Well, Midland, apparently some things never change. Today I went back to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center to cover the MISD school board candidate forum with Derek Smith. And wouldn’t you know it, we ran into another problem. Little history lesson. Back in 2022, I was at this same facility livestreaming a Beto O’Rourke rally when I was shoved around by attendees, removed by Midland police, and issued a criminal trespass warning. All while trying to ask Robert Francis a few questions. I have that incident on video, too. Fast-forward four years. Derek and I show up as independent journalists to cover candidates running for PUBLIC OFFICE at an event advertised to the community. Multiple news agencies were allowed to film. We were told to put our cameras away. The security guard even claimed the approved reporters were being PAID to be there. Funny enough, another reporter told me that wasn’t true. Then I submitted FOUR questions for the candidates. Not one was addressed. We were told audience questions weren’t being taken, yet other people were standing up and asking questions. Now, maybe Jumpstart Midland has an explanation. I’d sure love to hear it. But here’s what gets me. You host a school board forum at a PUBLICLY OWNED facility, invite the community, allow certain cameras, and then tell independent journalists they can’t record? What exactly are y’all afraid we’re going to capture that the other cameras won’t? And this is the organization that talks about transparency and giving parents a voice? Give me a break. Here’s the video of my conversation with security. Listen to the explanation and see what you think. Welcome to Midland, Texas, where apparently transparency depends on who’s holding the camera. #DefendMidland #MidlandTexas #MISD