🌱 Low COVID Level In Yuma + Smucker Park Arbor Day Tree Planting

Up and at 'em, Yuma! Let's get you all caught up to start this Saturday, March 26 off on an informed note. These are the most important things happening today in Yuma.

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First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and hot. High: 94 Low: 57.

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Here are the top three stories in Yuma today:

1. For the first time since the CDC released its updated guidance on COVID-19 community risk levels last month, every Arizona county, including Yuma, is now officially at "low" risk. As recently as last week, Yuma and La Paz Counties had been at the "medium" level, while the rest of the state was low. According to the most recent data from the Arizona Department of Health Services pandemic dashboard, there have been weekly declines across all metrics, including new deaths (down 26 percent), positive cases (down 11 percent), and the number of COVID-19 inpatients (down 21 percent). (KTAR)
2. On Thursday, the City of Yuma hosted its 50th annual Arbor Day celebration at Smucker Memorial Park. Volunteers from across the community, including students from local schools, gathered to plant 60-plus trees. The three-hour event was hosted by the City of Yuma, the Yuma Parks and Recreation Department, Tree City USA, APS, and the AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management. (KYMA)
3. Yuma police have arrested a suspect in connection with a January 2022 home break-in and sexual assault case. Antonio Payne, 26, was accused of breaking into a home on East 32nd St., assaulting a female victim, then fleeing the scene. Officials with Yuma's sex crimes unit recently interviewed Payne and issued a search warrant for his home, where they recovered evidence linking him to the crime. He was booked on Thursday night for sexual assault, burglary, and criminal trespassing. (KYMA)

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Today in Yuma:

• CPR Training At Arizona Western College, Yuma Campus Public Safety Institute (PSI) Building (9:00 AM)
• Virtual Athletic Yoga Class, Hosted By Arizona Western College (10:00 AM)
• Teddy Bear Picnic At Yuma County Library District Main Library (10:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• Who's excited for the fair?! The 70th Annual Yuma County Fair kicks off on Tuesday, Mar. 29th and runs through Sunday, Apr. 3. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. at the Yuma County Fairgrounds on 2520 E. 32nd St. (YumaFair.com)
• In case you missed it, the Yuma Parks and Recreation Department is still accepting vendor applications for its upcoming Children's Festival of the Arts on Apr. 23. Community activity booth and food vendor applications are due by Apr. 1 at 5:00 p.m. and art educator applications are due by Apr. 8 at 5:00 p.m. (Facebook)
• Yuma School District One shared photos of students from Palmcroft Elementary who helped out at Thursday's Arbor Day Tree Planting at Smucker Park. Thanks to all those who helped make the community even more beautiful! (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.