The Midland
Government
Midland commissioners to hold special meeting after county judge’s suspension
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The Midland County Commissioners Court will hold a special meeting next week following the suspension of County Judge Terry Johnson by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. According to the release, the special meeting will take place Wednesday, Sept. ...
Data centers top of mind ahead of midterms
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Data centers have become a centerpiece issue for candidates running for office across the country ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Both Democrats and Republicans are trying to tap into backlash against data centers and are using them as a major focal po...
City of Odessa criticized on spending, tax increases during budget proposal hearing
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) — Odessa taxpayers are now speaking out against the city council following proposed budget changes, including to property taxes and city water rates. The City's 2026-2027 fiscal year begins Oct. 1, and the proposed budget would bring in over $333,000,000...
Midland County judge suspended by state judicial conduct commission
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has suspended Midland County Judge Terry Johnson due to a pending criminal matter. The commission’s website says the suspension took effect Wednesday because of a pending criminal matter. Suspension details Accordin...
BREAKING: Midland County Judge Terry Johnson suspended amid charges
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Midland County Judge Terry Johnson has been suspended by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct due to pending criminal matters. The decision came about as Judge Johnson faces multiple charges, which include two counts of Misuse of Official Informat...
Midland College board approves offer for Midland ISD property
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The Midland College Board of Trustees approved extending an offer to Midland ISD to buy the property known as the “Boneyard” and nearby land north of Loop 250 during a special board meeting on Aug. 25. The board’s action authorizes Midland College to make ...
Ector County approves no-new-revenue tax rate
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - The Ector County Commissioners’ Court voted 4-1 to pass a no-new-revenue tax rate and budget for the upcoming fiscal year during its regular meeting. According to the meeting agenda, the no-new-revenue rate will give the county the same amount of revenue fr...
School district’s ban on rainbow symbols remains after emotional board meeting
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. ( Valley News Live /Gray News) - A Minnesota school district’s policy that bans rainbow symbols from campuses will remain in place after a packed and emotional board meeting Monday ended in a tie vote on whether to postpone further discussion of it. The Detro...
Ector County holds public hearing on proposed tax rate
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - The Ector County Commissioners Court held a public hearing Monday evening on the proposed tax rate and budget. The tax rate is tied to property values. Countywide, Ector County expects to collect about $2.1 million more in property taxes, a point of concern...
Ector county residents to weigh in on tax rate, budget tonight
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Ector County commissioners will hear from the public Monday night on the county’s proposed budget and tax rate for the next fiscal year. While the proposed tax rate is lower than last year’s, the county says the average homeowner could still pay more. Propo...
Midland mom, business owner and pastor running for MISD District 5 seat
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - La’Toya Mayberry, a Midland mom, business owner and pastor, is running for the Midland ISD school board District 5 seat. Mayberry filed her nomination earlier this month. Mayberry owns Toya’s Precious Jewels Academy, a business she started out of her home ...
Texas leads the nation in job growth, adding over 165K jobs in 12 months
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Governor Greg Abbott announced Friday that Texas led the nation in job creation over the past year, adding 165,600 nonfarm jobs between July 2025 and July 2026. According to data from the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ...
2 people died from explosion at industrial facility, coroner says
TOLEDO, Ohio ( WTVG /Gray News) - Two people have died after an explosion at an industrial facility in Toledo, according to Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. The explosion happened shortly before 5 a.m. on Tuesday during the shift change at the Brent Industries facility, an industrial cl...
Texas launches $1.4 billion plan to boost rural health care, HHSC holds public forum
BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA) - More than $1 billion in federal funding will go to Texas rural communities to help improve health care. Members of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission hosted a public forum in Big Spring to discuss the Rural Texas Strong plan. The Rural Texas...
Florida primaries produce upsets as matchups set for November
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A handful of states held primary elections Tuesday to determine which candidates will move on to November’s midterms, including Florida, where results on both sides of the aisle pointed to a different kind of election year. State Rep. Angie Nixon, a progres...
Peltola leads incumbent Sullivan in Alaska Senate primary
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Gray DC) - Democrat Mary Peltola was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s Alaska Senate primary, besting incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola, a former Alaska congresswoman, received about 48% of the vote in a 16-person race. Sullivan, who is seeking a t...
Border construction paused in Big Bend during on-site review
TERRELL COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) - Border agency pauses Big Bend construction during commissioner’s visit Commissioner Rodney Scott toured the area for an on-the-ground evaluation U.S. Customs and Border Protection is pausing construction in Big Bend National Park while its commissio...
