Category: kyma-local-news

Manoah Tuiasosopo

Reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo gives us an inside look at what it takes to earn the title Weapons and Tactics Instructor.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The United States Marine Corps’ Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, also known as WTI, is one of the most challenging and prestigious training programs in the military.

It’s designed to bring out the finest in Marine aviation and exclusively takes place in Yuma.

The WTI course is not for the faint of heart and only the most capable Marines are selected.

They’re required to undergo over 150 hours of classroom education and 220 hours of flight training over the course of 7-9 weeks.

To better understand what it takes to earn this prestigious title, 20-plus community members got the chance of a lifetime and jumped on a helicopter and got a first-hand look at the training.

It was just a glimpse into the fast-paced, high-stakes environment Marines operate in on a daily basis.

Due to the Commanding Officer’s request, certain restrictions were placed on media and we weren’t able to interview any Marines, but we did speak with some fellow passengers.

That includes Army veteran Christopher Bilbrey who says he’s been on military aircraft before, but not like this.

“I spent of time flying in the Army with blackhawks and chinooks and I thought they leaked a lot. Oh god, the Marines have it,” Bilbrey shared.

As they boarded the helicopter it was clear that comfort was not a priority.

Hydraulic oil leaked from various parts of the aircraft, the space was cramped, and the noise of engines and propellers could drown out your thoughts.

But for the Marines, efficiency and mission success are far more important than comfort.

Devon McPherson, the President of Yuma County Fair Board, says, “I had no idea what the inside of the aircraft looked like and I agree, it was a little warm in there and I couldn’t imagine on a hot summer day or overseas deployed.”

Despite the noise, it was fascinating to see the communication between the Marine pilots and crew.

The coordination from the front to the back of the aircraft was seamless.

Their movements were quick and precise, as there’s no room for error if lives were on the line.

“I think it’s really amazing to get to see what our Marines do and to feel it hands on and see what they go through every day when they fly,” McPherson shared.

When they arrived at Kiwanis Park and Crane Middle School, Marines on the ground were already securing the area, ensuring the landing spot was clear of any disruptions.

The entire operation is a well-oiled machine that showcased the skill, coordination and precision needed for successful missions.

McPherson says, “So, at any given time that they’re needed to go overseas or in the case of an emergency, they’re prepared. They had a lot of great leaders on that aircraft and we were all honored to be there.”

Bilbrey adds, “It gives the civilians a real understanding of what these guys go through. These guys have a hard job. We should really give them more recognition for what they do.”

In the end, the WTI course is about becoming an exceptional Marine, capable of leading and training others in the most challenging environments.

It’s clear that those who graduate from this program are among the finest in the Corps.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Western College (AWC) has announced the date for the 2025 Commencement next month.

The ceremony is taking place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Stadium, located at 7150 E. 24th Street.

AWC says this is in collaboration with Northern Arizona University-Yuma, Arizona State University Yuma Campus, and University of Arizona-Yuma.

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says the ceremony is to celebrate graduates across Yuma and La Paz Counties, “including local high school students earning Associate of Arts degrees through the Dual Credit program.”

“Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning,” said Ana English, Dean of Enrollment Services & Athletics. “On behalf of Student Services, we wish you all the best on your new journey.”

Courtesy: Arizona Western College

AWC says they selected Alexia Gil, “a Kofa High School alumnus originally from Mexicali, B.C.,” as the 2025 AWC Student Commencement Speaker. To learn more about Gil, click here.

The ceremony will be aired live on the following options:

Cable TV: Channel 74

AWC’s Facebook Page

The official AWC YouTube channel

AWC TV

AWC celebrates commencement May 16Download

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County made their voices heard as California child care providers are protesting to demand fair wages and better benefits.

More than 30 child care providers and families rallied to send a message to the California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday morning.

The focus of the proposal is also to increase funding for low-resource families to provide access to child care.

United Domestic Workers (UDW) say the governor promised them better salary and better benefits.

“We are here doing a rally coming out being loud to the state letting them know that we need to be respected and that we need fair wages,” said Gabriela Guerrero, a child care provider in Imperial County.

UDW says child care providers from all over the state will be gathering in Sacramento on June 11. 

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Dillon Fuhrman

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

YCSO says Jason Sims, 54, told them he was living in the area of South Walnut Avenue and East 10th Street.

Sims is described by YCSO as five-feet, nine-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In December of 1990, Sims pled guilty to one count of sexual battery in the San Diego County Superior Court. He was sentenced to 73 days in the San Diego County Jail as well as sentenced to three years of probation upon release.

However, Sims pled guilty to one count to failure to register as a sex offender in the San Diego County Superior Court at three different times:

October 20, 2001: Sentenced to over a year in the California Department of Corrections RJ Donovan Facility.

September 6, 2017: Sentenced to three years in the California Institution for Men.

September 17, 2019: Sentenced to over a year in the California Institution for Men.

Sims, according to YCSO, is considered a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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Dillon Fuhrman

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of San Luis arrested a woman in connection to an alleged child-smuggling attempt.

According to a press release, the incident happened at around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday when CBP says officers came across a 23-year-old woman, who is a Mexican citizen and legal U.S. resident, driving a 2013 Chevrolet sedan and had a child sleeping in the back seat of the vehicle.

