The Texas Tribune reviewed a copy of a draft Texas Parks and Wildlife agenda that included discussion about ceding control of 1,300 acres in Cameron County, home to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceX’s launch site.
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.
To report a tip, contact Alejandra on Signal at @alereports.22
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas data center boom could erase decades of progress on air quality
A new report warns that the state’s air quality progress could be reversed by the end of the decade, especially if facilities use natural gas power.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light
Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
Posted in
State Government
Texas agency sues to stop release of data center records that it says could aid terrorists
A lawsuit will test whether Texas officials can withhold data center location details under the state Homeland Security Act.
Posted in
Environment
A 650-acre ranch on Lake Palestine will become Texas’ next state park
The ranch has been owned by an East Texas family for more than 80 years and is expected to be transferred to the state next year for development into a park.
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The 2026 Texas Tribune Festival
Corpus Christi’s water crisis serves as a warning and a roadmap for others
Experts at a Texas Tribune Festival panel discussed how close the city and region came to disaster and how the experience exposed the need for long-term planning, diversification and groundwater reform.
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Immigration
Migrants who planted roots in Texas are being swept up in the immigration crackdown. Here are five of their stories.
Some detained Texans were pursuing pathways to stay here legally. None had criminal convictions.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas land commissioner 2026: Who is running and what you need to know
The General Land Office oversees investments that earn billions of dollars for public education, manages state lands, operates the Alamo and administers disaster recovery funds and benefits to Texas veterans. Here’s a look at who’s running in the 2026 race and where they stand.
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Environment
Fire crews fully contains North Texas wildfire, which continues to burn three weeks later
The fire has burned 90,000 acres, making it the second largest fire in the region’s history.
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Data Centers in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas water agency to penalize data centers that don’t report their water usage
Last year, less than 30% of data centers responded to a state-mandated water usage survey conducted by the Texas Water Development Board.
