Category: kyma-local-news

Joaquin Hight

UPDATE (12:39 PM): Members of Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro have issued statements regarding the cancellation of this year’s Air Show.

“My team and I are disappointed that we have to cancel the air show but the safety of people and equipment are the priority. We will now focus our efforts on making 2027 an EPIC AIRSHOW,” said Captain Ryan “Mouth” Carstens, Commanding Officer of NAF El Centro.

NAF El Centro says the cancellation was a result of not only heightened security measures, but also evolving force protection requirements.

“This was not an easy decision. We know how much our community has been looking forward to this event,” said Kristopher Haugh, Public Affairs Officer for the base.

“Our team has worked hard alongside performers, partners, and volunteers to plan a safe and memorable show. However, in light of heightened security considerations, cancellation is necessary to ensure the safety of our personnel, performers, and the public,” Haugh added.

“We share in the community’s disappointment regarding the cancellation of the NAFEC Air Show. Refunds for Executive Chalet and Box Seating purchases are now being processed and should appear on credit cards within 7 to 10 business days,” said Ray Robinson, Fleet and Family Readiness Program Director.

“We sincerely appreciate the continued support and understanding, and our team is already hard at work to ensure the 2027 show is an outstanding event for everyone,” Robinson added.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro announced they have canceled this year’s Air Show.

According to a post on Facebook, the decision was made after careful consideration due to increased security measures.

NAF El Centro says they are already planning for the 2027 Air Show, and says they are looking forward to welcoming the community back to the flight line in the future.

As of this writing, the Yuma Air Show, taking place Saturday, March 14, 2026, remains as scheduled.

They also said updates will be available on their official website, the El Centro Air Show website and their social media channels as they become available.

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Dillon Fuhrman

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The San Luis, Arizona Police Department (SLPD) is investigating a crash which left one person dead.

According to a post on Facebook, the crash happened on State Route (SR) 195, near milepost 8, before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

SLPD says an unrelated crash happened near milepost 9, causing a traffic build up which “led to a slow down in all traffic.”

During the slow down, SLPD says a black 2023 BMW SUV lost control as it was driving eastbound on SR 195 and hit a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

SLPD says both the BMW SUV and the Harley Davidson “left the roadway and ended up on the dirt median.”

The motorcyclist, identified as 28-year-old Andres Ramirez of San Luis, Arizona, was taken to Onvida Health, where he later died, SLPD says.

While no other serious injuries were reported, and while neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be factors in the crash, SLPD says the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information regarding the case, call SLPD at (928) 341-2420 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Yuma community.

YCSO says 42-year-old James Long told them he was residing in the area of E. 52nd Street, near S. El Camino del Diablo, in Yuma County.

Long is described by YCSO as five-feet, 11-inches tall, weighing 265 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In June of 2005, YCSO says Long pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual conduct with a minor in the Yuma County Superior Court.

He was then sentenced to serve three years of supervised probation. However, in December of 2005, Long was found in violation of the conditions of his probation, leading him to be sentenced to serve one year at the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 145 days served.

In November of 2013, Long pleaded guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender in the Yuma County Superior Court, and was sentenced to serve one year at the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 42 days served.

Long is considered by YCSO as a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Yuma community.

YCSO says 63-year-old Thaddeus Cuturia told them he was residing in the area of E. 54th Street, near S. Montana Avenue, in Yuma County.

He is described by YCSO as five-feet, ten-inches tall, weighing 265 pounds, is bald and has blue eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In July of 1982, Cuturia pled guilty to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in the Goodhue County District Court in Red Wing, Minnesota, according to YCSO.

He was then sentenced to serve 100 days at the Goodhue County Detention Center, with credit for 100 days of time served, and serve five years of probation, YCSO says. His victim was a young girl who knew him.

In September of 1982, YCSO says Cuturia pled guilty two counts of sexual assault in the St. Croix County Courthouse in Hudson, Wisconsin.

He was then sentenced to serve 197 days in the St. Croix County Jail, with credit for 181 days of time served, followed by five years of probation, according to YCSO. His victims were a boy and girl who knew him.

In May of 1992, Cuturia pled guilty to one count of sexual assault in the Polk County Circuit Court in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, YCSO says.

He was then sentenced to five years at the Wisconsin State Prison, with credit for 65 days of time served, according to YCSO, who says his victim was unknown to him.

Cuturia is considered by YCSO as a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – In this week’s Military Matters report, a local non-profit is hosting a fundraiser to support Veterans and local heroes.

Yuma Random Acts of Kindness (YRAK) is hosting its Biannual Yard Sale starting this Thursday, and it is dedicated to helping Yuma Veterans, active duty service members and community members in need.

Shoppers can find everything from furniture and clothing to kitchen essentials.

The yard sale runs Thursday, March 5 through Saturday, March 7 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, and will take place at 13472 E. 53rd Street in the Fortuna Foothills.

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Paul Vozzella

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The preliminary hearing in the murder case of Jacob Sims concluded Monday at the El Centro Courthouse, marking the fourth and final day of testimony.

