Category: kyma-local-news

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Helios Education Foundation awards $500,000 to Arizonans, including seven locals from Yuma County.

The seven Yuma recipients are:

Anjuly Gomez Calderon

Leeza Jones

Sheccid Ortiz

Damara Rodriguez

Yaquelin Garcia

Daniela Limon

Vladimir Gurrola

Each person received up to $20,000 for their education.

“Our journey over the past two decades would not have been possible without the numerous partners we’ve collaborated with over the years,” said Vince Roig, the founding board chair of Helios Education Foundation. “Our commitment to ensuring postsecondary success for all students remains just as strong as it was when we began — and will continue for generations to come.”

Helios has invested millions to recipients across Arizona.

You can read more about Helios Education Foundation here.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A woman from Imperial County was found to have received thousands of dollars in fraud, according to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

Multiple felony charges were made against Natalia Nicole Castro, who is alleged to have received over $16,000 in CalWORKS and CalFresh benefits.

The charges include:

Making multiple applications for aid with fake identities

Using someone else’s identifying information

Forging state-issued documents

“This case highlights the importance of integrity in our public assistance programs,” said District Attorney George Marquez. “Our Public Assistance Fraud Unit is committed to holding accountable those who exploit safety net systems meant to support vulnerable members of our community.”

The investigation was made by the District Attorney’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will be at a meeting in Yuma to discuss federal firings.

The town hall meeting will be on Wednesday, May 14 at the Yuma Arts Center (254 S. Main St.) starting at 5:30 p.m.

Kris Mayes will be speaking about budget cuts proposed by President Trump and Elon Musk.

The meeting is open to those who are willing to speak and were affected by DOGE funding cuts.

If you wish to speak at the town hall then you can fill out a form here.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Suspicious activity led to some Yuma schools placed on a brief lock down. 

Around 9:30 Friday morning, Yuma Police Department (YPD) responded to a report of a suspicious man near 4th Avenue Junior High School.

The person was believed to be carrying a backpack potentially containing firearms.

As a precautionary measure, nearby schools including Yuma High School, Mary E. Post, 4th avenue Junior High School, and Roosevelt, were placed on lockdown.

It was soon discovered that the man had a backpack of toy guns and there was no threat to public safety.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma organization volunteered to support the community.

Keller Williams Realty’s Red Day was founded in 2009 to help locals, whether it’s by distributing food, relief efforts for natural disasters, or raising thousands of dollars for charity.

Volunteers in Yuma spent Red Day at the Arizona State Veterans Home and participated in hands-on activities.

“RED Day is rooted in the belief that when people unite with purpose, they can accomplish extraordinary things for others,” said Kim Hill Olsen, ALC Culture Chairperson at Keller Williams Realty Yuma.

“Our associates and staff are proud to give back by supporting the vital work of the Arizona State Veterans Home. RED Day is just one example of how the Keller Williams culture lives and breathes service year-round,” said Olsen. “When a need arises, we rally and take action—it’s simply who we are.”

Keller Williams Realty Yuma is located at 2553 E. 24th Street.

You can read more about Red Day here.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A minor in Imperial County was arrested after riding his electric bike on the highway.

Law enforcement says e-bikes are becoming a huge issue in the Valley and it’s illegal to ride them on the streets.

The Imperial Police Department (IPD) says a 14-year-old boy was riding his e-bike on Highway 86 when he was spotted by a sergeant.

“They are not street legal so that was the violation that the person was going to get pulled over for and the person decided to flee our sergeant, which started the pursuit,” said Capt. Max Sheffield of IPD.

It ended on Belford and La Brucherie road but not as peacefully as officers would have liked.

“He was not obeying the commands that the officers were giving him at the time of the arrest and he put up just a small little struggle with the officer at the time,” explained Capt. Sheffield.

The teenager was taken to Imperial County Juvenile Hall. He is being charged with fleeing an officer and resisting arrest.

IPD say there’s been a huge problem with teenagers riding e-bikes and they’ve received numerous complaints from locals.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A man with flown to a Phoenix hospital after he was found with a gunshot wound on Arizona Avenue, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

At about 1:50 a.m. on May 9, officers were called about a man with a gunshot wound in the area of Arizona Avenue near W. 32nd Street.

YPD says officers found a 32-year-old man suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was first taken to Onvida Health then later flown to a Phoenix hospital.

No arrests have been.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A new executive order from the Trump Administration is drawing attention across the trucking community.

The administration is cracking down on a long-standing rule that requires truck drivers to be proficient in English.

Federal law has required commercial truck drivers to read and speak English, but now, under a new executive order signed by President Trump, those rules will be strictly enforced. 

The order says any driver who can’t meet the English standard could be pulled off the road.

The goal according to the administration: To improve roadway safety.

Some truck drivers say being able to understand English does contribute to safety.

Tyler Kapshaw, a truck driver says, “I think reading signs or being able to read and write in English is probably more important than speaking English, only for safety reasons.”

Jason Bunn, another truck driver adds, “If there’s something going on ahead and you can’t read what is going on, how do you know what’s going on.”

The American Trucking Association welcomed the move saying in a statement, “We thank the Trump Administration for responding to our concerns on the uneven application of this existing regulation.”

The sudden push has caught some truck drivers off guard, especially those who face the risk of being sidelined.

Gilberto Garcia said, “I don’t speak english and I’ve never been in an accident.”

Others see the potential for progress.

Roberto Sanchez explained, “It’s more beneficial for those truck drivers who don’t speak english if there was a program that helps them learn english. That way no one gets into problems and we all come out benefiting.”

With new enforcement on the way, some truck drivers say they’re bracing for what comes next.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Locals and more shared their reactions to Cardinal Robert Prevost being elected as Pope Leo XIV.

Outside of local reaction, state officials and President Trump shared some words about the new Pope.

Reverend Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tuscon shared his joy of the selection. He said the Diocese will be celebrating at Mass at the St. Augustine Cathedral.

“We’re not surprised that a Pope was elected. That’s what the Cardinals went to do…We will welcome him as our new shepherd and continue now to pray for him,” said Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami.

“What greater honor could there be? And we were a little bit surprised but very happy. Absolutely great honor,” said President Trump while speaking to reporters on the White House lawn.

President Trump says he made plans to meet with the Pope in the near future.

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Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A crowd gathered in front of Calexico City Hall this week to witness a moment three decades in the making: The opening of a time capsule buried in 1995.

City officials, community members, and former students who contributed to the capsule returned to see what had been preserved from a different era.

Among them was Mali Reynoso, who was in fourth grade when she wrote a letter that ended up in the capsule.

“I’m glad they let us come over here and look at the items,” said Reynoso. “It’s funny the things that I wrote, I was looking at the economy, but I’m just happy I found it.”

The capsule held letters from students, photographs, T-shirts, and newspapers. Each piece offered a glimpse into life in the 90’s.

“You could buy eggs for a dollar or something, and now it’s like 40 dollars a dozen…wow, let’s go back in time,” joked Mayor Pro Tem Victor Legaspi.

There are now discussions about archiving the contents and creating an exhibit to honor the past.

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