Category: kyma-local-news

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As the general election approaches, voters in Imperial County are preparing to decide the future of the District 5 Board of Supervisors seat, a race that has officially narrowed down to two candidates.

Following June’s primary election, challenger Patricia Lizarraga and incumbent John Hawk advanced to the November ballot.

Hawk, who emerged from the primary as the leading vote-getter, is hoping to replicate that success as he campaigns for re-election.

District 5 stands as the geographically largest district in Imperial County, stretching across vast distances from Calexico and Brawley all the way to Palo Verde and Winterhaven.

Because of the sheer scale of the territory, Hawk emphasizes that infrastructure and community connectivity are at the forefront of his platform.

“We have fixed over 28 different roads,” Hawk said. “We’ve worked on Dogwood Bridge, Clark Road Bridge, and a number of others that are in the pipeline.”

Alongside physical infrastructure, economic development remains a core pillar of Hawk’s campaign. He notes that stabilizing the local economy is vital to preventing an exodus of young talent from the Imperial Valley.

“We really need to get jobs and industry back in our county,” Hawk explained. “We’re looking at young people that have the tools to go to work, but don’t have jobs, so instead of them moving away, we want them to stay here with the jobs and industry that we can bring in.”

Reflecting on his current term, Hawk says he is most proud of the increased collaboration and operational efficiency he has brought to the county alongside its surrounding sister agencies. He attributes his desire to run for another term to finishing what he has already set in motion.

“Those are the strengths that I think we try to bring forward and that’s why I ran and that’s why I’m looking to be reelected,” Hawk said. “We started a number of projects, we want to see them get through.”

According to the incumbent, keeping those regional projects moving forward requires an active relationship with the community, even when handling differing points of view.

Hawk said he has spent the last two weeks pounding the pavement, knocking on roughly 150 doors in Brawley and parts of El Centro to hear from residents directly.

“It is important, it’s vital,” Hawk noted. “Obviously, there will be people that don’t agree with me and that type of thing, and I understand that. I hope that they understand that we’re trying to pull our county back together.”

Managing a district with such vast geographical and municipal diversity brings logistical hurdles, but Hawk maintains that serving his constituents continues to be a privilege.

“It’s just hard to be everywhere but it is a great district and we have a lot of farm ground, a lot of great people in our district,” Hawk said. “It’s been fun to get to know them and work with them. I’m happy to do it. I’ve met some wonderful people and it’s been a pleasure to serve District 5.”

Imperial County voters will have the final say when they head to the ballot box for the general election on November 3.

To track this matchup and view comprehensive profiles of all local campaigns, click here.

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Carolina Garcia

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story said the City of El Centro held the Mexican Independence Day celebration. It was held by the Mexican Consulate in Calexico and the Imperial Valley Mall.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County residents attended an early celebration for Mexican Independence Day over the weekend.

The event was held at Imperial Valley Mall Saturday night, and was in partnership with the Mexican Consulate in Calexico.

Council Rocío Vásquez Alvarez said they’re looking to bring these celebrations closer to the valley as 85% of the population has Mexican roots.

She also noted the number of people applying for Mexican citizenship reached its highest historical level this year.

“People understand the importance of…understand having this connection with the roots, with their identity makes them stronger and unifies them,” Alvarez explained. “So, there are more people that are actually requesting and doing all the paperwork to become Mexican nationals.”

Last August, they granted 250 Mexican citizenship.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton Cocopah Fire Department (SCFD) responded to a crash early Monday afternoon.

SCFD said the crash happened in the area of S. Avenue D and W. County 15th Street at around 12:20 p.m., and it involved a pickup truck and a tractor.

Upon arrival, SCFD said crews found the truck with heavy damage and the tractor rolled on its side.

SCFD said one person was taken to Onvida Health for further treatment, and is in stable condition.

Courtesy: Somerton Cocopah Fire Department Courtesy: Somerton Cocopah Fire Department

Meanwhile, SCFD said another person was evaluated at the scene, but refused further treatment, and to be taken to the hospital.

SCFD also said the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office remained on scene investigating the crash.

Press Release2026,Sept14.2026Download

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A GoFundMe has been created to help a Yuma family in need of a new vehicle.

The GoFundMe’s organizer said the family’s vehicle caught on fire earlier this month, and said the vehicle was their only transportation to get them where they need to go.

“My son-in-law is a store manager, my daughter works from home…Their children are just four, three, and two-years-old, and their two-year-old son has Pompe disease and needs regular medical monitoring, including trips to San Diego for care,” the organizer said.

The organizer said the GoFundMe was created to help them “get a dependable vehicle as quickly as possible so they can keep up with work, school, and their son’s medical needs.”

“Having reliable transportation would make an immediate difference for this family as they try to move forward from this sudden loss,” the organizer added.

It has a goal of $4,500, with nearly $800 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Connor Emery

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is speaking out on AgTech’s state land leases being terminated.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) announced the news in a press release, saying Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) has terminated five state land agricultural leases held by AgTech and other related entities in Yuma County.

The Governor’s Office also said AgTech has a 90-day period before they have to be off the land. The cancellation of the leases is immediate, but they have a few months to wind down their operations on those parcels of land.

Following the announcement, Attorney General Mayes responded to AgTech’s leases being terminated saying in part, “For too long, the people of Yuma were told to live with the flies, the smell, and the uncertainty about what was going into their soil and water. No Arizonan should have to put up with such conditions.”

