Odessa

Max Shatto, Adopted Russian Boy at Center of an International Dispute, Died of an Accidental "Self Injury," Autopsy Finds

On Friday afternoon, a bit more than a week after fairly high-ranking officials in the Russian government began lobbing allegations of unspeakable child abuse against a Texas couple, authorities have ruled the death of their adopted Russian son an accident. The Ector County sheriff's and district a ... More >>

The Law that Let Harold Simmons Dump Nuclear Waste in West Texas Was Greased by Illegal Political Contributions, Says Ethics Ruling

Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons knows well that money, particularly when doled out in large quantities to candidates and political action committees, is the grease that keeps our democracy running smoothly. So it was only natural that, when it came time for the Texas legislature to consider a meas ... More >>

Gary Johnson, the Presidential Candidate Who 'Agrees With You 100 Percent,' Will Be in Dallas This Week

Pop quiz: Which presidential candidate, whose name will appear on the ballot in all 50 states, paid his way through college as a door-to-door handyman? Which one earned the nickname "Governor Veto" by rejecting more than 750 bills passed by his state's legislature? Which one competed in a re-enactme ... More >>

A Road Trip Through Texas, And The State of Dallas Radio

In the last few months, research for a project has taken me across the state and, more recently, into Mexico. It may be something sentimental in me, or this weird notion that road trips are meant to be soundtracked by where you are and not by a list you cultivated online, but I noticed what was popu ... More >>

Strippers Who Sued Jaguars Claim the Chain Retaliated. And That, Judge Says, Is a No-No.

A Dallas-based strip-club chain facing a class-action lawsuit tried to compel its dancers not to join that legal action -- and even fired a woman who wouldn't comply, or so the strippers claim. In a motion filed earlier this month, the dancers also claim that the clubs foisted the agreements on the ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Explosions in the Sky, Burning Hotels at the Winspear Opera House

Explosions in the Sky, Burning Hotels Winspear Opera HouseOctober 28, 2011 Better than: living in Odessa Explosions in the Sky​When they attempted to perform at the outdoor Strauss Square in Dallas last month, the persistent rain prevented Explosions in the Sky from playing. To prevent any recurr ... More >>

Best Of SXSW Saturday-Day: Owen Pallett, Rock Screams and Rumors

Nick RalloAh, remember 35 Conferette? Good times, good times.​The final day--and night as Rocks Off discovered--of SXSW was a long one. After perusing an absolutely epic line for Rachel Ray's Feedback Party at Stubb's (yeah, you read that right), we ventured over to Peckerheads to meet Dallas-fr ... More >>

Bake Sale Bandits

Local Movement Fights for Cottage Food Bill.

Watch: What Would Happen If Pitchfork Ran Hollywood Soundtracks?

​According to IMDB, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cost about $60 million to make. Critics adore it, it has a certain cult following and word is it's on the short list to get an Oscar nod for best visual effects. To date, however, the film's grossed only about half its budget. Which is a little sad, ... More >>

Sure, Simmons May Bury Nuclear Waste in West Texas. But It Has To Get There Somehow.

Nuke-Free Texas​We've noted a couple of times in recent days that Gov. Rick Perry's appointees to the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission are but days away from closing comment on Harold Simmons's permit application to bury 36 states' nuclear waste out in West Texas. Ah, ... More >>

High Turkey Prices Won't Keep North Texas Food Bank from Giving Away Birds

​The North Texas Food Bank won't face the same turkey shortages plaguing food pantries in West Texas. As KOSA-TV reported this morning, the West Texas Food Bank is scrapping turkey distribution for the first time in a decade, citing the high cost of turkey meat. Inflation and a poor harvest o ... More >>

Staff Trax: Big K.R.I.T., Ian Brown, The Mekons, .357 String Band, AFI

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Llano Estacado Vintner's Selection Signature Red Meritage

​Meritage or Claret? What's the difference? Typically, both terms refer to Bordeaux-style blends, heavy on the Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot, with one or more of the regions classic blending grapes added for body, spice and completeness. Most fans of Argentinian reds would be surprised to l ... More >>

DC9er Mixtape, Vol. 17 revisited: Left/Right Delivers That Mix To Us, As Promised

​Two weeks back we featured Left/Right on our weekly DJ profile, DC9er. However, due to a busy schedule the DJ/producer wasn't able to send over an exclusive mix. Instead, he sent us an excellent mix that he'd already released. Well, this week, Left/Right sent along his new DC9-exclusive "Day M ... More >>

Staff Trax: Hot Chip, LCD Soundsytem, Caribou, King Crimson, Johann Johannsson and Meat Loaf

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into our ow ... More >>

Jorge's Tex-Mex reaches for the ordinary and beyond in its upscale digs.

Now, For the Good News: The DFW Is Still One of Best Big Cities For Job Growth in U.S.

Earlier this week, Michael Shires, associate professor in public policy at Pepperdine University, and Joel Kotkin posted on Forbes and New Geography their annual list of the best cities for job growth in the country -- though Kotkin adds the caveat that given the state of things, "perhaps we should ... More >>

Cynthia Dunbar's Gone From Crazy Online Essays to Actual Book Writin'

Texas State Board of Education member Mavis Knight, a Democrat whose District 13 includes part of Dallas and Tarrant Counties, had no idea till reached by Unfair Park this afternoon that her fellow board member Cynthia Dunbar has published a book. But, sure enough, there it is on Amazon: One Nation ... More >>

Pulp Charity: Holiday Food Drive Horror Stories

Holiday giving is all around us now. If you're not already the generous type, you're being guilted into it by a bell-ringing Santa, or Will Smith, or even Wal-Mart.If you think you can get away with tossing another can of creamed spinach into the bin -- the one in your kitchen cabinet, back where yo ... More >>

Get on the Bus -- If, That Is, You Blame George Bush For Everything Ever

In West Texas, a Dallas Company Fights to Bury Radioactive Waste

Rock Star Robbery

Definitely Weezing

Does Shore still have the juice?

Don't Go Bust

A turncoat narc offers tips on how to move your weed

Busted

Off-field indiscretions be damned, Michael Irvin deserves football immortality

Are You Ready For Some (More) Football?

Barnes Storming

On the Road Again

Jason Molina's Magnolia Electric Co. takes on 1,800 miles of Texas

Gay Caballeros

Inside the secret world of Dallas' mayates

Hell of a Catch

Friday Night Lights goes deep, rare for a movie about football

Deep Thinking

Plus:Screen Play

Clash of Symbols

Six Flags is teaching Texology, and we've got a few suggestions

Novel Idea

A tiny publisher in the Big Bend lands a whopper—the sequel to The Bridges of Madison County

The Great Depression

Brett and Rennie Sparks usher The Handsome Family into its Twilight years

Shallow Impact

Why don't tourists flock to the meteor crater outside of Odessa? Because most don't know a bona fide Texas treasure from a hole in the ground.

Run Over

Small towns in the Big Bend area brace for an onslaught of Mexican trucks rolling their way thanks to NAFTA

From Russia, with Love

Just $25,000 gets you a bundle of hot Russian babes from one Dallas matchmaking firm. What more could a rich American geek ever ask for?

High Spoons

Bare breasts, a bowl of red, and bad blood among the chili brethren in the Big Bend. Texas doesn't get any better.

A Couple Yards Short

The gang's all here in this familiar-but-fresh tale of a bad guy scared straight

Sins of a Preacher Man

Until his overthrow, Bill Price led the Texas anti-abortion movement for 17 years. Was it politics, ego, or something worse that did him in?

Slow burn

Run Lola Run director favors depressive over manic in Winter Sleepers

Russia without love

East-West fails twice, as historical portrait and human-interest tale

The Handsome Family

Barnyard stench

City auditor believes something stinks at Samuell Farm Parkand it's not just the cow manure

Lonely Hunter

After a self-imposed exile in Mexico and obscurity, a Texas bluesman comes home

Rhythm and Jews

he modern-day klezmer revival jazzes up the music of tradition

Racetracks lament

Trinity Meadows may show whether Texas racing industry can get past the gate

BeloWatch

The last hurrah

The strike is over, but pain lingers

Rough road ahead

NAFTA road warriors fight it out for federal funding