DNA scientist takes the witness stand in twins murder trial

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A DNA scientist took the witness stand in the trial for the twin brothers charged with the murder of a Yuma teenager.

Theresa Ritna, the DNA scientist, found that DNA from a ski-mask recovered at the crime scene was 13-octillion-times more likely to belong to one of the twins compared to a random stranger.

Ritna says that since the twins have the exact same DNA, it’s unclear which brother it belonged to.

The mask was one of several items detectives wanted scientifically examined.

The defense argues the possibility that some items may have been left out.

“There’s a black ski mask, as well as handgun, and a spent shell casings,” Ritna said while reviewing her documents.

Zach Dumyahn, the defense attorney, replied, “Those were the only items you’re aware of for this investigation, correct?”

A detective will testify next where the jury will learn about messages recovered from the defendant’s phones.

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Brawley Feed the Need celebrates 10 year anniversary

Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The founder of “Brawley Feed the Need” says she started at a local park with one mission and that was to help her community fast forward to ten years that mission is still the same. 

“I can never give God too much credit because honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to do it unless I had the Lord in my heart and the faith to just continue to hold on to him,” said Rosalind Servin, founder of “Brawley feed the need.”

Brawley “Feed the Need” is celebrating their 10 year anniversary.

The founder of the non-profit says she started giving out food and ice cold water to unshelted people at a local park on July first of 2015. 

“Somebody invited me to do it…they were doing it in El Centro and they asked me if they would like to do it here in Brawley and that’s how it started,” said Servin.

She was later invited to help distribute food to four different churches

It was an experience that eventually inspired her to open her own non-profit.

“When I came into this, I never thought I would be able to do half of the things that I am able to do and I would have not ever thought that I had I guess what it takes to be able to, you know, run a ministry,” said Servin.

The founder has received awards and recognition, including receiving the Latina of the Year Award in 2020.

“The mission and the motivator behind it is to spread the love of Jesus Christ and to let people know that God is a savior and a helper to everybody,” said Servin.

The founder says she appreciates the people that help her including her assistant. 

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Teenagers arrested for driving stolen vehicle in Calexico

Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Two teenagers were arrested at the Calexico border after attempting to cross into Mexico in a stolen vehicle.

The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old were taken into custody after officers received a report of a stolen vehicle last week.

Police say one of the teens was spotted driving toward Mexicali.

“They stopped the car, arrested the driver and during the course of investigation, they discovered that the vehicle in front of it, which is the same model just a different color, also came back stolen. Both cars stolen out of Downey, California,” said Officer Victor Garate with CPD.

The owners traveled to Calexico to retrieve their vehicles.

The two teenagers are now facing auto theft charges and were booked into Imperial County Juvenile Hall.

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Arizona Primary: What Yuma voters need to know before Election Day

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Election day is just two weeks away and voters are already making their voices heard in Arizona’s Congressional District 7 Primary.

Early voting is already underway. Officials say they’ve seen a steady stream of voters and they encourage more residents to get involved ahead of the July 15 primary. 

As of June 30, Yuma County has sent over 27,000 ballots to registered voters. So far, over 2,000 ballots have been cast, over 2,400 by mail and 31 in person.

Yuma County Recorder David Lara says this could be due to convenience.

“Everything that is moving forward is mostly mail in ballots. For some reason, I think it’s just the convenience people like to go that way,” says Lara.

But in-person voting becomes more popular closer to Election Day. 

“The emergency voting is a weekend before the election and some people like to come in here and vote in person,” says Lara.

For some locals the approach is simple. Be ready and expect the rush.

Jose Garcia, a Yuma local says, “Prepared or unprepared elections will arrive and we have to be ready. We can’t say they won’t arrive because they will eventually.”

Other say they’re watching closely and taking their time.

Sally Pottratz, a Yuma local says, “I took it in last time and I may take it in again. You know I’m still up to the last minute thinking I’m I doing the right thing.”

