Category: kyma-local-news

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new program is being introduced to help applicants.

The City of Yuma’s Department of Community Development launched Alynea AI PreCheck, an AI tool that reviews permit applications.

Building permit applications will be checked by the AI tool before they’re submitted to the City.

Alynea AI PreCheck searches for missing information, inconsistencies and other common errors.

The City of Yuma says this tool will reduce processing times and improve overall quality.

“This pilot helps applicants address common application issues earlier in the process,” said Alyssa Linville, Director of Community Development. “When applications come in more complete, staff can spend less time on corrections and more time on timely, thorough reviews.”

The tool is optional and permits will continue to approved mainly by City staff.

For more information, click here.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health and the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System broke ground Friday morning on a new outpatient clinic in the Fortuna Foothills.

Local and state leaders, Veterans, and community members gathered to mark the start of the long-anticipated project that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027.

Arizona State Sen. Tim Dunn highlighted the importance of the new clinic for the region’s Veteran population, saying, “Onvida is stepping up to serve those Veterans who stepped-up to serve our country and providing healthcare for them, right here in Yuma County.”

The project includes a dedicated 30,000-square-foot outpatient facility that has been more than two years in the making.

The planning process focused on ensuring the clinic would meet the specific needs of Veterans and provide a high-quality healthcare experience.

Onvida Health President and CEO Robert Trenschel said Veterans were directly involved in shaping the facility from the beginning.

“This was designed, really, by Veterans,” Trenschel said. “So, when we were building this, when we were designing this, we got Veteran groups together to say ‘What do you want in your facility?’ We’re just excited to be able to provide a facility for Veterans that provides them the dignity and clinical care that they so well deserve.”

The clinic is expected to significantly expand healthcare services available to veterans in Yuma County.

Brenda Smith, quartermaster and chaplain for VFW Post 1763, emphasized the impact of the project, saying, “We’re getting this huge facility here on this property and the services are expanding. The types of care are expanding.”

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Interim Director Maria Nguyen said the timing of the clinic’s opening will allow for a broad range of services, adding, “It’s gonna be perfect timing to offer primary care services, audiology, path and lab, even more potential for women’s health services.”

Leaders also stressed that the new clinic will reduce the burden of travel for veterans who currently must leave the area for care.

Smith said, “It’s gonna save veterans so much time and effort and stress going to Tucson or Phoenix to get their care.”

Sen. Dunn added that the clinic will allow aVeterans to remain close to home, saying, “We know that when people are here, serving in the military, they know when they retire, they can come back here and have those Veteran services right here where they live, so they don’t have to go out of town.”

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Experts say Arizona is known as one of the lowest-funded public education systems in the country.

The superintendent of Amerischools, Matthew Chandler, says having a smaller school system, can be challenging to find funding and resources.

“Sometimes with larger school systems, they may have more money, but sometimes smaller school systems, it can be challenging because you don’t have as many students,” Chandler explained.

Currently, Amerischools is renovating their south campus and due to insufficient funding, they do not have materials and resources for their students.

Melodie Arellano, a sixth grade teacher at Amerischools, explains why these students deserve new material in their classrooms, “I feel like coming in and a student is seeing old desks, seeing old boards, and seeing a very outdated building, it can be very discouraging, and a lot of students want to come in because a lot of the school is a safe place for our students, it’s home away from home.”

The school is hoping for donations for items like new desks, round tables for interventions, playground equipment, and smartboards.

Joseph Sanchez, Amerischools Dean of students says, “Any funding, anything like that is really going to be a big help to our school to make it grow and help our community.”

Arizona Education Association President Marisol Garcia says there is a complete lack of leadership by our lawmakers to make school funding a priority.

“We need to hold our elected officials accountable, because politicians shouldn’t be using schools, as a political launching point, they should be doing what’s best for their community,” emphasises Marisol Garcia, President of the Arizona Education Association.

The current system of school funding in Arizona is called, backpack funding.

The amount of kids who show up to school determines the amount of money the school district has that year.

“The problem with that is kids move districts and districts try to create a budget like all of us, you know like in the future, like next year we’re going to need this, and it is so unstable,” says Garcia.

If you would like to donate and give back to the students and educators of Amerischool, click here.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A person was shot by officers then pronounced dead, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

On Wednesday, January 21, at about 8:20 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle on Colorado Street near West Wetlands Park.

Officers attempted to detain the driver but the driver was then shot.

YPD reveals that in their initial investigation, two officers were searching the area for drug-related activity based on tips from the community.

Officers tried to stop a vehicle but the driver did not yield and fled the area.

Officers later found the vehicle near 16th Avenue and Colorado Street in a dead-end alley. Police attempted to remove the driver from the driver’s seat, however, the driver tried to pin an officer against a fence. Two officers then fired their guns.

YPD says this evidence was collected and reviewed through body-worn cameras.

