Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture found both an Asian citrus psyllid, an insect, and citrus trees carrying a disease called Citrus greening disease in Nogales, Arizona.

Citrus greening disease is one of the most devastating citrus diseases there is. The disease was found in private properties almost all along one street in January. Citrus greening is a significant concern in Florida because the climate there is tropical.

However, Dr. Glenn Wright, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Fruit Crops with the University of Arizona School of Plant Sciences, says just because it was found in Nogales, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be found in Yuma anytime soon.

“Here in Arizona, we don’t have flush all the time because it’s either a little bit too cold or it’s too hot. In fact, there was a very nice study out of the University of California that suggested that when the insect is subjected to more than six hours of 109°F or more, it doesn’t complete its life cycle. So that in and of itself, as well as the fact that we don’t have flush nice tender growth year round, makes Yuma a pretty inhospitable place for the insect and as a result for the disease,” said Dr. Wright.

A quarantine has been placed in the city of Nogales around the discovery site. To date, the USDA and the Arizona Department of Agriculture have found the disease on 17 trees across 13 different properties.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Save a life this summer! One of Arizona’s major blood providers is in need of more blood donors for its upcoming blood drive.

Vitalant supplies 62 hospitals across Arizona including Yuma County. Vitalant says more than 600 blood donors are needed every single day. They see a decline in blood donations during the holidays and the summertime.

“We do struggle to collect blood here in the summer. All of our high schools are out during the summer, and actually one in every six blood donations come from a teenage donor, so with those high schools being out, we collect a lot less blood donations,” said Vitalant account manager Cameron Klug. “And then colleges are also a large source of blood donors as well, and so they’re out of school right now. So we really need help from the local community in order to support the blood supply.”

When you donate blood from now until September 7, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a 2025 Voltzwagon Taos S. donated by their Valley Volkswagen Dealers.

There are several upcoming blood drives in Yuma:

Monday, 06/09/2025 Onvida Health – Yuma Medical Center – Administrative Entrance2400 S Avenue AYUMA, AZ, 85364Open 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, 06/10/2025- Onvida Health – Yuma Medical Center – Administrative Entrance2400 S Avenue AYUMA, AZ, 85364Open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Wednesday, 06/11/2025- Ativo Senior Living – Ativo Senior Living – Sedona Cinema Roo10565 S Commercial CenterYUMA, AZ, 85367Open 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Thursday, 06/12/2025 – Emerald Springs Senior Living – Jade Room1475 S 46th AveYUMA, AZ, 85364Open 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Friday, 06/13/2025 – SUN VISTA RV RESORT – Ballroom Alcove7201 E 32nd StreetYUMA, AZ, 85365Open 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Thursday, 07/31/25 – Yuma Main Library2951 S. 21st Dr.YUMA, AZ, 85364Open 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday, 08/01/25 – Yuma Main Library2951 S. 21st Dr.YUMA, AZ, 85364Open 10:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, 08/02/25 – Yuma Main Library2951 S. 21st Dr.YUMA, AZ, 85364Open 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

You can visit here to schedule an appointment.

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Marcos Icahuate

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A man missing in the Imperial Valley since last week has been found dead.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office said 61-year-old Ruben Garcia was found dead Tuesday morning in his vehicle.

The vehicle was located in the Rockwood Canal by Mead Road and Dogwood Road.

Garcia went missing last Friday. 

We’re still waiting on the cause of death.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma mother has been formally charged for the murder of her two-year old-son, Kano Aguerro.

KYMA spoke with both sides of the two-year-old Kano’s family and shared what they had to say about this tragedy.

20-year-old Angelina Vasquez and her boyfriend, 23-year old Miguel Garcia are facing three felony charges.

They are first-degree murder, child abuse, and the abandonment or concealment of a dead body, all three charges tied to domestic violence.

KYMA spoke with Kano’s father Ethan Aguerro outside of the court house about thoughts in which he replied “A mix of emotions, everything. I was just trying so hard not to yell. It’s just really difficult. Like I said, I really don’t have much to say. I just want justice for my son,”.

KYMA also learned that investigators believe this all happened sometime between March 7 and May 30 of this year.

Manoah Tuiasosopo spoke with the younger brother of the boy’s mom, Hector Vasquez, who recalls the last time he saw his nephew.

“Halloween. He was dressed up as Spider-Man. He was happy when seen me and my daughter. I just really miss him,” he stated.

He says he and his sister had a tough upbringing but makes it clear he is not defending his sister’s actions.

“I lost my sister and my nephew Kano. My sister is not a victim and she has whatever comes her way. I hope the judge gives her what she deserves,” Vasquez explained.

KYMA asked him if he knew much about the boyfriend, 23-year-old Miguel Garcia, but he replied “No. The few things I would hear about him was through my sister when we used to work together.”

The case remains in its early stages, but the victim’s father says he’ll keep fighting for justice.

“It’s still in progress. It’s still set at where it was from the start. We’ve got another upcoming court date and I will be there,” Aguerro shared.

Investigators as well as the families still trying to piece the puzzle together.

