Texas (KVII) — An Amarillo man is accused of killing his girlfriend is charged with murder in the shooting death of Ariana Nicole Estrada patrol officers heard multiple shots fired in the 2000 block of S Several 911 callers also reported the same gunshots they found multiple shell casings in the street Witnesses said friends drove Estrada to the hospital She was later pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds Homicide detectives identified Crowder as the suspect He was arrested and booked into the Potter County jail Anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact the Amarillo Police Homicide Unit at 806-378-9468 or anonymously through Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400 or at amapolice.org The Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Cinco de Mayo Parade on Saturday drawing families and spectators to El Alamo Park for a morning of community pride and cultural celebration Organized by longtime coordinator Vicente Soto the parade featured more than 50 floats from local businesses and community groups and a special appearance by the Reina Fiestas Patrias began at 16th Avenue and Houston Street and looped back to the park Festivities continued at Alamo Park with music food vendors and traditional dance performances as part of the daylong Cinco de Mayo celebration CUSTER COUNTY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly Monday morning single-vehicle crash on I-40 in Custer County a 1999 GMC Suburban reportedly left the roadway causing the driver to be ejected about 20 feet the driver was pronounced dead on the scene due to injuries sustained from the crash The driver was identified as Juan Castaneda-Munoz OHP noted that a seatbelt was not worn during the incident For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — One of the the two men accused of robbing the Walgreen's pharmacy at 34th Ave. and Bell Street in Amarillo told police he was sightseeing in Texas According to court records obtained by ABC 7 News "This is a robbery and I have a gun." Terrel said "don't do anything stupid I have people outside" and then grabbed the note he took approximately eight bottles of pills from a secure safe in the pharmacy and then left just after 5 a.m Surveillance footage from the Toot N Totum at I-40 and Bell shows a silver Dodge Challenger turning east on the I-40 access road at approximately 5:05 a.m A crime analyst searched license plate reader cameras for a silver Dodge Challenger around the time of the robbery LPR cameras showed a silver Dodge Challenger with an Ohio License Plate at I-40 and Bell Street shortly before the robbery The car pulled into the Cefco gas station at 1917 Bell Street around 4:30 a.m got out of the car and went inside the store The license plate of the Charger was entered into the multi state license plate reader data base Officers performed a probable cause search of the car and found located two white plastic bags with red lettering containing prescription pills They also found gloves and shoes in the car which were similar to what police said Lewis wore during the robbery in Amarillo Nelson would not admit he had been in Texas earlier in the day But Lewis said they were there sightseeing Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M 2025 in Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel with Stan Cosby officiating Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors to Bessie Winona (Oakley) and Jimmy Vaughan Purser She graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1973 where she played the flute in the band and performed leading roles in high school theater She received a bachelor's degree from West Texas State University with a major in Organ Performance and a minor in Piano Performance She also received her all-level Choral Music Certification to teach Resa was gifted with both the piano and the organ She played for many churches in Amarillo including San Jacinto Methodist Church Resa enjoyed teaching piano and music lessons to elementary and high school students and working as a music teacher Resa married Danny Ray Stone at Polk Street Methodist Church in Amarillo Resa loved spending time with her family and never missed any of the grandkids sporting events or extracurricular activities Josh Luscombe and wife Rachel; Jamie Jupe and husband Matt; Jenna Luscombe; and Steven Stone and wife Katelyn; sister Deborah Bandy and husband Phil; and grandchildren Amarillo - Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors KAMR - MyHighPlains.com Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in the 2000 block of South Mirror Street officers in the area heard gunfire and immediately responded as 911 calls were being received officers said they found multiple shell casings in the roadway APD said witnesses at the scene informed officers that a gunshot victim had already been taken to a local hospital by a private vehicle was later pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds APD’s Homicide and Crime Scene Units took over the investigation Officials said through witness statements and evidence detectives identified the suspect as Estrada’s alleged boyfriend APD added that Crowder was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Potter County Detention Center on a murder charge For the latest Amarillo news and regional updates, check with MyHighPlains.com and tune in to KAMR Local 4 News at 5:00 these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Texas (KVII) — Amarillo City Council will have at least one new member RELATED: Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley wins second term Tim Reid defeated Patrick Miller and two other candidates for City Council Place 1 who is backed by wealthy Amarillo businessman Alex Fairly Reid will take the seat currently held by Josh Craft who did not seek a second term Councilman Tom Scherlen is headed to a runoff Scherlen and David Prescott finished in the top two spots but neither won 50-percent of the vote plus one The runoff election is scheduled for June 7 Councilman Les Simpson was elected to a second term Simpson won handily with 69 percent of the vote Don Tipps was re-elected to City Council Place 2 Texas (KVII) — Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley won a second term He won Saturday's election with 59-percent of the vote The race was heated over the past three months with mudslinging and attack ads with political action committees spending millions of dollars The state filed the motion Thursday in the Brittany Holberg case 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Randall County prosecutors failed to reveal that their primary trial witness was a paid informant Holberg has been on death row for 27 years prosecutors heavily relied on testimony from a jail inmate who was working as a confidential informant for Amarillo Police Department That informant recanted her testimony in 2011 but neither a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals or a federal district court found that prosecutors had violated Holberg’s constitutional right to a fair trial saying that the informant was critical to the jury’s determination of guilt and that the prosecution violated Holberg’s due process rights by hiding information that Higginbotham cast Holberg’s case as a blight on the criminal justice system Holberg was sentenced to death by an Amarillo jury when she was 23 years old The jury found her guilty of murdering A.B an 80-year-old man and former client of Holberg Holberg asserted that she acted in self-defense and that she stabbed Towery because she feared for her life and sought to protect herself after he struck her on the back of the head and refused to relent presented testimony from Holberg’s jail cellmate Vickie Marie Kirkpatrick who alleged that Holberg had admitted to killing Towery “in order to get money” and said she “would do it all over again for more drugs.” Kirkpatrick was at the time working as a confidential informant for APD They instead presented Kirkpatrick as a “disinterested individual who ‘wanted to do the right thing,’” Higginbotham wrote the Randall County District Attorney’s Office approached multiple inmates to question them about Holberg offering them a deal in exchange for testimony who was placed in the same cell as Holberg produced a statement detailing an alleged admission from Holberg Texas (KVII) — Saturday was election day in Texas There were races in all 26 counties in the panhandle -- including city council The biggest in Potter and Randall counties Cole Stanley was re-elected a second term. One thing Amarillo doesn't lack in is a selection of restaurants we have so many that some struggle to stay alive and keep the doors open We are represented in basically every type of food you can find Trying to figure out where to go and eat lunch or dinner is always a challenge for our family we then have to decide which restaurant to go to There is one area though that doesn't ever seem to get enough love going to breakfast isn't much of a thing Breakfast usually consists of shoving some cereal or whatever is in the house down the kids and sending them on their way It's all about what I can grab on my way out the door that I can eat in the car I normally don't even remember to do that There is nothing I'd rather eat than a solid eggs benedict to start every single morning I want it to be the best eggs benedict I can find So I dug through all the breakfast places in Amarillo and threw together a little list of some of the best in Amarillo \"Experts\" say it's the most important meal of the day, so make it the best it can be.