Take a look at the news in and around Odessa on Monday, April 30. Find complete local news coverage in the Odessa American every day, online at oaoa.com and our daily E-Edition at myoaoa.com.
1. On the second floor of the City of Odessa’s Municipal Plaza, the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce rents a suite of offices where the publicly-funded organization is supposed to work on developing the local economy. But for years, unbeknownst to city officials, this publicly-owned space has also been home to a for-profit company that runs an apartment complex for low-income tenants.
2. Symela Haun was having lunch with her twin sister, 28-year-old Rochel Zuniga, and Zuniga’s 9-year-old daughter Thursday afternoon, who had just been named Colt of the Month at her elementary school. That was the last time Haun saw her sister, who was fatally shot in the early hours of Friday morning.
3. With the approval of a memorandum of understanding with Texas Tech University to make Ector Middle School an in-district charter school next fall, ECISD took a step to avoid state closure or having a board of managers appointed to take over the district.
4. Hundreds of butterflies were released Saturday in Odessa to honor hundreds of loved ones, as part of Home Hospice’s annual celebration and service at the Globe of the Great Southwest Theater.
5. IN SPORTS: After dropping the second game of a three-game series against El Paso Americas, the Permian softball team roared back in Game 3 for an 11-0 victory Saturday at Sul Ross State University. The Odessa High sofball team earned the sweep of the Bulldogs with a 12-2 victory in five innings to sweep the best-of-3 series and capture the bi-district title Saturday afternoon at Pecos High School.
