Category: kyma-local-news

Lynette Niebla

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A local high school student-athlete is stepping onto the national stage, representing not just the Imperial Valley, but the entire state of California.

Lucca Rubin, an incoming junior at Brawley Union High School (BUHS), has been selected as one of just 16 students nationwide to serve on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Student Advisory Council.

Representing Section 7, Rubin is part of the third cohort of the council, which advocates for over 15 million students across nearly 20,000 high schools. Her selection marks a historic milestone: It is the first time California has ever had a representative since the initiative’s foundations began in 2001.

Rubin recently returned from the 10th in-person National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis.

The conference brought together 220 student ambassadors from 30 states, Canada, and Honduras, alongside 88 adult advisors.

“I feel really honored because that’s such a big thing to think that they thought of me for that,” Rubin said. “I was really excited. It was really cool to be able to talk about the Imperial Valley and talk about where I’m from.”

Despite initially feeling nervous about traveling across the country, Rubin found an incredibly welcoming environment.

“Everyone was super welcoming, really nice, and everyone’s kind of like outgoing and open about talking, so that made it easy,” Rubin noted. “We got to do student-led discussions at the summit. We got to hear different people’s perspectives on what had been going on in their particular county.”

Around the BUHS campus, Rubin is known as a powerhouse. She maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing varsity and travel volleyball, serving as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) student leader, and working as the newly elected Associated Student Body (ASB) Commissioner of Athletics.

Her class advisor and BUHS security staff member, Ruben Villa, said selecting Rubin for the nomination was an instant decision.

“Mrs. Self called me and asked to think of one student in the sophomore class that would be a good representative, and at the top of my head, I said Lucca. She was like, ‘I was thinking the same thing,'” Villa recalled. “Well, she’s a very well-rounded individual…the way she carries herself, the way she speaks to others, the way she speaks to adults. She has exceeded expectations in our program.”

Villa added that her national foundation will directly benefit her peers at home saying, “We’ve never had a representative at that level from the school, or this county, or let alone the state, so I think she’ll be a tremendous asset to help us build that here.”

The council was formed to tackle major issues impacting high school athletics, ranging from sportsmanship and mental health to navigating relationships with coaches and officials.

BUHS Athletic Director Billy Brewer, who has watched Rubin grow up, emphasized why her specific leadership voice is necessary at the state and national levels.

“We needed a kid that was going to voice some of the issues, obviously not just local issues, but state issues at the highest level, and she’s definitely a kid that does that,” Brewer said.

Brewer explained that the student council concept is vital in modern sports culture.

“Sometimes parents, coaches, and athletic directors, starting with me, can go over the line with an official, or a student to a student. We all want to compete, and we all want to win, but there is a professional way and a right way to go about it. That’s really what we’re trying to hit home,” Brewer said.

Brewer described Rubin as a natural leader who brings people together.

“She’s a sweetheart, but more than that, she’s just open to everybody. She takes care of everybody. She’s a server, obviously, and everybody likes her, gets along with her. She’s got that drawing-in force that makes people want to get closer to her and speak to her,” Brewer explained.

Rubin credited her early success to the unique preparation she received right at home.

“We have our own Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAC) here, and that was really cool because not all schools have their very own,” Rubin said. “I learned a lot here that I was able to take over, and that experience helped me.”

Rubin will serve throughout the remainder of her high school career. She encourages other students not to let intimidation hold them back from big platforms.

“I think it’s grown me as a person to be able to just use my voice and not be afraid,” Rubin shared. “It’s easy to get scared of things…but in those leadership positions and being on varsity, it allows me to grow. Seeing myself being a little freshman to now, I’m not scared anymore. I would say just don’t be scared of new opportunities, because even though it seems so big and scary, it really isn’t. Just relax and have fun with it.”

As Rubin prepares to dive into her junior year, she is ready to utilize her expanded platform to make a lasting difference in the Imperial Valley.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Bureau of Reclamation has released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for new guidelines governing Colorado River operations.

The next step is a formal record of decision, which is expected soon and could take effect October 1.

The development comes as water policy experts warn the Colorado River is facing an increasingly urgent water crisis.

John Berggren, regional policy manager with Western Resource Advocates, said all seven Colorado River states will need to find ways to use less water.

Berggren says the situation has reached a critical point after years of warnings about declining water supplies. He points to Lake Powell, where water levels fell so low earlier this year that the federal government took emergency steps to protect the reservoir.

He says Lake Mead could face similar challenges as water levels continue to decline.

For Yuma County, the potential cuts could have a major impact on local agriculture.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said Yuma County’s senior water rights could help protect local farmers from major cuts unless conditions become very severe.

