Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

ExxonMobil just filed plans to bury carbon dioxide deep under Jefferson County — and if it gets approved, construction starts this year. Meanwhile, early voting kicked off today for Port Arthur and Nederland city council races, so now is the time to show up. West Orange had a hard week: a $300K fire truck grant slipped away over a single council vote. And April 25 is stacked with reasons to get out — Gabriel Iglesias at Ford Park, Liverpool Legends at the Jefferson, Earth Day in Port Arthur, and a free fitness event at Central Park.

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Let's get into it. 👇

ExxonMobil Plans to Store Carbon Underground Across Jefferson County 🌱

ExxonMobil filed for a Class VI injection permit with the Texas Railroad Commission for what they're calling the "Sunflower Carbon Storage Project" — a proposal to pump captured CO₂ deep underground across roughly 25,000 acres straddling eastern Liberty County and western Jefferson County. The plan calls for four injection wells driving carbon dioxide down 0.5 to 1.5 miles below the surface, connected through an 11-mile extension of ExxonMobil's existing Gulf Coast pipeline network. The site was chosen for its favorable geology and its proximity to the dense industrial corridor already operating along the coast.

If the permit clears, ExxonMobil says early construction activity could begin before the end of 2026. That puts a major energy infrastructure investment — the kind that brings engineering teams, monitoring crews, and long-term operations jobs — squarely in our backyard.

💡 The bottom line: If this gets the green light, SETX won't just be where oil comes out of the ground. It'll be where carbon goes back in. That's a significant shift in the region's industrial identity, and the jobs and permitting activity could arrive this year.

Read more at: https://panews.com/2026/04/17/port-arthur-celebrates-grand-opening-of-new-animal-services-center/

🗳️ Early Voting Is Open Right Now — Jefferson County's local ballot is live through April 28, with Election Day on May 2. Races include Port Arthur City Council (Districts 1–4), Port Arthur ISD, Nederland City Council, Nederland ISD, and Sabine Pass Port Authority. If you vote in any of these jurisdictions, this affects your schools, your streets, and your city services. Early voting locations include the PA Library (4615 9th Ave.) and Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse (525 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur). Read more →

🚒 West Orange Lost a $300K Fire Truck Grant — The city was awarded state funds to replace a 20-year-old fire truck — but the grant required $250K in city matching funds, and the council voted no. The grant expired. The fire department will continue running aging equipment. For a smaller city already working with limited resources, this is a real gap in public safety coverage that won't fix itself easily. Read more →

🐾 Port Arthur's New Animal Services Center Is Open — A brand-new facility at 3615 Gates Blvd. replaces a building that had exceeded its useful life after years of planning. Open Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Adoption, fostering, and volunteer opportunities are all available. Ferguson Law Firm donated 50 beds to kick things off — a small detail that says a lot about how the community came together to make this happen. Read more →

⛳ Groves Is Getting Its First Disc Golf Course — City council approved a 9-hole course at West Groves and John Spikes Memorial Parks (5601 W. Washington Blvd.), with Groves Equipment Rental sponsoring up to $10K. Public Works is handling installation — about 45 days out from notice to proceed. Low barrier to entry, high replayability, and the kind of amenity that attracts disc golf leagues and weekend players from around the region. Read more →

🎭 Percy Jackson Musical Opens Thursday in Port Arthur — Port Arthur Little Theatre presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical starting April 24 at 4701 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. Runs through May 10, with Friday/Saturday evening shows at 7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:30 PM. Tickets start at $13 for students, $17 for adults. If the kids have read the books, this is a weekend well spent. Tickets at PALT.org or call 409-727-7258. Read more →

📬 Which story caught your eye?

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉

If you've been sleeping on Lupe Tortilla, consider this your wake-up call. The Texas fajita institution has been going strong since 1983 — over four decades of sizzling cast-iron platters and Tex-Mex that has earned a devoted following across the Gulf Coast. The Beaumont location sits right on I-10, which means there's genuinely no good excuse not to stop in. Undefeated in the fajita business since 1983 — their words, and honestly, nobody's arguing.

📍 2050 I-10, Beaumont

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

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This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

April is when Big Thicket earns its nickname as the "Biological Crossroads of North America." Right now, the preserve's pitcher plants, sundews, and native orchids are in peak bloom — a spectacle you'd typically have to travel to the Pacific Northwest or the Smokies to see.

The Kirby Nature Trail (off US-69/287, about 30 minutes north of Beaumont) is the most accessible entry point: easy terrain, no technical gear required, and the best stretch for carnivorous plant bogs. Admission is free. Go early to beat the heat and catch morning light through the canopy.

🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.

The Beaumont–Port Arthur MSA unemployment rate dropped to 5.5% in February — down from 6.0% in January — but it's still well above the Texas statewide rate of 4.3%. The gap means local demand for good job connections is real. With local city council races wrapping up by May 2, watch for shifts in public sector hiring in Port Arthur and Nederland as new leadership takes office.

🔧 Free Welding Training — Port Arthur

The Port Arthur EDC and Lamar State College Port Arthur are funding professional welding training for 75 Port Arthur residents at zero cost — no tuition, no fees. The program runs over three years and is timed to match anticipated shipbuilding demand returning to the region. This is a real pathway to an in-demand trade with strong local hiring prospects.

How to apply: Watch for enrollment details from LSCPA at lscpa.edu or via Port Arthur News.

Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.

Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.

🌱 ExxonMobil wants to pump captured carbon dioxide deep underground in Jefferson County. Do you see that as a step toward cleaner industry — or a concern for the community? We want to hear both sides.

See you next week neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team