\nRead More - Rating: 3.1/5 (39 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 7311 West Amarillo Blvd. Amarillo, Texas - Categories: Fast food, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers- Read more on Yelp A 73-year old male pedestrian was struck and killed on Amarillo Boulevard in a hit-and-run overnight and Amarillo police are seeking the public's help to locate the suspect's vehicle Amarillo officers were dispatched to the 700 block of East Amarillo Boulevard on reports of a body found lying in the roadway Officers found a 73-year-old man lying in the road where he died as result of the injuries sustained in the crash The Amarillo Police Department said it was later discovered that a dark colored SUV-style vehicle had been traveling westbound on Amarillo Boulevard struck the pedestrian and then left the scene without stopping or rendering aid APD said Potter County Justice of the Peace Gary Jackson was contacted and ordered an autopsy The incident is being investigated by APD's Traffic Investigation Squad At the time of the release Saturday morning the family of the victim had not been located or notified Anyone who may have information relating to the incident or who may recognize the vehicle pictured in provided police photos is asked to contact Amarillo CrimeStoppers at 806-374-4400 This is a developing story; more information will be added as it is released The May 3 elections determined the next Amarillo City Council Amarillo mayor and various school boards and a public safety bond election Here's a look at the results as they came in Saturday night The official election results will be canvassed May 13 Out of all polling places reporting in Randall and Potter counties incumbent Mayor Cole Stanley won another term with 9,801 votes Challenger Jason Herrick had 6,123 votes or 36.6% followed by Misty DeAnn Collier with 562 votes or 3.4% and Luke Johnson Marek with 223 votes or 1.3% Flores getting 555 votes or 3.4% and Sherie Wood getting 591 votes or 3.6% Incumbent Place 2 councilmember Don Tipps received 13,960 votes incumbent Tom Scherlen was in a close race with 7,748 votes or 47.4% to challenger David Prescott's 7,433 votes or 45.5% Place 4 incumbent councilmember Les Simpson won another term with 10,981 votes or 68.9% and Sylvia Elaine Stephens got 1,757 votes or 11% out of the 15,932 total votes cast AC board preliminary resultsThe top four vote receivers for the Amarillo ISD board were Doyle Corder with 4,389 votes Tom Warren II with 9,484 votes and David Nance with 7,109 votes out of the Randall and Potter County elections unofficial totals with Mary Bralley close behind at 7,427 votes while Paul Proffer had 12,179 votes and David Woodburn got 9,015 votes Incumbents Mayor Cole Stanley and City Council member Les Simpson as well as newcomer Tim Reid dominated in election results with Potter County's early voting and 14/14 Election Day Polling Centers reporting and Randall County's early voting and 11/16 Election Day Polling Centers reporting according to the City of Amarillo's election website The Place 3 seat appeared to be heading toward a possible runoff with incumbent Tom Scherlen and challenger David Prescott leading the race: Randall County final unofficial results for boardsThe incumbents for the Amarillo College Board of Regents secured the top three percentages with Randall County voters: The City of Canyon’s Public Safety Bond Election was passed by Canyon voters according to unofficial numbers from the Randall County Election Office The election was for $14 million and included a series of projects related to public safety facilities With 100% of the polling locations reporting in Randall County unofficial numbers report 471 votes in favor of the bond election and 402 votes against "We are proud to see the community’s support reflected in the unofficial numbers that project thepassing of the Public Safety Bond Election,” said Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders in a prepared statement and we are preparing for the future growth of Canyon while maintaining an expectation of excellence from our police and fire departments.” Official numbers will be released after the city has been canvassed by the election administrator Canvassing is expected to be presented to the City Commission on Tuesday With 11 of 22 polling places reporting or 50% in Randall County Luke Johnson Marek had 79 votes or 0.98% and Cole Stanley had 4,857 votes or 60.34% and Patrick Miller had 2,206 votes or 28.08% and Tom Scherlen had 3,940 votes or 49.73% and Sylvia Elaine Stephens had 715 votes or 9.21% In the Proposition A (public safety bond election) Here's where votes sit in education board races for Randall County: Potter County unofficial results for school boardsPotter County early and absentee voting results for 5 of 19 polling places or 26.32% reporting: According to the City of Amarillo's May 3 election results posted online here are some of the unofficial results for Potter County early / absentee voting: Randall County unofficial early voting numbers start coming inRandall County posted a portion of its absentee / early voting preliminary totals after polls closed at 7 p.m. with 9.35% of registered voters — 6 of 22 or 27.27% of polling places reporting: passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday A memorial service will be held on Wednesday Bennie Joe Stanley and Cletha Lee Stanley were proud parents Debbie Kirk and Bill Stanley were excited to have a 3rd child for their circus tricks I honestly don’t think Alan ever met a stranger who didn’t soon turn into a friend He learned how to play “Smoke on the Water” on his electric guitar it didn’t really matter what song we sang in the youth choir he had a rendition of those chords to match it up I remember one weekend those of us in the youth choir went to the mountains We sat up instruments and equipment in a one-wall “room” and he played those chords and we sang It was really wonderful hearing our voices echo across the mountains - and yes The next day some of us rented scooters and Alan and his Boys rented mini-bikes It was the same weekend that Alan asked me to marry him the first time Knowing that neither one of us was ready for a committed relationship He always said he was not aiming at my head Our youth minister said we were destined for marriage He married a girl I was friends with in school He worked alongside family members building service stations He always knew when to let his hair down to have fun also but there were times he gave into his need for speed He went from one sports utility vehicle to the next with fluidity - dirt bikes to jet skis to three wheelers to four wheelers to 4-wheel-drive-off-road-vehicles a predestined set of occurrences can make the stars align in such a way that there is no doubt that God is planning something I was home with Joi for my and Moma’s birthday when she saw Alan washing his motorcycle at his parents’ house on Georgia Street My Moma did a u-turn on Georgia Street and went right up to the front of their house! I went to introduce my one-month old Joi to my good friend He held her in his big ol’ hands and said “This is the closest I will ever have to a daughter.” Neither one of us heard God laugh with delight I learned early on about Alan and his hugs They were fierce hugs with intention and strength He asked me a second time to marry him and I told him yes but told him he would need to ask my Daddy first we promised each other that we would always pray for each other Anyone who knew Alan knew that he had a pray-er’s heart knew without a doubt that he loved with all of his soul He always knew when I needed him to reach out to hold my hand He continued to work with his family at