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Kent Hance is a lawyer, a former U.S. Congressman, a university chancellor, and most notably, a native Texan. With the launch of his new podcast, Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, Hance shares stories from his legendary life on themes relating to leadership, politics and great friendships with some real characters.Hance received his B.B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1965 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1968. He served in the Texas state senate from 1975 - 1979. In 1978, after defeating George W. Bush, Hance was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Texas' 19th Congressional District, where he served until 1985.Following six years as a U.S. Congressman, Hance served on the Texas Railroad Commission from 1987-1991 (Chairman 1989-1990), the Governor's Energy Council, Governor's Oil Spill Advisory Committee, Texas High Speed Rail Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and the Texas Mining Council.In 2006, Hance was selected to serve as Chancellor to Texas Tech University. After his retirement as Chancellor in 2014, he was named Chancellor Emeritus and continues to teach a popular seminar class on leadership at Texas Tech.Subscribe and listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-storyteller-in-texas-podcast/id1558310539
The Wilson County Republican Party will host a Lincoln-Trump Dinner on Thursday, March 27, at the Wilson County Expo and Community Center, 435 S.H. 97 East in Floresville. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social hour with the program and dinner to begin at 7 p.m. Dinner includes a roast beef meal catered by Witte's Barbeque & Steak House. Live and silent auctions will be available as well. The keynote speaker will be Texas General Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. Guest speakers will be Commissioner Wayne Christian of the Texas Railroad Commission and senior advisor to Texas Governor...Article Link
As the Texas Railroad Commission falls from global oil dominance, the energy crisis of the 1970s strikes and one gas company cuts power to millions. What comes next brings plenty of political intrigue, and sets up a divided system of energy regulation in Texas unlike anywhere else in the country. The post The Bull of the Brazos appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.
“Failure to properly mark the underground pipeline” is to blame for the July 16 gas explosion in Floresville, says the official report from The Texas Railroad Commission. The report, dated Nov. 15, reveals exactly what led to the gas explosion, from gas leak to the explosion which destroyed one H Street home and severely damaged several others. (See “Floresville officials continue investigation into gas explosion,” July 24 Wilson County News). According to the investigation: •11:30 a.m. — A third-party contractor was performing excavation to install telecommunications for Rise Broadband when a CenterPoint Energy gas pipeline was punctured. •11:45 a.m. —...Article Link
The Texas Railroad Commission says “failure to properly mark the underground pipeline” is to blame for the July 16 gas explosion that damaged homes in Floresville. The Railroad Commission's report, dated Nov. 15, reveals what led to the gas explosion, which destroyed one H Street home and severely damaged several others. According to the report, a third-party contractor was performing excavation to install telecommunications for Rise Broadband, when a CenterPoint Energy gas distribution pipeline was punctured. The report indicates that the operator's line locator failed to mark the underground pipeline accurately. Floresville City Manager Andy Joslin advised that the...Article Link
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As the nation prepares for Trump 2.0, in Texas we're bracing for another nutty Texas Legislative session, where Republicans will be pressing the crazy on a variety of issues, including immigration: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/nx-s1-5203015/immigration-will-be-under-the-spotlight-in-the-upcoming-legislative-session-in-texas ...And reproductive freedom and maternity care: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-bill-wants-to-make-abortion-pills-schedule-iv-drugs-21160287 ...And Austin's very existence as a self-governed municipality: https://bsky.app/profile/chrismosser.bsky.social/post/3lcfivsqtic2f ...And giving Ken Paxton the power to target "election fraud", the return of the Bathroom Bill, banning any mention whatsoever to sexual orientation at public schools. Meanwhile, Democrats want to legalize cannibis for medical use, give the Legislature a chance to override vetos by the Governor, repeal the ban on DEI at our state colleges, and maintain humane temperatures inside Texas prisons: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-lawmakers-get-their-bills-in-19946648.php Bad environmental news, as the Texas Railroad Commission is exploring the use of toxic produced water from the fracking process to irrigate food crops: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03122024/west-texas-recycled-oilfield-water-drought-solution/ ..And good environmental news (we think) as Texas appears in prime position for future hydrogen production: https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-big-producer-green-hydrogen-researchers/story?id=116372254 The first of our two annual holiday fundraising parties is tonight (Tuesday 12/3) in Austin, and the second is in Dallas on December 16! There are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024 We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at @progresstexas.bsky.social. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org.
Brian Phillips and Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian discuss the role of the Railroad Commission, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Texas energy grid, and ESG.3:18 Commissioner Christian's thoughts on the election results and what's to come7:14 Efficient Energy Creating and Usage8:21 What will it be like in having a partner in energy policy in Washington, D.C instead of a foe?11:38 What is the Railroad Commission's approach to both encouraging energy development and making sure Texas' consumers are protected?13:14 What is the role of the Texas Railroad Commission?14:53 What efforts are made in educating the public about energy creating and efficiency?17:35 Green New Deal, Inflation Reduction Act and other farces that mean the same thing24:41 Lessons learned from Winter Storm Uri in 2021 aka “Snowmaggedon”29:32 What is the Texas Reliable Energy Caucus?33:21 ESG - What is it and what threats does it impose?36:46 The Federal Energy Super Team that President Elect Trump is assembling 38:25 In what ways does the Railroad Commission protect the water supply for Texans?
