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The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.

  • The Brief: May 21, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    David Dewhurst and Dan Patrick, the Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, gave one last surprise in their final debate before the May 27 primary runoff election — a largely civil debate that avoided mention of the personal attacks that have come to dominate the last few weeks. Full Story 

    State Sen. Dan Patrick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are in a runoff in the GOP lieutenant governor's race.
    Credit: Daniel Kramer / Michael Stravato

  • New Technology Aids Quest to Help Find Ducks a Home

    By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media

    Drought and urbanization in Texas have hit duck populations hard in recent years. But computers and satellites are now allowing scientists to pinpoint where to fund projects to restore or expand habitats. Full Story 

    Article thumbnail
    Credit: Bob Woods

  • The Brief: May 16, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    News reports late Thursday that lieutenant governor candidate Dan Patrick had received treatment for depression and exhaustion in the 1980s threatened to roil further an an already tense runoff contest just days before voters begin casting ballots. Full Story 

    Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and state Sen. Dan Patrick, who are both running in the 2014 Republican primary for lieutenant governor
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • The Brief: May 15, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Gov. Rick Perry's attorney is asking for the ability to get witnesses for his client before a Travis County grand jury without making them appear in public. But in a twist in a case that has already had plenty of them, the only way to circumvent the public entrance is to go through DA Rosemary Lehmberg's office. Full Story 

    Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg refused to step down after her April 2013 drunken driving arrest, and Gov. Rick Perry vetoed funding for the public integrity unit, which is housed in the Travis County DA's office.
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich

  • The Brief: May 14, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Wichita Falls is catching more than a little flak for its plan to take treated sewer water and use it for drinking water, a plan that got put on the fast track with the current drought. But the wisecracks hide an important fact — wastewater reuse is already common across the state. Full Story 

    A tour group samples treated wastewater at the Dos Rios Water Recycling Center, operated by the San Antonio Water System.
    Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez

  • The Brief: May 13, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    Texas' "sriracha delegation" on Monday made its long-awaited visit to California to woo the makers of the popular hot sauce, but it was no clearer at the conclusion of the visit what might come of it. Full Story 

    Sriracha Sauce.
    Credit: John Jordan

  • Despite Help From State, Counties Still Struggling to Fix Roads

    By Dave Fehling, Houston Public Media

    In 2013, state lawmakers approved millions of dollars in funding to help repair roads damaged by trucks transporting fracking materials. A year later, many of the affected counties say that money will cover only a fraction of what they need. Full Story 

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    Credit: Dave Fehling / StateImpact Texas

  • The Brief: May 12, 2014

    By John Reynolds

    The Tribune's Aman Batheja has taken an in-depth look at Midland oilman Tim Dunn, who is best known in the Capitol for his funding of the conservative activist group Empower Texans. Full Story 

    Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and Empower Texans president Michael Quinn Sullivan.
    Credit: Graphic by Caleb Bryant Miller and John Jordan

  • What's the Magic Number on Texas' Water Needs?

    By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal

    How much water does the state need in the coming decades? It depends on whom you ask. State water planners say that Texas needs 2.7 trillion more gallons of water a year by 2060. But some water law and planning specialists say that figure is far too high. Full Story 

    Lake Travis, a major water supply reservoir for Austin, is severely depleted due to drought. The State Water Plan calls for dozens more such reservoir projects to be built in the coming decades to meet Texas' future water needs.
    Credit: Spencer Selvidge