Latest news with #WestTexasA&MUniversity
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Texas lawmakers did after the state's largest wildfire
LUBBOCK — Texas lawmakers approved a series of bills this year that aim to better prepare Texas for wildfires and to mitigate their damage. The legislation includes a study on wildfire risk zones, increasing funding for rural volunteer fire departments, and creating a statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is accessible to all fire departments in Texas. The legislative package was inspired by the state's largest wildfire in history. The Smokehouse Creek fire scorched more than 1 million acres in the Panhandle and killed three people. A special House committee was formed following the fires to investigate the cause and make legislative recommendations. Senate Bill 34, filed by state Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, is the most sweeping proposal. It includes a study on fuel loads, which is material that is likely to catch fire in a specific area, such as dry grass or vegetation. The study would also establish wildfire risk zones for residents, homes and businesses. The bill also creates a statewide database of firefighting equipment and increases funding to volunteer fire departments in areas at high risk for large wildfires. Rep. Ken King, a Republican who lives in Canadian where much of the damage from the wildfires took place, co-sponsored the bill. King led the House committee that investigated the fires and later released a detailed report about the disaster. 'We took a lot of testimony, and a lot of work went on to do what's right for our volunteer firefighters,' King said. 'Senate Bill 34 combines several volunteer firefighter priorities.' The bill requires that at least 10% of the money in the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance program go to volunteer fire departments in areas at high risk for large wildfires. Texas A&M Forest Service and West Texas A&M University will launch a study to determine wildfire risk zones based on fuel loads of flammable material like vegetation. Most of the wildfires that burned through the Panhandle started when power lines came into contact with dry vegetation. The Smokehouse Creek fire started when a rotten utility pole snapped and the power lines landed on dry grass. The bill requires that researchers consider several factors when determining these risk zones, including the projected loss of life, property and natural resources should a wildfire occur in the zone and the financial impact of costs associated with recovering after a wildfire. This study is due by Dec. 1, 2026, and would be submitted to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the Legislature. 'Constant wildfire threats that require preparation, coordination, and resources is the most pressing issue for the Panhandle,' Sparks said in a previous statement. Another recommendation from the House committee report was the statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is available during a wildfire. According to the report, there was an uncoordinated response between responding agencies during the Panhandle fires, and a lack of knowledge about what equipment agencies had and what was needed. Texas A&M Forest Service, the state agency that manages Texas' forests and natural resources, will operate and maintain the database. Fire departments will be able to see equipment descriptions, search by location and equipment types, and have contact information for fire departments listed in the database. Volunteer stations will also have access to the inventory. One of King's bills also addresses what he and other lawmakers have deemed a regulatory 'no man's land,' as state agencies lacked the authority to inspect power lines at oilfield well sites and facilities. Lawmakers identified this as a problem after the investigative committee concluded that unmaintained electrical lines for oilfield equipment started the Smokehouse Creek Fire and others in that same week. Data from the Forest Service shows power lines have caused roughly 60% of fires throughout the Panhandle since 2006. Under King's bill, the Railroad Commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry, will notify the Public Utility Commission when it identifies substandard power lines at well sites or at other facilities used for oil and gas production. The notification must include a description of the condition and whether the well is abandoned. The Railroad Commission must also notify the landowner. The two agencies will then work together to request that a state fire marshal or local authority to inspect the site, and request that the electric service provider disconnect service. While the Legislature made a lot of progress toward improving the state's response to wildfires, one bill that failed to pass would have created a statewide network to connect all first responders and state agencies. House Bill 13, by King, sought to create the Texas Interoperability Council, which would be tasked with the implementation of a statewide plan for emergency communication use. The proposal was praised by first responders during the legislative process. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd testified to lawmakers in March that it was the 'boldest move' he's seen in his career. That bill passed the House in April, but was not taken up by the Senate. Disclosure: Texas A&M University and West Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Early voting begins in Amarillo City Council Place 3 runoff
