Ramshaw on the lioness of the Texas House, Dehn and Tan review 20 years of Rick Perry’s political ads, Murphy’s latest database includes the governor’s political accounts over the last decade, Aaronson’s visualizations of what was said in the biggest legislative debates, M. Smith on the woman in the middle chair at the State Board of Education, Galbraith on how the drought is forcing ranchers to sell their herds, Grissom has the story on a cattle rustler who’s asking the courts to give him an old-fashioned sentence, Hamilton covers Rick O’Donnell’s latest salvo at higher education, Aguilar on whether and how the sanctuary cities issue will translate at the ballot box next year, yours truly on Ron Paul’s candidacy and the candidate in his own words: The best of our best from July 18 to 22, 2011.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Thompson Feeds Her “Little Dogs” and Throws a Bone to Bigger Ones
Rep. Senfronia Thompson’s almost 40-year House tenure is defined by her defense of the underserved. But her legislative career is peppered with occasional paradoxes.
Posted in
Energy
Highland Lakes’ Levels Falling, LCRA Warns
At a press conference today, the Lower Colorado River Authority warned Austin and the rest of Central Texas to brace for continued drought. Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, the region’s major reservoirs, are currently 52 percent full, and dropping steadily.
Posted in
Energy
EPA Chief, Visiting Texas, Calls Pollution Rule “Not Onerous”
Lisa Jackson, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said during a visit to Austin on Wednesday that a pollution rule adopted this month that has infuriated many Texas officials will save lives and can be enacted “cheaply and efficiently.”
Posted in
Energy
As Drought Intensifies, Ranchers Sell Off Cattle
The third-worst drought in Texas history has made it hard for ranchers to find hay, and sometimes water, for their cattle. So they are selling them off — and finding eager buyers from rainier states like South Dakota.
Posted in
Energy
The Midday Brief: July 15, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry for president predictions percolate, Ratliff racing to replace a representative, and districts dealing with drought.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
This Will Be on the Test
This week, Secretary of State Hope Andrade conducted a lottery that determined the order of the 10 new proposals on the November ballot. Each amendment already won approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and now needs a nod from a majority of the voters. Here’s the rundown…
Posted in
Energy
Amid Long-Running Battle, Plants to Apply For New Permits
More than 100 Texas refinery, chemical and utility plants have told the Environmental Protection Agency they plan to apply for federal air permits, which Gov. Rick Perry has said will cut jobs. Erika Aguilar of KUT News looks at whether the EPA’s new requirements have done that.
Posted in
Energy
Regulators Approve More Safety, Environmental Studies of Proposed Nuclear Plant Site
Federal regulators have determined that safety and environmental claims need to be investigated more thoroughly before a site in Victoria County can be declared suitable for a potential nuclear power plant.
Posted in
Energy
To Tackle Drought, Can Lawmakers Do More Than Pray for Rain?
The Texas drought is already a significant natural disaster. What can the government do to help those who are hit hardest?
