After an industrial building boom on Corpus Christi Bay, the city is drilling wells to meet water demand, and rural Nueces County residents say their own wells are being impacted.
Alejandra Martinez
Alejandra Martinez is a Fort Worth-based environmental reporter. She’s covered the impacts of petrochemical facilities on Black and brown communities, including investigating a chemical fire at an industrial complex and how the state's air monitoring system has failed Latino communities. Her work on climate change includes exploring the health effects of extreme heat and how extended droughts affect water resources. Before joining the Tribune in 2022, Alejandra was an accountability reporter at KERA, where she began as a Report for America Corps Member and then covered Dallas City Hall. She also has worked as an associate producer at WLRN in South Florida. A Houston native, Alejandra studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and speaks fluent Spanish.
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State Government
From school vouchers to flood warning systems, these are the Texas developments to watch in 2026
Several court hearings and policies affecting education, health and more will roll out in the new year.
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Environment
Texas’ newest state park gives visitors a sneak peek ahead of planned 2026 opening
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park will be the first to open in North Texas in about 25 years.
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Hill Country floods
Texas is approving money for flood warning systems, but will it be enough to build Kerr County’s?
The county where more than 100 died in July floods wants to quickly build a $5 million flood warning system.
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Energy
Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State Park
One of three possible routes would border the North Texas park. The project is part of a statewide effort to keep pace with Texas’ rapidly growing energy needs.
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Investigations
Kerr County was among dozens of Texas communities to turn down state flood money, saying it wasn’t enough
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects. But after learning that so many communities turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
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State Government
Texas will unveil its newest state park with a guided hike on New Year’s Day
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park in North Texas will open sometime next year. Visitors can reserve spots for a sneak peek on New Year’s Day.
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Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis
Will Texas actually run out of water? Your questions about the state’s water supply answered.
You asked our AI chatbot about Texas’ water supply. We answered some of the questions that it couldn’t.
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2025 Texas Elections
North Texas community votes against forming a city to regulate a noisy Bitcoin mine
Some Hood County residents wanted the same power that cities have to set noise limits, but did not secure enough votes.
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2025 Texas Elections
Texas set to make $20 billion investment in water after voters approve Proposition 4
Texas will use $1 billion in sales tax a year for the next two decades to help secure the state’s water supply.