Texas Panhandle

The Smokehouse Creek Fire burned over a million acres, and recovery is ongoing.

Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, who was elected in November to represent District 115 in the Texas House, was born in Hereford and for most of her life has lived in Texas.

No state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires.

After more than a week of destruction, including thousands of dead livestock and hundreds of lost structures, firefighters now have two of the largest Texas Panhandle wildfires more under control.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned over 1 million acres and is 44% contained.

Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith died Tuesday morning while battling a structure fire.

The state fire marshal’s office is investigating.

“There have been lots of studies that have shown that when there is no source of local news or when this area does not have a local newspaper, that people don’t vote as much, that there is much more corruption in local politics. Most of the issues they cover are about making communities a good place to live.”

Nearly one out of every 100 people living in Lamb County died of COVID-19. It’s one of the highest death rates in the nation.

High Plains residents are used to wind and dust, but an ongoing drought and recent tropical-storm-level winds have brought some epic dust storms.