Category: kyma-local-news

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – OneAZ Credit Union’s main branch held its grand opening celebration with the bank company’s workers and local leaders.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the new branch after OneAZ Credit Union acquired First Bank Yuma last year.

With the opening of the new location, OneAZ Credit Union aims to provide expanded banking products and services while reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Yuma community.

“It’s a commitment of products and services that are gonna help economic vitality in the community, help families of small businesses, and grow and navigate financial wealth, access to capital, and the ability to expand their financial well-being,” said Mike Boden, President and CEO of OneAZ Credit Union.

As part of its community-focused mission, OneAZ Bank also announced a $7,500 donation to Crossroads Mission, supporting the organization’s efforts to serve individuals and families in need throughout Yuma.

The newly opened branch is OneAZ Credit Union’s fourth location in Yuma, further expanding access to financial services and strengthening its role in the region’s economic development.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals and winter visitors attended Yuma AgFest 2026 Saturday afternoon.

The annual event took place in Downtown Yuma at 1:00 p.m., and featured a variety of live entertainment and music, food and drink vendors and more.

Ana Godinez, Special Events Assistant for the City of Yuma, shares how this event benefits Yuma County.

“It brings a lot of tourism to our area. Right now, it’s a busy season for all of us. Everything is full on. All of the [agriculture] community is here working hard, and it’s important to support local,” Godinez explained.

The event will go until 9:00 p.m.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County participated in the Celebrate Life 5K Color Run Saturday morning.

The event took place at West Wetlands Park at 10:00 a.m., and featured live music, food trucks and vendors, and more.

All proceeds from the event will support New Life Pregnancy Center.

“This fundraiser will go into fund that fund that ministry. That ministry helps families in Yuma…We want families in Yuma to get stronger, and we’re part of that process to help them do that,” said Sheryl Van Horn, Regional Director for the Arizona Baptist Children’s Services.

The first 100 participants also received a free T-shirt while other participants received a swag bag.

The event lasted until noon.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man charged with murder has taken a guilty plea in a separate drug case.

36-year-old Fernando Malta pled guilty Tuesday to possession of a narcotic drug.

Under the plea agreement, Malta faces a presumptive sentence of ten years, a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 12 years in prison.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 10.

Malta was arrested for the murder of 29-year-old Eric Cruz from Somerton, and is being held at the Yuma County Jail on a bond of more than $1 million.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man has taken a plea deal in a drug case involving meth and fentanyl.

42-year-old Jacob Cody Allison pled guilty Tuesday for possession of drug paraphernalia involving meth.

Allison was arrested during a search warrant in May of last year executed by the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.

Officers found nearly 11,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, a loaded firearm, liquid and crystalline meth, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.

Under the plea agreement, Allison faces a presumptive sentence of more than a year and up to two years in prison.

His sentencing is scheduled for February 20.

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Marcos Icahuate

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – A new signaled intersection has been placed in El Centro at Imperial Avenue and Pepper Drive.

The traffic signal is to improve safe for motorists and pedestrians in the area, according to the City of El Centro.

The signal light is operating on red until further notice, which acts as an all-way stop.

The intersection is planned to be fully operational on Friday, January 23, 2026.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man was taken to the hospital in serious condition following a crash, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

On Wednesday, January 21, at about 8:21 p.m., officers were called about an injury on 24th Street and Parkview Loop.

YPD says a 49-year-old man was on a motorcycle traveling eastbound on 24th Street, then he crashed into a Jeep Wrangler being driven by a 19-year-old woman, who was attempting to make a left hand turn onto Parkview Loop.

The man was taken to Onvida Health and later flown to a Phoenix hospital in serious condition.

The woman was checked into Onvida Health and released.

YPD says impairment does not appear to be a factor in this case and is still under investigation.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 783-4421.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A new program is being introduced to help applicants.

The City of Yuma’s Department of Community Development launched Alynea AI PreCheck, an AI tool that reviews permit applications.

Building permit applications will be checked by the AI tool before they’re submitted to the City.

Alynea AI PreCheck searches for missing information, inconsistencies and other common errors.

The City of Yuma says this tool will reduce processing times and improve overall quality.

“This pilot helps applicants address common application issues earlier in the process,” said Alyssa Linville, Director of Community Development. “When applications come in more complete, staff can spend less time on corrections and more time on timely, thorough reviews.”

The tool is optional and permits will continue to approved mainly by City staff.

For more information, click here.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health and the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System broke ground Friday morning on a new outpatient clinic in the Fortuna Foothills.

Local and state leaders, Veterans, and community members gathered to mark the start of the long-anticipated project that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2027.

Arizona State Sen. Tim Dunn highlighted the importance of the new clinic for the region’s Veteran population, saying, “Onvida is stepping up to serve those Veterans who stepped-up to serve our country and providing healthcare for them, right here in Yuma County.”

The project includes a dedicated 30,000-square-foot outpatient facility that has been more than two years in the making.

The planning process focused on ensuring the clinic would meet the specific needs of Veterans and provide a high-quality healthcare experience.

Onvida Health President and CEO Robert Trenschel said Veterans were directly involved in shaping the facility from the beginning.

“This was designed, really, by Veterans,” Trenschel said. “So, when we were building this, when we were designing this, we got Veteran groups together to say ‘What do you want in your facility?’ We’re just excited to be able to provide a facility for Veterans that provides them the dignity and clinical care that they so well deserve.”

The clinic is expected to significantly expand healthcare services available to veterans in Yuma County.

Brenda Smith, quartermaster and chaplain for VFW Post 1763, emphasized the impact of the project, saying, “We’re getting this huge facility here on this property and the services are expanding. The types of care are expanding.”

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Interim Director Maria Nguyen said the timing of the clinic’s opening will allow for a broad range of services, adding, “It’s gonna be perfect timing to offer primary care services, audiology, path and lab, even more potential for women’s health services.”

Leaders also stressed that the new clinic will reduce the burden of travel for veterans who currently must leave the area for care.

Smith said, “It’s gonna save veterans so much time and effort and stress going to Tucson or Phoenix to get their care.”

Sen. Dunn added that the clinic will allow aVeterans to remain close to home, saying, “We know that when people are here, serving in the military, they know when they retire, they can come back here and have those Veteran services right here where they live, so they don’t have to go out of town.”

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