Ten years after the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion, hear from two workers who survived it — but lost many of their friends. These videos and vignettes are part of a collaboration between The Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle.
Jim Malewitz
Jim Malewitz was a reporter at the Tribune from 2013 to 2017, covering energy and environment and then working on investigations. Previously, he covered those issues for Stateline, a nonprofit news service in Washington, D.C. The Michigan native majored in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa and holds a master’s from the University of Iowa. There, he helped launch the nonprofit Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism, where he currently serves on the board of directors. Jim also coaches the Texas Tribune Runoffs, which, sources say, is the scrappiest coed newsroom softball team west of the Mississippi.
Posted in
Energy
Confusion Swirls Over Bill to Clarify Drilling Rules
After Denton voters decided to ban fracking in their town, it seemed likely this Legislature will do something to rein in cities that try to regulate oil and gas production. But one likely approach by Rep. Drew Darby is stoking local fears.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Blood Lessons: Unsafe Conditions Persist at Nation’s Refineries
Ten years after the 2005 Texas City explosion, there is little evidence that the 15 lives lost on that March day brought needed changes to the nation’s refining industry, a joint Texas Tribune/Houston Chronicle investigation shows.
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Blood Lessons: Could the Texas City Tragedy Happen Again?
The Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle spent months examining whether the nation’s oil refineries learned the lessons of the deadly explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery in 2005. Ten years later, their investigation shows, the death toll has barely slowed.
Posted inState Government
A Closer Look: Low Oil Prices a Hit to Revenue
Just how hard are plummeting oil prices hitting the Texas treasury? Data from the state comptroller gives us an idea.
Posted inState Government
LBB: Don’t Make Spending Cap Formula Too Restrictive
Also, a senator says the state no longer needs its renewable portfolio standard, and a final count on bills filed.
Posted in
Energy
Texas Town Goes All In on Renewable Energy
Georgetown’s municipal utility has unveiled plans to tap wind and solar energy to meet all of its customers’ power needs, making it the first Texas city-owned utility to abandon fossil fuels.
Posted in
Energy
Denton Fracking Ban Tees Up Local Control Fight
Plenty of lawmakers are siding with the oil industry in response to Denton’s vote to ban fracking inside city limits. What’s surprising this session is how few are weighing in for local control.
Posted in
Politics
House Plan Would Plug Hole in Pension Fund
Texas House leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday to shore up the state’s chronically underfunded retirement system for employees that requires workers to pay more into the system, but gives them a pay raise to offset the cost.
Posted in
Energy
Texas Officials Take Aim at Crude Oil Export Ban
With prices stumbling and crude oil backing up in refineries and tank farms across the state, Texas lawmakers are raising a cry for repeal of the 40-year-old ban on most crude oil exports.
