Travis Bubenik
News DirectorTravis has waltzed across Texas throughout his career in journalism, covering everything from pipeline protests in the Big Bend and oilfield flaring in the Permian Basin to Gulf Coast hurricanes and courtroom battles all over the state.
A Houston native and University of Texas alum, he got his start in public radio as an intern at Marfa Public Radio, where he has at various times been a reporter and host of both Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Travis’ reporting has frequently appeared on NPR and public radio’s Marketplace. His dog Valentine is indeed named after the town.
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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. -
A bipartisan group of five rural sheriffs released a joint statement Monday condemning the Trump administration’s plans for border walls in Texas’ Big Bend region. Multiple federal construction contracts have been awarded for the plan. -
U.S. Customs and Border Protection this week quietly updated its "Smart Wall" map to remove two "primary border barrier system" projects in the Big Bend area, including one recently slated for Big Bend National Park. Other projects are still listed for parts of Presidio, Jeff Davis and Hudspeth counties. -
Multiple statewide and county-level primary races are heading to runoff elections in May. -
Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of Big Bend National Park from 2018 to 2013, says he was “appalled” to hear of the Trump administration’s plans for border wall building across the Big Bend region, which could impact the national park. -
A preliminary federal notice says the Department of Homeland Security is moving to waive a wide range of environmental regulations to speed up “barriers and roads” building in the Big Bend region of West Texas. The waivers would include a portion of Big Bend Ranch State Park. -
The lodge will remain closed “until further notice” as the West Texas park deals with an ongoing water outage, officials said. -
A winter storm will likely bring frigid temperatures and travel disruptions to much of the U.S. starting Friday, from Texas to the Northeast. In West Texas, parts of the Permian Basin could see at least 1 inch of snow, while icy roads will be a concern into the Big Bend region as well. -
House Bill 3000, approved by lawmakers last year, allows certain rural counties to apply for up to $500,000 in grant funding for ambulances and associated EMS equipment. Presidio, Jeff Davis and Brewster counties are all hoping to get in on the opportunity.
