Category: kyma-local-news

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A major arrest just one day after the launch of the Se Busca Información campaign.

It’s a cross border effort between U.S. and Mexican authorities to track down wanted fugitives. 

The campaign had barely started when someone came forward with crucial information. U.S. border patrol says they got a tip the next day, leading to the arrest of Mariana Fernandez, a San Diego native and a high-priority target.

The campaign was announced and the community answered just one day after Border Patrol launched the ‘Se Busca Información’ campaign an anonymous tip came in.

“We provided that information to AMIC, Mexico’s criminal investigations agency and they were able to locate and arrest Fernandez Lopez. They brought her to the San Luis port of entry where she was turned over to U.S. Authorities,” said Chief Justin De La Torre with the Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

Chief De La Torre says Mariana Fernandez has a prior arrest for narcotic smuggling and a probation violation.

Criminal defense attorney Ilan Katz says collaboration efforts between the U.S. and Mexico isn’t new but there has been a up step between the Trump and Sheinbaum administrations in bilateral cooperation. 

“Mexico has a very important motivation to work with the states in migration as well as in the drug war in getting rid of fentanyl and drug traffickers in general,” said Katz.

The Se Busca Información initiative is designed to target individuals connected to criminal organizations. De La Torre says the fast arrest shows the program is working.

“We use multiple investigative tactics to identify people who are involved in cross border organized crime who are associated with the cartel who are creating a dangerous environment for all of us here in this region. This is one method that we believe works to help bring people to justice,” De La Torre explained.

Border Patrol says the campaign is still active and tips can still be sent in via phone or text.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors has adopted new waste tire disposal tipping fees.

“This is the first time in over 20 years that we have increased our waste tire tipping fees, and in that time, the cost has significantly increased and including the volume of tires that we receive,” said Kelly Fricke, Director of the Yuma County Department of Public Works.

The new fees are aligned with the new statewide Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) fee increase.

“Yuma County has requested the board of supervisors in May for us to increase our fees to align with ADEQ’s fees,” said Fricke.

Yuma County residents can dispose of up to 5 passenger waste tires per year at no cost.

“Once they go over that five free tires, they will be charged $5 per tire, and nonresidents will be charged $6 per tire for all of their tires that they bring to the facility,” said Fricke.

People must show proof of residency. For commercial vehicle deliveries, they must submit a completed waste tire manifest at the time of delivery.

“Businesses and tire dealers who are not registered with the state, they will also be impacted. And the fees vary based on the tire types and the volume that they bring in,” said Fricke.

For tire drop off, There is a waste tire facility at the North Gila Valley Transfer Station.

“If you just keep going over the canal, there is a waste tire site there. However, for residents, we want them to bring their tires to the solid waste transfer station,” said Fricke.

If you want to find the list of updated fee numbers, you can find the list on the department’s website.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma City Council has approved its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and property taxes will remain the same.

“Property taxes is also a percentage so the percentage that the city is levying against all the properties in the city limits, that rate’s not changing,” said Mayor Doug Nicholls.

Nicholls said keeping the rate steady reflects the council’s focus on managing taxpayer money wisely.

Some residents said they were relieved by the decision.

“I’m more at ease, because hearing they were gonna go up kind of made me a little concerned, but knowing that they didn’t go up made me happier, or more relaxed,” said Nash Rodriguez, a resident.

With the budget now in place, city officials say the focus shifts to putting it into action over the coming year.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – California allows transgender students to join the teams that feel right to them, but President Trump warned on his social media that if the state keeps this law, federal funding could be cut.

Locals say this isn’t just about sports, it’s about how LGBTQ+ young people feel they belong.

Raul Ureña, the first openly transgender mayor in Calexico, says this issue goes deeper than sports.

“There is even less justification for exclusion at a public school level, but there is a lot more damage to those students who are openly transgender especially at young ages,” said Ureńa.

They also talked about how this fight affects queer youth in small towns like theirs. Recently, the National LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline was shut down, which adds to the worry.

Ureña said, “It sends a very clear message, we are going to take away your avenues of inclusion, which are your rights as an American, and we’re also going to take way the suicide hotline for when you face a mental challenge because of that.”

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – As Alzheimer’s cases rise, care providers are raising awareness about early intervention, community support, and the growing need for local resources.

Nearly 15% of seniors in the region are living with Alzheimer’s. Staff at DayOut, an adult day center in El Centro, say they’re seeing changes including a noticeable increase in younger people being diagnosed.

“We’re seeing more and more people, younger people, getting Alzheimer’s and Dementia…and the younger they are, the faster they deteriorate,” said Maribelle Mendez, the center’s director.

She says simple activities like physical therapy and social connection can make a difference.

“After you get to know people, start making friends at your table, there’s a reason to get up in the morning,” she said. “And if you provide someone with a reason why to get up in the morning it gives them back life.”

Physical therapist Douglas Wisdom added, “The goal is to maximize how mobile they are…keep the quality of life as high as we can by keeping them active.”

