Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Nurses Foundation (YCNF) hosted the 2026 Nurses Gala over the weekend.

According to a press release, the gala, which was in collaboration with Onvida Health and other community partners, took place at the Quechan Casino Resort Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

The event, according to YCNF, kicks off National Nurses Week, taking place from May 6 through May 12, as well as celebrate the nurses of Yuma County.

During the event, there was a dinner, dancing and an awards presentation, where over 60 nominees were recognized across three of the following categories:

Excellence in Nursing Mentorship

Excellence in Nursing Leadership

Clinical Nurse Excellence

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

In addition, the winners of the three categories are the following:

Excellence in Nursing Mentorship: Ha’ani Patchen BSN, RN Workforce Development Educator at Onvida Health

Excellence in Nursing Leadership: Kristin Parra MBA, BSN, RN, CRRN, Chief Executive Officer, Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital

Clinical Nurse Excellence: Briana D. Smith DNP, FNP-C, Lead Advanced Practice Provider of Specialty Services at Onvida Health

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

Courtesy: Yuma County Nurses Foundation

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

YCNF Press ReleaseDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Territorial Prison is hosting a night showcasing paranormal hotspots this weekend.

The event, taking place at the prison, starts from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, and attendees are given a chance to explore “where history and paranormal mysteries collide,” according to the prison.

During the event, there will be a Spirit Bar and attendees will hear tales of documented paranormal hotspots.

Tickets are $50 per person, but it’s limited availability. To purchase the tickets, click here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is visiting Yuma to award student recognition certificates to three local schools.

According to a press release, Rep. Grijalva is awarding the certificates to Yuma High School, Fourth Avenue Junior High School and Woodard Junior High School.

The press release says the congresswoman works with all schools in her district to identify students with a good community and academic standing.

Grijalva says in Washington, they are making it very difficult on a number of key issues for students, like getting pell grants and student loans.

“It has been very very frustrating to see the things that we’re focused on, a lot of privatization federal voucher programs those kind of things that we know statistically harm our students and that over 90% of students that attend our private schools all over the nation and especially here in Arizona,” says Grijalva.

She also touched on the topic of affordability, saying that decisions are being made on tariffs that negatively impact our gas prices, grocery bills, and federal jobs.

Grijalva adds, “We have to acknowledge that not everyone has my same opinion, even in my district, so I’m going to do my best to represent this community and fight for affordability because that is what we need to be successful.”

The congresswoman spoke on some of the main issues going on in Washington, but her visit was also to recognize students from three different schools for their strong academic performance and commitment to their communities.

“The two students that I was able to give a certificate too.. It’s the first two students that I’ve been able to give a congressional recognition too since I’ve been in office, so that’s really special,” says Grijalva.

Grijalva said these are typically certificates they would give during senior honors, but since she couldn’t make it for that, she wanted to meet them in person before hand.

“It about leadership, and civic engagement, and maybe not the traditional 4.0 student that their both are doing well academically but their well-rounded students involved in other things.”

Grijalva also gave some advice to the students and told them an education is something no one can take away from you.

“An investment in yourself is whether it is in any kind of education or it’s a trade school community college, university, education is something no one can ever take from you,” Grijalva informs.

We spoke to one of the students who received the recognition about how accepting this award made him feel.

“I’m actually really happy and really excited about getting this award, especially because I’ve put in a lot of hard work and it shows that hard work does pay off,” says Jared Nuñez, a Yuma High School student.

Grijalva encourages students to reach for the stars, dream big, and invest in yourself.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) says Kofa High School senior Yaoxi Chen was selected as a recipient of the Dorrance Scholarship.

According to a press release, the scholarship awards up to $12,000 per academic year, which is renewable for up to four years.

“This scholarship means the world to me,” Chen said. “It will allow me to pursue my dreams and pursue higher education. It takes the financial burden off of my parents and will provide me with endless opportunities to help me grow and achieve new things. I thank the Dorrance Committee for this amazing program and I think it’s wonderful that they are helping first-generation college students fulfill their dreams and make a difference in the world.”

YUHSD says Chen applied and passed three phases of the application process in order to be selected for the scholarship.

This includes verifying documents, FAFSA submission, writing samples, letters of recommendation and an in-person interview.

“It has been an honor to work with Yaoxi, whose dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence make him a truly deserving recipient of the Dorrance Scholarship,” Kofa High School counselor Magnolia Alonzo said. “He exemplifies not only outstanding academic achievement but also strong character, leadership, and a sincere commitment to making a positive impact in both his community and his family. Yaoxi consistently demonstrates integrity, initiative, and compassion, distinguishing himself as a student who will continue to contribute meaningfully wherever he goes. I have no doubt that he will make a significant impact in college and beyond.”

According to the Dorrance Scholarship, Arizona students are eligible to apply if they:

Will be a first-generation college student

Are a current graduating senior

Have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA

Demonstrate financial need

Plan to attend Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona and live in on-campus housing

PR – Kofa student selected as Dorrance Scholarship recipient (1)Download

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals are set to meet with the City of Yuma this week to raise awareness for murdered and missing Indigenous women.

It will happen during a City Council meeting at Yuma City Hall, located at 1 City Plaza, Wednesday at 5 p.m.

During the meeting, there will be a proclamation that will be read for Murdered Missing Indigenous Women Awareness Day.

Those who attend are encouraged to wear red and bring signs.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The journey from the Imperial Valley to San Diego isn’t too long, but for a family with a child battling cancer or other life-threatening illnesses, that distance can feel insurmountable.

