Whether it's hurricanes or COVID-19, disasters are driving a mental health crisis
Mounting catastrophes are sowing stress and trauma. The country’s one program to help reaches only a fraction of survivors. Full Story
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EPA approves coronavirus cleanser for emergency use in Texas
Texas said it would allow American Airlines and two branches of a sports clinic to start using the new product. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares state of disaster in 23 counties ahead of Hurricane Marco, Tropical Storm Laura
With two storms gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Abbott on Sunday declared a state of disaster in coastal counties and warned Texans to remember coronavirus health guidelines. Full Story
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![From left, current forecast models show Tropical Storm Marco making landfall near Texas and Louisiana as a hurricane on Monday afternoon, followed by Tropical Storm Laura also arriving in the area as a hurricane early Thursday.]()
Credit: National Hurricane Center -
Two hurricanes could form in the Gulf of Mexico next week, and one storm is heading toward Texas
Tropical Depression 14 is forecasted to intensify briefly into a hurricane and then weaken before making landfall early Tuesday. It could hit somewhere near the Texas-Louisiana border. Full Story
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![Tropical Depression 14 and Tropical Storm Laura are expected to impact the southern U.S. coast.]()
Credit: National Hurricane Center -
Nonprofit that financed a private border wall is now the focus of a corruption case
Investigators say fundraisers for nonprofit We Build the Wall, including Steve Bannon and founder Brian Kolfage, lied to donors and pocketed funds. Trump has tried to distance himself from the group but Kolfage has bragged about their ties. Full Story
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![From left, We Build the Wall founder Brian Kolfage and Donald Trump Jr. during the Symposium at the Wall: Cartels, Trafficking and Asylum event in Sunland Park, New Mexico in 2019.]()
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Daphne Prairie and other Texas grasslands can store carbon and help fight climate change
But there are few pieces of pristine land left like Daphne Prairie, untouched by plow or urban sprawl. Full Story
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![Prairie in Whiteface.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
At least 187 Texans received mystery seeds mailed from China. State officials warn they shouldn't be planted.
Officials are unsure of the motive behind the unsolicited packets but suspect that they are part of an online scam. Full Story
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![Mystery seeds with labeling from China.]()
Credit: Washington State Department of Agriculture via REUTERS -
This private border wall was already at risk of falling down if not fixed. A hurricane made things worse.
Engineering experts said photos of damage from last weekend’s storms reinforce the idea that building and maintaining a border fence so close to the river poses serious challenges. Full Story
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![Erosion along the privately funded border wall on the banks of the Rio Grande in Mission has accelerated due to Hurricane Hanna. July 28, 2020.]()
Credit: James Hord for The Texas Tribune -
What happens when a hurricane hits a coronavirus hot spot? South Texas cities found out the hard way.
Texas' emergency response teams have worn personal protective equipment and distributed it to residents across South Texas in responding to Hurricane Hanna, another challenge for the state as it prepares for hurricane season during the pandemic. Full Story
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![High water fills the streets on Corpus Christi North Beach on the morning after Hurricane Hanna made landfall. Courtney Sacco/The Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/The Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK -
Thousands of Texans remain without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna
Gov. Greg Abbott cautioned that there will be continued threats of flash flooding even as rainfall slows. Full Story
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![Bob Hall Pier is blocked off the Sunday morning after Hurricane Hanna made landfall.]()
Credit: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times via REUTERS -
Texas ranchers, activists and local officials are bracing for megadroughts brought by climate change
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University warns that droughts in the latter part of this century could be the worst on record. Full Story
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![Bill Hyman, executive director of the Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas, with cattle at his ranch in Austin on July 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Trump administration waives federal regulations to expedite border construction in Rio Grande Valley
A group of advocacy organizations said the announcement is the latest in a series of ill-advised plans that will destroy environmentally sensitive areas, endangered species and historical burial sites. Full Story
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![A section of border wall inside the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center in Hidalgo.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Trump scales back landmark environmental law, saying it will help restart the economy
Activists warn that the changes will sideline communities of color and are concerned about projects’ climate impacts. Full Story
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![Construction on the Permian Highway Pipeline Through Central Texas in Hays County on June 29, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas grapples with a pandemic, officials must also prepare for what could be an unusually active hurricane season
State and local officials are adjusting their plans during the coronavirus outbreak to inform residents in the Houston area and along the Gulf Coast of safe steps they could take in advance of the year’s first storm. 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 -
As coronavirus hits Texas, the state's top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — that pays $600,000
Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson chose not to accept salary and benefits for a temporary position leading one of Texas’ largest and most high-profile agencies. Instead, he continues to earn $636,694 from the Lower Colorado River Authority, more than double what the previous health commissioner made. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Citing coronavirus pandemic, Trump administration stops enforcing environmental laws
A Texas environmental protection group said it is "reckless" for the Environmental Protection Agency to waive enforcement of many protections. The federal agency said companies could have trouble complying due to the new coronavirus. Full Story
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![A gas flare burns bright on a production site northeast of Andrews, Texas.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
A&M study: The future of Texas depends on climate preparedness
A study by five Aggie scientists indicates Texas should prepare for more extreme weather in the coming years — though it offers some glimmers of hope. Full Story
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![Flooding along the Blanco River in Wimberley in May 2015.]()
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Water main rupture sets off major disruption in Houston: citywide boil notice, Loop 610 flooded
The main break caused some early voting locations to close. All Houston ISD schools were closed Friday and set to reopen Monday, the school district announced. Full Story
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![A water main break Thursday in Houston has frozen traffic and closed several polling places on the second-to-last day of early voting.]()
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"It's a joke": Flaring expert finds big problems in report from Texas oil and gas regulator
"It looks more like a political manifesto to me," a Texas A&M professor said about a report from the Railroad Commission of Texas. Full Story
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![A gas flare burns bright on a production site northeast of Andrews, Texas.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
Texas sues company whose Port Neches chemical plant exploded
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TPC Group on Friday, citing a slew of environmental violations at its Port Neches facility, including ones connected to a Nov. 27 explosion. Full Story
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![Fire blackened towers and tanks days after an explosion at TCP Group in Port Neches on Dec. 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
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