Yuma Sun
Allegations against Cesar Chavez lead to cancellation of celebrations
The United Farm Workers union has distanced itself from annual celebrations of its founder, Cesar Chavez, amid what it said were troubling but unspecified allegations. In a statement Tuesday, the union said allegations of “abuse of young women or...
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YCAT plans changes for downtown transit center, green routes
Changes could be on the horizon for riders of the Yuma County Area Transit public bus system, including potential service to the Foothills area and temporary relocation of the downtown transit center during upcoming renovations. Shelly Kreger, transit...
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‘Everything we need is here’
Fred Phillips’ contributions are central to the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s restoration efforts. He has been working with Cocopah for 20 years and helping Jen Alspach, director of the tribe’s Environmental Protection Office, with grants and design for this...
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Yuma’s 60th Airshow soars to success
The Yuma Airshow, an annual event showcasing daring pilots, historic airplanes and exhilarating aerial acrobatics, drew a huge crowd on Saturday, as locals, snowbirds and airplane aficionados came together at the Marines Corps Air Station to witness...
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Two crashes slow traffic on I-8 near Fortuna Road
Two crashes Friday morning on westbound Interstate 8 near Fortuna Road sent four people to the hospital and temporarily shut down traffic, according to the Rural Metro Fire Department and Arizona Department of Transportation. The first crash was...
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Preserving the Legacy
Residents of San Luis and the surrounding area gathered Thursday to kick off events honoring the legacy of César Chávez, part of activities organized by Somos. The César Chávez Historic Center served as the meeting point for a flag-raising ceremony and...
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Read Across America Week
Students across the country marked Read Across America Week with activities that frequently tap community members outside the school to read to students. Area schools have celebrated as well. Pecan Grove Elementary School is one of those schools, with...
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MATO kicks into high gear on Saturday
Midnight at the Oasis is an annual Yuma event that draws big crowds every year to see all manner of vintage cars, ranging from ‘70s station wagons with lovingly preserved patinas to pristinely renovated Model As. But what draws people into this hobby?...
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Third graders become published authors
Third graders at Mcgraw Elementary School recently saw their writing come to life as published authors after completing a class book project tied to their curriculum. Students in the Yuma Elementary School District classroom of Valeria Andrade and...
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Yuma air show still on
While the air show in El Centro has been canceled, the Yuma Air Show is still set to go on. It will return on Saturday, March 14, for its 60th year, bringing military and civilian flight demonstrations back to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The annual...
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Fontes fights DOJ request for data on voters
PHOENIX—SAYING the demand is illegal, Secretary oftrsutmatpe tadrian Fontes wantpslaayefer deral judge to throlawncoeuctpelf.forts by the Trumbpenajdamiinnistration to forcechenimdanto turn over voter rpelgaiysstration and electionmruescicords. In a...
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Firefighters free trapped driver after I-8 rollover
After an agricultural truck driver Monday morning lost control of his semi-truck, causing it to flip on Interstate 8 with cabbage flying across the roadway, Yuma firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to extricate him before transporting him by...
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‘Exceptional’ heart health campaign
Exceptional Community Hospital marked American Heart Month Iin February with a series of events aimed at promoting heart health in the community, including a student art contest and a public health fair. Beginning Feb. 20, the hospital launched its...
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Smoke, music and crowds fill downtown
SUN Crowds gathered in downtown Yuma on Saturday, Feb. 28, for the city’s annual BBQ & Brew Festival, a full day of barbecue, live music and friendly competition. The free, family-friendly event ran from noon to 9 p.m. and featured a mix of barbecue...
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Yuma student honored in statewide AZ529 art contest, Treasurer Yee announces winners
A fifth grader from Tierra Del Sol Elementary was named Yuma County’s winner in a statewide art contest sponsored by the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office and the AZ529 Advisory Committee. Kenya Guadalupe Lopez Ramirez was among 19 students selected...
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Cesar Chavez’s legacy to be honored with series of celebrations in San Luis
A series of events honoring farmworker and labor leader Cesar Chavez in San Luis will begin Friday with a United Farm Workers flag-raising ceremony, continuing a tradition led locally by the organization Somos/we Are. The ceremony is scheduled for 10...
