Marcos Icahuate
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – An event will be held for the holidays in Calexico.
The City of Calexico is planning their Christmas tree lighting for Thursday, November 20, 2025.
The event will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Calexico City Hall (608 Heber Avenue).
Entertainment such as pictures with Santa, the Grinch, and Mickey Mouse will be available.
Families can also expect raffles, food vendors, live music and more.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Holiday Heroes Blood Drive is returning to Yuma.
The blood drive will be held at the Yuma Palms on December 27-29.
The mobile blood drive will be near 5 Below at 1375 S. Yuma Palms Parkway.
Donors will receive a coupon for a free medium pizza from Pizza Hut, as well as a one-day entry to the Arizona Renaissance Festival.
You can make an appointment at the Vitalant website here.
Marcos Icahuate
BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – The annual Brawley event returns in November, kicking off with a horse ride.
The Cattle Call begins on Thursday, November 6 at 4 p.m.
The rodeo is open to people of all ages, as cowboys and cowgirls saddle up for local entertainment.
A horse ride kicks off at the Brawley Police Station with the following:
BP Chief Remenar
Chief Duran
Sheriff Idanco
Mayor Rebollar
City Manager Terrazas-Baxter
You can buy tickets to the Brawley Cattle Call here.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man attempted to set himself on fire after trying to flee from law enforcement, according to the Arizona Department of Safety (AZ DPS).
On Tuesday, November 4, at about 10:13 p.m., a DPS trooper attempted to stop a speeding vehicle near milepost 12 in Yuma.
The driver fled the trooper and a grappler was used to stop the vehicle.
Once stopped, the driver stepped out and attempted to set himself on fire, but it was put out by a passing truck driver, according to DPS.
The driver was then flown to a Phoenix hospital. When he’s released from the hospital, he’ll be charged with unlawful flight from law enforcement.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A community Town Hall discussion will be held on the rise of local utility costs.
Arizona Public Service (APS) rates may be rising, so the community is planning to discuss with the Residential Utility Consumer Office on Wednesday, November 12.
The Town Hall will be at the Yuma Main Library (2951 S. 21st Dr.) on November 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“Recent rate case proposals in Arizona have included factors such as high inflation and interest rates, infrastructure improvements and growth in energy usage,” said Cynthia Zwick, Director of the Residential Utility Consumer Office. “Ultimately, the elected members of the Arizona Corporation Commission will need to decide how much of what APS is proposing to recover from customers is ‘just and reasonable.'”
You can RSVP here.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A restaurant is thanking veterans and active U.S. military by offering a free meal.
Texas Roadhouse will be giving out meal vouchers on November 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those who served or are serving in the U.S. military.
Proof of service is required.
Meal vouchers can be redeemed until May 31, 2026.
Madeline Murray
YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Gadsden Elementary School District Board member candidates are reacting to the early election results.
It’s been a tight election for all four candidates involved and their hope is holding strong.
We spoke to board president Luis Marquez and board member Liliana Arroyo Wednesday.
Both candidates say since the results are still early nothing is certain and the race is not officially over.
Arroyo says, “In elections, you can expect anything, especially when you’re advocating for the community, the results, nothing’s concrete, until we see everything come in.”
Marquez hopes things turn around.
“I still have confidence that the voter’s came out, and they think I still finish my term, then that’s gonna be it, but if not, it’s just the early dismissal,” says Marquez, Gadsden School Board President.
We spoke with locals about what they think about the election.
San Luis local, Bill Cordova says, “It was about time he gives up the opportunity to someone else, Mr. Concha. I don’t know him very much, but I hope with this new individual, he’ll bring a new opportunity to our students in San Luis.”
But one local, Maria Laguna, disagrees. She believes Marquez is doing a good job.
“I wish Luis could win for the experience he has, he’s been doing a good job here in Arizona, he’s always here to support people, he’s always there when people need something and if there’s an opportunity, he’s always willing to help,” says Laguna.
