Good morning, Yuma.

KAWC, a local radio station, received national recognition from the Public Media Journalists Association for its Arizona Edition episodes that featured border life stories from Somerton and San Luis — including interviews with News Director Lou Gum and Reporter Victor Calderón.

The Yuma Chapter of Travis Manion Foundation is requesting funds from the Arizona Community Foundation to provide free books and supplies for the Character Does Matter program that teaches life skills to youth at Cibola High School.

The organization will host a Back-to-School Success Workshop on August 2nd from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Lab near 32nd street — offering essential resources for youth success.

Floyd Friar — the Yuma Fire Department fleet manager since 1985 — has played a key role in keeping first responders ready by maintaining the city’s fire engines and ambulances.

Somerton approved a $38 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year that adds $10 million over last year but missed out on some expected grant funds, so city leaders will revisit those projects.

Officials are now contacting legislators and state representatives to support downtown Main Street improvements + help local businesses thrive in the future.

Vitalant is hosting a three-day Summer Life Savers blood drive at Yuma Main Library from July 31 to August 2 to ease a seasonal blood shortage caused by fewer teen donors and winter visitors—this nonprofit supplies Onvita Health hospitals and urges local residents to donate as every donation saves up to three lives.

Two-year-old Maverick Buoniconti—born with Vader syndrome and a small cystic kidney—has been listed and accepted for a kidney transplant after undergoing 22 surgeries and a year on dialysis.

His mother, Deanna Buoniconti, is waiting to see if she is a match as the family seeks donations for his ongoing care.

Yuma County recorded over 700 new STD infections per 100,000 people in 2023—chlamydia led with more than 1,000 cases while syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV were also reported.

Health experts say the increase points to gaps in care and education and advise those needing testing to contact a local doctor.