Category: kyma-local-news

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As temperatures rise across Imperial Valley, bee activity is picking up, bringing more swarms into the neighborhoods and back yards.

The Imperial County Public Health Department is offering tips and warnings to stay safe, including staying away from the swarms and calling a professional.

Public Health Vector Control Antonio Lachuga said the county has a dedicated bee hotline for calls relating to swarms.

“You need to keep a distance from where the bees are. Second one is do not try to spray, remove, or relocate them, the bees. The other one keep the children, dogs, pets away from the area. And the last one, contact a professional,” Lachuga said.

Public Heath Department stressed that they do kill the bees, so if a resident is looking for humane removal, they can reach out to a local bee keeper.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, humane removal is especially important in agricultural areas like Imperial County, where bees play a critical role in pollinating crops.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Hundreds of educators gathered Thursday evening at the Yuma Civic Center for the 39th Annual Teacher of the Year Banquet, a night dedicated to celebrating excellence in education across Yuma County.

Hosted by the Education Foundation of Yuma County in partnership with the Yuma Rotary Club, the annual event is considered the biggest night in education locally.

Teachers from across the county arrived in style, walking a red carpet lined with photos of past Teacher of the Year honorees.

The banquet honored standout educators across four grade-level categories:

Primary (Pre-K through 3rd grade)

Intermediate/Special Area (4th grade through 6th grade)

Middle School/Junior High (6th grade through 8th grade)

High School (9th grade through 12th grade)

In total, the finalists were selected through a process that included nominations from principals, followed by personal essays and professional videos.

(Winners bolded) Finalists included Claudia Alvarez, Hannah Martinez and Martha Vasquez in the Primary category; Fauna Bushong, Teresa Teeter and Loran Tyler in Intermediate; Jonathan Bailey, McKenna Casas and Karlynsia Terrazas in Middle School; and Gregory Brown, Eric Frost and Mark Van Voorst in High School.

Each category winner received a trophy along with several prizes, including a voucher for three credit hours from Northern Arizona University-Yuma, a $100 Staples gift card, a $500 Elite MedSpa + Wellness gift card and a 12-month membership to 4th Ave Gym.

At the end of the night, the program built to its most anticipated moment, the announcement of the 2026 Yuma County Teacher of the Year. That honor went to Hannah Martinez of Palmcroft Elementary school.

Martinez, a Yuma native, joins her mom, who also won the award in 1998. She delivered a heartfelt message after receiving the award, dedicating the recognition to her students and the community.

“To my students, I love you guys. And you guys are the reason why I’m doing anything,” Martinez said. “To my Yuma community, as a Yuman, born and raised out here, I love Yuma. I love how much Yuma has invested in local businesses. So now I would love to turn that attention to public education.”

She emphasized her passion for teaching and the role education plays in shaping future generations.

“I truly believe in the power of education. I believe knowledge is power,” Martinez said. “And so the fact I get to help a young generation find that knowledge and see what it can do for them is what keeps me going.”

Martinez also reflected on the significance of receiving the award early in her career.

“It’s insane,” she said. “I’m at Palmcroft Elementary where teachers, once they’ve been there, they don’t leave. They’ve been there for 40 years, 20 years. And so the fact that they recognized me, someone only three years into public education, is beyond what I can imagine.”

In addition to the Teacher of the Year honor, the event also recognized educators from Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma.

Along with the induction of a new Estelle Dingus Hall of Fame honoree. Yuma High School graduate, Jason Maas, was inducted into the Education Foundation of Yuma County Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Estelle Dingus Award for the person who is a product of Yuma County schools who has made a significant impact outside of Yuma County.

Maas has been the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League since 2022.

As the evening came to a close, organizers said the banquet continues to highlight the lasting impact educators have both inside and outside the classroom. The event serves as a reminder of the vital role teachers play in shaping the Yuma County community.

Martinez received the top prize package, which included additional gifts and a seven-day trip for two to Hawaii.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A judge has agreed to head to trial for the man accused of murdering a teen in Salton City after shocking details were revealed in court Thursday.

51-year-old Abraham Feinnbloom is accused of murdering and dismembering 17-year-old T’neya Tovar.

On Thursday, several deputies and a special investigator with the FBI took the stand to testify. They showed videos from Tovar’s Snapchat featuring her and Feinbloom together.

In day two of the preliminary hearing, Feinbloom had stated he did not know Tovar.

It was also revealed Feinbloom has a history of criminal activity including false imprisonment, an apparent attempt to flee jurisdiction, and attempting to clean a crime scene.

The judge has stated there is now enough evidence to head to trial with his arraignment scheduled for May 21.

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Moses Femino

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – Community members gathered at Bushmasters Veterans Memorial Park in Somerton for the sixth annual Denim Day community walk. Walking together to raise awareness about sexual assault and support survivors.

