City councils are typically nonpartisan. Odessa residents are wondering if that’s still the case after the local Republican Party helped elect new council members.
West Texas
West Texas is home to the nation’s largest oil field, the Permian Basin. The region is defined by its energy production and wide-open spaces. It also includes Big Bend country and cities such as El Paso, Midland and Odessa.
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Demographics
West Texas parents are suing their schools over racism as others demand action over antisemitic bullying
School leaders have said they don’t tolerate racism and that they regularly train teachers how to deal with bullying. But parents say inaction by officials tells a different story.
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Texas 2022 Elections
Texas votes: Abortion, border security and marijuana energize voters on Election Day
Texas voters cast their ballots Tuesday with a wide variety of issues on their minds, including the state’s grid and the Uvalde shooting.
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Economy
“An inverse tsunami”: How inflation and drought are making it harder to feed West Texans in need
Food banks across Texas are now struggling to keep up with growing demand even more than they were during the pandemic.
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Climate Change in Texas
West Texas farmers and ranchers fear the worst as drought, heat near 2011 records
2011 was the driest year on record for Texas, causing an estimated cost of $7.62 billion in crop and livestock losses. A dry and hot June has many sounding alarm bells about 2022.
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Energy
Shell’s decision to leave Permian Basin unlikely to impact Texas workforce or climate issues, experts say
More than 175,000 barrels of oil per day in production will shift from one major company to another.
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Texas Legislature 2021
State lawmakers again try to ban most dangerous nuclear waste as feds consider allowing it at West Texas site
A failed regular session bill sought to give a financial break to a West Texas nuclear waste disposal company. Now, lawmakers have removed what opponents called a giveaway and are again trying to pass a bill to stop highly radioactive materials from coming to Texas.
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Health care
Lawsuit to block Lubbock’s abortion ban is dismissed in court as the ordinance takes effect
Planned Parenthood sued to block the “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance, passed by voters in May, but a federal judge said he didn’t have jurisdiction to hear the case. The ordinance went into effect Tuesday.
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Health care
Lawsuit seeks to block Lubbock’s ordinance aimed at outlawing abortions
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas are suing over the West Texas city’s “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance.
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Demographics
Lubbock votes to become the state’s largest “sanctuary city for the unborn”
The outcome could prompt a lawsuit over what opponents say is an unconstitutional ban on abortion. The vote comes less than a year after Planned Parenthood opened a clinic in the West Texas city.
