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business
American Airlines temporarily grounds flights after technology issue
(Gray News) - American Airlines said Tuesday a systemwide technology issue caused a temporary ground stop for flights. The airline confirmed flights were briefly stopped while the company’s IT team worked to resolve the connectivity issue. Flight departures resumed after the temp...
News
Former nurse accused of sexually assaulting teen boys who just came out of surgery
BOSTON (WCVB) – A former nurse accused of sexually assaulting two teenage boys in his care was arraigned Monday in a Massachusetts court. John Tam is facing four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a pa...
Local
Special Olympics presents 'High Steaks' BBQ competition
The Special Olympics Texas Fall Classic 2026 presented by ExxonMobil is scheduled to take place in Midland-Odessa from Oct. 8-10.
News
Capitol ceremony honors late SC Sen. Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - An Armed Forces Body Bearer team carried Sen. Lindsey Graham’s casket up the front steps of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, marking the start of a multi-day series of memorial ceremonies honoring the four-term senator. Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majori...
schools
Midland High names DJ Weems as head girls basketball coach
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - DJ Weems has been named the next head girls basketball coach at Midland High School. Weems comes from McCamey High School, where he served as the head coach for one season. He was also an assistant coach for volleyball and track. Last season with the ...
Local
West Texas VA highlights veterans’ stories through Vital Signs Magazine portrait series
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Veterans were invited to have their portraits taken for the West Texas VA Health Care System’s Vital Signs magazine, a publication designed to inform veterans about resources available through the VA healthcare system. The magazine’s “Faces of Service” sect...
library
Woman accused of stealing nearly $1M from father after gaining power of attorney, authorities say
OMAHA, Neb. ( WOWT /Gray News) - A woman in Nebraska is accused of stealing nearly $1 million from her own father after being given power of attorney, authorities said. Patricia Deacy, 60, was booked on charges of abuse of a vulnerable adult and theft of more than $5,000. In 2023...
government
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...
parks
‘I like what we got’: Jerry Jones believes Cowboys can be Super Bowl contenders
OXNARD, Calif. (KLTV) - Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager, along with chief operating officer Stephen Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer, met the media on Tuesday in Oxnard, California, ahead of the team’s training camp. The trio answered...
Local
Special Olympics Texas Fall Classic returning to Odessa, Midland in October
MIDLAND-ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Special Olympics Texas announced Tuesday the return of the 2026 Fall Classic competition, scheduled for Oct. 8-10 in Odessa and Midland. Special Olympics athletes from both cities gathered at the UTPB Engineering Building for the announcement. Compe...
safety
Man dies after breaking window to enter his own home, police say
AUGUSTA, Ga. ( WRDW/WAGT /Gray News) - A Georgia man died on July 23 after cutting his arm while breaking into his own home, police said. Investigators believe the man was intoxicated and could not locate his house key that night, so he used his arm to break through a window in a...
safety
Police seek 2 absconded sex offenders in Lubbock
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Investigators are searching for Markee Toliver and Lonnie O’Neal, who authorities say are absconded sex offenders. Anyone who knows where they are or sees them is asked to call Crime Line at (806) 741-1000. Callers with information that leads to an arrest ...
government
‘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...
safety
Powerball jackpot winner arrested for 4th time since winning $167 million prize last year
SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. ( WKYT /Gray News) - A man has found himself in trouble with the law once again after winning Kentucky’s $167 million Powerball last year. Kentucky police said James Farthing, 51, was arrested Monday for domestic violence after allegedly assaulting a woman the d...
parks
Power West Texas launches campaign supporting Permian Basin Reliability Plan
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - A new campaign is calling for the timely completion of a major electric transmission project aimed at meeting growing power demand across West Texas. Power West Texas launched Tuesday to support the Permian Basin Reliability Plan , saying the region has wa...
safety
Odessa Mayor says city seeking free week of water service following odor issues
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick says he is working to secure a deal that would provide Odessa residents with a week of free water service following last week’s water odor issues. Hendrick told First Alert 7 he will be trying to cement an agreement to cover the co...
safety
Signal upgrades at FM 1788 and SH 191 cut crashes by half
Traffic signal improvements and infrastructure projects at the FM 1788 and State Highway 191 intersection in Midland resulted in a decrease in total crashes from 34 in 2024 to 18 in 2025....
safety
Man indicted after leading multiple agencies on high-speed chase in May
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - A grand jury indicted a man on Tuesday after he led multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through Lubbock County in late May. 38-year-old Jerry Marquez was arrested on May 27 after he fled a traffic stop conducted by a crime suppression unit in the 1900 ...
