Latest Contributions

• Battleground Texas Reboots With Help From Friends

  by John Reynolds and Kiah Collier Sept. 17, 2015

  Also, the State Board of Education starts looking for alternatives to the current GED exam and state Sen. Sylvia Garcia asks for an interim study on school bus safety. Full Story 

• Experts: Expect Early 2016 School Finance Ruling

  by Kiah Collier Sept. 17, 2015

  Citing past rulings and politics, experts and insiders are predicting the Texas Supreme Court will rule in the latest school finance appeal early next year, with some predicting a summertime special legislative session. Full Story 

• Water Board Moves to Resolve Reservoir Conflict

  by Kiah Collier Sept. 9, 2015

  Disagreeing with Dallas-Fort Worth-area water officials, the Texas Water Development Board decided on Wednesday that a years-long conflict over a yet-to-be-built reservoir in the region’s 50-year water plan is serious enough that it should be resolved. Full Story 

• New Law May Not Thwart Hays Water Project

  by Kiah Collier Sept. 9, 2015

  A bill that passed late in the legislative session gave some residents and officials hope that they can kill a controversial water-pumping project in western Hays County. But there's no guarantee that Houston-based Electro Purification won't ultimately be able to proceed with its plan. Full Story 

• State Urges Texas Supreme Court to Drop School Finance Lawsuit

  by Kiah Collier Sept. 1, 2015

  “Money isn’t pixie dust” when it comes to improving public schools, lawyers for the state of Texas told the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, arguing an appeal in what has been described as the most far-reaching school finance case in state history. Full Story 

• Amid Hurricane Debate, Another Storm Surge Option Surfaces

  by Kiah Collier Sept. 1, 2015

  A Rice University-based group is proposing an entirely new plan for protecting Houston, its ship channel and its residents from a massive storm surge during the next big hurricane. But consensus remains elusive. Full Story 

• 2011 Budget Cuts Still Hampering Schools

  by Kiah Collier Aug. 31, 2015

  As Texas prepares to argue a school finance appeal before the state Supreme Court, districts still are grappling with staffing cuts, swelling class sizes and flat test scores exacerbated by the 2011 budget cuts. Full Story 

• Judge Casts EPA Rule into Muddy Legal Waters

  by Jim Malewitz, Kiah Collier and Ally Mutnick Aug. 28, 2015

  After a setback in court Thursday, can the federal government enforce its controversial "Waters of the U.S." rule in Texas? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says yes. Texas says no. Full Story 

• Budget Cuts Hit Film, Video Game Incentives

  by Kiah Collier Aug. 24, 2015

  State lawmakers inflicted deep cuts on the incentive program Texas uses to lure film, television and video game productions to the state. Now, industry advocates say Texas-based productions — like the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights — will be scarcer. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story 

• Paxton Asks EPA to Halt Global Warming Plan

  by Kiah Collier Aug. 20, 2015

  Renewing his vow to sue if the answer is no, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday officially asked the Environmental Protection Agency to halt a sweeping plan designed to combat climate change while existing legal challenges from other states play out. Full Story 

• Climate Pleas From Pope, Obama Fall Flat in Texas

  by Kiah Collier Aug. 5, 2015

  Pope Francis has called on people of faith and science to come together and address the perils of climate change, and President Obama has finalized his ambitious carbon-cutting Clean Power Plan. But Texas Republicans aren't signing on, Catholic or not. Full Story 

• Obama Unveils Climate Rules, With Texas-Wide Implications

  by Jim Malewitz and Kiah Collier Aug. 3, 2015

  President Obama on Monday unveiled the final version of his state-by-state effort to combat climate change by reshaping the nation’s energy sector – a plan that has roiled Republican leaders in Texas. Full Story 

• Utilities Hope Texas Plays Ball on Clean Air Plan

  by Kiah Collier Aug. 2, 2015

  After President Obama unveils the nitty-gritty of his sweeping, state-by-state plan to fight climate change, no one doubts Texas will sue. But some who will bear the brunt of complying with the new regulations are calling that knee-jerk reaction shortsighted. Full Story 

• In Latest EPA Ruling, Glass Half Full For Paxton, Environmentalists

  by Kiah Collier and Jim Malewitz July 28, 2015

  Texas’ Republican leaders and environmentalists are both claiming victory Tuesday following an appeals court ruling that requires the federal government to ease limits on certain emissions for Texas and a dozen other states. Full Story 

• Texas Facing Major Climate Change Impacts, According to New Study

  by Kiah Collier July 28, 2015

  A sharp increase in heat-related deaths and storm-related losses. A decrease in worker productivity and crop yields. A new climate change study paints a bleak picture for Texas over the coming decades — if nothing is done to address the much-debated warming trend. Full Story 

• Bland Case Spotlights Gaps in Jail Oversight

  by Edgar Walters and Kiah Collier July 24, 2015

  Like many Texas lockups, the Waller County Jail staff had not been sufficiently trained in safeguarding suicidal or mentally ill inmates. Part of the problem is underfunding and understaffing at the state agency overseeing the network of 244 local and private jails. Full Story 

• Texas Water Development Board OKs $4 Billion in Projects

  by Kiah Collier July 23, 2015

  UPDATED: From transmission pipelines to desalination plants, the Texas Water Development Board approved funding on Thursday for dozens of water supply projects from Marfa to Houston, including a handful to promote conservation. Full Story 

• The Drought is Over in Texas

  by Kiah Collier July 20, 2015

  For the first time in more than five years, Texas no longer is in a drought. While less than 3 percent of the state remains “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought has disappeared from every other part of Texas. Full Story 

• Drought's Economic Impact Spreading From Rural to Urban Areas

  by Kate Galbraith and Kiah Collier Oct. 27, 2011

  Despite the record dry stretch, most Texans are still far from running out of water. But the drought's economic impact is beginning to extend beyond agriculture and into tourism, real estate and other staples of urban economies. Full Story