Box of bones belonging to at least 5 people found in home, investigators say
KINGSTON, Tenn. ( WVLT /Gray News) - Property managers in Tennessee say they discovered something unexpected when cleaning out a vacated rental property over the summer. Authorities say the crew reported finding a cardboard box containing a collection of bones in July. A newly re...
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD calls November bond election, names lone superintendent finalist
PECOS, Texas (KOSA) - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD trustees unanimously approved calling a voter-approval tax rate election and bond election for Nov. 3, during Monday’s school board meeting. The voter-approval tax rate is presented as Proposition A. Six separate bond propositions, B ...
Commissioner Craddick elected chairman of Texas Railroad Commission
AUSTIN, Texas (KOSA) - Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners today unanimously elected Commissioner Christi Craddick to serve as chairman of the three-member commission. “I am deeply honored by the confidence my fellow Commissioners have placed in me,” Craddick said. “Texas ...
Alaska Senate race tightens ahead of primary
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump won Alaska in all three of his White House runs, but the state’s Senate election this November is competitive. Dan Sullivan is seeking a third term as Alaska’s junior senator. Affordability is a major concern for Alaskans as th...
Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland talks Big Bend construction pause LIVE on Wake up West Texas
TERRELL COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while Commissioner Rodney Scott conducts what the agency calls a personal, on-the-ground evaluation of the area. Watch the video above for the full liv...
Week Ahead in Washington: August 16
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Alaska and Florida hold primary elections Tuesday, with voters in both states weighing in on competitive races for governor and U.S. Senate seats. In Alaska, incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola are the frontrunners...
‘They’ll go to anything that’s green’: Goats’ owner speaks up after viral video shows animals boarding bus
PORTLAND Ore. ( KPTV /Gray News) - The mystery behind two goats that recently tried to catch a TriMet bus in Southeast Portland may be solved. Rae Anderson said his 7-month-old goats, Billy the Kid and Billy the Goat, escaped their backyard Tuesday morning and went exploring. “Th...
DNC launches effort to gain ground across the South
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Democratic National Committee is launching a new set of investments for southern state Democratic parties, aimed at helping them gain ground in the midterm elections and beyond. “The south is rapidly growing, and we as Democrats need to meet the moment ...
Authorities warn fake squishy toys could pose serious risks to children. Tips to keep your kids safe
(Gray News) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents and caregivers that fake and counterfeit versions of the popular squishy toys could seriously hurt your child. The soft, squishy, squeezy toys are shaped like animals, food and other items. While they lo...
Concern grows over conditions aboard USS Lincoln, with reports of crew members trying to jump overboard
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide and mental health struggles, which may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 Lifeline or chat at 988lifeline.org. (Gr...
What Odessa's proposed slight property tax increase could mean for residents
The Odessa City Council is considering a property tax rate increase to nearly $0.47 per $100 of taxable value to fund essential city services starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year....
EPA picks Mayor Blong as lone Texan on advisory group
Midland's mayor will be the lone city or state official from Texas named to participate on the Local Government Advisory Committee
Alpine lifts boil water notice after samples test negative
ALPINE, Texas (KOSA) - The City of Alpine has lifted its boil water notice after water samples returned negative results for bacterial contamination, Mayor Catherine Eaves announced Wednesday. Eaves thanked residents and water customers for their patience and said the notice has ...
Midland Mayor Lori Blong named to EPA advisory committee
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that Midland Mayor Lori Blong will be the only city or state official from Texas named to participate on the Local Government Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of state and local official...
Iran threat prompted Trump to take military plane from NATO Summit
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that a credible Iranian assassination threat prompted the Secret Service to direct him to board a smaller military aircraft instead of Air Force One when he departed the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8. Trump m...
?Midland Health Services reports activity increases in July
Midland Health Services reported nearly across-the-board increases in activity during the month of July.
Odessans could see property tax increase as soon as October
The Odessa City Council established a maximum proposed property tax rate of $0.471578 per $100 of taxable value for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which is scheduled to undergo two rounds of voting in September....
Odessa free Water Week compensation remains on hold
Odessa City Council progress on providing a free week of water to residents following a July water supply issue remains delayed due to ongoing work on the 2026-2027 municipal budget....
New ECISD middle school opens in west Odessa, first outside city limits in 40 years
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Adela and Gilbert Vasquez Middle School has opened in west Odessa, marking the first Ector County ISD middle school outside of Odessa city limits in 40 years. The school board president said the campus has been a long time coming. “We’ve needed this facilit...
