Category: kyma-local-news

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Desert Southwest is experiencing triple-digit temperatures, and Yuma residents are feeling the effects of extreme heat this week.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) is alerting locals on how to stay cool and reduce the risk of heat-related emergencies.

Locals have been experiencing excessive heat in Yuma this week, with temperatures reaching past 110 degrees. YFD says heat-related emergencies are on the rise.

“As the temperatures increase here in the summer the number of heat emergencies does increase,” said Francisco Leon, Public Information Officer for YFD.

The most vulnerable members of the community are at an increased risk of heat-related emergencies. That includes people who work outside, elderly adults, children, and individuals with special needs.

According to the Arizona Department of Health, the most recent data on heat-related deaths in 2024 shows 977 deaths statewide in Arizona, including 28 in Yuma County.

So far this year, there have been 40 recorded heat-related emergency department visits, compared with 176 total emergency department visits recorded in Yuma last year.

YFD shared ways to reduce the chance of heat-related illness.

“Get some shade and stay hydrated, and if you’re able to, find some AC,” Leon said.

According to the CDC, the number of heat-related emergencies has been increasing as our climate warms. One of the leading causes of heat-related illness is a lack of air conditioning.

One local, Connie Shelbi, urges others to stay out of the heat and remain in the AC.

“Hopefully, you have AC. Stay out of it. Stay inside. Don’t go out in this. This is terrible,” Shelbi expressed.

If you do need to go outside, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, try to stay out of direct sunlight, wear breathable fabrics, and don’t stay in the sun for extended periods of time.

If you have been in the sun and start to feel nauseous, stop sweating, or have a headache, call 911.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The first major step toward repairing the Picacho Road Bridge is officially moving forward.

Imperial County leaders announced demolition work on the century-old bridge will begin July 20.

The project starts with removing parts of the existing bridge so engineers can inspect its condition and determine whether it can be repaired while plans for a full replacement continue.

Local officials say the bridge is a critical connection for residents, emergency responders, businesses and the region’s agriculture industry.

“This is not just a bridge that we’re looking at here. This is a lifeline to the entire Bard-Quechan community,” Imperial County Supervisor John Hawk said.

County officials estimate a full replacement would cost more than $8 million. While funding has not yet been secured, they say they’re pursuing state and federal grant opportunities to help pay for the project.

Quechan Tribal President Jonathan Koteen said the closure has affected not only the tribe, but surrounding communities, local businesses and agriculture.

“The negative impacts affect all of us,” Koteen said. “It takes all of us to come together and address the problem.”

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is also working with the county on the project. Officials say their top priority is making sure water continues flowing through the nearby canal, which supplies farms across the region and delivers water to Mexico under an international treaty.

County leaders say reopening the bridge remains a priority as work moves into its first phase later this month.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The two men arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Brawley appeared side-by-side in court for the first time Wednesday morning.

Genaro Lemus, 23, and Matthew Nathan Garnica, 25, faced an Imperial County Superior Court judge for a scheduled pre-trial setting hearing.

While this marks the fourth court appearance for Lemus, it was the first time Garnica appeared in the local courtroom following his recent extradition back to Imperial County.

Both men stand accused of murder in the February shooting death of 43-year-old Steven Angulo.

The formal entry of the not guilty pleas clears the way for the two separate defense teams to begin sharing information and coordinating their legal strategies moving forward.

Attorneys representing both defendants emphasized they are facing an uphill battle due to the sheer volume of discovery materials involved in the case.

“We’ll now work together,” said defense attorney Veronica Henderson. “You know, there’s things that might be relevant for the other defendant. We’ll share that information and work to try to resolve the matter if we can, otherwise we’ll go to trial.”

Henderson added that processing the current evidence is a slow, ongoing procedure.

“There’s still plenty, there’s probably more coming. It takes a long time to go through all of it. We get it kind of in patches and piece-meals,” she explained

On top of sorting through the state’s evidence, the defense plans to launch an independent investigation, which includes collecting and reviewing several interviews, conditional reports, and police footage.

