Amarillo Republican John Smithee joins Texas House speaker race
After Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failed impeachment trial, his allies touted Smithee, one of the House’s most senior members, as a speaker candidate. Full Story
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Alejandra Martinez joined the Tribune in the fall of 2022 as a Dallas-based environmental reporter. She was previously an accountability reporter at KERA, where she began as a Report for America corps member and then covered Dallas City Hall. Before that, she worked as an associate producer at WLRN, South Florida’s public radio station. Alejandra studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, and interned at KUT and NPR's Latino USA. She's a native of the Aldine area of Harris County and speaks fluent Spanish.
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![State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, speaks on the House floor in 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ battle against deer disease threatens breeding industry
Texas has seen a record number of chronic wasting disease cases this year. The state is looking for new ways to contain the spread without driving deer breeders out of business. Full Story
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![Does at John True's breeding facility in Terrell, Texas on Sept. 9, 2024.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton sues Travis County to block voter registration efforts
The Texas attorney general filed a similar lawsuit earlier this week against Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. Full Story
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![Voter registration forms at a booth on the campus of UT-Austin on Oct. 11, 2022.]()
Credit: May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune -
How we assisted Houston residents in monitoring air quality and reporting pollution
After identifying flaws in the state’s air monitoring, the Tribune hosted workshops to inform Houston Ship Channel communities. Full Story
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![On August 10, 2024, participants listen to a presentation at the Galena Park Library where Texas Tribune hosts a community workshop event in English and Spanish on how to monitor air quality, how to protect yourself during chemical events, and how to voice concerns.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune -
Texas likely undercounting heat-related deaths
Deaths from heat are notoriously difficult to quantify because of how complex and subjective the process is. It leaves officials with an incomplete picture of who heat kills. Full Story
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![Robert Shipp, 75, of Bastrop, sweats while receiving treatment from Austin-Travis County EMS first responders inside an ambulance during a 102 degree summer day outside Austin Wrench-A-Part in Del Valle on July 7, 2023. According to the EMS crew, he passed out while searching for car parts under the hot sun.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Attorney general investigating CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl’s long-lasting power outages
The company’s power outages in July have drawn the ire of state leaders. Here’s what you need to know. Full Story
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![Electric trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Why Texas’ mass power outages continue to happen
Repairing electricity infrastructure after storms usually costs customers. So could strengthening it before the next weather event. Full Story
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![Electric trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
What’s the value of planting trees? Conservation groups say a new formula can tell them.
Donors are increasingly asking conservation groups to produce data on the value of their environmental work. A group’s new method helps them show their impact. Full Story
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![Jasper, Texas: An overhead view of Huff Creek Road and the bridge where James Byrd Jr. was beaten and chained May 29, 2023 in Jasper, Texas. Mark Felix/The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
CenterPoint exudes chaos, but also appears to be restoring power faster than it previously has
According to state filings, the utility is restoring power at a relatively quicker pace than after prior storms. Texans are still fed up. Full Story
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![Electric trucks line up to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune -
Millions of Texans face third day without power in summer heat
Power companies and Texas officials say restoration efforts could take days. Experts say Texans without electricity are facing a dangerous situation. Full Story
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![Electric workers gather supplies to provide support with major power outages after Hurricane Beryl in Houston, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune