KELI From Inkwell, this is the Amarillo News Drop. I'm Keli, joined by Hast.
HAST Potter County Commissioners meet at nine this morning. Agenda's posted, but what we're tracking is whether they'll address the backlog on road maintenance contracts — two of them sitting unsigned since August, totaling about 1.2 million dollars. County staff said last month they wanted to move them, but the court's been quiet on timing. If they don't vote today, we're into November budget cycle, which usually means delays into the new year. Watch the vote count.
KELI The straightforward read is commissioners are slow. The structure underneath is that Potter County's road fund is tight — they've had three budget cycles cut in a row from state apportionment. Signing new work is a liability if the fund doesn't have the cushion. So commissioners' silence isn't laziness; it's risk. If they vote yes today, it means they're confident. If they table it, the fund's thinner than the public narrative says.
HAST West Texas piece — Potter County District Attorney Sarah Stogner opened a forgery investigation into political mailers claiming to be from Democratic groups but attacking transgender policies. The mailers are unsigned, with no authorization line, and they started circulating two weeks before the midterms. Stogner said they appear designed to inflame voters. She didn't name suspects or specify charges yet, but forgery is a third-degree felony in Texas if the person knew the document was false and intended to defraud or injure someone.
KELI On a different front, Portales Police released details on the Saturday shooting that killed one man. Officers responded around eleven p.m. to a call near the intersection of Dallas and Atlantic. One male victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Portales PD said they're continuing investigation into the circumstances, but haven't released suspect information or a motive yet. That one's still moving.
HAST Federal court, West Texas — a 13-count indictment came down against a group accused of running weapons to a cartel operation. Details are sealed, but the charging documents reference straw purchases and failure to report transactions to ATF. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas confirmed the case involves the region. No trial date set yet.
KELI Road work this week — TxDOT closing the left lane on State Loop 335 both directions from Coulter to Tascosa starting today, expected through Thursday. I-40 at Nelson will drop to two lanes for bridge work, that one running into early 2027. Multiple closures on I-27 as well. If you're moving freight or commuting, plan around Loop 335 first.
HAST Senate candidate James Talarico holds an event here Tuesday, two-thirty to four p.m. Location's by registration.
KELI Before we close, a history note — October twenty-sixth, nineteen forty-seven: the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession to India, an act that began the partition war and set off a conflict still moving today.
HAST That's the Amarillo News Drop. Tip a local story anytime at inkwell.wiki/news/amarillo.
KELI Before we close, a word from Inkwell. Gil's Intelligent Version has a new companion piece on how the Latter-day Saints read the Trinity — three distinct beings, one in purpose, rather than three persons of one substance.
HAST It's an evenhanded look at the same question, decided the other way. At inkwell dot wiki, slash godhead.
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