Category: kyma-local-news

Danyelle Burke North

Editors note: Judy Hayes reached out to News 11 to clarify that yes, at one point she did have state 3 cancer, but when doctors removed some the tumors, doctors then told her that she now has stage 1 cancer.

She does not have stage 3 cancer. After surgeries, she is at stage 1.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local mom is clinging to faith and hope during her battle with cancer. Judy Hayes has been battling stage three ovarian cancer for a little over six months.

She says she’s experienced severe side effects with her chemotherapy and surgeries that make it difficult for her to work and take care of her younger children.

“It’s been very challenging. Like I’ve been stretched in many ways treatment, home, finances,” said Judy Hayes.

But she’s still hopeful.

“You have to hold faith in something to get through something like this because, you know, I feel like in my case, I feel like God is by my side. I feel like he’s walking with me, and, I just thank Him for giving me another day and getting me through the day or for the help that I get,” said Hayes.

Through her faith, she started her nonprofit “Grace in Motion” helping feed and provide food and resources to those who are homeless in the community. Her friend says it’s inspiring to see her always going out of her way to help others, and now hopes others help support her during this difficult time.

“When I saw that she was struggling with finances, I thought, ‘You know what? She’s given so much to the community and selflessly and tirelessly all the time.’ I thought it would be incredible if people just knew about her so that they could reach out to her and help her as well,” said Judy’s friend Jose Arguelles.

If you would like to help support, Judy has an upcoming food sale fundraiser Saturday May 17th from 11am-3pm at the American Legion Post #56. There will be lunch, music, raffles, and a 50/50 drawing. You can also support her GoFund me link here.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Locals in El Centro had to evacuate their homes after Bomb Squads safely removed two mortar devices found in a shed.

The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) says the shed is at a home in the area of Scott Avenue and Eighth Street, across from Kennedy Middle School.

Officers say the people who found the two military devices on Saturday showed law enforcement pictures of what they look like.

This is when the El Centro Fire Department and Imperial County Bomb Squad were called to the scene.

“They didn’t know if it was active or inactive but the resident who used to live there was a war veteran that no longer resides there…and they believed it might have been active,” said Sgt. Omar Mandujano with ECPD.

Police say the devices were not active and the Bomb Squad successfully removed and destroyed them.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The man who police say tried to light a store on fire in Calexico made his first court appearance.

38-year-old Jesse Romero was formally charged last Friday.

Calexico police say Romero went into a Walmart trying to set things on fire and fought people inside the store two weeks ago. Police say Romero also attempted to disarm one of the officers of his taser and firearm.

Officers say Romero has been convicted of arson in the past.

Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez says Romero faces up to 12 years in prison.

“What I can tell you I can speak in generality is that when a person has a criminal history it can add to their potential exposure in their current case…so let’s say for example someone who may have a conviction it can add years in prison to their current case,” Marquez said.

Romero is facing multiple felony charges, including attempted arson, felony assault and felony resisting arrest.

He is being held on a bail of $100,000 and is expected to be back in court later this month.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) announced the arrest of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent for sexual conduct with a minor.

YPD says they received information from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility last week in regards to “inappropriate behavior involving one of their agents and a minor.”

During the investigation, YPD says officers learned the agent, 30-year-old Ramon Marquez, was “involved in sexual relations” with a 16-year-old girl who knew him.

Following this, YPD says Marquez was arrested Monday in Wellton before 9:00 a.m., and was booked on five felony counts, including sexual exploitation of a minor.

If anyone has any information regarding the case, call Detective Sergeant Frank Saenz at (928) 373-4767 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Sexual Conduct with a Minor 25-26584Download

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) announced the arrest of three men for possessing narcotics on Monday.

YCSO says it happened at around 6:40 a.m. in the area of E. 25th Place and S. James Avenue after the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force, consisting of officers and agents from YCSO, Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol, issued a search warrant.

During the search, YCSO says the task force, with the help of YCSO K-9 “Aisha,” found the following items:

Almost 11,000 counterfeit Fentanyl pills with the M30 imprint, “marketed and stamped to resemble and imitate Oxycodone Hydrochloride,” with an estimated street value of $32,976.