In this episode, I explore the controversial Texas Railroad Commission with Virginia Palacios of Commission Shift. We discuss the commission's history, its misleading name, its cozy relationship with the oil & gas industry it's meant to oversee, and its role before and after the devastating Winter Storm Uri, where lax regulation contributed to widespread power outages and deaths. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price says Dallas should consider building its own jail, suggesting it could help lower the near-capacity county jail population. Price told City Council members on Wednesday that space at the over 7,100-person capacity Lew Sterrett Justice Center remains an issue, and he believes the city isn't paying enough to cover its costs; In other news, when the Texas Railroad Commission was created in 1891, regulating trains was part of its mission. The state agency's duties have changed but the name has not, which can be confusing, particularly for voters who choose the three commissioners who create many of the rules governing Texas' fossil fuel industry; And Southwest Airlines economy fare passengers may have to sacrifice some precious legroom to make way for new premium seating sections on many of the carrier's planes. The company unveiled plans Thursday for new boarding and seating configuration arrangements to accommodate assigned seating in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A Texas-based, reliably-conservative activist Federal judge (and Federalist Society member) has blocked future protections for LGBTQ+ school kids under Title IX: https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2024/08/texas-based-judge-expands-ban-on-title-ix-gender-sexuality-protections.html Ken Paxton threatens legal action against the City of Dallas if the State Fair of Texas doesn't rescind their planned ban on most guns at this fall's event: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-ken-paxton-state-fair-gun-policy-ban-lawsuit-attorney-general/287-9813c745-1eb1-42f3-8755-4cd627ac35b3 That massive dump of data on the Robb Elementary school massacre last weekend, it turns out, was incomplete: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/uvalde-shooting-police-footage/ Governor Greg Abbott's promise to his MAGA base to keep busing migrants into northern cities faces a critical shortage of migrants to victimize: https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/texas-gov-greg-abbott-vows-keep-busing-migrants-north-one-problem-not-rcna166412 "Zombie" wells are haunting the Texas oil patch - and the role of the Texas Railroad Commission is coming under increased scrutiny: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-oil-regulator-under-scrutiny-zombie-wells-gush-back-life-2024-08-14/ Progress Texas will set up our official HQ during TribFests' Open Congress on Saturday Septmeber 7 at Hideout Coffee at 7th and Congress! We'll be live all day recording for the podcast, hanging out with progressive activists including YOU, and moving our stylish merch. Come see us - it's free! https://festival.texastribune.org/event/651560b0-5404-4ea0-b75e-8725c648826d/websitePage:64071bfd-7c25-49f7-a1ca-90f3fa6ff376 See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025 ...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: https://govotetexas.org/ Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org.
Katherine Culbert is the Democratic nominee for Texas Railroad Commission, challenging longtime incumbent Christi Craddick. Culbert has dedicated her life to the study of mitigating risk - and she sees a direct link between the massive donations made by companies like Houston's Centerpoint to Republican officials, including those on the Railroad Commission, and lax oversight which likely led to vulnerabilities in Houston's power grid - resulting in almost two dozen deaths as a relatively weak Hurrican Beryl knocked the city for a loop. Join us for a closer look at how profits, not people, dictate what happens at all levels of the Texas energy sector, and to learn how YOUR vote could be a catalyst for change. Learn more about Katherine Culbert and her campaign at https://www.katherine4texas.com/. Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
The area within the vicinity of H and Ninth streets in Floresville remains barricaded off as the investigation continues into the cause of a gas explosion Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a home. This follows a gas leak July 16, caused by a crew laying fiber broadband lines in the city. Currently access to the areas is limited to investigators and authorized individuals. The city of Floresville is working with several entities, including the Texas Railroad Commission and CenterPoint Energy. Rise Broadband released a statement about the incident late Tuesday. “Our company has deployed management team members to the scene,” the...Article Link
Explore the many ways that engineers can get involved with public policy ― from learning about the issues, to speaking to legislators, to even running for office! Jenny Tsao, lead of the SWE Public Policy Affinity Group, provides tips for women in STEM who want to start getting involved in public policy. Katherine Culbert, engineer and candidate for Texas Railroad Commission, unpacks her decision to run for office and the lessons she has learned through this experience. Host Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of SWE, moderates the discussion and shares her public policy memories and experiences, including with SWE's annual Congressional Visit Days. Please note that as a 501(c)(3) organization, SWE is strictly nonpartisan and cannot endorse political candidates.