The timeline is especially tight for Garnica’s defense counsel, Jason C. Amavisca, who is still playing catch-up due to the recent extradition timeline.

“Just collecting several interviews that have to be reviewed, conditional reports,” Amavisca noted outside the courtroom. “I’m fairly new to this case. I’ve had it for about a month, so it’s gonna take some time to decipher the case and go through everything.”

The judge ruled that both Lemus and Garnica will remain behind bars at the Imperial County Jail on a no-bail status pending further determination.

Both defendants are scheduled to return to the Imperial County Superior Court on September 23 to defend their case.

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Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Art Center is presents 9 to 5, JR, the musical based on the 1980 film 9 to 5.

The musical is taking place at the Historic Yuma Theatre Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, the story, set in the late 1970s, follows three very different coworkers, who all share one problem: Mr. Hart, their boss.

The three co-workers then team up to not only turn the tables on their boss, but also transform the office into a “fair and and supportive environment,” the Yuma Art Center says.

It is a fast-paced, funny, and heartwarming story filled with big musical numbers, friendship, courage, and standing up for what’s right.

For more information and to get tickets, click here.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A couple of GoFundMes were created to help two Yuma families after a fire destroyed their homes.

According to Rural Metro’s Facebook post, the fire was reported around 5 a.m. near Avenue C and South El Prado Road, close to Valley Baptist Church.

Firefighters arrived to find two homes and a vehicle engulfed in flames before quickly bringing the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes.

No injuries were reported, and the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families.

Rudolfo Acosta, a neighbor, said one of the homeowners believes the fire may have started after a bonfire spread because of windy conditions.

However, Rural Metro says the official cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Acosta said one of the homes belonged to a family of five that had been remodeling their house before the fire.

“They are very sad for what happened to them,” Acosta said. “They were remodeling their house, but no one was hurt.”

The GoFundMe’s organizer says while everyone got out safely, all of their furniture, clothes, bedding and mattresses were “completely destroyed.”

The organizer says the GoFundMe was created as she, her husband, stepson and granddaughter, who is seven-years-old, are in need of clothes, food, household items, blankets, pillows, furniture and beds.

In addition, the GoFundMe has a goal of $2,200, with over $1,100 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

There is also a GoFundMe created to help another family who lost their home in the fire. It has a goal of $7,000, with only $400 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Most people only call a locksmith when they are desperate for help. That means it’s easy to overlook red flags and fall prey to a scammer.

By getting to know the signs of a locksmith scam ahead of time, you can avoid trouble if an emergency does arise.

How Locksmith Scams Work

You’ve locked yourself out of your home or car! You take out your phone and do a quick search for locksmiths in your area. This is where the scam begins. Many locksmith scammers use the name and logo of a reputable locksmith to advertise their business.

When you call these imitators, they may answer with a generic “Hello, locksmith services,” rather than a specific business name.

In one common version of this scam, the person on the phone offers you an extremely cheap quote, as low as $15. However, once the locksmith arrives on-site, they find a number of “reasons” to raise the price.

Scammers prey on consumers’ feelings of desperation, and victims often end up paying hundreds more than what they were initially quoted.

In other cases, scammers may also claim that opening your door is impossible. They insist you need to drill the old lock and replace it with a new, expensive lock. This, too, is most likely a deception; a skilled locksmith can open just about any lock.

In addition, scammers like to sell “extra-secure” locks that, in reality, are cheap and anything but secure. What’s even more disturbing is that a scam locksmith now knows where you live or work and how to gain reentry later on.

How to avoid locksmith scams:

Critique their advertising. Look closely at the business’s advertisements. Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does the ad look similar to other ads but have a different name? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names?

Ask plenty of questions. Most consumer complaints concern fees that were not disclosed when they called the locksmith. Ask about the cost of a service call, mileage, and parts before you agree to have the work performed. Get an estimate before any work begins, including emergency service. If the on-site estimate doesn’t match the price quoted on the telephone, have the job done by someone else.

