ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JULY 22-28
APARTMENTS QUARANTINED BECAUSE OF BATS
Brazosport Facts 7/22/06
LAKE JACKSON – As the sun settled and nightfall approached in Lake Jackson, watchful eyes of residents looked toward the sky and buildings Friday to see the winged neighbors forcing them out of their homes.
BATS SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE
Brazosport Facts 7/21/06
LAKE JACKSON – Around twilight every day they make their appearance, winged and ominous against the setting sun. However, city officials point to the bats as more of an auspicious than threatening presence.
CALLS ABOUT BATS TEST HEALTH OFFICIALS
PERRY BACKS FUNDING FOR PARKS
Houston Chronicle 7/26/06
AUSTIN – A sporting goods tax that Texas voters approved in the early 1990s should fund state parks as originally intended, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday amid escalating criticism over the deteriorating conditions at the facilities.
HARRIS COUNTY TO SUE EXXON
Baytown Sun 7/26/06
Harris County plans to file a civil lawsuit against Exxon Mobil for violations stemming from the January release of process gas oil from a tank.
FORT BEND LEVEES’ LEVEL OF PROTECTION DEBATED
Houston Chronicle 7/24/06
A week before Hurricane Katrina revealed disastrous flaws in the New Orleans levee system last Aug 29, a federal official already had levee safety on his mind.
DARK WATER
Houston Press 7/18/06
A reporter, a photographer, and canoeist Tom Helm paddle from the Galleria to Galveston Bay by canoe and kayak, finding beauty, danger, and urban debris in equal measure
JUDGE FILLETS FELONIOUS FISHERMEN
Galveston County Daily News 7/22/06
GALVESTON US District Judge Samuel Kent gave maximum sentences Friday to two men on a commercial fishing boat whose red snapper catch violated several environmental laws.
HOUSTON’S SMOKING BAN CAUSING CONFUSION
Houston Chronicle 7/24/06
No one was smoking inside Taco Milagro on Kirby when city inspector Jeff Conn took a seat at a table during a recent weekday lunch hour.
LIVING WITH DIRTY AIR MAY BOOST HEART ATTACK RISK
LOCAL BIODIESEL PLANT IN THE WORKS
Houston Chronicle 7/26/06
A small Houston company said Wednesday it has created a joint venture with two investment firms to build biodiesel plants here and in New Orleans capable of producing more gallons of the fuel per year than American drivers used in 2005.
TEXAS TOPS IN WIND ENERGY PRODUCTION
Environmental News Network 7/25/06
DALLAS – Long known as a top oil- and natural gas-producing state, Texas has gained new energy acclaim by becoming the nation’s top producer of wind energy.
PLANNED US COAL PLANTS WOULD HIKE WARMING – GROUP
STUDENTS AID WORK AT ARBORETUM
Houston Chronicle 7/20/06
While many high school students are lifeguarding at the pool, working in air-conditioned malls and offices, or just sleeping this summer, a small group of teens are toiling in the outdoors to improve two major Houston landmarks – and they’re having fun doing it.
BP CHIEF WILL RETIRE (NO DEMURRERS)
New York Times 7/26/06
LONDON, July 25 – Ending rampant speculation here, Lord Browne, chief executive of BP, the giant energy group, said unequivocally Tuesday that he would leave the company at the end of 2008, after reaching BP’s mandatory retirement age of 60.
ANGLERS GETTING HOOKED ON VIRTUAL FISHING
Houston Chronicle 7/26/06
ROGERS, ARK. – Under an enormous tent in a Wal-Mart parking lot earlier this year, some of the country’s top fishermen hoisted their freshly caught largemouth bass. Fans and television cameras looked on as the anglers competed for a $200,000 check.