KELI From Inkwell, this is the Amarillo News Drop. I'm Keli, with Hast.
HAST Hard news first. A Randall County grand jury indicted a 29-year-old Amarillo man Wednesday on continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14. Justice Alexander Veale was arrested October 26th. The indictment came down this week. Law enforcement has not released further details on the victim or the timeline of the abuse allegations.
KELI That's the kind of charge that moves fast through the system once it's in front of a jury. The counter-read here: media coverage of these cases often stays light on institutional response until trial. What matters is whether Randall County District Attorney's office has assigned a prosecutor, whether they've notified victim services, and whether there's a court date set. Those are the three things a listener should hear about in the coming weeks. If they don't, that's the real story — not the indictment alone.
HAST Shifting gears. The Amarillo City Marshal's office is hiring code enforcement officers. Job listings are open on the city's website. No salary posted in the initial listing, but the marshal's office typically fills those roles at $40,000 to $50,000 annually depending on experience.
KELI State side, the Texas Tribune is reporting that Democratic candidates who ran as relative unknowns in statewide races won control of Texas's most powerful agencies. The race for state comptroller and railroad commission drew minimal name recognition going in — half of voters didn't know who the candidates were — but Democrats flipped both seats. That means the comptroller's office, which controls state budget authority and investment strategy, is now in Democratic hands for the first time in decades. Same with the railroad commission, which sets oil and gas drilling permits and utility rates across the state.
HAST That's the shape of the Texas electoral map right now. Low-profile races, high-power offices.
KELI On this day in 1916, the Kingdom of Poland was proclaimed by Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I.
HAST That's the Amarillo News Drop. Full script and sources 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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