Good morning, Amarillo.

Community groups are hosting events across Amarillo this weekend as summer ends and back-to-school preparations begin, including giveaways+concerts, film screenings and more at local venues.

Families can enjoy entertainment from today through Aug. 16 at theaters, parks and community centers.

A two-year effort by community leaders installed nine Fruit of the Spirit monuments in Amarillo, with the final piece placed at the corner of 2nd and Polk in downtown (highlighting a shared faith-based vision).

Traffic is expected to back up on Highway 207 after school starts on Aug.

20 in Claude as the county sheriff (Melissa Anderson) reports a sharp rise in crashes and urges drivers to plan alternate routes.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Powerball officials raised the jackpot to $1 billion after strong ticket sales drove interest from U.S. and U.K. players; Texas ticket sales ended at 9 p.m. (Central) before the drawing took place.

Hall County residents are concerned that a planned $10B data center near Turkey may strain housing and water resources.

QTS says most workers will live on site, and a meeting is scheduled tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 at Valley High School to address concerns.

West Texas A&M University is hosting a retirement reception today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Legacy Hall for President Walter V.

Wendler and his wife Mary Wendler — parking is available in Zone 5, Zone 12, and along 26th Street.

The Big Red Barn Learning Center (2226 SE 27th) in Amarillo will launch evening and overnight childcare in September to support parents working unusual hours.

Parents can contact the center to learn more about enrollment.

Region 16 Education Service Center named Dumas ISD Board of Trustees the 2026 Outstanding School Board of the Year via the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).

The board will represent the region at the txEDCON26 convention in October.

Northwest Emergency at Eastern will celebrate one year of 24/7 medical care with a health fair this Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 4409 East I-40, featuring glucose testing, stroke information and a Back the Bus school supply drop-off.

Albertsons Companies voluntarily recalled 59 store-made items containing pico de gallo made with recalled jalapeños (available at Amigos, Albertsons Market, Market Street, and United stores in NM and TX) after a supplier recall indicated possible salmonella contamination; customers should return or discard the items for a refund.

Sheba, a nearly 21-year-old lion at the Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary, recovered Monday after vets removed a tail mass and provided sedation, pain medication, and fluids, while the team awaits test results to guide further treatment.

Texas school vaccine requirements for 2026 to 2027 remain unchanged, even as federal guidelines propose splitting the MMR vaccine.

The state health department confirmed that any updates require new legislation + parents will follow the same schedule as before.