Category: kyma-local-news

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma City Council renewed their contract with biosolids company AgTech, which drew mixed reactions.

Biosolids have been a growing concern among the Yuma community.

It was a unanimous vote, but there was a long discussion between Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls and the rest of the council members before they cast their votes.

AgTech Operations Manager Kevin Good said he’s thankful for the votes.

“We’re grateful to receive approval on the contract for another year. We’ve been servicing the city for 40 years AgTech’s name,” Good expressed. “Again, family since we’ve acquired AgTech has continued on the tradition of taking care of the biosolids for the City of Yuma.”

In the call to the public, three out of nine speakers voiced their frustrations regarding biosolids, saying they need to be moved outside of Yuma County.

AgTech says it uses Class B biosolids as a soil amendment to grow livestock feed crops.

The company says this is the intended use for Class B biosolids and a practice that’s widely used in agriculture across the country.

But in the call to the public… Three out of nine speakers voiced their frustration regarding “Biosolids”.

The Lemon Grove owner Tyler Woodman questions their use.

“The city is building a modern biosolid treatment plant that was going to be producing class A bio solids. And that’s something interesting because Yuma doesn’t actually bring any class A biosolids. Class A is the cleanest category,” Woodman said.

Mayor Nicholls explains why he cast his vote in favor of renewing the contract.

As for Yuma County, leaders announced they have a seat on the Biosolids Study Committee that was created by the Arizona Legislature.

Click here to follow the original article.

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma firefighters regularly work in triple-digit temperatures, often while wearing heavy turnout gear and battling the added heat of a fire.

To help protect its crews, the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has a specialized rehab truck designed to give firefighters a place to cool down, hydrate and recover during demanding emergency calls.

The unit has served as YFD’s rehab truck for more than a decade after previously being used as a scuba dive truck. It is based at Fire Station 4 but can be called in by any YFD unit responding to an incident.

Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD, said the rehab truck becomes especially important during the summer months.

“It’s really important. Especially during these summer months. You know, we get temperatures 110, 115 sometimes. You’re wearing all your turnout gear. You’re working hard. Heat of the fire adds to some of the stressors that we get during these calls. So yeah, it’s very important,” Leon said.

The truck is equipped with hydration packs, chairs and three air conditioning units to help firefighters cool down during and after calls.

The rehab unit can be deployed to a variety of significant incidents, including fires, hazardous materials calls and technical rescues.

The unit is used even in the cooler months for the safety of local first responders.

Fire Capt. Don Humphrey says the truck serves as a reactive tool for firefighters, while staying hydrated and spending time in air conditioning are important preventative measures.

“This is more of a reactive measure whereas staying hydrated, staying inside the air conditioning is more of a proactive measure. And we do a good job of doing both,” Capt. Humphrey said.

YFD says having these resources available helps crews recover more quickly and stay safe while continuing to respond to emergencies across the Yuma community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Firefighters are battling a fire at a solar plant in Imperial County.

The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) said the Mount Signal One Solar Plant Fire sparked at around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The plant is right off of Highway 98, west of Calexico.

While there is no word on the extent of the damages, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma City Councilmember-Elect Henry Valenzuela is asking residents to make their voices heard as the city looks at the future of Kennedy Pool.

“I know Kennedy Pool is really important to a lot of people here in this community and the only way that we can get our voices heard is by going to that Idea Wall and putting on there that we want to save Kennedy Pool,” Valenzuela said.

Kennedy Pool closed in 2019 and has not reopened. Valenzuela said Yuma needs more community pools, especially given the area’s extreme heat.

“This is our opportunity to let the city know that in one of the hottest places in the country that we want to save Kennedy Pool,” he explained.

The City of Yuma is asking residents to complete an online survey as part of its long term planning for aquatics.

Valenzuela said the survey does not specifically mention Kennedy Pool.

“I took the survey and here’s the problem with the survey. There’s nothing on there about Kennedy Pool. There’s nothing about saving Kennedy Pool, restoring Kennedy Pool,” Valenzuela remarked.

The city says Kennedy Pool is not included in the survey because it is not currently open.

“The survey is one part of the community engagement process and is intended to gather feedback about aquatics in Yuma,” the City said. “Residents also have several other opportunities to provide more specific input through the interactive map, Ideas Wall, and community forum.”

Residents can use the city’s Idea Wall to share their thoughts about Kennedy Pool and the future of aquatics in Yuma.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As a massive wave of interest in data centers and green energy projects sweeps through the Imperial Valley, local leaders and residents are uniting to ensure the community is not left behind by rapid industrialization.

The Latino Community Foundation (LCF), alongside a coalition of local grassroots organizations, has officially unveiled “Activate Imperial.”

The community-led economic roadmap is designed to give rural and Latino residents a direct voice in the region’s financial future before massive corporate developers break ground.

“The Imperial Valley is so important for the people that live here, and it’s also important economically for California’s future and the future of the country,” said Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. “The Latino Community Foundation is very proud to support this effort.”

Organizers state that the primary goal of “Activate Imperial” is to flip the traditional script on corporate development. Rather than allowing outside corporations to dictate the terms of regional growth, the initiative establishes strict community-first benchmarks.

The roadmap was forged through a collaboration, gathering direct input from more than 80 local residents, advocates, and leaders.

Key local non-profits played a critical role in bringing these diverse community voices to the table, including Imperial Valley Equity & Justice, Comité Cívico del Valle, The Becoming Project, Unwind & Design, Ashley Contreras and Michael Morales.

“Over the last year, we’ve been meeting with other residents and convening different groups,” explained Daniela Flores, co-founder and Executive Director of Imperial Valley Equity and Justice. “We got a chance to dream about what our economy can look like here in Imperial Valley, and how it centers our people along the way.”

