Posted on · Companies that drill for oil use combinations of chemicals in the hydraulic fracturing process to free oil trapped in rock formations called shale. You probably know that drillers pump thousands of gallons of water mixed with such chemicals down into their wells. You may be aware there are rules about reporting what those chemicals are. […]
Posted on · The state of Colorado now allows the sale of marijuana for recreational use. Thousands of Coloradans, as well as people from outside the state, have descended on dispensaries to purchase pot legally. The state of Texas has been very conservative for a very long time, so at first glance, it seems unlikely that legalization of […]
Posted on · Weâve all come across something that belonged to someone else â whether itâs as simple as a grocery list left in a shopping cart or as personal as a letter intended for a boyfriend. These âfoundâ items give us at least a momentâs glimpse inside the life of a stranger, the results of which can […]
Posted on · Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is in Houston today. Perhaps no other Obama administration official, save for President Obama himself, has been on the firing line more amid the troubled roll-out of the final phase of the Affordable Care Act. On today's Houston Matters, we'll have details on the Secretary's visit, and on […]
Posted on · In 1997, Jody Williams became just the tenth woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The professor at the University of Houstonâs Graduate College of Social Work was instrumental in negotiating the treaty to ban landmines. Now, sheâs written a new memoir called “My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girlâs Winding Path to the […]
Posted on · On this edition of Houston Matters, in our last program before Thanksgiving, we welcome your examples of people, places, events, and ideas you're thankful for here in Houston. And yes, we know, you’re thankful for your family and friends – we are too. Well, we don’t necessarily know your family and friends, but we’re thankful […]
Posted on · Voters approved a lot Tuesday. They said yes to Mayor Annise Parker, who won re-election. Harris County voters approved a proposed joint inmate processing center. Texans said yes to property tax breaks for veterans and their families, a State Water Implementation Fund, even expanded tax exemptions on aircraft parts. The one big thumbs-down? The Dome. […]
Posted on · The state of Texas believes the Environmental Protection Agency does not have legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from factories and power plants. Such disputes over carbon emissions have pitted environmental regulators against industry for years. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over this question – and the state of […]