During the examination, CBP says the woman presented a U.S. birth certificate for the child and told officers she was the child’s mother.

However, officers noticed the child “was in an abnormally deep sleep” and did not appear to be the age indicated on the birth certificate, CBP says.

It was then officers discovered the woman and the child were not related and while the birth certificate was legit, it did not belong to the child, who was actually a five-year-old boy from Mexico and did not have valid entry documents, according to CBP.

CBP also says the woman gave the child sleep sedatives “prior to the attempted crossing to assist in evading detection.”

“Sedating children is a dangerous and common tactic we see utilized by human smugglers attempting to avoid detection through our ports of entry,” said Chris Leon, Area Port Director for San Luis. “Our CBP officers are up to date on emerging smuggling trends and committed to safeguarding our borders, especially when it comes to the protection of children.”

Following this, CBP says officers seized the vehicle while the woman was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – April’s Rubber Ducky Drop will be in support of a Yuma charity organization.

The Lemon Grove’s rubber ducky events has locals buy ducks for a chance to win up to $10,000. Rubber ducks will be released into an irrigation canal and the first to cross the finish line will be the winner.

April’s charity recipient is the Yuma Childhood Burn Survivors Foundation.

“Surviving a harrowing burn incident is bad enough, but for children, they lose their skin elasticity and therefore need extensive skin grafts to support their growing bodies. Westyn has had 4 surgeries just this year!” wrote the Lemon Grove.

You can buy a rubber ducky here.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Catholic Charities Day Center in El Centro is receiving just over $1 million in new funding aimed at expanding homeless services across Imperial County.

The money, approved by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, comes from a state grant and will support efforts like housing assistance, street outreach, and other basic services. But some local advocates say more needs to be done to reach people in rural areas who are often overlooked.

“County-wide means county-wide,” said Diahna Garcia-Ruiz, co-founder of Proyecto Heber, a nonprofit that supports community needs in the town of Heber. “These are county funds, use them all over the county.”

Garcia-Ruiz emphasized the lack of outreach in remote communities, where many unhoused residents aren’t aware of available services.

“No one really goes out there and looks for them,” she said.

Teresa, a local resident who once experienced homelessness, said the Day Center changed her life.

“They helped me find a place to live. Me and my daughter were homeless, but not anymore,” she shared.

She hopes the new funding will help the center reach more people like her, not just those currently on the streets, but those who are at risk.

“They help a lot here,” she said. “If they can help more people, that would be a blessing.”

As the Day Center looks to expand its impact, community leaders are calling for funding to prioritize transportation and rural outreach, to make sure no one is left behind.

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Andrea Turisk

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) paused to remember nearly 200 men and women who lost their lives working along California highways.

Caltrans says the job of a highway worker is extremely dangerous. Monday’s ceremony honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice, like Jaime Obeso, and called on driver to make sure no more names are added to the list.

At the Caltrans El Centro maintenance yard, 194 orange cones lined the pavement, each one representing a Caltrans worker killed on the job since 1920.

Caltrans District 11 Director Anne Fox says this ceremony serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done.

“It truly hits home on the work we need to do both as Caltrans on adopting and really putting forward a culture of safety,” Fox expressed.

For Caltrans crews, safety isn’t just part of the job, its the top priority the moment the day begins.

Ernesto Almodovar Jr., Caltrans Equipment Operator for District 11 says, “It’s the first thing that we think about when we wake up is that we want to make it right and make it back home at the end of the day and I believe that is essential with my line of duty.”

But staying safe isn’t something they can do alone. Crews rely on drivers to do their part. To stay alert and aware.

“There’s a lot of different obstacles, changes, road conditions that they need to focus on that road and just make it to where they want to go safely,” Almodovar remarked.

Caltrans says drivers can make a difference with one choice. Stay focused. Behind every vest is a person hoping to get home.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says the incident started with an argument then turning physical while children were present during the attack.

CPD says a 26-year old man allegedly attempted to smother his 27-year-old wife during an argument Sunday afternoon.

The women was able to flee the scene with her children, but police say her attacker followed them.

“The victim reported to the officers that when she tried to flee with her children the suspect followed her into the street,” said Chief Armando Orozco with CPD.

The man was arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail, and is facing three felony charges including attempted murder and child endangerment.

“Criminal threats are when someone makes a threat to cause physical harm or death to a person, like the victim in this case,” said Chief Orozco.

CPD could not give out more details as this case is still under investigation.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Two men from Washington D.C. and Los Angeles were arrested in Calexico after a large quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl were found in their car Monday afternoon.

The Calexico Police Department (CPD) says they arrested two men in their mid-20s for having over 11 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Police says the initial stop was for having tinted windows, but the officer noticed the suspects were acting abnormal.

“Both males appeared to be nervous. The passenger appeared to be agitated. When asked for any for of ID, they were both shaking, and one subject kept looking at a package between his feet in the front, which appeared to be a little suspicious that when I requested a K-9 unit to assist once they arrived the dog alerted to the front passenger seat as well as the rear seat,” said Officer Alexander Hernandez with CPD.

Police say the suspects were heading to El Centro and don’t believe they came from Mexico.

Both suspects were taken to the Imperial County Jail and booked with felony drug smuggling.

This was also the K-9 unit’s first drug bust.

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