Texas Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projects
About $45 million will go to Texas towns with fewer than 1,000 residents — a boon for municipalities without a viable tax base. Full Story
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Carlos Nogueras Ramos
Permian Basin Reporter
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Carlos Nogueras Ramos is a regional reporter based in Odessa. Carlos joined The Texas Tribune in 2023 as a corps member with Report for America. Carlos tells the stories of Texas from the vast energy-rich Permian Basin region. Before the Tribune, Carlos spent time in Philadelphia writing about local politics, including the city’s 100th mayoral election. A Spanish speaker, Carlos was one of the few Latino reporters on the campaign trail, covering the most expensive primary election to date in Philly. He is a proud Puerto Rico native, born and raised in Cayey. He studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the University of Puerto Rico.
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![Director of the Program Administration and Reporting division of the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Supply and Infrastructure Department Marvin Cole-Chaney speaks to the water development board Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Austin.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
After three citywide water outages, Odessa will invest $25 million to fix infrastructure
The Odessa City Council approved the budget to replace nearly 200 water valves and 17,000 feet of pipe. Full Story
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![City of Odessa Water Distribution employees work through the night as they attempt to repair a broken water main Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Odessa. According to Mayor of Odessa Javier Joven, repairs were completed around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday.]()
Credit: Courtesy Odessa American/Eli Hartman -
What’s the value of planting trees? Conservation groups say a new formula can tell them.
Donors are increasingly asking conservation groups to produce data on the value of their environmental work. A group’s new method helps them show their impact. Full Story
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![Jasper, Texas: An overhead view of Huff Creek Road and the bridge where James Byrd Jr. was beaten and chained May 29, 2023 in Jasper, Texas. Mark Felix/The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Truckers hope protest over unpaid hours and lack of restrooms will spark a Permian Basin labor movement
Truckers say they can wait up to 18 hours without pay to load or unload fracking sand. The drilling sites often lack restrooms. Full Story
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![Cesar Adrian Gonzalez Lopez, a driver for Toreados Trucking LLC, a New Mexico based company, poses for a photo Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in Monahans.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Odessa residents face another water outage
The fast-growing Permian Basin city has faced years of water problems due to crumbling infrastructure. The system last shut off in May. Full Story
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![City officials monitor the progress of repairing a damaged water main near 42nd Street and San Jacinto Street on June 14, 2022 in Odessa.]()
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For the first time, West Texas has a permanent LGBTQ+ community center
A local volunteer died by suicide ahead of the center’s grand opening, reminding the West Texas community why such spaces are important. Full Story
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![Adriana Aguilar, chair of Basin Pride, embraces PFLAG President, Peggy Reeves, after her talk on stage about the tragic suicide of their friend, volunteer and performer, Luna Harrison during the Pride Festival hosted by Basin Pride at The Vine in Odessa, Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Cummings for The Texas Tribune -
Unchecked growth around Big Bend sparks debate over water — a prelude for Texas
No one knows how much water sits beneath the desert of Terlingua. Residents worry their wells will run dry, as developers and local officials cheer the tourism boom. Full Story
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![Rick and Georganne Bradbury drive down a remote mountain road after delivering water to a client on Terlingua Ranch. Keeping his business afloat is a constant concern for Rick, who said he’s spent thousands of dollars on replacing car parts and spare water tanks damaged by the terrain.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texans are falling behind on their light bills — especially during extreme heat
One organization helping Texans pay their electric bills said the average household was $1,400 behind. Full Story
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![Mary Ann Estrella sits for a portrait inside her apartment in Midland, Texas, on April 20, 2024.]()
Credit: Reilly Strand for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lizard added to endangered species list over the oil and gas industry’s objections
The dunes sagebrush lizard lives in the same West Texas land that supports the state’s biggest oil and gas fields, and industry leaders say the new designation will hurt drilling and production. Full Story
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![Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.]()
Credit: Ryan Hagerty/USFWS -
Odessa shuts off entire water system due to leak in water line
It’s the second time in two years Odessa has lost water. Officials expect restoration within hours but boil-water notice to remain in effect until Monday. Full Story
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![City of Odessa Water Distribution employees work through the night as they attempt to repair a broken water main Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Odessa. According to Mayor of Odessa Javier Joven, repairs were completed around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune