The political action committee of Dallas billionaire waste magnate Harold Simmons is asking 18 lawmakers to return about $65,000 in contributions after admitting that an oversight led to illegal campaign contributions.
West Texas
West Texas is home to the nation’s largest oil field, the Permian Basin. The region is defined by its energy production and wide-open spaces. It also includes Big Bend country and cities such as El Paso, Midland and Odessa.
Posted in
Demographics
2013 Budget Plan Facing Border Security Criticism
The White House’s proposed 2013 budget has the Texas Border Coalition insisting that the administration’s lack of money for port improvements puts trade and security in peril.
Posted in
Demographics
More Helicopters, Fewer Troops to Patrol Border
Aerial surveillance in the form of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft will replace about 900 National Guard troops on the U.S.-Mexico border as early as next year, a strategy not all Texas lawmakers like.
Posted in
Energy
Federal Agency Delays Decision on West Texas Lizard
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put off a decision on whether to declare the dunes sagebrush lizard, which lives in West Texas, an endangered species. The delay has pleased Texas business groups but alarmed environmentalists.
Posted in
Demographics
Two Mayors, Two Views on Using War-Zone Equipment on Border
Mayors of cities along the Texas-Mexico border intent on protecting the images of their communities are drawing vastly different conclusions about a proposal that would bring in equipment from overseas war zones to bolster border-security efforts.
Posted in
Demographics
Maurice Sherif: The TT Interview
The French photographer on why he documented the construction of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and what he learned as he trekked through four states photographing the multi-billion dollar effort.
Posted in
Energy
Peanut Farmers Feeling Strain of Record Drought
Little-known fact: Texas is second only to Georgia in peanut farming. But as Terrence Henry of KUT News reports, while Texas’ peanut farmers have dealt with droughts before, they’ve never seen anything like this year’s crippling dry spell.
Posted in
Energy
With the Drought, More Dust Storms
Despite last weekend’s rains, the Texas drought lingers — and experts say the number of irritating and dangerous dust storms could increase across the state, especially in West Texas and the Panhandle.
Posted inState Government
Hardcastle Won’t Run Again
West Texas is taking another blow with Rick Hardcastle’s decision not to seek another term in the Texas House.
Posted in
Politics
Gallego Will Challenge Canseco for Congressional Seat
State Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, says he is filing papers this week to run for the congressional seat now held by Republican Francisco “Quico” Canseco of San Antonio.
