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.
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.
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Demographics
31 Days, 31 Ways: Despite State Budget Cuts, Border Security Funding Increases
DAY 30 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: During a legislative session where hardly any services were spared the budget ax, funding for border security actually increased.
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Energy
Drought Pushing Thirsty, Hungry Black Bears Farther From Home
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is warning that the worst one-year drought on record is causing black bears to change their behavior, roaming farther from traditional habitats and potentially becoming more aggressive toward people.
Posted inState Government
Audio Slideshow: Where Rick Perry’s From
Gov. Rick Perry’s rural hometown of Paint Creek is the scene-setter for many a stump speech. We take you there with an audio slideshow.
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Energy
A Lizard Causes Oil and Gas Industry Drama
The sand dune lizard, located in parts of West Texas and New Mexico, could potentially be interfering with the drilling of oil and gas.
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Higher Education
UT Experiment Grapples With Essence of Gravity
Beset by the threat of natural disasters and potential funding difficulties, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment at the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory could turn gravity’s time-honored laws on their head.
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Energy
With Little Help From Austin, Texas’ Solar Use Grows — Slowly
Renewable energy companies are looking to this big, sunny state as the next frontier for solar power. But solar is expensive, and once again the Legislature did not pass a statewide solar incentive. Some companies and communities are forging ahead nonetheless.
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Energy
West Texas Project Could Change Future of Wind Power
Utility giant Duke Energy announced last week that it has hired a Kyle-based company to build what would be the world’s largest wind energy storage system for the Notrees wind farm in West Texas. As Lindsay Patterson reports for KUT News, the technology behind the project could solve some of wind power’s biggest problems.
Posted in
Demographics
2010 Census Data for Texas Released
New U.S. census data shows the Hispanic population in Texas increased by 42 percent since 2000 and makes up 38 percent of the population. The state’s total population increased by 4,293,741 since 2000.
Posted in
Public Education
In West Texas, a Town’s Fate Tied to Its School
With just 56 students, Marathon ISD is one of the state’s smallest. But its fate is critical to the West Texas town’s survival. And if what is happening here works, it could serve as a model for other towns looking to shield their way of life from the death knell of school closures.
