ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JUNE 4 – 9

TOMATOES IN SALMONELLA OUTBREAK NOT GROWN IN TEXAS
Houston Chronicle 6/6/08
Tomatoes linked to a Salmonella outbreak in Texas and New Mexico were not grown in Texas, state and federal officials said Friday.

STATE WINDSTORM INSURANCE RATES DEBATED
Houston Chronicle 6/6/08
As another hurricane season gets under way, efforts to shore up the state’s windstorm insurer of last resort have been renewed.

WIND FARM CASE ON HOLD PENDING JUDGE’S REVIEW
Houston Chronicle 6/3/08
A federal court judge said Tuesday he needs time to sort through a complicated legal challenge brought by the King Ranch and several environmental groups that want to stop a massive wind farm near the South Texas Gulf Coast.

NEW RULES MAY EASE POWER CRUNCHES
Houston Chronicle 6/6/08
Texas’ electric grid operator hopes new rules taking effect Monday will give it a better handle on wholesale power spikes that played a role in the recent shutdown of several electric retailers.

TEXAS SOLAR ADVOCATES TRY TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

SOME QUESTIONING TIRZ REIMBURSEMENTS
Galveston County Daily News 6/8/08
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone developers have been reimbursed millions in public money, but the line between public improvement and private perk is blurry.

SOME LEAD POISONING DATA NOT PASSED TO COUNTY
Galveston County Daily News 6/6/08
In examining Galveston’s pervasive lead contamination problem, a task force found several labs reported test results to the state, not the county.

CRANE’S NUMBERS SOAR TO A RECORD – MORE THAN 500
Houston Chronicle 6/7/08
More than 500 whooping cranes are living in North America for the first time in a century.

DRY SPELL CALLS FOR EFFICIENT USE OF EVERY DROP
Houston Chronicle 6/4/08
Faced with a very dry spring, gardeners and homeowners are pulling out the garden hoses day after day and turning on the sprinkler systems. As water bills go up, they may wonder if there’s a better way.