Category: kyma-local-news

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health is receiving national recognition during National Nurses Week after being named one of Nursegrid’s “Great Workplaces for Nurses” in 2026, placing the organization among a select group of hospitals nationwide highlighted for strong nursing environments.

Out of 7,700 facilities represented on the Nursegrid platform, Onvida Health was one of just 204 hospitals across the country to earn the distinction.

The recognition is based entirely on feedback from frontline nurses, focusing on workplace culture, leadership support, collaboration among care teams and opportunities for professional growth.

Onvida Health’s Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Cassie Mueller, says the honor reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to its nursing staff and the environment they work in every day.

“What sets us apart is the alignment with our purpose of building a healthier tomorrow,” Mueller said. “This is our community where all of us live. We want to see the best health care for our friends, for our community members, for our patients here.”

Onvida Health says the recognition is also a reflection of the teamwork and support nurses experience throughout their healthcare system as they continue providing valuable care for patients across Yuma County.

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Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The wait is finally over for “Caniacs” across the Imperial Valley as Raising Cane’s officially opened its doors Tuesday.

The grand opening drew in massive crowd of hundreds of eager fans, with some even camping out overnight in lawn chairs and blankets to be the first in line.

By the time the doors officially swung open, a massive crowd of fans stretched across the storefront while cars wrapped entirely around the building, creating a double-loop of excitement for both the lobby and the drive-thru.

Located at 2299 N. Imperial Avenue, just north of Interstate 8, the new restaurant kicked off its grand opening with a vibrant celebration.

The festivities began early Tuesday morning with a “Lucky 20” raffle, awarding 20 lucky customers free Raising Cane’s for a year.

The event featured a strong local presence, including performances by the Central Union High School Cheerleaders and an appearance by the Drifters Car Club.

A live DJ provided the soundtrack for the morning, followed by a special midday appearance by local radio personality Rudy “El Rudo” and a performance by Mariachi Acero Del Valle.

Inside, the restaurant pays homage to El Centro’s heritage with custom décor featuring local landmarks like the Algodones Dunes and tributes to hometown icons and sports teams.

The new location offers extended hours for late-night cravings:

Sunday – Thursday: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Raising Cane’s is known for a focused menu of hand-battered chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, texas toast, and their signature Cane’s Sauce, which was recently named the most craveable sauce in the industry.

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Adrik Vargas

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – People on both sides of the border are sharing their thoughts on how the changes at the San Luis Port of Entry is impacting them.

Last month, the San Luis Port of Entry opened eight lanes, two for sentry travelers and six for all traffic, and there will be eight more lanes when construction finishes.

The new border crossing will be at Second Street in San Luis, Mexico and will come in to the U.S. through William Brooks Avenue and Urtuzuastegui Street.

When we spoke with San Luis, Arizona Mayor Nieves Riedel last month, she says the new access will boost the local businesses.

While the U.S. side of the project appears more complete, construction and changes on the Mexico side is impacting traffic flow.

The Mexico side of the border exit is still under construction, leading to frustration for border crossers as temperatures begin to rise.

“Over there, you still don’t really see much action that makes you feel like it’s close to being finished yet. So, it’s a mess either way,” said Maria Robles, a resident of San Luis, Arizona.

Residents in San Luis, Arizona say the new pedestrian routes are forcing people to walk much farther than before, making it difficult for elderly people and those carrying groceries or luggage.

“Why do they make us walk so far? Me, I’m older. I have to carry groceries sometimes, I get exhausted. I think they should make the exit right here, I don’t know why Mexico hasn’t finished their exit,” said Emma Ruelles, another resident of San Luis, Arizona.

Residents say they hope Mexican authorities can speed up construction to help ease delays and make crossing the border easier.

“It’s just way too…unnecessary. The detour is so long, both coming in and going out,” said Rafael Guerrero, who works on Main Street.

Guerrero says it’s also affecting businesses on Main Street since people now have to go around the long way instead of walking straight in like before.

“My suggestion would be to open the path [on Main Street] so people can cross more easily,” Guerrero explained.

