Marfa High School Senior Kayla Vasquez, in a purple cap and gown, and dog “Puppy” ride in the graduation parade atop a Chevy Silverado decked out to honor Angelo State University, where she plans to pursue marketing and business management in the fall. The Class of 2025 will turn the tassel next Friday. Staff photo by Mary Cantrell.
Marfa Lights Festival at risk of being canceled
MARFA — The 38th Annual Marfa Lights Festival is at risk of being canceled if the Marfa Chamber of Commerce, the organization that puts on…
Judge sets new Brite Ranch trial for August
Will the nightmare heat repeat? Editor’s note: With some seven years of legal proceedings and more than 140 years of Brite Ranch history, The…
El Cosmico announces July 1 closure of current site
MARFA — Last week El Cosmico announced the July 1 closure of its current site, a collection of “nomadic accommodations” including vintage trailers, tents, yurts…
Farewell high school
Marfa High School Senior Kayla Vasquez, in a purple cap and gown, and dog “Puppy” ride in the…
127 years after landmark case, US Supreme Court reconsiders birthright citizenship
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments in a consolidated suite of…
Mobile mammography fills critical health gap in Big Bend
PRESIDIO — In a region where preventive care is often out of reach, a mobile mammography campaign coordinated…
Officials report first measles deaths in Ojinaga
By Sam Karas [email protected] OJINAGA — News broke on Tuesday morning that two children from a Mennonite community…
For borderland cattle ranchers, a trade war with Mexico adds to list of troubles
Could sirloin steak and burger prices rise even higher? By Sandra Sadek and Gibran Caroline BoycePuente News Collaborative…
Writer’s meet-up to foster creative connections
ALPINE — Are you looking to grow your writer connections? Come meet other writers for games, conversation and…
Marfa ISD seniors awarded nearly $250,000 in scholarships
MARFA — The seats of Marfa ISD’s Gregg Auditorium filled with friends, family, Marfa ISD faculty and community…
Tensions rise between US and Mexico over New World screwworm threat
USDA suspends cattle and livestock imports at southern border. Puente News Collaborative EL PASO — Zoom screens lit…
County sets first criminal court since Feb. 2024
PRESIDIO COUNTY — County Judge Joe Portillo will preside over a County Criminal Court docket today at 10…
Bob Dylan Birthday Jam this Saturday
MARFA – “Come gather ‘round people, wherever you roam,” for Marfa Live Arts’ Bob Dylan Birthday Jam is…
J. Luther King, Jr., named 2025 West Texas Conservationist of the Year
ALPINE — The Borderlands Research Foundation has named J. Luther King, Jr., as the 2025 West Texas Conservationist…
Webb’s Fair and Square hosts Margaret Sullivan jewelry show
FORT DAVIS — Webb’s Fair and Square gallery will host a jewelry show featuring works by Margaret Sullivan…
May 22 Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Last week, we let our staff at El Cosmico know that the current property will be…
Marfa Shorthorns celebrate a year of athletic excellence at 2025 Sports Banquet
MARFA — The Marfa Shorthorn Athletic Program wrapped up its 2024 – 2025 sports season in style with an…
Capital Highlight: May 20, 2025
Lawmakers agree on $8 billion school funding package Leaders from the Texas House and Senate have agreed on…
OBITUARY: Anthony Willis Green
Anthony Willis Green “Pap-pa” was a caring son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He left this world…
OBITUARY: Raymond Glen Decker
Raymond Glen (R.G. “Real Good”) (Pawpaw) Decker ed away Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in his home in Alpine,…
An American Pope raises the question: Who speaks for Christianity?
By David Maurwitz and Deece Eckstein This month, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of…
Our Water Matters
Drought, data and Bulletin 6110 In Presidio County there’s been a lot of talk lately about groundwater and…
Voices from Both Sides
Collie Ryan, one of the original organizers of Voices from Both Sides, performs at last weekend’s gathering. The…
Newly improved Indian Lodge and Blackbear Restaurant reopen to the public
FORT DAVIS — The Indian Lodge and Blackbear Restaurant at the Davis Mountains State Park have reopened after…
Big Bend National Park superintendent retiring
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK — Big Bend National Park Superintendent Anjna O’Connor is retiring after 35 years of…
Mobile Comunidad shuts down most programs after financial meltdown
FORT DAVIS — Board for the nonprofit Mobile Comunidad have halted several of its programs after they…
Marfa Public radio names new executive director
From Marfa Public Radio MARFA –– Marfa Public Radio announced last week that Anne Pitts Marozas has been…
Marfa Untitled Studio Tour (MUST) is back for more showings
From MUST This season we are introducing a new format for our open studio program to showcase our…
Commissioners talk for ranchers during exceptional drought
MARFA — At Wednesday morning’s meeting, the Presidio County Commissioners Court discussed how best to express for…
Correction: Rodeo arena story
A May 8 story, “Power lights up the rodeo arena, but the facilities still need care — and…
‘Monsters walk among us’: After years-long struggle, judge grants Porvenir death certificates
MARFA — History was made in Presidio County on Monday after visiting Judge Eduardo Gamboa of El Paso…
City pledges to address long-known zero-read water meters
MARFA — After a City Council member alleged water meter issues and the departure of former City Manager…
Council talks city manager, police pay, El Cosmico, MAC pool
MARFA — Marfa City Council met Tuesday to discuss next steps regarding the vacant city manager position,…
Mental Health Series
In a mental health crisis, Big Bend residents have options for help
Direct Hotline 988 is in place, but few know of its existence TRI-COUNTY — Few Americans are aware of a relatively new…
The weight of the badge: Customs and Border Protection responds to rash of agent suicides
US-MEXICO BORDER — As journalists and politicians endlessly dissect the current situation on the southwest border, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is…
Alpine program provides mental health for seniors
TRI-COUNTY — A program housed in the Big Bend Regional Hospital provides crucial mental healthcare services that brighten the lives of seniors,…
A ‘deficient’ safety net
TRI-COUNTY — Jeff Davis County Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Luedecke picks up her frantically chiming cell phone. “I don’t know…
Hospital district, Big Bend National Park explore addition of mental healthcare providers
BREWSTER COUNTY — The Big Bend region’s dire need for more mental health resources was central to discussion among local political and medical…
Big Bend’s isolation creates challenges to addressing mental health
TRI-COUNTY — Brian Enlow is much different than his brother Greg was. Greg embraced an artistic world, immersed himself in music and lived…
The Big Bend Sentinel partners with Presidio County Community Fund for mental health reporting series
MARFA –– The Big Bend Sentinel is publishing a series of articles on mental and behavioral health starting with next week’s issue,…
Schools play a vital role in student mental health but face several challenges meeting needs
TRI-COUNTY — The need for mental and behavioral health resources in schools has never been more dire, with rates of depression, anxiety and…
Few options available for substance abuse treatment in the Big Bend
FAR WEST TEXAS — Big Bend residents are no strangers to tackling problems posed by the physical isolation of their home turf.…
New community-based therapy offers benefits for rural areas
TRI-COUNTY — A series of articles on mental health published by The Big Bend Sentinel the past two months has highlighted both…
Visuals
The ARTS
The emperor’s new scans: Richard Prince’s ‘Posters’ in Marfa
With the twilight of Bruce Nauman — who defined American conceptual rigor for nearly three decades — the mantle now falls to Richard Prince and Paul McCarthy. One…
