Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) says Mae Gomez, a San Luis High School senior (Class of 2026), is one of the recipients of the Flinn Scholarship, making her the school’s first students to receive the scholarship.

YUHSD says 20 students were selected “from more than 1,150 applicants” across Arizona, making the scholarship one of the state’s most competitive.

“Receiving the Flinn Scholarship is a major milestone in my educational journey,” Gomez said. “Being the first student from [SLHS] to receive this honor carries a deep sense of responsibility, driving me to set a path for those who follow. With this financial freedom, I can focus entirely on my studies and ensure that my journey helps clear the way for the next generation of students from my community.”

YUHSD also says scholarship applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA, rank in the top 5% of their graduating class, and “participate and demonstrate leadership in a variety of extracurricular activities.”

“Mae’s selection as the first Flinn Scholar in San Luis High School history is a historic achievement, not only for her, but for the entire community,” said Cesar Castillo, Director of Counseling at SLHS. “It demonstrates that students from San Luis can compete with and succeed alongside the highest-achieving students in Arizona, regardless of geography or background. Her accomplishment will inspire future generations of students to pursue ambitious goals and believe that opportunities like the Flinn Scholarship are within their reach.”

Gomez says she plans to study aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona, starting in the fall.

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

PR – San Luis senior named school’s first-ever Flinn Scholarship recipientDownload

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors gathered Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. for their regular meeting to formalize their unified opposition against a contentious state bill targeting the region’s air quality governance.

In two separate three-to-two votes, supervisors officially ratified a June 2, 2026, letter signed by the Chairwoman opposing Senate Bill 675 and approved a critical follow-up letter to the California Assembly Appropriations Committee, cementing the county’s continuous “oppose unless amended” stance.

Introduced by State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-District 18), SB 675 is an active legislative proposal designed to overhaul the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District.

If passed, the bill would dissolve the current five-member regulatory board, composed entirely of the sitting county supervisors, and replace it with a brand new 10-member panel.

The new structure mandates equal representation split between the county, incorporated local cities, and community members.

The bill aims to diversify the board by adding city council members and community representatives.

“It makes sure that there are people sitting on the board who actually have some professional credentials and a background in the science of dealing with air pollution,” Sen. Padilla said regarding the restructuring.

Supporters argue the transformation is vital to boosting public transparency and local representation in a region long plagued by air quality challenges.

Under the provisions of SB 675, the air district would be legally required to launch an independent tracking website, post all permit applications online within three business days, and enforce stricter rules on high-polluting industrial operations known as Title V sources.

During public comment, residents in favor of the expansion voiced their support for a change in governance.

“We’re asking for an advisory council to help you make decisions,” one community member stated.

Another added, “It’s silly to think that this same group of people, none of whom are experts in air pollution, would sit on the APCB board.”

However, county supervisors and local opponents argue the sweeping state mandate overreaches and directly threatens local governance. Opponents argue it will trigger expensive new permits, potentially crippling local farmers.

“Agriculture is the backbone of this community…we must help protect our culture’s sustainability,” an agricultural advocate testified. Another echoed the sentiment, stating, “If you’re not in the ag business…you don’t have a say.”

County leaders also warn that the state-mandated expansion will heavily strain local budgets and stretch administrative resources thin.

“This legislation brings more regulation and cost to a struggling business and farming economy in the valley,” one supervisor noted during the debate. Another member added, “Greater representation, that’s fine. But anything that’s gonna have a burden of cost on business in Imperial Valley, I’m against.”

Sen. Padilla quickly dismissed those financial concerns, stating, “Some of the folks out there who have been arguing about cost are throwing around wild, crazy numbers that have no basis in reality at all.”

The dissenting supervisors on the board urged their colleagues to negotiate amendments with Sacramento rather than outright blocking the legislation.

“We should be proactive in working with our state senator and try to make this a bill that makes sense for everyone involved,” one dissenting supervisor argued.

Another stated, “I believe that it’s premature to oppose a bill without having further information.”

It is a conversation Sen. Padilla says he is willing to have.

Tuesday’s split votes authorize the Chairwoman to sign the official follow-up letter to the state legislature on behalf of the board, following final non-substantive adjustments by the County Executive Officer, County Counsel, and the Air Pollution Control Officer.

Though opposed by the local board, the bill could still be signed into law. SB 675 remains pending on the fast-moving Assembly Appropriations Committee file following its second reading and recent amendments.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Special Olympics Yuma is hosting the First Bowling Tournament later this summer.

The tournament is taking place at Inca Lanes, located at 1250 W. 16th Street, Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There will also be raffles and a silent auction during the tournament.

For more information about the tournament, call 928-580-1404 or email mnielsen@soaz.org.

Courtesy: Special Olympics Yuma

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Lynette Niebla

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – In a 3-2 vote, rather than halting high-tech industrial growth, the Brawley City Council voted to drop a proposed moratorium, choosing instead to implement strict new land-use policies for massive data centers.

This comes after weeks of intense local debate regarding how the city should handle the rapid expansion of technology infrastructure across the Imperial Valley.

Initial discussions within city hall leaned toward a temporary construction freeze to give city staff time to catch up with the emerging industry. However, local lawmakers fiercely pushed back against an outright ban, citing massive economic risks.

“This is exactly the wrong message to send to any potential developer or employer that wants to establish a business in Brawley,” stated Council Member John Grass during the public hearings.

Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Kelley echoed those concerns, warning of the long-term reputational damage a construction freeze could cause.

“Putting a moratorium today will be the headlines tomorrow, and it’s gonna be Brawley does not want growth,” Mayor Pro-Tem Kelley explained.

While city leaders focused on economic development, local residents filled city hall to express deep anxieties over environmental impacts, resource consumption, and public health. Community feedback revealed a sharp divide between potential financial prosperity and environmental preservation.

“You have healthy people, you take care of your environment. The profit will come,” urged one local resident.

Another community member questioned the financial trade-offs directly, asking lawmakers, “$2 million, $3 million…Is that what the life of one of your family members is worth?”

Facing heavy pressure from both sides, city leaders struck a compromise designed to keep Brawley competitive while establishing total local oversight.

According to Development Services Director Cristhian Barajas, the council felt it was vital to shift the local narrative from complete inaction to immediate regulation.

“Council believed it would be appropriate to shift the discussion from ‘we will not do this now’ to ‘we will immediately start taking steps toward addressing these issues,'” Barajas explained.

The primary issue forcing immediate legislative action is that Brawley’s current zoning codes do not even recognize or define large-scale data centers. Because the land-use laws are outdated, tech companies could theoretically exploit regulatory loopholes.

The council’s unanimous vote fast-tracks immediate amendments governing heavy utility footprints, cooling mechanisms, and power grid strain before any new projects can break ground.

“It is important for the city to be proactive when it comes to assessing and addressing environmental and socioeconomic impact associated with these relatively recent industries,” Barajas said.

City staff members are already assembling a comprehensive municipal work plan to establish development timelines, public engagement strategies, and funding sources for the code overhaul.

Because drafting technical zoning criteria for data centers requires highly niche knowledge, the city manager has been granted the authority to hire specialized, external consultants.

Any expert consulting contracts that exceed standard administrative spending limits will be brought back to the city council for a final, public vote.

Barajas emphasized that the entire legislative process will remain fully visible to the public as the technical language is crafted.

“We’re really early in the stages of amending our zoning ordinance,” Barajas noted. “We’re not pre-committing to any outcome where we will allow them by right, we will conditionally allow them, or we will restrict them. What we want to do is make sure that we follow the right steps…We want to make sure that transparency plays a prominent role throughout these discussions and making sure that these discussions are happening in the public area.”

Moving forward, all future tech infrastructure proposals and upcoming zoning adjustments are legally bound to an open, public hearing process, granting community members ongoing opportunities to voice their concerns at future city council meetings.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the election approaching, write-in candidate Carlos Adams is working to raise awareness about his campaign for mayor of Yuma and reminding voters that his name will not appear on the ballot.

Adams said voters who support him must manually write his name on their ballots when casting their votes.

“On June 24th, we have the early ballots going out and those early ballots are important because my name will not appear on the ballot,” Adams said. “I am a write-in candidate which means you have to physically write my name Carlos Adams for mayor on the ballot so my message is I’m a write-in, and I’m here for you.”

Adams launched his campaign in April and has spent the past several months going door to door, meeting with residents and discussing issues affecting the community. He said those conversations have helped shape the priorities of his campaign.

One of Adams’ main goals is reducing costs for local families. He said the city should eliminate the grocery tax to help residents save money on everyday necessities.

“One of the things that I want to do is for groceries remove the grocery tax,” Adams said. “That would save the community at large eight to $10 million a year in groceries. There’s things that the city can do to help lift the burden of the people of Yuma that aren’t being done.”

Adams identified three major issues he wants to address if elected. The first is what he describes as stagnation in the city. He said businesses are closing, families are facing financial challenges, and many young people are struggling to find opportunities in the area.

The second issue is quality of life. Adams said Yuma should invest more in community improvements and projects that directly benefit residents.

His third priority is strengthening education and workforce development. Adams believes greater investment in those areas could help attract higher paying jobs and create more opportunities for local workers.

“I think the people of Yuma should vote for me because for too long the city has stagnated for too long,” Adams said.

Adams also criticized the city’s current leadership and said he supports term limits for elected officials.

“I think term limits should exist after eight years,” Adams said. “I don’t believe that your heart and your mind is with the community anymore. I feel like after eight years you start working towards your donors, your friends, your special interests.”

As the campaign continues, Adams said he hopes voters will embrace a fresh approach to leadership and support his vision for the city’s future.

