ABC 7 Amarillo
ENMWUA confirms $95.7M funding boost for eastern New Mexico water pipeline project
- Title
- ENMWUA confirms $95.7M funding boost for eastern New Mexico water pipeline project
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- Addressing water scarcity for the future in Eastern New Mexico is a major undertaking for the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA).
Connecting fresh water to the member communities of the water authority in Eastern New Mexico is progressing as more funding becomes available.
“Our board just approved a budget adjustment,” said Mike Morris, mayor of Clovis. “The total of that budget adjustment, $95.7 million, brought into our FY 2026 budget, and that is a result of a $77 million appropriation from the federal level as well as an $18.7 million award from the state level.”
“So, with the budget increase of the $95.7 million, we have allocated that money to five construction projects in the future,” said Jaquelynn Bowens, deputy director of ENMWUA.
There are three major Raw Water phases, with Phase 3 currently under construction and Phase 2 and Phase 1 expected to be tackled in the near future.
“We ...
- Title
- Amarillo leaders weigh 2-year moratorium on large-scale data centers amid resource concern
- Runtime
- 1:21
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- Amarillo city leaders are considering a temporary moratorium on large-scale data centers as the city weighs how the facilities could affect infrastructure, water and energy resources.
Mayor Cole Stanley led a discussion about implementing a two-year moratorium, saying the proposal would give the city time to evaluate potential impacts before any future developments are considered.
Stanley said one of the first questions is defining what would qualify as a large-scale data center and what types of projects the city would be comfortable with.
“The criteria that we would use in the beginning stages are small,” Stanley said. “And so if we're talking about just computers and servers in a small space that doesn't pull water and electricity usage and any kind of a large way, then I think we are comfortable with that.”
Stanley said the next step after the discussion is to send the issue back to city staff to review existing documents ...
- Title
- They want to demonize our Ice officers every single day,
- Runtime
- 0:38
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin holds a press conference in Dallas to honor several of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who showcased heroism during the tragic 2025 Dallas ICE facility shooting.
READ MORE: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 ...
- Title
- We have zero tolerance and we will arrest you
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin holds a press conference in Dallas to honor several of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who showcased heroism during the tragic 2025 Dallas ICE facility shooting.
READ MORE: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 ...
- Title
- ICE officers showcased for heroism during the 2025 Dallas ICE facility shooting
- Runtime
- 28:35
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- United States Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin holds a press conference in Dallas to honor several of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who showcased heroism during the tragic 2025 Dallas ICE facility shooting.
READ MORE: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 ...
- Title
- TxDOT defaults contractor on $3.4M HWY 136 ADA project in Fritch; new bid sought
- Runtime
- 1:58
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- A project in Fritch along Highway 136 in Fritch got underway in the late summer of 2025. Fast forward to the spring of 2026, when the project was expected to be completed, and the work was not done, prompting TxDOT to make some changes.
“Having to drive down this street, the cones everywhere when you try to pull onto the street, some of the streets are completely blocked off, you can’t even pull onto them,” said Shelly Onley, resident of Fritch.
“The sidewalks I see they put in, I see people walking on those using the ones that are there, but besides that, we can’t use a lot of the streets,” said Jeff Cox, business owner in Fritch. “The main impact on me is my business getting people in and out of there.”
Seeking answers to a problem some residents of Fritch say could have been avoided.
ABC 7 News asked what the current status of the TxDOT ADA project, $3.4 million in Fritch, is on Highway 136?
“That con...
- Title
- Landfill fire destroys 52 homes in Texas Panhandle; survivors now need money
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- Two weeks after a landfill fire tore through thousands of acres and left dozens of families without homes, relief efforts in the Texas Panhandle are shifting from donated goods to financial help as survivors face a long road to recovery.
The fire destroyed 52 homes and damaged 25 more, burning more than 2,500 acres and leaving families with little to salvage. While community support has poured in since the fire, organizers say the biggest need now is money to help victims rebuild their lives.
Janell Evans, director of the 211 Texas Panhandle United Way Helpline, said disasters bring sudden upheaval for people who are unprepared for the changes that follow.
“With all disasters, they're all traumatic. They all have created a huge lifestyle change in someone that they were not prepared for,” Evans said. “They're having to start from the ground up. They're having to pick up and leave and start over again, whether it be just for a single person o...
- Title
- The road to recovery begins for #wildfire victims.🔥🏠 #amarillo #texas #localnews #howtohelp
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- Title
- Amarillo board works to protect residents' digital dignity, rights and privacy
- Runtime
- 2:18
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- As cities increasingly rely on artificial intelligence and other digital tools, Amarillo leaders are taking steps to ensure new technology does not come at the expense of residents’ rights.
Amarillo’s Digital Dignity, Rights, and Privacy Advisory Board was created under the city’s Digital Dignity, Rights, and Privacy Ordinance, which established guidelines for how the city handles personal data and digital technologies.
Jake Blok, co-founder of Digital Rights House and a board member, said the board’s job is to gather information, set priorities, and provide guidance to the city.
“The role of the advisory board is to get that and prioritize and then give advice to the city,” Blok said.
He added that the work goes beyond the board’s meetings and includes outreach.
“And then it's important that more and more sources of information are scattered. So it's not only the four times the board comes together, bu...
- Title
- House Democrats CALL OUT former AG Bondi for Epstein files release
- Runtime
- 26:26
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- The National Desk (TND) brings you award-winning local storytelling from Sinclair Broadcast Group's local TV newsrooms across the United States and feeds from sources throughout the world.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television g...
- Title
- Amarillo leaders weight 2-year moratorium on large-scale data centers amid resource concern
- Runtime
- 2:22
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- Amarillo city leaders are considering a temporary moratorium on large-scale data centers as the city weighs how the facilities could affect infrastructure, water and energy resources.
Mayor Cole Stanley led a discussion about implementing a two-year moratorium, saying the proposal would give the city time to evaluate potential impacts before any future developments are considered.
Stanley said one of the first questions is defining what would qualify as a large-scale data center and what types of projects the city would be comfortable with.
“The criteria that we would use in the beginning stages are small,” Stanley said. “And so if we're talking about just computers and servers in a small space that doesn't pull water and electricity usage and any kind of a large way, then I think we are comfortable with that.”
Stanley said the next step after the discussion is to send the issue back to city staff to review existing documents ...
- Title
- ENMWUA confirms $95.7M funding boost for eastern New Mexico water pipeline project
- Runtime
- 1:53
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- Addressing water scarcity for the future in Eastern New Mexico is a major undertaking for the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA).
Connecting fresh water to the member communities of the water authority in Eastern New Mexico is progressing as more funding becomes available.
“Our board just approved a budget adjustment,” said Mike Morris, mayor of Clovis. “The total of that budget adjustment, $95.7 million, brought into our FY 2026 budget, and that is a result of a $77 million appropriation from the federal level as well as an $18.7 million award from the state level.”
“So, with the budget increase of the $95.7 million, we have allocated that money to five construction projects in the future,” said Jaquelynn Bowens, deputy director of ENMWUA.
There are three major Raw Water phases, with Phase 3 currently under construction and Phase 2 and Phase 1 expected to be tackled in the near future.
“We ...
- Title
- Are the Spurs back? Fan reactions are going VIRAL
- Runtime
- 9:17
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- SAN ANTONIO - Fans have been taking over the streets all over the city after each Spurs win.
People honk their car horns for miles. Others are seen waving their Spurs flags, but some celebrations have gotten out of hand.
READ MORE: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/instagram/spurs-win-celebrations-spark-safety-fears-with-fireworks-fires-and-clashes-on-video
Photo cred: Getty Images and Michelle Ramirez
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television ...
- Title
- APD arrests suspected getaway driver in apartment shooting that killed 2, injured 10
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Amarillo police have made a third arrest in connection with an apartment shooting that killed two people and injured 10 others, taking into custody the suspected getaway driver.
APD arrested 17-year-old Excellent Vyizigiro on Thursday evening. He is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Two other suspects, 17-year-old Jame Htoo and 20-year-old Eh Gay Htoo Win, were previously charged with murder.
After the shooting, APD surveillance teams witnessed Win place a bag containing a rifle/long gun into the back of a silver sedan with Vyizigiro as a passenger. Officers conducted a high-risk stop and arrested everyone in the sedan, including Vyizigiro, who dropped his blue iPhone during the arrest.
Police recovered two weapons from the back of the silver sedan that matched shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.
According to court records, Vyizigiro was captured on surveillance video near San Jacin...
- Title
- German defense logistics firm eyes Amarillo for North American operations, jobs possible
- Runtime
- 1:11
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Amarillo is being considered as a potential site for future North American operations by a German defense logistics company, a visit local economic leaders say could eventually lead to new jobs and investment tied to the growing defense industry.
Hansa-Express Logistics, which transports military equipment and hazardous materials, including “everything from tanks to explosives,” said Amarillo’s open landscape is a key factor in its interest.
“Space creates safety for us. That’s why we chose an area that’s not so crowded. Dallas, Houston, that would be impossible for us,” said Sarah Niehaus of Hansa-Express Logistics GmbH, Explosives & Military Transports.
Andreas Eckstein, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, said the city’s available land, energy costs, water supply and workforce are central to how Amarillo is positioned to European companies seeking a U.S. presence.
“We market ...
- Title
- Texas DPS urges drivers to buckle up as summer travel increases
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- As more Texans hit the road this summer, the Texas Department of Public Safety is urging drivers and passengers to buckle up, warning that seat belts can mean the difference between life and death in a crash.
“I don't believe there's a worse feeling than walking up to a fatal crash scene. Seeing a vehicle that doesn't have a lot of damage, but, driver or passenger, were not restrained at the time of the crash, and they were thrown from their vehicle and died as a result,” said Sgt. Cindy Barkley, a public information officer with Texas DPS.
So far this year, Texas has had 1,100 fatal wrecks, and a large portion of those passengers were not wearing seat belts.
Texas DPS’s Click It or Ticket initiative enforces seat belt use for drivers and passengers. In 2025, DPS issued 780 seat belt citations.
Sgt. Barkley said wearing a seat belt before starting the vehicle can significantly improve a person’s odds of surviving a crash.
- Title
- Funding shortfall prompts Hedley ISD plan to end high school and junior high grades
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- The Hedley School Board is expected to take a vote on Thursday during a 6:30 p.m. meeting to change the school from pre-K to 12th grade to pre-K to 6th grade in the future.
Hedley Independent School District has been educating the next generation since 1910 in Donley County, but at the start of the next school year, Hedley ISD is going to be without a High School and the 7th and 8th grades in Junior High. Hedley ISD superintendent Tracey Langford tells ABC 7 News it’s due to a combination of factors, but mainly to a lack of funding.
“To get full funding, you need to be at 90 students, and we haven’t been at 90 students in two years, so we have had a decline in funding for two years, that decline in funding to adopt a deficit budget of $500,000, and that was literally due to school funding,” said Langford.
“Hedley ISD was opened in 1910,” said Patricia Burnam, Class of 2009 at Hedley H.S. “I am a graduating student of 2009; the total ...
- Title
- German defense logistics firm eyes Amarillo for North American operations, jobs possible
- Runtime
- 2:32
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Amarillo is being considered as a potential site for future North American operations by a German defense logistics company, a visit local economic leaders say could eventually lead to new jobs and investment tied to the growing defense industry.
Hansa-Express Logistics, which transports military equipment and hazardous materials, including “everything from tanks to explosives,” said Amarillo’s open landscape is a key factor in its interest.
“Space creates safety for us. That’s why we chose an area that’s not so crowded. Dallas, Houston, that would be impossible for us,” said Sarah Niehaus of Hansa-Express Logistics GmbH, Explosives & Military Transports.
Andreas Eckstein, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, said the city’s available land, energy costs, water supply and workforce are central to how Amarillo is positioned to European companies seeking a U.S. presence.
“We market ...
- Title
- Balancing the budget by eliminating fraud: WH official makes strong claim at roundtable
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Balancing the federal budget by eliminating fraud and improper government payments. That’s what White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed could be possible during Tuesday's fraud roundtable hosted by Vice President JD Vance.
I believe based on what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, that we could balance the federal budget if the only dollars that went out of the Treasury went to individuals who are properly, lawfully, correctly eligible to receive them,” said Miller.
Those comments generated backlash from critics, who pointed to Miller's math. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the deficit in 2025 was around $1.8 trillion.
___________
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- Title
- Texas DPS urges drivers to buckle up as summer travel increases
- Runtime
- 1:48
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- As more Texans hit the road this summer, the Texas Department of Public Safety is urging drivers and passengers to buckle up, warning that seat belts can mean the difference between life and death in a crash.
“I don't believe there's a worse feeling than walking up to a fatal crash scene. Seeing a vehicle that doesn't have a lot of damage, but, driver or passenger, were not restrained at the time of the crash, and they were thrown from their vehicle and died as a result,” said Sgt. Cindy Barkley, a public information officer with Texas DPS.
So far this year, Texas has had 1,100 fatal wrecks, and a large portion of those passengers were not wearing seat belts.
Texas DPS’s Click It or Ticket initiative enforces seat belt use for drivers and passengers. In 2025, DPS issued 780 seat belt citations.
Sgt. Barkley said wearing a seat belt before starting the vehicle can significantly improve a person’s odds of surviving a crash.
- Title
- Funding shortfall prompts Hedley ISD plan to end high school and junior high grades
- Runtime
- 1:54
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- The Hedley School Board is expected to take a vote on Thursday during a 6:30 p.m. meeting to change the school from pre-K to 12th grade to pre-K to 6th grade in the future.
Hedley Independent School District has been educating the next generation since 1910 in Donley County, but at the start of the next school year, Hedley ISD is going to be without a High School and the 7th and 8th grades in Junior High. Hedley ISD superintendent Tracey Langford tells ABC 7 News it’s due to a combination of factors, but mainly to a lack of funding.
“To get full funding, you need to be at 90 students, and we haven’t been at 90 students in two years, so we have had a decline in funding for two years, that decline in funding to adopt a deficit budget of $500,000, and that was literally due to school funding,” said Tracey Langford, Superintendent for Hedley ISD.
“Hedley ISD was opened in 1910,” said Patricia Burnam, Class of 2009 at Hedley H.S. “I am a ...
- Title
- Activist Rosa María Payá says Cubans back ousting dictatorship amid crisis
- Runtime
- 4:07
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States wants “something good for the Cuban people” and warned that instability in Cuba poses a national security risk because the island is “90 miles from our shores.”
Rubio made the comments during a cabinet meeting where he discussed the future of Cuba.
Cuban activist and Founder of Cuba Decide, Rosa María Payá, told The National News Desk the United States plays a central role in helping bring political change to the island by increasing pressure on Cuba’s leadership.
“The U.S. is essential in, pressuring the criminals in power for them to have to submit to the will of the people and leave,” Payá said. “And that's the only option, for our nation right now, because the Cuban people are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe imposed by the Cuban dictatorship imposed by a failed, centralized socialist system imposed by a group in power that is corrupt, that is incompetent, that sits over billions of dollar...
- Title
- Trump still 'not satisfied' with Iran deal, reports of unofficial draft agreement
- Runtime
- 8:02
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Reports of an unofficial draft agreement shared by Iranian state media said to include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial maritime traffic in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade in the region.
The White House suggested in a post online that the report was untrue.
"This report from Iranian-controlled media is not true and the MOU they 'released' is a complete fabrication. Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out."
During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said, “They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there, we’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. Either that, or I will have to just finish the job."
Threats of more attacks have been a constant part of the weeks-long negotiations.
Sticking points include the blocked Strait of Hormuz, which caused U.S. gas prices to spike to their highest levels in years during Memorial Day weekend, accor...
- Title
- Vesper Energy solar facility brings economic boost to Swisher County
- Runtime
- 1:36
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- The Vesper Energy-owned facility covers 6 square miles of the county’s land. Along with generating power, the farm has been an economic boost for the county.
“Hornet has generated about $5 million in revenue. For Swisher County, that’s about $2.5 million going to the local school district, and another $500,000 to $600,000 going to the hospital district,” said Mona Bond with Vesper Energy.
Bond says the company expects to create around $100 million worth of tax revenue over the next 40 years. The company has also contributed directly to agencies throughout the county.
“We also run a quarterly community giving program, which in the past year has funded about $30,000 to local nonprofits and community events, including a donation to the Tulia Fire Department that allowed them to purchase a new utility trailer for their side-by-side vehicle,” Bond said.
The project created 450 construction jobs, 300 of which were temporary loca...
- Title
- Fifth-grader's $20 gemstone sale sparks kindness card program at BSA Hospital
- Runtime
- 1:25
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- A fifth-grader’s $20 donation to BSA Hospital has grown into a new effort to lift the spirits of children and staff through simple acts of kindness.
Jackson Rath raised the money by selling gemstones while his brother was in the hospital. He donated the $20 to BSA and asked the hospital to make sure patients got whatever they needed. Rath said he did not expect what happened next.
“I was really not expecting for it as far. Not at all,” Rath said. “I was very surprised and shocked.”
Rath said he was surprised because, “I know BSA does amazing things, but I didn't know that. Like, this was just going to happen. All because I sent in 20 bucks.”
His gesture inspired BSA to partner with Canyon ISD to launch the Kids Care Cards initiative, which encourages elementary students to create homemade cards for patients and hospital staff.
“It kind of started around with our executive team, and they really thought, wha...
- Title
- DACA renewal delays leave thousands of Dreamers without work permits, advocates say
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Thousands of DACA recipients across the country are facing long delays in renewing their work permits, a growing backlog that immigration advocates say is leaving many “Dreamers” without jobs, driver’s licenses or certainty about their future.
For more than a decade, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, has allowed certain undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children to work legally and avoid deportation. But recipients nationwide say renewals that once took just weeks are now stretching into months.
Maythe Alderete Briseno, a DACA recipient who moved to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 2 years old, said her permit expired May 19.
“My permit expired on May 19th. So it has been a minute. The renewals are taking anywhere between 7 and 12 months, which is a really long time,” Briseno said.
Maria Dona, a DACA recipient from the Philippines who has been in the U.S. since she was 6, sa...
- Title
- Amarillo EDC recruiting German defense logistics company
- Runtime
- 17:26
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation hosts representatives from German defense logistics company which is exploring potential future North American operations
International defense logistics company to visit Amarillo
What: The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) will host representatives from German defense logistics company Hansa-Express Logistics GmbH for a press conference regarding the company’s visit to Amarillo to explore potential future North American operations and logistics opportunities. Hansa-Express Logistics is a second-generation family-owned company that specializes in defense-related transportation and supply-chain solutions across Europe.
Discussion topics may include:
• Defense and industrial logistics
• Transportation and distribution infrastructure
• Workforce and technical talent
• Amarillo’s strategic position within the U.S. market
Speakers inclu...
- Title
- City updates residents on high water bill concerns
- Runtime
- 1:57
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Thousands of residents were shocked by their April water bills, with some being charged for enough water to fill multiple backyard pools.
The sticker shock came after the city changed its billing software. That change resulted in longer billing cycles for more than 55,000 customers.
Some residents expressed their frustration during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“What are you going to do about it? Especially the folks that, and I’m thinking they’re old folks," Gary Findley said. "They’re my neighbors. What are we going to do to protect them? That’s my concern.”
“I’m in the same position," said Charles Little. "I used more water last month than I had ever used since I moved here in December of ’22.”
Rich Gagnon says three audits are being done, starting with an internal review of the data being collected from the system and bill calculations.
“To make sure that we would be prepared to ...
- Title
- First victim identified in Washington state chemical implosion, 9 others remain missing
- Runtime
- 14:19
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- At least one person was killed and nine people were injured after a 900,000-gallon tank containing a hazardous chemical mixture ruptured Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. facility in Longview. About 90,000 gallons of material could still be inside the damaged tank, officials said.
READ MORE: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/first-victim-identified-in-washington-state-chemical-implosion-9-others-remain-missing-gilbert-bernal-longview-vigil-victims-injuries-white-liquor-nippon-dynawave#
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Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by...
- Title
- Fifth-grader's $20 gemstone sale sparks kindness card program at BSA Hospital
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- A fifth-grader’s $20 donation to BSA Hospital has grown into a new effort to lift the spirits of children and staff through simple acts of kindness.
Jackson Rath raised the money by selling gemstones while his brother was in the hospital. He donated the $20 to BSA and asked the hospital to make sure patients got whatever they needed. Rath said he did not expect what happened next.
“I was really not expecting for it as far. Not at all,” Rath said. “I was very surprised and shocked.”
Rath said he was surprised because, “I know BSA does amazing things, but I didn't know that. Like, this was just going to happen. All because I sent in 20 bucks.”
His gesture inspired BSA to partner with Canyon ISD to launch the Kids Care Cards initiative, which encourages elementary students to create homemade cards for patients and hospital staff.
“It kind of started around with our executive team, and they really thought, wha...
- Title
- Trump endorsed Ken Paxton WINS Texas GOP runoff
- Runtime
- 6:45
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, easily defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the latest contest where President Donald Trump sought to oust an incumbent he saw as not sufficiently loyal.
Trump endorsed Paxton last week. Paxton's victory in Tuesday’s runoff makes Cornyn the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party’s nomination for reelection.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/texas-ag-ken-paxton-wins-gop-runoff-for-us-senate-ousting-longtime-sen-john-cornyn#
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
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KVII is a TX based statio...
- Title
- DACA renewal delays leave thousands of Dreamers without work permits, advocates say
- Runtime
- 2:34
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- Thousands of DACA recipients across the country are facing long delays in renewing their work permits, a growing backlog that immigration advocates say is leaving many “Dreamers” without jobs, driver’s licenses or certainty about their future.
For more than a decade, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, has allowed certain undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children to work legally and avoid deportation. But recipients nationwide say renewals that once took just weeks are now stretching into months.
Maythe Alderete Briseno, a DACA recipient who moved to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 2 years old, said her permit expired May 19.
“My permit expired on May 19th. So it has been a minute. The renewals are taking anywhere between 7 and 12 months, which is a really long time,” Briseno said.
Maria Dona, a DACA recipient from the Philippines who has been in the U.S. since she was 6, sa...
- Title
- Attorney General Ken Paxton declares victory in runoff
- Runtime
- 15:57
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's victory speech after winning the US Senate runoff against John Cornyn
- Title
- Mayor Cole Stanley addresses TCEQ violation, potential city accountability in Stinky Fire
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conducted an investigation on May 7 and confirmed a violation involving the city’s landfill operations.
However, the official notice of violation was not sent to the city until May 20.
During Friday’s press conference, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley criticized the delay in communication from the state agency.
“Because of the system that's in place with the TCEQ, they are able to go out and hear a complaint, do an investigation, run that complaint, deal with the city staff and then give a certain allotment of days — 30 days, 60 days — for a resolution,” Stanley said. “In my opinion, and my opinion only, that's a pretty poor system.”
Stanley said City Manager Grayson Path is leading an internal investigation that includes reviewing data, documentation, emails, and staff participation connected to the issue.
During the press conference, Sinclair reporter Jose Alcala ...
- Title
- Amarillo teen shot three times faces long recovery after apartments shooting killed 2
- Runtime
- 2:26
- Date posted
- 29 days ago
- Description
- A teenager who survived a shooting at the Westminster Apartments in Amarillo earlier this month is facing a long recovery after being shot three times, while two of his best friends were killed.
Kai Sanders has remained hospitalized since the shooting and has already undergone several surgeries because of the extent of his injuries, according to his family. His family said the gunshot wounds caused serious damage, including injuries to his spine that doctors say could affect his ability to walk.
Sanders described what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. “I didn't even walk in the door. I was behind them, and yeah, yeah, they just started shooting,” Sanders said. “I got hit three times, and then I just dropped. I don't remember anything after that. I mean, like, little flashes, like I woke up for, like, like, five seconds, and I just. I basically, like, two times.”
His mother, Michelle Vasquez, said she rushed to the apartme...
- Title
- Amarillo landfill operations under review as superintendent is fired after TCEQ notice
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Weeks before a wildfire destroyed 52 homes and damaged dozens of others, a complaint to state regulators alleged the Amarillo landfill was not properly covering waste — an issue that later resulted in a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality violation.
Records from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality complaint database show a complaint was received April 30 alleging the Amarillo landfill was improperly covering deposited waste.
On May 7, the TCEQ found the landfill was in violation of Texas Administrative Code. Under the rule, Type I landfills like Amarillo “must apply six inches of well-compacted earthen material not previously mixed with garbage, rubbish, or other solid waste at the end of each operating day to control disease vectors, fires, odors, windblown litter or waste, and scavenging.”
The TCEQ issued a notice of violation on May 20, three days after the fire started.
City Manager Grayson Path said the situ...
- Title
- Amarillo veterans, families honor fallen on Memorial Day at Llano Cemetery
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Memorial Day may be known for backyard barbecues and long weekends, but for many veterans and their families in Amarillo, it is a time to reflect on loss and the lasting effects of war.
