Author Archives: Mitch Borden

Judge dismisses efforts to remove Midland’s District Attorney
Earlier this month, a pair of attorneys representing a Midland resident attempted to begin the process of removing Midland County District Attorney Laura Nodolf from office. They made a number of accusations, including that Nodolf committed an illegal search during … Continue reading

Under a cloud of scrutiny, Midland’s District Attorney faces calls for her removal
A recent court filing alleges Midland’s D.A. Laura Nodolf committed an illegal search and misled a grand jury during a 2019 murder investigation. The lawyers behind the filing say Nodolf should be suspended and removed from office for her actions.

Widespread water outages plague Odessa as crews rush to fix major water line break
Ector County’s top official issued a state of disaster on Tuesday as large swaths of the city remained without water and were under a boil water notice. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is providing state resources to help respond to the … Continue reading

Judge dismisses sexual assault case against Basecamp Terlingua owner at prosecutor’s request
On Friday, a judge approved a motion brought forward by a local prosecutor to dismiss the case against Jeff Leach that was first brought in 2020. The well-known business owner was accused of raping a woman in the spring of … Continue reading

After being arrested for allegedly concealing a sexual assault, a grand jury decides to not indict top Midland Christian School officials
Five Midland Christian School officials, including the school’s superintendent, were facing state felony charges for not reporting and attempting to conceal the sexual assault of a student. But, a grand jury has now determined there is not enough evidence to … Continue reading

New study estimates thousands of adults across the Permian Basin struggle with reading
The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin recently released a report estimating that tens of thousands across the largest oil-producing region in the United States read below a third-grade reading level.

In Odessa, a $398 million bond election comes down to trust as voters weigh pros and cons
On May 7, Ector County residents will decide whether to pass the bond proposal, which would fund projects like building a new high school. Supporters say the spending package is needed to address aging facilities and overcrowding, but some locals … Continue reading

Deadly levels of H2S gas discovered at Lake Boehmer, but top oil and gas regulators doubt it’s their problem to fix
For almost two decades, a former oil well in Pecos County has been gushing briny water, creating a body of water known as Lake Boehmer. Now researchers, dispatched by local officials, have found high levels of the deadly gas hydrogen … Continue reading

In upcoming spring election, Odessa voters will decide on $398 million school bond
The Ector County Independent School District is asking residents to approve a $398 million bond on May 7. If approved, the bond — which is split up into two propositions — would provide funds for repairs at campuses across the … Continue reading

Wildfire in northern Jeff Davis County is in “final stages” and could be fully contained soon
Even though the Big Bend region continues to experience high fire danger, a spokesperson for the Fort Davis Volunteer Fire Department told Marfa Public Radio the wildfire’s growth has been halted and may be in its final stages. By Wednesday … Continue reading