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Zoo Midland and The Preserve held their joint groundbreaking ceremony with donors and city officials in attendance on Tuesday, and some of the exotic animals coming to the Tall City have been revealed.

Guests heard speeches touting the new facilities, which they hope will attract major attention from all around West Texas.

“This is a regional play,” said Midland City Councilwoman Amy Stretcher-Burkes, who oversees District 4 where the Zoo and Preserve will be located. “People are going to come from all over the state to come enjoy the zoo. ... It’s going to bring in a lot of economic dollars here, and Midlanders can stay here on the weekend and have something fun. They won’t be traveling to Dallas or El Paso, they’ll be staying here and spending their hard-earned money here in Midland.”

The full list of animals at the zoo has not yet been finalized because of eventual changes such as the need to accommodate animals from other zoos or the need to have other zoos do the same for them.

Instead, the plan is to build the facilities for specific kinds of animals (carnivores, birds, etc.) and then focus on specific species. Additionally, each of the animals is being picked from a narrow set of criteria to see if they can withstand the winds and desert climate that Midland is located in.

Three of the confirmed animals include giraffes, a species of rhino and lorikeets.

In addition to the desert climate, another issue that zoo officials have to deal with is irrigation and delivering quality water to the location and to the animals.

To combat these elements, the zoo plans to build its facilities so that the animals can be protected while maintaining a viewer experience and will be taking unique steps to make sure water is always flowing.

“If you’ve ever been to a zoo, and it says ‘Sorry, the animals are inside due to inclement weather,’ our zoo will be different,” said Jeff Beard, the president of Midland Zoo. “As far as the displays, interior and exterior displays that animals can go, our zoo will have both. As the weather gets bad, you will actually be able to see into the interior area. You will get to go into the barn where they are kept, which, just seeing a giraffe in a barn, that’s interesting.”

The Preserve will consist of a recreational and business space adjacent to the zoo. It is expected to feature a walking trail, as well as office space for retail and dining experiences, with a large pond as the centerpiece.

Although the city is overseeing the project, both Zoo Midland and The Preserve are private endeavors that have been in the works under specialized groups since 2018.

However, the city and those who work on the project hope the completed project will serve as a major tourist draw not only for people outside of Midland, but for those who live there as well.

“Midland is an amazing family town, and it needs some amazing family amenities,” Beard said. “This project as a whole will really fill a hole to fix that, and we’re very excited about that."

The Texas Department of State Health Services has reclassified the measles case in Midland County as being part of the larger outbreak in the South Plains portion of Texas.

It wasn't immediately clear why the case was reclassified. Most cases in the "other" category are due to international travel to countries where measles is prevalent, according to DSHS.

As of March 28, approximately 400 cases have been identified since late January. Forty-one of the patients have been hospitalized. There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.

According to DSHS data, infections within Andrews County, Midland County and Ector County have been added to the list of West Texas infections. Previously, the case in Midland County has not been added and linked to international travel.

According to a press release distributed Thursday by the Ector County Health Department, four cases of measles have been confirmed.

"The first case was in an infant too young to be vaccinated, the second case was a child who was recently vaccinated with the MMR vaccine and developed mild symptoms making this case potentially vaccine-associated," said the Ector County health department. "The two new cases were reported today, both are adults vaccinated with at least one MMR vaccine, no international travel identified."

The Ector County Health Department also released a list of potential exposure locations. Here's the list of locations:

Additionally, the number of measles infections in Lubbock County has dramatically increased. As of Friday, March 21, the county had reported 8 infections and is now reporting 23 cases.

"Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities," said DSHS.

According to previous reports, the outbreak started around Gaines County, with cases occurring not only in the surrounding areas, but also in neighboring New Mexico. The New Mexico Department of Health reported Friday that the state has seen 42 measles cases between Lea and Eddy counties. UMC Children's Hospital reported last week that masks are now required.

“Recent measles cases in Texas and New Mexico are a reminder to stay vigilant,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, New Mexico Department of Health chief medical officer. “When someone with measles travels, the virus can spread to unprotected communities — particularly during high-travel periods like spring break. Vaccination is our strongest defense: one dose of vaccine is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective.”

Texas Measles by the Numbers

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services:Infected cases per county in West Texas, as of March 28

Age Ranges of Outbreak Measles Cases

Vaccination Status of Confirmed Cases in the Outbreak

Additional infected cases per county outside West Texas in the new report include:

New Mexico Measles by the Numbers

According to the New Mexico Department of Health and as of March 28:

Vaccinations

State officials advise that Texas residents be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles and the most proactive measure to prevent getting sick.

Read: What to know about measles vaccinations, and what to do if you get sick

Signs and Symptoms

Midland Health Services said that early symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure. Symptoms include a high fever (which may spike over 104 degrees), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

Approximately two to three days after the fever, tiny white spots inside the mouth (called Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth. Within three to five days after the high fever, a red rash begins to appear on the face and then spreads downward.

Midland Health Services says the rash typically starts at the hairline on the face and then gradually spreads to the body parts such as the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, that's when the person's fever may rise above 104 degrees.

March 28, 2025

B. Kay Richter

Online Editor

B. Kay Richter is the online editor for the Midland Reporter-Telegram. She is originally from San Antonio, Texas. She enjoys cooking, watching documentaries and traveling with her husband. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her two cats.

Voters in Midland County will decide on a $645 million bond proposal aimed at funding critical water infrastructure.

