Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County Health officials confirm the first mosquito pool test positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).

As the weather heats up, mosquitoes are more active which means a higher chance of spreading diseases like WNV.

Officials are reminding everyone to protect themselves by wearing insect repellent, covering up with long sleeves, and staying indoors. They’re also asking people to dump out standing water around their homes.

If you start feeling sick with symptoms like fever or nausea, contact your doctor. 

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

WNV Detected in IC_NewsRelease_6.20.25Download

WNV Detected 6.20.25 SpanishDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A man was taken to the hospital after a crash, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

At about 3 p.m. on June 18, officers were called about a crash between an SUV and a motorcycle in the area of W. 32nd Street and S. 8th Avenue.

YPD says a 59-year-old woman driving a Mazda was driving westbound on 32nd street when she turned left onto S. 8th avenue, and crashed into a 37-year-old man driving a Yamaha motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider was taken to Onvida Health with serious injuries.

YPD says the driver of the Mazda was impaired and the motorcyclist was speeding.

No other injuries were reported, according to YPD.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A back to school rodeo is returning for students in Yuma.

The event will be held Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yuma Civic Center (1440 W. Desert Hills Dr.)

The first 2,000 students will receive a free backpack with school supplies.

The rodeo is open to students entering kindergarten through 8th grade and the child must be present to receive it.

More school supplies will be available through interactive booths.

Click here to follow the original article.

Karina Bazarte

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellan sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom in hopes of saving the Calipatria State Prison.

Mayor Luellen sent the letter last week after Governor Newsom announced another state prison may be closing to help balance the budget.

In the letter, Luellen explains how this would impact Imperial County Including people losing their jobs.

Luellen says he spoke to California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who is giving her full support to keep the state prison open.

“We need to recognize during this uncertainty we are one Imperial Valley, we are one region and so we are looking at gaining support from our other cities and agencies. I had the opportunity to write a letter in support of it being sent to the City of El Centro. The City of Brawley is currently in the middle of passing it and hope other cities sign it too,” said Luellen.

Luellen says he is waiting to hear back from Newsom.

The governor has until June 30 to revise the California budget.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Trial dates have been set for the case of a Yuma man accused of sexually abusing a child.

48-year-old Randall Medders is facing five counts of child molestation, five counts of child abuse and 10 counts of aggravated assault with sexual motivation.

The alleged abuse happened between 2021 and 2022.

Medders rejected the state’s plea offer which would have sent him to prison for 17 years, putting him on lifetime probation and have him register as a sex offender since last September.

His trial is set to begin August 6 and is expected to last three weeks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A request for a change of venue has been denied for the trial of one of the suspects involved in a Yuma house party shooting.

21-year-old Abraham Colin is facing two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the deaths of 19-year-old Danny Garcia and 20-year-old Ande Blackthunder.

Colin’s attorney requested that his trial be moved from outside Yuma County, which was denied by judge Claudia Gonzalez.

His trial is set to begin August 5 and is expected to last four weeks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A major arrest just one day after the launch of the Se Busca Información campaign.

It’s a cross border effort between U.S. and Mexican authorities to track down wanted fugitives. 

The campaign had barely started when someone came forward with crucial information. U.S. border patrol says they got a tip the next day, leading to the arrest of Mariana Fernandez, a San Diego native and a high-priority target.

The campaign was announced and the community answered just one day after Border Patrol launched the ‘Se Busca Información’ campaign an anonymous tip came in.

“We provided that information to AMIC, Mexico’s criminal investigations agency and they were able to locate and arrest Fernandez Lopez. They brought her to the San Luis port of entry where she was turned over to U.S. Authorities,” said Chief Justin De La Torre with the Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

Chief De La Torre says Mariana Fernandez has a prior arrest for narcotic smuggling and a probation violation.

Criminal defense attorney Ilan Katz says collaboration efforts between the U.S. and Mexico isn’t new but there has been a up step between the Trump and Sheinbaum administrations in bilateral cooperation. 

“Mexico has a very important motivation to work with the states in migration as well as in the drug war in getting rid of fentanyl and drug traffickers in general,” said Katz.

The Se Busca Información initiative is designed to target individuals connected to criminal organizations. De La Torre says the fast arrest shows the program is working.

“We use multiple investigative tactics to identify people who are involved in cross border organized crime who are associated with the cartel who are creating a dangerous environment for all of us here in this region. This is one method that we believe works to help bring people to justice,” De La Torre explained.

Border Patrol says the campaign is still active and tips can still be sent in via phone or text.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors has adopted new waste tire disposal tipping fees.

“This is the first time in over 20 years that we have increased our waste tire tipping fees, and in that time, the cost has significantly increased and including the volume of tires that we receive,” said Kelly Fricke, Director of the Yuma County Department of Public Works.

The new fees are aligned with the new statewide Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) fee increase.

“Yuma County has requested the board of supervisors in May for us to increase our fees to align with ADEQ’s fees,” said Fricke.

Yuma County residents can dispose of up to 5 passenger waste tires per year at no cost.

“Once they go over that five free tires, they will be charged $5 per tire, and nonresidents will be charged $6 per tire for all of their tires that they bring to the facility,” said Fricke.

People must show proof of residency. For commercial vehicle deliveries, they must submit a completed waste tire manifest at the time of delivery.

“Businesses and tire dealers who are not registered with the state, they will also be impacted. And the fees vary based on the tire types and the volume that they bring in,” said Fricke.

For tire drop off, There is a waste tire facility at the North Gila Valley Transfer Station.

“If you just keep going over the canal, there is a waste tire site there. However, for residents, we want them to bring their tires to the solid waste transfer station,” said Fricke.

If you want to find the list of updated fee numbers, you can find the list on the department’s website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma City Council has approved its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and property taxes will remain the same.

“Property taxes is also a percentage so the percentage that the city is levying against all the properties in the city limits, that rate’s not changing,” said Mayor Doug Nicholls.

Nicholls said keeping the rate steady reflects the council’s focus on managing taxpayer money wisely.

Some residents said they were relieved by the decision.

“I’m more at ease, because hearing they were gonna go up kind of made me a little concerned, but knowing that they didn’t go up made me happier, or more relaxed,” said Nash Rodriguez, a resident.

With the budget now in place, city officials say the focus shifts to putting it into action over the coming year.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – California allows transgender students to join the teams that feel right to them, but President Trump warned on his social media that if the state keeps this law, federal funding could be cut.

Locals say this isn’t just about sports, it’s about how LGBTQ+ young people feel they belong.

Raul Ureña, the first openly transgender mayor in Calexico, says this issue goes deeper than sports.

“There is even less justification for exclusion at a public school level, but there is a lot more damage to those students who are openly transgender especially at young ages,” said Ureńa.

They also talked about how this fight affects queer youth in small towns like theirs. Recently, the National LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline was shut down, which adds to the worry.

Ureña said, “It sends a very clear message, we are going to take away your avenues of inclusion, which are your rights as an American, and we’re also going to take way the suicide hotline for when you face a mental challenge because of that.”

Click here to follow the original article.