Category: kyma-local-news

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 13 On Your Side and the Crossroads Mission are holding a blanket and clothing drive this Friday to help locals stay warm as temperatures drop.

Volunteers at the mission say warm items are running low, and donations can make an immediate impact.

The mission will be collecting blankets, coats, socks, pants, and any other items that will help during the winter season.

Crossroads Mission Director Sassa Culver shared how the drive will work.

“The blankets and the clothing will go directly to the homeless. We will be giving them out on the three days of Christmas. And the impact that a donation can make will last until next season,” Culver explained.

Mission leaders say community support during drives like this helps them stay prepared for the coldest weeks ahead, making sure they can reach as many people as possible before temperatures drop even further.

We will be out at the Yuma Palms Mall roundabout, right by Harkins Theatres, this Friday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., taking your donations.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Help put a smile on kids’ faces this holiday season with our Holiday Magic Toy Drive.

Toy donations are down this year, potentially leaving hundreds of children in need without a gift from Santa.

That’s why we’re teaming up with the Salvation Army to make Christmas a little brighter. We need your help collecting new toys.

“We’re looking to bless 750 kids, and we could definitely use these toys to just meet the ever growing need,” said Yuma Salvation Army Corps Officer Lt. Johnathan Herzog.

The Holiday Magic Toy Drive is sponsored by Karnas Law Firm.

The toy drive will be next Friday, December 12 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Pacific Avenue Walmart. We’ll see you there!

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man accused of fatally stabbing a Yuma man at a convenience store was back in court Wednesday.

27-year-old Angel Witrado is charged with first degree murder. Police say Witrado killed 37-year-old Justin Arviso outside of a Circle K in Yuma last October.

In court, the victim’s brother spoke out, saying he believes Witrado is coherent despite Witrado claiming insanity.

Witrado has already been seen by a doctor who deemed him coherent, but will now be seeing a different doctor, paid for by the Public Defender’s Office, to be re-evaluated before returning to court early next year.

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Marcos Icahuate

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The 18th annual Tamale Festival returns on December 20, 2025.

The festival is known to bring over 20 tamale booths and more vendors with different food.

Live music, a tamale eating contest and family-friendly entertainment is included.

The Arizona State University El Diablito Alumni Chapter will be sponsoring the 2025 festival.

Proceeds will be going towards local sponsorships for students expecting to attend Arizona State University.

For more information on the Tamale Festival, you can check out the official website here.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – More details on a crash where two men were hit by a truck in Calexico.

The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says the crash happened on Imperial Avenue and Sixth Street last Friday.

Police say two men were crossing the street when a truck hit them.

CPD says one victim was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center and the other was flown out to a different hospital.

“The severe patient was direct on while walking. He took the impact to his torso area and the second patient was less severe and was struck in the head by a mirror,” said Josh Paddock, Calexico Fire engineer paramedic.

CPD say the driver was not arrested or cited and the two men are expected to survive.

Law enforcement says to stay safe while crossing the road or driving.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In this week’s Home Grown report, we are previewing the upcoming Farm Film Festival in Downtown Yuma.

The festival is set to highlight Yuma’s massive impact on the world’s agricultural landscape. People will be able to learn more about the technology and this driving economic industry.

It will also show how Yuma supplies over 90% of America’s leafy greens during the winter months and other important statistics.

The festival will take place on Thursday, December 11 at the Historic Yuma Downtown Theater from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

To learn more about the festival, and to purchase tickets, click here.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Holiday Country Christmas Dinner and Dance presented by the Yuma Farmers Market is December 13 at the Elks Lodge from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

To purchase ticket call Barbara at (928)-510-0738 or Clyde at (928)-941-1417. 

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – More than 1,500 Arizonans are calling for stronger protections for workers facing extreme heat.

The Arizona Heat Standards Coalition delivered a petition to Governor Katie Hobbs’ office Tuesday, pushing for enforceable rules on water, shade, and breaks for farmworkers, construction workers, and welders.

“We need to act now to prevent the death of all of these workers,” said Jazmin Moreno, a steering committee member.

She added, “I hope that this forces the task force to collectively come up with an enforceable heat standard that is genuinely going to be in force and is going to have the basic requirements that farmworkers, that construction workers, that welders need.”

Official numbers report only one heat-related farmworker death in Yuma in 2023, but Moreno says the real toll is unaccounted for.

“Numbers surrounding death, numbers surrounding illness are extremely vague…we also know that undocumented communities don’t go in to receive medical care after, you know, having a heat stroke or heat illness, they often don’t go reported, if they do pass away,” Moreno added.

University of Arizona research shows Yuma County alone is home to 81% of the state’s crop workers, about 65,000 people.

“It’s called the Arizona Farm Worker Enumeration Profile Study…it was both qualitative and quantitative. But what we ended up doing is just creating a baseline number of farmworkers,” said Priscila Ruedas, a U of A research program officer.

The petition delivery sends the clear message that Arizonans want urgent action.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Tuesday, December 2, is Giving Tuesday, and nonprofits across the nation are asking for support from communities.

One Yuma nonprofit, Helping Hand, is asking volunteers to help support transportation for seniors in the area.

The scheduling coordinator, Keegan Obney, says that they are constantly asking for more resources to help seniors.

“Coming together, giving, and helping these places exist, is not only great for the community, it’s great for the soul,” Obney expressed.

Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for people to support local nonprofits the most by donating, volunteering, and recognizing the organizations for their hard work.

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