The Dallas-Fort Worth region boasts a growing economy larger than that of many countries — but it also sports some of the worst air quality in the nation. Scientists fear the politics of economic growth is preventing improvements.
Falling Behind
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Video: Ship Channel Fueling Industry, Debate
The Houston Ship Channel has grown in recent years and is now one of the world’s most important transportation waterways. But some scientists argue the bustling channel could be vulnerable to what they say are the effects of climate change.
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Water Planners Focus on a More Populous Texas, but Not a Hotter One
As state water planners prepare to spend $2 billion in public funds to address Texas’ water needs in the coming decades, scientists say state leaders’ skepticism on climate change will only impair such planning.
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Climate Scientists: Texas is Missing an Opportunity
Texas-based climate scientists say that Texas could be a global leader in protecting against climate change. But if state agencies continue to fail to take climate change into account when planning for the state’s future, the scientists argue, Texans will suffer a direct impact.
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As Teacher Pay Lags, Attrition, Class Size Grow
Stacked up against other states, Texas public schools could win the best-bang-for-your-buck competition. The state spends less than most others, and its students perform better than many. But the commitment to fiscal restraint has come with its own burdens for teachers.
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Academic Gains Slowing; No Consensus on Why
Over the last decade, Texas students have made steady progress on a number of academic measures. But in recent years, that improvement has begun to stall.
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As Texas Traffic Forecasts Worsen, Some Worry of a Drag on State Economy
The population of Texas could nearly double by 2050, prompting some to worry that not enough is being done to avoid a future traffic nightmare and the drag on the economy that could come with it.
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On Higher Ed Goals, State is Seeing a Mixed Bag
As the state’s 15-year higher education plan comes to an end, some objectives in key areas — including college enrollment among certain ethnic groups and degrees awarded in math and science — are unlikely to be met.
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Manufacturing Giant’s Water Woes a Sign of What’s to Come
Dow Chemical’s struggles to secure enough water supplies for its growing operations in Texas have sparked concerns about whether the state’s diminishing natural resources can accommodate its exploding population and economy.
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In Texas, Less Progress on Curbing Teen Pregnancy
In Texas and across the country, the birth rate among teenagers has declined significantly. But Texas has not fared as well as other states. The Lone Star State has the nation’s fifth-highest birth rate among teenagers.