Allied Pump Company He began his support of my educational endeavors to be a teacher Alan was always super proud when the vehicle we were driving was able to pull a motor home AND the jet ski trailer all hooked together When the time came along for Leah to enter our world I think Alan thought he had it all figured out He took on those Daddy-challenges whether it was teaching them to ride 4 wheelers; showing them how use power tools; driving marching band equipment trailers to football games; or dancing the Macarena at volleyball games Alan loved going on mission trips to Creel and even dig up ditches to run water lines to the new showers behind the church He always had a smile on his face as he worked with kids and just having a good time in a strange place He would get so very excited when there was news about our growing family Whether it was putting his future sons-in-law through rigorous questions as they asked for our daughters’ hands in marriage or listening at hospital doors for our grandchildren’s first cries he tried ever so hard to not let the cat out of the bag early He would “only tell one person” A friend - A musician (of sorts) - A Harley enthusiast - A soulmate - A hugger - A Spouse and Daddy - A pray-er - A hand holder - A supporter - A driver and dancer of the Macarena - An encourager and builder - A secret-keeper (sometimes) - A Popo There are so many words that can be used to describe Alan and I don’t think you would ever get the full picture he left a chasm in each heart and each soul that knew him His legacy also includes every person who ever met and loved him - whether you called him Benny A celebration service will be held on Wednesday Texas (KVII) — Mayor Cole Stanley is under fire over a comment he made during the last city council meeting regarding campaign donations from his largest donor "The guy gave me a small amount of money $40,000 in my world is a small amount of money," said Stanley campaign finance reports show Fairly donated significantly more Fairly initially contributed $50,000 to Stanley's campaign followed by an additional $100,000 just ten days before Stanley nominated him to the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation board The $150,000 far exceeding the $40,000 Stanley mentioned That doesn't include the hundreds of thousands of dollars Fairly has donated to Political Action Committees for this race ABC 7 News contacted Mayor Stanley twice on Thursday Stanley said he was "fulfilling his mayoral duties" and unavailable for an interview Mayoral candidate Jason Herrick criticized Stanley's comments "That was not an accurate statement," said Herrick "The finance reports speak for themselves and we know what the dollar amounts have been so I think pointing it out in ads is probably appropriate." "I'm not on either one of their teams I can't say if he really knew or if he didn't," said Collier ABC 7 News reached out to Stanley for a third time Stanley claims the Growing Amarillo Jobs PAC took his statement out of context He told ABC 7 he was referring to the $40,000 donation Fairly made during Stanley's previous mayoral campaign in 2023 Stanley also defended his campaign's transparency According to Amarillo police, 29-year-old Javon Lewis and 27-year-old Curtis Nelson were arrested in Webster County, Missouri by state patrol officers for possession of prescription narcotics Police said one of the men approached the pharmacy counter Wednesday and handed them a note that indicated he was armed and demanded access to the pharmacy area The suspect grabbed "an unknown quantity of medications" and threw them in a garbage bag Amarillo police identified Lewis and Nelson as suspects and obtained arrest warrants for aggravated robbery Texas (KVII) — Beto O’Rourke will host a town hall meeting on Saturday in Amarillo The former Congressman and Democratic presidential candidate wants to give Texans an opportunity to ask questions about state and federal issues and have a conversation about America’s future "With so many important issues in the news lately Beto has been on the road to hear directly from his fellow Texans and organize on-the-ground," said Chris Evans in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center He ran for Senate and lost to Ted Cruz in 2018 and had a failed run for the White House in 2020 Texas (KVII) — Police are looking for car that killed an elderly pedestrian in a hit-and-run on Amarillo Boulevard. in the 700 block of East Amarillo Boulevard they found a 73-year-old man lying in the road a dark colored SUV traveling west on Amarillo Blvd hit the man and then left the scene without stopping The man was taken to the hospital where he died If you recognize the SUV in the photos, call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400. You can also submit an anonyMous tip at amapolice.org or by using the P3 tipps app Oklahoma (KVII — An Amarillo man was ejected and killed in a rollover crash on I-40 in Oklahoma was headed west on I-40 when he veered off the road and hit a grass ditch causing his 1999 GMC Suburban to roll twice A woman died at the hospital after being shot multiple times and her boyfriend was arrested on a murder charge after the shooting incident from over the weekend Amarillo police said patrol officers in the 2000 block of South Mirror Street heard multiple gunshots in the area around 1:30 a.m Amarillo Emergency Communications received 911 calls reporting gunfire Officers located multiple shell casings in the roadway and while conducting a preliminary investigation they were able to identify witnesses who informed them that an individual had been taken to a local hospital by private vehicle was later pronounced dead at the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds The Amarillo Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Unit responded and took over the investigation officers identified the suspect as David Allen Crowder Crowder was taken into custody without incident interviewed by homicide detectives and subsequently booked into the Potter County Detention Center on a charge of murder Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Amarillo Police Homicide Unit at (806) 378-9468 or anonymously through Amarillo Crime Stoppers at (806) 374-4400 or at www.amapolice.org or by downloading the P3 tips app Texas (KVII) — Here are the biggest stories from the week of April 27-May 3: A tragic accident on I-40 claimed the lives of two young men from Dumas Story: 2 killed after semi hits car disabled from prior crash Story: NWS Amarillo confirms third tornado in Texas Panhandle According to the Department of Public Safety Story: Cleanup in Canyon after tornado hit town Click here to see who won the races where you live Texas (KVII) — TxDOT Amarillo “Know Before You Go” Report for Week of 5/5/25: Expect various closures along SE 10th Avenue from Ross Street to Arthur Street for paving operations Crews will begin at Ross Street and move west to Arthur Street Expect various left lane closures on the I-40 frontage roads from Arthur Street to Eastern Street for high-mast lighting installation Expect daily lane closures on SH 15 from the east side of Perryton to the west side of Booker for asphalt rehabilitation and hot mix overlay operations The work is expected to be completed this summer Traffic lights and a pilot car will be in designated areas to guide traffic during this time For the most up-to-date road conditions, visit www.drivetexas.org. Please double-check the URL for proper spelling. You can also use search, choose from one of today's top stories below, or visit the Home Page. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInAMARILLO Texas (KFDA) - The City of Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare will be offering free vaccines and microchips for pets on Mondays this month Rabies shots and microchips will be offered for both cats and dogs The DHPP vaccine will be offered for dogs only The city asks for dogs to be leashed and cats to be in secure crates Visitors are asked to park in the Southeast Pool parking lot and enter the shelter through the Rescue Entrance Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare is located at 3501 S The vaccine clinics are hosted in partnership with the Bissell Pet Foundation Texas (KFDA) - The Chat focuses on how Amarillo Little Theatre (ALT) aims to prepare youth in the area for a lifetime of success with the help of the arts the managing and artistic director at ALT about upcoming summer camps and the organization’s 98th season To sign up for ALT’s summer camps, click here. You can listen to the full interview on our podcast below The Chat runs Wednesdays and Fridays at noon Texas (KFDA) - The Amarillo Symphony welcomed over 10,000 students to its three-day music festival in downtown Amarillo this week New Mexico and Oklahoma are attending the 54th Greater Southwest Music Festival from Thursday through Saturday Event organizers say attendees can look forward to several highlight events Amarillo College Choirs will host free performances Friday at noon at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts A leadership workshop for students in 8th-12th grades and teachers is set for 3 p.m Organizers say the workshop is limited to festival participants The West Texas A&M University Showcase of Music will also feature ensembles from the School of Music on Friday Organizers say there will also be an array of student performances throughout the festival For more information or to see a full list of events, click here. There will be awards ceremony performances Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Globe-News Center. “Investing in the next generation of musicians is fundamental to the Amarillo Symphony’s mission. The Greater Southwest Music Festival is a powerful demonstration of that commitment and highlights the vital role music education plays in shaping our community’s future,” said Larry Lang, executive director. Texas (KVII) — The City of Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare Department (AAMW) is hosting free pet vaccination and microchip clinics for dogs and cats on the first three Mondays in May The clinics will provide the DHPP vaccination for dogs which protects against distemper and parvovirus as well as rabies vaccinations and microchipping These services are offered in partnership with the BISSELL Pet Foundation Pet owners are required to have their dogs on a leash or their cats in crates Texas (KVII) — The Amarillo Independent School District announced its 2025 District Teacher of the Year finalists at the Lamar Lively Teacher of the Year breakfast The finalists for Elementary Teacher of the Year are Jessica Appel of Mesa Verde Elementary and Jessica Runyon of South Lawn Elementary The finalists for Secondary Teacher of the Year are Jenna Boroughs of Bowie 6th Grade Campus District finalists are chosen from a pool of campus teachers of the year representing each of AISD’s 55 schools and itinerant teaching staff On Bell Street in Amarillo, Texas once stood a hustling and bustling car wash It was a car wash where you would zip in and zip out and soon another car wash name appeared on the signs Cascades Car Wash opened in Amarillo in 2017 and remained open until 2024 yet customers kept having their cards debited for monthly services.  This upset many people in Amarillo because they didn't receive the service they were paying for and couldn't contact anyone to fix the problem Read More: Amarillo's Cascades Car Wash Mystery Has New Answers | something new popped up on the former Cascades Car Wash website; it was transforming into Pirate Falls Car Wash.  However and the website is now defunct.  Although the website changed and it never opened back up.  Right now it sits empty with weeds growing all around it Read More: Discover if Amarillo's Buc-ee's Truly Has the World's Longest Car | If you're been looking for an income-making business here is the perfect opportunity to buy a car wash in the heart of Amarillo This former Amarillo Car Wash had hopes of reopening Read More On Bell Street in Amarillo, Texas Read More: Amarillo's Cascades Car Wash Mystery Has New Answers | Read More: Discover if Amarillo's Buc-ee's Truly Has the World's Longest Car | The never-ending circle of life when it comes to places to eat in our city has been hit with a lot of closings already and we are not even halfway through the year We have seen a couple of pizza places close in Amarillo One that has been a child's favorite and a big place for birthday parties for generations of families One burger place lost several locations around Texas meaning that DQ is no longer what they like about Texas Several small towns lost their staple Dairy Queen location then you saw one less place in town for that Now, as my granddaughter is nearing her 4th birthday, we have planned to have that here in Amarillo at Chuck E. Cheese's this September because she loves that mouse. I don't know how to break that closing to her.Read More: A Bit of Happy Nostalgia Returns to Amarillo Restaurant | I am hoping that the closings slow down for a bit or at least don't hurt so much We really don't want anymore of the nostalgia of our area going away Gallery Credit: Melissa Bartlett/TSM We have had quite a few Amarillo restaurants close already.\nRead More We have seen a couple of pizza places close in Amarillo Now, as my granddaughter is nearing her 4th birthday, we have planned to have that here in Amarillo at Chuck E. Cheese's this September because she loves that mouse. I don't know how to break that closing to her.Read More: A Bit of Happy Nostalgia Returns to Amarillo Restaurant | AUSTIN – Just how fast is the competition at the UIL Track and Field state championships How would you like to run the fastest 800-meter Relay time in the history of the Texas Panhandle and finish … drum roll That’s exactly what happened to the Amarillo High girls 800 Relay team Saturday at Mike A Myers Stadium during the 2025 UIL state track meet senior Sierra Cornell and anchor junior Memori Hibbler turned in a historic effort of running a 1:38.57 the fastest-ever time of any Texas Panhandle girls team to cover the 800 meters In this elite meet that time meant an AHS school record incredibly finishing behind first place Red Oak by more than two seconds The Lady Sandies quartet missed out on the medal stand by 1.25 seconds the accomplishment pleased the heck out of AHS girls track coach Jonathan Woodard and the four girls who did the running “It is incredible that we competed so well down here in Austin,” said a hyped-up Woodard “To break two school records on the state of Texas’ biggest track stage is unreal All credit to our girls and my assistant coaches on our girls running the fastest 4 X 200 in Panhandle history “Our girls amaze me each day with their work ethic and allow us to coach them hard We are truly blessed to be coaches at Amarillo High.” The AHS foursome also ran the 1600 Relay finishing seventh in 3:50.61 but like the 800 Relay came home with some bragging rights setting an AHS school record (the previous record was 3:51.51) The sisters Cornell each were talented enough to qualify for an individual race allowing them to race three times on Saturday Sierra Cornell was seventh in the 800-meter race at 2:15.45 while Willow was seventh in the 300-meter hurdles at 44.21 “This feels good to close out my senior year setting two school records beating a previous one again from my sophomore year with my sister and amazing teammates,” Sierra Cornell said The Amarillo ISD did not bring a medal back to Amarillo but did see six other athletes compete in Class 5A events with Tascosa junior Maggie Marhefka coming closest to the medal stand with her fourth-place effort in the discus of 136 feet Palo Duro sophomore Kyron Brown 9th in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.31 seconds Tascosa junior Aaron Phares 7th in the shot put at 53 feet Tascosa junior Chester Creery 7th in the high jump at 6 feet Amarillo High senior Ava Rahlfs 8th in the shot put at 38 feet Amarillo High freshman Kenneth Osteen 8th in the discus at 159 feet Press Pass Sports will provide fans a passionate and informed look at high school college and professional sports impacting the Texas Panhandle © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Press Pass Sports is a division of jpegJoe Licensing, LLC About 40 people gathered on May 1 outside Hobby Lobby on Bell Street in Amarillo as part of a national wave of May Day protests denouncing the presidential administration and advocating for workers’ rights Organizers said the location was chosen because of Hobby Lobby’s high-profile legal and political stances including opposition to parts of the Affordable Care Act and support for conservative causes which demonstrators viewed as symbolic of the wider power structure they oppose “This company has made headlines for its stance on issues that affect women and marginalized communities,” said Laina Seaberg “So it’s the right place to make our voices heard.” Among the demonstrators was 80-year-old Amarillo resident Janda Raker who expressed deep concern over what she described as unchecked executive power and a lack of accountability from elected leaders “He doesn’t care about people or their rights — he just does what he wants,” Raker said of the president “Our governor