The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c3b98b3cfc5b66c3f37dbf090454a35/Kolfage%20Trump%20Jr%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
But there are few pieces of pristine land left like Daphne Prairie, untouched by plow or urban sprawl. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3fd9b39caaa0031ed137ace18d13359e/Whiteface%20Prairie%20JF%20TT%2001.jpg)
Officials are unsure of the motive behind the unsolicited packets but suspect that they are part of an online scam. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ffb853b007ba23e095ffc4822fe30f8b/Mystery%20Seeds%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/be7709fe5d08cfbff64e8d586112b55b/Private%20Border%20Wall%20Erosion%20JH%20TT%2030.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1e5225d3ef6074a4682eb03474e5a770/Hurricane%20Hanna%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott cautioned that there will be continued threats of flash flooding even as rainfall slows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5a3ae2c46fc1f0e0fc6d846359929ca/Hurricane%20Hanna%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/90070ec04c14cb3a07f2518980bf94b7/TX%20Drought%20Rancher%20AG%20TT%2021.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/06bac05c585679baeddfc4c469b403e5/06_3_days_General_MKC_TT.jpg)
Activists warn that the changes will sideline communities of color and are concerned about projects’ climate impacts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5be25852737deb4def7ab9c7f97e66c0/Permian%20Highway%20Pipeline%20JV%20TT%2011.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9de00c566a269d1896704e8370bbc9d2/Hurrican%20Harvey%20TG%20TT.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6bdda05ee24256a206d1c9ffce9ada9/BD%20INC%20Wilson%20Phil%202013)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6862d6804cdfb3a038e00efab581f3dc/gas_flare_night_w_equipment_JF_TT.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/26/Blanco_River_Flooding.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6eb72fc8760da684395a15b31a091af0/Houston%20Water%20Main%20Break%20KHOU%20TT.jpg)
"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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8d4428c1c7bd7d3c5693122839d6aa40/Natural%20Gas%20Flare%20JF%20TT%2003.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f40a38adb44a6b6e4e72856fc733e3ec/Port%20Neches%20Explosion%20MS%20TT%2001.jpg)
U.S. Judge Loren A. Smith threw out a case brought by Houstonians whose properties flooded as a result of releases from Addicks and Barker dams. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f338cbf9b9ee5b7fc2eb3089e3b6ad08/Houston%20flooding%20Addicks%20MS%20TT.jpg)
An environmental nonprofit has released an analysis of first-of-its-kind air monitoring data that shows benzene levels at 10 U.S. petroleum refineries exceeded limits established in an Obama-era environmental regulation. Six are in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Oil-Refinery.jpg)
After the federal government required TPC Group to install air monitors at its Port Neches plant, the company detected a significant increase in the number and size of butadiene emissions in the months leading up to multiple blasts at the plant on Nov. 27. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4929d8311cb99d0a311fb3affdcd2293/Port%20Neches%20Explosion%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.JPG)
The Texas Oil and Gas Association reported that companies paid a record level of taxes and state royalties last year amid a historic oil boom. But association President Todd Staples said that continued growth is not guaranteed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/93b00190e3efc54847e542eb3c67d9a5/Pumpjacks_at_sunrise_JF_TT.jpg)