Midland Times

News from June 2024


Lawmakers urge USDA to lift ban on predator control devices for ranchers

Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) led a bicameral letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding the agency roll back its ban on purchasing or deploying M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices.


MPD to host Kids Academy this summer

This summer marks the return of the Midland Police Department (MPD) Kids Academy. Slated to run from June 10-14, the academy is currently seeking young participants.


MISD officials break ground on new elementary school

Midland Independent School District (MISD) officials have initiated the construction of a new 92,500-square-foot elementary school near the city’s Lone Star Trails subdivision. The school, which has yet to be named, is part of the 2023 bond projects approved by voters in November 2023.


Governor Abbott criticizes President Biden's new executive order on immigration

Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement today in response to President Joe Biden's recent executive order, which legalizes millions of undocumented immigrants already in the United States and permits thousands more to cross the southern border daily.


Governor Abbott announces small business summit in Pampa

Governor Greg Abbott announced that the next 2024 Governor’s Small Business Summit will be held in Pampa on Thursday, June 13. The summits, held throughout the year across various regions of Texas, aim to assist small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs by connecting them with necessary resources and information for starting, strengthening, and growing their businesses.


Higher Orbits Go For Launch! program to return to Midland

Higher Orbits, a non-profit organization that assists high school students in pursuing careers in STEM, is relaunching its Go For Launch! program in Midland on June 11-12. Higher Orbits will host the event at Abell JH Library, in which the event will be the first of three events throughout the school year, as part of Go For Launch! Midland's Apollo series. The program’s return was announced in a press release on June 3.


Nearly 30 board and commission seats to open in Midland

MIDLAND, TEXAS -- There will be 29 City of Midland board and commission seats available when the Midland City Council begins making appointments for the new fiscal year in September.


Deep Blue Midland Basin acquires Lagoon Operating

Deep Blue Midland Basin LLC, a joint venture between Diamondback Energy and Five Point Energy LLC, announced the acquisition of Lagoon Operating in a press release on June 3.


Grand Companion to Host Hike with Homeless Pets

Grand Companion will hold its regular Hike with Homeless Pets event at Sibley Nature Center on Thursday, June 6, from 9am to 10am, at 1307 E Wadley Ave in Midland.



AST SpaceMobile, Verizon form strategic partnership

The Midland Spaceport Business Park announced that a strategic partnership has been formed between AST SpaceMobile and Verizon late last month. The goal of the partnership is to achieve 100% geographical coverage of the continental U.S. from space on premium 850 MHz cellular spectrum.


Midland Bond Advisory Committee gives update to school projects approved in last year’s school bond

The status of the 2023 Midland Independent School District (MISD) School Bond was provided by the Bond Advisory Committee for the third time this year.


Legislation aims to improve wildfire prediction with enhanced NOAA resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chairwoman of the Senate Commerce Committee, have introduced the Fire Ready Nation Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance emergency management and firefighting capabilities by improving wildfire prediction, response, and preparation.


Broadway In The Basin announces new season lineup for Wagner Noël PAC

Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center and Nederlander National Markets have announced the 2024-2025 Broadway In The Basin Season.


MDC board updated on expanded transportation training at Midland College

In 2023, the Midland Development Corporation (MDC) Board of Directors approved an agreement to expand Midland College’s Transportation Training Program. The funds from MDC were matched by a High Demand Jobs Training Grant through a partnership with Workforce Solutions of the Permian Basin. This expansion included the acquisition of a new Peterbilt truck and 20 scholarships for program participants.


Senator Cruz introduces new bill aiming to maintain sanctions on Nord Stream 2

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Andy Barr (R-Ky.-6) have introduced the Securing Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2024 (SEESA) in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This bill aims to preserve sanctions mandated under the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act (PEESA). PEESA, co-authored by Senators Cruz and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), was signed into law in 2019 and immediately halted construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The existing sanctions are set to expire at the...


Midland alumna transitions from retail management to critical care nursing

Tanta Hulsey worked in retail management for ten years, but in January 2012, after spending Christmas in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with her grandfather, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.



MISD breaks ground on new elementary school

The Midland Independent School District (MISD) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 4 for its new elementary school. The campus is the first of the 2023 bond projects to be constructed.


City announces one-day closure of Hogan Park Golf Course for PBAP Tournament

The city of Midland announced that Hogan Park Golf Course will be closed on June 10 for the Sixth Annual Permian Basin Association of Pipeliners (PBAP) Golf Tournament. The tournament is slated to take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the event's webpage.