Watch a Texas Tribune Festival conversation about the state of agriculture
This panel features state officials and a former U.S. agriculture secretary talking about the state of agriculture in 2020 and beyond. Full Story
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![House Committee on Agriculture visits farms in San Angelo, Texas, before a Listening Session at Angelo State University on July 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price -
Two people dead, others left stranded and trapped in the wake of Tropical Storm Imelda
Both deaths were related to flooding from the storm. More than a thousand others needed to be rescued and evacuated. Full Story
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![A police vehicle is partially submerged as Tropical Depression Imelda causes widespread flooding near Beaumont, TX. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019.Bmt Flooding 8426]()
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Tropical Storm Imelda's flooding turns deadly as southeast Texas is swamped by rain
The storm quickly became the fifth-wettest rainfall event in the continental United States. Gov. Greg Abbott issued an emergency declaration for several counties Thursday. Full Story
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![Flooding caused by Tropical Depression Imelda in downtown Beaumont on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019.]()
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Central Texas river authority, lakefront property owners reach settlement to avoid draining four lakes — for now
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and property owners in Guadalupe and Gonzales Counties agreed to not drain four lakes held up by 90-year-old dams, on the condition that recreational use of the lakes is banned. Full Story
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![An aerial shot of the dam on Lake McQueeny near Seguin on Aug. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Judge temporarily blocks plans to drain four Texas lakes and accompanying dams
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority planned to drain the lakes, which it considers a public safety threat, on Monday. Full Story
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![An aerial shot of the dam on Lake Dunlap near New Braunfels on Aug. 30, 2019.]()
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Texas environmental commission denies waste permit after residents rally against new facility
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality denied a permit request by a company seeking to open a hazardous waste processing facility near the Colorado River, citing concerns of contamination to both surface and ground water in the region. Full Story
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![A family enjoys the water on a sand bar along the Colorado River, across from Skull Creek on April 14, 2019.]()
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These dams needed replacing 15 years ago. Now Texas will drain four lakes instead — causing other problems.
Two floodgate failures on 90-year-old Guadalupe River Valley dams — and the plan to lower the remaining four — are highlighting Texas' underfunded, aging flood infrastructure. Full Story
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![An aerial shot of the dam on Lake McQueeny near Seguin on Aug. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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.]()
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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.]()
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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.]()
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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
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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.]()
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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.]()
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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.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
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