Category: kyma-local-news

Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health is partnering with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System to build a brand new state-of-the-art medical facility dedicated to serving those who served our country.

Jake Childs, Onvida Health President of Hospital Operations, says, “This allows that 30,000 squared feet to be filled with new clinical programs that previously weren’t available in Yuma.”

The long-term investment made by onvida will cost a little over $30 million.

Healthcare will be provided directly by the VA, where they will bring in programs like primary care, women’s health, imaging, audiology, physical and occupational therapy.

Childs talked about how this will help Veterans in our community.

“The first thing that the veterans will feel, is now we have that access here in Yuma, no longer do we have to travel, but in addition they will have a brand new space,” explains Childs.

One local veteran, David Ibarra, says not having to go the extra mile for medical assistance makes their lives easier.

“Having a new facility, its great because of the fact that us veterans can get our medical care and our appointments here in Yuma, instead of having to go all the way to Tucson, that’s a long drive,” Ibarra remarked.

He adds that there is specific care that some Veterans need saying, “We sustain some injuries, we sustain some phycological treatment that we need also for PTSD, and right here, we are able to get this care.”

The new medical facility will be completed by the summer of 2027.

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Adrik Vargas

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A Brawley non-profit stepped in Wednesday to help families who might otherwise struggle to afford a Thanksgiving meal.

Families lined up early outside Campesinos Unidos as the organization handed out turkeys and holiday fixings to 50 low-income households from the north end of the county. The families chosen are all part of the group’s monthly food pantry program.

Organizers say they’ve seen a growing number of people requesting help in recent months, partly due to delays in food stamp benefits, and wanted to make sure no one in their community had to miss out on a holiday meal.

Local Grocery Outlet staff also joined the effort, contributing items like turkey, potatoes, and bread.

Campesinos Unidos reports that rising need has pushed them to serve about 1,000 meals each month to roughly 60 families.

Staff say their goal is to help bridge food insecurity in an area that continues to face one of the highest hunger rates in the county, and to give families a chance to enjoy the holiday season with one less worry.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Steady rain moved through Yuma Friday, leaving several roads and parking lots with minor flooding and creating frustration for neighbors who say the water isn’t their only concern.

Some residents in one of the harder-hit areas say drivers speeding through flooded streets are making conditions worse.

One neighbor, Adrienne Syddon, said the waves created by passing cars have pushed water up to her home before forcing her family to spend months in a hotel after a previous flood.

Others in the neighborhood say this type of flooding happens often. Florentino Careño described past storms that sent water into rooms throughout his home and said nearby houses have seen even more severe damage.

Residents are urging drivers to slow down, respect road-closure signs, and be mindful of how their actions affect the surrounding homes.

Many say ignoring those warnings sends water directly toward doorsteps and living spaces.

Locals hope that as rain continues in the area, more caution on the roads will help prevent unnecessary damage to their neighborhood.

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Abraham Retana

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local non-profit is short on their goal to feed the Yuma community for the upcoming holidays.

Crossroads Mission’s goal was to collect 1,000 turkeys for last week’s Turkey Drive, but fell short.

“382 turkeys at the event but we also collected almost $3,000. We are going to be using that money to purchase additional 166 turkeys,” said Sassa Culver, Crossroads Mission Public Relations Director.

Last week’s Turkey Drive is part of the Crossroad’s Mission Month. Their goal is to raise $100,000 and 100,000 pounds of food to feed people in need during the holidays.

“Mission Month is important so that we are able to feed the community for the three days of Thanksgiving which is going to be the 25th, 26th, and 27th,” said Culver.

If you would like to donate, you can bring turkeys and any food items to the Crossroads Mission located on Arizona Avenue and 10th Street.

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Abraham Retana

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – A non-profit organization made a donation that could save lives in Yuma County.

The Arizona Pharmacy Association donated 300 Narcan kits to the Regional Center for Border Health (RCBH) Pharmacy.

The goal is to make life-saving medication more accesible and affordable to the community.

“It’s to ensure that Arizona fatality opioid use disorder continues to go down,” said Garet Turner, CEO of Arizona Pharmacy Association.

“Somebody who is in overdose who is taking opioids, whoever is taking 15 milligrams oxycodone, hydrocodone any fentanyl patches they come and ask me and we can give them to them,” explained Ram Chervo, RCBH St. Francis Pharmacy Manager.

The Narcan kits are free.

