Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Vitalant has provided results of this past weekend’s Holiday Heroes Blood Drive Wednesday.

The three day blood drive, which took place Saturday, December 27 through Monday, December 29, collected 98 units of blood from 105 donors, which can save up of 294 lives.

According to Vitalant, there was a total of 105 donors, and KYMA was able to help them collect 98 units of blood. This can save up to 294 lives.

News 11, ABC 5 and Telemundo 3 sponsored the blood drive.

Last December, the Holiday Heroes Blood Drive collected enough blood to impact over 300 lives.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (12:21 PM): According to the Navajo County Attorney’s Office, Michael Abatti has entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance Wednesday.

The attorney’s office says Abatti is being held in the Navajo County Jail on a bond of $5.5 million.

Abatti will be back in the Navajo County Superior Court for a pre-trial conference and release hearing scheduled for March 17.

HOLBROOK, Ariz. (KYMA) – A well-known Imperial Valley farmer accused of murdering his estranged wife has been extradited to Arizona.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) shared a picture of 63-year-old Michael Abatti as he was being extradited to Holbrook, Arizona.

Following the extradition, Abatti was then booked into the Navajo County Jail for first-degree murder related to the death of his wife, 59-year-old Kerri Ann Abatti, after she was shot to death in Pinetop, Arizona in November.

Abatti, who was arrested earlier this month, was scheduled to be in court Wednesday morning, and KYMA will have the latest details on his first court appearance.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – When purchasing electronics, home appliances, and other devices, many retailers now offer an extended warranty, sometimes called a protection plan or service contract.

But is the peace of mind worth the extra price? Here are BBB’s tips on what to consider before you purchase an extended warranty.

Determine whether an extended warranty is worth the cost

Review the manufacturer’s warranty first. Since most products already come with a free manufacturer’s warranty, extended warranties often provide overlapping coverage you might not need. For example, if you buy a washing machine with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty with decent coverage, do you need the two-year extended warranty the store offers? Probably not.

Check your credit card benefits. If you purchase with your credit card, you may already qualify for an extended warranty, free of charge. Typically, credit card companies add up to a year of additional coverage and cover the same defects as the manufacturer’s warranty. You’ll need to check with your credit card company to determine if they offer extended warranties and what kind of eligible purchases. Remember that some credit card purchases, such as computers and cars, will be excluded from this offer. If your credit card offers an extended warranty for your purchase, keep the documentation necessary to file a claim. This may include the original store receipt, the account statement that shows the purchase, and a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty.

Consider the reliability of the device. According to checkbook.org, retailers typically keep 50 to 70 percent of the cost of warranties they sell, which is a huge profit margin. Usually, this is because most high-dollar items sold these days are very reliable. Do your due diligence and research an item before you buy it, especially if it is expensive. If most consumers report the item lasts for many years with no problems, chances are you don’t need the extended warranty.

Read the fine print. Before you purchase any protection plan, read the fine print. You may find many exclusions make the plan less valuable. If you are worried about theft, loss, and water damage, but these factors aren’t covered by an extended warranty, or if you see phrases like “coverage excludes repairs due to accidental damage,” you may decide the coverage isn’t worth the cost.

Understand how to make a claim. You’ll also want to make sure claims are relatively easy to file. If you purchase an extended warranty, know what documents you’ll need to file a claim and keep them somewhere safe. If the claim filing process seems highly complicated, ask yourself if you’d even use the warranty.

Consider deductibles. Purchasing an extended warranty doesn’t necessarily mean any needed repairs will be free. Many extended warranties and protection plans, especially for cell phones, require consumers to pay a service deductible. Factor in the cost of the deductible, along with the cost of the plan, to decide if you’d be getting your money’s worth.

Think about repair costs. Sometimes, the cost of a protection plan is almost the same as the repair cost, especially after you factor in deductibles. If that’s the case for the item you are purchasing, it may be a wiser financial move to set that amount aside for any possible repairs instead of purchasing the extended warranty.

Find out which servicing companies you can use. With extended warranty plans, you will be limited to what companies can repair or offer replacements. Find out what companies you’ll be getting service from and how long it usually takes them to complete a repair. You’ll also want to know if the company offers in-home repairs or if you must ship your product to them. If they require you to ship the product, find out who is responsible for the cost of shipping.

Shop around for the best price. If you decide an extended warranty is worthwhile for the product you are purchasing, don’t just settle for the plan your retailer offers. Many third-party companies offer insurance on electronics, home appliances, and more, even after you’ve already purchased.

Watch out for scams. If you receive a robocall offering an extended warranty for your car, appliances, or other devices, don’t believe everything you hear. Extended warranty scams are commonplace and could rob you of your personal information or money. If you want an extended warranty, only do business with reputable retailers, not strangers.

Always look up consumer reviews and business ratings at BBB.org before doing business with a company. Learn more about how warranties work and what your rights are at FTC.gov. If you’ve spotted a warranty scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker to help other consumers stay vigilant.

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) is reminding residents that fireworks are illegal for New Year’s celebrations.

While some cities allow certain types of fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations, firefighters stress that fireworks are illegal during Christmas and New Year’s.

Officials warn that using fireworks can result in fines or even jail time, but, more importantly, serious injuries.

