Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is hosting the first Fall Commencement Ceremony this week.

According to a press release, the ceremony is taking place on Friday, December 12, at the AWC Amphitheater on the Yuma Campus at 2:00 p.m.

AWC says this is to celebrate students from Yuma and La Paz Counties and those who will be “obtaining more than one certificate or degree.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

In addition, AWC says Alyssa Virginia Hernandez, a Cibola High School alumni, will serve as the speaker during the ceremony.

The ceremony is open to the public and can be viewed on AWC’s website and YouTube channel.

To learn more about the upcoming commencement ceremony, click here or read the press release below.

AWC celebrates graduates at inaugural Fall CommencementDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Jailene Aguilera

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department’s (ECPD) Public Access Building is currently closed as they begin their move process to their new police facility on Main Street.

Public access will reopen on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. at the new headquarters.

Administrative phone lines and land lines will be unavailable during the transition. Emergency services will not be affected, and 911 will remain fully operational.

Some things to keep in mind when the new building opens.

Visitors should use the Main Street entrance. Parking will be limited along 11th Street, and no public parking will be available on Main Street.

The new headquarters remains part of an active construction site as the city begins phase two of work.

Construction activity will continue for several months, and the project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is informing residents of a recent increase in vehicle thefts.

According to a post on Facebook, this involves 2017-2024 Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Gladiators, and says the thefts “involve the use of unauthorized key fobs,” allowing the thieves to “gain access to vehicles quickly and quietly.”

To prevent further thefts, YPD offers the following tips to the owners of 2017-2024 Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Gladiators when taking precautions:

Park in a garage or well-lit area whenever possible.

Use a steering-wheel lock or other visible anti-theft device.

Enable factory or aftermarket tracking and security features, including alert notifications.

In addition, YPD says the owners of 2017-2024 Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Gladiators can pick up a free steering-wheel lock at YPD headquarters, located at 1500 S. First Avenue, while supplies last.

However, YPD says those who are picking up a free steering-wheel lock must arrive in their Jeep “to ensure locks are distributed appropriately.”

If anyone sees anything suspicious, call YPD at (928) 783-4421.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Christmas marks the season of giving, but it can also be the season of overspending and racking up debt.

During Christmas time, we all have a heart to make our friends and family happy through giving gifts, but with that it can become very tempting to over spend as a result.

Rod Griffin, Experian’s Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy says, “The big concern is that you are not taking in too much debt during the holiday season, you know there are reports that a far too large number of consumers are paying off their debt from last year this year.”

One of the number one things that creates financial trouble is impulse buying, or buying without a plan.

There are steps you can take to avoid making these mistakes.

Make a spending plan, set aside money to spend during the holidays, or even use tools to help you with your shopping like AI.

If you need to manage your spending its recommended to talk to your loved ones before the holidays about how much you can afford to spend.

“We are hearing from people that inflation is a big concern, things are more expensive, and so, they are trying to figure out how to manage that gift giving and gift buying with the increase in cost, and that’s a huge challenge for people right now,” says Griffin.

We spoke to locals who say they spend a good amount during the holidays.

“I think about how much I want to spend each year for Christmas and inevitably, we do spend lots,” says Ron Askin, a local.

“You don’t overspend ever, yeah,” adds Faith Askin, another local.

Some locals say they start saving ahead of time to be better prepared.

Lin Daily, a local, elaborates by saying, “We save X amount every month, and then when the holidays come up, it’s not a big surprise, so we get ready for it.”

If you do overspend, remember its not the end of the world, sit down look at your budget, find out how you can start saving, and of course, make a plan.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s the final week for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. The Christmas Assistance Program helps over 300 Yuma County families and provides holiday food boxes and gifts to children up to 12-years-old.

Locals can find the angel trees tags at Walmart, Sam’s Club, and several other local business around town. Each tag represents a specific child in Yuma that needs your help to make their Christmas dreams come true.

“It’s going to give you their three wishlist items as well as their clothing sizes and their most needed clothing item, so if you’re able to get one of their wishlist items, if you’re able to get them all, if you’re able to team up with a family or friends and fill that tag, each and every bit of it helps,” said Yuma Salvation Army Corps officer Lt. Amber Herzog.

