Independent News Drop

KELI From Inkwell, this is the Amarillo News Drop. I'm Keli, with Hast.

HAST Good morning. We're leading with a Panhandle education win and a Texas statewide race that's surfacing old statements.

KELI The United States Tennis Association has awarded a grant to Perryton Independent School District to build new tennis courts at Perryton High School. The project is part of a broader USTA initiative to expand access to the sport in underserved areas. Perryton's district confirmed receipt of the grant this week, though the exact dollar amount and construction timeline haven't been released yet. The courts will serve students and community members. This is a continuing story—the district had been in conversation with the USTA for months before the award came through.

HAST Shifting to the Railroad Commission race. Texas Tribune reporting that top state Republicans knew Bo French, a leading candidate for that commission seat, had posted racist comments online. They supported him anyway. French's post from several years back showed a college football celebration and said the image proved "how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners." Republicans including statewide officials backed French's candidacy despite the history surfacing in the primary. The commission regulates oil and gas in Texas—a seat with direct power over the state's energy policy and revenue.

KELI That one cuts into the credibility problem. The simple read is a candidate made bad posts and his party didn't care. The structural reality is that screening opposition research is routine in major races, and top-tier backing means someone at the state level ran the vetting. Either they didn't look, or they looked and decided it wouldn't move voters enough to matter. Watch whether French's opponents in the Republican primary use this in the final week, and whether Democratic advertising picks it up. That tells you which party thinks it moves the needle.

HAST On the weather front, Amarillo's looking at a pleasant Saturday. Mostly cloudy this morning with lows in the low 40s, then partly sunny by afternoon. Highs near 73, light north winds under 10 miles per hour. Tomorrow and Monday follow the same pattern—mild, dry, and quiet.

KELI Before we close, a history note. On this day in 1962, astronaut Wally Schirra launched from Cape Canaveral aboard Sigma 7 for a six-orbit Mercury mission.

HAST That's the Amarillo News Drop. Full script and sources at inkwell.wiki/news/amarillo.

KELI Before we close, something lighter from Inkwell. There's a piece asking what the Beatles songbook keeps reaching for — a world set right, meaning that holds — without pretending the band were secret prophets.

HAST An honest look, and an open door. At inkwell dot wiki, slash beatles.