Category: kyma-local-news

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma city leaders say they are focused on turning plans into action after recapping their annual strategic planning retreat during a recent council work session.

City Council members and staff outlined several key priorities that will guide future decisions, including continued economic development efforts and evaluating emerging industries.

Leaders also discussed a long-term, phased approach to annexation as the city continue to grow.

Public safety remains a central focus, with officials working to align budget decisions with departmental needs while ensuring readiness for a growing population.

Other priorities include advancing projects identified in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, increasing community outreach on the city’s annual expenditure limitation and expanding efforts to address extreme heat through partnerships and preparedness strategies.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls emphasized the importance of making tangible progress rather than simply creating plans.

“I think it’s always important to make sure we’re making progress, and not just creating documents,” Mayor Nicholls said. “So that was key, individual things are important but really that whole task was big. But really I think all the things that we did to look to the future…Not just some marginal improvements, we want to see some major, some major things.”

City leader say the retreat highlighted a clear shift from planning to implementation, with those priorities expected to help shape upcoming budget decisions and the city’s long-term strategic plan.

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A handful of residents gathered at Elks Lodge in Brawley to hear a presentation on Imperial County’s Lithium Valley Project.

The presentation, hosted by Los Amigos de la Comunidad, touched on lithium uses for electric vehicle batteries, cellphones, and energy storage systems.

They discussed job creation, new tax revenue for Imperial County, and the possibility of new manufacturing plants.

However, there are environmental concerns about lithium mining, water use and longterm sustainability.

Brawley City Councilman Tim Kelley also mentioned that Lithium Valley will support data centers and other industry, and urged the public to get behind the project.

“We can come back on about three years when there’s an opportunity for new business to come in and we say, we were there at the table. We supported that. And we want to make sure that those projects met the requirements that the community wants,” Councilman Kelley explained.

The public is urged to submit comments and concerns online as the project enters it’s planning and approval phase.

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Jessamyn Dodd

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Caltrans workers, families, community members, and local officials gathered Tuesday to honor those who lost their lives while working on California highways.

During the observance, names of fallen workers are read aloud, accompanied by symbolic orange cones placed in their honor as a reminder of the dangers highway crews face every day.

Since 1921, 195 Caltrans workers have been killed on the job, many due to inattentive drivers.

The event also served as an opportunity to remind drivers to pay attention to the road and avoid distracted driving.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is inviting the Yuma community to an event featuring inspirational speaker Noland Arbaugh.

Arbaugh, who is a Yuma native, was the first recipient of the Neuralink brain implant after suffering a spinal injury a decade ago that left him paralyzed, according to AWC.

AWC says the implant allows Arbaugh to “perform digital tasks with his mind,” and says he has returned to independent ventures like continuing his studies, competing in chess and starting a business.

AWC also says Arbaugh enrolled at the campus this year and is studying Biology as his goal is to become a neuroscientist.

26-noland_arbaugh_flyerDownload

“At Arizona Western College, we’re passionately committed to our community and mission of dismantling educational barriers for everyone,” said AWC Director of Military and Support Services Jose Vega, “Join us for an unforgettable afternoon with Noland Arbaugh, whose resilient journey mirrors that very promise.”

“Paralyzed after a diving accident, Noland defied overwhelming odds to pursue higher education, captivating the world through features in The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg, and The Joe Rogan Experience,” Vega continued. “He’ll inspire you to shatter your own limitations and affirm AWC’s unwavering support for its students.”

The event is taking place Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Matador Activity Center, room 106.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

Noland Arbaugh speaks at AWC on April 28Download

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One local band came together over the weekend to help the Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY).

The Feral Cats performed at Sage & Sand, and they brought in over $24,000 for HSOY.

According to Annette Lagunas, Executive Director of HSOY, there were over 300 people in attendance Sunday.

If anyone would like to help or donate to HSOY, click here.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Tuesday marks the second day in the trial of a Yuma man accused of murder.

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

The trial began Friday, with the prosecution and defense delivering opening statements, after a few days of selecting a jury.

During Tuesday’s trial, Cpl. Kenneth Allmon with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) took the stand, where the focus was on what was found inside the Somerton home where Jordinelli was killed.

There were cleaning supplies, blood, trash and debris throughout the home, which was under construction, so there were tools around the crime scene.

Jordinelli was found in the master bedroom shower in a pool of blood, and he has multiple gashes on his body, including one long gash across his forehead.

The state questioned YCSO about what was beneath Jordinelli’s body, and the jury was shown several graphic images of the crime scene.

“It was all a mess, for a lack of a better word…There was a lot of blood,” Cpl. Allmon expressed.

KYMA will keep following the trial and provide you with the latest details.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A major water main break in Yuma is continuing to impact a busy stretch of roadway as city crews work to complete repairs and restore normal conditions.