“If a child is injured by an explosive device or a firework, the parents can also be held liable for the injury or injuries to others or damages to others even if a minor is in position of the firework,” said Cedric Cesna with ICFD.

Firefighters say it’s all to make sure you have a safe New Year’s Eve. 

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two priests set to return to Nigeria have been allowed to stay in the U.S. for several more months.

Bill Gresser, the parishioner of St. John Neumann Parish Church, explains his next steps to help keep these priests in the U.S.

“My next step is to continue if you will get the word out, but I believe the next step here, but I believe the next steps are being taken by the diocese of Tucson and others and to see that they begin their green card process,” says Gresser.

Gresser adds that everyone is excited with this great news, and his christmas miracle came true.

“We really thrilled that these priests don’t have to go back to a very, very difficult situation, where they would be targeted by rebel gangs, and their able to stay here ministering to the people as they have for the last four years,” explains Gresser.

Father Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen Tamen describes the moment he got the call extending his time here, just two days before his flight to nigeria.

“I was hiking. I went hiking at Telegraph Pass, a call came in and it wasn’t normal that I’d never had, and it was the Chancellor of the Dioceses and she said great news our stay had been extended,” says Father Tamen.

According to the Diocese of Tucson, a petition for his visa extension along with that of Reverend has been submitted. They can stay here for six more months while that’s being processed.

Tamen says, “This is a kind of gift, not just to me alone, but to my other brother Adams. It’s a gift lightly, we are so excited to stay back here and continue our ministry here, working with the people who celebrated the sacrament we’ve done for them.”

Both priests and the Diocese of Tucson want to thank everyone who has kept them in their thoughts and appreciate the communities concern.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Several people had to be rescued after their home almost went up in flames Tuesday. 

The Calexico Fire Department (CFD) says they received a call about a house fire on Third Street and Encinas Avenue in the afternoon. 

CFD says several people were inside the home and had to be pulled out by police and firefighters. 

“One of the tenants went outside really quick and got a waterhose and was able to put some water on the fire before they exit with Calexico PD,” said Fernando Villa, a firefighter with CFD.

Two officers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and one person was taken to the hospital. 

CFD says the fire started in the kitchen behind the refrigerator, and the fire is still under investigation. 

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Abraham Retana

LOS ANGLES, Calif. (KYMA) – A Los Angeles mother is looking for her missing daughter. Her last possible location could have been close to the Imperial Valley.

17-year-old T’neya Tovar went missing on December 1 when she told her mom she was going to the Palm Springs area.

Her mother, Charro Tovar, said she left with who she believes is a person of interest.

The last location post was in Thermal, California near Salton City.

“She shared her locations with friends. She shared it with me and with other friends, and not only that, but she has been in that location previously in October and November,” said Tovar.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO), FBI and the Probation Department are working to find T’neya, who is described as 17-years-old, weighing 105 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

“I’m not stopping. I want my daughter home, and to the person of interest, you have to answer to why my daughter was at your place. I want to know why my daughter was at your place,” Tovar expressed.

We reached out to the ICSO, but are still waiting on their response.

If you have any information about T’neya, call local police or 911.

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Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Calexico’s new mayor says he’s excited to step into the role and focus on moving the city forward.

Mayor Victor Legaspi says his top priority is public safety, which he believes is key to building trust and encouraging growth in the community.

“The priority is obviously safety, safety for our citizens of Calexico,” Mayor Legaspi said. “If you don’t have that, then you’re not going to have businesses coming in.”

Legaspi also says improving infrastructure is a major focus, pointing to ongoing and planned street projects throughout the city.

The new mayor says he wants to take a hands-on approach to leadership and stay connected with residents.

“I believe in boots on the ground,” Legaspi said. “I believe in going out there and working hand in hand with the public…not behind my desk.”

A lifelong Calexico resident, Legaspi says his goal is to build on past progress while staying accessible to the community.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we highlight Luz’s Cacti Ranch, which sells pure raw honey, snacks, cacti and other plants.

The business originally started in the 1990s, and Luz Tejeda, the owner, wanted to sell products that reminded her of her home in Guadalajara, Mexico.

She says running a business has always interested her so she decided to get to work.

“When I came here, I thought, ‘Why don’t I do this here?’ I love it, and I produce all of my gifts, cactus, my palm trees,” Tejeda says.

The shop is located near Laguna Dam Road and East County Sixth Street.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday they have received a $226,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

According to a press release, the grant is to support a specialized prosecution team who handles alcohol and drug-impaired driving cases.

“We are grateful for this grant, which will allow us to focus specifically on holding individuals accountable for impaired driving and making the roads in our community safer for everyone,” Imperial County District Attorney George Marquez said. “Impaired driving remains a significant danger on our roads, particularly drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. This funding strengthens our commitment to improving road safety and making sure justice is served effectively and efficiently.”

In addition, the team will also partner with the state’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Program (TSRP) to train other prosecutors and investigators as well as collaborate with law enforcement agencies on best practices for handling and managing DUI cases.

“Through focused prosecution efforts and strong partnerships, we are working toward a future where all people will be safe on California roads,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “Together, we’re holding impaired drivers accountable and encouraging safe, responsible choices that help build a culture where safety comes first.”

The grant program runs through September 2026. To learn more about this, read the press release below.

FY2025-2026-Kickoff-PressReleaseDownload

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