Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – With the Extreme Heat Warning in place, locals are heading to cooling centers to beat the heat.

There are 18 cooling centers and three water sites for people to receive water throughout Yuma County. There are 12 total locations within Yuma, and nine within Somerton and San Luis.

These locations include the Yuma Community Food Bank, Yuma County Libraries, and the Crossroads Mission.

Harry M. Wilson, a local cooling down at the Crossroads center, says these places are important for the community.

“Most people aren’t used to this heat, and it’s a dry heat so it’s hot. I’ve lived here before many years ago, but still I’ve come back and not I’m not used to the heat again, so I got to get used to it,” Wilson says.

At the crossroads there is a shaded area where they supply them water, snacks, and whatever else they may have.

Myra Garlit, the CEO of Crossroads, shares why they help, especially on hot days.

“We know that it’s important to stay hydrated, stay in the shade, and take care of yourself. That’s why we want to do it, we want to help,” Garlit says.

The Crossroads shares how helping others during hot days could lead helping them even more in the future as well.

“I think that if you can feed, give them food and water at some point, they may want to change their life, I tell the staff look for that window of opportunity when they’re ready to change,” Garlit said.

For a full list of the cooling centers and there hours click on the link HERE.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Humane Society of Imperial County is struggling to keep up with a growing number of animals in need, leaving staff stretched thin and cages stacked high.

The shelter says it is over capacity, caring for more animals than it has space or resources to support. Staff stress that community support through adoptions, spay and neuter programs, and donations is essential to continuing their no-kill mission.

“People want designer dogs for the bragging rights, but there are animals in the shelters that need homes,” said shelter director Devon Apodaca. “If people don’t step up, they’re going to lose their lives.”

Apodaca says the shelter takes in 20 to 30 animals a week from animal control alone, and resources across the county are limited.

“A lot of people don’t have access to veterinary care for their pets. Imperial County has one vet, and that veterinarian is overwhelmed. It’s very difficult to get an appointment,” he said.

The Humane Society emphasizes that every adoption helps save two lives, the animal that goes home and the one that can take its place at the shelter.

“For the shelter, every life saved counts, and we need the community to help,” Apodaca said.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – For the second time, the father accused of leaving his toddler unattended in a car in El Centro did not appear in court Wednesday or Thursday due to medical reasons.

Judge Christopher Plourd noted there may be psychiatric concerns and considered sending the case to mental health court.

The Imperial County District Attorney’s Office said courts must ensure defendants understand the charges and can fully participate in the process.

“It got continued for one more day. And at that time, the court, if he shows up or if he doesn’t show up, the court can then take action, maybe set it for an evaluation and set him to be evaluated. And that’s one of the court’s options,” said George Marquez, Imperial County District Attorney.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court again Friday for the third time.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Some tax relief will be coming to Yuma following a lawsuit regarding illegal taxes.

The Yuma County Hospital District Board argued for a property tax to be imposed while bypassing voters, but Arizona law states that the taxes can only be imposed after voter approval.

Onvida Health, formerly Yuma Regional Medical Center, filed the lawsuit in 2020 stating the District breached a lease agreement to include an increase in rent.

In December of 2023, the Goldwater Institute announced they sued the District.

The Hospital District agreed to pay over $4 million, which will be credited towards 2025-2026 property tax bills.

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Adrik Vargas

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) The Brawley man found guilty of murdering his wife was handed decades behind bars Friday. 

38-year-old Rodrigo Flores Gomez was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the 2024 murder of his wife, 36-year-old Sandy Fabela.

According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, Gomez strangled Fabela inside their home in Brawley last April.

During the sentencing, Fabela’s family was filled with emotion, leading the victim’s brother to take the stand to talk about the loss of his sister.

The family says the damage done was not only to them, but to the entire community.

 

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Extreme Weather Emergency Tour made a pit stop in Yuma Friday.

The purpose is to highlight how climate change is making weather worse and work on solutions to make a change.

