The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
On Wednesday, the Obama administration announced another major plan to combat climate change that aims to slash emissions of methane gas in the next decade by almost a half. Here’s why that’s a big deal for Texas. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: an easing drought is not yet providing relief for the Edwards Aquifer, Marvin Nichols reservoir stays in state water plan and an interview with Greg Flores of the San Antonio Water System. Full Story
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A video of a confrontation between open-carry activists and a lawmaker drew attention to the group's tactics on Tuesday. Full Story
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A historic vote for House speaker could happen on a day long on ceremony otherwise. Full Story
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Glenn Hegar, the state's new comptroller, today releases his revenue estimate for the next two years, which will go a long way to setting the early tone for the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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The Texas Railroad Commission recently endorsed changes to how cities can challenge natural gas utility rate increases. Commissioners say the rule should help cut expenses for ratepayers. But some critics say the rule puts cities at a disadvantage. Full Story
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With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
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The incoming governor on Thursday equated local efforts to regulate single-use plastic bags or fracking to forms of collectivism. Full Story
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The plan to build the Marvin Nichols Reservoir has been a subject of contention between Dallas-Fort Worth officials and opponents in Northeast Texas. State officials voted Thursday to keep the lake in the state water plan, but the dispute is far from over. Full Story
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A swarm of small earthquakes started shaking the Dallas area a couple of days ago. But the tremors, while new to the region, are just the latest in a major increase in earthquakes in Texas over the last several years. Full Story
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Thousands of rural Texas homes get their natural gas from "farm taps," hooking up to nearby pipelines that carry raw gas on its way from wells to processing plants. One homeowner shut down his furnace when he learned of the risks. Full Story
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Another day and another threshold is crossed in oil's steady downward march in value. This time it was the price of U.S. oil dipping below $50 during the day on Monday. Full Story
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Three special elections are on tap for Tuesday, including two contests to find replacements for a pair of San Antonio Democrats who have opted to run for mayor. Full Story
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Last year, The Texas Tribune partnered with public media stations across Texas to produce Texas Perspective: Water, a magazine news program that examined water issues in various parts of the state. Watch the program here, courtesy of KLRU-TV. Full Story
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For this week's playlist of the news, we’re using our reporters' own predictions for 2015. Kicking things off: “The Best Is Yet To Come,” by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, backed up by the Count Basie Orchestra. Full Story
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Big names in state and national politics gathered in the Texas Senate chamber Friday to welcome George P. Bush, the state's new land commissioner, into the family business. Full Story
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Ryan Sitton, the incoming Texas railroad commissioner, says he is following through on a campaign promise to step away from his oil and gas consulting firm and place its assets in a blind trust. Full Story
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According to recent data, average levels of ozone — more commonly known as smog — decreased by nearly 25 percent in Texas between 2000 and 2013. But does the credit for cleaning up Texas air belong to Gov. Rick Perry? Neena Satija writes that opinions vary. Full Story
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When Gov. Rick Perry first took office, Texas’ wind energy sector hardly existed. But the state has since become the nation’s leader in wind energy generation, Jim Malewitz writes, and Perry — more commonly associated with oil and gas — helped steer that boom. Full Story
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This week in the Roundup: The fate of Texas’ same-sex marriage ban is in question, as is the state’s budget as oil prices continue to tumble. Meanwhile, South Texas counties plan to lobby lawmakers to allow them to negotiate mineral rights leases. Full Story
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