Texas Gov. says dozens rescued during floods so far, urges continued diligence
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a severe weather briefing and press conference Wednesday afternoon.
More stories from our newsroom
Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.
4 arrested in connection with shooting of minor in Andrews
ANDREWS, Texas (KOSA) - Four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a minor at an Andrews home earlier this month.According to the Andrews Police Department, officers and EMS responded to a report of a shooting at about 3:50 a.m. July 11 at a home in the Aarea of Northwest 1...
Oxy donated 55.55 acres to Midland County for road projects
MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Midland County received approximately 55.55 acres from Oxy that will be used to support future road improvements as well as create better connectivity in the southwest part of the county. "Looking 50 and 60 years out, land is very expensive," Midland County Pub...
7/15/2026 7-Day Forecast +3: Get the umbrellas out Thursday and Friday
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – (7/15/2026) The ground is soaked; the rain keeps coming and that combo means we’re not out of the woods Thursday or Friday. Thursday starts off rather soggy, with showers likely in the morning and maybe a rumble of thunder before things ease back to scattered activity ...
Midwest Compressor opens Midland service location, assisting with natural gas compression
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Oil and gas operators across West Texas now have a new service company to choose from who rely on gas compression, electric-drive skids, and vapor recovery units to keep production running. Midwest Compressor has now expanded to Midland with a new field service office...
Harmony Home breaks ground on new facility, will serve communities in 7 West Texas counties
A new resource center for those affected by child abuse is coming to the Permian Basin. Harmony Home Children's Advocacy Center officially began construction of their new state-of-the-art facility on Wednesday, celebrating the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony.
Crime Stoppers looking for public’s help identifying Permian High School burglary suspects
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Odessa Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in identifying individuals suspected of burglarizing Permian High School early Tuesday morning.According to Crime Stoppers, the burglary happened at around 3:30 a.m. when the suspects entered the school by accessing the ...
Ector County man sentenced to 99 years for workplace murder
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) - An Ector County jury has found a man guilty of murder and sentenced him to 99 years.According to the Ector County District Attorney’s Office, Anthony Cortez shot his co-worker, Marcos Criddle, where they worked on Nov. 5, 2024.Prosecutors said surveillance video showe...
Texas Gov. says dozens rescued during floods so far, urges continued diligence
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a severe weather briefing and press conference Wednesday afternoon.
GECU breaks ground in Odessa, marking first location outside El Paso
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - GECU broke ground on a new branch in Odessa, marking the credit union’s first location outside of El Paso and its second branch in Texas.GECU President and CEO Alex Rascon said the branch is prepared to support and serve the Odessa area. At the groundbreaking, the credit un...
Man arrested after firing a weapon at a woman
MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - A man has been arrested after a disturbance with a weapon at a Midland Apartment Complex.It happened Wednesday just before 2pm in the 3000 block of North Midland Drive.MPD reported a male subject fired off a weapon during an argument with a woman. After police arrived, the...
Harmony Home breaks ground on new $10M Facility
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - A longtime Permian Basin nonprofit is expanding right in its own backyard.Harmony Home Children’s Advocacy Center broke ground on a $10 million new facility aimed at increasing access to services for children and families who have experienced sexual and physical abuse. Lead...
Man charged with murder after woman found shot inside Iraan home
IRAAN, Texas (KOSA) - A man is in custody after a woman was found shot and killed inside a home in Iraan Tuesday night.Deputies responded to a home on East 7th Street following a 9-1-1 call. Inside, they found 47-year-old Claudia Ortiz with an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at th...
Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that he is rolling out a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency” among troops, calling it necessary to allow them to operate at their "absolute best.” The screenings will be conducted annually as part of service memb...
Ector County man sentenced to 99 years for murder conviction
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Anthony Cortez was found guilty of Murder in the 1st degree by an Ector County Jury and sentenced to 99 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, plus a $10,000 fine. On November 5th, 2024, Cortez shot his co-worker, Marcos Criddle, at their worksite. Su...
FIRST ALERT: Heavy rain & flash flooding threat continues across parts of West Texas through end of workweek
MIDLAND-ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - The potential for heavy rainfall and flash flooding continues across parts of West Texas through the end of the workweek along with well below-normal temperatures.FLOOD WATCHA Flood Watch continues across most of West Texas through Thursday evening as several rounds...
US stocks rise within 0.5% of their record, even as oil prices keep climbing
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK U.S. stocks ticked higher Wednesday following strong profit reports from BlackRock and other big companies. The tentative gains came as oil prices swung to their highest levels in a month because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% after flipping ...
Odessa Crimestoppers seeks help after Permian HS burglary
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - Odessa Crimestoppers is seeking public assistance in identifying individuals for burglary at Permian High School. At approximately 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, these suspects gained entry into Permian High School by accessing the building through the roof and burglarizin...
Be weather wise, utilize park alerts
Many Texas State Parks are experiencing heavy rains and subsequent flooding. Parkgoers are advised to check the state park map for alerts and to be weather wise for areas they plan to visit. Park alerts share the most up to date information for each property including area and full park closures....
Wanted Subject Update
Stacks and stacks of wax packs, now obsolete, summon the joy of baseball-card childhoods
By HOWIE RUMBERG The Associated Press NEW YORK The anticipation. The chase. The powdery, sugar-coated board of gum! For generations of baseball card fans, there was nothing like scrounging up some change and sprinting to the store to buy a wax pack. Some tore the slightly tacky paper wrapper open...
The Latest: Argentina and England revive their fierce rivalry in the World Cup semifinal
Argentina faces England in a World Cup semifinal match that pits soccer great Lionel Messi against the young superstar Jude Bellingham. The winner will meet Spain, whose defensive prowess and swagger allowed them to clinch a spot in the World Cup final with a 2-0 win against France on Tuesday. Fo...
CDC nominee says she won’t betray science — and also backs Kennedy’s actions
By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer The Trump administration’s latest nominee to lead the nation’ top public health agency drew frustrated reactions from some U.S. senators on Wednesday when they pressed her on whether she would protect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from political ...
DAILY OIL PRICE: July 15, 2026
Crude Oil: 79.60 (+0.26). Nymex MTD AVG: 71.9493. Natural Gas: 2.924 (+0.020). Gasoline: 3.3009 (+0.0736). Spreads: August/September (+0.48) September/October (+1.04). Plains WTI Posting: 76.08 (+0.26). The post DAILY OIL PRICE: July 15, 2026 appeared first on Odessa American.
Heavy rains keep drenching South Texas, tornado reported in San Antonio
By JESSE BEDAYN The Associated Press UVALDE, Texas Slow-moving storms drenched much of southern Texas with more heavy rain on Wednesday, prompting warnings to evacuate flooded areas after downpours washed out roads and farmland and led to dozens of high-water rescues across the region. The Natio...
House Republicans unveil a $95 billion plan for the Iran war, farm aid and elections
By KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO The Associated Press WASHINGTON House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $95 billion legislative plan focused on boosting defense, aiding farmers and enacting stricter voter registration rules, a sequel to the massive tax and spending cut bill that President Do...
OPD searching for man with felony warrant for theft
UPDATE: Andres Laabs was arrested in Midland and OPD would like to thank the public for their assistance with this investigation. The Odessa Police Department is currently searching for Andres Laabs, 42, who has a first-degree felony warrant for theft. Laabs stole approximately $400,000 from the ...
US producer prices drop 0.3% from May to June on lower energy prices, but outlook is cloudy
By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON U.S. wholesale inflation fell from May to June on plunging energy prices, but intensifying hostilities with Iran are clouding the outlook. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its producer price index — which captures inflation before it rea...
Harmony Home breaks ground on new facility
Celebrating a major milestone moment, Harmony Home Children’s Advocacy Center held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new 17,000 square-foot facility Wednesday. Located on 910 S. Grant Avenue right next to its current facility, the ceremony marked the start of a transformative project that will ex...
Iraan man arrested in connection with woman’s fatal shooting
IRAAN, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A 48-year-old man from Iraan, Texas, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman on Tuesday, according to the Pecos County Sheriff’s Office. Miguel Luna, 48, of Iraan, was arrested in connection with the death of 47-year-old Claudia Ortiz. Accordin...
7/15/26 11:30 AM 7-Day Forecast +3: Afternoon Scattered Showers
WEST TEXAS (KMID/KPEJ) - Heads up, West Texas, there will be more scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon going into the evening. Skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures rising to 82 degrees, then becoming cloudy toward daybreak, with a low around 66 degrees. Southeast winds will...
Andrews officers, community pay tribute to beloved K9 Iro at memorial service
Law enforcement and community members gathered Tuesday to honor the life and service of Andrews Police Department K9 Iro during a memorial service."Law enforcement and community members gathered Tuesday to honor the life and service of Andrews Police Department K9 Iro during a memorial service.
Texas agencies must cut spending by 3% under new order from Abbott, Patrick and Burrows
From left, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hold a bill-signing ceremony at the Texas Capitol on April 23, 2025, to create a Texas Department of Government Efficiency. Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune By Kayla Guo, The Texas Tribune Texas’ top e...
Big Spring seeks volunteers for Moss Creek Lake cleanup on July 18
The City of Big Spring and the Stelter Initiative are seeking volunteers and heavy equipment for a large-scale cleanup of Moss Creek Lake scheduled for July 18, 2026."
The band playing when a Bangkok bar caught fire mourns its members among the 33 dead
BANGKOK (AP) — Victims of this week’s flash fire at a Bangkok music ba r that took more than 30 lives included four of the six core members of the band playing when the blaze broke out. The fate of the Totsakan band has been a key focus in Thailand's coverage of the blaze, and [...]
Midland Officials Report a 65% increase in fire calls in June
Midland Fire Department officials reported a 65% increase in fire calls during June 2026 compared to the previous year, driven largely by a near doubling of incidents within Midland County.
Former Obama counsel Kathryn Ruemmler says Epstein used her to gain legitimacy
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI The Associated Press WASHINGTON Kathryn Ruemmler, the former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs who was White House counsel to President Barack Obama, said Wednesday in testimony to Congress that it “was a mistake to deal with” Jeffrey Epstein but insisted she never witnessed crimin...
Are Americans more selective with health trends?
Talker News | Talker Half of Americans are looking to flip their approach to wellness on its head in 2026, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, split evenly by generation, looked at whether Americans are taking a simplified approach or leaning more toward “healthmaxxing” — an...
Blanche confronts skeptical questioning of fund, tax deal for Trump at Senate confirmation hearing
By ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER The Associated Press WASHINGTON Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted skeptical questioning at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about the creation of a fund to compensate allies of President Donald Trump and a tax immunity deal for the pre...
A bold and flavorful al fresco favorite
Feature Impact Warm breezes that linger longer into the evening, wafting appetizing aromas through the air can only mean one thing: it’s patio season. From casual porch gatherings to full-fledged backyard dinners, dining al fresco calls for vibrant dishes packed with flavor. Inspired by the bold ...
Man arrested over threat to shoot Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
LONDON (AP) — A man who made a threat on social media to shoot Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage was arrested, police said on Wednesday, as concerns grow over the security of British politicians following the killing last week of former government minister Ann Widdecombe. The man was held on Tu...