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Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

🌱 Will your favorite Amarillo board meeting soon be watchable from home?

Hello Amarillo! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will your favorite Amarillo board meeting soon be watchable from home?
  • How a new fiber line could supercharge Amarillo’s digital future
  • How did over $620,000 meant for Amarillo’s homeless get stolen?

Also on today's calendar: Amarillo Dinner and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Becoming windier and warm, with a high of 87 and low of 35 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: Sunny and cooler, temps: high: 64, low: 39.
  • Sunday: Warmer; breezy in the p.m., with a high of 74 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Amarillo City Council looks at streaming options for board meetings (amarillo.com) — Amarillo officials are weighing how to start streaming more city board meetings so residents can follow Parks & Recreation, Planning & Zoning, and other key discussions from home. Staff outlined legal, technical, and cost hurdles, plus a possible pilot using council chambers or a multipurpose room and posting recordings online. Council members signaled interest in starting with the most in-demand boards and expanding if viewership is strong.
   

2. LSC and Ziply announce long-haul fiber networks (telecompetitor.com) — A new long-haul dark fiber network will directly link Amarillo with Oklahoma City, Stillwater, and Tulsa, promising faster, higher-capacity connections for AI, cloud, and other data-heavy uses. Light Source Communications plans to finish the 400-mile route early next year, potentially boosting Amarillo’s appeal to data centers and high-tech businesses.
   

3. Third Amarillo employee pleads guilty to stealing money intended for the homeless (abc7amarillo.com) — Amarillo residents are learning that a third former city employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling federal rent assistance that was supposed to help local homeless residents. Prosecutors say Selene Varela stole more than $41,000, bringing the total taken by three ex-employees above $620,000, while the city and state now emphasize tighter oversight of Emergency Solutions Grant funds.
   

4. Homeland Security grant approval fuels debate over adding more cameras in Amarillo (abc7amarillo.com) — Amarillo’s City Council has accepted a Homeland Security grant that will add more Flock license plate cameras to the city, sparking debate over privacy, equity, and surveillance. Residents and organizers question placement in neighborhoods like San Jacinto and potential data sharing with immigration authorities, while police leaders emphasize policies, audits, and a 30‑day data retention limit.
   

5. Six facing federal charges in Amarillo fentanyl ring bust (newschannel10.com) — Federal agents say a multi-person fentanyl ring operating in and around Amarillo has been dismantled, with six suspects now held on federal charges. Court documents describe surveillance from Amarillo motels to New Mexico supply trips, a local overdose reversed with Narcan, and arrests that ended with the alleged supplier jailed in Randall County. Residents may notice ongoing federal activity as the case proceeds.
   

📸 Around Amarillo

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Amarillo

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Saturday April 18
  • Amarillo Dinner
    Amarillo Tri-State Exposition & Tri-State Fair & Rodeo , 3301 SE 10th Ave , Amarillo
    6:00 pm
  • Music Through the Generations
    Arts in the Sunset , 3701 Plains Blvd , Amarillo
    7:30 pm
    • Saturday April 25
  • PROM @ Grand Plaza
    Palo Duro H S Amarillo, TX 79107
    • Friday May 1
  • Discovery Fridays
    Don Harrington Discovery Center , 1200 Streit Dr , Amarillo
    9:00 am

📣 Amarillo Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
    FOUND on April 15, 2026 in Amarillo, TX 79101 near 12th ave Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the finder, view this… (Nextdoor Central Amarillo)
  • Here's our baby (Spike) and we are still looking for him, it's been 1 month of looking everywhere.
    Just want him home, we have had him for 13 yrs, he's part of our family. Please share and keep looking. (Nextdoor Martin)

Ok Amarillo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Amarillo

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Amarillo

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.