The deadline to return the tags is this Friday, December 12 in order to get the items packaged and delivered to the families before Christmas.

You can bring them to Salvation Army red bins or any fire station in Yuma County.

Click here to follow the original article.

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local non-profit is doing all they can to help children in foster care this holiday season. 

Since it first opened in 2013, Jessie’s Closet has made it its mission to support children in foster care through drives like this one.

People are encouraged to donate toys, clothes, undergarments, and socks to the closet, which will all go directly to foster kids.

The store director, Karen Liles, said for some foster kids, they may have never experienced Christmas, and said how much impact any donation can make.

“We not only help our kids here, we help kids from DCS, we help kids from licensing agencies, and families that just are down and out and have nothing,” Liles shared.

Liles also wanted to thank the Yuma Rotary Club for all of the work they have done in supporting the organization and this drive.

The drive is ending December 10, but the non-profit organization is encouraging people to continue donating throughout the year.

Click here to follow the original article.

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The “Hams for Heroes” drive encouraged people to donate hams that will go to firefighters, police, Veterans, the Marines and anyone else who’s a hero.

The event is being put on by the “K-9 OPS Foundation,” with all donations going towards these local heroes.

The foundation passed their goal by collecting over 100 hams.

“We wanted to do something for our everyday heroes in Yuma and our whole community and we decided to do this ‘Hams for Heroes’ event to just give back to them for all they do for us,” says KC Hoffman, president of the foundation.

If you would still like to donate to our local heroes, you click the link HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.

Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Neighbors in El Centro are sharing their reaction to the shooting which left one woman injured.

According to the El Centro Police Department (ECPD), it happened Sunday at around 12:40 a.m. Pacific in the area of E. Heil Avenue and S. Dogwood Road, near the Dogwood Canal.

ECPD says the suspect, a 44-year-old El Centro man, allegedly shot a woman inside a home, and says the woman was treated at the scene, but was later taken to the hospital for further treatment.

“I was watching my show and I heard gunshots, and I peeked through the window and I didn’t see anything, then I heard a couple more,” said a resident, who didn’t want to be identified.

Neighbors say they thought it was fireworks until more followed.

“I heard one shot, I thought it was fireworks, but then, I heard more gunshots. When I heard the ambulance and police, I didn’t know what it was,” said Maria Avila, a resident.

They also say the street stayed closed the whole night.

“They were here all day. I can hear them…telling them…’Come out, come out’ with the big speakers, and then, the cops from this side were like zoom that way to see what was going on and then, the cops that would run would run out this way then they would go behind these house…there is like a alley…so they would go behind the alley it was a whole commotion,” said a resident.

ECPD says the suspect was found and arrested, and says “the Investigations Division, department drones, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the Imperial Police Department” helped them in the search.

The suspect is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, according to ECPD.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call Detective Alex Garrido at (760) 352-2111, or email him at agarrido@ecpd.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is hosting the annual Art in the Park next month.

According to a press release, the two-day event will take place at Gateway Park, located a 250 N. Prison Road, on the following dates:

Saturday, January 10: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 10: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

During the event, the City says there will be a variety of artwork, live performances, lawn games and food vendors.

“Art in the Park is one of Yuma’s most vibrant traditions—an event inspired by Georges Seurat’s iconic painting Sunday in the Park,” said City of Yuma Arts & Culture Program Manager Ana Padilla. “With the Colorado River as its backdrop and Gateway Park as its home, it brings artists, performers, and our community together to celebrate creativity in a truly beautiful setting.”

Admission is $1 per person per day while children ages six and under can get in for free. Leashed dogs are also welcomed, the City says.

To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Territorial Young Marines experienced the trip of a lifetime as they explored our nation’s history.

21 Young Marines traveled from Yuma to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to take part in this year’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies.

The group got to spend the night aboard the U.S.S. Missouri then line the decks in the morning for a special flyover.

The Young Marines hosted car washes and fundraisers all year long to make the journey a possibIlity.

Program leaders say the experience will have a lasting impact and thank the community for the support and contributions.

Click here to follow the original article.