As of right now, no date is set for construction to be finished, and border crossers say they hope the changes improve traffic flow in the long run.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health has announced its team has successfully performed its first Y-90 treatment procedure targeting liver tumors.

For patients unable to undergo surgery, doctors say the treatment can be life-changing.

“As long as they follow up and everything looks good, then they can actually be transplanted, so it’s a very powerful thing,” said Dr. Kamalani Hanamaika’i.

Dr. Hanamaika’i explained that some liver cancer patients may not initially qualify for a transplant because their tumors fall outside accepted transplant criteria.

However, Y-90 treatment can sometimes shrink or destroy tumors enough to make transplantation possible.

The procedure, Y-90, uses a radioactive isotope attached to tiny beads. Doctors deliver the beads directly into the blood vessels feeding the tumor.

“An isotope that emits radiation, and we place it on beads, and we take those beads and place them into a cancer,” Hanamaika’i said. “It basically causes damage to the cancer and the tissues that it is infused with, and then that can many times kill the tumor.”

Doctors say the process is highly regulated and carefully planned from diagnosis through treatment delivery to ensure the radiation remains focused only on the intended area of the liver.

“Everything from the inception of diagnosing the cancer, planning the cancer, making sure that if we gave the radiation to the liver that it stays,” Hanamaika’i said. “And then also with delivery making sure that when we deliver, we did a good job keeping it in the liver just to the area we wanted to treat.”

The treatment can help shrink or control cancer and, in some cases, create opportunities for future surgery or even a liver transplant.

Because the radioactive beads travel only a short distance inside the body, physicians say the therapy is both precise and effective while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Patients who may benefit from Y-90 are typically referred through the Onvida Health Cancer Center after a liver tumor is identified and surgery is no longer considered an option.

“It takes a lot, it’s not like any other therapy,” Hanamaika’i said. “This is a very unique therapy that, if applied very well, has miraculous results.”

Doctors say Y-90 treatment is usually completed in a single day, allowing most patients to return home afterward while experiencing fewer side effects and a quicker recovery compared to more invasive procedures.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Police Department (YPD) detectives are continuing to investigate a deadly shooting that happened Saturday night and left two men dead.

According to YPD, officers first responded around 7:45 p.m. to reports of shots fired and a man down near Third Street and 13th Avenue.

Police say they located a 67-year-old male who was unresponsive and began life-saving measures.

“On Saturday night, at about 7:45 p.m. we received a call reference. Shots fired and a man down, 300 block of 13th Avenue,” Sgt. Lori Franklin, Public Information Officer for YPD, said.

Police sat investigators later identified a 55-year-old man as the suspected shooter. Authorities say the suspect left the scene in a vehicle before officers recieved another call just minutes later.

“At approximately 7:57 p.m., so not too long afterwards, we received a call reference attempted suicide. And that was in the 1700 block of Fifth Avenue,” Franklin said.

Officers responded to the second scene involving the suspect. Police say both men were transported to Onvida Health, where they later died.

YPD confirmed the two men knew each other, but investigators have not released details about what led up to the shooting.

“They were known to each other,” Franklin said. “Exactly what caused this [has] not been released at this time.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma says this project is going to be a one-stop transportation center.

Jennifer Reichelt with the City of Yuma said, “So really making it into a one stop shop for services like YCAT, Amtrak, Greyhound, a lot of services we have in our community, but they’re not consolidated in one location so, this will make it a one stop shop for our residents.”

The facility will serve multiple transportation services in one centralized location.

“Instead of having to go to one location to buy tickets, or to get on the Amtrak train, or go find the Greyhound bus, you’re going to have one centralized location,” Reichelt said.

The project will enhance public transportation for residents and preserve the historic character of the Hotel Del Sol site.

David Wostenberg with the City of Yuma said, “The transportation center will be about 3,000 square feet on the east side of the bottom floor, and will have exhibits showing what was in the Hotel Del Sol, giving a little bit about the history and the decor that was in there including the wood celling’s beams and the fire place.”

