After pause, this Texas city is set to reconsider banning travel to access an abortion
A handful of local governments have already put the legally dubious bans in place. The news that Amarillo will take the issue up again comes shortly after a Dallas woman left the state for an abortion after losing a legal battle to obtain one here.
In Texas’ Panhandle, a long-awaited oasis for mental health care is springing up
The region that includes Amarillo, a Panhandle city of more than 200,000 people, and surrounding towns has long been a mental health care desert. Officials hope a new $159 million hospital can help reduce a massive spike in suicide attempts.
Bodycam video shows confrontation between U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson and law enforcement
The footage shows Jackson being tackled to the ground and placed in handcuffs, with the Amarillo Republican directing a profanity-laced tirade toward a trooper. His office has said Jackson, a physician, was trying to help with a medical emergency.
‘Strange creature’ caught wandering Brackenridge Park after Amarillo mystery, SA Zoo says
Shortly after the “Unidentified Amarillo Object” was spotted in the Texas panhandle, the San Antonio Zoo says it also needs the public’s help in identifying a “mysterious figure” caught wandering Brackenridge Park.
![Amarillo was vaccinating people at double the state’s pace. Then the effort hit a wall.](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/i6mQ86FSuIl_OkEtU2M_GXoQcyw=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BFAVUUU4SRHEBHEV2GMYBNUFY4.jpg)
Amarillo was vaccinating people at double the state’s pace. Then the effort hit a wall.
Local health officials are trying to boost vaccinations in this Panhandle city and its surrounding counties, which rank near the bottom of the state’s population centers in the percentage of residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
![Tornadoes reported in Texas Panhandle, no injuries reported](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3JOaHqTdfQzFrutMbNW54LVXiME=/1600x971/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I5SRVI4MOFGANJWTQDIXAJFZ4A.png)
Tornadoes reported in Texas Panhandle, no injuries reported
AMARILLO, Texas – Several suspected tornadoes touched down Saturday afternoon in the Texas Panhandle between Lubbock and Amarillo, according to the National Weather Service, but no injuries or fatalities were reported. “There are no reports of injuries,” and only minor damage, Merchant said. “We can't answer that until afterwards when we examine the damage,” Merchant said. Storm survey teams could be sent to the areas as early as Sunday morning, according to Merchant. ___This story has been corrected to show the name of the Amarillo area emergency management director is Chip Orton, not Chad Orton.
![U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson denies allegations he made sexual comments, violated alcohol policy while White House physician](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/O1maHmwxTt4OFbSh3-6t3iqj-P4=/1200x803/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YO55AD2F65BL5HPFXTTZFP3MUI.jpg)
U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson denies allegations he made sexual comments, violated alcohol policy while White House physician
U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, continues to deny the findings of an investigation by a Pentagon watchdog that he violated an alcohol policy and made a sexual comment about a female colleague under his supervision. (Credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, has ratcheted up his rejection of allegations of misconduct during his time as the top White House physician. The report, which presents the findings of an investigation by the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense, was officially released on Wednesday. The report examines claims that Jackson disparaged employees, engaged in “alcohol-related misconduct” and made sexual comments about a female employee under his supervision. “You could smell the alcohol on his breath, and he leaned into my room and he said, “I need you.” I felt really uncomfortable,” the woman told the inspector general.
![Pentagon review says U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson made sexual comments, violated alcohol policy while White House physician, CNN reports](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/D0Vv3MD_NuK_aaCx9rpYQcIvunM=/1200x803/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MD3QSV4ILZASHH6B2B2GVAQANM.jpg)
Pentagon review says U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson made sexual comments, violated alcohol policy while White House physician, CNN reports
U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Sunday in Orlando. A Pentagon report found that he made sexual comments and violated an alcohol policy while he was the White House physician. (Credit: REUTERS/Joe Skipper)During his time working as the top White House physician, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, berated employees, made sexual comments about a female subordinate, and violated the policy for drinking alcohol on a presidential trip, according to a report from the Department of Defense inspector general obtained by CNN. "Three years ago I was the subject of a political hit job because I stood with President Trump,” Jackson said in a written statement. Jackson represents the congressional district that includes most of the Panhandle and parts of northern Texas such as Wichita Falls, where Gov.
![Alamo visitors see Phil Collins collection for the first time in honor of Texas Independence Day](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/87qPHwgEpbB7Bqk3WZ1q2yfbVbQ=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/03-02-2021/t_21215c7a2e0c4a9986146c3826006179_name_image.jpg)
Alamo visitors see Phil Collins collection for the first time in honor of Texas Independence Day
SAN ANTONIO – Trent Rosser and his wife, Sharon, said they are grateful for the coincidence of being in San Antonio on Texas Independence Day. “Grateful, I’m grateful,” Trent Rosser said about getting to see the new collection. “It just brings back emotion,” Trent Rosser said. AdThe singer is a massive Alamo enthusiast who has been collecting Alamo artifacts for years. It’s cool.”The exhibit is free to view Tuesday in honor of Texas Independence Day and will run through April 25.
![In win for Planned Parenthood, U.S. Supreme Court wipes case law supporting Texas pandemic abortion ban from the books](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/hTFp2d9wFovUNc0GemkQE0xlB1M=/1200x803/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZTYE3DP6ANFWHHBUB3F4TMFBJU.jpg)
In win for Planned Parenthood, U.S. Supreme Court wipes case law supporting Texas pandemic abortion ban from the books
Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas TribuneSign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday voided rulings from lower courts that upheld a ban on most abortions in Texas early in the coronavirus pandemic. The high court vacated two rulings from the lower U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that sided with Texas GOP officials arguing that Gov. The executive order ended over the summer, allowing abortions in the state to resume, but Planned Parenthood has said leaving the lower court rulings on the books would set harmful legal precedent for abortion rights advocates. Disclosure: Planned Parenthood has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
![Texas' new coronavirus surge is leaving critically sick patients stranded in rural areas, hospitals say](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/aybXezKR9TglVO8RUIz6UEjvv1E=/1200x803/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4AO3YK5VHNDKJFIP5766PTG4UA.jpg)
Texas' new coronavirus surge is leaving critically sick patients stranded in rural areas, hospitals say
Texas is experiencing a second surge of coronavirus hospitalizations, up more than 75% since the beginning of October. On Oct. 28, there were more than 5,600 people with COVID-19 in Texas hospitals, a patient volume not seen since August, when the state experienced a crush of patients that pushed some South Texas hospitals to their limit. But the consequences of Texas’ burgeoning “fall wave” of the coronavirus pandemic extend hundreds of miles beyond those far-flung cities. Fewer than half of the state’s rural hospitals perform surgeries or deliver babies, said John Henderson, chief executive of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. The 18-bed hospital is grappling with its own influx of COVID-19 patients.
![Report: San Antonio named one of the friendliest cities in America](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/4Z46NqZDJnUzV_JVc7zXI_fXpnA=/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/J2FN2EQBUZGH7FPGB3YJ3BF3RU.jpg)
Report: San Antonio named one of the friendliest cities in America
SAN ANTONIO – The city of San Antonio is being recognized for more than its signature River Walk, foodie hotspots and the Alamo. According to the annual Good Neighbor Report from OfferUp, the Alamo City is the fourth friendliest city in the nation. The top five friendliest cities in the U.S. this year are San Diego, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Palm Springs, Calif., according to OfferUp. San Antonio isn’t the only Texas city being recognized by OfferUp. Amarillo, Texas, was also named one of the most generous cities in the nation.
![With 4 in 5 Texans living in a "red zone," coronavirus hot spots are moving targets](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3tnPXkjuNj8jtdrAgz5fzVOgKyM=/425x284/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IGIFLNNXGRDGLLNEBDEBVBKQ7I.jpg)
With 4 in 5 Texans living in a "red zone," coronavirus hot spots are moving targets
Over the four months of Texas course of the coronavirus, early hot spots Amarillo among them have been eclipsed by new regions in crisis now, South Texas. That behavior, particularly among young people, may be responsible for dozens of new hot spots that will be more difficult to eradicate. Those 123 "red zone" counties are home to some 23 million Texans the vast majority of the state's population. Typically, rural and community hospitals transfer patients to urban hospitals for acute care. Two weeks ago, there were just seven positive COVID-19 patients in the Amarillo hospital; by this week, that had more than tripled to 24.
