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....
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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....
Business owner and pastor files for Midland ISD Board of Trustees District 5 seat
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Midland business owner and pastor Latoya Mayberry announced Tuesday that she has filed as a candidate for the Midland ISD Board of Trustees District 5 seat, saying she wants to strengthen communication with parents, improve student outcomes and retain expe...
Week Ahead in Washington: August 2
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Senate is facing a full agenda before lawmakers leave for August recess Thursday, with a potential confirmation vote, internal party divisions and questions about whether recess will happen at all. Among the items on the Senate’s to-do list is the poten...
Pecos City Council places City Manager Charles Lino on leave
The Pecos City Council placed City Manager Charles Lino on immediate administrative leave following a July 30 meeting and is scheduled to consider appointing an interim successor on August 6....
Pecos city manager placed on administrative leave
PECOS, Texas (KOSA) - The Pecos City Council voted during its July 30 meeting to place City Manager Charles Lino on administrative leave, effective immediately, following an executive session. According to a social media post by the city, the council exercised the “Unilateral Sev...
Woman who adopted 27 children over six decades dies at 97
WILLISTON, Vt. ( WCAX /Gray News) - A woman who devoted her life to creating a loving home in Vermont for dozens of children has died. Theresa Tomasi adopted her first child in 1962. She went on to adopt a total of 27 children. She broke through adoption barriers early on in the ...
Two Midland ISD campuses set to open for classes
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary and South Elementary will open for classes Tuesday, Aug. 4 . According to a social media update from Midland ISD District 4 Trustee Dr. Matt Friez, the Midland ISD Board of Trustees had been informed that both ...
Odessa residents could see 7-days of free water following odor concerns
Odessa City Council is hoping to deliver its residents a week of free water after complaints of an odor in the water supply. Although the water supply remains safe, residents first noticed an odor, which some described as fishy, sulfur- or sewage-like, on July 23, prompting the C...
City Council hopes to fund Odessa Sports Center project through new tourism tax
If passed, a new ballot measure could mean higher taxes on hotel rooms raising more funds for city amenities.
Fed holds interest rates for fifth straight time
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the fifth consecutive time following its latest meeting Wednesday, as the board continues working toward price stability amid stubborn inflation and renewed conflict in the Middle East. The decision came af...
Senate Confirms Jay Clayton as new DNI
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton Tuesday night to lead the U.S. Intelligence Community as Director of National Intelligence, with a vote of 51-47 along party lines. Clayton will now oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. The confirmation marks ...
Big Spring City Council to vote on federal prison closure resolution, discuss Moss Creek Lake
BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA) - Big Spring City Council is set to meet Tuesday evening with several major items on the agenda, including a final vote on a resolution related to the planned closure of the Federal Correctional Institution and a discussion on the future of Moss Creek Lak...
‘It’s an infrastructure problem’: Alpine mayor says aging wells, not water supply, behind mandatory restrictions
ALPINE, Texas (KOSA) - The City of Alpine has implemented mandatory Stage-4 Critical Water Shortage conditions following equipment failures within its municipal well system that have impacted the city’s water supply and distribution capabilities. City officials say the restrictio...
Alpine imposes stage 4 water restrictions after well failure
ALPINE, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The City of Alpine has implemented Stage 4 critical water conditions due to a critical failure in the municipal well system. Both the city's water supply and distribution capability have been affected by this. The City of Alpine says that it is working...
Alpine declares Stage 4 water shortage after well system failure
ALPINE, Texas (KOSA) - The City of Alpine has declared Stage 4 – Critical Water Shortage Conditions after a critical failure in the municipal well system disrupted the city’s water supply and distribution capabilities. City officials said crews are working with utility personnel,...
Midland elected official hires attorney, plans formal complaint against county judge
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Midland ISD trustee Brandon Hodges said he has hired an attorney and placed himself in the middle of a dispute involving Midland County Judge Terry Johnson. Hodges said he plans to file a formal complaint with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct...
Battle continues over Trump push for states to scrub voter rolls
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Trump administration is urging states to use a federal database to check their voter rolls for non-citizens, but the effort is facing legal challenges that remain unresolved ahead of the midterms. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has called ...
Trump to visit Michigan before key primary election
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump will travel to Michigan on Monday to deliver remarks on the economy, the White House announced, making the visit just one week before the state’s closely watched primary elections. The president is expected to speak at a General Motor...