The event, supported by the Somerton Domestic Violence Task Force, brought together local partners and agencies who provided resources and information for survivors and their families.

Organizers say the goal is not only to raise awareness, but to “stomp out” sexual assault and remind survivors they are not alone.

“We are open arms to help that person,” Gabriella Sanchez, Somerton Domestic Violence Task Force Facilitator, said. “They should not be walking by themselves through this journey.”

Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday in April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign has been led since 1999 by Peace Over Violence, promoting solidarity and support for survivors across the globe.

The movement began after a controversial ruling by the Italian Supreme Court in 1992. They overturned a rape conviction, with justices arguing the victim was at fault for wearing tight jeans.

The decision sparked international outrage and led to the creation of Denim Day as a symbol of protest and awareness.

Participants at the Somerton walk emphasized the importance of community involvement and speaking out.

“You know, it’s a wonderful event. We would like to see more people involved,” Mark Martinez, Yuma County Victim Rights Committee Chairman, said. “Just to get that awareness out there because it’s okay to say something.”

“Means everything to the Somerton community,” Jodie Wight, Regional Director for Domestic Violence Programs with Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona Safe House, said. “It means that we’re here with them. We’re standing with Somerton.”

Organizers say events like this help connect survivors and families with critical resources while continuing to promote awareness and support year-round.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors has approved hiring an outside attorney to investigate allegations involving County Treasurer David Alexandre.

The decision came during Monday’s board meeting, where discussion on the matter was limited due to potential legal concerns.

Supervisors say the issue stems from an internal review into how public funds were allegedly used within the Treasurer’s Office.

According to county leaders, that review was conducted in coordination with the Yuma County Attorney’s Office and identified several issues that required corrective action. However, Alexandre has disputed those findings and retained his own legal counsel.

That move created conflict for the County Attorney’s Office. As a result, supervisors voted to bring in outside legal representation, approving a Phoenix-based law firm, at a rate of $850 per hour, to handle the matter moving forward.

“When concerns are raised about the use of public funds, the county has a duty to investigate,” Martin Porchas, Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman, said. “In this instance, the county conducted a review in coordination with the county attorney’s office which identifies several issues that require corrective action.”

County supervisors say no legal action has been filed at this time, but they are preparing for that possibility as the situation develops.

KYMA reached out to both the county and Treasurer Alexandre for comment, but did not receive a response.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) says they responded to a fire Tuesday morning.

According to a post on Facebook, the fire happened in the area of S. Virginia Drive, near American Legion Post 19.

Upon arrival, YFD says fire crews found smoke “coming from a storage shed on the property,” and said the fire was “caused by weeds being burned too close to the property with a propane torch and left unattended.”

YFD says the facility manager knocked down the fire prior to their arrival, and says firefighters checked the building to ensure the fire had not spread and there wasn’t any remaining hotspots.

No injuries were reported, and YFD is reminding the Yuma community to never leave open flames unattended, “especially near buildings or dry vegetation.”

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Wednesday marks the second day of the preliminary hearing for the man accused of murdering a missing teen.

51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom pleaded not guilty in connection to the disappearance and death of 17-year-old T’neya Tovar.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the first witness, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jacob Cerda, said a search warrant was issued, and said he saw Feinbloom fleeing the property and climbed over the fence, but Feinbloom was caught and then taken into custody back in February.

The second witness, Senior Deputy Dustin Snyder with the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, said he was dispatched to a disturbance called by Feinbloom’s neighbors in December of last year.

While on the stand, Senior Deputy Snyder said the neighbors reported seeing a woman outside Feinbloom’s home screaming, “Give me my daughter back.”

Snyder said he was shown posts from the Salton Sea Neighbors Facebook group, which were videos of Tovar seen inside the home.

After Feinbloom consented to have his house searched, Snyder said he saw the home boarded up with plywood, along with the windows, and padlocked from the outside.

Snyder also said he saw cleaning supplies, the bedroom being covered in plastic tarp, another room being completely draped with tarp, no paint or other construction type items in sight, a queen-sized bed with mirrors around, with a napkin with a reddish substance found on the bed, and said he recognized the inside of the home from Tovar’s videos.

As a result of the search, Snyder said Feinbloom was taken into custody, but was later released, and said he assisted with the search warrant.

The third witness, Special Agent Taryn Hunter with the FBI, who became involved in the case earlier this year, said Tovar’s phone was traced back to Feinbloom’s house, leading the FBI to search the house back in February, with Hunter confirming what the deputies previously testified they saw.

Agent Hunter said she noticed tools, such as a table saw, and collected items that could’ve belonged to Tovar, such as a pink toothbrush and a pink beanie.

Hunter also said a Mini Cooper and a white truck were searched, and said an additional warrant was served on February 13.