Early voting is now underway in the Amarillo City Council Place 3 runoff between incumbent Tom Scherlen and challenger David Prescott — a rematch prompted by a razor-thin margin in the May 3 general election. Scherlen led the three-way race with 7,748 votes (47.4%) but fell short of the required majority. Prescott followed with 7,433 votes (45.5%), while third-place candidate Nune Perez earned 1,157 votes (7.1%). With fewer than 350 votes separating the top two contenders, the runoff is expected to be one of the city's most competitive council races in recent years. Scherlen, a longtime Amarillo resident and former CEO of a local company, is seeking re-election on a platform focused on infrastructure upgrades, increased public safety staffing, and fiscally responsible budgeting. He points to ongoing capital projects and continuity on the council as reasons for voters to retain his leadership. Prescott, a business owner and environmental consultant, moved to Amarillo in 1990 and emphasizes strategic infrastructure investments and long-term financial planning. He holds multiple degrees from West Texas A&M University and chairs the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, with appointments by two governors. Prescott is also active on several nonprofit boards and regional initiatives. Early voting runs through Tuesday, June 3. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday this week and again next Monday and Tuesday. There will be no voting on the weekend of May 31–June 1. Election Day is Saturday, June 7, with polling places open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Potter County early voting locations: Santa Fe Building (main location): First Floor, Ticket Office, 900 S. Polk St. Casey Carpet One: 3500 I-40 West Frontage Rd. Cornerstone Outreach: Fellowship Room, 1111 N. Buchanan St. Northwest Branch Library: Meeting Room, 6100 SW 9th Ave. Tri-State Fairgrounds Extension Office: 3301 SE 10th Ave. Randall County early voting locations: Randall County Election Administration Office (main location): 1604 5th Ave., Canyon Randall County Annex: 4320 S. Western St., Amarillo Southwest Branch Library: 6801 SW 45th Ave., Amarillo Comanche Trail Church of Christ: 2700 E. 34th Ave., Amarillo All locations will be open May 27–30 (Tuesday through Friday) and June 2–3 (Monday and Tuesday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is Scherlen's first runoff campaign. In the 2023 city election, he won his seat outright while two other council races advanced to runoffs. Josh Craft defeated Dean Crump for Place 1 with 60% of the vote, while Les Simpson beat Claudette Smith for Place 4 with 60.4%. Simpson went on to win re-election this May with 69% of the vote — the widest margin among contested council races. Voters must present an approved form of identification to cast a ballot. For more information on polling sites, sample ballots, or voting eligibility, visit This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Early voting begins in Amarillo City Council Place 3 runoff election
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WT honors six students lost during 2024-25 academic year
CANYON — With campus flags lowered and the chapel filled to capacity, West Texas A&M University paused Friday, April 25 to remember six students who died during the 2024-25 academic year. The 42nd annual student memorial service was held at the Joseph A. Hill Memorial Chapel, followed by a reception. Organized by the university's Student Government Association, the event served as a tribute to the lives lost and a reminder of the university's commitment to honoring its community. 'The Student Memorial is a heartfelt and meaningful tribute to honor the lives of WT students who have passed,' said Student Body President Kyal Browne, a senior agribusiness major from Waxahachie. 'It serves as a reminder that every Buffalo is part of our WT family. Their presence is deeply missed, and their impact will never be forgotten.' The six students remembered were: Jesus Jose Alaniz, a senior sports and exercise science major from Roma; Kaley N. Bilyeu, a freshman nursing major from Pampa; Elyjah J. Black, a senior biology major from Amarillo; Trevor C. Gibbs, a junior accounting major from Ballinger; Matthew P. Loyd, a junior music education major from Amarillo; and Jodi Vance-Furlow, a senior sports and exercise science major from Tucumcari, New Mexico. Browne said the event held personal significance for her after the loss of her friend, Trevor Gibbs, shortly after she took office as student body president. "Throughout this year, his memory has been a driving force behind this event," she said. 'I don't think I fully understood the meaning it held for families until I experienced that loss myself.' Scholarships of $350 each will be awarded for the 2025-26 academic year to students pursuing similar fields of study as those remembered. Recipients include: Kylie Velasquez, sophomore sports and exercise science major from Amarillo, in memory of Alaniz; Betha Riddley, senior nursing major from Amarillo, in memory of Bilyeu; Ava Olivas, sophomore biology major from Seminole, in memory of Black; Kami Drinnon, junior accounting major from Vega, in memory of Gibbs; Christofer Gaspar, junior music education major from Amarillo, in memory of Loyd; and Arantza Covarrubias, sophomore sports and exercise science major from Roy, New Mexico, in memory of Vance-Furlow. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 and participate in extracurricular or community service activities to be eligible for the scholarships. Chris Thomas, WT's vice president for student affairs, said the memorial was originally created in 1983 by students and remains a student-led tradition. 'It's a human thing, and WT is a human place built on the lives of those who came before us and those who will come after,' Thomas said. 'In order to live, we have to honor the dead.' Thomas said the university works to match scholarship recipients to the hometowns and majors of the students being honored, preserving their academic legacies. 'Sometimes it's easy to find a nursing student from Amarillo, but other times we expand the search to find someone within the same academic college to carry on that legacy,' he said. Thomas added that hosting the memorial inside the chapel for the first time in years added emotional weight to the ceremony. More: WTAMU Hill Chapel reopened after $1.5 million renovation 'To be back in that hallowed space and see every seat filled — it shows how much these lives meant,' he said. 'It's both humbling and healing to be part of a moment that turns grief into purpose.' This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: West Texas A&M holds memorial for six students lost during 2024-25 school year
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two standout WT students honored at employment awards
