(Editor’s note: The following is an opinion commentary submitted to Odessa Headlines for publication.) Ector County Commissioner Michael Gardner held his first town hall meeting since his election keeping a major campaign promise. Following the lead of his father Freddy Gardner who held quarterly townhalls Gardner plans to hold them across multiple locations to make […]
Posted inLocal
Fact Check: Did Odessa City Council Candidates Fail to Disclose Republican Party Support?
A media report claiming that three newly elected members of the Odessa City Council, and one former candidate, failed to disclose in-kind contributions from the Ector County Republican Party (GOP) has stirred up controversy – and now the Party and the accused are saying the report is entirely false.
Posted inLocal
Odessa Economic Development Board to Redo Appointment Vote
An agenda item that was initially approved during a public meeting last week by the board of the Odessa Economic Development Corporation (ODC) is being reversed after Odessa Headlines questioned the board chairman’s decision to vote by what has been described as a “secret ballot” process on the agenda item – rather than adhere to required Open Meetings Act […]
Posted inNews
Texas Attorney General Issues Opinion on Sale Tax Dispute Between Odessa and Ector County
A legal maneuver made by the City of Odessa that sparked controversy over its attempt to claim a portion of the Ector County Assistance District sales tax revenue has backfired – with the Texas Attorney General (AG) issuing a legal opinion that appears to overwhelmingly favor Ector County.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Narrative in Full Force Against Texas Election Legislation
Republican lawmakers in the Texas Legislature have filed numerous bills that they say aim to strengthen state laws regulating the election process – which has drawn a firestorm of opposition from the mainstream press.
Posted inState
AG Paxton: Illegal Immigration Costs Texas Over $850 Million Each Year
Illegal immigration is costing Texas taxpayers millions of dollars.
Posted inNews
Report: Texas to Crack Down on Human Trafficking, as Biden Administration Loosens Border Security
Author Jeramy Kitchen | Texas Scorecard. Republished with permission.
Posted inNews
Report: Legislation Would Allow Schools to Opt Out of STAAR Tests
A bill filed by State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) would allow school districts to opt-out of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests, or STAAR tests. If passed, each school district’s board of trustees could decide whether to have STAAR testing. “Our school children need to have access to the very best education possible,” […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: There’s No Such Thing as a Free ‘Stimulus’
“Stimulus” checks are in the mail to many (but not all) Americans, and the news is awash in stories about the best ways to spend that $1,400, and even speculation about whether we’ll see a “stimmy rally” on Wall Street. But Texans are smart enough to know that no check from the government comes without strings […]
Posted inLocal
Questions Surround Odessa Councilman’s Conflict of Interest
[Odessa, Texas] A substantial contract for insurance coverage is raising questions surrounding how the contract was awarded after public records obtained by Odessa Headlines revealed multiple problems with the timeline and a conflicting document trail. The issue stems from the December 8 city council meeting last year, when one agenda item to award an insurance contract to a company called STA […]