The final results for who won the election will be in on Friday.
Dillon Fuhrman
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left one person dead and three people injured.
According to a press release, the crash happened Saturday at around 8:30 a.m. in the area of W. 16th Street and S. 33rd Drive, near Ronald Reagan Elementary School.
YPD says a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2005 Honda Accord northbound on S. 33rd Drive, and was “making a left-hand turn onto W. 16th Street” when she crashed into a 2020 Jeep Compass.
YPD says the driver of the Honda, who was the “sole occupant of the vehicle,” was taken to Onvida Health with life-threatening injuries, where she later died.
The driver, a 31-year-old man, and two passengers, a 27-year-old woman and a three-year-old boy, of the Jeep were also taken to Onvida Health with minor injuries.
While alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The United States Department of Energy has canceled funding for new Imperial Irrigation District (IID) project in development.
The IID received a letter from the United States Department of energy stating that the project “advanced distribution management system” will no longer be funded last month.
The IID says without this project rural areas in Imperial County will continue to face major power outages after a strong storm leaving them in the dark.
The IID says the project is about $37 million, which the Department of Energy was going to fund half of the project.
“Still in the process of reevaluating it so the deal right now is what can we do? How far can we go? Can we tape her off a little bit? Maybe not have all the bells and whistles but still have the opponents, so it’s under assessment right now,” said Robert Schettler, public information officer for the Imperial Irrigation District.
The IID says they still stand with the project and plan to launch the project next year.
Karina Bazarte
Karina bazarte sat down with the creator who drew his family home known as the Smurf house.
BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County is known for its iconic landmarks and in the City of Brawley, there’s one unique house that always catches the eye.
For Brawley, it is known as the Smurf House, but for the people that built it, it’s just their sweet home.
In the area of South Ninth Street and H Street sits a bright orange house that’s hard to miss.
A two-story house with several rooms, a long staircase and unique windows shaped as circles. The house did not always look like this.
After returning from the Vietnam War in 1968, Rudy Lopez returned home to Brawley and bought a small cottage house.
“I had $2,700 saved from Vietnam. They gave you extra money for being in combat and I saved so I got money. It’s funny how it is…that is what the guy wanted, $2,700, so that’s why I got the house,” said Lopez.
Before he started to work on his dream house, he married the love of his life in the backyard of the house.
Lopez says he drew his dream house and was inspired when he used to live in Sacramento.
“And I used to see a lot of beautiful boats…Wooden boats…Mahogany boats, and the idea sparked,” said Lopez.
Lopez always wanted to be a woodworker and this was his chance to build something of his own.
He says it took him about 25 years. But in 2008, tragedy struck as a storm hit the Imperial Valley. A tree fell down in his backyard, causing an electrical fire.
A fire burned down their home and although the structure was still intact, inside the home it was a different story.
“When the fire happened, the structure held everything together because the metal held everything together,” said Lopez.
Here’s an image from what was left from the fire.
Lopez says he had no inspiration to rebuild his home as he was also dealing with the death of his father, but the City of Brawley was not ready to let the iconic house go.
“The kids gave us a bunch of money, cans of coins, to do it again. A lot of people told me to do it again. You can’t give up so that is what made me. Everyone needs a drive and that is the drive I got,” expressed Lopez.
With the help of his two sons and an uncle, the Smurf House was reborn.
Lopez says he build it with recycling material just like the staircase carpet.
Going up stairs, you are able to find the bedrooms and a bathroom all created by Lopez, and finally, the bathroom which has recycling materials from the Brawley High School gym.
Although it took seven years to rebuild, Lopez and his family never gave up on their dream house.
“It’s a monument that’s what I say. I feel good that people feel proud that I did something for Brawley…for La Raza, you know what I mean, for La Raza. Not for the westside or whatever side…doesn’t matter where you are from, we are all the same,” said Lopez.