Bill Burch running for Texas Railroad Commission during the Fin Feather Fur Food Festival hosted by the American Association of Drilling Engineers in Humble Texas. #oilgas #energy #podcast See more, use the calendar, become a sponsor, attend events at oilfieldtailgate.com
Kent Hance served 6 years in the House from West Texas, was Chair of the Texas Railroad Commission, and had an 8-year tenure as Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System - but his most famous political accomplishment is as the only person to ever defeat George W. Bush in a political campaign. He also hosts his own podcast, The Best Storyteller in Texas, where he mines his favorite political stories and weighs in on the news of the day. In this conversation, Chancellor Kent Hance talks about his famous 1978 win over George W. Bush in an open-seat congressional...his preceding time in the Texas State Senate, his time in the House carrying landmark legislation for President Reagan, running statewide, helming a major public university system, memories of iconic political figures, and some of his best stories from 6+ decades in politics.IN THIS EPISODE...Growing up in rural West Texas...How the books his mother chose to read to him as a child led to a lifelong interest politics...A Kent Hance best-practice for avoiding troublemakers at town hall meetings...How he took on a West Texas political machine to beat a sitting State Senator in 1974...Chancellor Hance shares his memories of iconic Texas political figures John Connally, Lloyd Bentsen, and Ann Richards...Going in-depth about his good friend and former colleague, Congresswoman Charlie Wilson...How Kent Hance beat George W. Bush for Congress in an open seat race in 1978...The 1978 Hance campaign tactic that stuck with George W. Bush for 30+ years...Memories of sponsoring President Reagan's historic, controversial tax cut in the early 1980s.Highlighting a major difference in the leadership style of Presidents Reagan and Trump...Coming up short running for Senate in 1984...Demystifying what it's like serving on the Texas Railroad Commission...What led to becoming Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System...The curveball of the Texas Tech football coach he helped hire becoming now-US Senator Tommy Tuberville...AND $1.2 Billion, AT&T, Jodey Arrington, Coalter Baker, Jim Baker, bank charters, Choc Blanchard, Doc Blanchard, Laura Bush, The Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress, Barber Conable, dealmakers, Bob Dole, Ken Duberstein, Phil Gramm, hardcore Navy guys, Tommy Joe Harrison, hating Communists, Chic Hecht, Vic Henry, Bill Hobby, Lee Iacocca, Jack Kemp, LBJ, Little Britches, George Mahon, mail carriers, Wilbur Mills, Walter Mondale, the New England Journal of Medicine, Don Pease, Sam Rayburn, Walter Rogers, Dan Rostenkowski, Preston Smith, talking heads, trial lawyers, Donald Trump, Paul Weyrich, whipping the Russians, Clayton Williams, windfall profits tax...& more!
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Republicans continue to outdistance Democrats in primary early voting turnout: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/ Progressives need to understand the threat posed by "Project 25": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/27/trump-second-term-cpac-democracy-threat-extremism ...While Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett points out that Christian Nationalism is inconsistent with traditional Christianity: https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/1762540717140779152?t=660LLiAZJXPZv6pGh-l2wA&s=03 ...And a Houston megachurch pastor goes on an anti-migrant tear: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/ed-young-anti-immigration-sermon-18692233.php ...And while most Americans reject Christian Nationalism, those numbers are weaker in Red states: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/28/poll-christian-nationalism-americans-reject At Ken Paxton's bidding, a federal judge in Lubbock undermines new protections for pregnant workers: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/federal-judge-texas-rules-congressional-passage-2022-spending-bill-unc-rcna140829 The policies leading to Darryl George's plight at Barbers Hill ISD are based on the marginalization of non-white students: https://theconversation.com/a-texas-court-ruling-on-a-black-student-wearing-hair-in-long-locs-reflects-history-of-racism-in-schools-223250 A new produced water processing site has been approved by the Texas Railroad Commission - right next to a church camp: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/texas-permian-basin-oilfield-waste-ponds-baptist-camp/ The Pantex facility - the country's primary development and maintenance location for nuclear weapons - is threatened by Panhandle wildfires: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/02/28/key-nuclear-weapons-plant-forced-to-pause-operations-due-to-texas-wildfires/ Three Texas filmmakers contribute to a new HBO documentary series on Huntsville, Houston and El Paso: https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/god-save-texas-hbo-documentary-hometown-prison-richard-linklater.html Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate
In the Crane County oil patch, a recent catastrophic spill of produced water, a toxic byproduct of the petroleum extraction process, has brought to the forefront the threat this stuff poses to groundwater across Texas. In this election year, it also highlights the worsening of that threat resulting from the chronic mismanagement and public obfuscation regarding produced water by the Texas Railroad Commission, the elected, three-member body supposedly in charge of keeping Texas' environment safe in the midst of our all-time high petroleum production, but in reality known as largely a rubber stamp for whatever policy and procedure our state's energy sector finds most expedient and profitable. On this episode, we talk to Bill Burch, petroleum expert and Progress Texas-endorsed candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, as well as Alex Ortiz, Water Resources Chair of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter on the Crane County produced water spill, the ramifications this gross stuff and its management have for our environmental future, and how the Commission should be held accountable. Learn more about Bill Burch and his campaign at https://burch4trrc.com/, and learn more about the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club at https://www.sierraclub.org/texas. Find the Houston Chronicle's editorial endorsement of President Biden's pause of new LNG approvals at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/biden-lng-export-trump-election-18680419.php. Thanks for listening! Please consider becoming one of our 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive at https://progresstexas.org/donate.
