Community

Local community news, events, and neighborhood updates.

A pair of red Crocs, an insulin pen and a mystery solved through DNA

Forensic genetic genealogy helped investigators identify Robert LaFaire, whose remains were found in a tree line in February 2023.

James “Jimmy” Carter

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Community

How Democrats Won Texas: Analysts Point to Disillusioned Republicans and Latino Voters

On a warm November evening in Odessa, the buzz in local cafes and community centers was palpable. Families gathered around dinner tables, discussing the recent election results that seemed to rewrite the political landscape of Texas. For many residents, especially those who have called Odessa home...

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Community

Man sentenced for manufacturing, delivering controlled substance in Odessa narcotics investigation

On a quiet evening in Odessa, the calm was shattered by the sound of sirens and the determined footsteps of law enforcement officers. As neighbors peeked out their windows, they saw a man handcuffed and led away, a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking that plagues many...

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Vandalism at Big Spring State Park showing spray-painted rocks and damaged natural features

Community

Texas Parks and Wildlife seeks information on Big Spring State Park vandalism

On a bright Saturday morning in Odessa, the peaceful serenity of Big Spring State Park was shattered by an act of vandalism that left community members shaken and concerned. As families enjoyed the fresh air and children played near the park’s iconic spring, a group of individuals defaced the...

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Community

Crane man indicted in connection with reported kidnapping turned high-speed chase

Under the blazing Odessa sun, the roar of engines echoed through the busy streets one late summer afternoon, a scene that left residents rattled and hearts pounding. It was a day that started as an ordinary Thursday but quickly spiraled into chaos when a high-speed chase tore through the city,...

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Odessa courtroom where Sarah Gilley-Wroe was sentenced for the murder of her infant daughter in 2022

Community

Midland woman receives life in prison for 2022 murder of infant daughter

On a quiet morning in Odessa, the courtroom was heavy with emotion as Sarah Michelle Gilley-Wroe, a 24-year-old mother, faced the consequences of a tragedy that shook her community to its core. The courtroom was filled with somber faces, many of whom knew the heartbreaking story of a tiny life lost...

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Community

Odessa man on parole indicted in reported September strangling and beating of girlfriend

Under the bright Odessa sun, the community is grappling with unsettling news that has shaken many residents’ sense of safety and trust. Just last month, a young woman’s life was forever altered by a violent encounter that has now led to a legal case capturing local attention. As neighbors and loved...

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Community

Odessa man now sentenced in connection with April stolen city vehicle arrest

On a quiet spring morning in Odessa, the familiar hum of community life was interrupted by the unsettling news of a local man’s legal troubles. As residents went about their daily routines, the story of a 42-year-old Odessa man, now serving time for an incident involving a stolen city vehicle,...

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Odessa law enforcement officers respond to barricaded suspect during early morning standoff on Van Street

Community

Winkler County Sheriff's Office arrests barricaded suspect after follow-up on family violence victim

Under the quiet cover of dawn, the stillness of Odessa’s Van Street was shattered by a tense standoff that unfolded just before 1 a.m. on Thursday. A sheriff’s sergeant, following up on a distress call from a family violence victim, found himself in the middle of a harrowing situation that would...

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Odessa neighborhood scene with police presence and concerned residents after a shooting incident

Community

Big Spring Howard County Crime Stoppers seeks public's help in locating deadly shooting suspects

The quiet hum of Odessa’s neighborhood was shattered on a chilly October evening when the community learned of a tragic shooting that left a man fighting for his life. Neighbors gathered near the scene, their faces etched with concern and a shared desire for justice. As the sun dipped below the...

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Community

Texas Anti Gang Center traffic stop in Midland reportedly reveals felon in possession of a firearm

On a quiet Wednesday afternoon in Odessa, the routine hum of city life was momentarily interrupted by flashing lights and the tense atmosphere of a traffic stop that would reveal more than just a routine citation. As officers from the Tag Center Permian Basin pulled over a vehicle in the 2300 block...

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Community

Will Texans get $1,500? What must happen for Gina Hinojosa’s payment plan to become reality

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the streets of Odessa, residents gathered at the community center, buzzing with anticipation. The air was filled with hopeful chatter about a potential financial windfall that could change lives. Will Texans really receive $1,500? The...

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A somber scene depicting the area where the unidentified man was found in Humble, Texas.

Community

He was found wearing a belt with the initials 'RB' in Humble in 1987. Who was he?

On a quiet day in Humble, Texas, a mystery unfolded that would linger in the hearts of many for decades. In 1987, a man was discovered near Rankin Road, wearing cowboy boots and a belt emblazoned with the initials 'RB.' His identity, however, remained shrouded in uncertainty, leaving behind...

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