Author Archives: Mitch Borden
Midland ISD officials weigh closing Washington STEM Academy to give campus to an all-girls school
Midland Independent School District’s Board of Trustees is facing a tough decision: Spend more than $3.7 million on portable classrooms for Young Women’s Leadership Academy or close down Washington STEM Academy, a decades-old elementary school, to provide a permanent home … Continue reading
Pete Gallego’s relatively short tenure as president of Sul Ross University was mired in conflict — from the campus to the Texas Capitol
The politician turned college president got stuck in a fight over which university system should manage the university. And he faced pushback from faculty and members of the Far West Texas community about his decisions and leadership style.
Midland ISD considers closing an elementary school or spending millions to house an all-girls academy
Midland Independent School District has to decide by next month whether or not to displace hundreds of students currently attending Washington STEM Academy. The cause of the imminent deadline is a contractual agreement between the district and the non-profit that … Continue reading
Oil companies are asking Permian Basin residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to help defend the industry from the deadly disease
Through the Permian Strategic Partnership, some of the largest oil companies in Texas are encouraging Permian residents to get vaxxed — not only to protect themselves from the coronavirus but to help protect the West Texas oil industry.
Shafter residents weigh options after questions over their access to water emerge
At the beginning of November, those living in the ghost town of Shafter found themselves without running water. It was quickly restored, but the outage is causing some to question if they can rely on the town’s source of water … Continue reading
Shafter without water after a fire burns down local pumphouse
Over the weekend, Shafter residents lost running water after an electrical fire burned down a pump house that provided the majority of the town’s water. Officials are working to restore the supply, but that might not happen for at least … Continue reading
As early voting begins, Midlanders decide who will lead the city for the next three years
Four seats on the Midland City Council are up for grabs this election season. One race is unopposed, in another an incumbent is facing a young challenger and five candidates are jostling for the council’s two at-large seats.
Texas lawmakers approve $40 million for Permian mental health facility
As the Texas Legislature’s third special session came to a close, lawmakers approved millions of federal funds towards building a new facility between Midland and Odessa dedicated to mental and behavioral health.
COVID deaths continue to rise in the Midland-Odessa area as hospitalizations decline
Even as the latest COVID-19 surge in the Permian Basin’s largest cities slows, deaths continue to rise. This has health officials continuing to urge locals to get vaccinated, especially as the region’s vaccination rates lag behind the state’s and nation’s.
Midlander Jenny Cudd pleads guilty to Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot charge
A Midland woman appeared in court this week to enter into a plea deal with the federal government for participating in the Jan. 6 capitol attack.