Texas gives $125 million to rural sheriffs and prosecutors for pay increases
The 2023 legislation establishing the grant program also includes new equipment for rural sheriffs. 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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![Several vehicles were parked outside of the Real County Sheriff’s Office in Leakey on Jan. 12, 2022.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Driving in West Texas is deadly dangerous. A new report measures how much.
A nonprofit commissioned the report that found severe and fatal vehicle crashes in the Permian Basin far outpaced the state. Full Story
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![Morning oilfield traffic on West Broadway Street in Andrews.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ oil and gas production surges even as federal government clamps down on environmental regulations
Crude oil and natural gas extraction in Texas reached record levels in 2023, according to the industry’s annual report. Full Story
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![A Diamondback Energy engineer walks around the base of a drilling rig Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Martin County.]()
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Texas regulators limit oil and gas disposal wells in bid to reduce earthquakes in West Texas
Injecting saltwater back into the ground “is likely contributing to recent seismic activity,” the Railroad Commission of Texas has said. Full Story
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![A produced water tank sits as part of a tank battery at an injection well site Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 outside of Odessa. The injection facility is located less than two miles from a new suburban development north of Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Midland settles with company to drill wastewater wells near the city’s drinking water supply
The city initially protested Pilot’s applications to drill the wells close to its water supply. Full Story
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![A water tower at the Midland International Air & Space Port on Jan. 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety contractors pave the intersection of Austin Street and Pine Street Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 in Kermit. The intersection, according to the mayor of Kermit, David Holbrook, is one of the busiest in town with a large majority of the traffic consisting of 18-wheelers hauling sand for the oilfields.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
A Texas politician wants to provide emergency services to constituents who don’t have them. Will they let him?
In unincorporated West Odessa, residents relish their freedom. And they also go without basic services. Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett, a young Republican with Ronald Reagan good looks and politics, wants to change that. Full Story
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![Pigeons flock to Jesús Rodriguez as he feeds his chickens “scratch,” bird feed, while organizing the junkyard behind his home Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in West Odessa. “I come here for therapy,” Rodriguez said about tending to his animals during stressful moments. He raises a variety of animals not otherwise allowed within city limits including his fowl, goats and a donkey.]()
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An effort to prepare West Texas students to work in the oil and gas industry is expanding
The expansion, which will start with a smaller pilot in four high schools between Texas and New Mexico, is being paid for by the Permian Strategic Partnership, a group funded by major energy producers. Full Story
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![From left, Legacy High School juniors Giovanni Parra, 17, Luke Frysak, 17, and Isaiah Estrada, 16, take part in a lesson on electrical circuits during their Oil and Gas Production II class Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 in Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools asked voters for $18 billion in new debt to fix its campuses. They largely said yes.
The voter approval rate for school maintenance and construction costs dipped in 2021 after lawmakers required school boards to call them “tax increases.” Full Story
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![School bond supporters celebrate after one of Ector County Independent School District’s three bond propositions were passed during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
In a hot oil and gas economy, a West Texas welder charts his own course one cup of coffee at a time
Fabian Maldonado has supported his Odessa family for years on his welding salary. Wanting more, he’s gambling that a mobile coffee trailer can withstand the booms and busts of the industry. Full Story
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![Homebrew Coffee Co. owner Fabian Maldonado poses for a portrait Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune