Yes- Some of the area actually got rain yesterday! Here's a shot of the line of moderate thunderstorms as they left the Amarillo area. More thunderstorms are expected this afternoon. Lord knows we need it!
Amarillo, Texas - Amarillo Police are asking for witnesses to come forward who may have seen an incident of road rage on I-40 last night.
An Amarillo man has been booked into the Potter County Jail, facing charges of aggravated assault.
Authorities say Michael Hart, 36, swerved into Angie Marquez Chavarria's, 47, car after she allegedly cut him off earlier in the Sam's Club parking lot.
Chavarria lost control of her car and rolled into a traffic sign and tree, just before the I-40 Crockett exit.
She was taken a local hospital with life threatening injuries.
Her daughter sustained minor injuries.
Police say Hart, who had his wife and children in the car, left the scene but contacted police later to report the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to called police at 378-3038
Dallas (CNN) -- Texas authorities have made an arrest in connection with one of hundreds of blazes scorching the state in what a Forest Service official called the "perfect storm for wildfires."
A man has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, which is a felony under Texas law, Austin Fire Department Battalion Chief Palmer Buck said early Monday. The man, whom authorities did not immediately identify, is being held under a $50,000 bond.
According to Buck, the man started a campfire at a homeless camp in a remote area, which got out of control and prompted evacuations. The fire has burned about 60 acres and raised concerns as it crept near 100 homes, ten businesses and Austin Community College.
Firefighters are battling some of the driest conditions Texas has seen in nearly a century.
April Saginor, a spokeswoman with the Texas Forest Service, said crews were having difficulty getting hundreds of blazes under control due to a rare combination of strong winds, unseasonably warm temperatures and low humidity. Conditions this spring are the driest they've been in Texas since 1917, she said.
Authorities have responded to 7,807 fires across more than 1.5 million acres since this year's wildfire season began, Gov. Rick Perry wrote in a letter late Saturday to President Barack Obama. Perry requested that the federal government declare Texas a disaster area. Fires have affected all but two of the state's 254 counties. On Sunday, some 1,300 personnel representing 34 states were on the front lines battling these fires. Barring a drastic and sustained change in conditions, Saginor said she expects the fight to continue for several months more.
"We're looking at this as a marathon, not a sprint," she said. "We're very committed to this."
AMARILLO, TEXAS KVII -- 11 candidates are running for Amarillo's mayoral spot, and there are also four commissioner seats up for grabs.
Folks in the panhandle had the opportunity to get a closer look at some of Amarillo's future city officials.
"Let the people hear first-hand instead of having to go to the computer -- a lot of people still don't use the computer. So, it's always good to have something open where they can come -- whether they come or not -- but at least we put forth the effort for them to come and hear first-hand from the people that they're going to have to elect," said Iris Lawrence, NAACP Political Activist Chairperson.
For one citizen seeing is believing.
"We all can feel it when we know somebody's telling us the truth or what they really believe in, and so that's why I like to see them up-close and personal. I've always wanted to do that -- I've always been doing that. I also read what their stance is, but I like to see them in person," said Jeanette Wingate, Amarillo Resident.
People here say the amount of candidates vying for a spot is a sign they still want to make a difference.
"I think all of these people feel like they have constituents to represent, but in this type of race regardless of how many are involved this is still Amarillo and whoever is elected will have to represent Amarillo," said Lawrence.
Everything is big in Texas and now even the speed limit will be the biggest in America. The Texas House of Representatives have recently approved a new transportation bill. Part of it allows the Texas Department of Transportation to set speed limits to 85 MPH on select interstates.
Texas already has over 520 miles of interstate where the highways have a speed limit of 80 mph. The states of Montana and Wyoming have enjoyed an 80 mph speed limit for more than a decade on hundreds of highway miles as well. One area that may receive the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is a long stretch of Interstate 10 where you have a flat long line of sight with wide lanes and good shoulders.
You have to wonder, is raising the speed limit to 85 mph in any area of the U.S. such a good idea? Insurance companies don’t seem to think so. Jerry Johns, a spokesman for the Southwestern Insurance Information Service believes that such an increase of the speed limit in just some areas will have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate on those highways in which the 85 mph speed limit is implemented.
Although drivers already exceed 70 mph speed limits on highways, 85 mph could not only raise the stakes, literally, but raise fuel consumption during a time when gas prices are nearing record highs again. Despite highway deaths falling to the lowest level since 1949, an 85 mph speed limit could have detrimental effects on that statistic.
We should also think about the added skill and vehicle capabilities required to maintain a speed of 85 mph on some of America’s roads. It is bad enough that we have people who carelessly reach excessive speeds on U.S. interstates and highways. The DOT would need to conduct a thorough safety analysis of roadways before they can post an 85 mph speed limit.
Do you think it is such a good idea to implement an 85 mph speed limit? If so, where should it be posted? If you object, tell us why in the comments area below.
4 men arrested after early morning burglary attempt at local gun shop.
At 4:30am, officers were dispatched to Panhandle Gun Slingers @ 710 S Georgia on a possible burglary in progress. A witness had heard what sounded like a gunshot coming from the business and when he went to investigate he saw several males attempting to kick in the door to the business. A vehicle was seen picking up the males and leaving the area.
A vehicle matching the description was stopped a few blocks away and a search of the vehicle recovered a semi-automatic pistol. Evidence at the crime scene indicated a shot had been fired and preliminary indications are it was fired from the same type of handgun recovered from the vehicle.
The suspects were not able to get inside the gun shop. All four occupants were brought to the police department for questioning. 3 adult males were later booked into the Potter County Correction Center for Burglary of a Building, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Arrested were Johnny Ray Baez W/M 7-3-76; Antonio Orlando Pacheco W/M 6-7-81 and Luis Miguel Elizindo W/M 12-11-87, all of Amarillo.
A 16 year old Amarillo male was also taken in custody and booked in the Youth Center of the High Plains for Burglary of a Building, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, and two misdemeanor charges (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia & Curfew Violation).
