The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
Tens of thousands of Texans live in places where the drinking water contains toxic levels of arsenic — a known carcinogen — and the state isn’t doing enough to discourage them from consuming it, according to a new report from an environmental group. Full Story
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In the Roundup: Ted Cruz appears positioned to go head to head with Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, a federal appeals court will again examine Texas’ controversial voter ID law, and the upper Texas coast remains vulnerable to a storm’s direct hit. Full Story
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Wayne Christian, a candidate for Texas railroad commissioner, frequently touts his energy expertise. But he did not know one of the agency’s key duties — regulating natural gas utilities — until a reporter told him. Full Story
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A new proposal to protect the Houston area from hurricanes is reigniting controversy — and potentially diminishing the odds that a consensus will emerge anytime soon on the best plan to safeguard the nation's fifth-largest metropolitan area. Full Story
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Full video of my 3/10 conversation with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Topics discussed: the state of ag, the decline in rural population, fee increases, cupcakes and deep fryers, and making America great again. Full Story
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After a 20-month free fall, West Texas crude prices thudded to a milestone last month — one that could bring some tax relief to small-time producers in Texas, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said this week. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: Some scientists fear a disaster waiting to happen when Houston's perfect storm comes, Mexico pays back water debt to U.S. and an interview with Ken Rainwater of Texas Tech University. Full Story
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Several experts worry that the low-lying residential areas in the Houston region are now more vulnerable to storms. Read more in our "Hell and High Water" project, done in collaboration with ProPublica. Full Story
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With billions of dollars at stake, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a tax showdown whose outcome could shake up the next legislative session while providing a boost to struggling petroleum drillers. Full Story
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The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear arguments in a case that could deliver a multibillion-dollar windfall to struggling oil and gas producers, threatening to take a major bite out of state revenue. Full Story
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Storage tanks along the Houston Ship Channel hold one of the world's largest concentrations of oil, gases and chemicals. Some scientists fear a disaster waiting to happen when Houston's perfect storm comes. Read more about this in our "Hell and High Water" project, done in collaboration with ProPublica. Full Story
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What could happen if a major storm hit the Houston region in just the right spot? This episode of Reveal looks at that worst-case scenario. This program is done in collaboration with The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, which co-produced the "Hell and High Water" multimedia project. Full Story
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Houston is the nation's fourth-largest city and home to the largest refining and petrochemical complex in the United States. But many worry it's a sitting duck when the next big hurricane comes. This multimedia project, done in partnership with ProPublica, looks at the dangers for the region. Full Story
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Texas regulators are moving closer to allowing the Ray L. Hunt family to purchase and reshape Oncor, the state’s largest utility. But the high-stakes deal remains far from forged. Full Story
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Full video of our 3/2 conversation with state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood; Chad Burke of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region; Leon Phillips of the Galveston County Coalition for Justice; and Len Waterworth of Texas A&M University Galveston. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request from Texas and 19 other states to block a landmark federal rule requiring power plants to slashes emissions of mercury, acid gases and other toxic metals emissions. Full Story
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Those who followed the turbulent career of Aubrey McClendon called him one of the most influential Texas figures in a generation — warts and all. Full Story
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Texas regulators are expected to reveal Thursday whether they will sign off on the Ray L. Hunt family’s $18 billion plan to purchase and reshape Oncor, the state’s largest electric utility — a decision that will resonate more than statewide. Full Story
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The Republican race for Texas Railroad Commission is chugging toward a runoff between Rosenberg rancher and real estate mogul Gary Gates and former state Rep. Wayne Christian. Full Story
In the state’s first lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2016, Texas is suing the agency for rejecting parts of a seven-year-old state proposal targeted at reducing haze in wilderness areas. Full Story
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