Travis Bubenik
News DirectorTravis has waltzed across Texas throughout his career in journalism, covering everything from pipeline protests in the Big Bend and oilfield flaring in the Permian Basin to Gulf Coast hurricanes and courtroom battles all over the state.
A Houston native and University of Texas alum, he got his start in public radio as an intern at Marfa Public Radio, where he has at various times been a reporter and host of both Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Travis’ reporting has frequently appeared on NPR and public radio’s Marketplace. His dog Valentine is indeed named after the town.
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The lodge will remain closed “until further notice” as the West Texas park deals with an ongoing water outage, officials said. -
A winter storm will likely bring frigid temperatures and travel disruptions to much of the U.S. starting Friday, from Texas to the Northeast. In West Texas, parts of the Permian Basin could see at least 1 inch of snow, while icy roads will be a concern into the Big Bend region as well. -
House Bill 3000, approved by lawmakers last year, allows certain rural counties to apply for up to $500,000 in grant funding for ambulances and associated EMS equipment. Presidio, Jeff Davis and Brewster counties are all hoping to get in on the opportunity. -
The greater Big Bend region is one of just a handful of locations in the U.S. selected for an early 2026 Census Test. The results could help the U.S. Census Bureau improve methods for accurately counting the nation’s population. -
Presidio County commissioners on Wednesday approved a six-month contract for a new local group called High Desert Golf to run the county-owned golf course and nearby Vizcaino Park. -
Midland voters reelected Mayor Lori Blong and City Council Member Jack Ladd. A $5.5M “certificates of obligation” measure failed in Presidio County. -
As Texans weigh in on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution, West Texas voters will be deciding on just a handful of local items, including the race for Midland mayor. -
The Trump administration is planning a sweeping mix of technology and physical barriers across the southern border. Meanwhile, the administration is also waiving federal regulations to speed up construction across the Big Bend region and the country’s southwestern border. -
Back in the 1990s, in an off-the-grid neighborhood in the mountains of Far West Texas, a wannabe vintner started his own Wild West nation. He called it The Republic of Texas, and he wanted to secede from the United States. At first, his neighbors wrote him off as a joke, a local eccentric. Then, things got very, very serious. -
Officials say two teachers at Midland and Odessa schools, along with one tutor, have faced employment consequences for inappropriate comments after the assassination of the conservative activist last week.