Check identification. Most legitimate locksmiths will arrive in a clearly marked vehicle and provide identification. Remember that you will be allowing a stranger into your home. Check to see if the locksmith is a member of the Associated Locksmiths of America https://www.aloa.org/consumers

Licensed? Some states require locksmiths to have a license to operate. In California, verify that through the state’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. 

https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/online_services/verify_license.shtml

Be wary of “necessary” drilling. Understand that it isn’t routine for a locksmith to insist on drilling the lock to open it. Most locksmiths have the skills to open almost any lock.

Demand an invoice. You can’t dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what you paid for. Insist on an itemized invoice that includes parts, labor, mileage and service charges. The invoice should also include the business name and address. Use your credit card to pay for locksmith services for added security.

For More Information

More scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com

Find BBB Accredited Locksmiths before you have an emergency. Keep their number in your wallet or phone, in case you find yourself in need of services later on.  Find out more about BBB Accreditation Standards.

If you’ve been the victim of a locksmith scam, report the incident to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help alert others to similar scams.

Sign up for BBB Scam Alerts

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – This week, select local high school and college students are experiencing Onvida Health’s annual healthcare camp.

Local students are gaining hands-on experience this summer through exposure to healthcare careers.

Elizabeth Hammonds, Director of Volunteer Services for Onvida Health, said, “We give them the opportunity to explore a multitude of health careers and hope by the end of the week that we have inspired them to select something in the field and be educated in that field.”

The goal of Onvida Health’s annual healthcare camp is to educate students interested in the healthcare field by giving them the opportunity to practice skills such as suturing, PPE, and participating in simulations.

Student volunteer Andrik Reyes said, “The healthcare career camp is where I really fell in love with surgery.”

Students also have the opportunity to learn how to use surgical robots through hands-on simulations, with the hope that campers will discover their passion.

One former camper, now a camp volunteer, says Onvida Health’s career camp is not only a great place to learn hands-on skills, but also a place to build connections.

Jennifer Casillas, a student volunteer, said, “My biggest take away would probably be again the connections that you make.”

The annual week-long camp brings together like-minded students for an immersive learning experience that creates a lasting impact on every participant.

Onvida Health says camps like these help inspire students to pursue future healthcare careers.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – While Yuma is known around the world as the Winter Vegetable Capital of the World, the work that makes those crops possible begins long before the first seeds are planted.

At the University of Arizona Yuma Agricultural Center, crews are spending the hottest months of the year preparing research fields for the upcoming fall and winter growing season.

The fields are used to support research projects for major agricultural companies, with the goal of improving crop production and farming practices.

Before vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower can be planted, crews carefully prepare the soil by disking, chiseling, and leveling the fields.

According to farm managers, proper land preparation is one of the most important steps in producing a successful crop.

“It all starts with the ground,” said Mesa Farm Manager Angel Perez. “If the soil isn’t prepared correctly, everything that comes afterward becomes more difficult.”

In addition to soil preparation, the center plants rotational crops such as Sudan grass and teff during the summer.

The crops help restore nutrients to the soil, reduce wind erosion, and suppress plant diseases before the next vegetable season begins.

Water conservation is another major focus. Using GPS-guided laser-leveling technology, crews create uniform fields that allow irrigation water to flow more efficiently while helping flush excess salts below the root zone.

The process improves soil conditions while maximizing every drop of water in Yuma’s desert climate.

The agricultural center has also added new tractors equipped with advanced technology to improve precision and productivity as research fields are prepared.

Valley Farm Manager Stuart Bennett said technology continues to play a critical role in modern agriculture.

“Technology is big in farming,” Bennett said. “You have to keep up with technology.”

From precision irrigation and soil management to crop rotation and modern equipment, the work taking place during Yuma’s hottest months helps lay the foundation for the region’s world-renowned winter vegetable industry and the harvests that will follow.

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