https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/erin-douglas/The latest news by Erin Douglas.enFri, 16 Jun 2023 13:28:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/texas-heat-wave-water-break-construction-workers/Gov. Greg Abbott approved this week a law that will eliminate city and county ordinances like Austin and Dallas’ mandated water breaks.Francisco Uranga and Erin DouglasFri, 16 Jun 2023 13:28:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/16/texas-heat-wave-water-break-construction-workers/Construction laborers work in downtown Austin on June 29, 2021.Construction laborers work in Downtown Austin on June 29, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-power-grid-public-utility-commission/Public Utility Commission chair Peter Lake had spearheaded a plan to help the state’s power grid withstand weather disasters, but the plan lacked support in the Texas Legislature.Erin DouglasFri, 02 Jun 2023 17:44:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-power-grid-public-utility-commission/Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Peter Lake speaks at a press conference at the agency headquarters in Austin on Nov. 29. Lake resigned from his position Friday.Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Peter Lake speaks at a press conference at the PUCT Headquarters in Austin, on Nov. 29, 2022. The conference spotlighted grid reliability and readiness as Texas approaches winter.Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-environment-climate-energy-bills-legislature/Proposals to improve energy efficiency failed. Bills that sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Texas were ignored, and legislation to block cities from taking action on climate change passed.Erin Douglas, Emily Foxhall and Alejandra MartinezFri, 02 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-environment-climate-energy-bills-legislature/Wind turbines in Lyford near the Texas-Mexico border.Industrial energy-producing wind turbines cover hundreds of acres of farmland in Lyford on May 17, 2023.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/texas-legislature-water-supply-flood-funding-infrastructure/Texans across the state are affected by declining water supplies, water infrastructure disruptions and flooding in their communities.Erin DouglasThu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/texas-legislature-water-supply-flood-funding-infrastructure/Lake Alan Henry in Garza County, about 65 miles southeast of Lubbock. Texas lawmakers recently approved billions of dollars to increase the state's water supply, repair aging water infrastructure and fund flood prevention projects.Lake Alan Henry in Garza County on April. 27, 2023, in Garza County, about 65 miles southeast of Lubbock.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-water-supply-bill/Following one of the hottest summers on record, lawmakers have set an ambitious target: By 2033, they want to bump up the state’s water supply by an amount equal to three of the largest reservoirs in the state.Erin DouglasSun, 28 May 2023 19:16:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-water-supply-bill/A water tower stands in Wolfforth on April 26, 2023.One of the city's water towers stands in Wolfforth, on April 26, 2023.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-paxton-impeachment-charges/The long list of accusations were outlined as part of 20 charges of impeachment adopted by the Texas House.Erin Douglas and Robert DownenSun, 28 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-paxton-impeachment-charges/General Investigating Committee member state Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, lays out articles of impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday.General Investigating Committee member Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, lays out articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-federal-environment-rules-oil-gas-sanctuary/The bill would direct Texas agencies to not enforce federal regulations on the oil industry if there’s not a similar state regulation. But it likely wouldn’t apply to most federal environmental rules, experts and lawmakers said.Erin DouglasTue, 23 May 2023 14:41:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/texas-federal-environment-rules-oil-gas-sanctuary/Texas lawmakers are close to approving a bill that would make Texas an oil and gas “sanctuary state,” an effort to block enforcement of some federal environmental regulations.A house in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Corpus on Feb. 7, 2022. Houses in this neighborhood have co-existed with oil refineries like Flint Hills that spew air pollutants for decades.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-legislature-flood-prevention-budget-ike-dike/The coastal barrier project may get $550 million from the state this year, and another half a billion could be on the table for flood-control projects. But that’s a fraction of the estimated need for flood mitigation.Erin DouglasFri, 19 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-legislature-flood-prevention-budget-ike-dike/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-electricity-market-bill-natural-gas-renewables/The bill marks the Legislature’s turn toward supporting natural gas-fueled electricity after the deadly winter storm in 2021.Emily Foxhall and Erin DouglasWed, 17 May 2023 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-electricity-market-bill-natural-gas-renewables/A power substation in East Austin during an ice storm in February 2022. Texas lawmakers are weighing bills to boost natural gas-fired power generation in the state.A power substation in East Austin during an ice storm on Feb. 3, 2022.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-bill-water-wells-pipeline-san-antonio-lee-county/Groundwater levels rapidly declined in rural Lee County after San Antonio began pumping the water and moving it 100 miles southwest. A Senate bill would help affected well owners.Erin DouglasTue, 16 May 2023 14:49:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-bill-water-wells-pipeline-san-antonio-lee-county/The Vista Ridge site in Burleson County on July 12, 2021. The Vista Ridge pipeline, which pumps water to San Antonio, has caused water well levels to drop in neighboring Lee County, spurring lawmakers to propose legislation to compensate affected residents.The Vista Ridge site in Burleson County on July 12, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-water-fund-bill-infrastructure/The bill aims to create a water supply four times the size of Lake Livingston, one of the state’s largest reservoirs. But it may still be a “drop in the bucket” compared to the state’s needs.Erin DouglasTue, 16 May 2023 12:44:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/16/texas-water-fund-bill-infrastructure/Water pours into a holding pond inside Rio Grande City’s water treatment plant. State lawmakers are poised to create a new fund dedicated to investing in more water for the state and help fix Texas' aging water infrastructure.Water pours into a holding pond inside Rio Grande City’s new $12 million water treatment plant. Along the Texas-Mexico border, nearly 90,000 people are believed to still live without running water. An untold number more — likely tens of thousands, but no one is sure — often have running water of such poor quality that they cannot know what poisons or diseases it might carry.Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-gun-fatalities-laws/The rate of firearm-related deaths in Texas has reached a level not seen since the 1990s. Texas lawmakers have approved more than 100 bills that loosened gun restrictions since 2000.Erin Douglas and Alex FordWed, 10 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-gun-fatalities-laws/The Uvalde gun store where a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School last year legally purchased his weapons. The rate of gun-related deaths have been rising steadily in Texas in recent years.An interior view of Oasis Outback, the store where a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School purchased his weapons, in Uvalde, Texas, U.S., May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa KrantzREUTERS/Lisa Krantzhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-chemical-plant-fire-itc-deer-park-benzene/The Texas Tribune analyzed previously unreported air monitoring data and records from the 2019 ITC chemical disaster near Houston and found that high benzene levels lingered in the air for two weeks after public health measures were lifted. Experts say more shelter-in-place advisories should have been issued.Erin Douglas, Alejandra Martinez and Caroline CovingtonThu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-chemical-plant-fire-itc-deer-park-benzene/Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-local-control/City officials say the full scope of the legislation advanced Tuesday is still unclear, but it would limit their ability to issue worker protections, water restrictions and more.Joshua Fechter, Erin Douglas and Alex NguyenTue, 18 Apr 2023 18:20:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-local-control/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, stands on the House floor on May 14. Burrows is the author of a bill that would impose new limits on what Texas cities and counties can regulate.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, on the House floor on May 14.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-dairy-farm-explosion-cows/The state fire marshal’s office is investigating.Jayme Lozano Carver and Erin DouglasThu, 13 Apr 2023 15:45:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-dairy-farm-explosion-cows/A worker was critically injured and more than 18,000 cattle were killed in a massive explosion Monday at South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmit, south of Amarillo.A worker was critically injured and more than 18,000 cattle were killed in a massive explosion at Southfork Dairy Farm in Dimmit on Monday, April 10, 2023. Dimmit is about 60 miles south west of Amarillo.Courtesy of Castro County Sheriff's Officehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/04/texas-lead-water-lines-epa/In a first-of-its-kind survey of public water utilities, the EPA estimates that 7% of water lines in Texas, more than 647,000, are lead based. It’s the fifth-highest proportion of lead-based water lines in the country.Erin DouglasTue, 04 Apr 2023 15:44:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/04/texas-lead-water-lines-epa/Lead can enter drinking water when lead-based pipes or plumbing fixtures — such as faucets — are corroded.A dripping faucet on Feb. 18, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/03/texas-senate-bill-28-water-supply/The Senate on Monday passed a bill that would create a new state fund tailored for large or long-shot water supply projects, including marine desalination. The bill will advance to the House.Erin Douglas and Pooja SalhotraMon, 03 Apr 2023 17:52:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/03/texas-senate-bill-28-water-supply/A large crack runs the length of a broken water main pipe seen while City of Odessa Water Distribution employees work to repair the broken line June 14.A large crack runs the length of a broken water main pipe after City of Odessa Water Distribution employees work to repair the broken line Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Odessa. According to Mayor of Odessa Javier Joven, the line has been fixed since around 3:45 a.m. and the system is beginning to pressurize slowly.Courtesy Odessa American/Eli Hartmanhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/27/el-paso-climate-change-referendum/As global efforts to combat climate change falter, climate activists have turned to local initiatives to rein in carbon emissions. A May vote on a city charter amendment has thrust El Paso into the fray.Erin DouglasMon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/27/el-paso-climate-change-referendum/El Paso Electric's natural gas-powered Newman Generating Station in El Paso on Feb. 17, 2021.El Paso Electric's natural gas-powered Newman Generating Station in El Paso on Feb. 17, 2021.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/17/puc-appeals-court-uri-prices/The actions by the Public Utility Commission led to billions of dollars of overcharges, the Austin-based court found. It’s not yet clear if the ruling will affect consumers.Erin Douglas and Emily FoxhallFri, 17 Mar 2023 13:24:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/17/puc-appeals-court-uri-prices/Congress Avenue in Austin during Winter Storm Uri on Feb. 16, 2021.Looking south on a snow-covered Congress Ave. in Austin on Feb. 16, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/08/gun-background-check-juvenile-bill/In its first bill passed this session, the Texas Senate sought to ensure juvenile mental health hospitalizations are reported to the federal firearm background check system.Erin DouglasWed, 08 Mar 2023 14:08:59 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/08/gun-background-check-juvenile-bill/A patron holds a handgun at the SAXET Gun Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.A patron holds a handgun at the SAXET Gun Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown on Feb. 26, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune