Free Republic

Deflating security: Biden sells federal helium reserve, threatens us industries… National security on the line as critical element supply diminishes. In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. government has auctioned off the Federal Helium Reserve, a subterranean treasure in Amarillo, Texas, responsible for supplying up to 30% of the nation’s helium needs. This critical element is indispensable in medical technologies, cryogenics, semiconductors, and even rocket propulsion systems.

This is one way to make the naughty list. A killjoy Texas “pastor” stood outside an elementary school dressed as the Grinch holding up a sign stating “Santa is Fake. Jesus is Real,” in an attempt to steal the holiday joy from the kids inside. David Harold Grisham posed as the beloved Dr. Seuss character in front of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Amarillo, Texas earlier this week professing his belief towards the children and the parents he views as telling a lie The un-jolly man claimed he was assaulted outside the school while the “police showed up in...

Earlier this year, the seven United Methodist churches in Amarillo, Texas, voted to leave the country’s second-largest Protestant denomination over issues of homosexuality and gender identity. Since 2019, in a process dragged out by the COVID-19 pandemic and denominational infighting, hundreds of churches across Texas — and thousands across the U.S. — have opted to disaffiliate from the half-century-old denomination through a protocol that allows them to keep their real estate and pay off their clergy pension obligations. But the departure of all seven UMC churches in this city of 200,000 made it the largest city in the nation known...

AMARILLO, Texas– Two people were killed and 5 more were injured in a shooting that took place at a shopping center just before 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to a press release from the Amarillo Police Department. According to the release, the shooting happened in the 3500 block of South Georgia Street. Officers found seven people shot and one of the victims died at the scene. The remaining victims were taken to three different emergency rooms by Amarillo Medical Response and private vehicles. Another victim died at the hospital. The victims were identified as Semagea D Smith, 32, and Dequincton...

FBI special agent T. Scott Hendricks has filed an affidavit explaining why Southwest Airlines diverted a San Diego-Chicago flight to Amarillo late Monday and booted six passengers off the flight. The six, said to be members of a San Diego area soccer team, were subsequently arrested and charged with “interference with a flight crew and abetting.” Basically, according to Hendricks per Southwest, the passengers –Khalid Yohana, 19; Wasim Imad Shaker, 23; Essa Solaqa, 20; Ghazwan Assad Shaba, 21; Jonathan Khalid Petras, 20; and Saiman Hermez, 19– were refusing orders from the flight attendants, challenging their authority and being mean to...

Officials in the city of Amarillo, Texas on Wednesday asked for help regarding a peculiar problem: identifying a "strange" human-like animal that was seen outside a local zoo last month.

The image in the video above is a security camera photo of a bizarre figure walking outside the Amarillo Zoo. (Officials have confirmed the image is real)

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The City of Amarillo is asking for help identifying a strange figure seen on surveillance camera at the Amarillo Zoo. Security cameras captured the image around 1:25 a.m. on May 21 inside a perimeter fence at the Amarillo Zoo. The zoo staff discovered the odd photo while going through security cameras. The city is encouraging the public to submit ideas for what the figure could be in the spirit of fun and curiosity. “We’d love to hear feedback from the community on what they think it might be. It’s a very unique picture, and we’re excited...

AMARILLO, TX—A local woman stunned critics Friday by successfully executing a record-breaking 37-point turn in front of Lawndale Elementary School on Bivins St. The driver, identified as Cheryl Alessa, only held up traffic for 12 minutes as she performed the daring expert maneuver. Alessa dropped her kids off for school on 25th Ave and then proceeded to make a wrong turn in a northward direction. To avoid a minor delay on her way to a yoga class she promptly initiated the 37-point turn on the packed street. Bystanders began laying on their car horns and raising their voices at the...

This month’s announcement from Party City that it’s closing more than 40 stores as it grapples with new challenges, including diminishing helium supplies, likely came as unwelcome news to customers who count on the store for their balloon and event planning needs. But for scientists like Mark Elsesser, the announcement was something of a relief, inflating hopes that the public, and the government, might start paying closer attention. “When it comes to helium, we’re at a tipping point,” said Elsesser, who is the associate director of government affairs at the American Physical Society, a nonprofit association of physicists. “Party City...

Here’s a stomach-churning feat: A woman from Arizona devoured not one, but two 72-ounce steak dinners in about an hour at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. The Big Texan posted this message and two photos on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon: This lovely lady @omgitsmiki from Tucson, AZ completed not only one, but TWO 72oz steak meals back to back. First in 26:40 and second 34:30 👏🏼🤠🥩 @ The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery The woman, identified as professional competitive eater Miki Sudo, posted a short video on Instagram of her polishing off that second steak. She’s won...

WASHINGTON — An accident that occurred as a decades-old nuclear warhead was being dismantled at the government's Pantex facility near Amarillo, Texas, could have caused the device to detonate, a nonprofit organization charged Thursday. The Project on Government Oversight said the "near miss" event, which led the Energy Department to fine the plant's operator $110,000, was due partly to requirements that technicians at the plant work up to 72 hours per week. The Pantex plant, 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, is the country's only factory for assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons. The organization said it was told by unidentified...

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - UPDATE - Carson County Sheriff Department is reporting that FM 2373 is closed from I-40 north. Officials are also reporting the east side of the Pantex Plant is completely inaccessible.

Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner issued a statement Tuesday denying social media claims that local voting machines are changing votes. “There is nothing wrong with any of the machines we use for voting,” Tanner said in her statement. “They do not flip your vote. They do not flip parties. Humans do that.” Tanner said she verified with Potter County Elections Administrator Melynn Huntley that there have been no problems with the machines. In Randall County there has been one reported incident of an irregularity, Tanner said. A voter said they cast a straight-ticket ballot and, when they hit the vote...

Police have identified the suspect who opened fire at a Walmart store in Amarillo this afternoon as Mohammad Moghaddam, 54. Mohammad Moghaddam, an immigrant, came to Amarillo with his family eight years ago from Iran. Immigrant services from Amarillo would not discuss with reporters whether they helped relocate the family to the Amarillo area. Police say Mohammad was upset he was passed over for a promotion so he took his manager and another person hostage. He was shot dead by police.

Amarillo (Texas) police on scene of active shooting with hostage situation where 1 to 3 Muslim Somalis dressed in Walmrt uniforms are holding hostages at Walmart in Amarillo TX and SWAT is responding. The number of Somali terrorists is unconfirmed.

3 Somalis took hostages in a Wal*Mart. Texas SWAT solves problem, all hostages are safe. AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) -- The person who reportedly started an active shooter situation at an Amarillo Walmart was shot dead by SWAT officers. According to the APD, there were no confirmed victims suffering from gunshot wounds at the store.

Burying the lede — The suspect, a current or former Walmart employee, was said to be a Somalian man wearing khaki pants, KFDA-TV reports. Police said in a press release at 12:25 local time that no victims had been found inside the building and there is no ongoing shooting “at this moment”. It is not known if anyone was wounded elsewhere. The initial call was for a suspect who was actively shooting inside the store, according to police radio dispatches. You can listen to the initial police and fire radio dispatches below:

AMARILLO, TX (KFDA) - The Amarillo Police Department is reporting an active situation at the Amarillo Walmart at 4215 Canyon Drive. Early reports indicate an armed man is inside the store. APD and several other agencies including DPS, Amarillo Emergency Management and Randall County are on scene. There are unconfirmed reports of a possible hostage situation. Police are searching for a Somalian man wearing Kakhi pants.