The driver, 58-year-old Sergio Mencia Ramos, was pronounced dead on scene. A 42-year-old passenger in Ramos’s vehicle was not injured.

No further injuries were reported, and YPD says the officers involved were placed on modified no duty.

The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Crossroads mission presents The Country Lovin’ Hoedown.

The event, taking place Saturday, February 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Pivot Point Conference Center, is aimed to raise funds for the new Center of Hope building project.

Tickets are $40 dollars and can be bought at the Crossroads Mission website.

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Abraham Retana

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A group of imperial valley entrepreneurs are working together to promote their products and increase their sells.

Valle Imperial en Moviemiento, which translates to Imperial Valley in Movement, has small businesses selling a variety of items including handcrafted item, food, and jewelry.

“It’s a group of small business owners and that want to grow their businesses, and that’s when I come in and help them boost their businesses,” said Viridiana Gonzalez, Valle Imperial en Moviemiento founder

“We do it once a month in different cities here in the Imperial Valley. We get the information they don’t have until we have another event, they contact us with the information we provide at the events,” said Carmelita Parra, business owner.

Nearly 60 small business have joined the non-profit organization that was created four months ago.

Gonzalez says even though it’s though to start a business, they work together to succeed.

“It’s complicated but not impossible. What people need is a guide. Someone who knows about the permits, the process and to make it easier for them. We walk them through the process and make it easier so they can sell more,” said Gonzalez.

The next event will be Saturday, January 24 from 12 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer’s Van and Storage on Aten Road in Imperial.

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Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Brawley man accused of murdering a five-year-old child pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon.

22-year-old Isaac Elizondo pleaded not guilty to two counts, which are felony murder and willful harm to a child.

On January 8, Brawley police responded to an unresponsive child call on 18 Street near Main Street at the Ocotillo Springs apartments.

During the investigation, it was determined that the case was a homicide. Elizondo was arrested last Thursday. He’s the boyfriend of the victim’s mother.

He will be back in court on February 2. Elizondo remains in custody with no bond.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Innercare is facing a federal complaint from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The NLRB alleges Innercare management interfered with employees who were trying to form a union and took actions against workers involved in organizing efforts.

Workers began raising concerns about wages and benefits in 2023 and later connected with Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West.

A former employee we spoke to says management opposed the organizing effort and questioned their job performance after union discussions began.

A federal hearing is scheduled for March. A judge will review testimony and evidence before issuing a decision, a process that could take several months.

The outcome could affect terminated workers and determine whether Innercare is required to recognize the union and enter negotiations.

Innercare responded by sharing two statements addressing the complaint, one of which they shared with press last week:

“Innercare is deeply committed to our employees and being an employer of choice. We support the rights of our employees to decide for themselves whether they want to join a union. In a July 2024 secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Innercare employees overwhelmingly rejected representation by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, with more than 60% of the employees voting against the union. The union lodged dozens of frivolous challenges before and after the election, most of which the NLRB has since rejected or the union withdrew. The remaining allegations will proceed to a hearing before an administrative law judge starting on March 17, 2026.

Despite the union’s rhetoric, it is important to note that the administrative process is ongoing. While the union may characterize the pending complaint as a conclusion that Innercare engaged in unfair labor practices, this is simply not true.

Innercare denies that it engaged in unlawful conduct or violated employees’ rights under federal labor law in any way. Innercare is committed to fostering a respectful, lawful, and supportive workplace for all employees.

Innercare has consistently sought to act in good faith and in compliance with all applicable labor laws, even in the face of an extremely aggressive union organizing campaign. Because this matter is ongoing, Innercare looks forward to addressing the few remaining issues through the proper adjudication channels.

Innercare remains focused on its mission of delivering high-quality care to the communities it serves and supporting the dedicated employees who make that work possible. Our patient-led board ensures our services align with our mission of high quality and community based care.”

An in response to an interview request:

“We connected with our lawyers, who have advised us not to speak on this matter since it’s an active proceeding before the National Labor Relations Board.  As you likely know, we’ve got a hearing set in mid-March on the union’s complaint, and we’re looking forward to presenting our case at that time.  What I can say is that Innercare is confident we’ve done nothing wrong, and we stand behind the statement we gave to the press last week.”

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Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The case of the man accused of trying to murder a man is one step closer to trial.

24-year-old Hector Mendez was in court Friday morning where he learned his preliminary hearing will be on March 18.

His bail was set for $1 million.

The district attorney requested the bail for Mendez to stay away from the alleged victim.

Mendez faces one charge of attempted murder and multiple weapon violations.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local event is celebrating a big milestone.

The Yuma Airshow is celebrating its 60th anniversary on March 14 at MCAS Yuma.

Gates open at 9 a.m. and the show ends at 4 p.m.

The event is open to the public and is free.

For more information, you can click here.

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