Good morning, Amarillo.

Amarillo’s 8th annual Water Bash will take place on Aug.

2 at Bones Hooks Park where families can enjoy water balloons, food, games and sign up for free backpacks, haircuts and braids—serving as pre-registration for the indoor event at the Warford Center on Aug. 10 that will offer extra resources and a hot meal. The event aims to help children feel confident and ready for the new school year.

Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare will launch its Clear the Shelters campaign tomorrow with waived adoption fees and free spay/neuter services — every adoption includes vaccinations and microchipping as the event runs for the month.

Residents and officials celebrated on July 25 the completion of a sidewalk project in North Heights that made it safer for kids, seniors, and wheelchair users; funding came from federal grants and neighborhood contributions.

City staff said a $1.2 million water main replacement will begin within 30 days and more upgrades like crosswalks + fire hydrant improvements are planned for the area.

Local musician Travis Roberts will release his album Rebel Rose on August 1 — he overcame personal struggles and still lives in Amarillo while his new band gears up for a record release show in Nashville next week.

The album blends alt-country, punk rock, and blues influences, and its cover was shot at an old drive-in theater between Quitaque and Turkey.

AMA-CON will take place Aug.2-3 at the Amarillo Civic Center—featuring cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, panels with Sonic voice actors and author readings that will help support the Amarillo Public Library.

Attendees can look forward to a full weekend of family-friendly pop culture events with affordable ticket options.

Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University are notifying undocumented students that changes to DACA and a federal ruling on June 4 have ended in-state tuition benefits, with about 50 students now facing nearly double the cost.

Student Diana Heredia and others are forced to make tough choices as many plan to move for work and support — enrollment offices have been reaching out for help — while legal challenges remain pending.

Teachers in Amarillo have begun preparing for the new school year as parents work to re-establish routines to ease kids' stress and get them ready for the first day; families are advised to attend meet-the-teacher events and plan back-to-school shopping—actions that help make the transition smoother and build excitement.

On July 29, the Texas Department of Public Safety unveiled a life-size fiberglass statue of an American Quarter Horse named Trooper outside the Amarillo District Office to honor its legacy and the work of both commissioned and non-commissioned staff — the statue joins the city's Hoof Prints art project and was funded entirely through private donations.

Construction work will soon start on the Buffalo Highlands housing development in east Amarillo to address the region's housing shortage.

Additional projects include construction at Producer Owned Beef along with plans for new hotels, an RV lodge and a camper store—aimed at supporting growing housing and lodging needs.

Autocross #3

9 p.m. — Westgate Mall — $35 for SCCA Members, $45 for Non-members — Experience the thrill of night autocross racing under city lights with setup opportunities for faster runs.

Back to School Drive

We're hosting a Back to School Drive to collect school supplies for the children we serve at Faith City Mission. You are welcome to drop off donations at 600 N. Tyler, or support online by purchasing from our DollarDays Wishlist URL: dollardays.com/faithcitymissions/wishlist.html