Category: kyma-local-news

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent accused of sexual conduct with a minor was back in court.

31-year-old Ramon Marquez was informed he will be back in court on October 15 for a trial setting and change of plea hearing.

He’s facing 15 counts, including sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct and sexual exploitation of a minor who is 16-years-old.

Back in April, Yuma police said they received information from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility in regards to “inappropriate behavior involving one of their agents and a minor.”

After a brief investigation, Marquez was arrested in Wellton.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is conducting DUI patrols on Yuma streets to encourage people to stay safe.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2023, 36% of fatalities involved an alcohol impaired driver during the labor day period.

YPD is doing its part to keep people safe with extra patrols that will be on the lookout for people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

“If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a car to come pick you up, or utilize Uber [or] Lyft. I mean it’s worth the 20, 30 bucks to get a ride home then thousands of dollars in legal fees for a DUI,” said Officer Hayato Johnson from YPD.

Kristin Foree, a Yuma local, says she’s satisfied with what YPD is doing.

“I think it’s not a bad idea. I mean, it encourages people to make more responsible decisions over the holiday weekend. It keeps people safer and we have better options now with Uber, and it’s just a better it’s just a good idea I think in general,” says Foree.

YPD shares some consequences you can face if you’re caught drinking and driving.

“Usually with your first DUI it could be punishable by some jail time, or even fees and revoking your drivers license, so I mean if driving is your bread and butter, that’s how you get to work and make your money for your family, you might want to think twice,” Officer Johnson said.

The DUI detail began Friday night and end on Monday night.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Fostering Hope Yuma will be presenting the “Step Into the Story” conference aimed to help foster and kinship parents.

Steve Little, President of Fostering Hope Yuma says the idea behind the conference is if we looked at anybody’s life, they could point to somebody that stepped into the story and affected them in a way that that it brought them to the place they are now.

This conference aims to support those who support foster kids.

“There’s lots of organizations that support the kids and I am so grateful for them, but what happens with those parents who are the ones who come alongside them and says you’re doing a good job we’re so grateful that you’re here. This is a sacrifice for you and we want to be a part of it. That’s what ‘Step Into the Story’ is all about,” says Little.

The conference will take place at the Yuma Civic Center September 20.

If you’d like to sign up, you can head to FHYuma.com.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Most of us have experienced the pain of a sunburn, but there’s more severe condition many don’t people recognize, which is sun poisoning. It can even land you in the ER. 

Dr. Donald Hubbard, Medical Director and Emergency Medicine Physician at Exceptional Community Hospital in Yuma, says it can start from a just a minor sunburn and it can go up to severe sunburn.

“The one thing you notice with the sunburn is you’re gonna have pain and you’re gonna have red skin that can go from a mild irritation to a severe sunburn where you get blisters. It’s rare to get a 2nd degree burn from the sun, but it’s not impossible in. In rare circumstances you can get a 3rd degree burn from the sun,” he said.

Hubbard mentions preventative steps you can take in order to stay protected from the sun.

“Well, you know, people who work in the sun, you notice they wear long sleeve shirts and they wear hats that protect their heads and they usually have something protecting their neck. If you’re gonna be in the sun a lot I would recommend something like that,” he shared.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Colorado River provides water for farms and homes across the region, but dropping levels at Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam are raising questions about how reliable that supply will be.

The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission recently held the Colorado River Citizens Forum.

One of the main topics was the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. These reservoirs help control the flow of the Colorado River and provide water and electricity to millions of people.

Officials said the dam can only generate electricity if the lake stays high. If levels drop too low, backup pipes must be used. Those pipes do not generate much power and were not designed for long-term use.

Katrina Grantz, Deputy Regional Director with the Bureau of Reclamation, explained the purpose of the backup system.

“River outlet works are designed for when the power plant is not operational. For example, if there’s a power outage or our plant trips offline, we can still release water downstream to keep the river flowing,” she said.

