https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/The latest news by Carlos Nogueras Ramos.enMon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/west-texas-oil-gas-well-clean-up-legislation/The proposal comes after the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency said it needs more money to plug wells that are in some instances erupting.By Carlos Nogueras RamosMon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/west-texas-oil-gas-well-clean-up-legislation/State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, wants to spend millions of tax dollars collected from oil and gas companies to help clean up West Texas after years of oil and gas production.State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, listens to Jazmin Cazares as she testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety at the state capitol in Austin on June 23, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-environment-trump-biden-climate-change/The president-elect has pledged to weaken air pollution regulations, reverse efforts to slow climate change and continue to boost oil and gas production.By Alejandra Martinez and Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 08 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-environment-trump-biden-climate-change/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/odessa-texas-mayor-election/Odessa City Council critics have worried Joven and his allies have focused too much on social issues and not enough on infrastructure.By Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 05 Nov 2024 22:37:30 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/odessa-texas-mayor-election/Odessa Mayor-Elect Cal Hendrick, left, celebrates with supporters during an election night watch party on Tuesday in Odessa.Odessa Mayor-Elect Cal Hendrick, left, celebrates with supporters during an election night watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-railroad-commission-oil-well-blowouts-emergency-funding/Abandoned wells in the Permian Basin are increasingly erupting with briney, polluted water. The Texas Railroad Commission says it needs emergency money to respond.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 01 Nov 2024 14:14:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-railroad-commission-oil-well-blowouts-emergency-funding/Texas Railroad commissioner Christi Craddick, Wayne Christian and Jim Wright during an agency hearing in Austin on Nov. 30, 2021.Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick, then-Chairman Wayne Christian, and Commissioner Jim Wright listen during an RRC hearing in Austin on Nov. 30, 2021.Dimitri Staszewski for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/terlingua-water-conservation-guide/It’s unclear how much water resides underneath this booming West Texas tourist haven. That makes conservation critical.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 01 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/terlingua-water-conservation-guide/South Brewster County residents and tourists congregate on the porch of the Terlingua Trading Company in December.South Brewster County residents and tourists congregate on the porch of the Terlingua Trading Company in December.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/west-texas-water-supply/A yearslong dispute over exporting water to growing Texas cities offers a hint at the battles to come as the state’s population booms and water supply dwindles.By Carlos Nogueras RamosThu, 31 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/west-texas-water-supply/Belding Farms General Manager Zachary Swick poses for a portrait at the farm on Sept. 23, 2024, in Fort Stockton. The farm’s dispute over exporting water comes as the state’s population booms and water supply dwindles.General Manager Zachary Swick poses at Belding Farms on Sep 23, 2024Julian Mancha for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/23/odessa-texas-transgender-bathroom-ban/LGBTQ+ advocates called the ban one of the most extreme measures enacted by a local government.By Carlos Nogueras RamosWed, 23 Oct 2024 14:06:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/23/odessa-texas-transgender-bathroom-ban/The Odessa City Council at its Aug. 13 meeting. The council, led by Mayor Javier Joven, has focused on conservative social matters such as abortion and now transgender rights.The Odessa City Council listens to comments from a member of the public during a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/22/west-texas-well-blowout-oil-gas-sealed/While residents smelled rotten eggs, the state’s environmental agency said it has not detected any air pollution.By Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 22 Oct 2024 12:31:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/22/west-texas-well-blowout-oil-gas-sealed/An oil well blowout shoots a mixture of oil, water, and gas over 100 feet in the air west of Toyah on Oct. 4. The well was sealed on Monday.An oil well blowout shooting a mixture of oil, water, and gas over 100 feet in the air west of Toyah on Oct. 4, 2024.Justin Hamel courtesy of DeSmoghttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/10/west-texas-well-blowout-oil-gas-railroad-commission/Experts warn that more blowouts should be expected unless oil and gas companies change their methods.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Alejandra MartinezThu, 10 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/10/west-texas-well-blowout-oil-gas-railroad-commission/A well blowout shoots a mixture of oil, water, and gas over 100 feet in the air west of Toyah on Oct. 4.An oil well blowout shooting a mixture of oil, water, and gas over 100 feet in the air west of Toyah on Oct. 4, 2024.Justin Hamel courtesy of DeSmoghttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/04/west-texas-carbon-capture-project-occidental/Residents were worried about the impact on their drinking water while business leaders were excited for the new jobs.By Carlos Nogueras RamosFri, 04 Oct 2024 15:36:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/04/west-texas-carbon-capture-project-occidental/From left, Environmental Protection Agency officials Ken Johnson, Sona Chaudhary, Thomas Rucki and Scott Ellinger listen to testimony from West Texas residents during a public engagement hearing about the proposed construction of a series of carbon capture plants by Occidental Petroleum Oct. 3, in Odessa.From left, EPA officials Ken Johnson, Sona Chaudhary, Thomas Rucki and Scott Ellinger listen to testimony from West Texas residents during a public engagement hearing about the proposed construction of a series of carbon capture plants by Occidental Petroleum October 3, 2024, in Odessa.Vincent Bao for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/02/west-texas-carbon-capture-project-oxy/If approved, the Oxy carbon capture plant will be the largest in Texas. Critics worry the technology is not enough to beat back climate change.By Carlos Nogueras RamosWed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/02/west-texas-carbon-capture-project-oxy/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/12/odessa-texas-mayor-election-2024-javier-joven/Under Javier Joven’s leadership, his critics say, the Odessa City Council has lost focus on municipal issues like roads and water infrastructure.