Category: kyma-local-news

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The four out of the five suspects arrested in a child sex trafficking sting operation in Yuma have been identified.

The suspects are 24-year-old Jacob David Vasquez, 60-year-old Jesse Cruz Flores, 39-year-old Ignacio Emmanuel Inzunza Jr and 27-year-old Eduardo Jesus Martinez.

They were all arrested and charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, and they’re still in custody.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said the operation was a success, and said they plan to conduct more stings in the future.

“[Chief Thomas Garrity] wants to do more of these details because there are more of them out there,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD. “There were a lot of people in those text groups, so they’re out there. This was the first one we did, and it went pretty well, so hopefully the next one will be even better.”

One of the five men arrested does not have any charges filed against him at this time.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) is opening a new testing hub to keep college entrance exams local.

Administrators completed an application with the College Board to bring the SAT back to the valley.

Multiple local campuses have hosted the exam in the past, but the brand new site marks a first for the Office of Education. 

The new center will house 85 students per exam date, eliminating the hundred-mile commutes and travel costs families previously faced.

“A lot of students were often times traveling at least 140 miles round-trip just to take the exam,” said Kimberly Macias, K-12 Pathway Coordinator for ICOE. “So if we are to serve one student or 100 students through having an SAT test center here in the county for students, that is what we’re here to do to serve students.”

The test registration window is now open on the College Board site, offering seven dates across the school year starting August 22.

To register, click here.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Three Yuma Veterans were recognized Friday as part of a local celebration honoring recipients of the Purple Heart.

Johnny Cline, William Clay and Jim Zach, residents at the Arizona State Veterans Home in Yuma, were honored during a small, lighthearted event marking National Purple Heart Day.

The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who are wounded or killed while serving in combat.

National Purple Heart Day is a time to recognize the sacrifices made by service members who were injured in defense of the country, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Purple Heart dates back to 1782, when General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit. It is considered the nation’s oldest military decoration.

The local celebration gave residents and staff an opportunity to recognize Cline, Clay and Zach for their service and sacrifice.

The Arizona State Veterans Home continues to provide care and support for veterans in the Yuma community.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In the middle of the desert, one local garden is showing that resilience can grow even when water and irrigation resources are limited.

The University of Arizona’s Moody Garden continues to bloom despite recent water and irrigation challenges, serving as both a community garden and a living classroom for desert-adapted plants.

The garden showcases a variety of plants selected for their ability to withstand the region’s harsh desert conditions while requiring less water than traditional landscaping.

For researchers and visitors, the garden provides a hands-on look at how plants can be selected and maintained to better adapt to Yuma’s climate.

The Moody Garden also serves as an educational resource, giving students and community members an opportunity to learn more about desert landscaping, water conservation and sustainable growing practices.

As water continues to be an important issue across the region, gardens like Moody Garden demonstrate how thoughtful plant selection and research can help create landscapes that are both resilient and productive.

The University of Arizona continues to use the garden as a resource for education and research focused on growing in the desert.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Researchers at the University of Arizona are testing a heat-loving summer crop that could help improve soil health and water efficiency for future desert farming.

The crop, called Sesbania, is also known as summer hemp. Researchers at the University of Arizona Yuma Agricultural Center are studying whether the plant can improve growing conditions for crops commonly grown in the region.

Unlike traditional crops, the Sesbania being grown in the research plots will not be harvested for sale.

Instead, researchers will cut the plants down and till them back into the soil.

The goal is to add organic matter, carbon and nitrogen to the soil as the plant material decomposes.

“The intent of the planting is to improve the soil health, adding organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen,” a researcher said.

Researchers say Sesbania has an additional advantage because it can naturally add nitrogen back into the soil.

The study is comparing Sesbania with more traditional summer crops, including Sudan grass, to determine how each affects soil health and water use.

Once the summer portion of the study is complete, researchers plan to plant iceberg lettuce in the test fields.

That will allow the team to measure whether improving the soil during the summer can benefit the following winter crop.

Researchers hope the results will provide farmers with more information about ways to maintain healthier soil and potentially use water more efficiently in the desert.

The research is part of ongoing efforts at the UArizona Yuma Agricultural Center to find practical ways to improve agricultural production in the region.

Copyright 2026 KYMA. All rights reserved.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The former San Luis High School (SLHS) teacher accused of sexually abusing an underage student appeared in court Tuesday to be formally charged.

27-year-old Genesis Alvarado is facing two felony charges, including sexual misconduct with a minor. During the latest court appearance, the bond was lowered to $100,000.

The San Luis Police Department (SLPD) believes there’s multiple victims.

Alvarado, who was a digital photography teacher at SLHS, was taken into custody last Friday, and SLPD said the investigation involved a 17-year-old student.

News 11 reached out to the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) regarding the arrest, and here’s what they had to say:

“Alvarado is no longer employed by YUHSD. San Luis High School immediately reported the allegations to the San Luis Police Department upon being notified, and the district took action to terminate Alvarado’s employment on August 7. The safety and well-being of all students is the district’s top priority, and YUHSD will continue to cooperate with law enforcement throughout the investigation.”

