In September 2021, the Odessa City Council voted unanimously to provide $3 million in ARPA funds to Medical Center Hospital (MCH) and $1 million to Odessa Regional Medical Center (ORMC) to help cover the costs each hospital had incurred fighting COVID. The payment made to MCH came along with a promise from MCH that the […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: The Continued Need For Sanctuary Cities For The Unborn
The Supreme Court’s decision striking down Roe was hailed as a major victory for pro-life proponents many of which hoped that their decision would herald a new era of respect for life in the United States. The Court’s decision rightly returned the abortion issue to the states correctly noting that under our Constitution that it […]
Posted inLocal
Texas Secretary of State Has No Record of a Pardon for Tommy Ervin
Controversy has continued to erupt at the Ector County Utility District (ECUD) with accusations from two board members that the Directors up for the November election are on the wrong ballot at the wrong time, that ECUD is disenfranchising voters in the taxation annexation election, and now, the board President Tommy Ervin, who has been […]
Posted inEconomic Development
ODC Attempts to “Backdate” Nacero Contract
While the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed multi-billion-dollar Nacero natural gas to gasoline project continues to be delayed, the recently posted agenda for the Thursday Odessa Development Corporation (ODC) meeting shows Nacero asking for its first two-million-dollar grant payment from Odessa taxpayers. Listed as agenda item number five is an item to award Nacero its […]
Posted inLocal
District Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against ECUD Directors Election
Story update 10/24/22: After a hearing held late Friday afternoon, Judge John Shrode has allowed the ECUD board of directors election to continue. Early voting for the two offices begins today. State District Judge John Shrode issues a temporary restraining order against the Ector County Utility District, canceling the election for two directors positions, and […]
Posted inUncategorized
OFR Chief Alvarez Has A Right To Feel Embarrassed
During a packed Odessa City Council meeting where Odessa Fire & Rescue employees literally begged for their concerns of low wages and low moral to be addressed, Chief Alvarez stated “I’m telling you, to me it’s embarrassing. I have this entire department back here standing here begging for a raise here. You know, there’s different […]
Posted inState
Oil and Gas Workers Association President Under Fire for Sexist Comments and Organizational Allegations
The president and founder of a non-profit energy industry lobby organization based in Odessa is coming under fire for inappropriate remarks made regarding a top Republican Party official in West Texas. Now, those remarks are leading to other allegations regarding the structure of the organization, and the president’s criminal past. The Oil and Gas Workers […]
Posted inLocal
Lawsuit Filed To Halt ECUD Directors Election
Update (10/24/2022): After a hearing was held late Friday, District Judge John Shrode has allowed the election for the ECUD board of director positions to proceed. Early voting in the election begins today. The lawsuit continues. A lawsuit was filed today in Ector County District Court on the behalf of Ector County Utility District Board […]
Posted inEctor County Utility District
ECUD to Hold Special Meeting Saturday on Tax Rate & Threatened Litigation
The Ector County Utility District (ECUD) which supplies water to West Odessa, has announced that the ECUD Board of Directors are hosting a special meeting Saturday, 9/24/22, at noon at the District office located at 1039 N. Moss. First on the agenda is the proposed tax rate for Operations and Maintenance (O&M). The O&M tax […]
Posted inLocal
Challenges to ECUD Election Continues
Jesse Christesson, the West Odessa resident who filed a challenge to Sheila Black’s candidacy for the ECUD Board of Directors says his challenge submitted last month has not been satisfactorily addressed and he is taking further action. “I want to help the ECUD customers and taxpayers ensure that we are getting fair and legal representation […]