News from around Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle this morning includes new details about a major AI data center, changes at the Amarillo Civic Center and an update on the Potter County jail population. Here’s a look at those stories and other developments from across the area.
Google, Crusoe Answer Questions About Armstrong County Data Center
Google and Crusoe met with Armstrong County residents Tuesday evening to answer questions about an artificial intelligence data center under construction near Claude. The open house at the Claude ISD main gym focused on water use, construction, jobs, traffic and the project’s economic impact.
Crusoe Senior Director of Development Jeremy Bachrach said the approximately 760-acre project will include six buildings, with Google expected to operate the facility. Bachrach said each building is expected to use about as much water annually as 16 households and will use a closed-loop system designed to recycle water on site. About 7,500 craft workers are currently working on the project, while Google has committed to more than 50 full-time jobs once the facility is operating.
Google Community and Workforce Development Manager Austin Hutchinson said the companies added safety patrols after residents raised concerns about traffic near Claude High School, and he acknowledged community outreach could have started earlier. The first buildings are expected to be turned over to Google in early 2027, with the remaining buildings completed by the end of that year.
Amarillo Civic Center Renames Box Office Hallway
The Amarillo Civic Center has renamed the box office hallway near Entrance 1 as Artisan Commons at the Civic Center. City officials said the corridor is intended to provide a welcoming, art-focused connection to events, exhibitions and community gatherings.
As part of the change, the Civic Center will debut a display featuring work from Amarillo-area artists in partnership with Arts in the Sunset. A public dedication ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. near the box office at Entrance 1.
Potter County Jail Population Drops Slightly to 546
The Potter County Sheriff’s Office reported a slight decrease in the Potter County Detention Center population, with 546 people incarcerated at the facility as of Monday morning. Another 74 Potter County inmates are being held elsewhere, bringing the total number considered in PCSO custody to 620.
The jail’s maximum capacity is 599, although officials are working toward an 80% operating standard of approximately 479 inmates. PCSO said 32 people were being held pretrial on misdemeanor charges, but only 19 could potentially be released based solely on having Class A or Class B misdemeanor cases. The other 13 have additional pending charges or holds from other agencies.
PCSO said it cannot release inmates without proper authorization and that public-safety considerations must also be taken into account. The department said many of the pretrial Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases involve allegations of driving while intoxicated or assault. Potter County has also expanded the use of other detention facilities, including through a new contract with Haskell County, as part of efforts to reduce the local jail population.
FFA Students Compete for Scholarships at Tri-State Fair
Students from across the Panhandle are demonstrating skills beyond livestock and shop work at this year’s Tri-State Fair, with FFA members also competing in public speaking for scholarship money. Vega High School ag teacher Jay Newton said the fair highlights the range of skills students develop through agricultural education.
Vega senior Elijah Crawford moved from hands-on shop projects, including building a custom trailer, to competing in the public speaking contest. Crawford is seeking the contest’s $1,000 scholarship to help pay for trade school in Fort Worth, though he said the experience offers benefits beyond the prize money.
The custom livestock trailer built by Vega’s ag mechanics team is also on display and for sale in the Rex Baxter Building.
Police to Patrol Around Bivins Elementary Over Blocked Driveways
Bivins Elementary School is addressing complaints from neighbors about vehicles parking in or blocking private driveways near the school. According to a school post, Amarillo ISD police and the Amarillo Police Department will actively patrol the area.
