Category: kyma-local-news

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma Police Department (YPD) responded to a call about a two-year-old child drowning in a pool.

At about 7:38 p.m. on June 5, officers and Yuma Fire Department (YFD) were called about a possible drowning at a home pool in the midwest area of Yuma. No exact address or nearby locations were given to us in the press release.

Firefighters found that the girl was taken out of the pool and a bystander was performing CPR.

The girl was then taken to Onvida Health, where the child regained a pulse and was flown to a Phoenix hospital.

YPD resumed their investigation of the drowning.

The two-year-old girl is in critical condition, according to YPD.

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

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A man is behind bars after Yuma police say he was taking inappropriate videos of women at a local store.

Police say it happened on March 23 at the Goodwill on 4th Avenue in Yuma.

The man was taken into custody on Thursday, June 5.

He’s being held at the Yuma County Jail on one felony count of surreptitious recording.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge will be temporarily closed for maintenance, according to a press release from Paradise Casino.

The bridge will close from Monday, June 9 through Wednesday, June 18 from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Maintenance is planned for its lighting and signage.

Detours are available through Winterhaven from 1st Street leading towards Picacho Road.

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Marcos Icahuate

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of San Luis announced it will be hosting its annual Fourth of July Freedom Celebration.

The celebration will be at Joe Orduno Park on July 4 starting at 7 p.m.

Fireworks are planned to begin at about 10:20 p.m.

Entry tickets are $1 from online presales, which will be available on Monday, June 9.

Tickets cost $2 at the gate.

A kids area for neurodivergent children is planned to be set up to provide a calmer environment.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A former Yuma police officer has been sentenced to almost 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a child.

43-year-old Bobby Anthony Garcia has been sentenced to 29 years in prison along with a lifetime of intensive probation.

Garcia was arrested over five years ago and charged with sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Originally, he faced 47 charges of sexual misconduct but he took a plea deal.

Garcia pled guilty to three counts which are:

Molestation of a child

Attempted sexual exploitation of a minor

Sexual conduct with a minor

He will get credit for the time he’s already served, which is a little more than four years.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Union High School District, Yuma School District One and Crane Elementary School District are serving free summer breakfast and lunches to kids 18 years and under.

“It’s helping out a lot especially ’cause my kids have friends over, and they have a cousin from out of town, so it helps ’cause now I’m feeding four kids instead of two. So we come here for breakfast and for lunch,” said Christina Wunder, a local parent who continuously brings her kids to the meals.

The meals are given out at a variety of school throughout each district.

Each district also offers meals to adults, but they are required to pay.

Elena Hildreth, the executive director for YUHSD, shares how the program takes some stress off the parents and students.

“They come on this big campus and they enjoy, and then the kids that are on campus…it kind of takes that worry. They don’t have to worry. If they’re on campus all day, they get breakfast, lunch and it’s no cost to them,” Hildreth says.

The program can also allow students to become more familiar with their local schools.

“If you have kiddos that are coming as a freshmen next year, it’s a great way to get on campus when there’s not like the thousands of students, you just try it once and then it’ll be easier,” Hildreth said.

Wunder says this can also be used as good bonding and social time for the kids.

“Take advantage if you can, it’s well worth it. I live two blocks me and my kids walk, it gets us out of the house, we talk, everyday when we do it, and they see they’re friends, they can meet friends,” she says.

The closing dates for each school district vary, for more information click the link HERE.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – June is Elder Abuse Awareness month and experts are sounding the alarm on a growing threat.

It might start with a phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in trouble, or a message saying your computer has a virus, but for many older adults, these are not just harmless annoyances, they’re costly crimes. 

Sgt. Lori Franklin with the Yuma Police Department (YPD) says, “Some of our seniors are losing like their whole savings account up to over $100,000.”

Advocates says this isn’t just a one-month issue. Amberly’s Place Executive Director Tori Bourguignon says abuse can happen at any time.

“Throughout the year, our elderly population are always vulnerable, and we need to pay attention and we need to do what we can to help them and to take care of them,” said Bourguignon.

Elder abuse doesn’t always leave bruises it also leaves bank accounts drained and victims vulnerable.

“Before you know it, they have their drivers license and their bank account numbers and their credit card information,” says Bourguignon.

According to the FBI, each year the elderly lose more than $3 billion to some type of financial fraud or scheme. In Yuma, in 2024, YPD says there were 278 fraudulent schemes across the board and continue to see these scams in the community.

“If someone is asking you to get a prepaid card and give you the numbers on the back that is a scam,” Sgt. Franklin explained.

YPD says one of the best easy to avoid being scammed is to slow down and verify.

“Look up the company, find the number off the internet and then call that number. Always verify what they’re asking you for,” says Franklin.

If you or someone you know suspects elder fraud or abuse, call local law enforcement or the Arizona Adult Protection Services hotline. 

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Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – We all know how the summer heat can get in the Imperial Valley, that is why the fire departments encourage people to carry their waters or drink some water. 

The Imperial County Fire Department says it’s starting to prepare by meeting with other agencies around the county. 

“Preparations include obviously getting ready and adequately prepared as far as our resources are needed, partially in those areas where we see the highest incidents related to the heat,” said Cedric Ceseña, Imperial County Fire Deputy Chief of Operations.

The county will have different cooling centers at several places, including the Imperial Valley mall food court.

Imperial County says this year it’s focusing on areas where they see the highest number of heat-related illnesses.

“This year, the two focused areas in the Imperial County Office of Emergency Services are going to be Seeley and Niland on the north end of the county, and basically what we are planning to do is open up our cooling centers and have two new stations in both of those townships,” said Ceseña.

This are the cooling centers in Imperial County.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The dream of launching rockets in Yuma is still alive, but taking longer to get the ground.

Yuma’s spaceport project once had a goal of launching rockets by late 2026.

Now, the target has delayed, but many in the community say there still on board, as long as it brings growth to the city.

The countdown is still ticking for a spaceport, but just a bit slower than planned.

Some locals say this delay doesn’t bother them as long as it brings growth.

“Anything that will bring employment and economy to Yuma. We’ve been here 30 years and we’re not from here, and we love Yuma, so I’m for it! Any growth for us is good,” said Winnie Kelly, a local.

City of Yuma Administrator Jay Simonton now projects a launch could happen in 2028 or 2029, but not before Yuma clears several hurdles.

“We’ve got to build the infrastructure. We’ve got to build the spaceport. We’ve got to get the rocket companies here. We’ve got to get all the agreements with the FAA worked out for the rocket company. There’s a lot of steps, but we’re getting there,” said Simonton.

With only a few commercial spaceports nationwide, Simonton says he’s confident they’ll gain interest from investors.

“I think once we have that license in place these companies will be coming to Yuma because ‘Hey, we need a place to launch’ and I think they’ll make the investment to build that spaceport. We’re really confident that will happen,” explained Simonton.

The City expects to complete its environmental review and FAA license application by 2026. After that, they can move into design and construction, putting Yuma on track for its first launch in a few years.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local Somerton kids get a taste of the real world. The “Bite of Reality” event provided an interactive life simulation where kids get to experience spending and buying in real life situations.

They are assigned a persona and initial budget and then have to make purchases like a car, house, food, and more on an interactive app, with the goal to stay on budget.

Campesinos Sin Fronteras is hosting the three-week life skills camp, providing funding for 100 kids from Somerton and San Luis combined. They are partnering with Avenir Financial for the “Bite of Reality” simulation.

One student says they are thankful and learned how to better manage money.

“I’m learning how to take care of like, you know, like make it last longer too,” said participant Analia Soto.

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