Category: kyma-local-news

Abigahil Padilla

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Public Service (APS) has requested another electricity rate increase that could range from 14% to 16%.

If approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), it would be the third increase in less than five years, following the 8% increases authorized in 2022 and 2024.

The proposed adjustment would have a significant impact on residential customers.

For the average customer, the increase could translate to at least $240 more per year for electricity service.

This situation is causing concern among thousands of families in the state who are already struggling to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, and transportation.

One of the voices that has spoken out publicly is that of Maura Valenzuela, a mother of two and resident of Somerton, who has been an APS customer for over 25 years.

Valenzuela shared her testimony on January 26 during the second public hearing organized by the ACC to review the rate increase request.

Valenzuela brought up concerns for numerous families in southern Arizona, where high temperatures for much of the year make the constant use of air conditioning essential.

For many residents, electricity service represents not only comfort but also a matter of health and safety.

The Arizona Corporation Commission will be responsible for evaluating APS’s request and determining whether to authorize the increase.

The debate continues between those who point to the need to strengthen infrastructure and guarantee electricity service, and those who warn that further increases could worsen the economic burden on working communities.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Sonora Quest Laboratories is expanding cervical cancer screening options with their new HPV self-collection tests.

The test allows patients to order their own FDA approved swab for private self-collection. The test determines if HPV associated with cervical cancer is present so appropriate monitoring and treatment can happen.

Doctors say the test is ideal for patients who decline or are unable to have a pelvic examination.

“They say roughly about 50% of women who get diagnosed have not been screened ever or within the last five years, so we’re hoping to close that gap and promote an increased screening,” said Sonora Quest Laboratories scientific medical director Dr. Stacy White.

The American Cancer Society reports over 13,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year.

Patients can order tests at over 70 Sonora Quest Patient Service Center locations in Arizona.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A 21-year-old man was riding a Honda motorcycle Tuesday morning when he crashed into the back of a Toyota Scion on South Avenue 3E, next the Marine Corps Air Station.

The man was taken to Onvida Health and then later flown to Phoenix, and the Yuma Police Department (YPD) says they believe speed was a factor in the crash.

“Please just slow down that is I guess, one of the biggest things is speed appears to be a factor in several of them, also reckless driving, weaving in and out of traffic,” said YPD Public Informations Officer Lori Franklin.

The 25-year-old man in the Toyota suffered minor injuries, but was not taken to the hospital.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The suspect in the New Year’s hit and run has pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.

45-year-old Alfredo Enrique Flores was arrested last year after hitting 21-year-old Esteyan Madel with his car and leaving the scene.

He was originally charged with second degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

Flores is scheduled to be back in court on March 4.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man charged in a stabbing that resulted in the death of a 54-year-old man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary in the second degree.

34-year old Mauricio Robles was arrested in April of 2025 after officers arrived on scene to find a man killed by stab wounds.

Robles ran into a nearby apartment building, barricading himself inside and said he was armed.

Robles attempted to escape through the back of the apartment building, but was caught and arrested.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 6.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Arizona Western College (AWC) is hosting the “Decade of Transformation” event next month.

According to a press release, the event is taking place Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at the Schoening Conference Center from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

AWC says the event is to look back on the campus’ past ten years while also looking ahead for the next ten years.

There will also be a fireside chat with Dr. Daniel Corr, who will reflect on his role as College President, and is moderated by Dr. Kristina Diaz, President of the Onvida Health Medical Group.

“This event is a chance to hear how the college has been transformed, through the efforts of our faculty and staff, to be more responsive to community needs. Dr. Corr’s vision has touched every corner of the college district, and our students benefit,” said Lorraine Stofft, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the AWC Foundation.

“We’ll also take a peek at what’s on the horizon for Arizona Western as Dr. Corr nears retirement and Dr. Reetika Dhawan prepares to step into that leadership role,” Stofft added.

If anyone is interested in attending the event, click here. To learn more about the event, read the press release below.

You’re invited-AWC marks decade of transformation with community eventDownload

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Normally they’re fighting fires. Now they’re part of a different type of boom.

For the third time in the last four years, the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) had several firefighters who just added new members to their family.

There’s 13 firefighters a part of the Yuma Fire Department who’ve had babies within the last year.

“Besides being a firefighter, we also have a family, so besides our fire family, we have, you know, our family at home,” said father & YFD firefighter Victor Garcia.

The fire crew and their minis gathered for photos in front of Fire Station #1, Engine #1, representing the new babies all under one-years-old.

Dads like Garcia say it’s great to be bonded with his teammates because they can walk through fatherhood together.

YFD saw a baby boom back in both 2022 and 2024, and after this year, they’re expecting more growth in the years to come.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local event is celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

The Arizona Traveling Museum will be on Tuesday, February 24 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colorado River State Historic Park.

