https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alejandra-martinez/The latest news by Alejandra Martinez.enWed, 21 May 2025 18:45:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-water-bills-status-legislation/Gov. Greg Abbott and other leaders have called for a major investment to save the state’s water supply. How to spend the money has caused friction at the Capitol.By Alejandra MartinezWed, 21 May 2025 18:45:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-water-bills-status-legislation/Workers conduct maintenance on the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant March 5, in El Paso. The Texas Legislature is debating a pair of bills that could help save the state's water supply by finding new sources of water and fixing leaking pipes.Workers conduct maintenance on the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-pfas-forever-chemicals-biosolids-fertilizer-legislation-stalled/Supporters say the bill would protect farmland in Texas. Opponents say limiting PFAS chemicals in biosolids will force water utilities to look at other disposal methods, which will lead to higher utility bills.By Alejandra MartinezWed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-pfas-forever-chemicals-biosolids-fertilizer-legislation-stalled/Tony Coleman passes by cattle while driving through his property in Grandview on Aug. 5, 2024. Coleman and his wife claim that fertilizer tainted with PFAS washed onto their land, contaminating it.Tony Coleman passes by cattle while driving through their property in Grandview on Aug. 5, 2024.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-legislature-waiting-to-testify-pfas-bill-committee-hearing/The group from Johnson County waited 18 hours to testify at a hearing that started at 1 a.m. on a bill to limit toxic chemicals in fertilizer.By Alejandra MartinezFri, 09 May 2025 15:52:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-legislature-waiting-to-testify-pfas-bill-committee-hearing/Johnson County resident Karen Coleman, right, chats with Dana Ames, the county’s environmental crime investigator, and fellow farmer John Farmer in the Capitol cafeteria while waiting to testify at a hearing on PFAS chemicals on May 8, 2024.Dana Ames speaks with Karen Coleman, right, awaiting a hearing on PFAs at the State Capitol on May 8, 2024.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-orphan-wells-explained-railroad-commission-abandoned/Across Texas, abandoned wells are erupting with chemical-infused liquid and some have created massive lakes of contaminated water. Regulators say they need more money to address the problem.By Alejandra MartinezThu, 08 May 2025 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-orphan-wells-explained-railroad-commission-abandoned/Oil workers pull tubing from an orphan well in a field in Luling on March 27, 2025.Men work to pull tubing from an orphan well in a field in Luling, Texas on March 27, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/28/texas-water-crisis-legislation-debate/The Texas House took its first step toward revising a priority Senate bill last week. The changes were lauded by the state’s water community.By Jayme Lozano Carver and Alejandra MartinezMon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/28/texas-water-crisis-legislation-debate/Texas lawmakers are debating how prescriptive to be in legislation that would spend about $1 billion a year over the next decade to secure the state's water supply.Inside a primary clarifier, resembling petri-dish tanks, heavy solids and grease sink to the bottom and machines skim off particles at the top at the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant in El Paso on March 5, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-cecile-richards-republicans-planned-parenthood/Normally, memorial resolutions to honor Texans who have died are passed without controversy. But the resolution for Richards, a former president of Planned Parenthood who died this year, sparked a cascade of outrage from conservatives.By Alejandra MartinezThu, 17 Apr 2025 15:13:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-cecile-richards-republicans-planned-parenthood/Flanked by House Republicans, state Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, speaks against a memorial resolution honoring Cecile Richards in the Texas House on April 17, 2025.Flanked by House Republicans, state Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, speaks against a memorial resolution honoring Cecile Richards in the Texas House on April 17, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/east-texas-defends-water-lake-the-pines/After a deal to pipe water from Lake O’ the Pines to North Texas came to light, residents voiced opposition everywhere they could to block it.By Jess Huff and Alejandra Martinez, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherThu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/east-texas-defends-water-lake-the-pines/Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the shores of Lake O’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water.Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the Lake o’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water, on April 9, 2025. “What about our future generations, our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What are they going to have if they take the lake?”Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/el-paso-texas-water-crisis-desalination/Desalination can create millions of gallons of fresh water a day. But it is expensive and there are many environmental concerns.By Alejandra Martinez, Graphics by Carla AstudilloFri, 11 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/11/el-paso-texas-water-crisis-desalination/An illustration of a glass of water, superimposed over reverse osmosis filters from El Paso's Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant.An illustration of a glass of water, superimposed over reverse osmosis filters from El Paso's Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant.Carla Astudillo/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/el-paso-texas-water-crisis/El Paso’s dry climate — it rains just 9 inches annually — is one of the reasons the city has taken water management so seriously.By Alejandra MartinezThu, 10 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/el-paso-texas-water-crisis/Contractors work on expanding the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant in El Paso on March 5. By 2028, the utility expects treated wastewater from the plant to be further purified at the new Pure Water Center next door to produce up to 10 million gallons of drinking water.Contractors work on expanding the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant in El Paso on March 5, 2025. By 2028, the utility expects treated wastewater from the plant to be further purified at the new Pure Water Center next door to produce up to 10 million gallons of drinking water.