Naveena Sadasivam
By Naveena Sadasivam:
Flood Expert Jim Blackburn: Houston Must Plan or Perish
Governor Abbott’s Beef with Tree Ordinances Has Its Roots in a Pecan Tree He Destroyed to Build a New Home
In his haste to build a new home and swimming pool, Greg Abbott killed a protected pecan tree in violation of Austin’s rules.
In his haste to build a new home and swimming pool, Greg Abbott killed a protected pecan tree in violation of Austin’s rules. Read More
After 17 Years, EPA Settles Racial Discrimination Case Against TCEQ
TCEQ has agreed to install an air monitor in a majority African-American neighborhood near the Beaumont Exxon refinery, but advocates say it’s too little, too late.
Reverend Roy Malveaux learned in the late 1990s that reporting the overwhelming rotten-egg smell coming from ExxonMobil’s Beaumont refinery was fruitless. Many times, the smell, a result of high hydrogen sulfide emissions, was so strong his eyes burned. People who … Read More
Texans Could Soon Be Jailed for Flying Drones over Oil Facilities, Animal Factory Farms
“It’s taking a law that’s already unconstitutional and making it worse,” said one media attorney.
Texans caught flying drones over oil and gas well pads, cell towers and large animal feeding operations could face jail time if a bill that has cleared the House and Senate makes it to the governor’s desk in time. Critics … Read More
Endangered Science
Can Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar oversee objective scientific research into rare species? Or is he rigging the process to keep them off the endangered list, as his critics charge?
Lars Letaru From the looks of them, it’s hard to imagine that the smooth pimpleback, the Texas fawnsfoot or the Texas fatmucket could threaten the Texas economy. Found at the bottom of rivers, these inconspicuous bivalves measure only a few … Read More
After Eight-Year Battle Over Reforming the Railroad Commission, Oil and Gas Industry Wins
The industry is the top funding source for lawmakers’ campaigns, according to a recent report from Texans for Public Justice.
A nearly decade-long battle between environmentalists and the oil and gas industry to reform Texas’ energy regulatory agency came to a close last week — and the industry won. Environmental advocates say the Lege caved to industry pressure, demonstrating the power of the oil and gas lobby in Texas. Read More
When a Key Democrat Left Town, Republicans Snuck Through Controversial Nominee
A vote was called on Pension Review Board nominee Josh McGee when Senator Royce West, the deciding vote, was not present.
Last month, Texas’ Democratic senators thought they had a plan to block Josh McGee’s confirmation to the state Pension Review Board. McGee was appointed to the board by Governor Greg Abbott in 2015 and his term, which expires in 2021, … Read More
‘Academic Freedom’ Bill Provides Cover to Teach Creationism, Climate Denial in Classrooms
Representative Valoree Swanson claimed climate researchers “have faked the results” on temperature data while making a case for her bill.
Representative Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, is making a case for why her bill protecting the “academic freedom” of public school teachers wouldn’t amount to an unconstitutional teaching of religion in classrooms. House Bill 1485 would “free our teachers to where they … Read More
Bill Aims to Protect Communities of Color from Polluting Concrete Facilities
Senator Borris Miles’ bill requires concrete crushing facilities to be located at least 440 yards away from parks and playgrounds.
Concrete crushing plants, which recycle concrete from demolished roads and buildings, can emit plumes of fine dust, worsening nearby residents’ asthma and other respiratory illnesses. On Tuesday, a Senate committee considered proposed legislation that aims to protect Texans, particularly communities … Read More
Lawmaker Hopes Bill Will Encourage Legislature to End Shady Accounting Practice
Representative Joe Pickett wants to stop collecting fees from Texans to improve air quality and spend the $1.27 billion sitting unused in the TERP fund.
Texas collects millions of dollars every year from residents to improve air quality, but almost never spends it all. Instead, the Legislature hoards the money through an accounting gimmick and uses it to balance the budget. A Texas lawmaker laid … Read More