The Arizona primary election is scheduled for July 21. Residents who wish to participate must ensure they are registered to vote before the registration deadline.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) has named Matthew Kelly as the new Fire Chief after serving as Interim Chief for the past six months.

Kelly has been with the YPG Fire Department for six years and previously served as Deputy Fire Chief.

He also brings more than two decades of experience in the Air Force, including active duty and reserve service.

Kelly says his priorities include supporting his team, improving operations, and strengthening the department’s role, both on post and in the surrounding community.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Keller Williams Realty Yuma announced they, along with their agents and teams, have been recognized on the 2026 RealTrends Verified Rankings.

The real estate agency says they were named “among the nation’s Top-Performing Residential Real Estate Brokerages,” which is an honor reserved for brokerages who meet “elite production standards and demonstrate exceptional performance in residential real estate across the United States.”

In addition, Keller Williams says several of the following associates earned top rankings within the state of Arizona:

Best Real Estate Individual Agents in Arizona: Mildred DeJesus – #29 for Sides

Best Real Estate Small Teams in Arizona: Yuma’s Home Team – #20 for Sides

Best Real Estate Medium Teams in Arizona:

By Sides

The Spencer Property Group – #17

The Sexton Property Group – #20

By Volume

The Spencer Property Group – #51

The Sexton Property Group – #52

“These recognitions reflect the dedication, professionalism, and client-focused service that our agents and teams bring to the market every day,” said Connie Sims, Operating Principal and Broker of Keller Williams Realty Yuma. “We are incredibly proud of the achievements of Mildred DeJesus, Yuma’s Home Team, The Spencer Property Group, and The Sexton Property Group, as well as the collective success of our entire brokerage.”

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

Real Trends Press ReleaseDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys are performing at the Quechan Casino Resort later this year.

The concert is taking place at the resort’s Pipa Event Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026, and this is part of “The Brotherhood Tour 2026.”

Los Lobos, according to the resort, is known for blending rock, blues, folk, R&B, country and traditional Mexican music, and is also known for their cover of Ritchie Valens’ song “La Bamba,” which was featured in the 1987 biopic about Valens starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales.

Los Lobos. Courtesy: Quechan Casino Resort

Los Lonely Boys, according to the resort, are known for blending rock, blues, soul, country and Tejano influences “into their signature ‘Texican Rock & Roll,” and are also known for songs such as, “How Far Is Heaven.”

To learn more about the bands, click here. To purchase tickets for the concert, click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) says their digital photography students from Kofa, San Luis and Cibola High Schools will have their artwork displayed at the Yuma Art Center.

The gallery, called “3-Way Exposure: Kofa x San Luis x Cibola,” is said to be a partnership between YUHSD and the Art Center in order to “feature the work of advanced photography students enrolled in level three photography classes.”

“The Yuma Art Center is glad to collaborate with Kofa, San Luis, and Cibola High schools to highlight the incredible talent of our young local artists,” City of Yuma Gallery and Public Art Coordinator Kristyn K. Trujillo said. “Alongside events like our annual Children’s Festival in April, this exhibition gives students an additional moment to share their art in a professional gallery setting. It’s a chance to recognize their talent and support Yuma’s next generation of artists.”

YUHSD listed the following students whose artwork is on display at the Art Center:

Jacob Bonillas from Cibola

Andrea Estrada, Maryjo Martinez, Francisco Perez and Abraham Rios from Kofa

Ximena Diaz, Raul Lara, Amanda Madrigal, and Gloria Reyna from San Luis

“Having their final project be a gallery opening sets them up to professionally showcase their skills and personally interact with the community,” Kofa photography teacher Adrianne Comstock said. “This is an opportunity they have earned in their three years as photography students at Cibola, Kofa and San Luis, so we are very proud to support them as they grow into young professionals. The Art Center has been very gracious in working with us to make this happen for these students.”

The gallery is currently open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will go until Friday, August 21, 2026.

There will be a reception Friday, June 26, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate the students’ artwork and the skills they have developed.

To learn more about the reception, click here. To learn more about the gallery, read the press release below.

PR – YUHSD digital photography students to have featured gallery at Yuma Art Center (3)Download

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Abigahil Padilla

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – A case of animal cruelty in San Luis, Arizona has sparked concern among residents and the San Luis Police Department (SLPD).

A cat was recently found suffering from a gunshot injury to the head. The cat was examined, and it was determined they had to euthanize it.

SLPD was unable to determine who fired the shot because the call was made by a third party and no witnesses were able to identify the person responsible.

Police want to remind people about the serious consequences of animal abuse.

“People can be held responsible to fines $2,500 and also lesser cases, but also in biggest cases, they can be found responsible criminal responsible for animal cruelty in face around six months in jail or two years,” said Lt. Emmanuel Botello with SLPD.

Police say people should report animal abuse as soon as they see it.

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