Hunter says a Crown Victoria, an additional car previously not on the property, had a front seat removed, with the trunk and seat belt being tested presumptively positive for blood, and says there was also blood found on the light switch in the bathroom.

In addition, Hunter confirmed Tovar’s leg was cut after collecting multiple saws and blades, and says Feinbloom was read and had waived his rights.

While interrogating Feinbloom, Hunter said he told her he was a musician, and said that’s why his house was boarded up: To sound proof for his practices.

When Hunter asked if he knew anything about Tovar’s disappearance, Feinbloom told her no, and when she showed him photos of the items collected, Feinbloom told her they belonged to him.

Hunter then says Feinbloom didn’t know anything after she told him human remains were found, leading to a video of the interrogation being shown during the hearing, with Feinbloom saying he was invoking his right to an attorney.

Hunter also said she had concerns about travel, with CBP confirming certified records that Feinbloom booked a flight from LAX to Hong Kong prior to his arrest, along with an internet search history, which includes eye-gouging, can not remove contact from phone and what happens when a person is missing, being presented in court.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Scammers have upped their game trying to get you to click on an email link.With the help of AI, the emails are better written, have less grammatical errors and appear more legitimate.

Check 3 things:

The sender: Check the sender address. If the email supposedly came from a business or government address, it would not come from gmail or a personal account.

The destination: Hover your mouse over any link to see the destination and where you are really going if you click.

The logic:Are you a customer of the business that supposedly sent the email?

Recognize common tactics. Phishing emails generally use the same tactics over and over to trick victims. Scare tactics and emails that produce a sense of urgency are quite common in phishing scams, as are promises of rewards that sound too good to be true. For example, if an email says there is a problem with your credit card or your account is about to be deleted if you don’t click a link immediately, it’s probably a phishing threat. If you get an email asking you to click a link or log into an account to get a surprisingly good prize, offer or even a government grant, think twice.

Take a closer look at the sender and recipients. An email may come to you in the name of a reputable company, but look closely at the sender’s email address. If the address is unrecognizable, perhaps a long string of letters and numbers that don’t make sense, it’s probably an impostor. Don’t be too quick to trust email addresses with company names in them either. An email may come to you from an address that ends in @my.netflix.work, which is a far cry from an official email ending like @netflix.com.

Double check hyperlinks before you click on them. Roll over any links in an email you receive before you click to see where the link really leads. Suspicious links are one of the main giveaways of email scams. Sometimes, the links are shortened using bit.ly or a similar service so you can’t tell exactly where they are at first glance. Other times, when you roll over what looks like a real link, you’ll find the address doesn’t correspond with what’s stated in the blue link text. Another red flag is if the link looks familiar but contains slight misspellings. Always check that a link is legitimate before you click on it, otherwise it could lead you to a dangerous website or download malware onto your computer.

Don’t be quick to confirm personal information. Most scam emails are designed to look just like emails you receive from a business you trust, but with unusual requests. For example, if your bank suddenly sends you an email asking to confirm personal information, such as your account number and address, don’t reply and delete the message. If any company sends you an email asking you to provide your login credentials via email, this too is a big red flag. If you think that an email could be legitimate, it’s always a good idea to contact the company directly – not via any link or contact information in the email – to inquire.

Be wary of attachments, even if they are sent by a friend. If you receive an email with an unexpected attachment, don’t be too quick to open it. If you click on a malicious attachment, it could download a virus or malware onto your PC or network. Even if it looks like you know the person or company who sent the message, check with them first to make sure the attachment is safe.

Keep your security software up to date and running. The FTC recommends protecting your computer and mobile devices with security software that can help you recognize threats before it’s too late. Keep any software you install up to date so it can protect you against new threats. In addition, if you think you clicked on a dangerous link by accident, you can open up your security software and run a scan right away to identify and potentially contain the threat.

File a complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office and Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Always read reviews on BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker. More scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A waste truck falls in to a sink hole in Yuma.

It happened around 7:30 Wednesday morning.

The Republic Service waste truck driver said he felt like the load moved to one side of the truck or like he had a flat tire.

He quickly realized the truck fell in into the sink hole, and the parking lot was closed as a precautionary measure.

No injuries or other damages were reported. Yuma Public Works and the Yuma Police Department were on the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Lynette Niebla

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – In the small, quiet town of Calipatria, tensions at City Hall were running high as residents packed the chambers to defend City Manager Laura Gutierrez against a sudden termination.

At Tuesday night’s regular meeting, the community made their voices heard, flooding the podium during public comments to urge officials to reconsider their decision to terminate.

Gutierrez began her tenure as the city manager of Calipatria in June 2023.

According to residents, she has since led significant efforts in city beautification and the planning of various community events.

Many residents are now left questioning the council’s reasoning behind the sudden leadership shift.

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