This West Texas town has a lot of money in the bank. Why can't it pick up its trash?
Like local leaders in many other towns in West Texas, the Kermit City Council spent years saving its tax revenue fearing the energy economy would crash. Now it is struggling to keep up with essential services like trash and road repair.
How an internship program hopes to end โbrain drainโ in Texasโ Permian Basin and other rural regions
This is the third year businesses in the Permian Basin โ known for high school football and oil fields โ have participated in the University of Texas Austin program. Students this year say they are seeing their hometowns in a new way.
Texas man sentenced to 25 years in prison for assaulting Asian family he blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic
Federal prosecutors say a Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for attacking an Asian family because he thought they were Chinese and therefore responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
US waives FBI checks on caregivers at new migrant facilities
These emergency sites donโt have to be licensed by state authorities or provide the same services as permanent HHS facilities. AdDuring former President Donald Trumpโs administration, HHS for months did not ensure FBI fingerprint checks or child welfare screenings were done for workers at a large camp in Tornillo, Texas. HHSโ inspector general warned then that FBI fingerprint checks โprovide a unique safeguardโ over most commercial background checks that search a personโs name. โWhile the various background checks could identify some past criminal convictions or sexual offenses, these checks were not as extensive as the FBI fingerprint background checks,โ the inspector general found. The Red Cross and HHS for several days refused to acknowledge that the volunteers werenโt given FBI fingerprint checks.
Emergency sites for migrant children raising safety concerns
A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive. President Joe Bidenโs administration has been sharply criticized for its response to a surge in crossings of unaccompanied immigrant children. โI feel like I have to wait and try again.โThe Biden administration is not expelling immigrant children unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian. But Pfluger and other Midland officials said the Biden administration wasnโt answering their questions or giving them assurance that officials would keep the surrounding community safe. HHS opened the Midland site without notifying some top local officials who say many of their questions aren't being answered.
Houston-area forecast: Sweater weather this weekend
HOUSTON โ Cold air has settled into Southeast Texas and will be sticking around for a while. We are in the beginning of the longest stretch of cold weather that has hit Houston so far this season. As we head into late Sunday, temperatures will start to drop and wintry precipitation will be getting close to Southeast Texas! Sunday NightAccumulations will be insignificant in Southeast Texas but snow will accumulate north and northwest of our area. Weekend Travel WeatherAfter Sundayโs rain/snow mix event, the rest of the ten day forecast shows a cooler than normal start with plenty of sunshine for the week ahead.
Family kicked off Southwest flight because 3-year-old boy with autism would not wear face mask
HOUSTON A Houston area mother said her family was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight on Monday morning because her 3-year-old son with autism would not wear a face mask. The flight initially left the gate but a crewmember said the plane would have to return when the boy wouldnt keep the mask on, Alyssa said. I think there needs to be something in place for children or even adults with disabilities who cant wear a mask. She said her son did not wear a mask while boarding, or on the flight to Midland. Alyssa said a family member will drive her family home from Midland on Thursday.
Trump to discuss energy, tour oil rig, raise money in Texas
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will shift his focus to American energy dominance during a stop in Texas later this week that will include his first visit to an oil rig. During the stop Wednesday at Double Eagle Energy in the west Texas city of Midland, Trump will discuss how the U.S. is achieving energy dominance by cutting regulations, simplifying permitting and encouraging private investment in energy infrastructure, the White House said. While in Texas, Trump will raise money for the Republican Party and his reelection campaign at a fundraising luncheon with supporters in nearby Odessa. It will be Trumps 16th visit as president to Texas, the White House said. The White House said Trump has taken steps to help the energy industry recover after the coronavirus outbreak caused demand for energy and prices to plummet as people stayed home to avoid becoming infected.
Michigan village not waiting for federal, state flood relief
FILE - In this May 29, 2020 file photo, two cars are flipped over after major flood damage, in Sanford, Mich. Sanford village, with a population of 859, is pulling together after the devastation of two dam failures in May. Volunteers are still clearing muck and providing supplies to those whose homes were destroyed since there's no telling when major state and federal help will come. Although state or federal government aid would be a huge help, Ricards said Sanford could not wait. We celebrated birthday parties, their graduations, anything you can think of there.The goal is to keep people in the village, Cole said. I think its better just to help than to sit back and wait" for state or federal funding, Cole said.
GALLERY: See the photos of all of the musical stars who will rock out at the 2020 Houston Rodeo
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: (L-R) Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, and Jess Carson of Midland attend the 51st annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)HOUSTON โ The 2020 HoustonRodeo entertainment stage is nearly set. Here are the 17 of the 20 musical acts that will be performing this year.