and senators have an obligation to stop him They’re just as bad — they just don’t have the guts to do what is right or their jobs.” Raker said she was encouraged by some recent judicial decisions that blocked certain federal policies calling them a rare sign that checks and balances still function “I’m surprised by a few of the Supreme Court rulings,” she said “Maybe some of them aren’t as radical as we thought.” She also criticized the president’s use of executive orders arguing that bypassing Congress undermines democratic norms “That’s why we have a system — so power isn’t concentrated in one person,” Raker said Raker took aim at Elon Musk’s ties to federal contracts as an example of what she called “a grift.” “He shouldn’t be profiting from this administration,” she said The protest was one of many held nationwide for International Workers’ Day also known as May Day — a holiday rooted in labor movements that now includes broader demands for economic justice Seaberg said the Amarillo protest aimed to draw attention to how government decisions affect everyday people the LGBTQ+ community — everyone who’s being affected by this administration’s policies.” Seaberg acknowledged that organizing in Amarillo But she said even small gatherings help spark change “If we can get just one more person to join us that’s one more step toward change,” she said The protest concluded peacefully after about an hour Organizers said they plan to continue their advocacy through future demonstrations and community outreach Amarillo College recently developed an internship program to teach students hands-on instruction needed to work in the booming industrial market Many of those college students and dual-credit students recently competed in a state-wide contest at SkillsUSA Texas in Corpus Christi The group earned three first-place finishes and those students qualified to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition "This is the first year that secondary and post-secondary students competed at the same location and the same time,” said Ernie Sheets AC’s Manufacturing Education Center (MEC) department chair “I feel this enhanced the experience for all post-secondary students in attendance High school students are now able to see colleges competing which in turn developed a vision for continued pathways.”  Students participating were entered into categories including heating MEC student James Skaggs won first place in cabinetmaking qualifying him to compete at SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta this summer two of the MEC students applied to be SkillsUSA Texas Ambassadors which would also enable them to attend the national competition this year for leadership training The winners this year were mainly first-year students He added that many are talking about returning next year to win gold so it was an ideal event for students to attend and wet their appetite for competition Dual-credit students competed in Three and Five Axis Computer Numerical Control Milling is now working at Amarillo Gear after he won first place in the 3-Axis CNC Milling The dual-credit students are currently studying at both Amarillo College and Amarillo Independent School District through the program They will earn their associate’s degrees May 9 followed their high school diplomas later in the month Being at the state level and earning this number of awards is tremendous.”  Several of the students working at Amarillo Gear are earning not only credits Students currently working at Amarillo Gear were available Tuesday for interviews during their training The end product of Amarillo Gear is the Right-Angle Gear Box which once served mainly agricultural needs but now are necessary for HVAC systems and many energy servers especially those that create high heat such as systems at the Xcel Harrington Station larger model called the Gen2 Cooling Tower Arizpe was able to obtain seven national credentials with proficiency in his machining techniques from Los Alamos "It is the National Institute for Metalworking Skills which we use for our standard It’s a high level for the students to obtain The student makes a part without instruction and after that they take an online theory exam to earn the credential,” said Mike Krobot Arizpe also won first place in 3-Axis CNC Milling at the recent SkillsUSA state-wide competition event in Corpus Christi and after that goes to night classes at AmTech Career Academy from 6 to 10 p.m "What I gain from this is seeing all the different types of machines because you know at AC there are only four and we all cut the same amount of material you see a lot of different people with a lot of different experiences and backgrounds … a lot of different machines and parts that you need to cut which is completely different from what you learn at school," he said "I was an engineering major and then I joined this class in my sophomore year and I came out here having no idea what it was about,” Arizpe said “My teachers just grew with me and basically taught me everything I need to know Arizpe said that he enjoyed it a lot and plans to go full-time in the summer when he graduates which has an apprentice program specifically designed for AmTech students Arizpe has been one of the highest decorated students they’ve ever had Arizpe said that he would go to class at AmTech and work on everything he needed to get as much as he could from the classes and apply it at work Perez said he has gotten a lot of work experience understanding how people work “There are different views on how to approach the problems I also get to meet people and learn about their different experience where they work and how they enjoy the work,” he said Perez said that he wanted to continue in his professional endeavors and possibly work for his father He won first place in the 5-Axis Milling Competition at Skills USA Texas Competition I’ve enjoyed exploring different types of machines I love the place that I’m at because I have many machines to work with so it’s like a variety," dual-credit student Trevino said "Working things like the radial drill is fun because you get to do it yourself I like doing this and being a part of manufacturing as a whole Trevino said that when he was a sophomore in high school he didn’t really know anything and this idea just kind of came to him “They had a lot of good things going on and I wanted to be a part of it Trevino said that he wants to continue and get as many certifications as he can “I think it’s a really great program that AC offers with companies around the area to help students get jobs I know for me getting the field in general being a female in a male-dominated industry and having a foot in the door was super great."    Following the path of a modern-day "Rosie the Riveter," the new female worker said “I think it’s a phenomenal program that they offer I graduated in December of 2023 and when I was in school I competed on a state level,” she said of the SkillsUSA event I ended up placing second in the state of Texas.”  “Being connected with the school has helped us work off each other and give suggestions on what we’re really looking for and helping shape their program therefore giving us the best possible employees from their program,” said Alex Sparks director of operations at Amarillo Gear company “The students have been fantastic," Amarillo Gear HR Director Brenda Whitten added There’s CNC and manual machining that’s very beneficial for us We’ve had a few co-ops and we’ve hired a few that came out of the AC program,” she said "We review their work that they’re doing out here and that’s counted as part of their grade.”   “I think Amarillo College and the Amarillo ISD are doing a great job I think the biggest challenge is getting kids interested in trades Kids are motivated to get out of high school and get to work,” said Aaron Crawford “We want to use these three (initial) students and evaluate what it does for us and then go forward with it together as a group and see how it fits into our schedule and plan and their work counts for their schooling." when Amarillo voters will decide the winners of Place 1 Canyon voters will weigh in on a $14 million public safety bond election and many Potter and Randall county residents will vote on members of school boards for local districts and members of the Amarillo College Board of Regents 3,757 total ballots were cast in Potter County The total amount jumped up to 7,386 ballots for Randall County Early voting ran from April 22 to April 29 Earlier story: Randall, Potter counties see steep drop in early voting turnout Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m More info: https://www.pottercountytexasvotes.gov/ More info: https://www.randallcounty.gov/166/Election-Administration you must present one of these valid forms of photo ID: If your ID expired within the last four years you can use your ID regardless of its expiration date If you do not have one of these forms of ID you can still vote with a secondary form of identification (e.g. bank statement) and must sign a "Reasonable Impediment Declaration" form explaining why you couldn't obtain a photo ID If you cannot reasonably obtain one of the acceptable forms of photo ID you can still vote by presenting a secondary form of ID (e.g. bank statement) and completing a "Reasonable Impediment Declaration" form a person of your choice or an election worker can assist you at the polls or someone who represents your employer or union If you're physically unable to enter the polling location Contact your county elections office to arrange curbside voting if necessary Amarillo ISDDoyle Corder Jr.Don PowellThomas WernerTom Warren IIMichael GarciaDavid NanceKayla MendezBushland ISDJustin AdamsNicki JunellRegan HallJames GillenwatersTravis LawlerRiver Road ISDMichael JamesMelinda PowellNikki ForrestDanielle ColemanLiz FerrisRyan LawsonAmarillo College Board of RegentsPaul ProfferDavid WoodburnJohnny MizeMary BralleyJason FoglesongOther elections: Village of Pallisades Panhandle Groundwater Conservation DistrictCity of Canyon public safety bond electionThe Canyon City Commission's $14 million public safety bond measure is set for the May 3 election As previously reported City Manager Joe Price estimated that the bond would cost the average homeowner $200 to $300 per year and improvements to the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating could offset some of those costs through reduced insurance premiums starting with a plethora of events to choose from Saturday May 3 — not counting Election Day activities at the polls Young entrepreneurs will be setting up around the city for Lemonade Day; for a map of dozens of participating locations, visit https://local.lemonadeday.org/amarillo A weather postponed event by The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center's event The family-friendly fun run/walk around The Bridge's campus normally closes out their Child Abuse Prevention Month events Here are just a few other happenings of note in the Amarillo and Canyon areas The Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Cinco de Mayo celebration kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m The event is free and open to the public and will feature a line of businesses classic cars and/or traditional decorated cars and floats El Barrio Lions Club of Amarillo will host their 4th annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Alamo Park the event will include complementary hot dogs and hamburgers vendor booths including local first responders offering vehicle tours The Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's celebration continues that day with its 2025 Cinco de Mayo Fajita Festival at 5 p.m Join to find out who has the best fajitas at the cooking competition Those interested in VIP tables (limited availability) can contact the chambers' office at 806-379-8800. To purchase tickets, visit the box office at Hodgetown or visit the venue's website contact them at 806-379-8800 or Hodgetown directly at 806-803-7762 Downtown Amarillo events include tours of historic buildings attendees can enjoy tours featuring two historic buildings in the Main Street District as part of the Imagine the Possibilities and the former location of the Texas Panhandle Centers at 1501 S “We are so excited to show off these historic properties These buildings are great examples of Amarillo history “Participants must reserve a space through the link online you will receive an e-mail confirmation letting you know where your tour will start,” Duke added go to https://form.jotform.com/251104266457050tour call 806-372-6744 or find them on Facebook the community is invited to the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center 1900 SW 6th for "Return to Jericho – A Day to Remember." The event serves as a launch party for the Jericho Legacy Foundation The foundation aims to keep Jericho’s history alive for generations to come The Jericho Legacy Foundation was created to preserve the history and cultural heritage of the old Township of Jericho while promoting sustainable agriculture they are honoring Jericho’s past while advancing its legacy into the future The May Market & Art Festival is set to take place 3 to 7 p.m The event will feature 60 Canyon Farmers Market vendors a book signing by Erin Hicks Moon (“I’ve Got Questions”) at Burrowing Owl Bookstore an Art Studio Showcase presented by Marsha Clements at Fourth Ave Fine Art a Madeline Wright caricature artist at Canyon Cartoons and more Over at West Texas A&M University’s Campus WT's first-ever national championship rodeo team will be inducted into the WT Rodeo Hall of Fame at a May 3 banquet May 3 in the Piehl-Schaeffer Pavillion in the Agricultural Sciences Complex on WT’s Canyon campus Auction items also will be available for purchase.The Hall of Fame will feature three categories: Faculty/Staff who was WT Rodeo’s coach from 1999 to 2008 will be inducted in the Faculty/Staff category who is now director of rodeo activities and head coach at Tarleton State University led the WT team to its historic 2006 national championship Inducted as alumni hall of famers will be the members of the 2006 team: Wes Burns Cobb was the national champion steer wrestler and won the Bill Robinson Timed Event Award and Eakin won the Walt Garrison Award for loyalty Also in the Alumni category will be the late Earl Reynolds who won WT Rodeo’s first championship in 1950 for his efforts in team roping two area men will be inducted: the late Spicer Gripp a Hereford native and Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Famer The banquet also will recognize current WT Rodeo team members and will feature both live and silent auctions of such items as Professional Bull Riders World Finals tickets more than 130 WT students will take part in this year’s Big Event a major day of service in Amarillo and Canyon WT students are joining forces for the student-run service project that originated at Texas A&M University in 1982 students will tackle 20 service projects around Amarillo and Canyon — yard work People will also be tuning in virtually for honors being bestowed Saturday and Sunday to two Texas Panhandle area firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024 Zeb Smith of Fritch and Scott Glass of Perryton during the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will honor and remember 140 individuals during their events May 3-4 in Emmitsburg The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 3 at 7:30 p.m and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is on May 4 at 10 a.m The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org) Streaming begins about 30 minutes before the official start of each event of a heart attack while fighting a structure fire during a wildfire outbreak from injuries he sustained when a hose coupling struck him during a residential structure fire This year’s national tribute will honor 70 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024 and 70 firefighters who died in previous years Those not attending in person can also pay tribute through the Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (April 27- May 4) by lighting their homes and/or by signing a virtual Remembrance Banner the American flag will be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings on Sunday May the Fourth activities for kids at DHDCFor those "Star Wars" fans looking to celebrate May the Fourth the Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) will be transformed into a rebel base while attendees learn how to defeat the dark side The center will host two separate two-hour sessions at 1-3 p.m May the Fourth Be With You is enjoyed by the Jedi including science and sci-fi lovers of all ages Learn more on their website at https://discoverycentercollective.org/ the annual Muttfest fundraiser returns to Amarillo at the Starlight Ranch Event Center The May 4 event is scheduled to take place from noon to 5 p.m Attendees are encouraged to bring their fur babies for an afternoon of food a shot clinic by Lone Star Veterinary Services miniature golf and food and drinks available for purchase or visit www.amarillospcashelter.com.All proceeds benefit the Amarillo SPCA This story has been updated with additional information Voters decisively returned Mayor Cole Stanley and Councilmember Les Simpson along with Don Tipps to office Saturday in an election marked by record campaign spending blowout victories in two city council races Newcomer Tim Reid captured Amarillo City Council Place 1 with 9,885 votes Sherie Wood and Wendy Flores finished with 591 votes (3.6%) and 555 votes (3.4%) “I’m honored and humbled that the voters went out in the numbers they did,” Reid said Reid emphasized his desire to serve transparently I want people to feel they can talk directly to me.”  