Officials emphasized their top priority is keeping the dam safe and reliable.

Grantz said, “Our priority at Reclamation is to ensure that we are operating safely, keeping the dam reliable for the public and maintaining this infrastructure for generations to come.”

The meeting also discussed how changes at the dam and Lake Powell affect water supply for communities and farms along the Colorado River, including Yuma County.

Officials noted that total river system storage is down about six percent from last year and that even with decent snowpack, much less water is flowing into the reservoirs.

With Lake Powell and Lake Mead at low levels, local farmers and communities in Yuma County are keeping a close eye on the Colorado River.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Colorado Street Apartments are located at 1555 West Colorado Street in Yuma, Arizona. They’re located right off of First Street.

Denise Lopez with Housing America Corporation says there’s specific criteria to applying for the apartments.

“What we’re looking for it is these apartments are solely farm labor income. That’s one of the main criteria for these apartments. It is farm labor requirement,” she shared.

For more information, you can visit their offices.

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Adrik Vargas

HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Holtville remains under a state of emergency after several storms left dozens of homes without power.

Crews are still cleaning up the damage, and a temporary shelter has been opened for those affected.

The storms hit earlier this week, toppling trees and leaving many residents in the dark. The emergency declaration allows the city to bring in extra personnel and access funds to help families and restore services.

A shelter at Cornerstone Community Church is providing food and a safe place for those impacted.

“We have a couple homes that were hit by trees that they are looking for a place to stay. And so with this, the shelter should provide assistance for about 30 or 40 people,” said Alex Silva, Fire Chief with the Holtville Fire Department.

City leaders say generators and community support are helping residents while they work to fully restore power.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Teens in the Imperial Valley are making their voices heard through a new podcast that showcases the experiences of growing up in the region.

“Voices del Valle” is an 11-episode series created by students at Central Union High School in collaboration with KPBS San Diego.

The podcast explores life in a rural, tight-knit community, covering topics such as mental health, teen parenting, sports, music, and the challenges and triumphs local teens face every day.

“We don’t get noticed much here unless we do something big, and that’s what a lot of us kids here in the Imperial Valley want to do because we want to be heard. That’s what makes it unique,” said Grace, a student involved in the podcast.

Through “Voices del Valle,” Imperial Valley teens are sharing their unique stories, highlighting the resilience, creativity, and pride that define life in their hometown.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) – We’re seeing slightly below normal temperatures today that will warm up to around 5 degrees above normal this weekend. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), we’ll have dry conditions through the weekend before rain chances gradually increase during the first half of next week.

We’ll have a sunny day today and end Saturday night with a waxing half 1st quarter moon on Saturday. We’ll then see partly cloudy days to begin next week.

NWS reports slight chances (15-30%) for isolated showers and thunderstorms across the higher terrain on Sunday afternoon and early evening.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Foundation of Onvida Health, in collaboration with the AdvoKATE Foundation, is hosting its annual “Shine a Light” cancer awareness event that invites the community to come together in support of children affected by cancer.

The event encourages attendees to pause, reflect, and unite in honor of the children and families impacted by pediatric cancer, those currently in treatment, survivors, and those who have lost their battle.

This year, “Shine a Light” is expanding its mission by adding a fundraising component. Community members, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to contribute to the Pediatric Oncology Support Fund at the Foundation, which helps provide essential resources and support for young patients and their families.

“It’s all about awareness,” said Kristan Sheppeard, board member of the AdvoKATE Foundation. “We just don’t want to forget what these kids are going through, what they have gone through in the past, the ones going through it right now and the ones that will go through it. We Want them to know we’re here – and really, ultimately, hopefully fund a cure for these diseases.”

The “Shine a Light” event will take place on Saturday, September 6 at the Serenity Garden at the Onvida Health Cancer and Blood Disorder Center. The public is welcome to attend and stand in solidarity with children and families who are facing the challenges of cancer every day.

If you would like to donate, you can do so here.

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