For years, the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) has been the bridge, providing transportation for underserved families to reach their medical appointments.

In a major move to expand that support, the foundation is bringing more of its expertise directly to the Imperial Valley.

Plans are underway to open a local resource center that will mirror the foundation’s hub at Rady Children’s Hospital, providing a central location for support and advocacy. 

The center is designed to be a sanctuary for families, offering the guidance and resources necessary to navigate the challenges on the road to recovery.

To introduce these new services, ENF is hosting a Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cambria Hotel in Imperial.

The event is free and open to the public, offering residents a first-hand look at the foundation’s mission and future local projects.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro is inviting residents to attend a virtual community meeting next week.

According to a press release, the meeting, taking place Monday at 6 p.m. on Zoom, will give residents an opportunity to learn about the City’s “financial planning process and the use of local funds.”

During the meeting, the City says their staff will present an overview of the budget process and how the funding will be used, along with residents being given an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.

“Understanding how the City plans and uses its budget helps residents stay informed and engaged in the process,” said El Centro City Manager Robert Sawyer. “We are looking forward to connecting with the community. Our goal is to make the budget process more accessible and encourage residents to take part in the conversation about how decisions are made for the City.”

The City also says the council adopts the Annual Operating Budget each June, ahead of the new fiscal year, in order to ensure a spending plan is place before July 1.

“The process begins with the Director of Finance and the City Manager reviewing the initial budget before bringing it to the City Council,” the City adds.

If anyone would like to make their voices heard, they can submit their questions ahead of time at publicinfo@cityofelcentro.org.

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

CommunityVirtualMeetingPREngDownload

CommunityVirtualMeetingPRSpaDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says three men were arrested in connection to a shooting which left one man dead.

According to a press release, the men, all 18 years of age, were arrested in Avondale, Arizona Saturday, with help from the Tempe and Glendale Police Departments.

YPD says the men were booked into the Maricopa County Jail on multiple felony charges, which includes first-degree murder.

The shooting happened last Sunday in the area of S. 15th Avenue and W. Fifth Street before 8 p.m.

Upon arrival, YPD says officers found an unresponsive man on the ground and performed life-saving measures.

YPD said a white four-door sedan arrived in the area, shot multiple rounds, with one of them hitting the victim, identified as 18-year-old Valentin Morales, and then drove away.

YPD then said Morales was taken to Onvida Health where he later died, and witnesses said, at the time, there were at least three suspects, described as Black or Hispanic, in the vehicle.

Morales’ family created a GoFundMe to help during this time. It has a goal of $5,500, with nearly $3,160 raised so far.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma community is marking one year since the death of Baby Sonny, a tragedy that shocked residents across the county.

Baby Sonny was found on May 1 outside a Best Western, a discovery that left many in the community heartbroken and drew attention across Arizona.

One year later, city leaders are using this moment to remind residents about Arizona’s Safe Haven law.

The law allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn, up to 30 days old, at designated locations like fire stations and hospitals without fear of prosecution.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for the Yuma Fire Department, says the goal is to make sure people know help is available.

He says the message is simple: There are safe options, and no one should feel like they have to make a decision that could lead to tragedy.

As part of that effort, Safe Haven locations in Yuma are now marked with a special logo featuring Baby Sonny‘s footprints as a way to honor his memory.

Residents say the tragedy is still fresh in their minds. One resident, Torri Hart, says she remembers when it happened and was devastated by the news.

She says she’s grateful Arizona has the Safe Haven law, so people have another option and situations like this can be prevented.

Here is a list of designated Safe Haven sites available throughout the Yuma community:

Hospitals

Onvida Health – 2400 S Avenue A, Yuma, AZ 85364

Exceptional Community Hospital – 2648 Araby Rd, Yuma, AZ 85367

Fire Stations (staffed 24/7)

Yuma Fire Station 7 – 3293 S Avenue 8 ½ E, Yuma, AZ 85365

San Luis Station #1 – 1165 N. McCain Avenue, San Luis AZ, 85366

Somerton Public Safety Facility (fire & police departments) – 445 E Main Street, Somerton, AZ 85350

Martinez Lake Fire District – 10845 Martinez Lake Rd, Martinez Lake, AZ 85365

Yuma Fire Station 1- 353 S 3rd Ave, Yuma, AZ 85364

Yuma Fire Station 2 – 3284 S. Avenue A, Yuma, AZ 85365

Yuma Fire Station 3 – 508 E 25th St, Yuma, AZ 85365

Yuma Fire Station 4 – 2850 W 16th St, Yuma, AZ 85364

Yuma Fire Station 5 – 6490 E 26th St, Yuma AZ 85365

Yuma Fire Station 6 – 3151 Pinto Way, Yuma, AZ 85364

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the 14th Annual Recovery Palooza Saturday.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Transitional Living Center Recovery (TLCR) brought together an environment to celebrate what mental health awareness is.

“If we’re not the ones that need help, then we definitely know someone who needs help,” said Angel Herrera, Center Manager for TLCR.

Organizations all over the community came out to support the event, which took place at Carver Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing resources to locals.

“We have all these wonderful agencies out here that provide all their information for anybody that needs anything from substance abuse help to mental help,” Herrera shared.

TLCR encourages those who need help to come to their facility and get the help they need.

“If we don’t know how to get you the help, best believe we will help you get it…We’re in this together…We will help you find a way,” said Berenice Ortiz, Case Manager/Public Relations for TLCR.

For more information on how to get help, click here.

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