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Photos by Eli HartmanThu, 12 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/12/odessa-texas-mayor-election-2024-javier-joven/Odessa Mayor Javier Joven poses for a photo at his childhood home on Aug. 12, in Odessa.Javier Joven, Mayor of Odessa, poses for a photo at his childhood home Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/odessa-shooting-five-year-anniversary/“It’s like time passes, but it also freezes,” said Rosie Granados, whose twin sister was killed during the shooting.By Carlos Nogueras RamosThu, 29 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/odessa-shooting-five-year-anniversary/In the Bright Star Memorial Plaza in Odessa, a new monument honors the victims of the Odessa mass shooting on Aug. 31, 2019, in which seven people were killed, 25 wounded.Bright Star Memorial Plaza in Odessa, Texas construction for the victims of the Odessa mass shooting in 2019 on 8/21/24.Callie Cummings for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/22/can-a-small-business-withstand-changes-in-the-oil-economy/Before the pandemic, Ben Bilbrey worked with some of the largest oil companies. Now he’s waiting for the phone to ring.By Carlos Nogueras RamosThu, 22 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/22/can-a-small-business-withstand-changes-in-the-oil-economy/Benny Ford drives back to Benro Pump and Supply after picking up a downhole pumping unit from a well site near Goldsmith on Aug. 14.Benny Ford drives back to Benro Pump and Supply after picking up a downhole pumping unit from a well site Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, near Goldsmith.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/20/terlingua-ranch-texas-water/Residents at the sprawling Terlingua Ranch near Big Bend National Park will limit residents to 1,000 gallons of nondrinking water per month.By Carlos Nogueras RamosTue, 20 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/20/terlingua-ranch-texas-water/Marcos Carley checks the water level of his portable tote as he and his wife purchase nondrinking water from the Terlingua Ranch property owners association. The ranch just announced new restrictions on nondrinking water.Marcos Carley checks the water level of his portable tote as he and his wife purchase non-potable water from the Terlingua Ranch property owners association. Carley said he and his wife have to fill up their tote with nonpotable water every couple of weeks and must purchase drinking water from either Terlingua or Alpine, the latter being a nearly three-hour round trip.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/15/donald-trump-energy-policy-fact-check-election-2024/Texas is producing so much natural gas right now companies are losing money.By Carlos Nogueras RamosThu, 15 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/15/donald-trump-energy-policy-fact-check-election-2024/A series of four drilling rigs operate in a row outside of Tarzan Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Martin County.A series of four drilling rigs operate in a row outside of Tarzan Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Martin County.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/08/west-texas-ector-isd-school-funding/The Ector County school district boosted student learning but now faces financial uncertainty. It closed schools and cut costs to stay afloat, but it won’t slash teacher jobs.By Carlos Nogueras RamosThu, 08 Aug 2024 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/08/west-texas-ector-isd-school-funding/Bonham Middle School students enter the school’s cafeteria for lunch on Sept. 13, 2023, in Odessa. The school is part of the Ector County Independent School District.Bonham Middle School students enter the school’s cafeteria for lunch Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-execution-death-row-arthur-lee-burton/Burton was sentenced to death for killing Nancy Adleman, a mother of three, while she was jogging on a summer evening in Houston.By Kayla Guo and Carlos Nogueras RamosWed, 07 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-execution-death-row-arthur-lee-burton/Interior of death chamber in Texas.Interior of Death Chamber in Texas.Jenevieve Robbins/Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-oil-fracking-wastewater-injection-blowouts-permian-basin/An SMU study is the first scientific proof of a phenomenon local landowners have long warned was occurring.By Dylan Baddour, Inside Climate News, and Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas TribuneWed, 07 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-oil-fracking-wastewater-injection-blowouts-permian-basin/A driver for Allied Eagle Transports monitors the transfer of a load of salt water, a byproduct of fracking, to a salt water disposal site on June 25, 2024 south of Midland.Brandon Horton, a driver for Allied Eagle Transports, monitors the transfer of a load of salt water, a byproduct of fracking, to a salt water disposal site Tuesday, June 25, 2024, south of Midland.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/01/texas-oil-electricity-power-lines-fires-panhandle/No state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires.By Emily Foxhall, Jayme Lozano Carver and Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Graphics by Elijah Nicholson-MessmerThu, 01 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/01/texas-oil-electricity-power-lines-fires-panhandle/Craig Cowden points to a pump jack on his Breezy Point Ranch in Pampa on July 7. Cowden said he often spots problems with oilfield electrical equipment such as a pumpjack with faulty wiring or a power line lying on dead grass.Craig Cowden shows parts of his property that are negligent from oil companies using his land, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Breezy Point Ranch in Pampa, Texas. Cowden has made numerous complaints about the live wires and trash on his property.Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune