Category: kyma-local-news

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County will have a chance to receive free water this Thursday as two local ministries prepare to distribute thousands of bottles to the public.

Starting at 7 a.m., Benevolence in Action Ministries and the Gethsemani Food Ministry will hand out five truckloads of water at American Legion Post 19.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Organizers say the effort is part of their ongoing commitment to support families and individuals across the region, continuing decades of outreach work throughout Yuma County.

“We’ve been doing pretty good ever since we started,” Rev. Alex Montoya, a minister at Benevolence in Action Ministries, said. “The line gets around two or 300 cars sometimes…Every penny counts. Every penny counts.”

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

The free distribution is open to the public and water will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

Organizers encourage residents to arrive early as previous events have drawn large crowds and high demand.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

The ministries involved say they hope the event helps ease the burden for households during a time when basic needs continue to stretch family budgets.

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

Courtesy: Jose Manuel Castro

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls delivered his State of the City address, highlighting the city’s progress over the past year and outlining plans for the future.

During the address, Mayor Nicholls touched on several topics, including economic development, public safety, and ongoing city projects. He also recognized city employees for their role in moving Yuma forward.

Nicholls said public safety remains a priority, noting that crime in the city has decreased for the fourth year in a row.

The mayor also discussed a possible ballot measure that would raise the city’s spending limit, as well as how Yuma is responding to growing interest in data centers.

“If you use your phone today, you’ve used a data center,” Nicholls said. “What does the Yuma community want to do with that industry? That’s what we’re looking at right now as a community-wide discussion.”

Nicholls emphasized the importance of community input and having up-to-date information when considering potential data center development, including factors like water and power use.

He also addressed the long-awaited reopening of Smucker Park, saying progress is being made after earlier construction issues.

Nicholls said he expects the park to reopen soon and expressed optimism about the year ahead for the city.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County Board of Supervisors District 3 Peggy Price was served with a Notice of Intent to recall. The notice was served during a the public comments of a regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday.

A video posted on Facebook shows resident Belen Donato speaking to the board from the podium.

“I’m serving you with a notice of intention to recall. You have seven days to file a response,” she said. “She voted to approve a massive lot merger, paving the way for a 950,000 square-foot data center right next to our homes and schools.”

She continued her comments stressing that Price voted for the lot merger without requiring any environmental review, and the decision was made despite objections from the residents.

County planners have allowed the project to move forward, designating it as exempt from the state’s mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process.

A statement posted on California Senator Alex Padilla’s website reads, “In the County’s official notice of the approval of the project, the County asserted the development was eligible for an exemption from a California Environmental Quality Act environmental review.”

This follows a heated Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month where residents who were unable to gain access to the meeting were left outside, sparking protests.

De Fajardo claimed that Price had residents removed from the hearing.

“One person was arrested, simply for speaking out against this project,” she said.

KYMA contacted Peggy Price and Not In My Back Yard Imperial for a statement, but comment was not received at the time of press.

Peggy Price shared a comment with KYMA Wednesday afternoon stating:

“The item before the Board of Supervisors was a lot merger. It was not for a project. I followed the law in my vote for a lot merger.

I ran an orderly meeting, so the public, both in support and opposed, had a safe environment free from distractions and disruptions. This was to be fair to all.

I’m confident that the voters will consider all of the facts.

I believe the citizens in my district will see that I follow the law, and I ran an orderly meeting to ensure a safe environment for all to have their time during public comment.

The citizens will understand that and I’ll continue to serve my community.”

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CNN Newsource

YUMA, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA) – A 10-year-old in Yuma is being hailed a hero as the Yuma Police Department (YPD) say her quick actions on the Colorado River helped save a woman from drowning.

It was a typical Sunday afternoon for Grace Lyons and her family at the Colorado River, but everything changed when Lyons got that feeling someone needed help.

“There was a tube and it was popped, so I kind of had like a gut feeling that maybe someone is in trouble…maybe someone is drowning. Maybe someone is hurt,” Lyons shared.

She asked her uncle to come look with her.

“So, we look and I was screaming like, ‘Hello? Is someone down there? Does anyone need help?” And they were like, ‘Help, help. Somebody help. We are stuck in the bush…911 is on their way,'” Lyons detailed.

It was a woman who did not know how to swim, and a man and they were in distress.

According to YPD, the couple tried to swim to shore but stuck in the plants and began to panic. That’s when Lyons heard the cries for help and sprung into action.

“We ran as fast as we can. We grabbed a paddle board and we go on the trail with the paddle board and we have our uncle with us and our dog,” Lyons spoke.

Lyons hopped onto her paddle board along with her uncle and began to paddle down the stream looking for the woman.

“And there was this girl…her name is Christian, and she was lying down like this, but her head was up and she was kind of tangled in these weeds,” Lyons added.

Lyons found her, and with help from her uncle, they put the woman onto Lyons’ paddle board.

“She was crying because she was in shock,” Lyons remarked.

In two years of visiting the river, Lyons says that was the strongest current she has ever seen, but she did what he thought was right.

“I always help everyone, no matter…bigger than me smaller than me,” Lyons expressed.

The woman who was saved was out on the water with her family, and they all got to shore safely.

As for Lyons, she’s taking all this in stride.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Gila Ridge High School Student Council is hosting the Miles for Childhood Cancer 5K Walk/Run this weekend.

The event is taking place at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday at 7 a.m., and it is to raise awareness for childhood cancer.

During the event, runners are to wear yellow.

The cost to participate is $10 for students and $15 for the community, with the proceeds going to the AdvoKATE Foundation.

The event will go until 11 a.m.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local school pushed its students to pursue higher education earlier this month.

Crane Middle School hosted its “Shoot for the Stars” event on April 9, where more than 300 Chromebooks were given away to seventh grade students for the STEM program.

The goal was to create a pathway for kids to aspire a career in technology.

“They can start taking ownership of their learning, but also what pathways are open for them after they move on from crane middle school in to high school even college,” said Ryan Tyree, Principal of Crane Middle School.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Kristina Diaz with Onvida Health.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Jury selection for the trial of a Yuma man accused of shooting another man got underway Tuesday.

25-year-old Gabriel Taddei has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault in connection to a shooting near County 12th Street and East 40th Place in October of 2024.

The victim, who was a 29-year-old man at the time of the shooting, was taken to Onvida Health, and was treated with non-life-threatening injuries.

KYMA will have more coverage this week as opening statements are set to be delivered Wednesday.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Firehouse Subs is inviting the Yuma community to attend the Touch-the-Truck next weekend.

According to a press release, the event is happening at the Firehouse Subs, located at the Big Curve, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

During the event, Firehouse Subs says the event will give families a chance to meet local firefighters face-to-face, climb aboard a fire truck and learn about the gear firefighters use to save lives.

In addition, the event coincides with International Firefighters Day, taking place Monday, May 4, 2026, honoring the courage, dedication and selfless service of firefighters around the world.

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

To see who else is participating in the event, click here.

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Lauren Duffel

WARNING: Some of the details in this story are graphic. Viewer and reader discretion is advised.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man is taking the stand in day five of his murder trial Tuesday.

40-year-old Nicholas Harder is charged in the death of 57-year-old Anthony Jordinelli in May of 2023. He faces one count of premeditated first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault.

During the fifth day of the trial, Harder claimed Jordinelli attacked him first, and then he acted in self-defense.

“I said, ‘This is what you’re here for…you’re here to work, not watch porn and masturbate.’ He got real mad at me. Then, I walked to the kitchen to leave him alone for a bit, and I was trying to figure out how I’m going to get this hooked up. I went back into the bedroom to see if he was done doing what he was doing and to see if he was going to work or not. I saw him with my cigarettes and he blew up on me.”

Nicholas Harder

Harder said he asked Jordinelli to help him with some construction work, but Harder then said Jordinelli became upset and lunged at him.

“He lunged at me and I pushed him off of me,” Harder shared, claiming Jordinelli died as a result of Harder’s actions in self-defense.

The state attorney then cross-examined Harder about his testimony, with the attorney saying Harder had ten injuries on him while Jordinelli had “41 blunt-force groupings of injuries to him.”

The attorney also asked Harder why he didn’t call 911 if Jordinelli was attacking him, and Harder said, “I was afraid because the minute I turned my back, he would start attacking me again.”

KYMA will keep you updated on the latest developments on the trial.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma restaurant owner has been named Arizona Small Business Person of the Year.

Alma Ornelas, owner of The Best Taquito, has some advice for small businesses just starting their journey.

“Be consistent, get involved with your communities, support locals, help each other and keep working hard for what they dream,” Ornelas expressed.

She also expresses gratitude to the community she’s served for their support.

“I just want to say thank you because to be honest, this award means a lot for me like I just mentioned, and it’s not just about me. It’s about everybody getting together,” Ornelas remarked.

Ornelas started her journey to success 17 years ago with just a food truck and a heart of service.

Ornelas described what the process of starting a business was like saying, “It’s a lot of long nights, a lot of hard work, be consistent…It hasn’t been easy obviously.”

Ornelas now has two full service locations, one in Yuma and one in San Luis, Arizona.

“When you do something that you really love, and you work hard for it, I mean everything is possible,” Ornelas remarked.

When she started her business she wanted to bring her culture to Arizona and build opportunities for others.

“Being able to share all this and also to create a better life, also opportunities for all the people that are around me, and of course, for future generations,” Ornelas further expressed.

Now, Ornelas will be heading to Washington D.C. to be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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