The dunes sagebrush lizard lives in the same West Texas land that supports the state’s biggest oil and gas fields, and industry leaders say the new designation will hurt drilling and production.
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.
Odessa shuts off entire water system due to leak in water line
It’s the second time in two years Odessa has lost water. Officials expect restoration within hours but boil-water notice to remain in effect until Monday.
Texas, federal government will begin tallying damage from spring storms, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Abbott confirmed three deaths from the storms, none were recorded from flooded areas.
Rain eases in Southeast Texas but flooding will take time to recede
Thousands of residents have either evacuated or are now under shelter orders.
Amid fears of arsenic in private water wells, Texas A&M is offering low-cost tests in Ector and Midland counties
Officials are worried that there’s arsenic in some of the estimated 13,500 private water wells in Ector and Midland counties.
Tainted water flowed to these Texans’ homes for three years. No one told them.
A new operator was assigned to fix the well in Midland County, which is still not compliant with state standards.
Immigrant families on edge amid uncertainty over new Texas law
Advocates for immigrant rights say they worry the law could encourage racial profiling. The law’s authors say it won’t likely be enforced beyond the border.
Two West Texas infants in the same neighborhood diagnosed with rare botulism
A third infant nearby also contracted botulism last August. Local and state health officials said there is no public health emergency.
Panhandle residents begin rebuilding, even as fight to contain fires continues
The fire that engulfed their town was only 15% contained over the weekend, but Canadian residents were back to selling flowers and preparing for an election.
As wildfires rage through Panhandle, Fritch residents seek respite at church
Shaken by the devastation, families find comfort in each other as they pick through the rubble and commune at a church in nearby Borger.






