January 2026

Former City Councilman and current State Democratic Executive Committee member Reagan Stone has organized a Democratic Forum for this upcoming Saturday for Congressional District 23. The forum will occur in person at Sul Ross State University and also via Zoom on Saturday, January 17, at 2 p.m.

The newly launched Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water at Sul Ross State University has announced the speaker lineup for the 2026 Water in the Desert Conference, set for February 11–13 in Alpine. The three-day event will bring together elected offi cials, state conservation leaders, water scientists, landowners, resource managers, and community leaders to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of water in Far West Texas.

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Sul Ross State University is proud to announce that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has approved a new Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program, set to launch in Fall 2026. The program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in Texas’ growing financial services industry. The MS in Finance equips students with advanced expertise in financial analysis, investment management, corporate finance, risk assessment, and fintech innovation. The curriculum combines strong theoretical foundations with applied learning experiences, ensuring students are well prepared to navigate an increasingly complex, datadriven, and competitive financial environment. “The new degree directly supports the State of Texas’s strategic priority to strengthen and expand its financial services sector,” said Dr. Sellamuthu Prabakaran, chair of the program at SRSU. “Gov. Greg Abbott’s ‘Bigger. Better. Texas. Economic Development Strategic Plan identifies financial services as a key growth cluster and emphasizes the importance of aligning higher education with workforce needs.” “The MS in Finance further expands Rio Grande College of Business and SRSU’s growing portfolio of graduate programs designed to prepare students for leadership and professional success in complex, globally connected industries,” said Dr. Sumantra Sengupta, dean of the Rio Grande College of Business. “By launching this graduate program, Sul Ross is responding to the Governor’s call to support Texas’s emergence as a national and global financial hub through targeted, workforce-ready education.” For more information, email prabakaran. sellamuthu@sulross.edu or sumantra.sengupta@sulross.edu.

The Museum of the Big Bend, located on the campus of Sul Ross State University, has once again been nominated for the third year in a row for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. The museum placed first in 2024 and seventh in 2025.

The first debate in the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is set for Jan. 24 in Georgetown, The Dallas Morning News reported. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock are vying for the nomination.

Send your community events to kara. gerbert@alpineavalanche.com January 15 Eyes on the Sky @ Davis Mountain State Park, 7 p.m.

The Alpine Bucks and Lady Bucks Powerlifting teams traveled to Monahans to open their 2026 season this past Saturday, January 10. Five of the 18 members were medalists, with two Lady Bucks and three Bucks earning hardware.

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Alpine Avalanche.