Good morning, Yuma.

Today the American Veterans Service Organization, a safe space for veterans recovering from a recent fire, faced theft of salvageable items—including a car trailer and a small trailer—set outside its building at 8889 I-8 Frontage Rd that has delayed rebuilding efforts.

YPD warns parents in Yuma that online predators are using platforms such as Roblox+ to bribe children into uploading inappropriate content in exchange for virtual money and urges immediate reporting of any suspicious activity.

High school students toured NAU & AWC campuses in Yuma to learn about robotics and machine building during an engineering day event that showed local opportunities in S.T.E.M.

NAU will hold a ribbon cutting on April 10 for their new mechanical engineering laboratories to further boost the program.

Local lawmakers passed a bill to let law enforcement disable or shoot down drones near the border because cartels are increasingly using them to smuggle drugs, and local officials and drone operators voiced concerns about protecting public safety and privacy.

The measure now awaits a Senate vote and may be revised if more input is received from local experts—ensuring that enforcement and legitimate drone use are balanced.

Customs and Border Protection are working with national defense to fill gaps in the border wall near Yuma, and the local agency said the effort helped drop illegal migrant crossings (a decline observed over the past year).

Yuma’s USDA office may soon close due to proposed cuts by Elon Musk and DOGE aimed at saving $400,000—local farmers fear losing vital support for grants and low interest loans.

Sen. Ruben Gallego and former USDA director Charlene Fernandez urge the agency to reconsider the decision to protect local jobs and agriculture.

A new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows more than 185,000 veterans have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, though experts say the actual number is higher due to misdiagnosis.

Advocates are urging increased support to help veterans manage risks of depression, suicide and long-term neurological decline—Disabled American Veterans is among the groups providing essential assistance.

Five years after Yuma County reported its first COVID-19 case, over 37,000 cases and 876 deaths have affected the community while Imperial County logged more than 74,000 cases.

Local hospitals expanded ICU capacities and many healthcare workers faced heavy strain, with a new memorial at Onvida Health honoring those lost & serving as a place of hope.

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.