A loaded firearm

An inoculation of liquid Methamphetamine

3.44 grams of Methamphetamine in crystalline form

Multiple items of drug paraphernalia indicative of street sales

Following the discovery, YCSO says three men were arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on the following charges:

A 41-year-old man from Yuma: Possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia

A 39-year-old man from Yuma: Possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia

A 42-year-old man from Yuma: Possession of a narcotic for sales, possession of a narcotic, possession of a weapon in a drug offense, possession of a weapon by prohibited possessor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Mail carriers across Yuma County are participating in the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive this weekend.

Taking place this Saturday, mail carriers will pick up bags of non-perishable food items, which people will leave next to their mailbox.

This is an annual event hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) whose goal is to benefit food pantries throughout the United States.

To learn more about the upcoming event, contact NALC Branch 1642 at (928) 304-1908 or click here.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Enjoy a fun evening while helping a couple of local non-profits in Yuma this week.

The “Come Wine With Us” event is this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Yuma City Hall.

Enjoy wine, appetizers, entertainment and a great chance to mingle with other businesses along with Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.

The proceeds this year go to the Hansen House and Yuma Child Burn Survivors.

Tickets are $50 per person. If anyone wants to purchase tickets, they can contact the following people:

Steve Irr with Hansen House: (928) 502-9755

Brandy Wright with Yuma Child Burn Survivors: (928) 246-7133

The event is for ages 21 and up.

For more information, call (928) 329-1700.

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Miriam Ordonez

TACNA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A semi-truck carrying U.S. mail caught on fire at a Shell gas station in Tacna, according to the Wellton Fire Department’s (WFD) Facebook post.

On Saturday, fire crews from Wellton and Tacna were able to stop the flames from destroying the entire trailer, saving about half of the mail.

Courtesy: Wellton Fire Department

The driver suffered minor burns and was taken to Onvida Health.

In addition, WFD said U.S. Border Patrol help the fire crews by “activating the emergency fuel shut-off switch” and supported the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office with traffic control.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial County District Attorney’s Office has launched a targeted firearm relinquishment program.

The program is in collaboration with the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) and the Imperial County Superior Court of California, and is said to “improve enforcement of court-ordered firearm prohibitions and enhance community safety.”

According to a press release obtained by KYMA, the partnership between the D.A.’s Office, ICSO and the Superior Court “allows for streamlined communication, better public guidance on how to properly relinquish firearms, and investigative follow-up when individuals are believed to be out of compliance.”

In addition, the program is said to build on the Firearm Violence Reduction Initiative, which is a collaborative effort between the D.A.’s Office and ICSO, to “identify, prioritize, and disarm individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms.”

The D.A’s Office is also said to be assigning two full-time investigators to the program to ensure “attention to reviewing cases, conducting investigations, and enforcing court-ordered firearm prohibitions.”

“This program strengthens our ability to enforce the law and protect victims,” said George Marquez, District Attorney for Imperial County. “By working in concert with the Imperial County Superior Court and Sheriff’s Office, we’re closing the gap between court orders and enforcement, which ultimately makes our community safer.”

Sheriff Fred Miramontes added, “By closely working with the District Attorney and the Superior Court, we will safely remove firearms and ammunition from individuals that are prohibited from possessing firearms, thereby ensuring our communities are safer.”

To learn more about the program, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

5.1.25 FRG ProgramDownload

5.1.25 programa armas de fuegoDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has identified the victims killed in a shooting from over the weekend.

YCSO identified the victims as 52-year-old Jose Martinez of Yuma and 48-year-old Jose Guevara of Somerton.

YCSO says there was a third victim, a man, who drove himself to Onvida Health after being shot. The third victim is said to be in stable condition.

Elisa Soto, a neighbor that lives close to the area where the shooting took place says it is scary to have something like this happen to close to home.

“Fear. It brings one fear…There’s no vigilance here. It’s a problem. You just have to lock yourself in your house you know…May God protect us,” said Soto.

The shooting took place at around 2:20 p.m. Saturday, in the area of W. Wall Lane and S. Somerton Avenue, after they received a 911 call “with a silent open line,” YCSO says.

YSCO explains that if they do receive a silent open line, they will send out someone to make sure everything is okay.

“Anybody that calls 911 will have a deputy dispatch to the area to be able to make contact with the person calling…even if they’re isn’t a person on the phone, on the line, if they’re not speaking,” said Tania Pavlak from YCSO.

Upon arrival, YCSO says deputies found two people with apparent gunshot wounds, but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

YCSO says they don’t have a suspect in custody at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information regarding the case, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

PR-2025-22-Homicide-UPDATEDownload

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