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Strong test scores draw state schools chief to Desert View Academy
Editor’s note: This article is offered in partnership with KAWC and can be read or heard on KAWC.ORG and 88.9 FM. Desert View Academy had a special guest Wednesday morning: Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. Horne — who is...
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County weighs its next steps after contractor exits Smucker Park project
Yuma County officials are evaluating their options for the Smucker Park Detention Basin project after the contractor working on the project chose to not to complete the work, according to a statement from the county. “Meridian has chosen to step away...
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AWC leaders advocate in Washington
Arizona Western College leaders recently took part in the 2026 National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., where they advocated for federal policies affecting community colleges, AWC announced. Maria Chavoya, District Governing Board member, and...
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Compromise plan would regulate Arizona’s short-term rentals
PHOENIX -- Efforts to allow Arizona cities and towns to limit the number of new Airbnb’s and other short-term rentals have failed in the Legislature amid industry opposition. But the lawmaker backing the bill -- mainly aimed at helping Sedona and...
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Jordan’s Way fundraiser returning to Humane Society
The Humane Soci‑ ety of Yuma will host a high‑energy online fundraiser Monday, Feb. 23, when Kris Rotonda, founder of Jordan’s Way, brings his traveling Facebook Live event to the shel‑ ter. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be...
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Students and community members celebrate Carver Day
While singing on Carver Day, Jabril Peters thought about how his voice – and the voices of his choir mates – began to sail together swiftly through “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Jabril, a first-grade student, is a member of the Cobra-tones, a choir...
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Kids Care Clinic: New healthcare exhibit at Children’s Museum
A new and enhanced interactive exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Yuma County introduces healthcare to young visitors. The Kids Care Clinic, which opened to the public Friday, Feb. 20, is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and early interest in...
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From dust to dust
About 400 parishioners attended morning Mass at St. John Neumann in the Foothills on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer for Catholics, and takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, according to catholic.org. The...
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Ariz. bill would create ‘civil terrorism’ crime for protest-related offenses
PHOENIX–PEOPLE who block traffic in protest, trespass in a building, or commit other minor crimes could end up in state prison under the terms of legislation making its way through the state House. But it could depend on what they are protesting– and...
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Dress rehearsal
U.S. Marines with “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps rehearse music during a dress rehearsal for upcoming performances in Australia and New Zealand at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma on Jan. 23, 2026. During the tour,...
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Amid bucking broncos and cowboys, rodeo brings attention to fight against cancer
This year, the Silver Spur Rodeo added to the sense of close-knit community by supporting Buckin’ for Bridget, a group that is dedicated to spreading a message of hope for cancer patients and their families. The group, which began as a partnership...
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MCAS hosts stunt show
The Marine Corps Community Services hosted a stunt show on the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma on Feb. 6 to build community and enhance the morale of Marines and their families at MCAS Yuma. The event included Twinstunts, twin brothers who perform...
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Yuma’s 81st Silver Spur Rodeo kicks off with exciting first day
The Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo celebrates its 81st year this weekend as competitors and cowboys from across the country come together to compete for glory and prizes. With stunning trick riding, thrilling bulls and demonstrations of horsemanship that have...
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From air to water
New technology, including a new underwater robot and an expanding drone program, is improving safety on the Colorado River and across La Paz County. Thanks to a grant from Arizona State Parks, the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office has purchased a...
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Preparing the future workforce
Emily Valtierra, a Kofa High School student who is studying law and public safety, shared that as a freshman she didn’t have a clear idea of what she wanted her future to be. Through Career and Technical Education, she discovered opportunities that...
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Critical first minutes of a fire
Firefighters with the Wellton Fire Department spent some time recently sharpening critical skills that can make the difference in the first moments of an emergency. Firefighters trained on hose deployments and water supply techniques, practicing how to...
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Arming and refueling operations
U.S. Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted Forward Arming and Refueling Point operations at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma on Jan. 31, 2026, as part of ongoing training to sharpen combat...
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Petpalooza celebrates four-legged friends in Somerton
The Petpalooza festival was once again the best excuse to bring together dog lovers in Somerton at the event held on Saturday. Area residents gathered at Council Avenue Park for the annual event that celebrates beloved pets and offers the community a...
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A dose of wellness
Hundreds of residents turned out Saturday for the Yuma Wellness & Care Fair at the Yuma Civic Center, a community event presented by Onvida Health in collaboration with the City of Yuma and the Yuma Sun. The fair featured free health screenings, heart...
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Baby boom
Thirteen Yuma firefighters have welcomed new children into their families within the past year, and on Saturday they celebrated the baby boom at Yuma Fire Station 1. It’s not the first time they’ve held this sort of celebration. Firefighter Trevor...
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On the run
Runners took on the annual challenge offered by the Yuma Territorial Marathon and Half-marathon on Saturday morning, starting and finishing the event at Cocopah Casino & Resort. The event, sponsored by the Caballeros de Yuma, offered four options for...
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Geocaching flashmob
Geocachers from all over enjoyed a few festive minutes of fun during a flashmob held Friday in Yuma Old Town. As part of the 22nd Annual South West Arizona Geocachers Yuma Mega Event, participants gathered around the fountain roundabout at about 5:15...
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Sinkhole closes part of intersection at 32nd St and 4th Ave Extension
A sinkhole has forced the full closure of the intersection of West 32nd Street and South 4th Avenue Extension beginning Friday, Jan. 30, Yuma Police Department said. City engineering crews expect repairs to take five to eight days, though the closure...
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‘The Commandment’s Own’
Members of the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, dubbed “The Commandment’s Own,” rehearsed at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma on Jan. 20-22, 2026. Following their training in Yuma, the Drum & Bugle Corps will travel to Brisbane, Australia and Auckland,...
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Felicity mayor to gift museum ‘to the nation’
Jacques-andré Istel plans to make The Museum of History in Granite – a storied landmark in Felicity, California – “a substantial and permanent gift to the nation.” Istel owns the museum in partnership with his wife Felicia. The site is 17 miles west of...
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Joint training exercise
EMS providers from the Yuma area came together on Tuesday to train their response for a mass casualty incident, commonly called an MCI. These are situations with many wounded that require rapid assistance, typically from multiple providers, which makes...
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Fire crews snuff residential fire
The Yuma Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a residence on Sunday, Jan. 25, at about 2:45 p.m., in the area of East 26th Place and South James Avenue, the agency reported. On arrival, firefighters observed light brown smoke...
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Yuma celebrates agricultural heritage at Agfest
Thousands of Yuma residents, families and visitors packed onto Main Street on Saturday to celebrate the many aspects of agriculture that have shaped the Yuma region’s economic and cultural heritage. Attendees had the opportunity to taste locally grown...
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Colorful race celebrates new life
More than 200 runners painted themselves with all kinds of greens, blues, yellows, oranges and reds as they completed the Celebrate Life 5K Color Run at the West Wetlands on Saturday morning. Coordinated by Arizona Baptist Children’s Services and New...
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Breaking ground for new VA Outpatient Clinic
Yuma-based veterans, local community leaders and state elected officials gathered in East Yuma Friday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony of a brandnew, state-of-the-art outpatient clinic designed to address the needs of U.S. military veterans...
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Killer Cuts
“Killer Cuts.” Quite a name for a barbershop, but then not everyone exposes their neck to a fellow inmate likely in prison for murder wielding a sharp razor for a shave and haircut That’s the scenario depicted in the newest exhibit of the prison...
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Housing America delivers its 1st home of 2026 in San Luis
A newly arrived family in San Luis received the keys last week to the first home delivered this year by Housing America Corporation. The four-bedroom home is located in the Belleza del Desierto subdivision in the eastern part of the city, financed...
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Yuma Fire Dept. calls rose nearly 7% in 2025
The Yuma Fire Department responded to nearly 19,600 calls for service in 2025, marking another year of steady growth driven largely by increased emergency medical activity. Capt. Francisco Leon said the number of calls firefighters handled last year...
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Community grieves loss of tiny chapel
A miniature chapel, for years a beloved roadside landmark in a field north of Yuma beckoning passersby to come “Pause – Rest – Worship,” is no longer there. The tiny 8-by-12-foot structure was removed in early January, leaving a void where it stood in...
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Junior rodeo competition
It was a busy weekend for Yuma’s youngest rodeo riders at the Charlie Gregston Memorial Junior Rodeo, hosted by the Yuma County Mounted Posse. Posse member Donnie Deforest said events like the rodeo help preserve a long-standing local tradition. “It’s...
