Skip to main content
Topics

Environment

The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Wildfires in West Texas Could Creep Eastward

    By Erika Aguilar, KUT News

    A string of wildfires has charred about 400,000 acres in drought-stricken West Texas. But as Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, areas further east, also thirsting for water, may be just as vulnerable as the west. Full Story 

    Wildfire rages along a mountaintop outside of Alpine early in the morning of April 10, 2011
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Steve Pollock: The TT Interview

    By Kate Galbraith

    The regional fire coordinator for the Texas Forest Service, near the front lines of a 100,000-acre blaze that swept through Stonewall and King Counties last weekend, says more bad fire weather is on the way later this week. Full Story 

    Steve Pollock, Assistant Chief for the Texas Forest Service.
    Credit: Texas Forest Service

  • Drought Could Keep Wildfires Blazing Until Summer

    By Crystal Chavez

    Firefighters continue to battle massive wildfires that have scorched more than 300,000 acres across the state in the last week. As Crystal Chavez of KUT News reports, with the state still battling a drought, little relief is in sight. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Lawmakers Eye Repeal of Natural Gas Tax Break

    By Ryland Barton

    The state of Texas generates a fortune from taxes on mining for oil, gas and minerals. But as Ryland Barton of KUT News and ReportingTexas.com reports, the natural gas industry enjoys a special incentive that some legislators want to scrap. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Joseph Bourk

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Tan on the budget standoff between the House and Senate, Ramsey on budget cuts that cost us money, Philpott on Hispanics and redistricting, Stiles visualizes speed limits by state, Grissom on a liberal social justice organizer who became a conservative hero, M. Smith on even more student social security numbers at risk, Ramshaw on whether family planning equals abortion, Aguilar on what circumcision has to do with citizenship, Murphy on how much Texas university adminstrators are paid, Hamilton on the latest in the higher ed reform saga and Galbraith on Texas energy lessons from the 1970s: The best of our best content from April 4 to 8, 2011. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail

  • On Energy, a Lesson for Texas From the 1970s

    By Kate Galbraith

    Unrest in the Middle East, rising oil prices and frustration with federal energy policy — for many Texans, today’s headlines must seem like déjà vu. While the situation is far less severe than the aftermath of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the parallels are unmistakable. Full Story 

    Steam rises from the stacks at the Martin Lake Coal-Fired Power Plant in Tatum, TX March 30, 2011.
    Credit: Tom Pennington

  • Legislators Take Up the Great Plastic Bag Debate

    By Kate Galbraith

    This week, committees in both chambers heard testimony about bills to encourage recycling of plastic grocery bags. But environmentalists fear that the legislation would prevent local communities from banning plastic bags altogether, as three Texas cities have done. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo

  • In Texas, an Upside to Higher Gas Prices

    By Gretch Sanders

    Oil prices hit $100 per barrel last month for the first time since 2008, and prices have continued to rise. But as Gretch Sanders of KUT News reports, paying more at the pump might not be bad news for Texas. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    M. Smith on the continuing controversy over Beaumont's school administrators, Tan on the deepening divide over the consequences of the House budget, Hamilton on the latest in the fight over higher ed accountability, Grissom on young inmates in adult prisons, Aguilar on the voter ID end game, Tan and Hasson's Rainy Day Fund infographic, Ramsey on the coming conflict over school district reserves, M. Smith and Aguilar on Laredo ISD's missing Social Security numbers, Galbraith on environmental regulators bracing for budget cuts and Ramshaw on greater scrutiny of neonatal intensive care units: The best of our best content from March 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail