Amid the budget drama of the day, senators had a few moments of levity when they brought up the “noodling” bill, which would legalize the practice of hand-fishing for catfish.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
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Energy
Texas Smart-Grid Experts Head to the White House
On Friday morning, a small group of Texans, including the chairman of the Public Utility Commission, will brief White House representatives on the smart-meter rollout and related issues in the state.
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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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Energy
With Vote, Texas Moves Closer to Expanded Nuclear Waste Dump
The House gave preliminary approval today to a bill that will give more flexibility to an operator at a planned West Texas disposal site for low-level radioactive waste. An effort to curb the company’s potential profits failed.
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Energy
Dallas Billionaire Nears Nuclear Waste Dump Win
Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons could get a little richer if state lawmakers hand him what he wants today: a bill expanding the right of his company to accept low-level radioactive waste from several states — and the power to set the rates it charges them.
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Energy
Drilling Down on Fracking in Texas
A team of University of Texas researchers is about to study the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the drilling technique that has environmental groups worried. Mose Buchele of KUT News talked with the man leading the study of one of the most controversial methods of harvesting energy in the world.
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Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on pork choppers, Aguilar on sanctuary cities legislation, Galbraith on Brownsville’s ban on plastic bags, Grissom on Delma Banks and prosecutorial misconduct, Hamilton on a tough week for higher education in Texas, Philpott on wildfires and politics, Ramshaw on the state’s pursuit of a federal Medicaid overhaul, M. Smith on what would happen if lawmakers don’t rewrite school finance formulas, yours truly on the Lege as schoolyard and Stiles with interactive graphics on how the proposed Senate redistricting maps compare with current ones: The best of our best content from May 9 to 13, 2011.
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Energy
TribLive: Staples on the 2014 Lite Guv Race
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples talked about his plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2014 — and offered his assessment of the other likely candidates in the race, Comptroller Susan Combs and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.
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Energy
Senate Discusses Fracking Disclosure Bill
A Senate committee heard testimony this morning from Halliburton and others on a bill that would require drilling companies to disclose the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing. The bill has been left pending until the House takes a final vote on its version.
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Energy
Fracking Bill Could Set National Standard
The House appears set to pass a bill that would compel companies to disclose substances they use in fracking, a process used to harvest natural gas. As Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, the bill could bring Texas a step closer to determining fracking’s environmental impact.