Local
City improvements on 1788 corridor results in fewer collisions
In 2025, the City of Midland took over responsibility for maintaining the traffic signals along the FM 1788 corridor
News
Murder suspect on the run after taking off ankle monitor, vanishing before trial, authorities say
WASILLA, Alaska ( KTUU /Gray News) - More than two years after an Alaskan man was found shot and buried on his own property, the murder suspect has vanished while awaiting trial. According to the Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Marshals Service, James Milton Simpson, 43, who faces...
business
Nearly half of Americans would go into debt to maintain their beauty routines, survey finds
( InvestigateTV ) — Forty-six percent of Americans say they would go into debt to maintain their beauty routines, according to a new survey by Zenoti, a beauty and wellness software company. The survey of 1,000 adults also found 22 percent are cutting back on groceries to afford ...
Local
Midland Memorial Hospital receives national award for quality heart care
Midland Memorial Hospital was awarded the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline Regional Recognition award for its excellence in treating severe heart attacks in the West Texas region....
safety
Boater charged in deadly river crash tested double legal limit for DUI, prosecutors say
MCHENRY CO., Ill. ( WIFR /Gray News) - An Illinois man is facing charges following a deadly boat crash on the Fox River. According to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Richard Stevenson, 45, is charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence ...
News
Taco Bell is offering its Mexican Pizza for just $1 - don’t worry, it doesn’t have lettuce
(Gray News) - Taco Bell announced it will be selling its Mexican Pizza for $1 on July 28 following the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak. In a social media post, the fast-food chain said the promotion is one day only. The pizza features beef and beans between two flour tortillas to...
News
Dolly Parton’s brother, Coy ‘Denver’ Parton, dies at 82
(Gray News) - Dolly Parton’s older brother, Coy “Denver” Parton, has died. Coy Parton, 82, who died in Sevierville, Tennessee, worked as a crane operator for many years, according to his obituary . He also was a homestead farmer and enjoyed hunting. Coy Parton is survived by seve...
Local
Lawsuit claims Midland judge leaked private info of citizen journalist in retaliation
A Midland County resident filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Midland County Judge Terry Johnson, alleging the judge leaked sensitive personal information in retaliation for the man's reporting on local government....
Local
Grown out West: New West Texas flower farm set to open to public
SkyGardens Flower Farm is scheduled to open its fall season to visitors on July 30th.
safety
Traffic alert: I-20 eastbound lane closure starts Wednesday morning in Midland
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 20 under the Lamesa Road overpass is scheduled to be reduced to a single lane starting Wednesday morning for maintenance and safety work....
business
I-20 traffic diverted in Monahans at Mile Marker 76
MONAHANS, Texas (KOSA) - Eastbound Interstate 20 traffic is being diverted at Mile Marker 76 near the West Interchange in Monahans. Motorists are being directed onto Business I-20 through Monahans and can re-enter I-20 at the East Interchange. Drivers should expect delays, use ca...
News
Eastbound I-20 lane reduction near Lamesa Road overpass in Midland
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Eastbound Interstate 20 traffic will be reduced to one lane under the Lamesa Road overpass beginning at 9 a.m. on July 29, according to TxDOT. Motorists traveling through the area should expect delays and use caution in the work zone. Drivers are asked to ...
safety
Highway 128 crash closes both lanes near mile marker 47 in Lea County
LEA COUNTY, N.M. (KOSA) - Deputies are responding to a crash on Highway 128 near mile marker 47 in Lea County. According to the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, both eastbound and westbound lanes are closed at this time. Drivers are urged to seek an alternate route, slow down and wat...
News
FDA approves over-the-counter combo of Tylenol and Naproxen for pain relief
(Gray News) – The first fixed-dose combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and naproxen sodium was approved by the FDA . The over-the-counter tablet is designed for temporary relief of minor aches and pains due to headache, backache, muscular aches, toothache, menstrual cramps and...
safety
FIRST ALERT 7 Forecast for Tuesday, July 28th, 2026
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - FIRST ALERT 7 Forecast for Tuesday, July 28th, 2026: The heat wave continues across West Texas and southeast New Mexico this week and into next weekend, with mostly rain-free conditions areawide. A Heat Advisory is in effect this afternoon through the eveni...
Local
Midland road closures for mill and inlay work until Aug. 27
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Starting now through Aug. 27, Princeton to Community Lane between Garfield and D Street and N, L, I, H, G and D streets between Golf Course and Harvard will be closed. According to the City of Midland, this area will be closed to through traffic at various...
News
Mother reunites with daughter she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago
PINEVILLE, La. ( KALB /Gray News) - A Louisiana mother and the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption nearly 50 years ago met face-to-face for the first time, thanks to a genealogy website. Lillian Higgins was 20 years old in 1976 when she gave birth to a baby girl who s...
schools
Sam Houston Elementary ‘Meet the Teacher’ postponed
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Families at Sam Houston Elementary will have to wait a little longer to meet their child’s teacher after the school’s “Meet the Teacher” event was postponed due to construction issues and air conditioning problems. Midland ISD District 4 Trustee Matt Friez...
