Category: kyma-local-news

Abigahil Padilla

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A binational artist from San Luis, Mexico is gaining national attention in the U.S.

Artist Violeta Issacs entered a major art competition called “The People’s Artist,” presented by actor Johnny Depp.

Isaacs says her art represents both her Mexican and American roots.

The competition celebrates visual artists from across the country and offers the winner $25,000 and a feature in Artforum Magazine, as well as the opportunity to exhibit artwork in Los Angeles.

“I’m an artist…no doubt I’m an artist and I’m born with this capacity for makes me feel better and better and experience with whatever I have in my hand,” Issacs shared.

Issacs currently holds third place in the national voting, and she says winning would be a way to honor both cultures that have shaped her life and give back through art to the communities that inspired her.

Public voting remains open. If anyone wants to vote for Isaacs, click here.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County residents braved the heat to pay respects to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for America.

Veterans and community members honored fallen service members during the annual Memorial Day Walk.

The group began in Westmorland, walking to Brawley along several miles across Imperial Valley roads.

Organizers say the walk is about more than distance. It’s about making sure the sacrifices of those who served are never forgotten.

“What I did was I grabbed my flag and just started walking. And while I was walking people would ask me, ‘Hey why are you doing this?’ ‘Well, to honor the fallen,'” said Ernesto Marcsial, the walk’s organizer.

The idea for the walk started 13 years ago with one man and grew into a community event.

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) also participated in the walk, using it as an opportunity to connect with Veterans and families.

“I wanted to be a part of this and really connect with the Veterans and family members of Gold Star families and really hear their stories and be here with community,” Rep. Ruiz shared.

The walk ended at the Riverview Ceremony with a Memorial Day service.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Under the morning sun, the rustle of the American flag carried a profound weight Monday at Bucklin Park.

The City of El Centro, alongside the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9305, hosted its annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

The event brought the community together for a morning of solemn remembrance, deep gratitude, and shared reverence.

In addition, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the cost of freedom. Citizens from all walks of life stood together. They answered the call to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

The gathering drew a diverse crowd of generation-spanning support, uniting local heroes and future leaders alike.

Local first responders from the El Centro Fire and Police Departments stood in steadfast solidarity to honor those who served.

Beside them, the community’s future took shape as Air Force cadets and local Boy Scouts stood proudly at attention.

Surrounding it all, local residents stood side-by-side, united in a collective promise to never forget the ultimate sacrifices made for their freedom.

As the clock struck 10:00 a.m., the atmosphere transformed into a tapestry of tribute. The annual event ensures that the names, stories, and bravery of our fallen heroes remain etched into the heart of the community.

For El Centro, Memorial Day is more than a holiday. It is a sacred pledge to remember that our freedom was bought and paid for by the brave.

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Madeline Murray

MARTINEZ LAKE, Ariz. (KYMA) – Martinez Lake Fire Station is hosting the Sixth Annual Flag Raising Ceremony Monday.

The ceremony, taking place at the Fire Station at 10 a.m., is held every Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives for our country.

The Fire Station also asked residents to bring their tattered and worn flags to their Flag Retirement Bin so they can “dispose of them properly.”

To learn more about the ceremony, click here.

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CBS News

YUMA, Ariz. (CBS, KYMA) – Motorists in southwest Arizona were treated to a massive dust devil tearing through a dirt field Sunday.

X user @saunieindiego, who captured the video, told Storyful the whirlwind was whipping up alongside Highway 95 in Yuma, at about 3:17 p.m.

“This is the biggest (widest) dust devil I have ever seen,” they wrote in the post to X.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), dust devils occur “under clear skies and light winds, when the ground can warm the air to temperatures well above the temperatures just above the ground.”

The NWS added that the phenomena occurs most frequently in May and June.

“Dust devils can form anywhere in Arizona, due to a combination of our southern latitude and increased solar heating, our dry sandy soil types, and large areas of lightly vegetated terrain,” the service said.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With Memorial Day coming up, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) is urging drivers to practice safe driving this weekend.

It only takes one bad decision to end up in this position, which is why YPD is urging locals to practice safe driving this weekend.

