Category: kyma-local-news

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – We all know how the summer heat can get in the Imperial Valley, that is why the fire departments encourage people to carry their waters or drink some water. 

The Imperial County Fire Department says it’s starting to prepare by meeting with other agencies around the county. 

“Preparations include obviously getting ready and adequately prepared as far as our resources are needed, partially in those areas where we see the highest incidents related to the heat,” said Cedric Ceseña, Imperial County Fire Deputy Chief of Operations.

The county will have different cooling centers at several places, including the Imperial Valley mall food court.

Imperial County says this year it’s focusing on areas where they see the highest number of heat-related illnesses.

“This year, the two focused areas in the Imperial County Office of Emergency Services are going to be Seeley and Niland on the north end of the county, and basically what we are planning to do is open up our cooling centers and have two new stations in both of those townships,” said Ceseña.

This are the cooling centers in Imperial County.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The dream of launching rockets in Yuma is still alive, but taking longer to get the ground.

Yuma’s spaceport project once had a goal of launching rockets by late 2026.

Now, the target has delayed, but many in the community say there still on board, as long as it brings growth to the city.

The countdown is still ticking for a spaceport, but just a bit slower than planned.

Some locals say this delay doesn’t bother them as long as it brings growth.

“Anything that will bring employment and economy to Yuma. We’ve been here 30 years and we’re not from here, and we love Yuma, so I’m for it! Any growth for us is good,” said Winnie Kelly, a local.

City of Yuma Administrator Jay Simonton now projects a launch could happen in 2028 or 2029, but not before Yuma clears several hurdles.

“We’ve got to build the infrastructure. We’ve got to build the spaceport. We’ve got to get the rocket companies here. We’ve got to get all the agreements with the FAA worked out for the rocket company. There’s a lot of steps, but we’re getting there,” said Simonton.

With only a few commercial spaceports nationwide, Simonton says he’s confident they’ll gain interest from investors.

“I think once we have that license in place these companies will be coming to Yuma because ‘Hey, we need a place to launch’ and I think they’ll make the investment to build that spaceport. We’re really confident that will happen,” explained Simonton.

The City expects to complete its environmental review and FAA license application by 2026. After that, they can move into design and construction, putting Yuma on track for its first launch in a few years.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local Somerton kids get a taste of the real world. The “Bite of Reality” event provided an interactive life simulation where kids get to experience spending and buying in real life situations.

They are assigned a persona and initial budget and then have to make purchases like a car, house, food, and more on an interactive app, with the goal to stay on budget.

Campesinos Sin Fronteras is hosting the three-week life skills camp, providing funding for 100 kids from Somerton and San Luis combined. They are partnering with Avenir Financial for the “Bite of Reality” simulation.

One student says they are thankful and learned how to better manage money.

“I’m learning how to take care of like, you know, like make it last longer too,” said participant Analia Soto.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – As summer temperatures climb in California’s farming regions, a new study from San Diego State University (SDSU) is raising alarms about the heat risks agricultural workers face daily, and how much rest they need to survive it.

Researchers looked at weather conditions in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys, where farmworkers regularly labor under intense sun. They found that in extreme heat, workers may need up to 32 minutes of rest per hour to avoid heat stress.

“There are more than 300,000 farmworkers active in these crop fields, and they are exposed to high heat stress every day as they work in those fields,” said Sagar Parajuli, a research scientist at SDSU.

The research team used local weather data and existing safety guidelines to determine when conditions become too dangerous for prolonged physical labor. Their findings suggest that breaks aren’t just helpful, they’re essential.

Despite existing regulations, farmworker advocates say these protections often go unenforced, especially among workers hired through small labor contractors.

“They don’t respect their breaks, or give them enough shade, or give them fresh water…It’s hard sometimes because many workers don’t work directly for big companies, but for smaller contractors who don’t always follow the rules,” said Ruben Partida with Comité de Acción del Valle.

Imperial County consistently reports the highest rate of heat-related illness in California, according to state data. That makes enforcement of heat safety guidelines more urgent than ever.