‘I started crying’: Woman with Down syndrome denied boarding pass for flight. Here’s why
OMAHA, Neb. ( WOWT /Gray News) - An Omaha woman with Down syndrome was denied a boarding pass at the airport last month after airline staff determined she required a safety assistant to fly. Jennifer Jaspers, 52, had planned a solo birthday trip to North Carolina to visit her fat...
Week Ahead in Washington: August 9
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Lawmakers are preparing to hit the midterm election campaign trail following the Senate’s departure for its five-week August recess. On Tuesday, South Carolina Republican voters head to the polls for a special primary election to determine their new Senate ...
Democrats grapple with age of candidates during primaries
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Democratic incumbents in Congressional primaries across the country are fending off challengers calling for younger, and sometimes more progressive, lawmakers. The Democratic primary election for Connecticut’s first Congressional district highlights how age...
City of Pecos names interim city manager after special council meeting
PECOS, Texas (KOSA) - The City of Pecos has appointed Nicole Alderete-Ferrini as interim city manager, following a special city council meeting Thursday, Aug. 6. Alderete-Ferrini currently serves as assistant city manager for the City of Pecos and has held that role for approxima...
Connecticut primary highlights Congress’ age concerns
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Democratic primary election for Connecticut’s first Congressional district highlights how age is becoming a concern for incumbents across the country. Current first district Rep. John Larson is running for his fifteenth term at age 78. He is facing form...
Texas oil and gas jobs rise for third month in a row for 2026
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The Texas Workforce Commission released employment data through May 2026, showing that upstream oil and natural gas employment increased by 4,100 jobs. Todd Staples, President of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, told Big 2 News what has contributed ...
Abdul El-Sayed wins close Michigan Democratic Senate primary
DETROIT (Gray DC) - Progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has been projected as the winner of Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, defeating moderate four-term Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) by a margin of approximately 15,000 votes. That’s roughly one percentage point and the ...
Rep. Chuck Edwards ends reelection bid after ethics report
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - North Carolina Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards ended his re-election bid Wednesday, just days after a bipartisan House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured over his treatment of young female staffers. Edwards announced Wednesday that he was withdrawing...
Trump departs for West Coast trip to promote economic agenda
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump departed Washington on Tuesday afternoon for a set of West Coast political events that aim to promote his economic agenda and help Republicans earn midterm election support. The president is scheduled to attend a Los Angeles area Repu...
ECISD signs final beam for new ATLAS center
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Ector County ISD board members and district leaders gathered earlier today to sign the final steel beam for the new ATLAS Career & Technical Education Center before it was lifted into place. The state-of-the-art facility is on track to open for the 202...
$2.4M Texas Workforce Commission grant targets healthcare employment gap in West Texas
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - State and local leaders gathered at Odessa College today to present a multi-million-dollar initiative aimed at strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce across West Texas and other rural communities. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has awarded a ...
Senate committee advances Blanche’s AG nomination
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee Todd Blanche. The committee approved Blanche’s nomination along party lines after two Republican senators who had threatened to block his confirmation ...
Odessa opens applications for Citizens UniverCity
The City of Odessa is accepting applications for its Citizens UniverCity program from August 4 through August 28, 2026, offering residents a behind-the-scenes look at municipal operations....
Trump signs executive order creating commission to assist with military family policies
WASHINGTON (Gray News) - President Donald Trump created the Military Spouse Commission on Monday during an executive order signing. The commission will work with military spouses to identify challenges and come up with policy recommendations for areas like health care, child care...
Lubbock advocacy group submits petition to pause data center development
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - A citizens advocacy group called “Save Lubbock” has submitted a petition to the city council seeking a pause on data center development in Lubbock. The group spent two months collecting the signatures required to bring the matter before the council as a re...
GOP senators to advance Blanche after $1.8B fund terminated
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general appears poised to advance toward a full Senate confirmation vote after the Justice Department formally eliminated a controversial fund that had stalled his nomination. On Sunday, Acting Attorney General ...
City of Midland sees nearly 20,000 SeeClickFix closures
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The City of Midland has annoucned that nearly 20,000 SeeClickFix tickets have been closed since its beginning in July 2024. During the month of July, approximately 1,081 tickets that were submitted through SeeClickFix were closed in CIty Council Distr...
Latoya Mayberry enters Midland ISD District 5 race
Latoya Mayberry has launched her campaign for the Midland ISD Board of Trustees, focusing on parent representation, teacher retention, and early childhood literacy....