I started reporting on the dearth of reproductive health care. Then I had my own emergency.
Texas Tribune journalist Jayme Lozano Carver has written about health care for years. Most recently, she reported on how little access there is for women and new moms in the Texas Panhandle.
Interstate 27 has divided Lubbock for decades. North and east side residents want that to change.
After repeated attempts to convince the City Council to make zoning changes, residents asked the federal government to intervene.
Abortion on the ballot: Amarillo set to vote on abortion travel ban this election
After the Amarillo City Council balked at such an ordinance last year, residents collected signatures for a ballot measure.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Hereโs the state of abortion rights now in the US
Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the debate over abortion access is playing out in elections and the courts.
As a Texas city debates an abortion travel ban, maternal care is scarce in nearby rural counties
Amid a fight over an โabortion travel ban,โ women health care experts say more attention is needed to the plight of pregnant Texans in the Panhandle where there are few hospitals and OBGYNs.
Amarillo council may reconsider abortion travel ban after residents gather 10,000 signatures
Supporters began the petition drive after the City Council punted on the proposed policy. Voters may have the final say.
Appeals court considers whether West Texas A&M drag show was unconstitutionally banned
University President Walter Wendler canceled a drag performance last year, claiming such shows โdenigrate and demean women.โ
How Texas teens lost the one program that allowed birth control without parental consent
Federal Title X clinics do not require parental consent for birth control โ except in Texas, where a lawsuit upended the longstanding program.
Republicans push back on new federal court policy aimed at 'judge shopping' in national cases
Senate Republicans are taking aim at a new federal courts policy trying to curb โjudge shopping,โ a practice that gained national attention in a major abortion medication case.
Texas wildfires: how to help and how to stay safe
As firefighters work to put out the largest wildfire in Texas history, hereโs a guide to fire weather watches, safety tips and how to find organizations collecting donations to directly help local residents, including farmers and ranchers.
Texas Panhandle fire danger elevates into weekend as crews work to battle largest fire in state history
Healthy winds and low humidity are forecasted for the Panhandle this weekend, which could add more fuel to the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
Texas wildfires forces shutdown at nuclear weapon facility. Here is what we know
A nuclear weapons facility was forced to evacuate most of its staff due to a wildfire blazing rapidly across the Texas Panhandle.
Online message boards give closer look inside Amarilloโs heated abortion debate
After months of consideration from the Amarillo City Council, an abortion travel ban is gaining support through a new citizen-led petition.
A man charged with punching a flight attendant also allegedly kicked a police officer in the groin
More details are coming out about a man accused of punching a flight attendant on an American Airlines plane this week.
Amarillo City Council says it needs more time to debate abortion travel ban
After weeks of debate, the council took no action at a politically-charged meeting Tuesday. It is the largest city in Texas to debate an ordinance that would outlaw travel on its roadways to get an abortion.
Shuttered for decades, a downtown theater in a rural Texas town is getting new life and new mission
Rural Texas towns like Levelland on the South Plains are increasingly turning to the arts to help revitalize their downtowns and provide more attractions for families.
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 Texasโ 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.
Why a Texas Panhandle city hit pause on an abortion โtravel banโ โ for now
Amarillo's city council said it will continue to study the issue. The city is one of just a few in Texas to reject the policy pushed by anti-abortion activists.
Averie Bishop, outspoken as Miss Texas 2022, announces run for state Legislature
After criticizing Republican leaders on abortion, guns and race, Bishop will run as a Democrat against Rep. Angie Chen Button in a competitive district in Dallas County.
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.
Community rallies around bullied Texas boy who knocked on neighborโs door to look for friends
An Amarillo boy is sharing a message of kindness after a viral video showed him going door-to-door and asking for friends.
More Texans would qualify for food stamps under a bill heading to Gov. Greg Abbott
The value of a householdโs vehicles disqualified nearly 55,000 people seeking federal food assistance in 2022. House Bill 1287 increases the threshold of car values that lead to SNAP applicants being denied aid.
Fire, explosion that killed thousands of cows in Texas Panhandle ruled accidental
The Texas State Fire Marshalโs Office has ruled the fire and explosion that killed thousands of cows in the Texas Panhandle an accident, according to media reports.
