News

The growing health crisis caused by spread of the coronavirus spurred Gov. Greg Abbott to issue several proclamations last week—among them, one allowing the postponement of local elections which had already been scheduled for May 2.

Texas is postponing the May 26 primary runoff elections to July 14, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday. State officials had been trying to decide whether to convert that election to an all-mail-ballot, but on Friday said the state would instead move the election.

Governor takes actions to slow down deadly virus

The Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund at Amarillo Area Foundation has been in place since 2006 and has been used numerous times to offer financial assistance, especially from devastation due to wildfires. This week, AAF contributed $200,000 to the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund. The goal is to help meet the challenges this crisis has placed on nonprofits across the Panhandle, especially in at-risk communities.

Globally, the World Health Organization has confirmed 207,860 cases and 8,657 deaths, as of Wednesday evening. In the United States, there have been at least 8,017 cases of the coronavirus confirmed by lab tests and 143 deaths, with COVID-19 now confirmed in all 50 states, as reported by The New York Times. According to a report in The Texas Tribune, there are at least 95 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths in Texas. There are likely more unconfirmed cases, given that there are examples of community spread and limited testing capacity.

Stories of empty shelves at area grocery stores spread quickly this week—spurred by news that some Texas cities were seeing the first positive tests for the coronavirus, and by the fear that widespread quarantines may well be next.

Local volunteers offer errand services for those in need

Democratic congressional candidate Greg Sagan formally withdrew from the race last week after revealing the news that he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable form of cancer.

A massive fire prompted evacuations Saturday just across the Oklahoma state line in Beaver County along Highway 412. By 2:30 pm Sunday, the fire was 50 percent contained and had consumed over 29,120 acres.

Yesterday, March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly characterized COVID -19 as a pandemic for the first time. In the past two weeks, the number of cases outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled.