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Coronavirus in Texas

He's used to oil booms and busts. But this pandemic has destroyed his livelihood.

Odessa native Erik Mancha says this latest downturn in crude prices is unlike any other, largely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Listen to his account in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

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Erik Mancha, an Odessa native, is struggling to keep his small business afloat in the wake of the oil crisis in Texas.
Credit: Courtesy of Erik Mancha

When the price of crude plummeted into the negatives, Eric Mancha lost all of his oil contracts and was forced to lay off 70% of his workforce. As an Odessa native, he's seen his share of booms and busts but says nothing compares to this latest hit.

Mancha recounts the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with an oil price dispute between Saudi Arabia and Russia, in the latest weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

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Alana Rocha’s staff photo

Alana Rocha

Director of News Partnerships

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