Supreme Court extends access to abortion drug until Friday
The U.S. Supreme Court originally planned to weigh in on the abortion pill case by Wednesday night, but extended the hold on the Amarillo ruling until Friday at midnight.
Thousands of cows killed in fire, explosion at dairy farm in Texas Panhandle, reports say
Thousands of cows were killed in an explosion and fire that happened at a dairy farm in the Panhandle earlier this week, according to media reports.
Competing abortion pill rulings sow broad alarm, confusion
Competing rulings by two federal judges over the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone are sowing alarm and confusion โ and opening a new front in the battle over abortion in the United States.
Federal judge at center of FDA abortion drug case has history with conservative causes
U.S. District Matthew Kacsmaryk was once deputy counsel for the the First Liberty Institute, the Plano-based conservative Christian law firm.
Here comes the haboob: Texas High Plains getting walloped by dust storms
High Plains residents are used to wind and dust, but an ongoing drought and recent tropical-storm-level winds have brought some epic dust storms.
Amarilloโs plan for broadband in El Barrio could be a playbook for other Texas communities without internet
Texas has had trouble getting a state of 30 million residents online for years โ even before the pandemic put a spotlight on poor broadband development.
Gunman shoots 3 at Texas fair before being shot by deputies
Authorities say a gunman shot three people, including two first responders, at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo in Texas before he was shot and wounded by sheriffโs deputies.
โStrange creatureโ caught wandering Brackenridge Park after Amarillo mystery, SA Zoo says
Shortly after the โUnidentified Amarillo Objectโ was spotted in the Texas panhandle, the San Antonio Zoo says it also needs the publicโs help in identifying a โmysterious figureโ caught wandering Brackenridge Park.
Woman rescued after hiking off trail, getting trapped on a cliff at Palo Duro Canyon State Park
A hiker at Palo Duro Canyon State Park had to be rescued over the weekend after she ventured off a trail and became trapped on a cliff edge, park authorities said.
![Police: Man dies after exchanging gunfire with Texas cops](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/kTCGrq8F4B_r7m7zDDn0gxgpcls=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VTJU2PO7LZBHLPJ24KT3KXT4CU.jpg)
Police: Man dies after exchanging gunfire with Texas cops
Police say a man was fatally shot by Amarillo, Texas, police after opening fire on officers who approached him while looking for a different man on felony drug charges.
![Amarillo was vaccinating people at double the stateโs 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 stateโs 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 stateโs population centers in the percentage of residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
![GOP convention moved to Texas to avoid coronavirus rules](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/gQuYwTWUCIASIUgorbX7nARmG88=/640x360/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NWZ24RCN3BAQHDLAF7VQWMAB5U.jpg)
GOP convention moved to Texas to avoid coronavirus rules
The New Mexico Republican Party is moving their three-day convention this weekend to Amarillo, Texas, after speakers had concerns over New Mexico's COVID-19 restrictions.
![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 โ 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. โThere are no reports of injuries,โ and only minor damage, Merchant said. โWe can't answer that until afterwards when we examine the damage,โ 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 โalcohol-related misconductโ and made sexual comments about a female employee under his supervision. โYou could smell the alcohol on his breath, and he leaned into my room and he said, โI need you.โ I felt really uncomfortable,โ 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,โ 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 โ Trent Rosser and his wife, Sharon, said they are grateful for the coincidence of being in San Antonio on Texas Independence Day. โGrateful, Iโm grateful,โ Trent Rosser said about getting to see the new collection. โIt just brings back emotion,โ Trent Rosser said. AdThe singer is a massive Alamo enthusiast who has been collecting Alamo artifacts for years. Itโs cool.โThe 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 Texasโ burgeoning โfall waveโ of the coronavirus pandemic extend hundreds of miles beyond those far-flung cities. Fewer than half of the stateโs 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 โ 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 isnโt 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 โturned the cornerโ 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 โturned the cornerโ after spike in coronavirus cases
Amarillo โ 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 โzero people who tested positive (on Tuesday)." โYou 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.
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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 Pittmanโs 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 โ 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.