The state’s record dry spell has rice farmers, growing cities and a proposed coal plant competing for water from drought-stricken lakes. This is the first in a five-part print and radio series, “Water Fight,” with KUT News.
water supply
Posted in
Energy
In Central Texas, Dwindling Lakes and Growing Water Demand
The current drought, drier than any other October-through-May stretch in Texas history, has heightened the stakes in an already contentious long-term planning battle over water from the Highland Lakes.
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Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson and Murphy visualize what happened to the nearly 5,800 bills introduced in the 82nd Lege, Aaronson, Hasson and Swicegood interactively recap the budget battle, Aguliar on the surge in illegal re-entry cases prosecuted by the Obama administration, Galbraith on a coal plant that wants a water deal from the LCRA, Grissom interviews a man wrongly imprisoned and nearly executed — twice, Hamilton on a controversial UT regent who wants a do-over in the debate over higher ed reform, Ramshaw on the continuing fight over pre-abortion sonograms, Root on Rick Perry’s newsmaking trip to NYC and M. Smith on whether cash-strapped school districts will raise taxes: The best of our best content from June 13 to 17, 2011.
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Energy
Midland and Odessa Grapple With Water Concerns
In parts of the Permian Basin, less than 0.2 inches of rain has fallen since September. As the drought grows increasingly dire, officials and residents are taking more drastic measures to reduce water use.
Posted in
Energy
Midland Approves First-Ever Water Use Penalties
Faced with extreme drought, the Midland City Council approved a plan today to fine residents $500 for violating watering restrictions, the first time the city has ever enacted such restrictions.
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Energy
LCRA Moves Swiftly to Name New Boss
The board of the Lower Colorado River Authority wasted no time in naming a long-time staffer to take over as the organization’s general manager, following the resignation of Tom Mason a week ago.
Posted in
Energy
This Session, Water Policy Rode on One Word
With the Big Dry upon us, the fight over the water percolating under the surface in Texas’ underground aquifers was bound to get contentious before the end of the legislative session. And it did, at least for a while, because of one modifier.
Posted in
Energy
Drought Gripping State Shows No Sign of Easing
The Lower Colorado River Authority, a major supplier of water for Central Texas, warned today that the drought gripping the state is likely to continue for months and urged its customers to conserve water.
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Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on a freshman lawmaker’s rogue antics, Aguilar on how cartel violence affects tick eradication, Galbraith on Midland’s water woes, Hamilton on the exit of a higher ed reformer, Murphy maps voting age by county, Philpott on the data breach at the Comptroller’s office, Ramsey on why Susan Combs needs to eat crow, my TribLive interview with U.S. Sen John Cornyn, Ramshaw on Cornyn’s refusal to take the “nickel tour” of Planned Parenthood, M. Smith annotates the contracts of superintendents, Stiles on a GOP-friendly redistricting map and Tan on a possible Rainy Day Fund raid: The best of our best content from April 18 to 22, 2011.
Posted in
Energy
Drought-Plagued Midland Is Running Out of Water
A nasty drought is gripping all of Texas, but Midland’s situation is especially precarious. Since the beginning of October, barely one-tenth of an inch of rain has fallen, and regional reservoirs are getting close to empty.