Kent Hance is a lawyer, a former U.S. Congressman, a university chancellor, and most notably, a native Texan. With the launch of his new podcast, Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, Hance shares stories from his legendary life on themes relating to leadership, politics and great friendships with some real characters.Hance received his B.B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1965 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1968. He served in the Texas state senate from 1975 - 1979. In 1978, after defeating George W. Bush, Hance was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Texas' 19th Congressional District, where he served until 1985.Following six years as a U.S. Congressman, Hance served on the Texas Railroad Commission from 1987-1991 (Chairman 1989-1990), the Governor's Energy Council, Governor's Oil Spill Advisory Committee, Texas High Speed Rail Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and the Texas Mining Council.In 2006, Hance was selected to serve as Chancellor to Texas Tech University. After his retirement as Chancellor in 2014, he was named Chancellor Emeritus and continues to teach a popular seminar class on leadership at Texas Tech.Subscribe and listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-storyteller-in-texas-podcast/id1558310539
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: New polling results as primary voting opens from UT Austin: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/new-uttexas-politics-project-poll-primary-voting-begins-texans-see-crisis-border A pro-voucher campaign stop in Cleburne by Governor Greg Abbott is under-attended compared to an event the same day for the anti-voucher incumbent: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/gov-greg-abbott-north-texas-campaign-against-fellow-republican-voted-no-voucher-proposal/287-ae6a0aa9-0915-4f75-8643-55c1eda032bf The Houston Chronicle endorses President Biden for re-election, somehow surprising MAGA types: https://www.newsweek.com/houston-chronicle-endorse-biden-texas-trump-maga-1871423 Public school supporters are reminded of the importance of primary voting: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/education-public-voting-ballot-primaries-18667618.php Moderate San Antonio Republican Tony Gonzales is beset this primary round from his right: https://sanantonioreport.org/tony-gonzales-texas-gop-primary/ Also important in the primary, a vote for Bill Burch for Texas Railroad Commission: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-railroad-commission-election-2024-18676066.php Heartbreaking video covers a Texas woman's forced trip out of state to locate vitally-needed abortion care: https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/pregnant-texas-woman-travels-cross-country-abortion-care-107357968 A coalition of civil rights groups are spreading the word and organizing protests in regard to SB-4, the new immigration law set to take effect next month: https://www.ktep.org/ktep-news/2024-02-16/civil-rights-organizations-launch-statewide-know-your-rights-campaign-to-prepare-for-texas-immigration-law-sb4 A political veteran who has worked with both George W. Bush and Ann Richards writes on the Texas GOP's descent into the "MAGA abyss": https://www.vanityfair.com/news/how-did-texas-slip-into-the-maga-abyss Texas secessionist blowhards see attempts to connect the Texas power grid to national grids as an attack on their independence efforts: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-nationalists-rage-power-grid-plans-1871202 We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate
Early voting in the Democratic primary starts on Tuesday February 20th, and Progress Texas has selected FIVE more terrific candidates whom we think deserve your vote! In addition to Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez, whom we have endorsed in his run for the Democratic nomination to face Ted Cruz for Texas' junior U.S. Senate seat... (2:00) We endorse State Representative Julie Johnson (HD 115) for Texas' 32nd Congressional District. In the highly contested race for Colin Allred's seat, with several strong candidates, Johnson's record as a lawyer and lawmaker stands out, championing women, workers, and LGBTQ+ Texans. Johnson turned HD 115 red to blue back in 2018, and has the experience to turn the tables in Washington D.C., to make the government work for us on reproductive justice, gun violence protection, and affordable healthcare. https://juliejohnson.com/ (10:25) Michelle Vallejo is a small business owner and fierce community advocate from South Texas. In a rematch for TX-15, she will take back her historically blue district running on bringing down healthcare costs, securing good-paying jobs and a thriving economy, and protecting reproductive rights. This is a personal fight for her. Her mother, who passed away several years ago, was forced to travel to Mexico for healthcare due to lack of options here in Texas. https://www.michellefortx15.com/ (18:46) Sam Eppler is our choice for Texas Congressional District 24 in North Texas. The former math teacher and high school principal is the pro-democracy, economic growth, and public education champion his district needs to beat a MAGA extremist incumbent in November. A top priority of his is to provide a good education in a safe school to build a brighter future for everyone, in every zip code. https://sameppler.com/ (25:27) Bill Burch is a career engineer running for the Texas Railroad Commission. He will bring 23 years of energy industry experience—including time as an emergency responder for the Deepwater Horizon spill—expertise of sustainable energy practices, and a sense of integrity and accountability the agency is critically missing. https://burch4trrc.com/ (36:08) Lauren Ashley Simmons, a challenger running for Texas HD 146, is a mom and union organizer whose platform centers public education, universal and affordable healthcare, workers rights, and defending democracy. Her opponent, the current state representative, Rep. Shawn Thierry, votes with Gov. Abbott to destroy our public schools. She's also faced public scandals for voting with extremists to attack LGBTQ+ Texans, and creating “abusive” work environments. In contrast, Simmons is a black, queer woman, who will fight for those who are tired, frustrated, and who feel unheard by the people who are supposed to be serving them. https://www.laurenashleysimmons.com/ Thanks for listening! Throughout February, Progress Texas is seeking to add a total of 29 new recurring donors to our lineup - one per day this leap month! Learn more at https://progresstexas.org/donate.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Two more Democratic primary endorsements have been added to our list: Michelle Vallejo in the run for Congressional District 15, and Bill Burch for the Texas Railroad Commission: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries Austin U.S. Rep. Greg Casar takes the lead on a new bill requiring Texas to connect our power grid to neighboring grids: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/democrats-introduce-bill-connect-texas-to-national-grids/287-ceba36b1-508a-4b2c-8f82-a090fbf1a63f ...While Texas continues to shatter renewable energy records: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/14/texas-shatters-own-solar-power-record-weird-political-situation-or-not/ A huge court hearing today regarding Texas' new immigration law SB-4, and whether to allow it to take effect next month: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/15/us/texas-border-law-challenge-explainer.html ...While even our soldiers at the border see through Governor Abbott's cosplay: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-operation-lone-star-border-national-guard-soldiers_n_65c4f0dce4b093b2e782abd8 As over a million Texas kids from low income families are booted from Medicaid coverage, a massive backlog of benefits applications has built