Good morning, Yuma.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who was raised in Yuma, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 24 after pleading no contest in a 2022 shooting during a high-speed chase in Morgan Hill and San Jose — one bullet injured a truck driver when Velasquez fired at a truck carrying three people, including a man accused of molesting his young relative.

A strong ridge of high pressure is driving near-record high temperatures near the triple-digit mark today and tomorrow with readings 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

A cooling trend will bring highs into the eighties by Friday — residents are advised to stay cool and drink plenty of water to avoid heat risks.

Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved installing seven broadband towers last Monday to boost internet access for farms.

The towers will cost about 7 million dollars and are funded by the ARPA fund—helping local agriculture upgrade its technology.

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors changed the zoning complaint process Monday morning so that when several complaints are made they go directly to the County Attorney’s Office for prompt review.

Officials said the change targets issues like yard trash that can drop property values—violators face fines, possible jail time and may be billed for cleanup—ensuring faster action.

County officials said they are monitoring potential federal grant cuts that could affect nearly 100 jobs tied to Yuma's current $190 million in funding — and they are planning a careful budget for fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

Board member Tony Reyes warned that any reductions could harm community programs that depend on this money.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is enforcing a policy that lets officers search travelers’ cell phones and laptops without a warrant or suspicion—immigration attorney Darius Amiri said this practice has led to more negative encounters for visa and green card holders.

He warned that refusing a search could result in detention, device seizure and travel delays while U.S. citizens remain more protected.

Yuma County Early Childhood Education Conference

7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Arizona Western College — Free entry — Engage in hands-on professional development for early childhood educators with sessions in English and Spanish.