Voters can submit their early ballots up until July 11. Lara reminds voters to avoid common mistakes. When sending in your ballot, don’t forget to sign it.

“Of course it’s done unintentionally. We all forget we’re in a hurry. We fill it out, seal the envelope, and forget to sign it. Very common,” says Lara.

For more information on Arizona’s Congressional District 7 Primary, you can click here.

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Daniel Hernandez holds press conference in Yuma

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Hernandez held a press conference Tuesday in Yuma.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, Hernandez slammed Senate Republicans for “their dangerous budget bill that cuts access to Medicaid.”

“What it’s going to do is negatively impact tens of thousands of people in rural communities just like Yuma, whether it’s Santa Cruz, Cochise, or Yuma County,” Hernandez expressed.

Hernandez is also calling on Arizona House Republicans to vote against the bill’s passage.

“Rural hospitals are going to be negatively impacted by this, and I think that’s why we have an opportunity when it goes back to the house to really apply pressure to people who are in the house to say this is not good enough, and we need to go back,” Hernandez said.

The press release says Yuma City Council member Karen Watts, who is also a nurse, is joining Hernandez during the press conference.

“It’s estimated about 370,000 something like that are going to lose insurance here, so that’s going to be a hard pill to swallow,” said Watts.

Hernandez’s personal story has inspired his passion for fighting for healthcare.

“When I was 17 years old, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and almost died because I didn’t have health care. And if it hadn’t been for the state children’s health insurance program through the medicaid program, I wouldn’t be here today. So when I’m talking about fighting for these things, it’s not just because it’s a good idea, it’s because it literally will help keep people alive,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez says he wants to update the rules and invest more into rural communities.

“Those are things that congress can do to make sure that we’re creating more jobs for doctors and nurses and other practitioners in rural communities that will not only help create more jobs and opportunities for those people but actually help make sure that we expand access,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez is running against several Democratic candidates, including Adelita Grijalva and Deja Foxx, in the Arizona Special Primary Election on July 15.

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Yuma police to conduct impaired driving detail on July 4

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) will have an impaired driving detail on July 4 and July 5.

More officers, with help from the Office of Highway Safety, will be patrolling the city as locals celebrate Independence Day weekend.

Driving under the influence and being impaired can come from more than alcohol, as medication can also lead to impaired driving.

YPD would like to give the following tips for those planning to celebrate Independence Day:

Plan a safe way home before celebrating

Designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home

Use a taxi, Uber, or call a trusted person

If you see an impaired driver, call 911

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Imperial County prepares for 4th of July celebrations

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Communities across Imperial County are gearing up for Fourth of July celebrations but with the celebration comes the need for safety.

Law enforcement agencies and fire departments want you to have a safety celebration whether you are celebrating inside or outside.

Every year, the U.S celebrates Fourth of July and this time the holiday lands on a Friday.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says they will have extra firefighters on Friday going into the weekend.

“We are going to have staffing for deploying a command trailer, as well as a quick response vehicle to Calipat for their fireworks event, and will also have two engines plus a battalion chief on duty at the events happening at the fairgrounds for their drone show,” said Cedric Ceseña with ICFD.

The Brawley Police Department will also be looking out for drivers under the influence.

BPD says they will be using drones to detect any illegal use of fireworks in the city.

“For the first time, we are going to deploy a drone for enforcement action and we aren’t going to be flying the drone just looking for stuff. Basically, we are going to deploy the drone if we getting a call from the citizens of Brawley saying that he there is fireworks at that time we will respond deploy the drone and look for it,” said Juan Morales with BPD.

You could serve up to six months in jail or be fined up to $1,000 dollars for using illegal fireworks.

“If anyone is caught lighting a firework, or we see the fireworks coming from private properties, we are able to cite them for a misdemeanor, which could be a thousand dollar fine, and if we don’t see the person, we can cite the actual homeowner as well,” said Morales.