According to the City of Yuma, the Hotel Del Sol project will cost $19.8 million and is primarily funded through federal and state grants, with the city providing required matching funds.

Construction is expected to start in September and open in a few years.

“Hoping in late of 28 or late of 29,” Wostenberg said.

As the Hotel Del Sol becomes a public transportation site, it will serve the entire community.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Devoted Few Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club presented a $1,000 donation to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) Explorer Program during a meeting Monday night, helping support local youth involved in the program.

The Explorer Program is part of the Learning for Life career education initiative and is designed for young men and women ages 14 through 20.

The program gives participants opportunities to learn about careers in law enforcement, build leadership skills and participate in community service activities.

Officials say the donation will help the group purchase new uniforms for its members.

Members of the Devoted Few LEMC said supporting the Explorer Porgram was meaningful because many members of the club are current or former law enforcement officers.

“Our motorcycle club is basically a majority of law enforcement officers, either present or former,” Mike Cadriel, the President of the Devoted Few LEMC, said. “So just having that tie together with what we’re supporting and going back with the YCSO, really makes a difference especially for the younger kids.”

The YCSO Explorer Programs partners with local law enforcement to give young people hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities while preparing them for future careers and community involvement.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court could change how labor protections for farmworkers are enforced nationwide, including in Arizona farming communities like Yuma County.

The case involves Sun Valley Orchards, a New Jersey farm accused of violating rules tied to the H-2A guest worker program.

The Supreme Court will decide whether labor violation cases should continue to be handled through the U.S. Department of Labor’s internal system or move through federal courts instead.

Farmworker advocates say the outcome could have major consequences for workers reporting unsafe conditions.

“Farmworkers rely on the good faith of their employers as protections,” said Jazmin Moreno, a farmworker advocate with Agave Threads.

Moreno said she worries requiring more cases to go through federal courts could slow enforcement and discourage workers from speaking out.

“Here comes another barrier for them to have a stable work environment and dignity at their workplace,” Moreno said. “Farmworkers across the country are continuously exploited and met with unsafe working conditions.”

She said farmworkers she has spoken with in Yuma are often afraid to report problems out of fear of deportation or losing housing tied to their jobs.

“We know that with the specific visa that H-2A workers are tied to their employer,” Moreno said. “Violations are rampant because who is going to go against the people who feed you, clothe you and give you a roof?”

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments later this year, with a ruling anticipated by mid-2027.

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Abraham Retana

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A state of the art bus station starts its operations in the Imperial Valley.

The new bus station in Calexico was in the works for more than 10 years.

Imperial County Transportation Commission Executive Director David Aguirre says the new facility will bring better service to people from both sides of the border.

“This location is substituting the location on Third and Paulin. We also have dial-a-ride services, we have our access transit services. We have our non-emergency transportation that’s call med-trans and we also have Calexico on demand which is our news service in Calexico,” said Aguirre.

The total price tag of the project was $20 million.

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) says he was able to bring $17 million from the federal government.

“The cleaner air means the students are going to get to school and workers are going to be able to get to work. There will be dedicated buses and pick up spots for farm workers in an organized orderly way,” said Rep. Ruiz.

Calexico Mayor Victor Legaspi says the city is working with the transit system to have a safe place for customers.

“They have private security here and police will patrol general areas, we are going to look into that, but it’s a good spot,” said Mayor Legaspi.

Imperial County is also working in developing a smaller scale center by the Calexico East Port of Entry.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) met with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 in Calexico Monday.

According to a press release, the meeting, which state and local agency representatives and Imperial County community stakeholders, was to “advance solutions to the New River crisis” in the county.

The meeting, according to the press release, comes almost one month after a hearing, held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, on the FY2027 EPA Budget Request.

During last month’s hearing, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said he was committed to “visiting the New River region, engaging with the binational water quality study, and applying the federal model used to address the Tijuana River crisis to the New River.”

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

PR_NewRiver_Calexico_05-11-2026_FINAL_LFCDownload

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