Honestly, if you live anywhere near the Permian Basin, you already know that the local news cycle is a wild ride. It’s not just about tumbleweeds and high school football scores anymore. Between the constant shift in oil prices and the way social media can turn a rumor into "fact" in about thirty seconds, staying on top of NewsWest 9 breaking news has become a daily necessity for folks in Midland and Odessa.
But here is the thing: what ends up on your screen at 6:00 PM is usually just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot of noise out there. Just this week, everyone was buzzing about a viral video claiming Earth would lose gravity for seven seconds in August. Sounds like a bad sci-fi movie, right? Local astronomy officials had to step in via NewsWest 9 to debunk the whole thing, explaining it was a total hoax linked to a "secret NASA project" that doesn’t exist.
The Oil Boom That Isn't a Boom (Yet)
One of the biggest stories hitting the wires right now is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report regarding the Woodford and Barnett shales. They found a staggering 1.6 billion barrels of oil and 28.3 trillion cubic feet of gas that are technically recoverable.
That sounds like "get rich quick" news, but the reality is more complicated.
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Stephen Robertson from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association pointed out something most people overlook: these resources are nearly 20,000 feet deep. We have the tech to get them, but with oil prices hovering in the mid-50s, it’s not always profitable to go that deep. It's basically a massive savings account we can't quite afford to withdraw from yet. It’s not going to flood the market tomorrow or drop your gas prices by a dollar, but it secures the region's relevance for decades.
Crime and Safety in the Basin
While the big energy news dominates the headlines, the day-to-day NewsWest 9 breaking news often focuses on more immediate community safety issues. Recently, we've seen a spike in high-stakes legal outcomes and local arrests that have kept the Midland County Sheriff's Office busy.
- The Counterman Case: Michael Andrew Counterman was recently sentenced to life in prison plus a $10,000 fine for continuous sexual abuse of a child. It was a week-long trial that shook the local community.
- The Lemonwood Lane Burglary: Two people were caught red-handed inside an East Odessa home where they definitely weren't supposed to be.
- Recovered Firearms: Richard Raul Gonzales, a 37-year-old identified by authorities as a confirmed gang member, was arrested after a haul of stolen guns was recovered in Midland County.
It’s heavy stuff. But it’s the kind of information that helps you decide which neighborhoods to keep a closer eye on or which local events might need a bit more security presence.
Why Local Reporting Still Wins
You've probably noticed that national news tends to treat West Texas like a monolith. They talk about "The Oil Patch" and move on. Local outlets like NewsWest 9 (which is an NBC affiliate owned by TEGNA) actually stick around for the follow-up.
Take the recent weather, for instance. We’re coming off a very chilly weekend with snow squalls sweeping across the plains. A national forecaster might give you a generic "cold front" warning, but local news is telling you exactly which roads in Ector County are icing over and which high school basketball doubleheaders—like the recent Permian vs. Odessa High sweep—are getting rescheduled or delayed.
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Beyond the Basin: National Stories Hitting Home
Sometimes the breaking news isn't local at all, but it affects us just the same.
- National Popcorn Day: Tomorrow, January 19, movie chains like AMC and Regal are doing crazy deals. Since it coincides with MLK Day, it's basically a long weekend of cheap snacks.
- Product Recalls: There is a massive recall on Frigidaire mini-fridges (nearly a million units) because they’re literally catching fire. If you have a dorm-sized fridge in your garage, you might want to check that serial number.
- Health Alerts: Measles is making a comeback in 2026. There have been 171 cases across nine states so far this year. While the 2025 outbreak in West Texas ended in August, health officials are still on high alert because the "view line" of the current spread is creeping closer to our region.
The Human Side of the News
It’s not all crime and oil. Some of the best stories are just... weirdly human. NewsWest 9 recently covered an Italian grandmother in Palombara Sabina who invited tourists to cook pasta with her. It turned into a global phenomenon.
Why does that matter to someone in Midland? Because we’re a community that values tradition and hard work. Seeing a small-town idea go global resonates here. We also saw this with the 74th Midland County Livestock Show, which just wrapped up. It’s not just about showing off goats and cows; it’s about the scholarship money and the future of the kids growing up in the basin.
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Practical Steps for Staying Informed
If you’re tired of missing the "why" behind the headline, you’ve gotta change how you consume the news.
- Download the App: Honestly, the KWES app is the fastest way to get push alerts. Just turn off the "fluff" notifications so you only get the real breaking stuff.
- Verify Social Media: If you see a video saying we’re losing gravity or that the world is ending, check the NewsWest 9 "Verify" section. They usually debunk these things within hours.
- Watch the 10 PM: The evening broadcast usually has the "full" version of stories that were just snippets during the day.
The Permian Basin is changing fast. Between new head coaches like Chris Softley at UTPB and the ongoing trial updates from the Uvalde proceedings, there is a lot to keep track of. Staying informed isn't just about being "in the loop"—it's about knowing how the world around your front porch is shifting.
Check your fridge for that recall notice tonight. Seriously, those Frigidaire units are no joke. And maybe grab some of that discounted popcorn tomorrow; we all need a break from the heavy headlines once in a while.