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Three new small businesses open in San Luis, Arizona

Michelle Leal

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – San Luis, Arizona continues to advance in its economic development with the opening of several new small businesses.

Three local entrepreneurs opened their businesses in the last two weeks: Frozz Frozen Yogurt, Stick to the Art Creative Studio and Skin and Body by Melissa.

Armando Esparza, Director of Economic Development in San Luis, says they’re looking to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business.

“The City of San Luis Economic Development has seen an interest in celebrating ribbon-cuttings and grand openings, so the department is gonna be working closely and more frequently to carry these out, this month we had three new businesses open, and the department and city leadership was there to support them.”

Armando Esparza, Director of Economic Development, City of San Luis

The manager of Frozz Frozen Yogurt says they have received a very good response from the community.

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U.S. military to establish NDA along Arizona-Mexico Border near Yuma

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The U.S. military is establishing a new National Defense Area (NDA) along the Arizona-Mexico border near Yuma.

According to a press release from the U.S. Air Force, NDAs are “designed to support the Department of Defense’s ongoing mission to secure the southern border in coordination with interagency and partner stakeholders.”

The press release says the first NDA was established in New Mexico on April 21 while the second NDA was established in West Texas on May 1.

This is the first NDA in Arizona.

The new NDA encompasses about 100 miles of borderland and will be incorporated into the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma Instillation.

This means troops stationed there can now monitor activity, operate checkpoints, an temporarily detain trespassers until transferring them into Border Patrol custody.

Jonathan Lines, Yuma County Supervisor District 2, says, “I am very grateful that the President has provided additional support for the men and women in green and blue.”

However, ongoing uncertainties in relation to access, signage, and civil rights continue to raise concerns.

Some environmentalists say it will have negative impacts on the environment.

Lines says the amount of waste and litter left behind is the real problem.

“I would ask them if they’ve actually been to the border to see the havoc and destruction that has been left behind. It is an environmental wasteland,” Lines explained.

Local leaders are divided as some support the increased security while others say it’s overly aggressive.

“The more that we can step up, once and for all, and secure the border and keep out the bad actors, keep out the fentanyl, and the human trafficking, I’m all for it,” says Lines.

Tony Reyes, Yuma County Supervisor District 4, says “Risking the National Guard and risking the military out in these areas, for this purpose, it’s just uncalled for.”

Reyes says border crossings are low and that the military could focus their attention on other tasks.

“The current administration cancelled the asylum seekers. They capture 10-15 people a day in the whole Yuma Sector…Too many problems in the country are now being dealt with as immigrant problems and they’re not,” Reyes expressed.

We’re waiting to hear back from MCAS Yuma and we’ll share more information with you as it becomes available.

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Imperial man sentenced for embezzlement scheme

Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – An Imperial man has been sentenced for an embezzlement scheme where he was found guilty.

The Imperial Police Department (IPD) conducted an investigation into a grand theft by James Salazar, an Imperial resident, in July of 2024.

Salazar, as a trustee of a family trust, was accused of embezzling around $300,000 “from family members who were entitled to receive equal shares of the inheritance,” according to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

A civil lawsuit was filed by the family, where Salazar was ordered to pay around $797,957, with the amount included “double the damages and attorney’s fees.”

However, after IPD and the D.A.’s Office concluded their investigation, Salazar was criminally charged “with several counts of grand theft and embezzlement,” along with “aggravating factors including committing the crimes with planning and sophistication and taking advantage of a position of trust.”

In May of 2025, Salazar pleaded no contest to all counts of grand theft and “admitted the alleged aggravating factors.”

Salazar was sentenced to four years and four months in the Imperial County Jail last Thursday. He was then remanded to Imperial County Sheriff’s Office’s custody to serve his sentence.

To learn more about this case, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

6.27.25 Salazar Press Release_Download

6.27.25 Salazar Press Release SpanishDownload

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