Odessa American

01/11/2026

I’ve been growing herbs in the garden long enough to know they don’t require much. Just water, sunlight and my best intentions.

But when the weather turns cold and their outdoor beds become inhospitable, I grow some of my culinary friends on a sunny kitchen windowsill, even as they become more needy.

By JESSICA DAMIANO The Associated Press I’ve been growing herbs in the garden long enough to know they don’t require much. Just water, sunlight and my best intentions. In the garden, herbs are forgiving plants. They aren’t fussy about soil pH, almost never need fertilizer, and can power throug...

01/11/2026

Impatiens’ easy-care nature, season-long bloom, and shade tolerance made it one of the most popular garden annuals. The introduction of downy mildew-resistant varieties has helped it maintain this status. For these reasons as well as its butterfly and hummingbird appeal the National Garden Bureau has declared 2026 Year of the Impatiens.

By Melinda Myers Impatiens’ easy-care nature, season-long bloom, and shade tolerance made it one of the most popular garden annuals. The introduction of downy mildew-resistant varieties has helped it maintain this status. For these reasons as well as its butterfly and hummingbird appeal the Nation...

01/11/2026

Despite the ongoing development in Texas, leaving many of our landscapes altered beyond recognition, a strong gust of wind and a tumbleweed will knock you right back to reality. The infamous flora connects us to the Old West, reminding us of where we are and how we got here. But did you know this iconography of cowboy culture is one of the most prolific invasive species in North America, introduced seemingly by accident?

By Mary Sirgo Master Gardener Despite the ongoing development in Texas, leaving many of our landscapes altered beyond recognition, a strong gust of wind and a tumbleweed will knock you right back to reality. The infamous flora connects us to the Old West, reminding us of where we are and how we got....

01/11/2026

Scenario: You suddenly realize that the file you just downloaded, and opened, and allowed to execute even after getting a warning from Windows Security is actually very likely some sort of malware or virus. Oops. How do you proceed? Is it safe to keep running the computer after this, or is it going to require some sort of nuclear option, such as a complete factory reset before you can feel safe again? Let’s investigate.

Scenario: You suddenly realize that the file you just downloaded, and opened, and allowed to execute even after getting a warning from Windows Security is actually very likely some sort of malware or virus. Oops. How do you proceed? Is it safe to keep running the computer after this, or is it going....

01/11/2026

Charlie, a 1-year-old male heeler mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. To adopt Charlie or any of the other pets at the Humane Society of Odessa, stop by 2230 W. Sycamore, call 432-257-4311, visit www.odessahumanesociety.org or leave a message at facebook.com/humanesocietyofodessa/. The Humane...

01/11/2026

Po, a 2-year-old male greyhound mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. To adopt Po or any of the other pets at the Humane Society of Odessa, stop by 2230 W. Sycamore, call 432-257-4311, visit www.odessahumanesociety.org or leave a message at facebook.com/humanesocietyofodessa/. The Humane Societ...

01/11/2026

The organ arrived from Utah on a warm August morning. Greeted by holy water, incense and slide whistles, it came in a 53-foot-long truck that was double-parked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

The Church of the Epiphany’s priests clambered up on the truck’s loading dock, tossed on stoles and blessed the long-awaited instrument. Their prayers were punctuated by the sound of confetti cannons shot off by about 30 parishioners.

Then, for hours, children, adults and elders into their 90s hoisted pipes and boxes up flights of stairs to the church’s second-floor sanctuary. The biggest spectacle was the entrance of the 600-pound organ console, which parishioners and organ builders spent over 30 minutes wrangling up an external staircase.

By KATHRYN POST and ADELLE M. BANKS Religion News Service NEW YORK The organ arrived from Utah on a warm August morning. Greeted by holy water, incense and slide whistles, it came in a 53-foot-long truck that was double-parked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Church of the Epiphany’s priests ...

01/11/2026

On our way to the wonderful path of becoming a believer in Jesus Christ, we came to the place to know we were sinners. That part is not so hard. God puts a conscience in each person, and we know what we do is wrong, we just don’t understand how bad it is until we are convicted by the Holy Spirit. Once a person is convicted, they want to change and do better, but some think they have to get good before Jesus will have anything to do with them.

By Jannie Linney On our way to the wonderful path of becoming a believer in Jesus Christ, we came to the place to know we were sinners. That part is not so hard. God puts a conscience in each person, and we know what we do is wrong, we just don’t understand how bad it [...]

01/11/2026

A very difficult goal to achieve with young people is to persuade them to look farther into their future than short term. A goal of many educators is to help students realize and plan for an inevitable future.

When teaching secondary industrial arts, a part of my effort was to acquaint students with their many vocational choices.

By Van Yandell Matthew 9:35: “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” A very difficult goal to achieve with young people is to persuade them to look farthe...

01/11/2026

PHOTO GALLERY: Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo

The Odessa American is the leading source of local news, information, entertainment and sports for the Permian Basin.

01/10/2026

As the hours of 2025 dwindled to single digits, Americans FINALLY heard a new sports expression that is NOT likely to catch on.

As the hours of 2025 dwindled to single digits, Americans FINALLY heard a new sports expression that is NOT likely to catch on. The guy from ABC-TV — describing the Michigan/Texas football game in Orlando — uttered a couple of ill-fitting words as he attempted to explain that one line shown on T...

01/10/2026

Maybe it’s a scratched-up old sideboard found at a yard sale and turned into a snazzy media console. Or a couple of well-traveled vintage trunks given a new home as bedside tables.

Designers and DIYers are breathing new life into old furniture, not just restoring but reimagining and giving hardworking pieces fresh purpose.

By KIM COOK The Associated Press Maybe it's a scratched-up old sideboard found at a yard sale and turned into a snazzy media console. Or a couple of well-traveled vintage trunks given a new home as bedside tables. Designers and DIYers are breathing new life into old furniture, not just restoring but...