Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma City Council discussed and set a maximum number for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The maximum number the budget can be is $547,121,059, which is around $26 million more than the previous year.

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes all departments within the city such as government, parks and recreation, and police.

“The budget is the document that makes everything else possible throughout the year, so if you want to get something done as a citizen, you have an idea that you think the city needs to do, then it needs to somehow find itself into the budget,” Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls says.

Almost half of the proposed budget will be going towards the capital improvement program.

This includes includes new construction, improving assets, and equipment purchasing.

Deputy Mayor Carol Smith shares her thoughts on how budget discussions have taken place.

“There’s only a certain amount of money that can be spent, until that changes I think we have it lined out pretty well, I think that the discussion that we’ve had over the last two nights sounds good to me,” Smith said.

Mayor Nicholls shares one project he is looking forward to being developed.

“I do appreciate the fact that we’ve put some money aside for the Spaceport Initiative, so that’s when that permit comes through from the FAA. If we don’t have a partner yet for the infrastructure build, we can get started on that,” Mayor Nicholls says.

The council and city will have to come to a final budget number in June before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Several attorneys general visited the border in Yuma to see the results of the immigration policies put in place by President Donald Trump.

The 11 attorneys general are part of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says every state is a border state and enforcing immigration laws has also helped in the fight against fentanyl and human trafficking.

“Now the word has gotten out that you are going to be turned around, so it’s not that we don’t need interior enforcement, it’s that the interior enforcement is what cause the slow down at the border,” said Kobach.

Enforcing immigration laws has brought down the migrant apprehensions from 1,500 to only four a day, but the attorneys general say there’s still more work to be done to cover gaps along the border.

“They only have to be right one time in order to cause mass destruction and complete chaos in this country. The good guys, us, we have to be right every time and people don’t want to invest in this until something bad happens. I would rather invest in this to prevent something bad to happen,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes says the cooperation between state, local and federal law enforcement is key to having safer communities.

“It’s estimated that 500 thousand criminal aliens are free in this country right now. We got to partner with the federal government, we got to for coalitions networks local in the communities to find those people and get them out of the country,” explained Sheriff Rhodes.

“Finish the infrastructure that the Trump team put in effect the first time…that would be the first step and added elements to that infrastructure, turning cameras back on energizing the rest of the observation system that it is along the border,” said Yuma County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman Jonathan Lines.

The attorneys general say they will continue working together along with the federal government to bring down the number of undocumented crossings from four to zero.

You can watch a livestream of the press conference here:

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of Brawley and the Brawley Police Department (BPD) will be hosting a Major League Soccer (MLS) youth program.

The inaugural season of MLS GO is a recreational soccer experience for boys and girls from the ages four to 13.

BPD will be serving as coaches and mentors.

“This initiative is more than just about soccer; it’s about community, mentorship, and providing our youth with opportunities to grow and succeed,” said Chief Jimmy Duran. “We’re excited to see the positive impact this program will have on our city’s young residents.”

Brawley and surrounding communities are invited to support the MLS GO program.

For more upcoming information, visit BPD’s Facebook page here.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The El Centro Police Department (ECPD) has announced the arrest of two people for making criminal threats and possessing illegal weapons.

ECPD says their night shift patrol officers stopped a white SUV in the area of 10th Street and Park Avenue after they received reports of a disturbance in the area of Broadway.

The occupants of the vehicle were detained, according to ECPD, and a K9 unit was deployed, leading them to find illegal weapons.

ECPD says they found a loaded 9mm Beretta APX A1 with a threaded barrel and three high-capacity magazines.

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

In addition, ECPD says one of the suspects made a criminal threat towards a teen.

This prompted ECPD to arrest the two suspects, one a young adult and the other a teen, for various charges and booked them into the Imperial County Jail and Imperial County Juvenile Hall.

Courtesy: El Centro Police Department

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Karina Bazarte

Karina Bazarte investigates the risks passengers take when entering rides from “raiteros.”

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – They call them “raiteros,” a Spanish slang word meaning a person who gives rides. The community of Calexico says it’s a big problem that needs to be fixed.

Raiteros usually wait by the Port of Entry ready to provide a ride to whoever needs to get from Point A to Point B.

Usually you would think this is a kind gesture, but what you don’t know are the risks a passenger and even the driver are putting themselves into.

That’s because in the state of California, it’s illegal to sell or offer and negotiate transportation without a certificate or a permit.

“The truth is that it feels helpless because it is a battle that has been going on for many years,” said Miguel Hernandez, a taxi driver in Calexico.

Hernandez has been a taxi driver three years, and says it feels like there isn’t a solution to a problem that started 30 years ago.

