Regulators repeatedly documented — but did little to address — problems at a Houston-area tank farm. Then on March 17, 2019, a fire blew through a corner of the facility, releasing toxic chemicals into nearby communities for weeks.
April 2023
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
House-Senate animosity bubbles over with clashes on property taxes, education
With threats of a special session and a derisive moniker, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tries to pressure the House speaker into acting on his conservative priorities.
Posted in
Higher Education
West Texas A&M faculty condemn university President Walter Wendler after drag show cancellation
The vote of no-confidence came over Wendler’s handling of the drag show. Faculty said he’s also exhibited poor leadership with other issues.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
Senate OKs bill to allow construction of anti-abortion monument on state Capitol grounds
The original sculpture was installed in the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome last year and is often interpreted as a depiction of Mary and Jesus.
Posted in
Politics
Texas kids would need parental consent to create social media accounts under House bill
The House gave initial approval to the bill Tuesday. The legislation is a priority for Speaker Dade Phelan.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Seven Texas prison employees face dismissal over 16-year-old inmate’s suicide
Joshua Keith Beasley Jr. had been transferred from a Texas youth facility to an adult prison despite a long history of suicidal behavior. Five guards and two supervisors allegedly failed to check on him.
Sponsor Post
Texas deserves better than costly, ineffective energy proposals
Low-cost clean energy helped fuel Texas’s economic miracle. Some in the Legislature want to slow resources such as solar and wind power — but there’s no way to do it without hurting Texas consumers, employers and the economy.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
Texas education board could ban textbooks that discuss gender identity under proposed bill
Other legislation this session has targeted school library books, which are optional reading materials, but House Bill 1804 might be the first to go after textbooks that teachers use for their lessons.
Sponsor Post
Education savings accounts drain resources, diminish choices
School vouchers, also known as education savings accounts (ESAs), have been a focal point this session and a priority for some state leaders. ESAs must be rejected by state lawmakers.
Posted in
Higher Education
Research leaders at Texas A&M University raise “serious concerns” with President Kathy Banks’ leadership
A poll conducted by the Council of Principal Investigators, an elected group of faculty who help oversee research activity at the school, found respondents distrust the president’s decision making since she took the helm nearly two years ago.