Good morning, Yuma.

A Yuma father saved his seven-year-old daughter from a vicious pit bull attack while walking her to school—he kicked and fired shots at the animal, which later died under a van and was ruled as a justified act of self-defense by Animal Control and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office notified locals that 54-year-old Jason Sims, a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend, told them he was living near South Walnut Avenue and East 10th Street—he is five feet, nine inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Arizona Western College, with local university partners, will hold its commencement on May 16 at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium (7150 E.

24th Street) next to Gila Ridge High School. The ceremony will honor over 2,500 graduates from Yuma and La Paz counties, including high school students earning Associate of Arts degrees through the Dual Credit program (AGEC certificates are also to be awarded).

The Elisabeth solar project will soon begin on public land near Dateland in the Agua Caliente solar energy zone to generate 270 megawatts of renewable energy across over 1,400 acres.

Approved by the Bureau of Land Management, the project will install solar panels and battery storage so power feeds into local grids — offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

Residents and business owners near Martinez Lake have signed a petition urging federal agencies to reopen a water channel blocked since 2001— the stagnant water has led to algae blooms, fish kills and foul odors that affect local health and tourism.

Organizers plan to gather more local signatures before winter tourism begins.

The Marine Corps is running its Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in Yuma, a strict program that gives selected Marines over 150 hours of classroom work and 220 hours of flight training over seven to nine weeks.

A group of local residents even took a helicopter ride to see the tough training firsthand—showing how the course prepares Marines for critical missions.

Over 6,000 troops and personnel were sent to the border to boost security — Customs and Border Protection officials said the soldiers brought new technology to cover remote areas while some local leaders called the move excessive.

The deployment includes parts of the Roosevelt Reservation and nearly 170 miles of New Mexico land transferred to the Defense Department.

Family Roller Skate Night

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Kennedy Skate Rink — Free entry — Enjoy a lively evening of roller skating in the fresh air with family-friendly vibes.