A $3 million jury award to a North Texas family who claimed that nearby oil drilling operations caused severe health ailments has spurred fears of more lawsuits.
Neena Satija
Neena Satija worked at the Tribune from 2013 to 2019. She was an investigative reporter and radio producer for the Tribune and Reveal, a public radio program from the Center for Investigative Reporting. Previously, she was the environment reporter at the Tribune. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, she graduated from Yale University in 2011, and then worked for the New Haven Independent, the Connecticut Mirror, and WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio. She has also been a regular contributor to National Public Radio. As an East Coast transplant she is particularly thrilled with Austin tacos and warm weather.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Supreme Court’s Air Pollution Ruling Goes Against Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday morning that federal limits on the effects of air pollution across state boundaries are legal, striking down a challenge from Texas and a number of other states and industry coalitions.
Posted in
Energy
LCRA Draws Criticism Over Proposed Rate Hikes
The Lower Colorado River Authority is proposing significant rate increases for Central Texas cities and Gulf Coast-area rice farmers, saying its operating costs aren’t being covered. But critics say the agency should focus more on cutting costs.
Posted in
Energy
As Rice Farmers in Texas Turn to Groundwater, Can They Stay Afloat?
Facing the third straight year of cutoffs for irrigation water from the Lower Colorado River Authority, some Gulf Coast-area rice farmers are spending millions of dollars drilling wells to pump groundwater instead.
Posted in
Energy
Appointment of Brazos Watermaster Hotly Contested in East Texas
The Brazos river’s hotly contested lower basin will soon be subject to much more regulation than its users have experienced in the past. Will that help solve disputes or deepen divisions?
Posted in
Energy
Criticism of Water Policy Flows From Conservatives
Many conservative activists in Texas worry that when it comes to state water policy, Republican leaders have not focused on principles like small government, private property rights and local control.
Posted inState Government
Miller Claims Merritt Bought Foe’s Endorsement
Former state Rep. Sid Miller of Stephenville, a Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, is trying to discredit an opponent’s endorsement by claiming that it was “for sale.”
Posted inState Government
TW Politics Wrap: Auto Dealers Defend Franchise Law
Also, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s suit against Murphy Turner & Associates wraps up with an apology.
Posted in
Energy
Is Pot the Next Cash Crop for Farmers in Texas?
Agriculture commissioner candidate Kinky Friedman argues that marijuana legalization is the future of Texas. But for farmers in states where growing it is legal, the crop has come with a new set of problems.
Posted inState Government
Merritt Gets Primary Opponent’s Support for Ag Commissioner
Joe Cotten, a financial adviser from Dallas who ran in the Republican primary for agriculture commissioner in May, has endorsed former state Rep. Tommy Merritt of Longview over former state Rep. Sid Miller for the runoff election.