Mary Cantrell
ReporterMary is a journalist committed to serving communities across Far West Texas. Her past experience as a reporter for The Big Bend Sentinel newspaper taught her the value of local news and instilled in her a deep appreciation for the region’s land and people.
Before moving to Marfa in 2021, Mary worked for various non-profit arts entities in Austin and freelanced for Sightlines and Glasstire arts magazines. She is a University of Texas alum originally from the Houston area.
When she’s not busy pursuing stories, she likes to try out new recipes and go on hikes with her partner Cody — one of Marfa Public Radio’s volunteer DJs.
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Since news first surfaced late last year that border walls could be built for the first time in the Big Bend region of West Texas, the story has been marked by shifting, unannounced changes and few clearly communicated details from the Trump administration. -
Las autoridades del condado de Culberson recibieron el lunes nuevos detalles sobre un posible “campamento para trabajadores” con capacidad para 500 personas, destinado a alojar a quienes construyan el muro fronterizo al sur de Van Horn. -
County commissioners heard new details Monday on a proposed ‘man camp’ housing facility for border wall workers south of Van Horn. Locals expressed concern that an influx of 500 workers would put a strain on the rural area’s already limited resources.
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Marfa City Council members voted 3-2 to deny American Electric Power (AEP) a special use permit application to build a new substation in a local neighborhood. The project, which has been mired in municipal proceedings for over a year, now goes back to the drawing board. -
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Friday that a construction firm working on the Trump administration’s border wall project has begun moving equipment to the border in the Big Bend area. A county official said contractor Barnard Construction has a sand and gravel lease with owners of the Moody Bennett Ranch. -
Alpine city officials are declaring an emergency over the town’s water supply after a municipal well failure. Residents are being asked to conserve water while officials seek solutions. -
Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have started meeting with Big Bend area landowners about the prospect of border walls on their land. Landowners say they’re concerned about flood risks and the destruction of archeological sites. -
Local officials are discussing how to move forward with a wall contractor’s use of a remote county road leading to the U.S.-Mexico border. -
The U.S. Border Patrol said Monday that Big Bend Ranch State Park may be spared from border wall construction. The news came after federal authorities briefed Big Bend area officials on border wall plans in recent days. -
Advocates are rushing to help landowners with legal aid in sparsely populated rural areas along the Rio Grande in the path of the border wall. The federal government's efforts to contact landowners about the project has hit a snag due to complicated land ownership.