Jiwa completes artist in residency with Saturday Art Blocks reception
MARFA — Digital artist Jiwa completes his artist residency at Art Blocks gallery with a presentation titled, “Small Things Add Up to Something Significant,” open to the public…
D.U.S.T. – A gathering in the desert Memorial Day weekend
LOBO — D.U.S.T. is a gathering of humans in appreciation of nature, the arts, live music, and community — set out in the beautiful desert wasteland of Lobo…
Meckfessel’s Greasewood exhibit explores impressions from WWI battlefields
MARFA — The Greasewood Gallery at the Hotel Paisano will be presenting 11 paintings by Marfa resident Pat Meckfessel in a show entitled 11•4•11/11, running from May 16…
Student photography experimentation culminates in ‘Marfa Moments’
MARFA — This semester Marfa ISD junior high and high school art students were introduced to a variety of photography techniques through a partnership with The Chinati Foundation that…
‘Birthday Bash’ to honor Bob Dylan on his 84th
MARFA — Dust isn’t the only thing blowin’ in the wind in Marfa. Marfa Live Arts presents Bob Dylan’s Birthday Bash to honor Dylan on his 84th birthday…
Marfa Studio of Arts, nonprofit fostering the town’s youngest artists, celebrates 25 years
MARFA — The Marfa Studio of Arts classroom at Marfa Elementary School was a flurry of activity last Friday afternoon as pre-K students took sculpting tools, rolling pens, spray…
‘Marfa Moments’ showcases local students’ photography in 1-night exhibition Friday
MARFA — The Chinati Foundation invites you to the opening of Marfa Moments, a one-night photography exhibition by Marfa Independent School District high school students. This Friday, May…
Marfa High School artists compete at state event
SAN MARCOS — This weekend, five students in Adele Powers’ art class traveled to state VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event) in San Marcos to see the best work made…
Richard Prince to show ‘Posters’ at Hetzler
MARFA — Hetzler | Marfa announces Posters, a solo exhibition of works by Richard Prince, for the gallery’s annual presentation in Marfa, Texas. One of the foremost representatives…
‘Mexican Fiestas’ to display photographer’s chronicles of Mexican culture and tradition
MARFA — Beginning May 5, the Marfa & Presidio County Museum will present Mexican Fiestas, a traveling exhibition by Humanities Texas created in collaboration with Houston photographer Geoff…
The return of Baby Steps
MARFA — Marfa’s rock ‘n’ roll quartet Baby Steps is back after a five-year absence to perform a special vinyl release party for their brand new album, Palace…
Open call for acting studio workshop in Marfa
Marfa — Marfa Live Arts announces its second acting studio workshop taught by Marfa Live Arts actor and Director Jennie Lyn Hamilton at the Crowley Theater on April…
‘Snapshots in Time: Life in Brewster County’ opens at the Museum of the Big Bend
ALPINE — Archival area photographs are the subject of a new exhibition, Snapshots in Time: Life in Brewster County, opening from 5 to 7 p.m. April 30 at the…
Sage Lilly’s ‘Small Engine Express’ opens April 26 at Do Right Hall
MARFA — Multidisciplinary artist Sage Lilly will debut a solo exhibition, Small Engine Express, on Saturday, April 26, at 5 p.m. at Do Right Hall, 110 West Dallas…
Theatre of the Big Bend celebrates 60, fundraises for ‘Cinderella’ production
ALPINE — Theatre of the Big Bend is celebrating 60 years of Theatre under the Stars, a program that has taken place every summer since 1965 at Kokernot Outdoor…
WRONG presents new work by Opal Rugs’ Alyse Ronayne
MARFA — Wrong is thrilled to present new work by Marfa resident Alyse Ronayne (Opal Rugs) with an opening Friday, April 25, 5 to 7 p.m. at 110…
Baxter and Caton to exhibit in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — The Hunt Gallery in San Antonio will open a new show next week highlighting recent paintings of two of the Big Bend region’s most accomplished…
Club Nowhere presents photo works by Liz Potter
MARFA — Club Nowhere invites the public to DESERT. EARTH. SKY., an exhibition of photo works by local artist Liz Potter. Club Nowhere is located at 401 S.…
2nd issue of ‘sparselands’ zine focuses on Big Bend climate
TRI-COUNTY — The second issue of the local zine series sparselands is now available online and at select locations in Alpine. sparselands celebrates the beauty of the Big…
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