![Number of Texans hospitalized with coronavirus hits all-time high as experts say cases are likely to continue increasing](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7wrNVwNk-_gVERAPSSV98S7yHVc=/425x284/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7VRNLXYTONCZHALEAWYNFVBWXY.jpg)
Number of Texans hospitalized with coronavirus hits all-time high as experts say cases are likely to continue increasing
For the second day in a row, data released on Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows a record number of hospitalizations due to the new coronavirus. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneFor the second day in a row, Texas has reported a record number of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus, a metric Gov. Data released Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows 2,056 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 1,935 the day before. The hospitalization figures and the total number of new infections have trended upward since about late May. Experts have said theres a lag between when changes in people's behaviors, like more social interaction, are reflected in coronavirus case data.
![Coronavirus in Texas: No consensus on whether El Paso is ready to reopen](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/lPX1TdlZ1ZCgFjctL4-6DJYPpKQ=/425x284/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/67JLUDW2AZFSRCMQKJWMFGLU6M.jpg)
Coronavirus in Texas: No consensus on whether El Paso is ready to reopen
What you need to know Monday:No consensus on whether El Paso is ready to reopenGov. Greg Abbott had given El Paso County and the Amarillo area two of the state's biggest recent COVID-19 hot spots a temporary reprieve from implementing Texas' next phase of reopening. While Abbott said the Amarillo area had "turned a corner," the picture in the El Paso area wasn't as clear. El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, on the other hand, said the situation in El Paso is more manageable now. Texas reported 1,949 more cases of the new coronavirus Sunday the highest increase since the state began reporting coronavirus case counts.
![Gov. Greg Abbott: Amarillo has ‘turned the corner’ after spike in coronavirus cases](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/KQHlG25EDUUpzvjqnH4gV6rDMX8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-27-2020/t_e9e8b27933aa41eebaecb746f7fd437f_name_image.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott: Amarillo has ‘turned the corner’ after spike in coronavirus cases
Amarillo – Texas Governor Greg Abbott was in Amarillo Wednesday to address the high rate of COVID-19 cases in the region. He attributed the high rate of COVID-19 cases in Amarillo to the increase of people testing positive in nursing homes, meat packing plants and jails and prisons. Since then, Abbott said numbers have since trickled down to “zero people who tested positive (on Tuesday)." “You see an early spike, for the number of people testing positive and then you see a slow decline in those testing positive," said Abbott. Abbott also said that while Texans are suffering from the coronavirus, there are many more who are suffering economically.
![Texas news anchor arrested on prostitution charge](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/3vZGqICXUThB57MyqStWyNruOgQ=/986x554/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HM5JV4PDH5DQLP53RDVBKA64TM.jpg)
Texas news anchor arrested on prostitution charge
A morning show anchor and reporter in Amarillo, who used to be on TV in San Antonio, was arrested on prostitution charges, according to ABC 7/KVII. Anthony Pittman, a morning anchor at ABC 7, was arrested Friday in Randall County and charged with solicitation of prostitution, a Class B misdemeanor, the station reported. Man arrested for stealing bottles from liquor store 3 times, officials sayDetails of his arrest were not immediately available. According to Pittman’s LinkedIn profile, he worked as a sports anchor and reporter at KABB in San Antonio from 2000 to 2010. 9 men arrested in prostitution stingPittman has been released from jail on bond.
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Police: Amarillo School District employee arrested for child pornography
AMARILLO, TEXAS – An Amarillo Independent School District employee was arrested after police say he was in possession of child pornography. The Amarillo PD Special Victims Unit Detectives received a report Wednesday, Jan. 15 that a man in the Amarillo area was in possession of child pornography. Detectives identified the man on Thursday as Kevin Fehr, 59, who was employed by the school district. On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, Amarillo PD Special Victims Unit Detectives received information of a subject in the... Posted by Amarillo Police Department on Friday, January 17, 2020Fehr was arrested and taken to the Randall County Jail. We are waiting to learn more on his employment status with the school district.