Travis Bubenik

A West Texas river guide and church preservation group, along with a national advocacy group, argue in a lawsuit filed Thursday that the administration illegally bypassed a range of environmental protection laws as it plans a 175-mile stretch of border wall in the state's Big Bend region.

Jeff Davis County Judge Curtis Evans says he "shut down" a construction crew that was working as a subcontractor for Barnard Construction on improving a rugged dirt road that leads to the Rio Grande. Barnard is the Montana firm that was recently awarded nearly $2 billion to build border walls in the Big Bend region.

A multi-million dollar project to tear down and rebuild the national park's lodge and restaurant was abruptly canceled Wednesday just a month before it was set to begin.

Officials say two teachers at Midland and Odessa schools, along with one tutor, have faced employment consequences for inappropriate comments after the assassination of the conservative activist last week.