Officer Hayato Johnson with YPD said, “It’s all for safety. The normal reaction time…normal thought process isn’t right when you’re drinking and impaired so if you’re out there on the road, you’re a hazard not only to yourself but others.”

Impaired driving is one of America’s most common and deadliest crimes, but also one of the most avoidable by properly planning ahead to avoid serious consequences.

“If you’re having a few drinks probably consider a DD or Uber, Lyft. Again, we can’t stress enough that a $20 Uber ride is better than thousands of dollars in court fees if you get pulled over for DUI,” Officer Johnson said.

By planning ahead this weekend, we can all make Yuma a safer place to drive for everyone in the community.

One local urged other drivers on the road to be safe, saying, “Slow down, drive safe, and don’t drink and drive.”

As the holiday weekend continues, there’s a safe way to celebrate Memorial Day. Stay safe on the road and look out for one another.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left two people dead.

According to a press release, the crash happened at the intersection of Gila Street and Giss Parkway before 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

YPD says a 2025 Aprilia RS motorcycle, driven by a 21-year-old man with a 17-year-old girl as a passenger, was riding westbound on Giss Parkway when it crashed into a 2020 Hyundai Venue, driven by a 64-year-old woman, which was turning north onto Gila Street.

While the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, YPD says the passenger was taken to Onvida Health, by the Yuma Fire Department, for life-threatening injuries, where she later died.

While there were no other injuries reported, YPD says speed appears to be factor in the crash, and says the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has information regarding the crash, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Fatality Collision Giss PKWY and Gila Street 26-36326Download

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Abraham Retana

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Rural Metro says they, along with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) battled a brush fire Saturday night.

According to Rural Metro’s post on Facebook, it happened in the area of Grey Water Pond at Mittry Lake at around 10:20 p.m., with Rural Metro saying crews immediately requested BLM for help.

Upon arrival, Rural Metro says crews found a “100x50ft of brush on fire and spreading,” prompting crews to immediately deploy hose lines to get ahead of the fire.

Once the on scene report was confirmed, Rural Metro says BLM sent their crews to help them, and says they requested YPG’s help as well.

Rural Metro says both BLM and YPG arrived to help them, but YPG was there for a short time “before they were cleared by command.”

Rural Metro also says, “Crews remained on scene until they were cleared by BLM” at around 4:30 a.m.

While the fire is not 100% contained, BLM it will be by the end of the day, and says the fire was caused by some teenagers firing fireworks.

Rural Metro then says if anyone is in the area, please use caution and do not drive towards the smoke, and says if anyone has respiratory issues, they are urging them to remain indoors as “smoke and ash can and will be seen in the air.”

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Fire Department battled a commercial building fire Friday night.

According to a press release, they received reports of smoke and flames coming from a commercial building, located in the area of Avenue 4E, before 8 p.m.

Upon arrival, YFD says the first fire crew found a “single-story commercial building with smoke coming from multiple sides of the structure.”

YFD says crews immediately conducted “a size-up of the building” and performed an “aggressive fire attack to try and contain the fire.”

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YFD also says additional fire crews arrived and help secure a water supply, search for any fire extensions, and open portions of the building “to access fire in the attic space.”

However, YFD says the fire continued spreading throughout the building and broke through the roof, prompting crews to transition to defensive operations to continue battling the fire from outside, using aerial ladder streams and multiple hose lines.

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

Courtesy: Yuma Fire Department

YFD says the fire was eventually under control, and watch crew remained on scene to check for any hotspots.

While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

015 4E FireDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) invited the Yuma community to participate in the Murph Challenge Saturday.

The event, which took place at the base’s Fitness Center at 8 a.m., was in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy and other fallen Veterans.

It is also a nationwide event that happens every Memorial Day, where people complete the following challenges:

One-mile run

100 pull-ups

200 push-ups

300 squats

One-mile run

Maiko Black, Marketing Sponsorship Coordinator for YPG, shared why they hosted the event saying, “We want to make sure that we spend this Memorial Day remembering our fallen soldiers. It was their ultimate sacrifice that we are here and we want to make sure that we can honor them in the best way possible.”

The event lasted until 10 a.m.

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