“The people work day to day, so sometimes they prefer to stay quiet to conserve their job, but what happens when they stay quiet is their working conditions become deplorable,” Partida added.

Researchers emphasize that rest breaks, water, and shade aren’t optional, they are scientifically proven tools to protect health.

“The farmworkers are the people who bring food to our table, they’re hardworking people, so we are responsible for protecting them,” Parajuli said.

For the full research article, click here.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Adelita Grijalva is running a campaign rooted in experience and legacy touring local nonprofits and service hubs as she continues her bit to represent Arizona’s 7th congressional district.

She says listening to the communities needs is the center of her campaign.

“When we look at what’s needed in Yuma, and the people I’ve talked to, they need a process. They need to feel safe and secure and they need families to be able to have opportunities,” she says. “You can go away and go to college but also know when you come back you can come home and have a place were you’ll thrive and have a beautiful quality of life.”

Grijalva adds no two communities are the same and recognizes different areas have different needs. She says a strong representative must be flexible and present.

“What San Luis needs is different than Somerton and different that Douglas and Nogales. And I need to be a good representative for everybody, and the only way to do that is to meet on a regular basis,” says Grijalva.

Grijalva says shes heard different concerns in every stop, from bumpy roads to lack of transportation. She plans to be the voice for communities like ours to be heard.

“Every community that I visited feels their community is safe. They just want more resources…they want more transportation, they want improved roadways, they want United States Postal Service,” Grijalva explained. “I mean, there are things that are very unique to different communities here in Yuma, and I wanna be able to highlight those and fight for them in Congress.”

Though she’s been in public service for years, Grijalva says this campaign reaffirms her commitment to lead and listen.

“I’m very excited about going on a listening tour. I’ve started some of that here as a candidate, but with a member in congress, you also have opportunities to bring more people together, and I’m excited about that opportunity,” she expressed.

Grijalva will continue to visit different cities across the district not just in aims to win votes, but to build trust.

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Adrik Vargas

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Brawley Police Department is undergoing renovations, but not everyone agrees on whether the project should be a priority.

The remodeling has been happening in phases with updates to parking, building spaces, and now the department’s main lobby.

The city says the improvements will provide additional space to help the department serve a growing community.

“They have additional space, but I think if there is additional funding, they could use it in the community. It’d be a better resource,” said Tamara Alexander, a local resident.

Others say they would like to see more focus on public spaces.

“Well, I do think remodeling is important, but I would like to see money going to youth programs, the pooI, I think that’s a big one,” said Diana Gomez, another resident.

Mayor Gil Rebollar says the upgrades are aimed at meeting the department’s evolving needs.

“Over the last four years, the City of Brawley has seen significant expansion in its police programs, especially those aimed at youth engagement and public safety,” Rebollar said. “We’ve gone from zero to approximately 400 youth actively participating in our programs. That level of growth requires space for our team and for meeting with community members in a professional setting.”

Some residents say they hope investments in staffing will also be a focus moving forward.

“I think recruiting officers would be a better way to spend city funds,” said Bryan Alexander, a local resident.

Others hope the department continues building connections with the community.

“Just put the police officers that work hard every day within the agency in a positive light and build a rapport with their community so that the youth coming up in the community actually have a rapport with them and respect them,” Tamara added.

Mayor Rebollar says keeping facilities updated is part of ensuring that the department remains accessible and prepared to serve residents.

“When community members come to the police department, whether for a youth program, a confidential conversation, or to seek help, they deserve a safe, welcoming, and professional environment,” he said. “These updates reflect our commitment to transparency, community engagement, and operational excellence.”

The remodel is moving forward as the department and city continue to balance priorities.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has opened a public comment period for a special proposal, and they would like to hear your input.

“It’s an air quality protection permit to ensure that we protect the air quality in the Yuma area near the facility,” said ADEQ’s Air Quality Division Director Daniel Czecholinski. “It’s for a facility that is going to be processing agriculture biomass, so waste from farms and stuff like that. And it’s a pulping facility, so they are trying to make it making a pulp out of that.”

The Yuma Bioprocessing Facility would be located at 2992 S. Rebecca Avenue Yuma, Arizona 85365. They need the permit prior to operation.

