Category: kyma-local-news

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Communities who are looking to plant trees or expand parks have a new opportunity to secure funding.

A request for proposals is currently open for urban greening projects across the region.

Funding is available for initiatives like planting trees, adding shrubs or developing new green spaces.

Local leaders are specifically encouraging applications from northern communities, including Brawley, Westmorland and Calipatria.

“There’s a tool in there that helps you identify what plants are gonna go in and that does a calculation on how much carbon upkeep it can trap,” said Ismael Garcia, Project Manager for the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District. “So it doesn’t reduce emissions, but it does reduce the effects in the community so that will help with all of that.”

The application window closes on October 30. For more details and application instructions, click here.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – Hector Cervantes is running for a seat on Calipatria’s city council, hoping to fill one of two seats.

Cervantes owns two businesses and said he will support other local entrepreneurs, which will help bring more businesses and jobs to the city.

“So focusing trying to focus on bringing in here business, upgrades, you know, trying to make just the infrastructure upgrades bringing businesses to town,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes believes that the city council needs more unity, and by bringing everyone together, more can be accomplished.

“Get everybody on the same page. Or try to anyways get everybody on the same page or try to anyways. I know they’re five people up there. And not everybody thinks alike, but we need to roll in the same direction. And that’s what we need everybody to do,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes will face three other candidates on November 3.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Keller Williams Realty Yuma is hosting a happy hour event inspired by the late Dolly Parton.

The happy hour event, dubbed “Dolly Day,” is taking place Friday, September 25, at Sage and Sand, located at 2852 E. 16th Street, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During the event, Keller Williams said there will be “Dolly Parton music, karaoke, raffles, a signature Dolly-inspired drink, a photo area,” and more.

“We work hard, but we also believe in creating opportunities to have fun, connect with our community and give back in meaningful ways,” said Connie Sims, Operating Principal of Keller Williams Realty Yuma. “When we realized September 25 gave us the perfect ‘9 to 5’ connection, Dolly Day just seemed like too much fun to pass up. We wanted to create a fun evening for the Yuma community to come together and enjoy themselves, while also using the opportunity to support women and children in our community.”

Courtesy: Keller Williams Realty Yuma

In addition, Keller Williams said those who attend the event are encouraged to bring “new, unopened makeup and hair products, as well as new children’s books, which will be donated to Crossroads Mission” to help women and children in the community.

“For us, service doesn’t always have to look the same,” Sims added. “Sometimes it can be as simple as bringing people together, having a great time and using that opportunity to support people in our community. We’d love to see Yuma show up, have some fun with us and, if they’re able, bring something to donate.”

To learn more about the upcoming event, read the press release below.

Dolly Day Press ReleaseDownload

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Two suspects charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Brawley returned to the Imperial County Superior Court Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing.

Genaro Lemus, 23, and Matthew Nathan Garnica, 25, face murder charges in the February shooting death of 43-year-old Steven Angulo.

Wednesday’s hearing marked the second time the co-defendants have appeared in court together.

Presiding Judge Marco D. Nunez expressed intense frustration over the pace of the proceedings, noting that the case has stalled significantly while waiting for critical evidence.

“There’s no more continuances that need to go,” Judge Nunez said during the hearing. “This case is 260 days old and they have a right to have a prelim within ten court days after the case is filed, and here we are 260 days later…no prelim.”

Defense attorneys stated they are still reviewing discovery files and are waiting on an official autopsy report.

However, Judge Nunez insisted that the preliminary hearing must move forward regardless of state administrative delays.

“It occurs to me…that at some point this case needs to go to prelim because sometimes these autopsy reports are not generated for months and months, if not years, so you know, we’ll need to set it up for prelim,” Nunez added.

Both Lemus and Garnica have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The suspects are scheduled to return to court in October, where the preliminary hearing is expected to officially be set.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) is investigating a crash which left one person dead and one person injured.

ECPD said the crash happened in the area of N. Imperial Avenue, near Central Drain, at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Upon arrival, ECPD said officers found a man on the “dirt shoulder along the southbound lanes of Imperial Avenue suffering from severe injuries,” and said they found another man who was also seriously injured “inside a nearby canal drain.”

Paramedics responded to the area and provided treatment to both men, ECPD said.

While one of the men, a 20-year-old Imperial resident, died at the scene, ECPD said the other man was taken, via air ambulance, to the hospital for further treatment.

During the investigation, ECPD said a black Dodge and a white Toyota were driving northbound on Imperial Avenue when the vehicles crashed.

As a result of the crash, ECPD said the Dodge overturned, causing its occupants to be ejected from the vehicle, and said, “The occupants in the Toyota were not injured.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. If anyone has information regarding the crash, call 760-352-2111, visit ECPD headquarters in-person, or contact ECPD through their social media platforms.

Press Release – Traffic Collision 9-23-2026Download

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Do you know someone who lost money to a scam and thought that would never happen to you? Maybe, maybe not.

Test your knowledge by taking the “Are you smarter than a Scammer” BBB Quiz.

1. You get an email or a text that you were charged for something you did not order. You’re asked to call if it’s a mistake. What do you do?

A. Call the number as soon as possible.

B. Log into your bank or credit account and check for bogus charges.

C. Google the customer service number for your bank and call to explain.

2. You buy something from a door to door salesperson. Later that day, change your mind. What are your rights?

A  You signed a contract, second thoughts don’t matter.

B  You have three business days to cancel.

C Prove there’s a problem and you can get a refund.

So are you smarter than a scammer?

