A coalition of environmental groups sued the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Tuesday, claiming the state is dragging its feet in approving operating permits for several major industrial plants.
Kiah Collier
Kiah Collier was a reporter for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative initiative from 2020 through 2023. She previously worked at the Tribune as a reporter and associate editor, covering energy and the environment through the lens of state government and politics. Kiah has reported for numerous other publications across Texas since 2010, including the Austin American-Statesman and the Houston Chronicle. Her beats also have included government and politics, public education and business. Kiah’s work has been honored with numerous prizes, including a George Foster Peabody Award, a Gerald Loeb Award, the Knight-Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism, the National Edward R. Murrow Award for best investigation and the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award. A seventh-generation Texan, she grew up in the Austin area and graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in journalism and philosophy.
Posted in
Energy
San Antonio Hikes Water Rates for Vista Ridge
The San Antonio City Council on Wednesday unanimously — albeit cautiously — approved plans for a sizable water rate increase that will pay, in part, for a controversial, $3.4 billion water pipeline.
Posted in
Public Education
Education Board Rejects Panel to Review Textbook Errors
Weeks after a Houston-area mom sparked an uproar over a caption in her son’s textbook that described African slaves as “workers,” the State Board of Education tentatively approved several changes to its textbook adoption process.
Posted in
Public Education
SBOE: School Boards Can’t Hire Just Anyone as Superintendent
The State Board of Education on Wednesday rejected a rule change that would have allowed school boards to hire anyone they wanted as superintendent — even if the candidate had no public education experience.
Posted in
Energy
Drilling Not Root of San Antonio Smog, State Says
State environmental officials on Monday continued to downplay the impact of Eagle Ford Shale drilling on San Antonio’s worsening air quality, blaming cars and trucks instead.
Posted in
Public Education
Paxton Blasts “Never-Ending” School Suits
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday called for an end to “a never-ending cycle of perpetual litigation” over how the state funds its public schools, saying the courts should stay out of a legislative decision.
Posted inState Government
Early Voting Is Up Big Ahead of Amendment Election
Also, Land Commissioner George P. Bush touts his management skills and co-teaches a Texas history class online.
Posted in
Energy
EPA to Require Toxic Release Reporting from Natural Gas Plants
Hundreds of gas plants across the country — and as many as 180 in Texas — soon will have to alert the federal government if they discharge, produce or handle certain toxic chemicals like benzene or hydrogen sulfide.
Posted in
Energy
Texas Part of Coalition Suing EPA Over Clean Power Plan
As promised, Texas is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over President Obama’s plan to combat climate change, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday, just after the new regulation had been finalized.
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Public Education
Teacher Groups Ask For Health Care Help — Again
Teacher groups on Thursday renewed their call for the Legislature to put more money into a health insurance plan that has seen school employees foot an increasing share of the premiums as the state contribution has remained the same.