up: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-02-16/after-a-million-texas-kids-were-kicked-off-medicaid-thousands-more-are-still-in-limbo/ Republicans who held the line on school vouchers find themselves in the crosshairs of misinformation twisting their votes: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/republicans-voucher-ads-18666959.php We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: U.S. Representative Colin Allred voted along with over a dozen other House Democrats in support of a Republican rebuke of President Biden over border policy: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4414955-democrats-gop-resolution-denouncing-biden-open-border-policies/ ...While hitting another huge fundraising benchmark: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/17/colin-allred-us-senate-campaign/ Texas has defied a federal deadline to turn over control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-border-us-mexico-ken-paxton-attorney-general/ ...While the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reverses itself and vacates its own ruling requiring the moving of that notorious river barrier: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/court-rules-in-reversal-texas-floating-barrier-between-us-and-mexico-can-stay-for-now/ The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin rules that Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton must turn over e-mails related to the January 6 insurrection: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-01-17/lawsuit-seeking-texas-attorney-generals-jan-6-emails-can-move-forward-appeals-court-rules That over-six-million-dollar pro-voucher donation to Governor Abbott is just part of a rising tide of fundraising on both sides of that issue: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/01/18/fight-over-school-choice-puts-fundraising-for-texas-gop-primary-on-steroids/ The Texas Railroad Commission is suspected of covering up a toxic "produced water" spill in Crane County via an FAA no-fly-zone order: https://bigbendsentinel.com/2024/01/10/railroad-commission-claims-gas-leak-to-hide-produced-water-destruction/ Join us tonight in Richardson for a debate featuring candidates for U.S. Congressional District 32: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/597311/ And - Progress Texas is seeking an Advocacy Manager and a Communications Intern! Join the team, and hit the web store at https://progresstexas.org/.
The Mineral Rights Podcast: Mineral Rights | Royalties | Oil and Gas | Matt Sands
In this episode we walk you step-by-step how to use the Texas Railroad Commission Website to find your minerals or royalties on a map to determine if you should be getting paid on a well. We also show you how to download important documents related to your wells, how to see how much oil & gas was produced and sold in a given month, and more. Be sure to check out the accompanying YouTube video to see this in action. As always, show notes with the links to the resources mentioned in this episode can be found at mineralrightspodcast.com.
EPA Finalizes New Methane Rule That Will Cut Oil and Gas Pollution in Texas Washington, DC – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized critical Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry. These safeguards—which include first-ever standards for existing equipment while also strengthening standards for new equipment—are the culmination of years of advocacy by Sierra Club and its allies. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has more than 80 times the climate-warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, driving approximately one-third of the planet's warming to date. Each year, the U.S. oil and gas sector emits 16 million metric tons of methane as well as other damaging pollutants that cause smog and soot and air toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, which cause cancer. No state produces more oil and gas than Texas, which released more than 564 billion cubic feet of methane in 2019 alone. A recent satellite analysis of the Permian Basin found that Texas emitted twice as much methane as the gas industry in New Mexico, which has state-level pollution regulations. Unfortunately, neither the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas production, nor the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have enacted rules or standards to lower these emissions. Thus, the federal rule could have more impact on Texas than any other state, and Texas organizations are celebrating with cautious optimism. “We know that Texas state agencies have ignored the problem of methane from the oil and gas industry for decades, and we expect Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton will spend taxpayer money to challenge this rule that would only be beneficial for the state,” said Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter's Conservation Director Cyrus Reed. “The finalization of the EPA's methane rule can make a real difference for frontline communities in Texas facing pollution, and for our climate, and we appreciate the efforts of the Biden Administration to finally require the oil and gas industry to deal with this massive air pollution. We will legally fight any attempt to roll back this important rule and insist that the state of Texas implement it as soon as possible.” “Texas' oil and gas oversight agency, the Railroad Commission of Texas, has no clear process for rejecting venting and flaring requests,” said Commission Shift Executive Director Virginia Palacios. “It's clear that preventing waste and protecting public health are far from being held as priorities by the RRC, whose commissioners receive more than two-thirds of their campaign contributions from the same companies they grant flaring permits to. That's why we need strong federal rules to implement common-sense boundaries that will prevent air pollution and create jobs in Texas.” "As we celebrate this milestone, we remain vigilant against potential challenges and will continue to advocate for even stronger measures to safeguard our climate, health, and environmental justice,” said Sheila Serna, climate science and policy director for the Rio Grande International Study Center. “Together, we must ensure the proper implementation and enforcement of these standards in Texas for the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our planet." According to EPA's analysis, the final standards are projected to avoid 58 million tons of methane emissions nationwide by 2038, as well as 16 million tons of volatile organic compounds and 590,000 tons of air toxins. These reductions will come from requirements for: Strengthened leak detection.Repair of all wells regardless of size or operation status and up until they are permanently plugged in.Installation of non-polluting pneumatic equipment.A phased-in prohibition on routine flaring of gas at new wells.Program to leverage third-party monitoring data to identify and stop large emission events.During a robust comment period at the start of this year, a broad coalition of supporters of the methane rule submitted over 400,000 comments – more than 16,000 of which came from Sierra Club members and volunteers – urging EPA to finalize and implement the strongest possible protections for health and welfare. Now, Sierra Club and coalition partners will work to defend the rule against attacks from fossil fuel interests and their political allies, as well as to ensure that the final standards are properly implemented and enforced to protect communities from the impacts of oil and gas pollution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarah Stogner recently announced at The Texas Tribune Festival that she is running her second campaign for the Texas Railroad Commission, leaving the Republican Party to run as a third-party candidate under the Forward Party. Stogner, a 39-year-old oil and gas attorney, made headlines in 2022 with her “social media” [...]
Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Sarah Stogner is no stranger to being the target of others, especially in the political realm, however, this week she became the target of San Anontio crime. According to Stogner, her blue Ford Expedition with license plate “UN1CRNS” was stolen from the second floor of the [...]
In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina President of the Austin Bar, talks to Christi Craddick, chair of the Texas Railroad Commission. Chair Craddick was the only female statewide elected official in Texas for over 10 years and is serving her fourth term as chair.
Can we trust the Texas Railroad Commission to regulate carbon capture in Texas? On episode 196 of The Green Insider , Loren Steffy, writer-large for Texas Monthly and an author of five books covers a variety of topics starting with carbon capture and methane. In addition, we discuss issues … The post Carbon Capture, Methane, and The Energy Transition on Episode 196 appeared first on eRENEWABLE.
The Texas Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator, is posing a major obstacle to the Biden administration's goal of reducing methane emissions. At the same time, the commission's Republican regulators take in millions of dollars from the fossil fuel industry. POLITICO's Ben Lefebvre breaks down how the regulatory agency's actions are at odds with one of President Joe Biden's key climate policies. Plus, the Biden administration urged a federal court to reverse its decision that struck down a ban on gas hookups in Berkeley, California as a violation of federal energy efficiency law. Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. Alex Keeney is a senior audio producer at POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy
Barry Smitherman is an attorney, consultant, private investor, author, and board member for not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. He is the only person to have served as Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Texas Railroad Commission. He probably has as much knowledge of the oil and gas and the electricity business as anyone in the U.S. He is now Chairman of the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance. Barry authored the book, If Jesus Were an Investment Banker (or Any Other Type of Modern Businessman): Leadership Principles from the Messiah and Personal Reflections of an Investment Banker Striving to Be a Christian.In this interview, we discuss the Texas market for electricity-the ERCOT market-and changes to that market which are under review, the issues we faced with Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the staggering potential of geothermal energy in Texas, and much more.
In episode 21 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews Jason Modglin, the President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. It's a wide-ranging discussion centered on the following topics: - The history of TAEP, one of the biggest and oldest associations in the state; - Issues impacting the oil and gas industry in Texas, including employment challenges, supply chains, inflation, and pipeline capacity constraints; - The difficulty of dealing with the Biden administration and its frequent attacks on the industry; - Regulatory activities at the Texas Railroad Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Texas Council on Environmental Quality; - The future outlook for the Texas industry.Enjoy.
Plus, the Texas Railroad Commission was the only regulator to examine the August 14th blast that leveled on home on Ridgewood Drive, killing two and injuring 4.
Support Topic Lords on Patreon and get episodes a week early! (https://www.patreon.com/topiclords) Lords: * Erica * Jenni Topics: * Stronger with Stogner * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o0MwD8dyko * What is & isn't ahegao, prescriptivistly * Wanna Feel Old? 10 Hilarious Examples Of Anti-Piracy Measures In Video Games * https://screenrant.com/anti-piracy-video-games-funny/ * The Lanyard by Billy Collins * https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50975/the-lanyard * The "what the fuck" genre of narrative & why it frequently has an unsatisfying ending * Ed O'Brien on backing vocals * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWuAn6C8Mfc * https://floodmagazine.com/44288/ed-from-radiohead-sing-his-own-name/ Microtopics: * Fighting for credit. * The discord: it's fun in there. * Forgetting an entire lord. * A lot of work to get twice as many views. * A convenient thing you can put old food in so it doesn't go bad as quickly. * Gaskets: there's a name for them. * The British vs. the American conception of a frown. * Frowning with your face gaskets. * Doing a cartwheel to feel happier. * Alan Snape. * Doing a racy political ad on top of a 40-foot pumpjack. * What the Texas Railroad Commission does. * Getting the idea for OPEC from Texas. * A political ad using the Sugar Hill Gang cover of Apache as a soundtrack. * The suburban Texan mom solving the climate crisis single-handedly. * Twerking at the sunrise. * Field-dressing a moose. * Fantasy-footballing a female running mate for Theodore Roosevelt even though they didn't have women back then. * Getting so annoyed at an ad that you have to log back into Twitter. * Scrolling social media and getting angry by yourself. * The crucial elements that comprise the ahegao face. * Electronic Girl. * The phylogeny of the e-girl. * Is it Soup? * Looking at Zelda's face