Question 1. You get a text about being charged for something you didn’t order. The best answer is B. Log into your account and contact customer service is the safest way. Doing an online search can also work. But we have seen too many fake and sound-a-like websites with fake customer service.

Question 2. You buy something from a salesperson in your home and change your mind. The best answer is B. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allows a three business day cooling off period for sales made at your home or several other areas. 

Let the business know by certified letter so you have proof of the date and time sent.

If someone is at your door selling something, ask them to leave information and then research the business at bbb.org and with a general online search for complaints. It’s the best way to prevent a hasty and costly bad decision.

Better Business Bureau offers more advice on how to spot scams: https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam.

For more information

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Check out BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

If you have compromised your personal information, you can report the incident to law enforcement and the FTC.

For additional romance scam resources, visit BBB.org/romance. Read the BBB Tip: Spot the red flags of fake text messages.

Read more about similar scams, such about text messages with surprise offers.

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Abigahil Padilla

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The San Luis Film Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and organizers are already preparing for four days of film, culture and community activities.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning during a press conference held at the San Luis Medical Mall.

This year, the Film Festival will take place from November 17 through November 20.

The first two days will be at PPEP Tec High School, and the last two days will be at Eddie’s Food and Drink.

“Now that we can turn 15 years, I feel accomplished because when I started the festival 15 years ago, I didn’t know that it was gonna be more than one or two years,” said Antonio Carrillo, founder and President of the San Luis Film Festival.

The films “Latido” and “No Dress Code Required” will be a part of this year’s festival. To learn more about the upcoming festival, click here.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Efforts to clear the air and protect public health in northern Imperial County are moving forward following a community meeting focused on local air quality solutions.

The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) hosted its latest Assembly Bill 617 (AB 617) Community Steering Committee meeting at the Westmorland Youth Hall, outlining a hyper-local strategy to combat dust and toxic air pollution.

For residents living along the heavily burdened Brawley, Westmorland, and Calipatria corridor, the initiative brings a welcome defense plan against daily environmental emissions.

Signed into law to protect disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by pollution, AB 617 provides targeted state funding for hyper-local tracking.

In partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and environmental firm SCS Engineers, the air district has successfully deployed a network of specialized air monitors across northern cities.

“So these are all the monitors we have between Brawley, Calipatria, and Westmorland,” said Sergio Valenzuela, Senior Air Quality Technician for SCS Engineers.

The tracking network combines continuous sensors, mobile survey vans, and time-integrated sampling to isolate immediate emission impacts.

“They really shine as far as identifying what we call hotspot areas,” explained Ismael Garcia, ICAPCD Project Manager. “Because we can deploy many, we can see trends.”

Officials emphasized that the monitoring network relies heavily on local cooperation. Several residents and business owners stepped forward to act as “site hosts,” allowing the high-tech equipment to be installed on their private properties.

“Our AB 617 site hosts, they are the champions who made this project possible,” Valenzuela said.

Forging these community relationships was a vital milestone for the program’s rollout.

“Once we were able to get that first person to say yes, it really opened the door for us to get more people involved,” Garcia noted. “It really helps bridge that gap as far as the government and the community aspect.”

While data tracking isolates the trouble areas, the district is also moving into the construction phase to fix them.

Officials highlighted upcoming paving projects slated for the Phase One community designed to lock down fine particle pollution coming off unpaved roads.

“Paving is a tried and true method that we’re familiar with, that has been well documented with what type of emission reductions we can see from it,” Garcia said. “So it’s really a good avenue for us to spend state money where it’s gonna really make an impact for the community.”

The AB 617 Steering Committee plans to hold these meetings monthly to maintain full transparency and ensure residents remain a core part of the decision-making process.

“We’re trying to include the community because, as I said, AB 617 is meant to be responsive to community needs,” Garcia emphasized. “We’re only one part of the equation and getting people involved really is helpful to direct the program to be successful.”

For continued updates on upcoming air district workshops and localized monitoring maps, visit the official AB 617 portal here.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health said they have added a new surgical microscope in order to expand their spine surgery capabilities.

Onvida Health said the Leica surgical microscope will help grow its spine surgery program, and give surgeons a clearer, more detailed view during complex, minimally invasive procedures.

The new microscope, according to Onvida Health will also allow surgical team members to “see the same magnified view as the surgeon on a display in the operating room,” giving surgical technologists, assistants and other members of the team “greater visibility into each stage of the procedure and helps the team stay coordinated throughout the surgery.”

“Our patients are at the center of every decision we make, including how we invest in new technology,” said Brittany Chavez, Administrative Director of Perioperative Services at Onvida Health. “This microscope gives our entire surgical team the ability to share the same detailed view throughout a procedure, building on the collaboration that is already such an important part of how we care for our patients. It’s exciting to continue bringing new technology to Yuma that supports our surgical teams and the care we provide for our patients.”

“Whatever the surgeon is seeing is displayed on a screen, so everyone in the operating room can see what’s happening in real time,” said Dr. Olusegun Onibonoje, who specializes in complex, minimally invasive spine surgery. “That’s a major advantage because the entire team is informed—and that can ultimately benefit patient outcomes.”

Onvida said the new microscope is part of its continued investment to bring specialized spine care closer to home.

To learn more about this, click here.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The fight over data centers continues in Imperial County after a court ruling struck down the county’s freeze on new data centers.

The county had imposed the moratorium to give officials time to study the impact of large-scale data centers.

However, the court found the county did not provide enough evidence of a current and immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare, which is a requirement for an emergency moratorium.

The county now said it is working on a new moratorium that addresses the court’s concerns.

The data center will still have to undergo an environmental review to move forward.

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