Prosecutors called several witnesses to the stand to prove there is sufficient evidence to move the case forward to trial.

Ruben Campos, who described himself as a “friend” of Sims, was the first to testify.

Campos stated that in the early morning hours of the day Sims’ body was discovered, he picked up three suspects from the scene of the crime: 21-year-old Gabriel Mills Jr., 21-year-old Sadie Hiatt, and 35-year-old Daniel Martinez.

During a May 2025 interview with investigators, Campos reportedly told authorities that he “knew everything” about what happened to Sims.

However, while on the stand Friday, Campos took back that statement, testifying that he did not know anything about the crime beyond picking up the three individuals.

Genia Sims, Jacob Sims’ grandmother, expressed skepticism regarding Campos’ revised testimony.

“I believe he does know,” she said outside the courtroom. “I know that he and Jacob were…’friends,’ but he knows more than what he’s saying right now.”

In addition to Campos, two members of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office testified, including a lead investigator in the case.

The investigator revealed that newly discovered DNA evidence collected from the trailer where Sims was allegedly tortured is currently being processed.

Despite the ongoing analysis, Sims’ family said they remain confident in the strength of the prosecution’s case.

“I’ve been confident all along that there’s overwhelming evidence that they have on this case,” Genia Sims said.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge held the defendants to answer on all counts and special allegations and ordered that they be held without bail. The ruling means the case will proceed to trial.

“Relief…complete relief that all charges are holding and we’re moving forward,” Genia Sims said. “Jacob will get his justice.”

Arraignment is scheduled to take place March 19 at the El Centro Courthouse.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A group of 33 people from the Christ Community Church in the Imperial Valley, who are on a biblical trip to Israel, are safe Monday night after joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes inside Iran.

The strikes are part of an escalating regional conflict, and triggered security alerts across countries in the Middle East and the U.K.

The senior pastor of the church, Walter Colace, tells KYMA that the church members were huddles in a basement bunker, where they took shelter.

All members of the group are safe. He said the first sirens rang out and the hotel guests were told it was a drill. Then, the second siren blared.

“That’s when we moved down to the safe place again, and that’s when we found out that Israel had preemptively struck Iran,” Pastor Colace shared.

Following the missile strikes, news broke that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been eliminated by the United States Armed Forces. The news was confirmed by President Donald Trump and by authorities in Iran.

That is when the church group’s plans to return home to El Centro changed.

“We had anticipated flying out. Israel struck early from what we understand, ahead of schedule because Ayatollah had his head commanders of the military in his compound,” Colace expressed.

The group is moved in and out of the basement bunkers multiple times a day. Colace said sometimes it is for a few minutes, and other times for a half hour or more.

Tehran responded, firing retaliatory missiles on Jordan, Qatar, Dubai, and other Arab Gulf states.

Due to the ongoing conflict, the air space in Jerusalem remains closed.

“We don’t know what we’re doing now. We don’t know when our flight is going to, when air space is going to open up in Tel Aviv,” Colace remarked.

For now, the group’s departure is uncertain as officials continue to monitor the situation and security alerts.

“There could be a dramatic change now in the Middle East in light of the events that took place over the last couple of days,” Colace added.

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Abraham Retana

UPDATE (2:21 PM): According to Rural Metro, the RV wasn’t rear-ended, but said for unknown reasons, the RV caught on fire and veered off the roadway.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Flames erupted Monday after an RV crashed into the backyard of a home in Yuma.

According to Rural Metro’s Facebook post, the crash happened at around 5:30 p.m. in the area of S. Pacific Avenue and S. Calle Primavera.

Rural Metro says an RV was rear-ended off of S. Pacific Avenue when the driver lost control and crashed into the backyard of a home off of S. Calle Primavera and burst into flames. 

Once crews arrived, Rural Metro said they found the RV fully involved and endangering a home, prompting them to deploy hose lines and extinguish the fire.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

While the fire was extinguished and contained to the RV, the home suffered minor damage.

A person who lives in the home, Miguel Pulido, says they’re grateful things didn’t turn out much worse.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

Courtesy: Rural Metro

“I think it’s more the thought that…if it had spread a little closer, then it would have been scarier, but we’re just lucky it didn’t,” Pulido expressed.

No injuries were reported, but the investigation is ongoing.

Courtesy: Rural Metro

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Construction at Smucker Park is on hold after Yuma County says the contractor left the project before it was finished.

County officials say the company hired to handle flood control and drainage work stepped away. The Yuma County Flood Control District is now reviewing its options, including possible legal action, and looking for a new contractor to complete the job.

People who use the park say the delay has been disappointing.

“In the morning, we used to see people exercising before work, and we don’t see that anymore because the path is blocked,” said Norma Guerrero, a regular at the park.

She says she hopes a solution is found soon, adding that the community needs the park back in good condition.

The City of Yuma says parts of the park have reopened, and more repairs and landscaping are planned this spring.

Mayor Doug Nicholls says most of the dead trees have been removed and the city is reviewing a contract to replace them.

For now, county officials are deciding what steps to take next. City leaders say they appreciate the community’s patience as work continues.

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