House votes to limit Trump’s war powers; vote fails Senate
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The House voted for the second time to limit President Trump’s ability to wage war, with four Republicans joining Democrats in the measure condemning the president’s war in Iran Thursday. The vote came Thursday as oil prices crossed $100 a barrel. Rep. Pram...
Presidio County residents oppose border wall road use permits
PRESIDIO COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) - Residents gathered at a Presidio County Commissioners Court meeting Wednesday to oppose efforts tied to border wall construction, including a proposed special road use permitting process that would allow contractors to use county roads. Much of the...
MCUD approves water rates, schedules $299 million bond vote
The Midland County Utility District Board of Directors has approved its initial water rate structure and scheduled a $299 million bond election for November 3, 2026....
Midland ISD sues state over unconstitutional school tax
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The Midland Independent School District filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas and Texas Education Agency Commissioner Morath, stating that the State's school financial system has become an unconstitutional statewide property tax. MISD adds that t...
Rep. Landgraf meets with Kermit city council on priorities
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf met with the Kermit City Council to discuss the community's priorities ahead of the 2027 Texas legislative session.
Dallas Kennedy files to run for Odessa City Council District 4
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Odessa local Dallas Kennedy made an announcement this morning at City Hall that he has filed paperwork to run for City Council representing District 4. During his announcement, Kennedy told supporters that he was right for the job because he was alread...
Midland moves forward with Scharbauer Sports Complex upgrades
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Midland City Council has moved forward with several projects at the Scharbauer Sports Complex despite some residents voicing concerns about the expansion. Council approved more than six and a half million dollars in contracts to add two new auxiliary field...
Trump heads to Georgia to tout Trump Accounts ahead of midterms
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump is traveling to Georgia Wednesday to highlight his administration’s efforts on affordability, with the midterm elections less than four months away. Trump will stop at Wheeler High School in Marietta, near Atlanta, to promote Trump Ac...
Midland approves AST SpaceMobile expansion incentive deal
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - The Midland Development Corporation and Midland City Council have approved a performance-based incentive agreement to support AST SpaceMobile’s growing operations in the city. AST SpaceMobile plans to build a 400,000-square-foot satellite manufacturing and...
Odessa teacher and Army veteran announces run for District 4 City Council
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - An Odessa teacher and Army veteran has announced he is running for city council. Dallas Kennedy filed for the District 4 seat and held an announcement Tuesday morning at City Hall. His platform centers on road infrastructure, first responder support, and fi...
Midland officials approved AST SpaceMobile expansion project
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The Midland Development Corporation (MDC) Board of Directors and Midland City Council have approved a performance-based incentive agreement supporting AST SpaceMobile's additional expansion in Midland. This will occur through the construction of a new...
2 children taken to ER after 1 thrown from ride, another run over by separate ride at county fair
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. ( KMOV /Gray News) - Two young children were taken to a hospital after falling off separate rides at the Lincoln County Fair on Saturday, according to witnesses and a statement from the fair board. Some parents said they believed certain rides for young childr...
Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway signs to be relocated after Vietnam veterans object to sharing space
GALLATIN, Tenn. ( WSMV /Gray News) — Signs designating part of a roadway in Tennessee as the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway are being moved after Vietnam veterans voiced concerns. Sumner County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield said the signs were installed on a stretch of State Route...
Midland elected official calls for County Judge Terry Johnson’s resignation
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Midland elected official Brandon W. Hodges is calling on the Midland County Commissioners Court to seek the immediate resignation of County Judge Terry Johnson, claiming Johnson violated the public trust by releasing a citizen’s sensitive personal informat...
‘A light in so many lives’: Mom who beat cancer killed by falling tree branch
CORINTH, Maine (WABI/Gray News) - A Maine family is mourning the loss of a 49-year-old woman who was killed by a falling tree branch. She’s being remembered as a devoted mother, loving wife and cherished community member.Amy Tatlock’s husband, Andrew Tatlock, says her family is s...
Charter school supervisor cashed in on uniform fees, spent money on cars and trips, officials say
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - Four people formerly tied to Impact Charter School in Baker, Louisiana, and the non-profit it shared board members with are now criminally indicted in federal court in Baton Rouge.Chakesha Scott served as the former chief executive officer of I...
DHS Secretary Mullin pushes election security initiative with threats
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin threatened states and election officials Friday with fines, penalties and prison time if they do not comply with the Trump administration’s election security plan.The warning came one day after President Donal...