🌱 Former Firefighter Faces Impersonation Charge + OpenGov Partnership

Hello there, Odessa-Midland. I'm here in your inbox today to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Breezy; strong p.m. t-storms. High: 94 Low: 78.
• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 90 Low: 73.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Odessa-Midland Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Odessa-Midland Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories in Odessa-Midland today:

1. Alfredo Flores, 30, a former member of the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department, is facing charges of impersonating a public servant. He was accused of using red and blue police emergency lights in his Chevrolet Impala to pick up individuals involved in a disturbance. Flores admitted to activating the lights to respond quickly to the scene, as one of the individuals involved had a daughter in the situation. He has been booked into the Ector County jail on suspicion of impersonation, which is a third-degree felony. (Odessa American)
2. The United States has experienced a significant increase in poverty rates, with the number of people living below the poverty line rising from 38.4 million in 2020 to 41.4 million in 2021, marking a 7.9 percent increase. This rise comes after seven consecutive years of declining poverty levels and is the largest single-year increase since the Great Recession. The national poverty rate stands at 12.8 percent, while certain metropolitan areas, like Odessa, have poverty rates exceeding 20 percent and lower median household incomes compared to the national average. (The Center Square)
3. The City of Midland partnered with OpenGov, a cloud software provider, to address its financial reporting challenges and enhance transparency with residents. The city sought a solution to improve its budget book and publish more financial content to build trust. By implementing OpenGov's Reporting & Transparency software, Midland aims to integrate financial, operating, and performance data in one accessible platform, enabling better decision-making and the creation of an interactive online budget book that explains financial decisions to the community. This collaboration reflects the city's commitment to modernizing work processes and leveraging cloud-based software designed for government needs. (EIN News)

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Today and tomorrow in Odessa-Midland:

Friday, June 30

• Live Music Fridays At SIDE Bar & Grill (7:00 PM)

Saturday, July 1

• Midland Downtown Farmers Market At 1705 W Missouri Avenue (8:00 AM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Father's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating rad dads, past and present. Patch partnered with T-Mobile to shine a light on exceptional fathers in communities like Odessa-Midland. Click here to meet 13 awesome dads and learn more about the legacies they're leaving behind.

From my notebook:

• Atmos Energy has alerted local customers about a "Search Engine Phishing" operation, where cybercriminals manipulate search results to redirect users to a fake Atmos Energy website. The fake page features a fraudulent customer service number and may prompt users to provide sensitive information. Atmos Energy reminds customers to be cautious, avoid sharing personal information, make payments through authorized methods, and verify employee identities if approached in person. (Odessa American)
• Thinking of dipping your toes into the housing market? Check out the list of open houses happening this week in the Odessa-Midland area at the link. (Odessa-Midland Patch)
• The Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) has officially approved its compensation plan for the 2023-2024 academic year. The plan includes a starting salary of $60,600 for teachers, making ECISD the highest-paying district in the region for new teachers. (Odessa American)

That's it for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.