Marcos Icahuate
HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA) – A local ranch is hosting horse classes in Holtville.
Gymkhana is opening to the public on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Signups being at 8 a.m. with games starting at 9 a.m.
Entry is $10 a class.
Classes include:
Keyhole
Apple race
Pole bending
Big T
Barrels
Fox & hound
Ribbon race
For questions, you can contact Karen at (760) 427-6726
The full poster is attached here:
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local library is hosting classes for the new year.
The Freedom Library (2035 S. Arizona Avenue) is hosting the classes from 6-8 p.m.
The classes are the following:
January 22 – U.S. Constitution
January 20 – Economics
Participants ages 14 and up are able to earn a scholarship.
You can contact the Freedom Library on their website.
Marcos Icahuate
YMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A live music event is planned to be held locally.
No Exceptions 2026 will be at Desert Sun Stadium on February 14, 2026.
The Frontmen, a supergroup made of musicians from other bands, are headlining the show. Other acts include Downtime and the Gwynn Sisters.
Tickets start at $35 per person. You can buy tickets here.
Marcos Icahuate
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Two people were rescued from a house fire in Calexico, according to Calexico Police Department (CPD).
On Tuesday, December 30, at about 1:39 p.m., officers were called about a fire on 218 Encinas Avenue.
Once on scene, Sergeant Oscar Ruiz and Officer Gustavo Coronado crawled into the home and rescued two people.
The fire was contained by Calexico firefighters and the people from the home were taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center, then treated for smoke inhalation.
CPD say the cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical fire from the kitchen area.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One person has been taken to the hospital after a single vehicle car crash occurred on the southbound side of the Interstate 8 Fourth Avenue exit.
The driver of the truck crossed over the median and drove through the side railing, falling into the Colorado River.
The truck was in the water but authorities at the site of the crash said the person taken to the hospital was the only one found after searching for other potential people involved.
The investigation is ongoing.
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of Imperial says it has filed a formal objection over how Imperial County is handling a proposed data center project.
In a post shared on social media, city officials say they have submitted both a formal objection and a protective appeal, arguing the County is not following its own process.
The filing comes after the Imperial County Planning Commission voted to delay consideration of the project, directing the developer to meet with the City of Imperial, the City of El Centro, and nearby residents before returning to the Commission.
City officials say the County later announced the project would instead move directly to the Board of Supervisors after an appeal was filed by the developer a move the City says contradicts the Planning Commission’s action.
“Since the lawsuit was filed, there are some new and different things the City has learned, and there may be an amended pleading filed. That’s been part of the discussion, and scheduling a response to that amended pleading would happen as part of that process,” said Dennis Morita, public information officer with the city of Imperial.
The city’s objection follows a CEQA lawsuit filed earlier this month, raising concerns about environmental review and public involvement.
We reached out to Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing President and CEO Timothy Kelley, who provided a statement saying:
“The proposed Data Center being planned Imperial County will be a game changer for our region. They sales tax and future Real Estate and Property Taxes will benefit everyone in the Imperial County that drives on a road, crosses a bridge, receives devices from the many Imperial county agencies. Local schools will receive the taxes needed to build new schools, pay it teachers, and pay down their debt so that can put money back into education rather than servicing debt. Imperial county has the services and Infrastructure to develop new industries, and we are training a workforce for the jobs that will be created. There has been a lot of research on the proposed site, and the Imperial county planning department has done a great job processing the application for this project.
Some people have legitimate concerns and those are being considered but many statements related to Energy, Water, labor, pollution are just false and are being spread by people who don’t want investment into our region.
If you look at each argument logically this project will bring a much greater benefit to our community than what those opposed could imagine.”
Karina Bazarte
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is reminding drivers that several new traffic laws take effect on January 1, with changes aimed at improving road safety throughout the city.
According to CPD, multiple new assembly bills will go into effect, many of them impacting everyday traffic laws.
“Tomorrow, the new laws will be coming into play here, several assembly bills which will be mostly affecting traffic,” said Calexico Police Officer Nicolas Monninger.
One of the changes affects electric bicycles. Police say all e-bikes must now have a mandatory rear red light or reflector at all times to increase visibility and reduce crashes.
Another law reinforces the “move over” requirement for drivers approaching vehicles with emergency lights activated. Drivers must change lanes when possible or slow down if they are unable to move over.
“If you can’t move over, you can’t move over your lane. You need to slow down to avoid the collision. People are getting out to assess their vehicle. Who knows what’s going on…they could be having an emergency of some sort. You need to get over to the side or slow down to protect those drivers as much as possible,” said Officer Monninger.
Police also say speed limits in school zones may soon be reduced. While changes depend on each city, Calexico could lower school zone speed limits to 20 miles per hour.
“The speed may be reduced down to 20, but it depends on the city. So Calexico may require that the speed limits in school zones come down to 20 miles an hour, and they’re saying by 2031 all school zones will be reduced down,” said Monninger.
CPD warn that drivers who fail to follow these new traffic laws could face citations or possible jail time. Police also urge motorists to stay informed and drive safely as the new laws take effect.
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Both Arizona and California saw their minimum wage increase by forty cents or more on January 1, 2026.
California’s minimum wage increased from $16.50 to $16.90. Meanwhile, Arizona’s increased from $14.70 to $15.15.
Arizona’s is now nearly double the federal minimum wage which is $7.25.
Local business owner and employee CJ Alberts, says she likes the increase, but believes it should be even more.
“I think it’s great. I don’t think it’s nearly enough,” she says. “I don’t think that’s enough for people to live on by any means. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis and anything employers can do to reinvest in their workforce and their employees they should be doing.”
Alberts says as a business owner she likes to reward her employees for making the business work.
“Every time our business is profitable, I try to do everything in my power to again, reinvest it back into the people that make this place run,” she explains.
Meanwhile, Ashley Simms, the owner of the local coffee shop Cafecito provided this statement:
“We understand the cost of living is rising and we also knew this would be coming. We may have to raise prices a little bit because not only is the wage increase happening, but the cost of goods sold is higher now than ever! Even through COVID, when prices rose so drastically, it didn’t impact us like it is now. We will raise wages and encourage people to tip on services provided…Those few extra percentages on a check really help small businesses like us to help support our workers and their families.”
This new minimum wage equals over $31,000 dollars a year.
More information can be read through an informational poster below.
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On New Year’s Eve and Day, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) received almost 60 calls regarding firework activity.
This is almost half the calls they received compared to last year, which was almost 100.
“It’s the end of the year…we had a rough year. Everybody wants to let off some steam and celebrate and that’s fine to do it in a manner that’s safe, and in a manner that doesn’t offend your neighbors,” says Yuma local and board member for the Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY) Wendy McKay.
Meanwhile, over the last couple of days, the HSOY took in 41 pets.
Annette Lagunas, the Humane Society Executive Director, shares the best way to reconnect with your lost furry friends.
“Come down to the shelter. Don’t call us. We can’t tell you over the phone whether you’re dog is here or not, so just come on down to the shelter, look for your pet, that should be you’re first action is missing,” Lagunas says.
McKay shares how these fireworks can lead to more missing pets.
“They are not permissible by law in our county, in our community, in our state, so those are the problem, it’s cause and effect, if we didn’t have those fireworks we wouldn’t have all these missing animals,” she said.
Lagunas also explains why you should keep an eye out for your pets this weekend.
“I’m concerned that the partying is going to continue through the weekend, so I’m a little worried about that and the number of animals that are going to be entering the shelter,” Lagunas says.
HSOY also recommends posting you’re missing furry friend on Yuma Lost and Found Pets on Facebook.
Adrik Vargas
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – New state projections show Yuma County is expected to keep adding jobs over the next ten years, with healthcare and technology related work leading the growth.
According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, jobs in Yuma County are projected to grow by about 0.7% each year through 2034.
The largest source of new jobs is expected to be healthcare and social assistance.
Doug Walls with the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity says an aging population is increasing the need for medical care and support services.
Yuma County is currently seeing faster job growth than other rural areas in the state.
As more people reach retirement age, demand is growing for healthcare workers beyond doctors and nurses. Jobs such as medical assistants, lab technicians, and positions that require certifications or short term training are also expected to increase.
The report also shows growth in the information sector, which includes media, technology, and digital services like web design and data management. While this sector is smaller overall, it is projected to grow faster than any other.
Some industries are not growing. Employment in agriculture and livestock continues to decline. Some jobs are disappearing as work becomes more automated, and others are going unfilled because employers can’t find enough workers.