The comment period runs from June 4 to July 4. It gives residents a chance to share their thoughts on the permit before final approval.

There will also be a virtual public hearing on July 3 at 3:00 p.m. You can register here.

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Adrik Vargas

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Starting July 1, Californians will see a new hit to their wallets, gas prices are going up by about 65 cents per gallon. It’s part of the state’s push to fight climate change by requiring cleaner fuel at the pump.

The new rule comes from California’s Air Resources Board, which is trying to get the state to carbon neutrality by 2045. This means fuel companies have to start using more low-carbon blends like biofuels and renewable diesel and those are more expensive to make.

While the goal is to help the planet, drivers are asking: Why should they be the ones paying the price?

“I think it should be taken care of 50/50,” said Yax Covarruvia-Joshi, a local resident. “Gas companies should provide relief to the customers who are just trying to get through these conditions.”

Lawmakers had a chance to block the hike with a bill called SB2, but it didn’t pass. So the increase is moving forward.

And for some, it’s just too much.

“I think we pay a lot for everything already,” said Elizabeth Galvez, another local. “We can’t afford increases in a lot of things, especially gas.”

Working families say the bump at the pump may seem small, but it adds up fast.

“65 cents doesn’t seem like a lot,” Yax added, “But then again, if you look at the overall budget of the household.”

Especially for people like Jennifer Favela, who commute every day for work.

“I travel a lot for my job,” she said. “So just getting to work will cost me more.”

California’s green goals are big, but so is the price tag. For many in Imperial County, the cost is hitting close to home.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma community is coming together Sunday in memory of the two-year-old boy suspected of being murdered by his mother.

Kano Aguerro was found dead last week while his mother, 20-year-old Angelina Vazquez, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Miguel Garcia, were formally charged for the child’s murder.

Locals are coming together to show their support for the child.

“I did have the privilege of meeting baby Kano one time, and I just think that no child deserves this,” said vigil organizer Shirley Senseney.

Senseney says the vigil will also spread an important message to other moms.

“I think that us as mothers should know that there is a community that stands when they feel out, when they feel that they can’t do it, when they feel that they aren’t capable of taking care of a child that there are people out there that will help,” Senseney said.

Kano’s father, Ethan Aguerro, appreciates the support for the community.

“It really makes me happy that everybody, everybody has just been, just been there for me and for them to want to do a candlelight vigil,” Aguerro says.

The vigil will take place this Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Ocean to Ocean Gateway Park where everyone is welcome to attend.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – June is Men’s Mental Health Month and we spoke with locals who shared some ways they’re coping with the struggles some men face when it comes to their own mental health.

Steven Garnica, owner of Hidden Valley Strength & Conditioning/Crossfit, says, “Work, work, and work and push your feelings to the side.”

That’s the message men usually hear while growing up, along with “boys don’t cry” and “be a man.”

These common messages can serve as a reason for men to keep those feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress bottled in, which can be unhealthy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2023 male suicide rates were nearly four times higher than female rates.

Part of that is men are less likely to ask for assistance compared to women.

Local Douglas Osbourne says he relies on his religious beliefs when he needs a lift.

“You don’t have to have a fancy prayer. You don’t have to say anything special. It’s just between you and God and he’s hearing it. Don’t be afraid to cry. Don’t be afraid to share. Don’t keep it in because that can cause damage,” he shared.

Garnica says his key to mental health wellness is getting the body moving.

“You’re feelings get pushed to the side through alcohol, or more food but now it’s important because exercise is taking the forefront,” he explained.

Garnica says appreciate the challenge because on the other side is growth.

“Do hard things and exercise does that for you. It boosts the endorphin rush you get from it but it also boosts your self-esteem,” Garnica shared.

Gina Portello, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Onvida Health, says the most common mental health illness her male patients suffer from is depression.

She encourages all men to follow this mental health wellness routine: “Prioritizing sleep, having a heart healthy diet, being physically active, continuing to interact with family members and friends, as well as practicing mindfulness.”

If the routine doesn’t work for you, Botello says it’s important to seek help.

To learn more about local behavioral health services available, click here.

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