Still, Rep. Grijalva says Arizona should not be expected to carry the largest share of the reductions.

She says the final agreement needs to respect Arizona’s water rights while making sure all seven Colorado River states share responsibility for reducing water use.

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Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma community is mourning the loss of a well-known businessman and community member.

Joe Fisher, a long-time resident and former business owner, has passed away.

Fisher was the owner of Fisher Automotive before selling to Chapman, and he was very well-known in the community, remembered for his charity and service.

His daughter, Courtney Fisher-Sellers, is the owner of Desert Buzz Cafe in Yuma, and she said her father was her biggest inspiration.

“What was amazing is after we rebranded it, and reopened in January, he walked through those doors, actually in his walker, came through the doors, sat right there, and he cried, and he told me how proud of me he was,” Fisher-Sellers shared. “And to me, that’s everything.”

Fisher-Sellers has a breakfast burrito named after her dad on the menu, and she said it will now stay on the menu for a long time.

It also carries an interesting backstory.

“My girlfriend Robin made these burritos for the Yuma Catholic football team and my dad fell in love with the burrito. And so for about six months, my dad told me you have to put that on your menu. I’m like, ‘No, dad. We’re not a Mexican food. No one will buy that out of this small café.’ He’s like, ‘No, you have to,'” Fisher-Sellers said.

What may people not know about Joe is that he was a very religious man.

His pastor, Vince Harman with Christ Lutheran Church, said Fisher is an example of someone living his faith.

“So he was a character that’s for sure. He had a good sense of humor, but for me as a pastor, I just know his faith was strong. That was really important for him and to pass that faith onto his family,” Harman said.

While Fisher is no longer alive, Fisher-Sellers said the lessons he shared will carry a lifetime. 

“My dad was one to put his employees first and I find that I do the same. It comes natural and for me it works. So without my employees we’re not anything but a brick-and-mortar, but with the employees we make the business,” Fisher-Sellers said.

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Abigahil Padilla

SOUTH YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – There are now three winners after the primary elections in South Yuma County.

In San Luis, Arizona, Erik Luzanilla got enough votes to win one of the open seats on the San Luis City Council.

Over in Somerton, City Council candidate Jose Moreno was elected while Mayor Gerardo Anaya got enough votes to stay for another term.

Mayor Anaya said he will continue working for the City of Somerton.

“My top priority are with being the last two terms I have served as mayor, and is has been responsible growth and building infrastructure to support that growth,” Anaya said.

The midterm elections in November will have several key races, including San Luis mayor and the San Luis and Somerton City Councils.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Somerton school teacher accused of having drugs on campus appeared in court Thursday to be formally charged.

55-year-old Deana Lynn Salter is facing charges of possession of dangerous drugs in a school zone, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless child abuse.

Salter was arrested earlier this week after the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) said a staff member found a makeup bag, but as the staff member was looking inside to figure out who it belonged to, they found a plastic bag containing an unidentified substance.

The staff member, according to YCSO, “turned the bag over the the YCSO School Resource Officer who identified the substance as Methamphetamine.”

During an additional search of the bag, YCSO identified Salter as the bag’s owner, leading to her arrest.

After that, the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force took over the investigation, and YCSO said, “The total amount of Methamphetamine was approximately 4.35 grams.”

Salter, who is no longer in custody, will be back in court on August 24.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma has officially canvassed the results of last month’s primary election, certifying the vote totals and confirming the city’s leadership for the next four years.

During Wednesday’s regular meeting, the Yuma City Council approved the official election canvass. According to the certified results, 9,938 ballots were cast in the primary election.

Mayor Doug Nicholls was re-elected to a fourth term after receiving more than 73% of the vote.

Mayor Nicholls said he is grateful for the community’s support and is ready to continue working alongside the City Council to guide Yuma’s future.

“It’s about getting to work and continuing the work we’ve been doing and looking to the future,” Nicholls said. “And that’s really what my focus is going to be on for the next four years. Let’s plan the next 20 to 30 years. So as we grow, we grow the way the people of Yuma want it. And not just haphazard growth.”

The certified results also confirm the re-election of City Council member Carol Smith, and new electees Henry Valenzuela and Ronald Van Why.

Along with Presiding Municipal Judge Nohemy Echavarria, each candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary, eliminating the need for a general election contest for those offices.

With the election now officially certified, city leaders say their attention turns from campaigning to long-term planning, infrastructure and managing Yuma’s continued growth. The newly elected officials will begin their four-year terms on January 1, 2027.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma has the sixth highest reliance on H2-A and H2-B visa workers in the nation.

Valentin Sierra of Amigo Farms said, “We hire 35 employees through the H2-A program.”