CANYON — Two standout students — one praised as 'the ideal student employee' and another recognized for optimizing critical office operations — were honored Monday at West Texas A&M University's (WT) annual student employment awards ceremony in the Fairly Club at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. Senior computer science major Kayden Burgess of Pampa was named WT Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, and graduate student Mariam Adegbindin, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, earned the Graduate Assistant of the Year honor. Burgess, Adegbindin and 70 other nominated student workers were celebrated during the event. Burgess is a student manager, event manager and bartender in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, where he 'is very attentive to all of the details of setting up a space properly,' according to a nomination letter from Chari Hill, JBK assistant director. 'He has excellent critical thinking skills, often seeing areas to improve,' Hill wrote. 'He can quickly troubleshoot problems during events and find solutions. He truly epitomizes the ideal student employee and has a passion for not only the JBK but for WT.' Hill said Burgess is so well regarded that clients specifically request him as event manager or bartender. 'This honor means that all of the work I put in for the past four years is really paying off,' Burgess said. 'I'm really lucky to have been able to work with the kind of people at the JBK that I have and been in such a welcoming ecosystem such as WT.' Burgess added that his time in the JBK taught him invaluable lessons in communication and resourcefulness. 'Working in the JBK has helped me refine my leadership skills, which I'll use long after I graduate,' he said. 'The experience of managing events and collaborating with so many different people has challenged me to be more organized and proactive.' Adegbindin works in the WT Office of Career and Professional Services, where she was hired to help manage and utilize large amounts of data. She 'developed gorgeous and functional data dashboards that allow for more streamlined data gathering and analysis,' according to a nomination letter from Jessi Barrientos, senior career services coordinator. 'Her work will have lasting positive impacts on students at WTAMU as it allows our department to assess and advocate for services that better meet student needs,' Barrientos wrote. Barrientos also commended Adegbindin for improving the office's free headshot service and the Professional Clothing Closet. 'I'm very shy, I'm very quiet, and getting this kind of honor makes me see that, even still, the work I do kind of speaks for itself and is making a difference,' Adegbindin said. Adegbindin added that gaining hands-on experience with data analytics has boosted her confidence. 'I came here wanting to expand my knowledge, and now I get to apply it in ways that help other students succeed,' she said. 'WT truly feels like a home away from home.' WT President Walter V. Wendler thanked the winners and nominees for their dedication. 'Your work, alongside staff and faculty, is essential to fulfilling the mission of WT,' Wendler said. 'You are an essential part of, not only the classroom through your studies, but the business of WT through your student employment.' In addition to the top two awards, five other students received special honors: Career and Self Development Award: Clayton Stevenson, senior animal science major from Earth Communication Award: Avery Feldman, senior agricultural media and communication major from Raton, New Mexico Critical Thinking Award: Celina Pinela, senior mechanical engineering major from Bovina Innovation and Technology Award: Sydnee Hendrick, senior graphic design major from White Deer Teamwork Award: Paityn Nicholson, junior agricultural media and communication major from Melrose, New Mexico Winners were chosen by a selection committee of WT staff and faculty, including representatives from the Office of Career and Professional Development and University Recruitment. The annual ceremony celebrates the integral role student employees play in fulfilling the university's mission. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Two WT students receive top honors at annual student employment awards
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Smithee introduces bill to transfer management of PPHM
A new bill filed in the Texas Legislature seeks to transfer management of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (PPHM) in Canyon from West Texas A&M University to the Texas Historical Commission (THC), aiming to strengthen preservation and operation of one of the state's key cultural institutions. Filed as an amendment to the Texas Government Code, HB 5554, introduced by State Rep. John Smithee (R-Amarillo), would authorize the THC to contract with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society, which owns the museum's collection, for day-to-day management. The bill also allows the THC to enter into agreements with West Texas A&M University or The Texas A&M University System for the maintenance, renovation, and expansion of the museum facilities on the university's campus. A key provision of the bill is the establishment of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Fund, a dedicated source of funding outside the state treasury. This fund would be supported through admissions, gift shop sales, and donations, allowing the THC to use the funds for operational expenses, repairs, and growth without the need for legislative approval. If the bill is passed, museum staff currently employed by West Texas A&M would transition to the THC by Sept. 1, 2025. For the bill to take effect immediately, it must pass with a two-thirds majority vote in both the Texas House and Senate. Otherwise, it would go into effect on the specified date. The bill is aimed at securing the future of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, ensuring it remains a vital part of Texas' cultural heritage. Supporters of the measure argue that transferring management to the Texas Historical Commission would provide the focused expertise needed to preserve the museum's collection and address its long-term operational needs. This legislative effort follows the recent closure of the museum after a State Fire Marshal report highlighted critical fire and life safety concerns. According to West Texas A&M, the museum shut its doors indefinitely to address issues such as sprinkler system deficiencies, dead-end hallways, and inadequate exits. The total cost of the required renovations is estimated at nearly $100 million. State Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) has filed an identical companion bill in the Senate, and both bills will be reviewed in the coming months. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas bills filed on Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Management