and thinking "okay, that's soup." * Whether ahegao or Betty Boop are sexy. * A face that people make to indicate horniness. * The Betty Boop ahegao: it's bad, folks. * What is otaku's plan for us? * Project Lords. * A web site with JavaScript implementations of video game code wheels of various 90s video games. * Everybody playing the free version of chess for thousands of years when the paid version is a way better game. * Why there is no Casio Loopy emulator. * Finding a tiny blood reservoir for the smallest blood sacrifices. * Who wrote the Vagina Monologues? * Moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano. * What a lanyard is and what it's for. * How to repay your mom for all the things that she's given you. * God's Eyes. * Replacing your son's butt-gasket. * Being old enough to remember when it was normal for schoolchildren to make their parents an ashtray. * Making a gumball dispenser in wood shop and using it to convince your mom to buy you a big bag of gumballs. * 1899. * A sequence of mysterious things happening. * A mysterious TV show that ends when you overwater all of your boyfriend's plants. * The final episode of Lost, where the giant panda shows up and explains that "I'm god and you're in my dream!" * Comedy typing directly into the Topic Bucket. * What makes a good ending to a mystery-focused story. * Mystery as marketing hook. * How to end a mystery-focused story in a satisfying way without solving the mystery. * The most normal-looking guy in Radiohead. * The one guy in Radiohead who doesn't have any fans. * From the Basement in Rainbows. * A super chill guy keeping time with his leg. * Does Ed from Radiohead only sing his own name? * A Pokemon Named Ed. * Idiosyncratic ways to describe your favorite band member, that unlock your unique adoration. * The only member of the band who smiles. * Absorbing it all as the luckiest person alive playing with your pals in a huge venue. * The kind of Radiohead fan whose imagination is so powerful that you can't safely let them into Radiohead concerts because they might imagine a bomb. * The kind of Topic Lord who listens to the show. * Having some delightful chats in Texas. * Posing on the pumpjack where nobody will ever see you.
Jaime Andres Diez is fighting an uphill battle but it wouldn't be the first time he's come from nowhere to posing a legitimate political challenge, albeit this time on a much larger stage. The 26-year-old Libertarian candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission seat is battling against Republican incumbent Wayne Christian and upstart Democratic candidate Luke Warford. Diez is not necessarily a political neophyte, having taken second in a school board race in his native Brownsville. However the stakes are much different at the state level, he's running as a third party candidate and he's lacking in one major category compared to the other two in the race — Money. Diez isn't flinching and in today's episode discusses why he chose the Libertarian party, or perhaps why they chose him, his disenchantment with political groups that claim to help Hispanic candidates, his platform for Railroad Commission, fixing the state's renewable transmission problems and whether he has a viable shot at winning - or at the very least affecting the race. Learn more about Jaime Andres Diez.
Warfield and Victoria, a father/daughter duo, discuss the Texas political scene with Jaime Diez, Libertarian Candidate for Texas Railroad Commission. What is the Railroad Commission? What is the Libertarian point-of-view on this position? Does Jaime offer real solutions, and will his youth impeded his ability to implement? All this and more, listen in! This Newsletter is Political is also available on OBBM Network Podcasts on Rumble here: https://rumble.com/c/c-1971254Subscribe to their substack here: https://thisnewsletterispolitical.substack.com/Support the show
[VIDEO HERE] Panel moderation, reflections on Rex, industry complexity, our image problem, educating the masses, what really is data science, predictions that come true, insights on asset reliability, and why the Texas Railroad Commission has nothing to do with railroads. It's a conversational smorgasbord with Ryan Sitton. This episode is made possible by TechnipFMC. Oil and Gas Tech hosted by Michael O'Sullivan. Brought to you on the Oil and Gas Global Network, the largest and most listened-to podcast network for the oil and energy industry. More from OGGN ... Podcasts LinkedIn Group LinkedIn Company Page Get notified about industry events
Since the beginning of this historically horrible heat wave, the Texas power grid has teetered on the brink of repeating the disaster of Winter Storm Uri - but, losing power in the summer would be an even more devastating blow for Texans than the horror we endured that winter. Governor Abbott's promises that "the grid is fixed" are clearly baloney, so we thought it a good time for a clear discussion on the nature of our state's energy problem, how we got here, and how we can finally put this sorry, embarrassing affair behind us. We're joined by Texas Railroad Commission nominee Luke Warford, who's clearly doing all he can to bring forward solutions, and Blue Action Democrats co-founder and esteemed energy attorney Carrie Collier-Brown - our go-to expert for all things grid - for a clear discussion on the power problems that continue to plague our state, and what can be done about them - starting with your VOTE this November.
