Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Local, state, and university agriculture leaders discussed problems, solutions, and hot topics in the industry.

From water, to climate, to artificial intelligence, Monday’s meeting served as a think tank for the state’s agriculture industry.

Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona all shared some of the work they are undergoing.

The Arizona Board of Regents has started this “Future of Arizona” series to tackle some hard-pressing industry issues.

“We don’t just have research projects from this professor at this university, and this one at that university, but how do we leverage the sort of the special abilities at each university,” said Paul Brierly, the director for the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Arizona Senator Tim Dunn was also in attendance, and he shared some of the major talking points discussed amongst the group.

“What is the intensive farming that we’re doing, which we do with everything really good here in Yuma now, but what are we looking into the future. What is that going to have as we’re using less water for soil health, that’s one of the things, just health for employees is another potential, so we’re just collaborating with the universities, getting ideas together today,” Sen. Dunn says.

Fred DuVal, a member on the board of regents, shares how this meeting could lead to a grant that provides more funding for research in agriculture.

“This is really a pioneering grant in order to make an investment in agricultural sustainability that we hope will proliferate and grow into state wide support,” DuVal said.

This summer there will be a similar collaboration to address challenges facing forestry.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The protests and immigration raids are hitting close to home in the Imperial Valley, where locals have some strong opinions.

In a region with a large immigrant community, some locals say the tension seen in Los Angeles and across the state have them concerned.

Others feel the protests, while important, need to stay peaceful to protect the cause.

“I mean we’re not just gonna go and start burning and making all this mess. For me, it doesn’t feel fair. It’s not good ’cause you’re just making it worse for the people who do not have legal documents,” said Jaime Flores, a local resident.

Others say the raids themselves are necessary and the protests shouldn’t be happening.

“I just think we need to keep it up, we need to keep going, we need to safe and securely remove the people that need to be removed, and the people that don’t need to be removed can remain here in America,” Kimberly, another local resident.

Some activists in the Imperial Valley, like Raul Ureña, say local leaders should be speaking up.

“I think it is unfortunate that political leaders in the Imperial Valley are not talking enough about this issue, they are staying silent,” Ureña expressed.

Ureña believes that silence sends the wrong message in a region where immigrants make up a large part of the community.

“A majority of the Imperial Valley are either sons of immigrants or immigrants themselves. To not take a public stance on this issue as a mayor of Calexico, El Centro, etc, is to say that the issues affecting a big part of the imperial valley do not matter to them,” Ureña added.

The protests and immigration raids continue and in the Imperial Valley, so does the conversation.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The United States Army is getting ready to celebrate its 250th birthday this weekend.

Founded in 1775, the Army has played a crucial role in the growth of the country, from securing independence to its current position as a global military power.

To honor the heroes and traditions in our local area, a family-friendly event will be held in Yuma.

The event will be highlighting the work done at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) along with a swear-in ceremony for new U.S. Army recruits.

Col. John Nelson, the Commander of YPG, shares what else locals can expect to see at this big birthday bash.

“Witness some of the track and combat vehicles that we test out there, some of the airborne test force aerial delivery platforms that we test like parachutes and cargo delivery parachutes and just come out there to appreciate the history of YPG,” Col. Nelson shared.

The event is on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the Colorado River State Historic Park. It’s free to attend. There will also be free food and drinks.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee (IVSJC) is hosting a Juneteenth event this weekend.

The event is taking place Saturday, June 14 at Martin Luther King Jr. Pavillion, located at 770 Park Avenue, at noon.

IVSJC says there will be food, music, entertainment, games, face painting, spoken word, vendors, guest speakers, raffle giveaways and more during the event.

The event will go until 5:00 p.m. To learn more about the event, contact Adrianne Lawson at specialeventscoordinator@ivsjc.org or (760) 562-4666, or click here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) says Lt. Samuel Pavlak graduated from “the 153rd Session of the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course” Sunday.

YCSO says Lt. Pavlak joined 41 other law enforcement officers from agencies across the country in Louisville, Kentucky “for a 12-week leadership development program.”

The institute, according to YCSO, “is an integral part of the Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville” which aims to “develop informed, effective, ethical and competent law enforcement managers who are capable of assuming positions of leadership in their respective agencies.”

Pavlak joined YCSO in October of 2002 as a Detention Officer before being promoted to Lieutenant in July of 2019.