“The calls that they take from us – they are also calling locally not only calls to take them to El Centro, They take locals. They don’t have permits and they are taking our jobs,” said Hernandez.

In the state of California, it’s illegal to sell or offer and negotiate transportation without a certificate or a permit.

Police say there’s been cases were raiteros negotiated a high price and left a person without money and not at their requested destination. Not only that, the driver can also be at risk.

“We have already had incidents where the driver is being taken for their money and robbed at gunpoint,” said Officer Nicolas Monninger with the Calexico Police Department (CPD).

According to the state of California, if caught for illegal transportation, you can be charged with an infraction and fined up to $500 or even serve jail time.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE: The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office says Gloria Ontiveros was found dead.

Family members have been notified.

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A Silver Alert has been issued by the California Highway Patrol, on behalf of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, for a missing woman from Holtville.

According to the alert, 72-year-old Gloria Ontiveros is five-feet, seven-inches, weighing 180 pounds, has gray hair and brown eyes, and is wearing a multi-color top with a long denim skirt.

She was last seen Tuesday at around 11:30 a.m. in the area of E. Fifth Street and Grape Avenue in Holtville, and is believed to be on foot.

If anyone sees Ontiveros, call (442) 265-2021.

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Dillon Fuhrman

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The City of El Centro has announced they rescheduled the Ice Cream Social and Rain on Main for next Friday, May 30.

Originally supposed to take place last Saturday, May 17, the event was postponed due to the high winds and safety concerns.

The event will feature live music, food vendors, a kids zone and a beer garden.

Different ice cream vendors will be handing out free ice cream and the El Centro Fire Department will make it rain on Main Street with a water hose.

The event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Downtown Town Square in El Centro.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A prayer service will be held for the baby found in a garbage can in Yuma.

Baby Sonny was found by an employee at a Best Western garbage can in the morning of May 1.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls announced there will be a Community Prayer Service on Thursday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church (1815 S. 8th Avenue).

The service will be to express a celebration of life.

All faiths are welcome.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A paramedic and an EMT from the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) were given recognition during Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week.

The EMS week celebration began with a proclamation from Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.

EMT Gavin Goble was recognized with an EMT of the Year Award. YFD says Goble has served the City of Yuma for over 20 years and is a role model to the younger generation of firefighters.

Paramedic Jeff Endres was recognized as Paramedic of the Year. YFD says Endres excels in being decisive and handling oneself during intense moments.

Firefighter Albert Hernandez was recognized with the EMS Cobra Award, as he did well in documentation for the department.

Alyssa Solorio was recognized with as the 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year. She’s been consistent with dispatch, being able to process a call in 48 seconds, while remaining calm and compassionate.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A historic building in Downtown Yuma is in the process of being sold for redevelopment, and Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls and locals downtown talk about the future of the Hotel San Carlos.

Constructed in 1930, the hotel was once the tallest building in Yuma and served as a social hub for Hollywood stars like John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe. However, after it’s heyday, the building began to deteriorate.

Since the 1980s, the building has been used for federally funded low-income housing.

But now, the building faces a rebirth, and will bring a positive impact to the economy and social life of Downtown Yuma, according to City of Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.

“When it’s sold, it will be able to go back into private hands and contribute to property tax, as well as the Downtown Maintenance District. It can really change the quality of nightlife and activities in the Downtown area,” says Nicholls.

The preservation of Yuma’s historical landmarks has been a challenge Nicholls says.

Examples include floods destroying the earliest adobe homes and the fire at the Pacific Freight Depot last March.

Nicholls says this redevelopment will contribute to keeping Yuma’s rich history alive and well.

“The hotel has been a monument in our Downtown, the Art Deco style, it’s kind of fallen away. The San Carlos would be worth preserving to understand how the community grew and really reflect that in our culture and in our history,” he explains.

Nicholls adds that he would like to see the building used for apartment or condo living believing it would draw in singles or young couples seeking a semi-urban setting.

Local Claude Crutchfield says finding an affordable place to live is becoming increasingly difficult and would like to see some affordable units after the redevelopment.

“They should make rooms available for qualified people at reasonable rates because right now there’s an 8 month wait to get a place that $400/mo-$600/mo. Everybody raised their rents,” Crutchfield shared.

Crutchfield believes the location and condition makes it a gold mine, adding that there are buildings much older than Hotel San Carlos still in great shape.

“They may have to spend a million dollars or more to get it up to snuff but they’ll make the money back in 2-3 years. That’s a good investment except it’s kind of noisy here, so get a room in the back, not the front,” he joked.

Now the time frame and exact plans for the building’s redevelopment are still in the early stages and KYMA will be following this story as the pieces fall in place.

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