The Alzheimer’s Association will host a town hall at 2 p.m. on June 26 at DayOut in El Centro, where families can ask questions, learn about care options, and get connected to resources.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s and how you can take charge of your own health, visit here.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Smoke from a large fire just south of the U.S.-Mexico border is causing hazardous air quality in the Imperial Valley, raising concerns among local residents.

The fire, known as the Border 6 Fire near Campo and Tecate, has burned over 200 acres on the Mexico side. Smoke from the blaze has drifted north into Imperial County, filling the skies and worsening air quality.

Thomas Brinkerhoff from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District explained, “The winds basically shifted to where the smoke was traveling, northwest, and pushed that smoke into the Imperial Valley, the main towns and cities where residents saw and experienced the smoke.”

Officials say the fire itself does not threaten Imperial County, but the air quality is a concern, especially for people with breathing problems.

Brinkerhoff advised, “Limiting their exposure, their breathing of that smoke, goes a long way to reduce any health issues, any health problems including respiratory issues and asthma attacks, and any heart or lung issues.”

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Multiple politicians such as U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego and State Senators Tim Dunn and Brian Fernandez advocated for the USDA office to remain open.

“Politics aside, all of us are here just to make sure that our community is able to prosper,” State Senator Fernandez says.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) planned to close the office for cost-saving purposes.

State Senator Dunn says keeping the doors open affects more than just agriculture.

“Just the community outreach and the programs that they have that’s for our community, so having that local access is very important instead of having to go three hours to the Phoenix office,” Dunn said.

Meanwhile, Senator Fernandez explained how the local political leaders banded together.

“We sent a letter, Senator Dunn and I and many others to USDA and talked about the importance of Yuma County and the country’s agriculture security, and you know for many other reasons we really needed that office,” Fernandez says.

Meanwhile, Charlene Fernandez, the former USDA Rural State Director, shares how influential it was to have both political parties working together to keep the office open. 

“I think it’s important that we see it from all walks of life, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, if you just happen to be that farmer that maybe didn’t even vote, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have a party affiliation, but I am growing in this community, so that showed that unity was important,” she said.

We reached out to the USDA for comment, but they are unable to speak with us at this time.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Federal funding cuts hit one local non-profit organization.

Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) provides several services for locals like transportation, legal assistance, and senior nutrition centers. But the recent cuts are impacting how many people they can help.

One of those services, “Meals on Wheels” or home delivery meals, now requires a waitlist because of funding cuts.

“Folks that are on service with us right now receiving meals are continuing to receive those meals across the region. But we can’t take anyone new as they call in. We are using a wait list, and we do work to have them assessed,” said Carol Brown, Senior Program Manager for Aging Policy & Advocacy.

Yuma and Mohave have wait lists but services are still available in La Paz. In their 2021 to 2023 report, the provider network delivered over 660,000 meals. They said they received additional funding during covid to help provide meals.

“But of course, I would say all of us area agencies on aging have spent that funding serving people, so that funding is no longer in place,” said Brown.

This while costs to provide these services keep going up.

“So we’ve been trying to make the purchases for the products, the food, the storage containers, the transportation, everything that’s involved in providing those meals. It has all gone up exponentially,” added Brown.

As this fiscal year comes to a close at the end of this month, they say they’re looking forward to see what the state determines to do with funding.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A blood drive is being held to support locals and more Arizonans in need.

The Summer Life Savers Blood Drive by Vitalant will be at the Yuma Main Library from July 31 to August 2.

News 11, ABC 5 and Telemundo 3 are partnering with Vitalant to bring this blood drive to Yuma. 

Anyone who donates blood on those dates will be entered to win a 2025 VW Taos S.

The vehicle prize was donated by the Valley Volkswagen Dealers.

You can make an appointment to donate blood by going to their website or calling (877) 258-4825.

You can also find more information about the blood drive here.

Vitalant previously held a blood drive in winter 2024, which collected enough blood to impact over 300 lives.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – 45-year-old Alfredo Enriquez Flores had his plea deal rejected by Judge Roger Nelson Thursday morning.

Judge Nelson felt that the suspect did not show remorse during the sentencing hearing that day.

“I’m really kind of flabbergasted that the defendant did not even offer anything. I don’t see any remorse at all, nothing, and that changes my mind about the acceptability of the plea under the circumstances,” said the judge.

Flores had pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

However, after being denied he could potentially face his original charges of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

He is accused of running over 21-year-old Esteyan Medel on New Year’s Day.

Esteyan’s father, Steve Medel Jr., is thankful for the judge’s decision.

“I mean, I’ve been waiting for this, this whole I mean I think he deserves to get the max, I mean 10 years for taking my son’s life? No. 20 years to make him think about what he’s done,” Steve says.

Esteyan’s younger brother, Uzziel, spoke to us for the first time.

He shared some emotional words with us after court. 

“They say time like kills it. It gets easier. It doesn’t for me, like I don’t know I just feel like it hurts, nothing will ever be the same, you’ll always feel that pain in you like like you’re missing something,” Uzziel said.

Florez is scheduled to be back in court next month for a status hearing.

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