Trump promised more federal money after FEMA denied individual assistance for Texas flood survivors. State officials have appealed FEMA’s decision.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Politics
Dolores Huerta, trailblazing advocate for migrant farmworkers, dies at 96
Huerta co-founded several organizations to support Texas farmworkers. She was also an ardent advocate for women and immigrant’s rights.
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Environment
Feds may build border wall through South Texas refuge as original plan stalls in court
The original plan, which has been stalled since July, called for construction of a wall along the Santa Ana wildlife refuge.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
Emergency weather alerts may be sent via satellite under new “Mystic Alerts Act”
Not everyone received cell alerts during the deadly flooding in 2025 in the Texas Hill Country. A new law is trying to fix that.
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Data Centers in Texas
Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
FEMA won’t help Texans after July 2026 floods as agency tells states to lead disaster response
Disaster recovery experts say FEMA individual assistance funds are critical for residents to cover short-term costs. Gov. Greg Abbott is considering an appeal.
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Environment
Texans didn’t know their neighborhood was built near an abandoned oil well spreading toxic fumes
As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.
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Environment
AG’s office sides with community in the fight over public access to an East Texas waterway
A brief on the Cutoff stream, which a billionaire blocked access to, was issued by the state agency in the days leading up to oral arguments before the 12th Court of Appeals.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Greg Abbott ordered a pause on data center permits. Critics say some plans still moved forward.
Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hadn’t stopped issuing data center permits as required. The agency said it was complying with the directive.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Texas data center boom could erase decades of progress on air quality
A new report warns that the state’s air quality progress could be reversed by the end of the decade, especially if facilities use natural gas power.