Reid said he declined all political action committee (PAC) money and paid for most of the campaign out of pocket “We literally ran it from our dining room table,” he said “I wanted to show that you could win in Amarillo without big money.”  “I ran on integrity and accountability,” he said “I believe the community deserves public servants who don’t just talk Miller also expressed concern about campaign finance in future cycles “This was one of the lowest-cost races in what’s now the highest-spending election in Amarillo’s history,” he said Stanley won re-election with 9,801 votes (58.7%) Misty Collier and Luke Johnson Marek followed with 562 votes (3.4%) and 223 votes (1.3%) “It was David versus Goliath,” Stanley said in his victory speech Saturday night Our goal is to restore the power and the voice to the voter We’re going to do that over the next two years.”  “This campaign was unlike anything we’ve seen But I believe voters saw through the noise and supported a message of leadership rooted in action and not just talk.”  pointing to the massive amounts of spending on both sides nobody was David in this race,” Herrick said I’m proud of the campaign we ran and the conversations we started.”  Herrick said his campaign wasn’t just about winning — it was about elevating issues “This was always about the people,” he said “We brought real concerns forward — from ethical leadership to public trust — and I hope this administration keeps those conversations going Herrick received over $558,000 in direct contributions Combined with political action committee support — including over $330,000 from Save Amarillo PAC which backed Stanley — total spending on the mayoral race has already exceeded $1 million that puts the average cost at about $60 per vote — the highest per-vote cost for any municipal race in Amarillo’s history That figure is expected to rise further as final finance disclosures are filed in the weeks ahead According to campaign finance reports posted on the city's election website the total raised between individual candidates and PACs for Amarillo topped $2 million voter turnout significantly declined compared to previous election cycles 16,710 votes were cast — a drop of approximately 20.95% from 21,138 votes in 2023 and a 17.33% decline from the 20,212 votes cast in 2021 not one council place winner hailed from neighborhoods north of Interstate 40 or within Potter County — a trend some residents and political observers say raises questions about citywide representation While many political observers expected a tighter race for Amarillo City Council Place 4 incumbent Les Simpson not only held his seat — he did so with the most dominant margin of any contested candidate on the ballot Simpson secured a second term with 10,981 votes (68.9%) 20.0%) and Sylvia Elaine Stephens (1,757 votes His total was the highest vote count of any opposed candidate citywide making this year’s decisive win all the more significant Some speculated that Simpson’s decision to publicly support David Prescott — who is challenging fellow incumbent Tom Scherlen in the Place 3 race — might hurt him politically Simpson was the only sitting councilmember to break ranks and back a challenger over a colleague a move that drew attention in the closing days of the campaign But any political backlash was either muted or nonexistent at the polls “I’ve always believed in voting based on what you think is best for the city — not just sticking with someone because of a title,” Simpson said but I also think it’s OK to be honest about where you see leadership potential.” Simpson’s support for Prescott became a flashpoint in the final stretch of the race but the results suggest voters were more concerned with his own record than endorsements “I got the highest number of votes of anyone that had opposition — nearly 70 percent — and I’m honored by that,” Simpson said “I think the community values leaders who think independently and speak for themselves.” Simpson said the scale of PAC spending in this election disturbed him and noted that candidates had no control over how their image was used “I don’t think political action committees are good for local elections,” he said “I supported Prescott because I wanted to speak for myself not a slate supported by one or two donors.”While many political observers expected a tighter race for Amarillo City Council Place 4 incumbent Simpson not only held his seat — he did so with the most dominant margin of any contested candidate on the ballot The only race not settled outright was for Council Place 3 where incumbent Tom Scherlen and challenger David Prescott are heading to a runoff Scherlen received 7,748 votes (47.4%) to Prescott’s 7,433 votes (45.5%) We fought a battle and we’re leaving tonight classically tight,” Scherlen said “Now we’ve got six weeks of hard work ahead.”  Scherlen said his focus going forward is energizing turnout “Now it’s about reconnecting with the voters especially those who may have voted for someone else and I want to keep building on the work I’ve done.”  Prescott expressed pride in his campaign and its grassroots outreach “This isn’t just about a building — it’s about stability “I think what set me apart is my commitment to transparency and engagement.”  He said his runoff push will be about continuing those one-on-one conversations with Amarilloans People want someone who’s not part of the system They want a fresh voice who will follow through.”  Scherlen and Prescott will have about six weeks to continue campaigning before the runoff Place 2: Tipps was re-elected unopposed with 13,960 votes Amarillo ISD Board of Trustees: Don Powell (13,388) and Doyle Corder (4,389) earned the four available seats Amarillo College Board of Regents: Paul Proffer (12,179) finishing just six votes behind Mize with 7,427 City of Canyon Public Safety Bond: Voters approved the $14 million bond with 471 votes in favor and 402 against Canyon Mayor Gary Hinders called the passage a crucial step forward “We are proud to see the community’s support reflected in the unofficial numbers that project the passing of the Public Safety Bond Election,” Hinders said in a statement and we are preparing for the future growth of Canyon while maintaining an expectation of excellence from our police and fire departments.”  The election results will be officially canvassed and certified on May 13 News that AmeriCorps was being dismantled April 26 was like a shockwave for many nonprofits including Amarillo area groups already struggling in the current economy An email came from the office of the local AmeriCorps that read: “We received word late Friday night that the grant for the WT AmeriCorps program as an AmeriCorps State and National program was terminated This is a result of directives to cut 41% or $400 million Around 838 State and National programs are impacted by these cuts This is a momentous change in the fabric of national service Our WT AmeriCorps termination notice contained instruction to cease all award activities and end member service effective immediately (4/25/25) All members will be exited for Compelling Personal Circumstance "This is hard news and we pass it along with heavy hearts We are so proud of the partnerships we have in service We are impressed with the impact every one of you is having in our community.” One of the hardest hit nonprofits was Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center which has enjoyed help from multiple workers under the program “These people are like family to us,” said Stephanie Brady WWWRC Executive Director and founder of the refuge “Three of our AmeriCorps employees work full-time Some work with education and with planning and scheduling field trips with students who come to visit our habitat," Brady said "One of our full-time workers is a single mom of three; another is working on our education department full-time and assists the director of education.” Brady said that according to a recent Zoom meeting for clients Local entities and individuals are trying to pick up the slack and find a way to keep the program which helps provide young students and older get experience and share experience with underfunded nonprofits without