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The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.

  • The Brief: Aug. 4, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    A new report raises fresh doubts about a key witness instrumental in securing the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. This new evidence forces again the question as to whether Texas executed an innocent man. Full Story 

    Cameron Todd Willingham was executed on Feb. 17, 2004.
    Credit: Graphic by John Jordan

  • EPA Hearing to Highlight Debate Over Refinery Regulations

    By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media

    At a public hearing near Houston this week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency will hear from residents who live near refineries and from the industry in hopes of determining how much more needs to be done to curb toxic emissions. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Christopher P. Bills

  • Ohio Water Crisis a Warning for Texas

    By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal

    Algal blooms like the one that caused a water crisis in Ohio's fourth-largest city this weekend are possible in Texas. But no state requires treatment plants to test their water for the toxins, which can be lethal. Full Story 

    Bloom of cyanobacteria ("blue-green algae").
    Credit: Lamiot

  • The Brief: Aug. 1, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Ted Cruz has become the latest D.C.-based practitioner of the Pottery Barn rule: He broke the border bill, and now, possibly more than any other single person, he owns it. Full Story 

    U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas thanks Republican delegates in Fort Worth on June 6, 2014.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • The Brief: July 30, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Top officials at the Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday told a select House committee looking at the costs of the ongoing border operation that they did not request Guard troops. Full Story 

    Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • The Brief: July 28, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bob Ray Sanders is pushing back against one major tenet of the conventional wisdom surrounding the race for governor: Wendy Davis needs to maintain a healthy separation between her and President Obama. Full Story 

    State Sen. Wendy Davis, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, addressing supporters on July 13, 2014, in East Austin.
    Credit: Callie Richmond

  • The Brief: July 25, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Can those National Guard troops being sent to the border arrest people? The latest word is they can. And the reason why is that Rick Perry sent them, and not the federal government. Full Story 

    Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Drinking Water Systems Draw Federal Concerns

    By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal

    Several public drinking water systems in Texas have quality issues that have not been adequately addressed, the Environmental Protection Agency told the state in recent correspondence obtained by the Tribune. Full Story 

    Pump systems for the Freer Water Control and Improvement District's arsenic removal system facility in Freer, Texas.
    Credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

  • The Brief: July 23, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Story lines continue to spin out from Gov. Rick Perry's Monday announcement that he was activating up to 1,000 National Guard troops to back up existing DPS border operations. Full Story 

    DPS chief Steve McCraw outlines plans for the National Guard role securing the Texas border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listen on July 21, 2014.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • State Slams EPA Website That Compares Pollution Enforcement

    By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media

    Compared with other states, Texas performs far fewer comprehensive inspections of polluting facilities, according to a database run by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. But Texas officials call the database misleading. Full Story 

    This flue gas scrubber, installed at a Valero refinery in Houston in 2006, reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
    Credit: Valero

  • The Brief: July 21, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will make a border security announcement at 2 p.m. at the state Capitol. The two are expected to announce the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story 

    Gov. Rick Perry and DPS Director Steve McCraw spoke at a June 23, 2014, news conference following a tour of a federal facility housing unaccompanied minors in Weslaco, Texas. The state is providing $1.3 million per week to step up border patrols.
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • The Brief: July 18, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is on his way out in a few months, but on Thursday he moved to fill some key Senate leadership slots to help the chamber prepare for the coming legislative session in January. Full Story 

    Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst delivering his concession speech after losing his re-election bid on May 27, 2014.
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • In DFW, Little Traction on Improving Air Quality

    By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal

    The Dallas-Fort Worth region boasts a growing economy larger than that of many countries — but it also sports some of the worst air quality in the nation. Scientists fear the politics of economic growth is preventing improvements. Full Story 

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    Credit: Tom Pennington