Crews have been working since early Saturday morning along Avenue B between 20th Street and 24th Street, where the break caused significant flooding across the roadway and led to the formation of a large sinkhole.

According to the Yuma Fire Department, emergency responders were first called to the area near West 24th Street and South Avenue B around 3 a.m. Saturday after reports of a vehicle submerged in floodwaters.

When crews arrived, they found widespread flooding between 22nd Street and 24th Street, along with two vehicles stuck near 23rd Street.

One person was found on top of their car. YFD used a pike pole to check the stability of the ground around the individual and to determine a path to get them to a safe zone.

They then assisted the person to safety with a ladder. They were assessed and no injuries were reported.

The line that broke was eventually shut off, but water initially had trouble draining from the area, worsening conditions and contributing to the sinkhole.

The City of Yuma Utilities Department says the break involved a six-inch asbestos cement water line installed in the early 1980s. Over time, that type of material can become more brittle and prone to failure.

Repair efforts are currently in progress. About 20 workers, including city crews and support contractors, are on-site working to fix the damage.

“It’s rather extensive, the hole that developed so we expect it to be done by the end of the week for sure,” Jeremy McCall, City of Yuma Director of Utilities, said.

Crews are also taking extra precautions due to nearby infrastructure, including a 24-inch water line that plays a critical role in the city’s water system.

“We’re making sure we’re doing it right and putting it back the way it should be,” McCall said.

The incident has also created traffic disruptions as Avenue B is a key route for many local drivers.

“My goodness, it has been chaotic around here,” Luisa Diaz, a Yuma local, said. “Especially because B is actually a main street that actually connects to go to the south of the border as well as take 16th to the mall. So it has impacted, like maybe the businesses as well. So we just kind of have to work around it.”

City officials are urging residents to be patient and avoid the area if possible while work continues. Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of the week.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As the war in Iran continues, gas prices continue to rise, with Yuma locals noticing a jump at the pump over the last month.

“It’s pretty high right now. Everything is expensive right now. It’s better for me to be walking, but we need a car for the temperature here,” said Julio Cobian, a Yuma local.

Saving money on fuel is possible with ensuring locals’ vehicles is properly serviced, along with using cruise control as necessary, sign up for fuel rewards and limit air conditioning usage.

“Put more air in your tires, like Obama said, and plan your trips wisely,” said Peter Slaus, another Yuma local.

According to GasBuddy, the best time to buy gas in Arizona is on Monday and the worst time to buy gas is on Thursdays.

According to AAA data, Arizona has one of the top five most expensive gas prices in the nation compared to every other state.

Yuma’s current gas price average for regular gas is $4.57 per gallon. That’s almost an entire dollar higher compared to last month.

Slaus says it could be worse adding, “It’s pretty high in California. It’s not so bad here. I like that.”

Compared to other cities’ gas prices, locals in Yuma aren’t paying too much at the pump, but it does add up quickly.

According to GasBuddy, the best stations to fill up your tank and save money is Arco Am/Pm starting at $4.25 per gallon, Sam’s Club starting at $4.29, and Circle K starting at $4.39. 

Keeping simple fuel saving tips in mind can help you reduce the cost at the pump over time.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Church for the City hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Kids Academy preschool they started.

The Church for the City Kids Academy was created not only to offer affordable childcare, but also help increase access to childcare in our region.

Lead pastor of Church for the City, Tyrone P. Jones, says, “It’s always been on my heart to do a school, I started the church 33 years ago, I didn’t know how that would work out…I didn’t know what the process would be.”

The ribbon cutting marks the academy’s first full year of operation, representing a critical need across Yuma County, childcare.

“The more I got informed of what the shortage really was in our county…the stronger that desire became,” explains Jones.

In Yuma County, the gap is significant. According to CTC, there are 18,000 children under the age of six, but childcare capacity exists for only about 6,000 kids.

“We started the Kids Academy with the idea of wanting to just give full formation of kids, so not only a good education not only a safe environment, but even a spiritual center, so that was the foundation of why we started,” says Jones.

The church hopes to eventually grow the school in the future and eventually get up to eighth grade.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Tranquility and Wellness Studio and The Travis Manion Foundation teamed up to help students learn how to care for their overall health.

Students from Vista High School got the opportunity to participate in a yoga and meditation class Monday morning. They learned about holistic health and how to handle stress.

We spoke with a TMF volunteer, Dale Dumo and a meditation coach about how this event benefited students.

“We’re going to do some yoga today, as well as some meditation, really just capture the whole holistic approach to whats gonna make us best,” says Dumo.

We also spoke with one of the studios Meditation coaches.

“Well, today’s kids are so inundated with social media and phones, this is their chance to unplug,” says Veronica Bombgarner, Meditation Coach.

The event gave students a chance to let go and understand what it takes to take care of not only their physical health, but mental health as well.

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