Austin, TX
Behavioral health center in West Texas need support from Austin
My cousin Daryl was funny, kind and generous — but at 37, when he needed lifesaving behavioral health care, his options were limited and insufficient.
Daryl was my older cousin who made my childhood in Midland memorable. Despite being a popular 14-year-old, Daryl was never too cool to play with his younger cousins. One memory that makes me smile is when he taught me my left from my right while playing Twister. I was confused about where to place my hands and feet, and at one point, Daryl paused the game and theatrically pointed left and right. He shouted, “Left, left,” then, abruptly, “RIGHT!” His animated antics made me laugh, turning an embarrassing moment into a lighthearted one. After that day, I never confused my left with my right again.
Throughout his too-short life, Daryl retained his warm humor and deep love for his family, even as his health declined. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 25, Daryl suffered from diabetic nerve pain and turned to controlled substances for relief. Over time, he developed substance use disorder (SUD), causing his already fragile health to deteriorate further. For over five years, Daryl cycled in and out of hospitals, battling pain, substance abuse and, eventually, depression. His chronic illnesses made steady employment and health insurance difficult to maintain.
Lacking coverage, his options for the inpatient treatment he needed in Midland were nearly nonexistent — an all-too-common reality. Nationwide, over a third of people with a mental health condition also experience substance use disorder, but fewer than 19% receive treatment for both. In Daryl’s case, the closest inpatient facility able to help him was hours away. Without that care, Daryl succumbed to his illnesses at age 37.
Tragedies like this may soon become history in Midland.
Opening in April 2026, the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center will provide a vital treatment resource for West Texas – one that might have saved Daryl’s life had it been available when he needed it most.
Midland and Ector County hospital districts will co-manage the 200-bed facility, providing inpatient treatment, court-ordered evaluations and family counseling services. Notably, the center will accept patients regardless of insurance status, filling a major gap in care for the region’s 500,000 residents.
The center will also create career opportunities for behavioral health professionals at a time when workforce recruitment and retention plague our health systems. Even before its doors open, the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center has already partnered with local colleges including the University of Texas Permian Basin, Midland College, Odessa College and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to train and build out the next generation of our homegrown healthcare workforce.
Under the leadership of Reps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf, the Legislature approved more than $126 million to help build the facility. The center’s leadership raised an additional $100 million to make the facility a reality.
Even before it opens, the center is a success story — a testament to the commitment of state legislators and community leaders. But a state-of-the-art facility alone isn’t enough.
To truly fulfill its promise, the center must have the funding to staff its beds and provide lifesaving care in the Permian Basin. Texas lawmakers now have a critical opportunity to ensure that happens. As the conference committee members from the House and Senate meet to finalize next biennium’s budget, securing operational funding must be a top priority before the session concludes in June.
Families like mine across Texas have lost loved ones because behavioral health care was too far away or too limited. Investing in behavioral health is not only compassionate, it’s also smart policy that saves money, eases the burden on our emergency rooms and law enforcement and — most important — saves lives.
Daryl’s death at 37 years old was a preventable tragedy. Had he received the care he needed, he might still be here. Our new center is a victory, but a building alone isn’t sufficient. We must ensure our investment has the resources and staff it needs to make a difference.
Texas lawmakers should fund the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center as an investment in the lives of those who need care and in the community that supports them.
Miriam Pearsall is chief of staff for policy at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
AUSTIN, Texas — With heavy rain expected across parts of Central Texas this week and flooding top of mind, the city of Austin is proposing to put more money toward flood mitigation improvements in next year’s budget.
The proposal would invest in new flood infrastructure, add staff, and help move flood mitigation projects forward, according to city leaders. Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter said the investments are aimed at keeping the city prepared for future flooding.
Residents who live near waterways say they have seen how quickly conditions can change. David Haderspeck, who lives near Shoal Creek, said the creek “fills up pretty fast” and “gets a lot higher than you’d expect.” He said he has watched the water rise dramatically after rain.
“I’ve seen it come up probably 10 to 15 feet to the ordinary high-water mark,” he said.
This week, parts of Central Texas, including the Hill Country, are expected to get heavy downpours. While Austin is not expecting the same impacts as parts of the Hill Country, leaders said the city is using this year’s budget planning to continue investing in flood safety.
Alter said the city has the expertise to address flooding risks but needs to follow through on projects.
ALSO| Central Texas urged to prepare as heavy rainfall sits in forecast over next two days
“We have the experts. We just have to put the plans into practice, and that’s what we’re doing in this budget,” he said.
Under the budget proposal, the city would provide about $134.5 million for the Drainage Utility Fund, which helps pay for flood mitigation, drainage infrastructure and watershed protection efforts.
Alter said the proposal would shift more of the funding balance toward building new infrastructure.
“What we’re going to do is shift that balance a little bit more to building new infrastructure so that when we do have large flooding events, we’ve got that infrastructure in place to keep people safe,” he said.
The proposal also adds staff and invests in both new and existing flood mitigation projects across the city.
Asked whether the proposed investments would be enough moving forward, Alter said, “I do…I think we’re doing the right thing and just making sure that our residents have the infrastructure to stay safe.”
Alter said heavy rain cannot be prevented, but the city’s goal is to have infrastructure in place to help keep people safe when it happens.
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