The Texas Railroad Commission -- which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, not railroads -- just went through perhaps its highest profile election. Chairman Wayne Christian faced oil and gas lawyer Sarah Stogner who posed tough questions about his enforcement record and the commission's response to the 2021 Texas blackout. Christian won with 65% of the vote, but the campaign raised the profile of the arguments against him. Now he's facing Democrat Luke Warford in the November general election. Senior editor Meghan Gordon spoke with Warford when he was in Washington, DC, recently. We also reached out to the Christian campaign but didn't hear back. Warford argues the commission's poor oversight of the industry deserves blame for the 2021 grid failure and that the regulators have done little since then to ensure that the grid is ready for the next round of extreme weather. He's also campaigning on cutting down on flaring exemptions, which he calls economically wasteful as international demand soars for Texas gas and climate concerns increase. Stick around after the interview for Starr Spencer with the Market Minute, which looks at the current lack of oil and gas investment and questions around meeting long-term demand. This podcast was produced by Meghan Gordon in Washington and Jennifer Pedrick in Houston.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Harris County once again trying to break Texas election law and the Harris Co. Republican Party is fighting back. And no surprise, the latest attempt would give hand picked people of the disgraced, outgoing election administrator custody of ballots and numbers outside of public view - which of course is what someone would want if cheating were intended. Read the story here: https://thetexan.news/state-gop-claims-harris-countys-election-day-procedures-violate-state-law/Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Runoff news includes Controversy, Conflict Define Sarah Stogner's Weird and Wild Bid for Texas Railroad Commission as well as news from the race for attorney general.Leftist lawyers trying the same B.S. thing on Senator Ted Cruz they did on A.G. Ken Paxton.Anti-Wimp update out of Lubbock.Wildfire updates.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
The new film "Father Stu" tells the inspirational story of Fr. Stuart Long. His friend Father Bart Tolleson takes us deeper into Fr. Stu's life and work. Sarah Stogner, a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, briefs us on her upcoming runoff primary against Wayne Christian and the real impact (or not) of Biden's flip-flop on oil leases. Phil Kerpen returns to explain American Commitment's study on mask mandates in schools and explain why districts that adopted them performed worse against the pandemic.
Commissioner Christi Craddick is one of three commissioners at the Texas Railroad Commission, and she is also the longest serving of the three to this elected position. We were lucky enough to get some time with Commissioner Craddick to recap the last year and catch a glimpse of what she [...]
A candidate posing semi-nude to draw attention to the race? That's what's happening in the race for Texas Railroad Commission. Our very own Joshua Skinner with Gray TV station KOSA has the story.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/local-news-live-daily/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
With a comprehensive approach to energy production and a social media campaign that's been both provocative and effective, political neophyte Sarah Stogner has elbowed herself into contention in the Texas Railroad Commission race and stopped by The Green Insider to talk about it. A late entry into the race, Stogner … The post The Green Insider – Ep. 90 – Sarah Stogner – Texas RR Commission Candidate appeared first on eRENEWABLE.
A missing piece of the story of this year's Railroad Commissioner's race is exactly how sharp and well informed Republican candidate Sarah Stogner is. So Chuck put her to the test with The Five Questions.
The Texas Railroad Commission is one of the most important positions in the State of Texas. The Commission serves as a regulatory authority for nearly everything involving the extraction of carbon-based fuels. Sarah Stogner is running for Commissioner and believes the organization could greatly improve on its responsibilities to regulate and ensure Texans are safe and our water remains clean. Sarah passionately laid out her concerns and what she would do to fix the problems in our interview.
The mysterious and powerful Texas Railroad Commission is both the political backbone of the Texas energy sector AND directly culpable in the winter freeze disaster last February. It has little to nothing to do with railroads! Luke Warford has declared his candidacy to this important regulatory body and talks to Lana about the outdated and corrupt state of the agency and what his priorities would be if elected.
Ashley Williams Watt shares her family's struggles with Chevron and the Texas Railroad Commission on their cattle ranch in West Texas - multiple P&A wells spewing contaminated water into the family's water supply, crude oil bubbling up into the family's toilet, missing ground water tests, and a red bucket. Everyone in the oil and gas industry needs to listen and weigh in on “when does an oilfield end?”
Welcome back to another episode! This Week, Mark and Paige hit the following: * Oil Trading Below Zero as Futures Market Craters * Stimulus Options for the Oil Patch * Trump Plans to Help Oil Patch Despite Democrats' Opposition * Texas Railroad Commission Avoids Proration Vote * NOIA elects Chairman Galen Cobb, Halliburton, & Vice Chairman Matt McCarroll, Fieldwood Energy * U.S. oil consumption stabilizes but stockpiles continue to swell * Air Liquide signs 11 new long-term contracts for On-Site gas supply * U.S. investigating Multimillion-dollar trading fraud via OPEC+ insiders * Facing backlash, Saudis could reroute oil tankers headed for US * Bitdefender: Spearphishing Campaigns Targeting Oil and Gas Industry * Turns Out RuPaul May Be Fracking on His Enormous Ranch If you want to get a question answered for next month's FFQA, click the link below. Enjoy! Have a question? Click here to ask. As of 4/30/2020 - The American Rig count is 378 active rigs. IBM Giveaway Enter to Win Here! Sign-up for your chance to win a T-shirt with a unique serial number. This means each shirt is different making it an awesome collector's item! Plus it comes inside an official OGGN insulated tumbler. At the end of the year we will have a drawing to win our grand prize! This will be a pool of all of the serial numbers on the t-shirts! The grand prize will be announced a bit later in the year! Street Team If you're interested in joining the street team, join our Facebook Group here. Interested in Sponsoring?? If you would like to get your company in front of our professional audience, please contact our Director, Kathryn Mills More Oil and Gas Global Network Podcasts Oil and Gas This Week Podcast | Oil and Gas HS&E Podcast | Oil and Gas Industry Leaders | Oil and Gas Legal Risk | Oil and Gas Onshore | Oil and Gas Offshore | PITCH Engage with Oil and Gas Global Network LinkedIn Group | Facebook | modalpoint | OGGN Get Mark's Monthly Events Email Get Automatically Notified About Oil & Gas Events Once a Month Connect with Us OGGN LinkedIn