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Wellton Tractor Rodeo brings history to life
The 17th annual Wellton Tractor Rodeo brought together vintage tractor aficionados from across the country last Friday. The event, which celebrates 20th century agriculture, showcased the machinery that made life possible for farmers in the early...
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Cleanup event held in Somerton ahead of MLK Day
Volunteers of all ages from several organizations commemorated Martin Luther King Day early by serving the community in a cleanup event on Wednesday at Council Avenue Park in Somerton. Now in its third year, the activity was led by participants in...
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Yuma Catholic honors heroes of the skies, promotes careers in aviation
On the anniversary of the Sikorsky XR-4 making the first flight for a U.S. military helicopter in 1942, Yuma Catholic held a ceremony to celebrate the many rescues, supply runs and patrols conducted by Yuma area helicopter pilots. Students opened the...
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Yuma County seeks state grant for Adair Park shooting range upgrades
Yuma County is applying for a state grant to make safety improvements at the Adair Park Shooting Range, the only range that is owned and operated by Yuma County. The Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 5 to authorize the County Administration’s Grants...
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Yuma art fair draws thousands
The City of Yuma’s streak of record festival crowds continued at its first event in 2026, with Art in the Park welcoming thousands of attendees over two days at Gateway Park. More than 50 artists from across the Yuma region showcased their talent and...
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2025 was a productive year for Somerton
Somerton – Last year brought positive progress for Somerton in economic development and a clear sign of recovery in housing construction, a sector that had declined for several years. The results of the City Council’s efforts to promote investment...
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Onvida continues Mentor Me MD program for local students
Onvida Health welcomed local high school and college students to its Main Campus Lab on Wednesday for a handson Winter Workshop designed to introduce them to medical careers. Mentor Me M.D. provides an opportunity for young adults to be exposed to...
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New businesses, expansions deliver major economic boost to Yuma County
Yuma County got a big boost to its economy in 2025 with the location of several new businesses and expansion of existing ones to bring 261 new high-quality jobs to the area. In total, there were eight new locations and expansions of major industries...
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Man injured in chemical mixer accident at Gowan Milling
A man was injured Sunday morning after becoming trapped in a chemical mixer at Gowan Milling, leading to a large emergency response from firefighters and medical teams. The Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the scene, located at 12300 E County...
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From irrigation to internet access: an interview with 2025 Citizen of the Year, Mark Smith
Mark Smith has been named the Yuma Sun’s 2025 Citizen of the Year, recognized for decades of work strengthening Yuma’s agricultural sector and for more recent efforts to modernize rural internet and cellular access across the region. Smith, who has...
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‘Resilience and compassion’
Yuma’s female nonprofit leaders are known to lead with compassion and grace while balancing the mental, emotional and physical demands of multitasking. They serve as powerful mentors, guiding and inspiring both men and women alike, supporting and...
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2025 A look back at
Here’s a roundup of the most outstanding news of the year in San Luis and Somerton: Expansion of César Chávez Boulevard to begin in 2026 after more than 12 years of efforts and planning, construction for the expansion of César Chávez Boulevard in San...
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Yuma farmer Mark Smith works behind the scenes
Mark Smith, a longtime agricultural leader and advocate for water, technology and rural infrastructure, has been selected as Yuma County’s 2025 Citizen of the Year for more than four decades of behindthe-scenes service to the community. Smith,...
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Change of Command
A change of command ceremony held Dec. 12, 2025, at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma marked the passing of command from Lt. Col. Stephen R. Miggins, outgoing commanding officer of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, to Lt. Col. Michael B Jones,...
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San Luis maintained resilient growth in 2025
San Luis, Ariz. – The year 2025 was a challenging one for San Luis due to a reduction in municipal revenues, but the city continued moving forward with development and growth despite the difficulties of a slowed economy. This was explained by Mayor...
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From potluck to festival: Howling at the Moon continues to grow
The moon has served as a prominent fixture in human imaginations for thousands of years. That fascination is alive and well in Yuma, and when the moon is full, the Howling at the Moon Festival is on. The festival, which began as an informal social...
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Famed Anza expedition reaches 250-year anniversary
As Yuma marks the 250th anniversary of the historic Juan de Anza Crossing, historians and community members are reflecting on how a key moment along the Colorado River helped shape the region’s future. The crossing dates back to the Anza expedition of...
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