News
Groom shares dance with woman who got his mother’s lungs in lifesaving transplant
STEPHENVILLE, Texas ( KWTX /Gray News) - At a Texas wedding, the traditional mother-son dance looked different — and it stopped guests in their tracks. Groom Matthew Firth stepped onto the dance floor in May not with his own mother but with Carrie Giddens, the woman who received ...
News
Man survives month at sea after mast breaks during solo sail across Pacific
HONOLULU ( KHNL /Gray News) - A California man trying to complete a solo sail across the Pacific Ocean ended up stranded on his sailboat for over a month, drifting toward Hawaii. Kai Sato, 39, set sail June 7 from the Catalina Islands in an attempt to complete his first solo sail...
safety
15-year-old who saved girl from sexual harassment killed in shooting months later
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ( WAVE /Gray News) - A 15-year-old from Kentucky is being remembered as a hero after he was killed in a shooting months after saving a 12-year-old girl from sexual harassment. Louisville Metro Police responded around 8:20 p.m. Saturday to reports of a shooting in ...
Local
RockHounds outfielder Ryan Lasko shares promising recovery update
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Midland RockHounds outfielder Ryan Lasko is still on his way to recovery after a hard outfield collision that required surgery to repair a C6-C7 vertebra fracture. The injury occurred in game one of the series against the Frisco RoughRiders on June 30...
safety
‘I failed you’: Sheriff vows accountability after murder suspect escapes custody
ATKINSON COUNTY, Ga. ( WALB /Gray News) — A search continued Monday for a murder suspect who escaped custody in Georgia. Atkinson County Sheriff David Moore publicly apologized as the search for Pablo Zuriel Miranda, 32, entered its second day without an arrest. Miranda reportedl...
safety
Woman accused of repeatedly exposing herself to passing drivers after she was pulled over by police
LEBANON, Tenn. ( WSMV /Gray News) - A woman was accused of exposing herself during a traffic stop in Tennessee, police said. The Lebanon Police Department said officers conducted a traffic stop Tuesday night after seeing a passenger not wearing a seat belt. Police said K-9 Donner...
News
Man builds 3D-printed mobility devices for children in need
BETTENDORF, Iowa ( KWQC /Gray News) - An Iowa man is using a 3D printer to create and donate custom mobility trainers to kids in need, giving children with mobility challenges the chance to experience the world around them. One of those children is 16-month-old Saylor. Born with ...
government
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...
government
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,...
safety
Former Navy SEAL sentenced in plot to throw fireworks at police during ‘No Kings’ protest
(Gray News) - A former U.S. Navy SEAL who was convicted of transporting fireworks across state lines with plans to shoot explosives at police during last year’s “No Kings Day” protest in San Diego was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Prosecutors said that on June 12, 2025, Grego...
safety
Greenwood VFD responds to fire call at high school
GREENWOOD, Texas (KOSA) - The Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the high school after a citizen called to report the incident. According tot he fire department, when crews arrived, firefighters found a tar pot trailer on fire. Crews quickly kn...
business
"We have to adapt," local game stores see shift in business as gaming companies move digital
Local video game stores in the Permian Basin are seeing a shift in clientele and product demand as more and more games are sold digitally. This comes after Sony, the Japanese tech company behind the PlayStation line of game consoles, announced via their blog the company would no ...
Local
More women are pregnant after 40: Local mom shares experience, doctor explains risks
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The age of childbirth is changing as more women are starting families later in life, including women in the Permian Basin. According to 2023 data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, births to women over 40 now account for 4.1% of all U...
schools
AT&T, Boys and Girls Club give away 100 laptops to Permian Basin students
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - AT&T and the Boys and Girls Club of the Permian Basin are distributing 100 laptops to students ahead of the upcoming school year as part of an effort to address the digital divide, which affects millions of people across the United States who lack internet...
News
McConnell to remain in rehab, not cleared to return to work
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will remain at a rehabilitation facility as he recovers from a June fall at his Washington home, according to a new health update. McConnell said Monday that doctors have ordered him to continue an intensive physical therapy prog...
safety
Teacher arrested for repeatedly clapping in favor of data center opponents during city commission meeting
EMPORIA, Kan. ( KWCH /Gray News) — A 37-year-old teacher was released from a Kansas jail after posting bail following his arrest at a city meeting where zoning changes for a proposed data center project were passed. Lux Claridge, an Emporia High School physics teacher, was arrest...