The announcement came almost two weeks after the Yuma City Council voted to renew their contract with AgTech.

Mayes said the town hall event in July played a key part for Gov. Hobbs in making the decision.

“I think the people of Yuma are the heroes in the story because they’re the ones who came forward and made their views known. I think they had been suffering this for a long time, probably way too long,” Mayes said.

Mayes is also aware of The Lemon Grove owner Tyler Woodman is being sued for $300,000 by AgTech, saying it’s outrageous that Woodman is being sued.

“He had every right to speak his mind. That is the American way…that person who raised the awareness about this would be then sued by this company I think is what’s so outrageous to me,” Mayes said.

AgTech has hired Gallagher & Kennedy, which is an Arizona law firm, who said they will look at all the evidence and take the necessary legal actions.

“One of the main issues that we have is kind of both the mischaracterization of both facts and law. For example, if you actually take a look at the Arizona state land department letters to attack the way it’s being characterized by all the elective officials, it’s inaccurate,” Stuart Kimball, a Gallagher & Kennedy shareholder, said.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – News 11 now knows the name of the man who died in a fatal crash on S. Frontage Road.

Jose “Bimbo” Fernandez Chavez, 43, was the driver of the Honda Accord. He was taken to Onvida Health, but was later pronounced dead.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said the crash happened in the area of S. Frontage Road and S. Avenue 10E, near the Foothills, Thursday evening.

YPD said a 2017 Chevy Silverado, driven by a 55-year-old man, was attempting to turn onto S. Frontage Road when it crashed into a silver 2013 Honda Accord, driven by Chavez.

While Chavez was later pronounced dead, YPD said the driver of the Silverado was not injured, and said the investigation is ongoing.

A GoFundMe has been created to help Chavez’s family pay for funeral expenses as well as “ease some of the immediate burden” on the family as they “try to navigate this painful time,” the GoFundMe’s organizer said.

It has a goal of $14,000, with over $8,400 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation hosted the annual Father Daughter Ball.

The event, which took place at the Pivot Point Conference Center Saturday, was a semi-formal event to celebrate special moments between fathers and daughters in Yuma.

There was arts and crafts, a photobooth and of course lots of dancing to highlight the special night.

“We wanted to have an opportunity to celebrate the special relationship that girls have with their dads. And so the event is just focused on having time together setting aside a special night that the girls can get dressed up,” said Marilyn Lammel, Program Supervisor for the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation.

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Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Travis Manion Foundation Yuma Chapter held a 9/11 Heroes 5k run Saturday morning.

Local first responders, law enforcement and military were all in attendance for Saturday’s run.

The run started and finished at the Colorado River State Historic Park in downtown Yuma.

The event which is in its second year has already become one one of the largest draws of participants amongst bigger cities through out the United States.

Organizers said over 700 people registered for the run, and said they are looking forward to continuing this patriotic event in Yuma that was made for the people by the people.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) is asking the community’s help in locating a missing person.

ICSO said they are trying to find 56-year-old Jeffrey Hartmayer, who went missing after “leaving from a group in a remote area of Imperial County.”

On September 6, ICSO said they received a call about two people, a 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, who were stranded in a “remote area northeast of Niland,” and ICSO said they were without food and water, as well as were experiencing “medical related concerns.”

After requesting an air medical response “due to the remote and rugged terrain,” ICSO said the man and woman were found near the vehicle, and were safely removed from the area.

A day later, ICSO said deputies learned about two men who were reportedly with the group, but had left the area prior to the helicopter rescue.

While one of the men was rescued, ICSO said deputies determined the other man, identified as Hartmayer, remained unaccounted for, and he was entered into the Missing Unidentified Persons System.

While search-and-rescue teams conducted searched around the surrounding area, ICSO said Hartmayer has not been found.

In addition, ICSO said they requested MCAS Yuma to “fly a drone for search purposes,” but due to time restrictions and “regulations of an active bombing range, those efforts have been unavailable.”

Hartmayer, according to ICSO, was reportedly associated with a white 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross, which has a California license plate, with the number being 9YOT864.

If anyone has information regarding Hartmayer’s whereabouts, call ICSO at 442-265-2021.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 25 years ago, the Twin Towers were under attack, and thousands of innocent lives were taken on 9/11.

Community members and first responders came together to honor and remember those who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

At 6 a.m. Friday, participants gathered at the PNG building on 16th Street and Fourth Avenue to climb up, down, and around the building equaling the 110 floors of the Twin Towers.

Many of the first responders participating were in full gear to simulate what the brave men and women were carrying on their backs while trying to save other peoples lives. 

YFD Fire Capt. Aaron Wonders said this year’s turnout was a huge success adding, “It’s the 25th anniversary of 9/11. It’s really important for us to get together as a community to remember together and also its very important to have that community bond.”

YFD also hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to honor the 343 fallen firefighters and the thousands of victims. 

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, said its important to continue to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“As Chief [John] Louser said in his speech, about 84% of Yuma Fire Department wasn’t in the fire service yet on September 11th 2001 happened, so it’s important to keep these traditions going to continue to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we don’t forget,” Leon explained.

September 1, 2001 was a day that changed America forever, a day that will never be forgotten. We remember those who lost their lives, and honor the heroes who responded.

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