Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local businesses and residents are coming together to help donate to those affected by the Central Texas floods.

Local restaurant Saigon Pho will be donating 100% of their profits and tips to those affected by the floods.

Vinny Vo, the restaurant’s owner, says he appreciates any donations and prayers.

“This is a good cause. I never asked before and I hope everybody [can] help me and even a prayer…even a prayer for everything and anything that could help my fundraiser,” Vo expressed.

Meanwhile, Gus Murillo is traveling from Texas and he shares how it feels seeing people from his home state suffering through such a tragedy.

“I feel like…if you see some child hurt because all these people have not done a darn thing wrong and it’s a real sad,” Murillo says.

The fundraising event at Saigon Pho, located at 700 E. 32nd Street, is taking place Saturday from noon to 9:00 p.m.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County workers took to the streets Tuesday, holding a demonstration strike ahead of the Board of Supervisors meeting.

The union is holding firm on its demand for a 10% raise over two years, but the county is only offering 6%, split between 2025 and 2026.

Last week, workers rejected that offer and now they say a full strike could happen as soon as Wednesday if no progress is made.

“People’s benefits are going to be affected, or even stopped at some point, because there’s not gonna be someone to determine the benefits,” said Laura Hernandez, an employee for the county.

This means services like Medi-Cal, food stamps, and cash aid could be delayed if workers walk off the job.

Another employee said that could especially impact foster families and vulnerable children.

“It’ll be a disservice to foster youth,” said Jaquelyn Torres, who helps issue benefits for foster parents and youth.

Other workers say the rising cost of living is making it nearly impossible to make ends meet on their current wages.

“Medication, MRIs, X-rays…you can only see this doctor so many times. Your medication costs… I have to pay a lot in medication. So to me..you know, come on county, give us a little bit more,” said Donna Bennedict.

“The cost of living, the gas prices are gonna be going up. Three percent is not worth it when you talk about the person on the bottom line. That’s not even enough,” she added.

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Scott Gross

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – UFC CEO and President Dana White has donated $10,000 to the GoFundMe for the family of Jeff Brady.

Over the weekend, Brady gave his life to save two boys from drowning in the Colorado River.

Brady was well-known in the Mixed Martial Arts community around San Diego, and had recently moved to Yuma with his partner.

The GoFundMe has a goal of $80,000 with $72,690 raised so far. Funds will help with funeral expenses, living costs and counseling for the boys Brady saved.

If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The jury found a Calexico man guilty of selling methamphetamine last Thursday.

According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, the man, Carlos Correa, was arrested in March of 2021.

The D.A.’s Office says Correa was in a parking lot, located in the area of Third Street and Paulin Avenue in Calexico, “hiding prepackaged bindles in his car while standing next to it.”

However, the D.A.’s Office says a Calexico police officer conducted an investigation after he believed he saw someone attempting to buy methamphetamine from Correa.

Following this, officers found the bindles and over $15,000 in cash, which led to Correa’s arrest.

Correa will be sentenced on August 11.

7.7.25 Press Release People v. Carlos CorreaDownload

7.7.25 Press Release for Carlos Correa – SpanishDownload

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A strike involving more than 1,000 Imperial County workers could happen as early as this week.

The Teamsters Union Local 542 says they will be protesting at the Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 8.

The union is demanding a 10% salary increase over two years.

The union says they’ll know if they’re going on strike by Wednesday night.

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Marcos Icahuate

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – An event is planned to help seniors learn technological skills.

Imperial Valley Business Resource Center (IVBRC) is holding the event at the Calipatria Latin American Club on July 10 at 10 a.m.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity for seniors to enhance their digital literacy and connect with the resources they need to thrive in the digital world,” said Alma Silva, Chief Operating Officer at Imperial Valley Business Resource Center. “This initiative, supported by partners like AT&T Foundation, Southern Border Broadband Consortium (SBBC), California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and IVEDC is an important step in empowering our local seniors and helping them navigate today’s technology-driven society.”

The event is free but RSVP is required.

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Andrea Turisk

(KYMA, KECY/CBS) – The families of two Yuma women killed in a Jeep crash in Colorado are suing the tour company and the estate of the Jeep’s driver.

CBS News Colorado says the lawsuit claims the driver, 72-year-old Don Fehd, was a last-minute replacement driver who likely drank alcohol the night before or the morning of the crash.

The crash killed 28-year-old Diana Robles and her aunt, 60-year-old Ofelia Perez, both from Yuma. It happened in September of 2022.

The wrongful death case is being heard by a Denver federal court judge, and the two sides have been given a year to exchange evidence in the case.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is warning residents about a growing number of online scams involving blackmail, often starting on social media and leading to major financial losses, and in some cases, emotional trauma.

Scammers are targeting victims through social media, dating apps, and messaging platforms. According to police, they often pose as someone young and friendly, ask for explicit photos, and then threaten to release those images unless money is sent.

Local victims have reported losing between $50 and $80,000, sometimes their entire life savings.

“The majority of the cases are the elderly, the senior citizens,” said Officer Hayato Johnson with YPD. “Obviously, some of them are widowed, lonely or single, so they’ll target them, because they know they have a life savings so they know someway they’ll get money out of them.”

Police say most of these scams are being run by people overseas, making it difficult to track the criminals or recover the money.

“We’ve seen a lot of people get depressed over these cases,” Officer Johnson added. “Some have even taken their own lives.”

Rosie Decker, a concerned Yuma resident, says she’s been targeted before and urges others to be cautious.

“I think the best thing that they can do is just anything that comes from your phone, even phone calls, don’t answer it,” she said. “Just take your time and do your research.”

Police say if something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts.

“If you suspect you’re being scammed, stop what you’re doing immediately,” said Johnson. “Don’t continue to prolong the relationship, or send any more money. Stop immediately and block the number.”

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – New evidence that lead to the dismissal of the murder trial involving two twin brothers could see another man go free.

Manuel Trujillo was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the shooting of 15-year-old Cesar Aguilar, alongside twins 25-year-old David and Adrian Perez-Arzola.

Trujillo pled guilty to second-degree murder after he was sentenced in 2023.

Now, Trujillo is going through a petition for post-conviction relief following this recent development.

“He’ll be able to argue that he should not have taken the plea, or would not have taken the plea if this evidence had been provided to him,” said Dallin Marcy, the Yuma Deputy Attorney.

The prosecuting attorney shares how the new information obtained affected this case.

“Because of the information I got, it shifted that belief from ‘I believe we have a reasonable likelihood of conviction here’ [to] ‘I don’t believe that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction based on this new evidence,'” Marcy says.

If Trujillo’s request is granted, his case could be retried and possibly dismissed.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Jose Lopez has been given two consecutive life sentences without parole along with additional decades of prison time.

Lopez was convicted of murdering 20-year-old Ande Blackthunder and 19-year-old Danny Garcia.

The shooting took place nearly two years ago and Lopez was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of aggravated assault this past March. 

Lopez will serve this time without a possibility for parole.

In a statement given to the judge, Lopez says he understands the reaction from all families of those involved in the case.

Lopez can appeal the sentencing, and according to his attorney, has indicated he will do just that.

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