Veterans and families gathered at Llano Cemetery to commemorate those who died in war.
Paul Harpole, a Vietnam veteran and former mayor of Amarillo, spoke about the toll war takes on service members and their loved ones.
“War is pain and sacrifice and loss and death. It’s suffering. And it carries on to the families here at home,” Harpole said. “When we lost somebody there, we knew they really died here in their families' lives. We’ve lost those lives.”
Harpole said he was assigned to a role that involved carrying wounded people out, and he believes that work helped save lives.
“Fortunately, in my job, we were carrying people out that were wounded, and hopefully we saved enough that we helped our country grow by having about ...
- Title
- Pope Leo weighs in on how the world should respond to AI
- Runtime
- 2:29
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- On Monday at the Vatican, there was a unique moment of collaboration between the Catholic Church and Big Tech.
Pope Leo XIV said to Christopher Olah, “In the name of the church, I accept your invitation to walk together to listen and to speak together to find the way for free humanity, and this time of Artificial Intelligence."
Olah is the co-founder of one of the biggest AI companies in the world and he spoke as well.
"We need informed critics who will tell the labs when we are failing. We need moral voices that the incentives cannot bend," he said, signaling openness to helping to achieve a lofty goal: responding to the growth of AI in a moral manner.
“That has to be a collective conversation removed from these private worlds, which are primarily dominated by a few very wealthy individuals," said Anna Rowlands, a Catholic Social Thought Professor at Durham University, in an interview on Monday.
Those "few wealthy individuals" are a chief concern laid...
- Title
- Mayor Cole Stanley addresses TCEQ violation, potential city accountability in Stinky Fire
- Runtime
- 2:28
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conducted an investigation on May 7 and confirmed a violation involving the city’s landfill operations.
However, the official notice of violation was not sent to the city until May 20.
During Friday’s press conference, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley criticized the delay in communication from the state agency.
“Because of the system that's in place with the TCEQ, they are able to go out and hear a complaint, do an investigation, run that complaint, deal with the city staff and then give a certain allotment of days — 30 days, 60 days — for a resolution,” Stanley said. “In my opinion, and my opinion only, that's a pretty poor system.”
Stanley said City Manager Grayson Path is leading an internal investigation that includes reviewing data, documentation, emails, and staff participation connected to the issue.
During the press conference, Sinclair reporter Jose Alcala ...
- Title
- Woman faces new charge of urinating on Pensacola Airbnb furniture, causing $17K in damage
- Runtime
- 2:29
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The woman who made headlines earlier this year for allegedly urinating on Pensacola Airbnb furniture is back behind bars on a new, similar charge.
Nicolette Keough, 31, was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of property damage worth over $1,000.
She appeared in court Thursday, where a judge issued her a $10,000 bond for the charge. However, she'll remain in Escambia County Jail, as her bond was revoked for violating bail conditions for a battery arrest in mid-March.
WEAR News first reported about Keough in March after she was arrested on two counts of felony criminal mischief.
According to arrest reports, Keough urinated on furniture in two Downtown Pensacola Airbnb homes -- both on N Guillemard Street. She reportedly caused thousands of dollars of property damage. The report states she also uploaded videos of the incidents to an adult content website.
Keough's new charge reportedly stems from videos...
- Title
- Big bad wolf found not guilty in mock trial
- Runtime
- 2:39
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- In a mock trial led by elementary school students, with college students and practicing lawyers taking part, the “Big Bad Wolf” was acquitted in the deaths of two of the three little pigs.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/
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KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's televisi...
- Title
- Trump throws full support behind Ken Paxton in high stakes Texas runoff
- Runtime
- 4:46
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Start your morning with The National News Desk as Jan Jeffcoat sits down with Republican National Convention Co-Chair KC Cosbie to discuss the showdown between GOP incumbent John Cornyn and Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton for the Texas GOP Primary, bringing insight and context to the stories shaping the day.
Watch weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
___________
Follow KVII on social media:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC7Amarillo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7amarillo
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Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcas...
- Title
- California chemical tank emergency led to thousands needing to evacuate their homes
- Runtime
- 13:37
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- While fears of a bigger threat have diminished, 16,000 residents remain unable to return home due to a chemical tank emergency in Orange County, California. CNN News Central's Sara Sidner speaks with TJ McGovern, Interim Chief of the Orange County California Fire Authority.