Credit: KWES

MIDLAND, Texas — Access to clean, reliable water is not a guarantee in all parts of Midland County. Now, the Midland County Utility District (MCUD) is asking voters to approve a multi-million-dollar bond to fund critical water infrastructure.

The bond proposal, totaling $645 million, aims to build a comprehensive water system in the district's 54,800-acre service area, which has seen significant growth in recent years. The funds would be used to construct a reverse osmosis treatment plant, install over 100 miles of water transmission and distribution lines, and build new water storage tanks.

Norman Ashton, a spokesperson for MCUD, explained that the goal of the bond is simple.

"Provide a safe and clean, reliable water source," Ashton said. "So, the bond is designed to actually build out the infrastructure that is needed in order to accomplish that goal."

The bond proposal has drawn mixed reactions, particularly from small business owners who are concerned about the financial impact. The bond would be repaid through property taxes over the next 40 years.

“There will not be an immediate impact on taxes,” Ashton explained. “The first-time property owners will see any increase on their taxes will be in 2028. Based on the median home price in our district, which is around $310,000, they will see an increase of about $170 per year.”

Some small business owners, however, want more transparency and clarity regarding the bond and how it will affect them. Jo Simmons, owner of Phoenix Auto & Lube in Midland, said she’s hesitant to support the bond until she has a better understanding of the full scope of the repayment process.

"I don’t feel like we should agree to a bond when we don’t understand necessarily the rate of payback and how it all works, and who it will affect the most,” said Simmons.

Despite her concerns, Simmons recognizes the importance of the infrastructure project and believes it could benefit the community in the long run.

"I don’t think it should affect us as negatively. I think that as a business owner that wants to help the community, if this is for the betterment of everyone, then paying my part would be useful, and I wouldn’t mind doing it," Simmons said.

While the price tag of the bond is hefty, MCUD leaders emphasize that securing reliable water infrastructure is essential for Midland County’s continued growth.

“Water is the key,” Ashton said. “If you want growth, you have to have water, and that’s to me the entire key. What we’re trying to do is provide that safe, clean, reliable water source so that our district can continue to grow and prosper.”

A decision that could determine the future of Midland County’s water system now rests in the hands of voters. Election Day is May 3, 2025, with early voting running from April 22 to April 29. For more details, including where to cast your ballot, visit MCUD.org.

The Midland ISD board of trustees will consider turning over four more of its elementary schools to a charter school operator.

Late Friday afternoon, the district released a preview for next week’s meeting, which is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in at Bowie Fine Arts Auditorium, 805 Elk Ave.

MISD indicated that the board will consider entering into an SB 1882 partnership with Third Future Schools for the operation of Bonham, De Zavala, Henderson and Long elementary schools.

Third Future currently operates Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary and Lamar Elementary.

How Third Future Has Performed

For the 2018-19 school year, Sam Houston received a score of 59 and accompanying F rating from the Texas Education Agency. Schools in Texas weren't measured in 2019-20 and 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Third Future became this campus' operator during that time.

In 2021-22, the school's accountability rating leapt to a B and at 89 points was one point shy of an A.

The TEA has not released official accountability ratings for 2022-23 and 2023-24 because its new accountability formula is being contested in court.

MISD's projected scores for Sam Houston during 2022-23 and 2023-24 indicate a decline to 75 and 71, respectively.

Lamar Elementary scored 64 points and was given a D rating in 2018-19. Its score fell to 59 in 2021-22, though is marked as "not rated" because of the TEA's post-COVID decision to not assign letter grades to D- and F-rated schools. MISD's projections show Lamar would have received a score of 58 in the 2022-23 school year.

MISD turned over operation of the campus to Third Future in spring 2023, and performance projections estimate Lamar scored an 80 in 2023-24.

Campuses in Trouble

In looking at MISD's estimates for the 2023-24 school year, 12 campuses would have received a D or F rating, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report.

The D-rated campuses are:

The F-rated campuses are:

Bonham Elementary fell from 72 in 2022-23 to a 65 the year after, effectively from a C to a D. De Zavala and Henderson each improved from a 57 to a 59, though still failing. Long rose from a 52 to a 69.

A Call for Change

As reported by the Reporter-Telegram on Monday, March 17, the newly formed Permian Basin Future Ready Coalition, an initiative of Permian Strategic Partnership, has pushed MISD to turn over four D- or F-ranked campuses to Third Future.

“We know that we’re going to need about 180,000 new workers by 2040 in order to maintain and keep producing what we’re doing here,” PSP President and CEO Tracee Bentley said. “So, we need our students in our schools right now to be ready to fill these 180,000 jobs.”

Low-performing schools present the biggest challenge to recruiting doctors, engineers, nurses and other professions to the Permian Basin, Bentley said.

“Right now, we can’t recruit,” she said. “Our kids and our families deserve better than this, and if there’s anywhere in the country that should have strong education and high-performing schools, it’s right here in the Permian Basin.”

While putting four schools in the hands of a charter school operator would leave MISD with eight schools to turn around, Bentley said the PBFR also wants to support these campuses and work with the district to find a turnaround plan for them.

“It’s not a matter of us being against our public schools; we are for them,” Coalition member and former Mayor Patrick Payton said. “We’ve got to come alongside the school district and provide every tool and encourage them to apply every tool that is used and is successful around the state and the nation.”

Reporter Kessly Salinas contributed to this report.