The collective findings of the roadmap highlight a clear shift toward holistic regional care. According to the initiative, residents identified three top tier investment priorities:

Financial Stability: Keeping wealth and job opportunities local.

Public Health and Safety: Protecting residents from industrial hazards.

Infrastructure: Upgrading basic utility, road, and technology systems.

Closely following these top goals, community members also prioritized robust investments in lifelong learning, environmental stability, and arts and culture.

Organizers hope that developing diverse local career fields in green energy and tech will allow young people to build lives in the county where they were raised.

“I hope for an Imperial Valley where people don’t have to leave in order to have opportunities,” Flores said. “I think we hear so many times that all of us are raised to leave. How beautiful would our county be if young people are supported in diverse careers that are also available here?”

While the immediate focus remains on protecting Imperial County, organizers believe the success of “Activate Imperial” will reverberate far beyond the borders of Southern California.

They view the roadmap as a scalable blueprint for rural and agricultural regions nationwide currently facing sudden, massive industrial development.

“People all over California and all over the country are watching what happens here in the Imperial Valley,” Castro emphasized. “What I like about this community vision is it says the future belongs to the people here.”

The Latino Community Foundation emphasizes that launching the roadmap is only the first step. Moving forward, organizers plan to present these specific community findings directly to local government officials and incoming developers.

The objective is clear: Ensure total compliance with community needs before any new projects are approved.

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Black Bear Diner is partnering with the K9 OPS foundation for a fundraiser throughout the day. 

Customers can enjoy a hot meal while helping out a good cause.

The fundraiser is for K9 items that are not budgeted by the Yuma Police Department and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

The organizer, Peggy Townsend for K9 ops says customers says it benefits both parties.

“People come out, they enjoy eating, they take the flyer when they check out, they scan it and Black Bear Diner donates 20% of those proceeds back to K9 Ops,” Townsend said.

There are fliers on the table right when you walk in that you can use when checking out.

The fundraiser ends at 10 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – State Sen. Tim Dunn (R-District 25) is weighing in on data center debate after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called for a pause on new projects.

State Sen. Dunn said lawmakers are already working to address concerns over data centers, including their demand for power and water.

He said he doesn’t support stopping data center development entirely.

“We don’t need all of them, but we need to make sure we have some so we can make sure our economy is growing,” Dunn explained.

Dunn also said Arizona still needs some data centers to support artificial intelligence and other key industries.

He added lawmakers are looking at how to make sure the growth of these facilities doesn’t shift costs to other consumers.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abraham Retana

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Several campaign signs were vandalized in Imperial County. Now, there’s a reward in place to help find the people damaging the signs.

Calexico City Councilmember Diana Nuricumbo, who is running for reelection, said her signs have been damaged throughout the city.

“It’s very unfortunate that people feel that they have to do that, signs cost money, time to put them up as well,” Councilmember Nuricumbo expressed.

She said so far, damages are estimated at more than $450.

Under California law, that’s a felony that comes with a fine of up to $10,000 and time in jail, but that’s not all.

Now, Team Calexico supporters are offering a $1,000 reward to help find who is damaging these signs.

Calexico City Council candidate Carlos Fonseca is offering an extra $500 on top of that.

“I just offer 500 more because my banners have been damaged as well not to extend of her but there are people in town finding the way to do it, and it’s just wrong,” Fonseca explained.

Nuricumbo and Fonseca says if you don’t like the candidates, take that to the ballot box, and not against the signs.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) -The Yuma Police Department said one woman has been arrested in connection with dozens of identity theft cases, and officers are looking for more potential victims.

Thirty-eight-year-old Angerale Cummings is behind bars, facing more than 80 counts, including identity theft and fraud.

The arrest follows an investigation in the north end of Yuma, specifically in the Yuma Townsite neighborhood.

Police initially contacted Cummings in connection with a stolen vehicle she was operating. That’s when investigators discovered other people’s private information in her possession.

“Through the investigation, they located numerous items, including credit cards, bank statements, Social Security cards, and all sorts of other information that didn’t belong to her,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin, public information officer with the Yuma Police Department. “During the initial investigation, we had 50 charges against her. Now, we’re up to 83 charges, but we believe there are more victims out there.”

Cummings is being held at the Yuma County Detention Center on a bond of more than $330,000.

Yuma police are asking anyone who lives in the area, particularly near Yuma High School, to check whether they are missing anything from their mailbox.

“So, we are asking anyone who lives in the area, particularly near Yuma High School, to check whether they are missing anything from their mailbox, such as a Social Security card, bank card, driver’s license, or any financial documents they were expecting in the mail but did not receive,” Franklin said. “Give us a call and let us look into it to see if you are a victim of this crime.”

Police said residents should contact the Yuma Police Department if they were expecting to receive personal documents in the mail but never received them.

They also advise residents to check their credit reports to make sure they were not impacted by the alleged crimes.

According to YPD, the crime involved mail theft, which is a serious federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

Local residents said the alleged mail theft is concerning for members of the community.

“I do feel bad if there’s something coming in the mail for them. Obviously, they’re expecting it, so there’s some sort of disappointment that’s going to happen,” said Ianna Herrera, a Yuma resident. “It’s just sad, and it’s not right. Unfortunately, we live in a world with harm, and obviously, no one deserves that.”

If you or someone you know believes you may have been a victim of this crime, contact the Yuma Police Department so officers can investigate.

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma City Council is holding a meeting Wednesday evening, taking on the topic of biosolids.

City Council members will discuss biosolids removal with a potential contract renewal at AgTech.

Biosolids has been a growing concern in the community, with some residents wanting AgTech to stop operating in Yuma.

Tyler Woodman, the owner of Lemon Grove, posted to social media, urging residents to attend the meeting to make their voices heard.

Click here to follow the original article.