Alvarado, who is currently being held at the Yuma County Detention Center, is scheduled to be back in court August 17 for his preliminary hearing.

SLPD is asking the community to come forward if they have information on the case.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) announced former Mesa Mayor John Giles as her pick for Lt. Governor.

In a post to social media Tuesday, Gov. Hobbs wrote, “Arizona deserves leaders who put our state ahead of partisan politics. That’s why I’m proud to have former Mesa Mayor [John Giles] by my side as my pick for Lieutenant Governor. Together, we’ll put Arizona first, deliver real results, and keep moving our state forward.”

Former Mayor Giles, a former Republican, also posted to social media saying, “What an honor to join this historic ticket! Arizona, let’s get to work.”

Giles was one of the names on the governor’s short list of running mates, which includes two people with ties to Yuma County: Arizona Democratic Party chair Charlene Fernandez and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who was born in Somerton.

Last month, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who is Hobbs’ opponent in the Arizona gubernatorial election, named former State Sen. Sine Kerr (R-District 25) as his running mate.

In response to the announcement, Rep. Biggs issued a statement saying in part, “As Kamala Harris’ favorite Arizona mayor, Giles is aligned with Hobbs on all the issues that have hurt Arizonans the most over the past four years. From being ‘impressed’ with the Biden Border Policy to supporting the out of control federal COVID spending, which led to record inflation, to voting in favor of an ordinance to allow men in women’s bathrooms in Mesa, Giles has been an aspiring Democrat since he first voted for Joe Biden in 2020.”

Kerr also responded to the announcement, in a post to social media, saying, “Looking forward to the Lt. Governor’s Debate on October 5 with Democrat primary voter John Giles. We should discuss my Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights legislation and SB1583, which protected children from predators. Katie Hobbs vetoed both. Maybe John Giles can explain why.”

The 2026 general election will be the first time voters can choose a Lt. Governor for Arizona after Prop 131 was passed, with 55% of Arizona voters supporting the measure back in 2022, according to AZ Clean Elections.

AZ Clean Elections also said the Lt. Governor will replace the Secretary of State as the successor to the governor if the governor “dies, resigns, is removed from office or is permanently unable to carry out the duties of the Governor and serves until a successor is elected.”

The general election is taking place Tuesday, November 4.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Friday is National Purple Heart Day, recognizing those who have been wounded or killed in combat including several here in our area.

Yuma resident Jesse Martinez is a retired Marine who served during the Vietnam War. He received a purple heart after being wounded twice in combat.

In honor, Martinez built Purple Heart memorials at several Veteran posts across yuma.

“I have three walls placed in different Veterans homes post. And they recognized, honored the Veteran that were wounded in combat. What I did is I put a plaque designating the service the time what war they served in and how they were wounded,” Martinez said.

Martinez added the memorials are a way to make sure the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients never go forgotten.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A new Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Imperial County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in El Centro Monday.

Veterans, healthcare workers and elected officials gathered at the new upgraded outpatient VA clinic, located at 1501 W. Main Street, at 10 a.m.

The clinic is part of the VA San Diego Healthcare System, and has new exam rooms and telecare services.

“The clinic represents an important investment for our Veterans. It will provide expanded access to care closer to home for veterans throughout this Imperial County. The men and women who have served our country deserve this type of quality care,” said El Centro Mayor Michael Crankshaw.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Peggy Price noted that Veterans no longer have to travel out of the county to receive specialty services.

“It’s an opportunity to expand services such as mental health services here at this clinic and even our homeless voucher program,” Chairwoman Price explained. “We’d like to see those increased and more importantly is the specialty services so that our veterans do not have to travel to other counties, other states for services outside of Imperial County.”

The opening came on the heels of a major milestone for Veterans services.

“It’s also the 80th birthday of the Veterans Health Administration…This anniversary reminds us of eight decades of unwavering dedication to those who have served and inspired continued commitment to transforming the way that we provide care for our Veterans,” said Walt Danneberg, Director of Health Services.

The new clinic brings services like mental health, lab work and radiology.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A clean energy company is putting down roots in Yuma.

“Making Yuma more green…that will be our mission,” said Lisa Potok, Chief Financial Officer for Beam Global.

Beam Global designs and manufactures sustainable energy products, with a focus on off-grid electric vehicle charging systems, energy security, and energy storage.

The company said its move to Yuma reflects its commitment to expanding clean technology and renewable energy solutions.

“We want to make a difference, and that’s why we’re here,” Potok shared. “Beam Global wants to make a difference in the world…through EVs, through going green, and through driving on sunshine.”

Beam Global said it expects to hire local talent and is excited to bring more clean energy solutions to Yuma.

Potok added, “The big thing that we are bringing to Yuma is jobs..jobs for the economy. But we’re also bringing EV technology, so you’ll see a lot more of that in Yuma culture.”

Beam Global’s new location will span more than 50,000 square feet and has room to grow as the company expands.

Potok said, “We can easily do 20 to 30 jobs immediately, and then we can do second and third shifts. Over the long run, we’d hope to see over 100 employees.”

With new jobs and new technology on the way, Beam Global said its move to Yuma will bring a greener future.

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