Currently, Pavlak is serving as the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Yuma County Narcotics Task Force, which he was assigned in January of 2023.

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

PR-2025-27-Pavlak-Samuel-Southern-Police-Institute-GraduationDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says a two-year-old girl died Friday after drowning in a pool.

YPD says they and the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to reports of the girl drowning “at a residence in the midwest area of the City of Yuma” last Thursday, June 5, at around 7:40 p.m.

YFD crews saw the girl was removed from the pool and a bystander was performing CPR. After additional crews arrived and performed “Advanced Life Support skills,” the girl was then taken to Onvida Helath.

YPD says the girl regained a pulse before she was flown to a Phoenix area hospital.

The investigation is still ongoing, and if anyone has any information on this case, they are encouraged to call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma community is attending a candlelight vigil Sunday in memory of the two-year-old boy suspected of being murdered by his mother.

Kano Aguerro was found dead last month while his mother, 20-year-old Angelina Vazquez, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Miguel Garcia, were formally charged last week for the child’s murder.

KYMA spoke to Shirley Senseney, the vigil’s organizer, who said the vigil will spread an important message to other moms.

“I think that us as mothers should know that there is a community that stands when they feel out, when they feel that they can’t do it, when they feel that they aren’t capable of taking care of a child that there are people out there that will help,” Senseney said.

The vigil is taking place Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at the Ocean to Ocean Gateway Park where everyone is welcome to attend.

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Samuel Kirk

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – It was a big day for college grads in the Valley as Imperial Valley College (IVC) hosted their commencement ceremony Saturday.

The ceremony took place in the college gymnasium, where IVC held two commencement ceremonies, one at 9:00 a.m. and the other at 2:00 p.m.

Cap tosses, proud families, and cheers filled the air as the two ceremonies honored the class of 2025.

Hundreds of students walked across the stage; a moment years in the making.

“It’s super exciting for us today as a college as a whole, and the reason for that is that every year, for the past five years, our graduating class has been steadily increasing and so what we’re seeing every year are more and more individuals from the valley obtain a college degree,” said Andrew Sanchez, Dean of Student Affairs at IVC.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma community had some fun in the sun with a purpose as the Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance hosted the 2025 Water Safety Day this weekend.

The event, which started at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the Valley Aquatic Center, featured free water safety and rescue lessons like learning to throw rescue bags, free CPR classes and lifejacket fittings.

For the entire day, the center was free for children and their families.

Captain Aaron Wonders with the Yuma Fire Department reminds the public of the importance of water safety, especially as summer gets underway.

“Always supervise your children when around a body of water. If they do not know how to swim, either keep them away from the water, make sure they’re in a life vest,” Captain Wonders explained. “We have a lot of waterways, the canals, we have the Colorado River that runs through the City of Yuma, and a lot of pools. So it’s very important that all the safety measures are in place to prevent any accidents.”

In case you missed the event, and would like to learn about these water safety lessons, click here.

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Samuel Kirk

Construction underway at Avenue B and 32nd Street locations

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Shoppers in Yuma will soon be able to fill up their tanks at Walmart. Construction has officially started on two brand-new fuel stations at the Avenue B and 32nd Street Walmart locations.

Contractors say both stations should be completed within about 20 weeks. Once they open, the pumps will be available to customers who join the Walmart Rewards program.

For many regular shoppers, the construction is hard to miss. Yuma local Alexis Escobedo said she usually shops at Walmart and thinks the gas stations “look interesting.”

She added, “I might consider it actually. If it’s this close by and the price is good, I might consider signing up for whatever rewards program Walmart has.”

However, not everyone is sold on the change. Paul Phillips, another Yuma resident, pointed out that the construction is taking up a lot of space.

“I think people should realize that they are using more space probably than what the station will take up,” he said.

Others believe that gas prices and brand loyalty will ultimately be more important than convenience alone.

Larry Smith, also from Yuma, said, “Walmart has their faithful, Circle K has their faithful, and probably gas prices won’t be that different anyway.”

Phillips added that while he doesn’t normally buy gas at Walmart, he’s open to seeing how it turns out.

“I don’t personally buy my gas at Walmart, but I don’t know. I guess only time will tell,” he said.

For now, traffic in the parking lots may be a little slower as construction continues. But Walmart hopes the fuel stations will add more value for its customers once they’re finished.

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