Category: kyma-local-news

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – State Sen. Tim Dunn (R-District 25) is weighing in on data center debate after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called for a pause on new projects.

State Sen. Dunn said lawmakers are already working to address concerns over data centers, including their demand for power and water.

He said he doesn’t support stopping data center development entirely.

“We don’t need all of them, but we need to make sure we have some so we can make sure our economy is growing,” Dunn explained.

Dunn also said Arizona still needs some data centers to support artificial intelligence and other key industries.

He added lawmakers are looking at how to make sure the growth of these facilities doesn’t shift costs to other consumers.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abraham Retana

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Several campaign signs were vandalized in Imperial County. Now, there’s a reward in place to help find the people damaging the signs.

Calexico City Councilmember Diana Nuricumbo, who is running for reelection, said her signs have been damaged throughout the city.

“It’s very unfortunate that people feel that they have to do that, signs cost money, time to put them up as well,” Councilmember Nuricumbo expressed.

She said so far, damages are estimated at more than $450.

Under California law, that’s a felony that comes with a fine of up to $10,000 and time in jail, but that’s not all.

Now, Team Calexico supporters are offering a $1,000 reward to help find who is damaging these signs.

Calexico City Council candidate Carlos Fonseca is offering an extra $500 on top of that.

“I just offer 500 more because my banners have been damaged as well not to extend of her but there are people in town finding the way to do it, and it’s just wrong,” Fonseca explained.

Nuricumbo and Fonseca says if you don’t like the candidates, take that to the ballot box, and not against the signs.

Click here to follow the original article.

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) -The Yuma Police Department said one woman has been arrested in connection with dozens of identity theft cases, and officers are looking for more potential victims.

Thirty-eight-year-old Angerale Cummings is behind bars, facing more than 80 counts, including identity theft and fraud.

The arrest follows an investigation in the north end of Yuma, specifically in the Yuma Townsite neighborhood.

Police initially contacted Cummings in connection with a stolen vehicle she was operating. That’s when investigators discovered other people’s private information in her possession.

“Through the investigation, they located numerous items, including credit cards, bank statements, Social Security cards, and all sorts of other information that didn’t belong to her,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin, public information officer with the Yuma Police Department. “During the initial investigation, we had 50 charges against her. Now, we’re up to 83 charges, but we believe there are more victims out there.”

Cummings is being held at the Yuma County Detention Center on a bond of more than $330,000.

Yuma police are asking anyone who lives in the area, particularly near Yuma High School, to check whether they are missing anything from their mailbox.

“So, we are asking anyone who lives in the area, particularly near Yuma High School, to check whether they are missing anything from their mailbox, such as a Social Security card, bank card, driver’s license, or any financial documents they were expecting in the mail but did not receive,” Franklin said. “Give us a call and let us look into it to see if you are a victim of this crime.”

Police said residents should contact the Yuma Police Department if they were expecting to receive personal documents in the mail but never received them.

They also advise residents to check their credit reports to make sure they were not impacted by the alleged crimes.

According to YPD, the crime involved mail theft, which is a serious federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

Local residents said the alleged mail theft is concerning for members of the community.

“I do feel bad if there’s something coming in the mail for them. Obviously, they’re expecting it, so there’s some sort of disappointment that’s going to happen,” said Ianna Herrera, a Yuma resident. “It’s just sad, and it’s not right. Unfortunately, we live in a world with harm, and obviously, no one deserves that.”

If you or someone you know believes you may have been a victim of this crime, contact the Yuma Police Department so officers can investigate.

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma City Council is holding a meeting Wednesday evening, taking on the topic of biosolids.

City Council members will discuss biosolids removal with a potential contract renewal at AgTech.

Biosolids has been a growing concern in the community, with some residents wanting AgTech to stop operating in Yuma.

Tyler Woodman, the owner of Lemon Grove, posted to social media, urging residents to attend the meeting to make their voices heard.

Click here to follow the original article.

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is conducting an impaired driving enforcement detail during the Labor Day weekend.

In a press release, the enforcement detail will take place from Friday, September 4, to Monday, September 7.

YPD said officers will be patrolling the streets of Yuma looking to stop and arrest drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In addition, YPD said they will “actively enforce traffic laws, get impaired drivers off the road, raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, and” save more lives on the roadways.

YPD also recommends those celebrating Labor Day weekend to follow the following steps:

Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin!

Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.

If you’re impaired, use a taxi, Uber, or call a sober friend or family member.

If you happen to see an impaired driver on the road, don’t hesitate to call 911.

In addition, if you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

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

Labor Day DUI Detail 2026Download

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – An Imperial County student is facing multiple charges after police said he was caught with illegal items on school grounds.