This free event is a special one-day experience filled with fun events.

See a replica of the Liberty Bell, watch Arizona’s story with immersive activities and share your voice through the Dear America, Love Arizona postcard activity.

There will be fun for the family, live entertainment, photo ops and food vendors.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As if dating wasn’t difficult enough already! Cryptocurrency scams target people on popular dating sites and apps, such as Tinder. Don’t let your quest for love blind you to red flags.

How the scam works

You “swipe right” on an attractive man or woman on a dating app, and the app instantly matches you with them.

After starting up a conversation, the alleged mate quickly takes the conversation off the platform and to a texting app, such as WhatsApp or WeChat.

Once on the texting app, the scammer starts talking about how they have a family member who is a successful cryptocurrency investor.

This person has inside trading information that could make you rich! Your new love interest encourages you to take advantage of this “exclusive opportunity.”

All you need to do is deposit money in a cryptocurrency trading platform. But once you make a deposit, the money is gone forever.

Or, you may be asked to pay large fees or meet certain minimum balance requirements to withdraw funds. Your new “love” blocks you on all platforms and stops replying to your messages.

In a recent BBB Scam Tracker report, a consumer shared that they met the scammer on Tinder and talked on WhatsApp.

After gaining the consumer’s trust, the scammer introduced them to investing in gold via dcmmarkets.com in addition to Coinbase.

The consumer reported that when trying to withdraw funds after the investments took place, the app’s customer service told the consumer they must pay 20% in fees.

“The fraudulent platform investment opportunity is often designed to appear legitimate and usually produces artificial gains to keep me engaged in the platform, and I started depositing more funds. However, when I felt he was pushy for more funds, he offered to deposit 30,000.00 and added it to my account in the OTC. That is why I believed him, but I told him to stop when he asked for more. I wanted my money back and could never withdraw my funds from the site. The customer service said I had to deposit 20% more to a different account for hefty fees. Before withdrawing my funds, he asked me about his money and threatened to sue me,” the consumer said.

In another BBB Scam Tracker report, the consumer stated meeting the scammer on Tinder and continued their relationship on WhatsApp.

The scammer introduced the consumer to forex trading where initial small investments yielded returns, leading to larger deposits totaling over $84,000. When attempting to withdraw funds, the site demanded $60,213 in taxes.

Partial payments were made, but further funds were requested. The site became inaccessible, but customer service on WhatsApp remains active. The consumer suspects the entire operation, including Raymond, is a scam.

One victim also reported to BBB Scam Tracker that after talking to a woman on Tinder, she persuaded him to invest on a fake trading cryptocurrency platform.

When he tried to withdraw his money, the funds were automatically reversed back into his account. The feature was allegedly a “system security” to help prevent money laundering.

The victim was then told the account needed to have a minimum balance of $3,000 before he could withdraw funds. After trying several times, the victim was unable to recoup his money.

Protect yourself from this scam

Never send money or personal information to someone you’ve never met in person. If they continue to pressure you to invest on a crypto trading platform, research the investment platform first.

Communicate on the dating app. If a love interest appears to be in a hurry to get off the dating app to an unsecure chat app, that is a red flag.

Ask specific questions about details given in a profile. A scammer may stumble over remembering details or making a story fit.

Research the dating profile. Many scammers steal photos from the web to use in their profiles. Conduct a reverse image lookup using a website like tineye.com or images.google.com to see if the photos on a profile are stolen from somewhere else. Search online for a profile name, email, or phone number to see what adds up and what doesn’t. Report what you find to the dating app.

Be wary of fast-moving relationships. Scammers often rush to build trust and move the conversation off dating platforms to private channels like WhatsApp or email.

Verify investment opportunities. Research any trading platform or investment opportunity independently. Look for reviews, warnings, and whether the platform is registered with financial regulatory authorities.

For more information

Learn about money mule scams on the Federal Bureau of Investigations website. Also, read about a romance scam that tricked victims into sending CARES Act money.

If you’ve been the victim of a scam, please report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others to stay alert and avoid similar scams.

Check out BBB’s cryptocurrency tips and learn how to protect yourself from cryptocurrency scams. Read BBB’s tip on choosing a dating service.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Marcos Moore is an experienced agronomist who focuses on making sure how to make the most out of water in agriculture by pushing salt away from the produce.

He explains that salt damages the plant by dehydrating and stunting the crop.

Moore is teaching farmers how to use water to push this salt away.

“We want to be able to use the water quickly and get it across the field as quickly as possible and the different irrigation systems or different irrigation schemes will affect salt mitigation,” says Moore.

Moore’s main message is to master moving the water to save your harvest.

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