They are available at the St. Francis Pharmacy located in the San Luis Walk-In Clinic on Main Street in Somerton.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Canal Run Club Yuma is hosting a giving run on Saturday morning at the Ocean to Ocean Bridge.

They will be accepting donations for clothes, shoes, hygiene products, and blankets to give to the Crossroads Mission.

The club will also be asking for non-perishable food items to donate to the Yuma Community Food Bank.

“It’s just good for the community and inspires other people to do the same,” said Run Club member Nathan Roldan.

Yzabel Salazar, another club member, shares why they are collecting donations.

“A lot of people or individuals, families, you know, it’s a time of struggle and loneliness, and we think it’s good to be able to give back and make them feel seen, valued, and heard as well,” Salazar says.

Roldan agrees, saying he just wants to help out those who need it during this holiday season.

“I think it’s more important because there are a lot of people who can’t afford food, and also clothing, too. So I think it’s just good for us to donate and give back to them,” said Roldan.

The donations will be taken on Saturday at 6:30 a.m., before the run starts and right after it ends.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys have donated to the local Yuma Community Food Bank.

The law firm donated $2,500, which is equal to 12,500 meals. They have also partnered with YCAT for the 2025 food drive.

They invite locals to donate non-perishable items at all Walmarts throughout Yuma.

“Lerner and Rowe has partnered up with YCAT in Yuma, it is our mutual goal to be able to give back to our community,” said Jazmin Ortega, the case manager for Lerner and Rowe.

They will be collecting donations at the following locations and dates.

Walmart Supercenter, Ave B, Yuma, Nov. 20-Dec. 1 (Lerner and Rowe Accident Attorneys)

Walmart Supercenter, Pacific, Yuma, Dec. 1-8 (Todd Craig Nova Home Loans)

Walmart Supercenter, San Luis, Dec. 4-15 (Rafi Law Group)

Walmart Neighborhood Market, Yuma (Chapman Chevrolet, GMC)

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Adrik Vargas

Underage person from Brawley was shot and killed.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) has released bodycam footage of an officer-involved shooting where an underage person was shot and killed.

It happened on October 5 at around 6:30 p.m. Pacific after the El Centro Police Department (ECPD) received reports of a stolen vehicle.

Upon arrival, ECPD says they found the stolen vehicle in a parking lot behind a business located in the area of E. Main Street and S. Dogwood Road.

While officers tried to talk to the people inside the vehicle, ECPD says that’s when the officer-involved shooting happened.

ECPD says the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and says the Imperial Valley District Attorney’s Office took over the investigation.

ECPD says the briefing “provides an overview of the facts known at this stage of the investigation and has been published in accordance with Assembly Bill 748.”

In the briefing, ECPD has identified the driver killed as an underage person from Brawley.

To watch the briefing, click here. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Schools within Yuma School District One have received letter grades from the Arizona State Board of Education (AZSBE).

According to a press release, AZSBE releases an annual report to measure schools across the state on student proficiency, academic growth and other key factors, and assigns an A-F letter grade “as part of its accountability program.”

District One has unveiled the following schools who earned an “A” or “B” letter grade during the 2024-25 school year:

“A” Grade

James D. Price Elementary School

“B” Grade

C.W. McGraw Elementary School

Desert Mesa Elementary School

Dorothy Hall Elementary School

James B. Rolle Elementary School

Palmcroft Elementary School

Pecan Grove Elementary School

R.P. Woodward Jr. High School

The district’s governing board presented the eight schools who received an “A” or “B” letter grade a recognition banner to display on their respective campuses.

“School letter grades are one reflection of the dedication and passion our teachers bring to every classroom each day,” stated District One Superintendent, Denis Ponder. “The true indicator of success is the incredible learning that happens daily in every District One school.”

To learn more about the accountability program, click here.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Nationwide efforts are aiming to raise awareness about the impact of poor air quality in Mexicali and the Imperial Valley, especially during the holidays.

The campaign is part of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Task Force. They’re urging people to avoid setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires during the holidays.

The campaign says in recent days, unhealthy air quality was reported in Mexicali at least twice, which directly impacts Imperial County.

“It’s the no burning of tires, no burning of wood, no burning of fireworks and trash, and we try to do this binationally because what we practice in Mexico, we also practice in the U.S., or from the U.S. we take it to Mexico,” said Belén León López, Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer.

Imperial County has issued at least 52 sanctions for illegal burnings in 2025.

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