Authorities said 18-year-old Rashaan Sanders had ammunition and cannabis on campus.

Sanders is charged with felony possession of ammunition, as well as felony possession of a large-capacity magazine.

He also faces misdemeanor charges for possession of ammunition on school grounds and possession of cannabis.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – A man was arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle early Tuesday morning.

According to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO), deputies spotted a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 111, near English Road in Niland, before 5 a.m.

ICSO said deputies conducted a license plate check which confirmed the vehicle was stolen, prompting them to perform a traffic stop, but the vehicle did not stop, leading to a chase.

The vehicle eventually pulled into a Circle K gas station in Calipatria, where the driver, identified as a 19-year-old man from Chiriaco Summit, California, was arrested, ICSO said.

The driver was then booked into the Imperial County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and failing to stop to an emergency vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A program in Imperial County is helping law enforcement better communicate with residents who have autism, anxiety, or other communication challenges.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) rolled out the Blue Envelope Program in 2024. The program is designed to make encounters safer and less stressful.

Participants can keep important documents inside the blue envelope, along with information about their communication or sensory needs.

The blue envelope, lanyard, bracelet, sticker, or pin, alerts law enforcement that a person may need more support or accommodations during interactions.

The program is free and voluntary, and does not create a registry.

It is already being implemented in surrounding counties like San Diego and Riverside.

Blue Envelope packets are available through ICSO in El Centro, as well as police locations in Holtville, Brawley, and Winterhaven.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – So what are the biggest scams taking the most money right now?

We took their BBB Scam Tracker complaints for one recent month, crunched the numbers and found a lot of people losing a lot of money.

Most common scams: Online purchases/counterfeit products. Scammers fake legitimate brands, offer high end goods at big discounts.

Protect yourself by checking business names at bbb.org and run an online complaint search before buying. Better yet, stick with known stores.

Also common, phishing scams. Don’t click on urgent links. If it’s a bank security issue or charge you don’t recognize, only contact through your account.

Those were the most common scams, but these took the most money.

Investment scams, #1 by far. Scammers contact through accidental text messages or social media and build trust over time before introducing fake cryptocurrency or gold futures trading platforms where the victim’s money is taken.

Don’t know the person? Never trust them with your bank information.

Other big money taking scams we’re seeing, online purchases and home improvement-upfront money scams.

Go to bbb.org to check out contractors before hiring, and if there’s high pressure to get your money now, take a step back.It’s usually a scam.

BBB’s most recent Riskiest Scam Report takes an in-depth look at the biggest scams overall and how to avoid them: https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/riskreport/

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Check out BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Connor Emery

El Centro, Calif. (KYMA) – “The early bird gets the worm.” That is what the Southwest Eagles are living by as they continue to reshape their football program.

While most high schools kids are sleeping this early, the Eagles are beating the heat and their recent struggles.

Coach Bo Seibel continues to reshape the program and has higher expectations for his team this season.

“We want to win games. That’s not been a thing here for a little bit. But we saw it week one. One thing our team is always going to bring is we got heart. You know we’re not always going to be the biggest team we’re not going to be the strongest team, but I promise you’re going to have the most heart and can win a lot of games with heart and discipline,” Seibel said.

Southwest won their season opener for the first time since 2017 but that’s just the beginning says senior Adrian Jauregui.

“Everyone wants to win right so I feel like that’s what we want to do especially coming off that two and eight season we’re hungry for some wins. We’re trying to win the league this year so I feel like we could do this with the team we have we’re capable of doing that,” Jauregui said.

This is year two under coach Seibel, and he is bringing more discipline and energy to the squad.

“We got the guys rolling right after last season. So we started off the season weight training in November. In the beginning we had to fight some numbers after a couple weeks. We had up to about 50 guys in there so we’ve been training, we’ve been working since last November and then we’re a 365 year program,” Seibel said.

“So we give them a couple weeks off here and there but we went all the way through until spring ball and then spring ball to summer and then summer to here so the guys have been putting in work they’ve been showing up.”

Early morning practices can be good wake up calls for the players.

For senior wide receiver Leonardo Valenzuela, he’s making every moment count.

“It’s been going great. You know we’ve been practicing putting in a lot of work. For preparations, I’ve been taking every single rep and practice seriously and I focus on the little things,” Valenzuela said.

A new season can also bring lots of challenges. Jauregui says though coach Seibel is a lot more tough on the field, it has made him want to be a better person off the field. 

“It got a lot harder. He got more on us because he believes us, he loves us. That’s his way of showing love to push to our limits to become winners in not just a football game, but in life.”

Southwest starts the season 1-1 but they look ahead of their week three matchup against Central in the El Centro City Championship on Friday.

Click here to follow the original article.