Julián Castro unveils climate plan centered on Green New Deal principles
The plan carries a $10 trillion price tag and calls on the country to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Full Story
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![Democratic Presidential Candidate Julián Castro speaks at a presidential candidate forum in Houston on Aug. 31, 2019. The forum is part of the annual Islamic Society of North America convention.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
After Harvey surprised thousands with unexpected flooding, new law aims to better inform homebuyers
The law, written by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, requires homeowners to disclose if their properties lie in a flood-prone area or have flooded before. It's an effort to expand notification after many homes unexpectedly flooded during Hurricane Harvey. Full Story
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![Debris from Harvey flooding is removed from a Port Arthur neighborhood on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas plastic bags are killing horses and cows
A year after the Texas Supreme Court dealt a death blow to municipal bans on plastic bags, legislative efforts to revive them have fallen flat, and ranchers, city leaders and environmental groups say plastic bag litter is as big a problem as ever. Full Story
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![Kristie West, owner of a bed and breakfast as well as a ranch in Pleasanton, Tex, with her husband Gary, is alerting people of plastic bag litter killing livestock.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas might spend up to $20 billion to protect Houston from hurricanes. Rice University says it can do it for a fraction of that.
A government plan to guard the Houston-Galveston region from deadly storm surges isn't expected to become reality for at least 15 years. Rice University says it has a plan that could be completed faster for a fraction of the cost. Full Story
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Can the “masters of the flood” help Texas protect its coast from hurricanes?
After centuries of fighting back water in a low-lying nation, the Dutch have become the world leaders in flood control. And their expertise is helping Texas design what would become the nation’s most ambitious — and expensive — coastal barrier. Full Story
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![The Maeslantkering, the fifth and last storm surge barrier to be built in the Netherlands, guards the Port of Rotterdam, the busiest port in Europe. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas General Land Office are looking to the Maeslant for inspiration as they fine-tune a hurricane protection plan for the Houston-Galveston region.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Rijkswaterstaat -
Federal judge rules against Formosa Plastics in pollution case, calling company a "serial offender"
The judge determined this week that the Taiwanese-owned company has been in "enormous" violation of its state-issued permits and federal clean water laws for discharging plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways from its plant in Point Comfort. Full Story
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![Ronnie Hamrick points out the plastic pellets he collected with a swift scoop of his small net at Point Comfort on March 20, 2019.]()
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Texas voters’ biggest concerns for the country? Immigration and political corruption, UT/TT Poll says
Immigration and border security are at or near the top of voters' concerns about the U.S. and Texas, and political corruption is also near the top of their U.S. list, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs disaster relief and preparedness bills in Houston
The legislation includes framework that provides more than $1.6 billion for flood control projects and repairs across the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 7, one of four bills he signed into law on Thursday, June 13, 2019 in Houston, aimed at bolstering the state's emergency preparedness and disaster relief programs, including framework that provides $1.6 billion for flood control projects and repairs across the state.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott vetoes popular domestic violence bill because of an unrelated provision about radioactive waste fees
The bill would have required domestic violence survivors to be notified when offenders are released on bond. But the Republican governor nixed the legislation over a provision by Democratic state Rep. Poncho Nevárez that would have delayed a West Texas waste facility's increase in state fees. Full Story
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![State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, on the House floor on May 1, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
After delay initiated by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, Congress finally passes $19.1 billion disaster aid package
The bill includes a provision aimed at forcing the federal government to release more than $4 billion to Texas that Congress allocated to the state more than a year ago. Full Story
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![Jeremy Boutor removes personal items on an air mattress from his home in a neighborhood along Eldridge Parkway, flooded by waters released from Addicks Reservoir on Aug. 30, 2017, adding to from Hurricane Harvey.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers pass bills to better fund Texas parks, historic sites — if voters approve
Advocates have pushed for years to put a constitutional amendment before voters to ensure Texas parks and historic sites get the maximum funding authorized from a sales tax on sporting goods. They have finally succeeded. Full Story
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![Sunrise over the historic Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Legislation with $1.7 billion for flood control and mitigation projects goes to governor
Lawmakers behind the bills said the legislation will create a more resilient Texas and better prepare the state for storms. Full Story
![Jeremy Boutor removes personal items on an air mattress from his home in a neighborhood along Eldridge Parkway, flooded by waters released from Addicks Reservoir on Aug. 30, 2017, adding to from Hurricane Harvey.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texans in Congress push for release of billions in Harvey aid approved more than a year ago
Texas, Puerto Rico and other communities hit by major natural disasters have been waiting for over a year to receive their shares of $16 billion in grant funding approved by Congress. Full Story
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![Workers start clearing water damaged floors and walls from a house in the Houston suburb of Cypress after Hurricane Harvey on Aug. 30, 2017.]()
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Texas House passes bill to spend more than $3 billion to help pay for flood control projects
With the damage from Hurricane Harvey in mind, lawmakers approved two bills aimed at better preparing the state for natural disasters. Full Story
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![Damage from Hurricane Harvey near the gulf coast on August 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Tomas Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas farmers could begin growing hemp under legislation gaining steam in both chambers
House Bill 1325 would legalize hemp and hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil as long as they contain no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, on the Senate floor on May 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Judge orders alleged polluter of Skull Creek to stop accepting, disposing of waste
After a day of testimony, lawyers from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, the Lower Colorado River Authority, and Inland Environmental and Remediation agreed that the company will begin cleaning up its Altair site. Full Story
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![Downstream from Inland Environmental & Remediation, Inc., contaminated water empties from Skull Creek into the Colorado River south of Columbus, Texas, on April 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Once again, bills to study the impacts of climate change in Texas have stalled
Democratic state lawmakers filed multiple bills this year to require the state to prepare for a warming planet. None of them have been scheduled for public hearings. Full Story
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![Record rainfall in Llano and Burnet counties in the Texas Hill Country cause major flooding in Marble Falls on Oct. 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Renewable energy proponents brace for last-minute attack on tax breaks for wind and solar
For the past year, an influential conservative think tank has lobbied to make wind and solar projects ineligible for a popular local property tax abatement program. A measure to do that has stalled, but renewable advocates are watching for last-minute changes to other legislation. Full Story
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![Wind farm in Harrold, Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
As demand for recyclables plummets abroad, Texas lawmakers back plan to boost market at home
A bill designed to encourage Texas manufacturers to use more recyclable materials won final approval Monday. It comes as China and India have implemented policies restricting the import of plastics and other materials. Full Story
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![A Greenstar Recycling Center employee removes plastic bags from a sort line in Garland, Texas.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for the Texas Tribune -
In wake of Houston-area chemical fires, Texas Senate panel weighs input on stronger storage tank regulations
The Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs took public testimony on a bill that would strengthen state oversight of above-ground tanks that hold hazardous hydrocarbons. Full Story
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![An aerial photograph of the Stolthaven Oil Tanking facility along the Houston Ship Channel on Nov. 10, 2015. Shell's Deer Park facility can be seen in the upper right.]()
Credit: Edmund D. Fountain/ProPublica/Texas Tribune
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