Amigo Farms is a local agriculture company that hires temporary workers under the H2-A visa program.

A new study released by Manifest Law, a modern immigration law firm, found that Yuma County is the sixth highest reliance on seasonal workers in the nation. H2-A visas ease the pressure on the agricultural workforce.

Sierra said, “95-98% of them return back every year, and we usually get the other 3-5% of new employees…It’s either because someone is having issues at home and they can’t leave at the time, and well, they miss that window of opportunity.”

Local agriculture companies start the visa process in May to get ready for the planting season in August.

Sierra explained, “This is a list of what you need, documentation, put in the petition, and then we go through the legal process of getting them approved.”

One local date farm worker, Manuel Valenzuela, explained why they make a difference.

“Because they come with a permit or they take care of their work, and they do a better job than locals because if locals get fired, they go somewhere else, but they take care of their work, they work more, and they produce better,” Valenzuela shared.

The peak of the agricultural season starts in August and ends in the spring.

According to the University of Arizona, Yuma generates $4.4 billion in agriculture revenue per year.

These visa programs are an extremely significant component of the U.S. labor force as the United States faces labor shortages.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (5:28 PM): The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has provided an update on the Somerton School District employee’s arrest.

The arrest happened on the Somerton Middle School campus after 1:30 p.m.

YCSO said a staff member found a makeup bag, but as the staff member was looking inside to figure out who it belonged to, they found a plastic bag containing an unidentified substance.

The staff member, according to YCSO, “turned the bag over the the YCSO School Resource Officer (SRO) who identified the substance as Methamphetamine.”

During an additional search of the bag, YCSO identified the bag’s owner as 55-year-old Deana Lynn Salter of Yuma, who was a teacher.

The SRO was said to have made contact with Salter, and she was placed under arrest, with YCSO saying, “No students were involved in the incident.”

After that, the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) took over the investigation, and YCSO said, “The total amount of Methamphetamine was approximately 4.35 grams.”

YCNTF processed and booked Salter for possession of dangerous drugs in a drug-free zone, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless child/vulnerable adult abuse.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at 928-783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit anonymous tip.

PR-2026-64-Narcotics-ArrestDownload

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton School District said an employee was arrested, but did not disclose the exact reason for the arrest.

In a press release, the arrest happened Monday.

They said no students were involved in the incident, and said there was no immediate threat to student safety.

The District also said they’re fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies while the investigation continues.

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

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Checking the morning air quality report has officially become a vital daily ritual for thousands of Imperial Valley residents.

As summer temperatures soar across the region, health officials are sounding the alarm over a severe, invisible health threat: Ground-level ozone.

Unlike the protective ozone layer high in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant created when extreme summer heat and intense sunlight react chemically with everyday pollutants. Because the gas forms more rapidly on stagnant, sun-drenched days, the danger intensifies alongside the afternoon heat.

The impact of this invisible pollutant is far from uniform across the region. Air quality can vary drastically from town to town, meaning residents in El Centro might experience relatively clear air while those down the road in Calexico, Brawley, or Niland face dangerous conditions.

When ozone levels surge, the gas aggressively irritates the lungs, triggers severe asthma attacks, and makes breathing difficult, even under seemingly clear blue skies.

Local health experts emphasize that standard face masks offer absolutely zero protection against this specific threat.

Because ozone is a gas rather than a particulate particle like dust or smoke, ordinary cloth or surgical masks cannot filter it out. Instead, medical professionals say the single best line of defense is simply staying inside.

“When it’s inside, it breaks down pretty quickly,” Staten explained. “It’s not going to totally eliminate ozone being indoors, but being indoors with the windows closed and running your AC is going to be a lot safer than being outside.”

Staten strongly urges sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and anyone with pre-existing respiratory conditions, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and always keep rescue medications close at hand.

Timing is also critical, as the highest ozone levels typically peak between 3:00 p.m. and the early evening hours.

To help residents dodge these peak danger windows, officials recommend checking a color-coded air quality scale, which ranges from green (safe) to maroon (hazardous), before stepping out the front door.

“We have air quality monitors all over, so we can really keep a good eye on where the areas are safe,” Staten said. “Sometimes the north end is safe and then the south end is not safe.”

Managing these spikes is a constant, uphill battle for local healthcare providers. The Imperial Valley has long grappled with systemic environmental hurdles, officially carrying an EPA “non-attainment” status, which means the region routinely fails to meet federal air quality standards.

To help local families navigate these ongoing climate and health challenges, the El Centro Regional Medical Center offers a specialized Asthma Wellness Program.

These initiatives are designed to help vulnerable residents manage their symptoms, build defense strategies, and stay safe throughout the grueling summer months.

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