Charlene Fernandez, former State Director for Arizona, says, “There was a special emphasis and dedicated money to make sure that we address climate change.”

With the Trump administration rolling back on grants for climate protections, the tour shared concerns for how this is weakening disaster response.

Speakers provided recent examples of how the issue has been affecting the nation through extreme heat, fires, and floods.

Arizona State Representative Mariana Sandovol (D-District 23) shared how it’s affecting our community.

“Look around you, look at how things have changed, and how hotter it is, I mean we have record heat last summer, here in Yuma, like over 110 for like over 30 days,” says Mariana Sandoval.

Some locals agree and are as concerned as the representatives on the tour.

Carolyn Millers, a Yuma local, states, “I notice my APS bills rising, and I do believe that climates are changing.”

Others believe there is nothing to worry about, with Yuma residet Jim Flagg saying, “There is no problem at all. I don’t believe in it, no. There’s no change except going to different states, but the climate is the same.”

While some locals don’t believe that climate change is real, the event coordinators disagree, saying that climate change is no longer a distant threat. We are living in it.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The leader of a Yuma-based human smuggling network was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol says 22-year-old Carlos Moreno Serrano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants.

Agents say Serrano was responsible for organizing smuggling attempts for hundreds of illegal immigrants across the United States-Mexico border and further into the U.S.

A total of 18 suspects were indicted in connection with the smuggling network based out of Yuma.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) is working to piece together what led up to a rollover crash which led to one person being ejected for a vehicle.

According to a press release, the crash happened at around 10:00 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Lotus Avenue and Main Street, near Sunflower Elementary School.

When officers arrived, ECPD says they found one person had been ejected from a vehicle, prompting paramedics to provide emergency medical care to those injured.

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

According to witnesses and findings from the scene, ECPD says their investigators believe the crash was caused by a driver traveling at high speeds and driving recklessly.

The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding the case, call ECPD at (790) 352-2111, visit the station in-person, or reach out through their official social media platforms.

Press Release 8-22-25Download

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Somerton mother is fighting to keep her children on the road to recovery by holding a car wash Saturday morning.

The car wash fundraiser took place at the Taco Monster, located at 2198 S. 4th Avenue, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Krystle Zaragoza says both of her teen children are currently in in-patient mental health treatment and after a sudden loss of insurance coverage she’s now struggling to keep them there.

Her son and daughter are both receiving intensive, life-saving mental health treatment.

The family’s new insurance coverage won’t begin until September which leaves the family to cover the entire month of August alone.

Zaragoza says her family held the car wash to help alleviate some of the heavy burden.

“It’s just me so it’s really costly, and I don’t wanna rip them out of the treatment midway because they’ve been in there already part of the time and it’s really important. I just want them to be able to come home mentally prepared and and better,” Zaragoza expressed.

If you missed out on the event, and would like to help the Zaragoza family, you can donate to Zaragoza’s Venmo account: @kay-marie-1220.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating a crash where one teen died.

According to a press release, the crash happened at around 7:40 p.m. Friday in the area of Aten and Silsbee Road.

CHP says a 14-year-old boy was “driving an electric motorcycle (e-bike) westbound on Aten Road, approaching Silsbee Road” while an 17-year-old boy was driving a white Toyota Tacoma eastbound on Aten Road, also approaching Silsbee Road.

For unknown reasons, CHP says the e-bike and the Tacoma crashed, “causing the rider of the e-bike to be ejected,” and the driver of the Tacoma pulled over, called 911 and waited for CHP to arrive.

Paramedics then responded and took the rider of the e-bike to El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), where he later died, according to CHP.

CHP also says the Imperial County Coroner’s Office was notified, responded to ECRMC and took possession of the victim whose name will be released once next of kin has been notified.

According to CHP, impairment did not factor in the crash, the driver of the Tacoma was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured in the crash, and the rider of the e-bike was wearing his helmet.

The investigation remains ongoing.

2 veh 1144 veh vs ebike Aten east of silsbeeDownload

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