Vasquez added, “Just one more thing. If anyone has any information who was close to my nephew Kano, doesn’t matter if it’s small, just give it to them.”

Both suspects still have their bonds set at $2 million cash only and will be back in court next week.

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Marcos Icahuate

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Brawley police are looking for a person who went missing.

Ruben Garcia is a 61-year-old Hispanic with brown eyes, weights 190 pounds, is 5’7″ and has gray hair.

Garcia was last seen wearing a flannel shirt at Anaya Ranch in Brawley.

He was missing since May 30, 2025.

If you have any information on Garcia’s whereabouts, reach out to Brawley police at (760) 344-2111, or El Centro police at (760) 352-2111.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Allo Fiber has been recognized as a VETS Indexes 5-star Employer for the second year in a row.

The prestigious award recognizes organizations that demonstrate commitment to recruiting, hiring, and supporting Veterans.

Allo Fiber says Veterans are an essential part of its workforce and culture, with over 200 Veteran employees.

Local Veteran Ivan Macias who works for Allo says his time in the service applies perfectly to his job.

“It’s a great place and good benefits for the family. That’s something really important for Veterans. They challenge you every day, so it’s something that Veterans look for, a place where they can meet and build, build a brothership like you have in the military,” Macias shared.

For any Veterans interested in applying, click here to learn more.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Onvida Health has chosen a local construction company to build its new 50,000-square-foot Health Careers Center.

It’s Pilkington Construction that will be leading the way.

Clint Harrington, President of Pilkington Construction, says, “Everybody wants to build this building…This is right up our alley.”

In collaboration with Arizona Western College, the new Health Careers Center will be a training ground for future healthcare professionals in and from Yuma, housing numerous medical certificate and degree programs and cutting-edge simulation labs.

Onvida Health CEO Dr. Robert Trenschel says this partnership will also benefit the local economy by providing jobs for the local labor workforce.

“Pilkington has committed to use local contractors so those individuals will have work, they’ll make dollars, and they’ll spend those dollars in our community,” Trenschel explains.

He says it’s like a match made in Heaven adding, “It’s a great story because you’ve got a local contractor building a local building for local students to be educated and trained here and hopefully work here. So, it’s a good news story we think all around.”

Harrington says he plans to make a statement with this new facility.

“My goal is to be the last general contractor that Onvida ever needs to use. Building the building is easy enough, but our goal here is to blow Onvida away. We want an A++,” Harrington stated.

The building will be located behind the Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital off 24th Street and 8th Avenue and is set to be completed in early 2027.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance (GYWSA) is inviting the Yuma community to attend Water Safety Day this weekend.

The event starts at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the Valley Aquatic Center with a pre-pool party featuring free hotdogs, music and safety demonstrations.

Public swimming opens at 11:00 a.m. and runs until 6:00 p.m., with activities including CPR lessons, life-jacket fittings and swift-water rescue demos.

The event is free and focused on keeping families safe around the water. To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is implementing passenger vehicle Ready Lanes at the Calexico West Port of Entry.

Taking effect Tuesday, June 3, at midnight, CBP says travelers can use the Ready Lanes if they have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) compliant document, which includes the following items:

U.S. Passport Cards

Enhanced Driver’s Licenses

Enhanced Tribal Cards

Enhanced Border Crossing Cards

Enhanced Permanent Resident Cards

Trusted Traveler Program cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST)

However, CBP says, REAL IDs do not serve as RFID compliant document as REAL IDs are different from Enhanced Driver’s Licenses.

To learn more about the Ready Lanes, and how to use them, read the press release below.

5-28-25 CBP introducing dedicated Ready Lanes at Calexico West Port of EntryDownload

CBP says it’s to help reduce the long lines and the long wait times travelers experience. A Calexico local says she doesn’t cross to Mexicali, Mexico due to the long lines.

“Sometimes to go to Mexicali, it’s four hours to get back and that’s why we don’t even go,” said Norma Rodriguez.

Locals say sometimes they wait up to four hours just to get back to the U.S., however, others say there is more to be done. 

“It’s all regarding the immigration inspection. Now, they are being very specific. They are taking their time. There is no time limits or anything like that so this new port of entry looks very nice and there is more lanes open and I would imagine the reason they did it is to be faster, but it’s not faster,” said Cesar Aredalos, a Calexico resident.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – There is new development in the house fire on 10th Avenue this past weekend where two people died.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) and Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to a house fire before 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of S. 10th Avenue and W. 16th Street.

Crews from YFD arrived on scene and found “heavy smoke coming from multiple openings of the home.”

Crews entered the home separately and found two people, whom YPD identified as 32-year-old Dustin Trease and 31-year-old Leticia Villareal, unconscious with gunshot wounds. They then pulled them out of the home.

The fire was upgraded to a second alarm, with additional resources responding to the area, and after crews immediately exited the home once they finished conducting an additional search, they battled the fire to make sure it did not spread.

While no firefighter injures were reported, Trease and Villareal were pronounced dead on scene.

The investigation remains ongoing, and if anyone has any information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

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