Midland Times

News from October 2023


Odessans for a Bright Future promotes the Ector County Schools’ bond proposal

The three separate bond proposals for Ector County Schools will soon be on the ballot for residents to vote on. To promote these proposals, Odessans for a Bright Future has released a promotional video featuring Tatum Hubbard, the spokesperson for the organization.


Ector County Independent School District addresses pair of safety incidents

In the wake of an alleged threat to its elementary schools and the unrelated lockdown at Sam Houston Elementary on Oct. 24, the Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) announced that has assessed both matters, as well as communicated with concerned parents. Per ECISD, the former incident caused the district to place all elementary campuses into a Secure – all students and staff are inside and visitors are restricted – at about 9:30 a.m. that day without any sort of clarification.


Former Midland Mayors discuss Midland Schools’ bond proposal

Earnest Angelo and Mike Cannon, both former mayors of Midland, have expressed their concerns about the bond proposal put forth by Midland schools. Midland residents will have the opportunity to vote on the bond in less than two weeks.


Joven mourns victims of mass shooting in Maine

Odessa Mayor Javier Joven expressed his condolences for the victims of a mass shooting in Maine that occurred on Oct. 25. The incident, which took place at a bowling alley in Lewiston, resulted in at least a dozen fatalities. For Mayor Joven, the shooting hit close to home as it served as a painful reminder of the mass shooting that took place in the Permian Basin on Aug. 31, 2019.


New recovery church group offers “hope and healing” for those in need

Paul Greene's journey from the depths of addiction to the pulpit gives hope for anyone seeking a path out of substance abuse. His group provides support, guidance, and Christian-based recovery resources for individuals struggling with addiction in Midland, Texas.


Mayor Blong: ‘A healthy, happy life is built on good choices — stay on the right path’

Mayor Blong of Midland, TX, joined junior high students at Goddard Junior High to kick off Red Ribbon Week, an annual event that aims to promote drug awareness and prevention among young people. During the event, Mayor Blong and the students signed a pledge to remain drug-free in their lives.


Mayor Blong: ‘It was inspiring to spend time with these future leaders’

Midland City Hall recently welcomed a local Girl Scout Troop for a visit, where the girls had the opportunity to learn about how the city operates and the importance of civic engagement. Mayor Lori Blong, along with women from the police and fire departments, spent time with the girls, inspiring and sharing insights with them.


Mayor Blong: ‘Midland is proud to be a part of your 50 years, UTPB’

Mayor Lori Blong of Midland, Texas, congratulated the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) on its 50th anniversary. Blong read a proclamation at a special event in honor of the university, expressing her pride in Midland's connection to UTPB.


H.S. football preview: Midland Christian Mustangs (3-5, 1-2) vs. Southwest Christian School Eagles (5-3, 0-2)

Midland Christian Mustangs (3-5, 1-2) vs. Southwest Christian School Eagles (5-3, 0-2)


Arrington hails new House Speaker Johnson as 'right person at the right time'

U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington (R-Lubbock) expressed his support for U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the new House Speaker, stating that Johnson is the "right person at the right time." Arrington, who has known Johnson for a long time, described him as "a man of integrity, a principled conservative, and a courageous leader."


Pfluger proud of vote for Louisiana lawmaker as House Speaker

U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R-San Angelo) proudly supported U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the next House Speaker. In an Oct. 25 press release, Pfluger praised Johnson as a constitutional lawyer and one of the strongest conservatives in Congress who has fought for fundamental freedoms and traditional values.


Midland City Council issues proclamation for World Polio Day

Midland City Council issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 24, 2023, "World Polio Day." The proclamation is a part of an effort to raise awareness of polio, which, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), describes as an infectious disease that may cause paralysis in human beings. According to an Oct. 24 Facebook post by the city of Midland, the 118-year-old non-profit service group Rotary International is at the forefront, with Rotary Club of Midland and Midland West Rotary Club in the fight. "We encourage all citizens to support this ongoing effort to eradicate...


Deputy superintendent: MISD 'immensely proud of the progress we have made in improving student discipline and decreasing disruptive behavior incidents'

Fights are an unfortunate part of the school day, but the Midland Independent School District (MISD) announced that the current academic year began with a steep decline in the number of physical confrontations. Per the Permian Basin public school district, recently released data revealed that student fights dropped 30% compared to the same time last year.


Abbott touts Texas as nation's most business friendly as state breaks total jobs record two straight years

Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the state of Texas has broken the total jobs record for two consecutive years. The governor, a Republican, celebrated the achievement upon the release of the figures for the month of September.


City of Midland City Council met Oct. 17

City of Midland City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 17


Rangers dethrone Astros to win Lone Star themed ALCS

By easily winning Game 7 of the Lone Star themed 2023 American League Championship Series (ALCS) by a score of 11-4, the Texas Rangers unseated the Houston Astros as World Series champions and now have a chance of capturing their first-ever Fall Classic victory in franchise history.





UTPB kicks off 50th anniversary celebration

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is celebrating a major milestone as it marks its 50th anniversary since its founding in 1973. To commemorate this occasion, the cities of Odessa and Midland have both proclaimed Oct. 23 as "UTPB Day" in their respective jurisdictions.