using funding from local donors “It would cost us about $7,000 a month to replace that funding,” Brady said “But we are 'Panhandle Strong' and will hopefully find a way.” She said that all the staff funded by AmeriCorps showed up for work anyway after receiving the message; the director said that she was encouraged that her crew showed up but is concerned for their welfare “It doesn’t matter what party affiliation someone is we just want to keep the worthwhile program going,” Brady said Another nonprofit that benefited from the AmeriCorps program is Amarillo SPCA The nonprofit was able to obtain a director/grant writer to assist the no-kill animal shelter which is already facing rising costs in dog food utilities and veterinarian care while trying to keep the doors open hired under AmeriCorps to work with the shelter was just getting her feet wet and working with the system when the email came The nonprofit's Board of Directors President Martha Chase said “Loss of AmeriCorps resources and professionals is a blow to many local organizations The Amarillo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amarillo SPCA) was delighted with the person (Elizarraraz) AmeriCorps found us to work on finding funding sources to further the organizational mission She had already begun to make a difference Elizarraraz has volunteered to continue her efforts on behalf of the Amarillo SPCA without the aegis of the AmeriCorps It would have been devastating to lose her.” Elizarraraz said that she believes in the mission for the animal shelter and would continue to work with them but she worries about students who need the funding to keep attending school and to have enough money to meet their daily needs AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) discharged workers on April 15 in an email obtained by USA TODAY; the message says DOGE cost cutting initiatives impacted its “ability to sustain program operations.” Members were placed into administrative hold to be formally dismissed on April 30 AmeriCorps estimates that more than 1.25 million Americans have served in the NCCC program across 36,000 locations and NCCC workers are often sent to support nonprofits schools and community organizations with long-term projects and also help with recovery efforts after natural disasters assistant director of the WT AmeriCorps program run through West Texas A&M University could not comment on the situation but said that they are hopeful that another source will become available soon OK – A fatal crash early Monday morning claimed the life of a Texas man on Interstate 40 the collision occurred at approximately 3:41 a.m The crash involved a 1999 GMC Suburban driven by 44-year-old Juan Castaneda-Munoz of Amarillo Troopers report that the vehicle veered off the right side of the highway and into a grass ditch Castaneda-Munoz was ejected approximately 20 feet from the vehicle He was pronounced dead at the scene by Weatherford Fire Department personnel His body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Oklahoma City Officials say the vehicle was equipped with seatbelts but they were not in use at the time of the crash The condition of the driver prior to the collision is unknown The cause of the crash is listed as departing the roadway to the right View our live election results at the link below: Powered by Squarespace a 34-year-old pregnant mother of three was murdered in the parking lot of a convenience store at I-40 and Lakeside Illiana Garza and her unborn baby lost their lives in a parking lot The Amarillo Police Department arrested John Paul Ortega for the murder.  He was indicted on February 15 on Capital Murder in the death of Garza and her unborn baby.  Ortega and Garza had been in a relationship at the time of her death Read More: Amarillo Grand Jury Hands Down Indictment for John Paul Ortega | Ortega has been on trial for the Capital murder of Garza and her unborn child.  A jury has been hearing the evidence and testimony in the case.  According to a court witness, Ortega claimed while testifying that he was being set up and acted in self-defense Closing arguments in the case were heard on Thursday 2025.  The jury deliberated for 4 1/2 hours and John Paul Ortega was found guilty of Capital Murder of Iliana Garza According to the Texas Penal Code for Criminal Homicide capital murder can carry a sentence of the death penalty or life without parole.  A person can be charged with Capital Murder if any of the following occur: Read More: History Of The Death Penalty In Texas Amarillo has its share of crime but this kind really hits home for the residents This verdict won’t bring the victim back or give her child a chance to live but it at least offers some sense of justice Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark Gallery Credit: Texas Department of Public Safety The verdict in the case against John Paul Ortega for the Capital Murder of Illiana Garza was handed down in a Potter County Court in Amarillo.\nRead More Illiana Garza and her unborn baby lost their lives in a parking lot Read More: Amarillo Grand Jury Hands Down Indictment for John Paul Ortega | According to the Texas Penal Code for Criminal Homicide Read More: History Of The Death Penalty In Texas Amarillo has its share of crime Texas (KVII) — An Amarillo man who claimed to be interested in having sex with his daughter will spend the next 18-years in federal prison Kacsmaryk sentenced Jeremy Carl King to 220 months after he pleaded guilty to distributing child porn Florida was conducting an undercover sting on a social media platform The name of the chat group indicated users were "interested in their daughters." King claimed he was a 36-year-old dad in California with an 8-year-old daughter He sent the undercover agent four photos of a girl naked in a bathtub The FBI traced the IP address used to send the photos back to King and executed a search warrant on his home on February 22 King admitted he used the social media group to sent the photos and that he has pleasured himself while looking at child porn Police confirmed the girl in the photos is not related to King They believe he JUST used them to get access to the chat group The FBI said they found child porn on his cell phone the FBI learned King was accused in 2010 of using a MySpace account to distribute child porn through his LLC DealOn and individual donations has emerged as the most powerful financial force in Amarillo’s 2025 city elections contributing more than $672,000 across candidates and political committees aligned with current city leadership covering the period from March 25 to April 23 combined with earlier reports dating back to July 2024 show wide disparities in fundraising and spending across mayoral and council races This year’s mayoral race marks the most expensive in Amarillo’s history then-candidate Cole Stanley reported raising $68,154 — highlighting a dramatic rise in political spending The involvement of political action committees (PACs) and large-scale donors has fueled the increase LLC and the Growing Amarillo Jobs PAC contributing substantial sums Mayoral challenger Jason Herrick leads all candidates with a total of $558,622.35 raised across both filing periods His latest filing lists more than 90 individual donors while incumbent Cole Stanley reported just 16 Herrick also reported $161,003.37 in in-kind contributions from the Growing Amarillo Jobs PAC and more than $172,000 in direct payments to consulting firms KC Strategies and PT Strategy Stanley reported $240,202 in total contributions: All of Stanley’s top contributions came from DealOn which gave $200,000 across the three filing periods: $50,000 each in the first two periods and $100,000 in the latest Stanley claimed during a recent Amarillo City Council meeting that he had only received $40,000 from Fairly at the time he nominated him to the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation board — a statement not supported by campaign finance records PACs: DealOn-linked and industry-backed groups fuel spendingAmarillo Association of Realtors PAC raised $46,878.37 and Simpson.Save Amarillo PAC reported $330,550 in contributions directly from Alex Fairly across both filing periods.CP4T PAC resulting in a net contribution of $107,000.Follow the money: Fairly’s $672K+ footprintCumulative contributions tied to Alex Fairly and his business include: LLC)$330,550 to Save Amarillo PAC (direct from Alex Fairly)$107,000 to CP4T PAC (via DealOn net after refund)Total known contributions: $672,550 With hundreds of thousands of dollars shaping the ballot Amarillo voters will soon determine whether high-dollar spending leads to electoral success.