own. There is also a limit of five sandbags per vehicle.

To learn more about this, click here.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma woman already facing charges for practicing nursing without a license is now facing new allegations.

Jennivyr Derakhshan, 51, the owner of Aura Grace Aesthetic Medical Group and Radiant Adult Medical Group in Yuma, was arrested last week.

In 2025, she was charged with fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, and more than a dozen counts of practicing nursing without a license.

Now, she is facing additional charges, which includes fraudulent schemes and practicing medicine and nursing without a license.

Derakhshan, who is still in custody, is scheduled to be back in court later this month.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man has been sentenced in connection to a series of nine burglaries on Fourth Avenue.

Guillermo Torres, 52, was sentenced Thursday to 3.5 years in prison, with credit for 190 days already served.

Torres previously pled guilty to two counts of burglary.

Ten other charges, which involved criminal damage, theft and burglary were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man accused of sexually abusing a child in Yuma pleaded not guilty to the charges in court.

The attorneys for Ethan Kotlinski, 29, previously raised an insanity defense, but Kotlinski has now been found competent to stand trial.

He is scheduled to go to trial next February.

Kotlinski and his wife, Amanda, 32, were arrested in March in connection with allegations involving a 13-year-old child.

Amanda, who is also facing charges, has a trial setting and change-of-plea hearing scheduled for November 13.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A border kid from the Imperial Valley is taking his creative work to some of the biggest comic book conventions in the country.

Ruben Najera’s bilingual graphic novel, “Calaguerra,” won the International Latino Book Award in 2025. Now the story is expanding beyond the book.

“Right now, there’s a development of a video game right now that’s going on of my series. So I’ve been going back and forth, seeing visuals of that,” Najera divulged. “And that’s something that’s being developed right now.”

And comics aren’t his only outlet. He is the creative mind behind “Terrestro,” a skateboarding show company that recently signed some big names in the skateboarding world, including Hall of Famer Frankie Hill.

“If you want to see your vision happen, the best person to do it is yourself,” Najera said.

Najera recently spoke on a panel at San Diego Comic Con, and is heading to Los Angeles this month to speak at the L.A. Comic Con.

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