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schools

William Beckmann to headline Sul Ross Athletics benefit concert Nov. 13

Texas Country Music Star William Beckmann will headline the “Live at Gallego” athletics benefit concert on Friday, Nov. 13, on the Sul Ross State University campus in Alpine. A bilingual Texas-born singer-songwriter, Beckmann has quickly emerged as one of country music’s most dis...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

SULLUM: Why conservative Republicans are worried about license plate cameras

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott froze state funding for automated license plate readers, acknowledging concerns about the warrantless surveillance enabled by such AI-assisted cameras. Abbott took that step the day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican, declared ...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

schools

Most states prompt schools to teach about 9/11, but the details differ, AP finds

By JENNIFER PELTZ The Associated Press For three days this summer, teachers converged at the Flight 93 National Memorial in remote western Pennsylvania to talk about 9/11. How best to educate a new generation about the attacks 25 years ago? Which details are appropriate for young...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Ken Paxton whistleblower endorses James Talarico in Texas’ U.S. Senate race

David Maxwell, former Texas Ranger and top aide to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is sworn in on day four of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate on Sept. 8, 2023. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune David Maxwell, the...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets 25 years after 9/11

By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer LAS VEGAS For decades, the airport security checkpoint has marked the end of the road for friends and relatives seeing off a traveler. That is changing for some travelers. The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new pro...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

Local

Raising Cane’s celebrates 30 years of raising spirits, 35 years of Kidd’s Kids

Fifteen years, more than $1.3 million donated and more than 150 families supported. This September, Raising Cane’s celebrates a milestone partnership with Kidd’s Kids and invites customers across Midland and Odessa to be part of what comes next. On Tuesday, September 15, particip...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Last call: Be a hero for local kids

One Accord for Kids’ fifth annual Superhero Run is just around the corner, and community heroes of all ages still have time to sign up. Participants can run, walk and show off their best superhero costumes during the Kids 1K, 5K or 10K, all while helping support children and fami...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Pride Marfa announces 2026 lineup and full event schedule

MARFA Following its initial event announcement, Pride Marfa has unveiled the complete talent roster and detailed schedule for its fifth annual celebration, returning September 11-13. The high-desert festival brings a full weekend of contemporary art, live performance, film, night...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

business

Midland Chamber to host inaugural State of Healthcare luncheon

MIDLAND The Midland Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural State of Healthcare luncheon, presented by ExxonMobil, this Wednesday, bringing together healthcare, business, and community leaders for an important conversation on the current state and future of healthcare in Midl...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

PHOTO GALLERY: Time to Remember

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Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

GOOD NEWS: World Mission Society Church of God helps others

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Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

government

From the Lockerbie bombing to 9/11: How attacks on flights defined US air travel

By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer Taking a commercial flight from a U.S. airport generally requires a boarding pass to get anywhere near a gate, security screening controlled by the federal government and careful attention to the contents of carry-on bags. It wasn’t alwa...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

schools

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Compass Academy not panicking after 0-2 start

It may not have been the start to the season that Compass Academy was hoping for but head coach Boe Smith and his players aren’t sounding the alarm. Despite sitting at 0-2, the Cougars are still keeping a positive vibe. The team is coming off consecutive close losses, with a 21-1...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

safety

Wreath laying ceremony to honor to fallen officer

The Odessa Police Department will hold a wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12, at sunrise (approximately 7:31 a.m.), to pay tribute to Fallen Corporal Abel Marquez, who died in the line of duty on September 12, 2007. The public is invited to attend the wreath laying cerem...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Cyclospora outbreak followed years of declining FDA foreign inspections

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON A nationwide outbreak of cyclospora tied to contaminated lettuce has heightened safety concerns about imported food, while underscoring a longer-term trend: U.S. regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch cont...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

business

Fall cooking for a September that hasn’t cooled off

Apple farms are open, restaurant menus have turned and the air conditioner hasn’t cut off since June. Photo credit: Depositphotos By Lucy Brewer Flip the calendar to September, and suddenly pumpkin spice is everywhere. Apple farms open for the season, and restaurants start changi...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

schools

Americans’ satisfaction with schools is at a low point, new Gallup poll shows

By JOCELYN GECKER AP Education Writer Americans’ satisfaction with the quality of K-12 education in the country has hit a low point, driven by a growing political divide and concerns that schools are not preparing children for college and future jobs. Just 32% of American adults ...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Texas A&M Forest Service offers funding for invasive plant management

COLLEGE STATION Texas A&M Forest Service launched a new cost-share program to help Texans manage invasive plants on their property. The Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program began accepting applications Sept. 1. A total of $140,000 is available through the program to ...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

Local

Midland-Odessa weekly gas price update: September 8, 2026

Average gasoline prices in Midland-Odessa have risen 12.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.77/g Tuesday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 156 stations in Midland-Odessa. Prices in Midland-Odessa are 38.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 99.9 cent...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 8, 2026

News

Dems react to Trump post suggesting changing New Mexico's name

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- President Donald Trump has gotten quite a reaction after he posted on social media a map suggesting that New Mexico should be renamed "New America." Trump only posted the map and did not put any text or explanation about it. It shows a map of the state of...

Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar)Sep 8, 2026

News

Toxic metals found in many toys sold near El Paso border

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- The toys you are buying for your kids and grandkids may not be as safe as you think. That's according to a new study done by researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso. Nearly four out of five children's toys purchased in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez ...

Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar)Sep 7, 2026

safety

OPD: 18-year-old used Snapchat to lure 12-year-old rape victim

An Odessa man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met via Snapchat in July was arrested on an outstanding warrant last Tuesday. According to an Odessa Police Department report, the girl told authorities in mid-July she’d met an unknown man on Snapchat weeks prior...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 7, 2026

News

Build heart-healthy habits that last with 4 simple, everyday steps

Feature Impact Your heart works around the clock, making heart health one of the most important parts of your overall well-being. The good news is improving heart health doesn’t require an overnight transformation. Small, consistent lifestyle changes and healthy habits, including...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 7, 2026

News

PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene Christian at Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders hosted Abilene Christian in their season opener Saturday. Photos by Mark Rogers. #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://www.oaoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/260905-Tech-ACU-01-160x120.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlid...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 7, 2026

News

1 in 5 Texans experience food insecurity as food banks struggle to keep up with demand

Volunteers and a group participating from Shell’s health program sort and prepare food at Houston Food Bank in Houston on Aug. 12, 2026. Credit: Hope Mora for The Texas Tribune By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune HOUSTON When West Houston Assistance Ministries’ food pantry floo...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 7, 2026

News

Volcanic island in Indonesia erupts, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A volcano erupted in Indonesia on Sunday, prompting the cancellation of all flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and disrupting other domestic airports as about 170,000 passengers were stranded by ash drifting across western parts of...

Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar)Sep 7, 2026

safety

HCVD on scene of large fire near Forsan

HOWARD COUNTY, Texas (KOSA) - The Howard County Volunteer Fire Department has reported that the fire is out. The Howard County Volunteer Department is currently on scene of a large fire outside of Forsan off of FM 821. The department says additional resources have been called in ...

CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com)Sep 6, 2026

News

A guide to choosing mums for the fall garden — beyond the classic cushion

By JESSICA DAMIANO The Associated Press September marks the beginning of the great summer-to-fall garden transition and, although most summer plants still have life left in them, many gardeners are turning their attention to the iconic chrysanthemum. The majority of mums sold in ...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

News

Prepare the landscape for the change of seasons

By Melinda Myers As summer comes to an end, it’s time to prepare landscapes for fall and winter. Proper fall care helps increase plants’ winter survival, supports pollinators, and promotes the overall health, longevity, and beauty of a landscape. Continue watering as needed. This...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

Local

MASTER GARDENERS: Where good things grow

By Brandy Goodman Permian Basin Master Gardener Intern At first, our pond began as something we created for ourselves. We wanted a place where we could sit in the evenings and listen to the waterfall. We stamped out the shape with sharp shovels and sliced out the outline. It ende...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

News

IT’S GEEK TO ME: Getting around Windows File Explorer performance bottlenecks

Question: Besides starting my Windows 11 laptop in Safe Mode, how can I configure it to open with minimal “stuff” running? My File Explorer seems to choke/freeze, requiring restart, after I select too many files at once to say sort all by a certain file attribute (date taken in t...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

News

PET OF THE WEEK: Taz

Taz, a 4-year-old Shepherd mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. He is fully vetted and looking for a foster or forever home. After losing both of his eyes to irreversible glaucoma, Taz hasn’t let blindness stop him from enjoying life! He loves being outside, smelling the pl...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

schools

The Iranian school struck in the war's earliest attacks is now a memorial for children

MINAB, Iran (AP) — This will never be a school again. Its bright blue gate is still painted with the symbols that once welcomed children: Iran’s map, oversized pencils and portraits of legends in science and literature. But now, the walkway beyond it guides visitors past rows of ...

Yourbasin / Big 2 KMID + Fox 24 KPEJ (Nexstar)Sep 6, 2026

Local

PET OF THE WEEK: Zoey

Zoey, a 9-year-old Blue Lacy mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. This sweet senior is good with large male dogs and is currently battling skin cancer, but she still deserves the comfort and love of a forever home. To adopt Zoey or any of the other pets at the Humane Societ...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026

News

What recommendations are pet parents getting from AI?

Talker News | Talker “Can pets see ghosts?” “Do dogs know they are dogs?” and “Is my pet jealous?” are among the strange questions pet owners admit they’ve asked artificial intelligence, according to new research . Nearly half of respondents (47%) say they’ve turned to AI with un...

Odessa American (oaoa.com)Sep 6, 2026