Read more: https://thenationaldesk.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC7Amarillo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7amarillo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abc7amarillo/
Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 ...
- Title
- Fish dead in Geogia river after floods
- Runtime
- 0:58
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Environmental protection non-profit Chattahoochee Riverkeeper estimates that thousands of fish died along a 20-mile stretch of river after an intense thunderstorm in Georgia.
Learn more: https://www.chattahoocheeparks.org/
Donate: https://chattahoochee.org/our-river/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC7Amarillo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7amarillo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abc7amarillo/
Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets,...
- Title
- Georgia river filled with dead fish after mysterious black muck found on shore banks
- Runtime
- 3:17
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- Environmental protection non-profit Chattahoochee Riverkeeper estimates that thousands of fish died along a 20-mile stretch of river after an intense thunderstorm in Georgia.
Learn more: https://www.chattahoocheeparks.org/
Donate: https://chattahoochee.org/our-river/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC7Amarillo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7amarillo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abc7amarillo/
Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets,...
- Title
- Investigation continues into shooting near White House access checkpoint
- Runtime
- 4:12
- Date posted
- 30 days ago
- Description
- The investigation continues into the Saturday shootout between a Maryland resident and Secret Service officers near a White House access checkpoint.
Nasire Best, 21, of Dundalk, Maryland, opened fire Saturday evening at the checkpoint and at Secret Service Uniformed Division officers, according to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson. Secret Service officers returned fire, hitting Best, who later died at the hospital.
A bystander was also hit during the shootout, police said, and taken to the hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. It’s unclear at this time whether that man was struck by the suspect or by police firing back. No officers were hurt.
READ | Who is Nasire Best? Here's what we know about man killed in shootout with Secret Service
MPD is conducting the use of force investigation, according to a U.S. Secret Service (USSS) spokesperson. If it’s determined the bystander was wounded by the suspect’s gun, MPD w...
- Title
- Texas Panhandle War Memorial hosts Memorial Day event
- Runtime
- 55:59
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Memorial Day event from the Texas Panhandle War Memorial in Amarillo
- Title
- Daily T-Storm chances to continue as we exit May and jump into June #weather #weatherupdate
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- ___________
Follow KVII on social media:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abc7amarillo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABC7Amarillo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7amarillo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abc7amarillo/
Have a tip? Email us at kviinews@sbgtv.com
Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to https://abc7amarillo.com/chimein
KVII is a TX based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 38.7% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates.
#amarillo #texas #texasnews #abc7 #amarillone...
- Title
- Amarillo veterans, families honor fallen on Memorial Day at Llano Cemetery
- Runtime
- 2:29
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Memorial Day may be known for backyard barbecues and long weekends, but for many veterans and their families in Amarillo, it is a time to reflect on loss and the lasting effects of war.
Veterans and families gathered at Llano Cemetery to commemorate those who died in war.
Paul Harpole, a Vietnam veteran and former mayor of Amarillo, spoke about the toll war takes on service members and their loved ones.
“War is pain and sacrifice and loss and death. It’s suffering. And it carries on to the families here at home,” Harpole said. “When we lost somebody there, we knew they really died here in their families' lives. We’ve lost those lives.”
Harpole said he was assigned to a role that involved carrying wounded people out, and he believes that work helped save lives.
“Fortunately, in my job, we were carrying people out that were wounded, and hopefully we saved enough that we helped our country grow by having about ...
- Title
- Ussery-Roan Memorial Day service honors veterans with flyover, roll call and Taps
- Runtime
- 1:51
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Ussery-Roan’s annual Memorial Day service brought together families of residents at the veteran's home to honor those who served and those who have passed away.
The ceremony began with a Warbirds flyover followed by the presentation of colors. During the service, veterans who spent their final days at the home were remembered through a solemn roll call of the fallen.
Among those honored was Roger Walker, a U.S. Army veteran who lived at Ussery for 10 years. Walker served two tours in Vietnam and later developed Parkinson’s disease linked to Agent Orange exposure. His family attended the ceremony as his name was read aloud.
His daughter, Nina Gray, described her father as a committed patriot.
“He was on two tours in Vietnam. He contracted Parkinson’s through Agent Orange, and that’s what ultimately took his life," she said. "He told me several times that he would have done it over and over and over again.”
Serg...

