🌱 Yuma Co. Gets 'C' For Ozone + Yuma Man Defrauds Victim Out Of $775K

Happy Monday, Yuma! Here are the most important things happening around town today.

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First, today's weather:

Warm with plenty of sunshine. High: 94 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories today in Yuma:

1. While air quality in Arizona has worsened over time, Yuma County received a grade of "C" for ozone levels and a 24-hour particle pollution grade of "A" —an improvement from last year. The 2022 State of the Air report by the American Lung Foundation found that The Phoenix metropolitan area is fifth in the nation for unhealthy ozone days, but ultimately recorded 61.9 fewer "high ozone" days compared to 1996. Read Yuma County's full report here. (KTAR)
2. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office has accused a local man of defrauding a victim out of $775,000 in cash and cryptocurrency. Andres Fernandez, 29 of Yuma, reportedly scammed the victim through a fake startup company and then used the money to buy luxury items like a car and travel expenses. Fernandez is currently being held in the Yuma County Detention Center on charges of fraudulent schemes, theft, and money laundering. (FOX 10)
3. On Friday, Judge Pro Tem Levi Gunderson of Yuma dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by three Republican politicians against former Democratic Rep. Charlene Fernandez. The suit had been filed by former state Reps. Mark Finchem and Anthony Kern, and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosarafter Fernandez called for an investigation of their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection in a letter that had been signed by 41 other Democratic lawmakers. Judge Gunderson found that Fernandez's comments were protected by the First Amendment's rights to free speech and petition the government. (KTAR)

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Today in Yuma:

• GriefShare Grief Recovery Support Group at Gloria De Cristo Lutheran Church (10:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• The Yuma Police Department's Color Guard led the first lap of this year's Relay For Life at Desert Sun Stadium this weekend. See the photos on Facebook! (Facebook)
• Yuma Civic Center is hosting the "Art of Pairing" once again! The Taste of Latin America with Chef Juan Velasquez (21+ event) starts at 5:30 p.m on May 6. For more information, call 928-373-5040. (Facebook)
• Discover where you came from with a little help from the Yuma County Library District! Ancestry Library Edition is a popular genealogy service featuring more than 9,000 databases and 200 billion images from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Learn more at yumalibrary.org/resources/genealogy. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.