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/02/texas-water-senate-legislation-votes/Senate Bill 7, which won unanimous approval, is among legislation that seeks to avert a looming water crisis as the state’s population booms.By Jayme Lozano Carver and Alejandra MartinezWed, 02 Apr 2025 18:25:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/02/texas-water-senate-legislation-votes/Amid growth in Texas' population and the possibility of continued record-breaking drought, lawmakers have proposed legislation to preserve the state's water supply and create new sources.An irrigation system on a farm field near the High Plains town of Ralls, about 30 miles east of Lubbock, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Like much of Texas, the High Plains and Panhandle are facing drought conditions and extraordinary heat.Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/31/texas-legislature-water-strategies-solutions/State lawmakers are poised to devote billions to save the state’s water supply. These are some of the ways the state could spend the money.By Alejandra Martinez and Jayme Lozano CarverMon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/31/texas-legislature-water-strategies-solutions/Treated water at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 25 in Austin. The treatment plant will undergo a billion dollar expansion starting this summer to meet the increasing demand due to the growth the city has faced.Treated water at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Austin, TX. The treatment plant will undergo a billion dollar expansion starting this summer to meet the increasing demand due to the growth the city has faced. Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneSergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/texas-legislature-water-supply-infrastructure-repair-perry-harris/Gov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.By Jayme Lozano Carver and Alejandra MartinezMon, 24 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/texas-legislature-water-supply-infrastructure-repair-perry-harris/Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, during a Senate meeting on March 11, 2025.Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, during a Senate meeting on March 11, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-legislature-water-bills-tracker/Most lawmakers — as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — want to invest big in water. Here are the proposals that would do it.By Jayme Lozano Carver and Alejandra MartinezMon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-legislature-water-bills-tracker/Texas lawmakers are expected to debate dozens of bills to help save the state's water supply during the 2025 legislative session.Cotton fields near the High Plains town of Ralls, about 30 miles east of Lubbock, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Like much of Texas, the High Plains and Panhandle are facing drought conditions and extraordinary heat.Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-fund-new-supply-infrastructure/The state House and Senate have similar proposals to solve the state's water crisis, but there are stark differences on how to invest billions of dollars to resolve.By Alejandra Martinez and Jayme Lozano CarverThu, 13 Mar 2025 17:29:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-fund-new-supply-infrastructure/Texas lawmakers are expected to settle differences between four pieces of legislation meant to save the state's water supply.A water tower in Starr County near the Falcon Dam on Aug. 18, 2022.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-language-glossary/Water is complex. So are the terms used to describe it. Get to know the language as Texas debates how to save its water supply.By Jayme Lozano Carver and Alejandra MartinezThu, 13 Mar 2025 13:01:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-language-glossary/A clarifier at the Bustamante Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2025.The secondary clarifier at the Bustamante Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion in El Paso on March 5, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-explained-supply-demand/The state’s water supply faces numerous threats. And by one estimate, the state’s municipal supply will not meet demand by 2030 if there’s a severe drought and no water solutions are implemented.By Alejandra Martinez and Jayme Lozano Carver, Graphics by Carla Astudillo and Yuriko SchumacherThu, 13 Mar 2025 13:01:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-explained-supply-demand/Water gushes into a homeowner's reservoir during a water delivery in 2024 in Terlingua. Most Texans rely on water from utilities. In some remote parts of the state, like Terlingua, residents have water delivered. The state's water supply is under duress from a number of threats including overuse and outdated infrastructure.Water gushes from Rick Bradbury’s truck to Shannon Montague’s reservoir as the Bradbury’s make a delivery Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Terlingua.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/texas-power-grid-future-demand/At a Texas Tribune event Thursday, energy experts discussed how the state’s growing energy demands will impact residential bills and how legislation is trying to regulate new big energy users.By Alejandra MartinezFri, 07 Mar 2025 15:47:49 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/06/texas-power-grid-future-demand/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-brian-harrison-DEI-water-board/The topic was a budget request from a state agency. The exchange grew emotional when a lawmaker pressed for answers about a strategic plan that praises diversity.By Alejandra MartinezFri, 28 Feb 2025 11:46:16 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-brian-harrison-DEI-water-board/Then-Texas Water Development Board member L’Oreal Stepney listens to comments during a board meeting Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Austin. Stepney was named chair of the Board by Gov. Greg Abbott on January 8, 2025.Then-Texas Water Development Board member L’Oreal Stepney listens to comments during a board meeting Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Austin. Stepney was named chair of the Board by Gov. Greg Abbott on January 8, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-harris-county-cancer-risk-epa-superfund-site-san-jacinto/State researchers found above normal levels of four types of cancer in communities near a toxic waste site.By Alejandra MartinezMon, 24 Feb 2025 15:52:59 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-harris-county-cancer-risk-epa-superfund-site-san-jacinto/The San Jacinto River Waste pits, an EPA Superfund site which is contaminated with dioxins, sits right on Interstate 10 east of Houston on Oct. 12, 2014.The San Jacinto River Waste pits, an EPA Superfund site which is contaminated with dioxins, sits right on Interstate 10 east of Houston on Oct. 12, 2014.Michael Stravato for Te Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-primacy-carbon-capture-oil-gas/Environmentalists are worried the state — known for a lax approach to regulation — is not prepared for the added responsibility of regulating certain carbon capture projects.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Alejandra MartinezThu, 06 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-primacy-carbon-capture-oil-gas/