Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma School District One says their students outperformed the Arizona state average on the 2025 Multi-State Alternative Assessment (MSAA) for students with special needs.

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, the MSAA is the state’s “annual assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities,” providing them “the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of grade-level standards.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

District One says MSAA administered the assessment to third through eighth grade students in English and math, and fifth and eighth grade students in science.

In addition, District One said, “Each grade level met or exceeded the state’s average scale score for each subject,” and has “a higher percentage of ESS students scored ‘proficient’ or ‘highly Proficient,’ compared to the state average.”

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

Courtesy: Yuma School District One

“The results of standardized assessments are one way our students demonstrate success,” stated Matthew Kaste, Director of Exceptional Student Services. “Their achievement also reflects the impact of our highly qualified team of teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff who are dedicated to providing personalized instruction, high quality learning environments, and specialized programs that help students excel.”

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

ESS Outperforms AZ StateDownload

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is searching for a vehicle involved in a hit and run.

According to a post on Facebook, it happened in the area of S. 21st Avenue on August 6 at around 2:30 a.m.

YPD says the vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, dark in color, was driving southbound on 21st Avenue when it crashed into a residential fence.

After it sustained heavy front-end damage, the Malibu was then seen driving away going westbound on Eighth Street.

Courtesy: Yuma Police Department

If anyone has any information regarding the vehicle or the driver, call YPD at (928) 783-4421, or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Karina Bazarte

NILAND, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A mobile home was completely destroyed after it caught on fire in Niland Sunday night.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says no one was in or near the mobile home at the time of the fire.

“It took about an hour for units to clear the scene but we had initial knocked out with in the 15 minutes of the call,” said Cedric Ceseña with ICFD.

Fire crews say no one was on the property Sunday night when the fire started, but it looks like the place was still being used.

ICFD says one of the challenges was the lack of water in the area.

“What we work is making sure we have the equipment to bring water into these emergencies, so we have water tenders or water tanks that [brings] 2,500 gallons of water at a time in order for us to fight the fire. For example, this fire more less it took about 1,300 gallons of water to put out,” said Ceseña.

Firefighters says it’s difficult to know where the fire started or how, but it’s under investigation.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A toddler in El Centro dies after being left inside a hot car Monday, according to the El Centro Police Department (ECPD).

According to a press release, officers responded to the area of Woodward Avenue and N. Seventh Street at around 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports of an unresponsive toddler.

Upon arrival, ECPD says officers performed lifesaving measures, and the child was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center.

However, ECPD said despite efforts by officers and medical personnel, the child later died at the hospital.

ECPD says the child had been left alone inside a vehicle “for an extended period of time,” and the child’s father, a 37-year-old man from El Centro, was arrested for “various charges related to the child’s death.”

The investigation remains ongoing. If anyone has any information regarding the case, call (760) 352-2111, visit ECPD headquarters in person, or reach out to their social media platforms.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) continues its trend of decreasing their dropout rate each year by achieving a 1.13% rate.

The district is made up of seven schools, and they have a combined dropout rate of just over one percent.

This year, five schools saw rates of under 1%. Meanwhile, the state’s average is around 4.5%.

Landon Haromeny, a local senior at Cibola High School student, shares why it’s important to stay in school.

“It’s your future. I don’t know why you would want to jeopardize yourself, or put yourself in that situation and drop out when you can go here for four years, get an education and pursue further excellence,” Haromey says.

Yescina Cuming, a droupout rate prevention specialist for Cibola High School, shares how everyone has contributed to make this happen.

“It really takes the entire community. It’s teachers, parents, the students themselves, we also partner with juvenile court and other agencies outside of the Yuma Union High School District,” Cuming said.

Harmoney also shares what kind opportunities schools can provide.

“Obviously kids don’t want to do it, they want to stay home, they just want to be lazy but staying school is one of the most important things, and you build personal relationships, you build grades, you build everything here at school and so it’s very important to stay here,” he says.

Meanwhile, Cuming shares how she does her best to ensure a student’s success.

“Building relationships and having ongoing communication, this includes with students and parents or guardians alike, it’s very important for them to realize that attendance is very important for their student’s academic success,” she said.

This is the second year in a row where the district has maintained its dropout rate of less than two percent.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A resource fair is happening in Yuma to support Veterans and active-duty service members by connecting them with essential services and local programs.

The event is part of the Be Connected Initiative hosted by the Arizona Coalition for Military Families, a statewide effort focused on building a strong network of support for military members, Veterans, and their families.

Attendees will receive training, tools, and continued support to assist others in need.

The event takes place this Friday at the Arizona Department of Economic Security on East Palo Verde Street in Yuma.

It runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and it’s free to attend. To register, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – El Centro Library says their 2025 Summer Reading Program drew more than 43,000 people, reaching full capacity.

“This summer’s success is a direct result of listening to our community and the dedication of our incredible staff,” said Library Director Carla Mason. “We asked residents what they wanted to see, and our team worked tirelessly to bring those ideas to life. The result was packed programs, high energy, and a stronger connection between the Library and the people we serve.”

The library says this was due in part to the El Centro community providing recommendations “via a resident survey in 2024.”

Courtesy: City of El Centro

Courtesy: City of El Centro

“Our Library has once again shown what’s possible when a city listens to its residents and delivers programs that inspire and connect,” said Mayor Sonia Carter. “I’m especially proud of the Library staff for the outstanding job they did in bringing these ideas to life and making this year’s Summer Reading Program such a success for our community.”

Several entertainers, such as Wild Wonders, Lion Dancers and a magician, participated in the program, with the El Centro Fire Department hosting a obstacle course.

To learn more about this, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

SRP2025PREngDownload

SRP2025PRSpaDownload

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has implemented a new station alert system.

According to a post on Facebook, the new system, unveiled back in June, will help dispatcher provide uninterrupted pre-arrival instructions to callers, while at the same time alerting the crew.

YFD shared that this new system will help decrease response time by 20 to 30 seconds.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, said, “Phoenix G-2 is an innovative station alert system that streamlines the process from the time they, a responsible party calls 911 to the time first responders arrive on scene.”

This system allows for the dispatcher to continue to speak to the caller without pauses while simultaneously informing the crew the details of the call.

The automative system alerts YFD and gives them the information that the dispatcher used to.

“So they could get instructions such as perform CPR, remove the patient, put the patient on a hard surface, flip them on their back, instructions that would before be delayed because the dispatcher would have to put the person on hold,” says Leon.

We spoke to YFD about why every second saved counts.

YFD Fire Chief Dustin Fields says, “Brain death occurs about four minute, four to six minutes. The faster we can get people out the door, the better instructions we can give to the customer, doing CPR and other things. I don’t want the customer to be without information or people not getting there any quicker, this enhances that.”

Not only is the system essential for the safety of the caller, but also the crew.

“Health and wellness is a big thing for us, and we’re trying to reduce that unnecessary of alerting of people, when they don’t need to be alerted,” says Chief Fields.

YFD says they are always ready to improve and innovate to better serve locals.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Melissa Hull, a local author, talked about a book signing she’ll be having this week for her new book, “Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief.”

According to Hull, the book chronicles her life after she lost her son in May of 2000.

“So, it’s been a 25-year journey that I’ve been on, and during that time I’ve had to learn how to live alongside my grief,” Hull shared.

While she said she sought out traditional therapy and religious pastors and spiritual leaders, Hull said there was something missing and “couldn’t find it.”

“So, ‘Dear Drew’ [is a guidebook]. It’s all of my best practices, all of the teachings and the learning that I have. Gone through over this 25-year journey in one book, [it’s] one resource for people so that they can feel supported, they can feel seen, they can feel guided, and then ultimately inspired to create a life that is bigger than the grief they carry.”

Melissa Hull

When asked what the central core message for her readers in how to deal with the initial grief of losing a child, Hull said:

“I believe fully that grief is not a problem that needs to be solved. It is an experience that we need to grow through. I believe that love will always outlast life and and so with that in mind, I wanted to create a book that allowed people to look at grief as more of an opportunity for expansion, for more of the opportunities to hold on and to retain the love. They shared with their loved one even after their loss. So this book is really about how to go about learning to coincide with pain and purpose, love and life. It’s about how to continue on in honor of our loved ones and not leaving them behind, but to still create a life of beauty and fulfillment for ourselves instead of instead of being limited to the pain that we feel from the loss.”

Hull is holding a book signing at Barnes and Noble, located at 819 W. 32nd Street, Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

She also offers free resources on her website, which you can find HERE.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Children’s Museum of Yuma County has a brand new addition that has kids crawling with joy.

The new “Be the Bug” section, fundraised through Fort Yuma Rotary, gives children a safe, air-conditioned space to let out their energy.

After over a year of raising money through several events and donations from businesses and community members, Fort Yuma Rotary was able to see the project come to fruition.

“We really wanna see our community grow. We really wanna give children an opportunity to have a safe space to play, and we’re very proud of the work that we do everyday to give this back to the community,” said Juan Guzman, former President of Fort Yuma Rotary.

According to Fort Yuma Rotary, they raised $100,000 to fund the project.

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