As oil and gas industry traffic continues to speed through Pecos, TxDOT said it is working to find $194 million to build an alternative route away from the heart of the city.
Carlos Nogueras Ramos
Carlos Nogueras Ramos is a regional reporter based in Odessa. Carlos joined The Texas Tribune in 2023 as a corps member with Report for America. Carlos tells the stories of Texas from the vast energy-rich Permian Basin region. Before the Tribune, Carlos spent time in Philadelphia writing about local politics, including the city’s 100th mayoral election. A Spanish speaker, Carlos was one of the few Latino reporters on the campaign trail, covering the most expensive primary election to date in Philly. He is a proud Puerto Rico native, born and raised in Cayey. He studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Puerto Rico. Read Articles by Carlos Nogueras Ramos
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Panhandle Wildfires
Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfire
The lawsuit alleges Minnesota-based Xcel Energy failed to maintain utility poles that started the 2024 Panhandle fire that killed three people and thousands of livestock.
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Immigration
Immigrant families in Texas have gone into hiding after latest Trump administration policy
Last month the Trump administration made people from 19 nations ineligible to obtain legal status. “Fear won,” said one woman who came from Venezuela nearly a decade ago.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ people
City Council voted 5-4 to continue the temporary removal of language in its ordinance, which was initiated in September in an effort to avoid losing federal funding.
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2025 Legislative Recap
Running water will finally reach West Odessa thanks to $17 million from state lawmakers
The Legislature approved $600 million for standalone water improvements, a dramatic increase over prior years.
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State Government
A West Texas county wants to better prepare for floods. Paying for it will be tricky.
Ector County has boomed since the 1970s, when the drainage system was last updated. Officials hope state and federal funds will help pay for the update despite some grant programs ending under the Trump administration.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
LGBTQ+ Texans fought to be recognized. That work is eroding under a conservative pressure campaign.
Conservative activists argue they’re protecting women and rebalancing the law that Democrats tilted in favor of LGBTQ+ people.
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The 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
Democrats “defined everything by identity,” Pete Buttigieg says in critique of his party
The former U.S. transportation secretary said the Democratic Party should focus more on issues gripping the country, such as health care and housing affordability.
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Environment
Texas oil and gas regulators win new power to approve projects that shoot carbon underground
The EPA handed over power to the Railroad Commission after a two-year review. Critics say the commission has been too lax with the industry.
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Public Education
“My child was screaming like crazy:” West Texas parents outraged over alleged abuse of kids
The Midland school district has said it has followed the law. Six teachers and the school principal have either resigned or been fired over the alleged abuse of special needs students.