Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY) shelter is full and in need of your help. HSOY says they’ve been battling an overcrowding crisis. With the limited shelter space and constant intake of animals, they sometimes have to make difficult decisions.

HSOY says it strives to be no kill and save as many animals as possible. They created an “At Risk List” of adoptable animals that are at high risk of humane euthanasia due to limited space.

“It’s the last thing that we want to have to do which is why we’ve started to do something like the At Risk List so that we can continue to get the animals that are healthy and available for adoption out,” said HSOY Development Manager Hilary Mulherin.

The list is to help bring attention to the animals and potential adopters. They say the community came out in support last time they posted the list, and they were able to save all the animals lives.

“Not all of the animals on the At Risk List got adopted. However, many other animals did get adopted which opened up enough space, and thankfully we didn’t have to euthanize any of the animals that had been put out on the at risk list last time, and that is what our goal is with this current At Risk List as well,” said Mulherin.

This is the third time they have had to make the list this year because of the crowding issue. Locals can help through donating items or cash donations, volunteering, fostering, and microchipping your pets so they can be returned to you if they get lost.

The Humane Society of Yuma is open daily for adoptions. You can stop by Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday noon – 4:00 p.m.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 29-year-old Alexander Delcid has pled guilty to second degree murder.

He was charged with killing a pregnant woman, Alexis Rodriguez, in 2023. Delcid faces 17 years in prison.

Delcid was originally facing 14 counts, with two counts of murder and attempted murder.

He is set to be sentenced in court on October 14.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – During Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, the City of Yuma voted and approved a new ordinance that could help locals build front yard carports. The new ordinance would allow people to build up to 8 ft from the property line instead of 20 ft.

“We’re trying to create a way to allow people to build a shade structure legally to be able to cover up their vehicles,” said Yuma City Council member Chris Morris.

Locals often try to build shaded carports to beat the heat but run into issues when the structures don’t meet the requirements.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of people in the community that have had these built by a so-called contractor thinking that it was legal. Come to find out, it’s not. So, you know, we do understand that situation, and that’s why we’re trying to create this legal path forward for people,” said Morris.

If you’re not sure if your project meets the parameters, he says you can contact the city to get an exact definition.

“There’s also a variance process, so I would just encourage people to talk to the city building department and find out what those options are,” said Morris.

If approved, the ordinance would take 30 days to become effective.

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Eduardo Morales

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton Police Department (SPD) says they arrested a man in connection to making verbal threats against an elementary school.

According to SPD, it happened at around 10:05 a.m. Tuesday at Tierra Del Sol Elementary School when a 32-year-old man entered the school’s lobby and “made a verbal threat to injure children.”

After he left the school, SPD says the school’s staff “immediately initiated a lockdown as a precaution” and notified SPD.

SPD Chief of Police Araceli Juarez explains their process for school threats.

“As soon as the dispatcher’s notified, there’s a threat to one of our schools every available police officer that’s on the road, every available police officer that is at the police station will respond,” says Chief Juarez.

SPD says the suspect’s vehicle was found and he was later arrested near U.S. Highway 95 and Avenue G at around 11:10 a.m., but at the time of his arrest, SPD says he was not armed.

The suspect was then booked into the Yuma County Detention Center and is being held on a bond of $200,000.

He is set to appear in court for the second time Friday morning.

Paul De Anda works near the school and he says it’s sad somebody would threaten children.

“It’s terrifying, right? I can’t imagine being a parent and then finding out someone is willing to hurt children and actually vocalize that,” De Anda said.

However, he is thankful that the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and SPD came together as soon as they got word of the threat.

“The fact that all the different stakeholders, all the different public safety entities always work well with each other, the fire departments, the police departments, all the law enforcement agencies, they’re always willing to share and help out,” De Anda says.

Meanwhile, Chief Juarez has understands parents can be scared for their kids, but asks to give them time so they can handle the situation and deliver the proper information.

“If we’re getting a lot of phone calls to the station, or if we’re getting parents showing up to the school upset, that diverts the units that we can send to locate the suspect,” Juarez says.

SPD says, “All threats are taken seriously, especially when they involve the safety of children,” and says the lockdown was lifted.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – A two-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the Calexico Port of Entry Tuesday morning.

The Calexico Fire Department (CPD) says they received a medical call at the Calexico Port of Entry and once they arrived, U.S Customs and Border Protection were performing CPR on a two-month-old baby.

“Our paramedics on scene noticing that the two-month-old had very little signs of life. Obviously, no signs of life…some dilated pupils. It seemed like the baby had been down for quite sometime,” said Fire Chief Juan Contreras.

According to CFD, the mother said she had taken her baby to an emergency hospital in Mexicali a day before, but due to the delays and staffing at the hospital, the mother decided to self monitor at the infant at home.

About two hours before going to the port of entry, the mother stated that she noticed the infant was unresponsive and decided to make her way to the border.

U.S Customs and Border Protection activated 911.

“Our paramedics on scene decided to call bays hospital which is P.M.H Pioneers Memorial and pretty much give a rundown on what the whole scene was and the status of the infant,” said Fire Chief Juan Contreras.

According to the fire chief, Dr.Diaz who was helping, said to stop CPR and the baby was pronounced dead around 3 AM Tuesday. 

“ICSO corners office made contact so the baby was left at the port of entry and waited for ICSO with their corners for a pick up,” said Contreras.

It’s unclear where the mother was taking the infant.

We reached out to CBP about the incident and we are waiting to hear back.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Exceptional Community Hospital (ECH) Yuma is hosting a Trunk or Treat event later this month.

The event is taking place Wednesday, October 29 at the hospital, located at 2648 S. Araby Road, at 5:30 p.m. There will be activities for attendees during the event.

In addition, several community organization are participating in the event, such as Kids CuddleKit Closet and the Children’s Museum of Yuma County.

The event will go until 8:00 p.m.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) is advising Evan Hewes Highway is temporarily closed Wednesday.

IID says the highway closed at 9:00 a.m. to westbound traffic from Anderholt and Bowker Road.

This is to help IID “safely complete restoration activities following the recent damages to power lines caused by the September 2025 rain event,” and IID says drivers are to use Ross Road as an alternate route during the closure.

Evan Hewes Highway will reopen at noon.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (11:19 AM): The Arizona Department of Public Safety says it was a three-vehicle crash involving a semi, a pickup truck and an SUV.

According to a state trooper on scene, the crash was caused by the semi’s tire being blown out, and while non-life-threatening injuries were reported, at least two people were taken to the hospital.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – According to AZ511, there is a crash on I-8 near S. Fortuna Road in the Foothills.

AZ511 says the crash happened before 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, and said it’s blocking the left lane of I-8 westbound.

Courtesy: AZ511

KYMA will keep you updated on this developing story.

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Marcos Icahuate

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Officers with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped a smuggling attempt at the Calexico East Port of Entry Commercial Facility.

On September 17, officers referred a man driving a tractor-trailer to secondary inspection.

The vehicle went through an x-ray inspection where a K9 alerted officers of 70 packages hidden within the trailer.

The packages were tested positive for cocaine and weighed about 186 pounds.

“This seizure highlights the dedication and vigilance of CBP officers in protecting our nation’s borders and preventing dangerous drugs from entering our communities,” said Calexico Port of Entry Director Roque Caza. “Our officers work tirelessly to disrupt criminal organizations and safeguard the public.”

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A new temporary vice chair has been selected after Imperial County Supervisor Jesus Escobar decided to step down from those duties due to a lawsuit he’s facing.

Peggy Price was nominated by Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh to be the new temporary vice chair.

Price says she will be taking on several tasks like supporting the chairman and taking over if the chairman is absent.

“Right now, it is temporary, so in terms of the long term goals, it’s here to support the chairman and his goals that he has set…but should this continue on into the next year and [if] I were to come into position being vice chairman, then I would have to think about it that is going to happen what my goals and priorities are,” said Price.

The former clerk of the board filed a lawsuit this year accusing Escobar of workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.

It is unclear when the lawsuit will be resolved.

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