Good morning, Odessa.

Permian Basin Gives will begin next Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. and run until 11:59 p.m.—115 local nonprofits aim to raise $950,000 to support education, health, and human services in the area.

Organizers say even a small donation can help boost community support.

Odessa police are investigating a crash on May 11 at 8:24 p.m. on P Bar Ranch Rd. and Boot Ranch Road—two riders, a 36-year-old on a dirt bike and a 20-year-old on an ATV, were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries after not wearing helmets.

A 30-year-old man from Vera Cruz was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he admitted chasing another man with a sheetrock cutting blade and threatening to kill him on April 29 (he said the incident followed a comment that reached his mother) and he is held in Ector County jail (on an ICE hold with a $25,000 surety bond).

On May 8 at around 3:45 a.m., deputies responded to a fire at Second Chance Fellowship on Hillmont Road and found that the blaze was set during a burglary+ officials now say the State Fire Marshals Office is assisting in the investigation for a First-Degree Felony Arson involving a place of assembly.

The new Ellen Noel Art Museum in Odessa is under construction and is now 68% complete, with plans for two temporary exhibit galleries, one gallery for its permanent collection, a digital art media gallery, two classrooms and a large event space.

The project will complete major tasks in September so that art protection systems can run for 90 days before it opens with a gala on December 4th — project manager Steve Patton provided the details.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company is awarding a $100,000 grant to Odessa College to continue funding its safety institute that trains employers, workers and the public in workplace safety.

The seventh consecutive grant will expand hands-on programs in CPR, energy rescue and electrical lineman training in the Permian Basin.

District judges in Ector County say that 12 years without a raise has hurt morale and driven talent away as they handle high-stakes cases.

A committee has recommended a 30% salary increase—though judges say lawmakers in Austin do not fully understand the local impact of their heavy caseloads.

After a July 2024 container fire in northern Ector County released hazardous smoke and contaminated groundwater, the Texas House passed HB 3866 to ban chemical container facilities from operating within 2,000 feet of homes and to require registration with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill now heads to the Texas Senate for further consideration.

Friday Night Flicks – Toy Story

6:30-8:30 p.m. — Salinas Park — Free entry — Enjoy a family-friendly movie night featuring Toy Story with games and food trucks.

Odessa Hiring Fair

5-8 a.m. — Workforce Solutions Permian Basin — Free entry — Connect with diverse employers and explore job opportunities across various industries.

The Warner & Forbes Experience

5-8 p.m. — Brantley Creek BBQ — No cover charge — Enjoy the timeless era of classic rock songs with Warner & Forbes while savoring the best barbecue in Odessa.