Search Results for: midlothian

Mediation in Midlothian

I’ve posted a couple of updates recently on the situation in Midlothian, where residents are trying to prevent cement maker TXI from circumventing environmental regulations. Yesterday I got an email from Julie, my regular Midlothian correspondent, who sent me a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

More on Midlothian

I find it a bit sad that a story like this gets reported on by a Chicago newspaper and not a Texas one, but at least it’s been picked up by the Chron. MIDLOTHIAN – The neighbors introduced themselves hesitantly … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Life in Midlothian

D Magazine has a long essay by Midlothian resident Tom Boyle, whom I’ve mentioned here before in conjunction with the fight against pollution from cement plants there, on how he and his wife Julie came to be environmental activists. It’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 4 Comments

Dispatches from Dallas, October 19 edition

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week, in news from Dallas-Fort Worth we have several big topics: the Roberson execution that wasn’t; the HERO amendments, pro and con, and … Continue reading

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Dispatches from Dallas, May 11 edition

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week, in news from Dallas-Fort Worth, we have election results; the anniversary of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting; various events at Commissioners’ Court … Continue reading

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Dispatches from Dallas: Special school edition for April 21

This is a special edition of the weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger, focused on school districts and the May election. Let us know what you think. Welcome to a special schools edition of Dispatches from Dallas. A number … Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff, School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Impeach-a-palooza

The impeachment debate in the House will happen today. The Texas House intends to take up a resolution to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to a memo from the House General Investigating Committee. Citing Paxton’s “long-standing pattern of abuse of … Continue reading

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Endorsement watch: TDP candidates in May elections

From the inbox: AUSTIN, Texas — As early voting begins today for the May 6 municipal elections across Texas, the Texas Democratic Party is releasing its list of endorsed candidates: Dr. Staci Barker, Lewisville ISD, Board of Trustees Place 7 … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Fort Worth is the new Austin”

Hadn’t thought of it that way. Who speaks for Fort Worth in the nation’s capital? For more than 25 years the go-to member of the Texas delegation for Tarrant County has been U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth. From securing … Continue reading

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Dispatches from Dallas, March 31 edition

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week in Dallas news: Carroll ISD (Southlake) bails out of TASB in a new phase in the reactionary war on Texas public schools; … Continue reading

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Greg Abbott’s bet

What, me worry about blackouts? Gov. Greg Abbott promised that the state’s electric grid would be able to withstand pressures caused by any potential winter storm that occurs this year in a television interview Friday. “Listen, very confident about the grid. … Continue reading

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Smokey Joe will not run for re-election

Another one bites the dust. Embattled U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, announced his retirement from Congress on Thursday. “I am very proud of my public record and the many accomplishments of my office. It has been a tremendous honor to … Continue reading

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Nobody likes Smokey Joe any more

Pobrecito. One day after a group of local Republicans met privately with U.S. Rep. Joe Barton about a nude photo of him that ended up online — and his political future — a number of Tarrant County Republicans are calling … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

CSAPR stayed

There was some bad news at the end of the year. A federal court ordered [last] Friday that the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial cross-state air pollution rule be stayed — to the delight of Texas officials and the chagrin of … Continue reading

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EPA to tighten air quality standards

Good. Federal regulators signaled Wednesday that they would abandon Bush-era limits on smog pollution that scientists said didn’t go far enough to protect public health. Amid concerns that the current rules don’t adhere to the federal Clean Air Act, the … Continue reading

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Julie Boyle update

Back in 2005, I wrote that the proprietor of the Midlothian Family Network website and an outspoken critic of the cement plants in that area and the Congressmen who let them pollute at will, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. … Continue reading Continue reading

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Cleaner cement for Dallas

Very cool. The Dallas City Council voted late Wednesday to direct construction contractors to include the price of dry kiln-processed cement in their bid packages to the city. Cement produced in dry kilns generally produces less pollution than traditional wet … Continue reading Continue reading

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Still not quite done with school finance stuff

Some more linkage from the weekend that I missed the first time around… First up, from Eye on Williamson, is a memo to RNC Chair Ken Mehlman from the Dallas Morning News. Your party’s leaders are brawling like gunslingers. If … Continue reading Continue reading

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Julie Boyle

I got some upsetting news a few days ago when I heard via her husband Tom that Julie Boyle, the proprietor of the Midlothian Family Network website and an outspoken critic of the cement plants in that area and the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

An exception for TXI?

I’ve written about the cement plants in Midlothian before (see here and here for recent entries). Today I got the following press release: (DALLAS) — While the Dallas-Ft. Worth area struggles to find a way to reduce smog, the state … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Did Smokey Joe bend the DMN to his will?

Awhile back, I noted a story which told the tale of Things Gone Wrong at the Dallas Morning News. The American Journalism Review has a followup on the subject now (via Kimberly). All I can say to that is Yeesh. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 4 Comments

Cowboys for Clean Cement

Here’s an interesting suggestion to clean up the air in Dallas: Enlist America’s Team in the fight against polluting cememnt plants. Public money will buy cement for the [Dallas Cowboys’] new football stadium. Public financing is intended to be for … Continue reading Continue reading

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Morris Meyer interview

Continuing with Texas Tuesdays, here’s a brief interview with our featured candidate, Morris Meyer from CD06. Remember, the goal here is to help him in his battle against Smokey Joe Barton, so please help us help him by kicking in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 3 Comments

Governor steps into Ellis County mess

Governor Perry waded into the pollution controversy around cement plants in Ellis County and their effect on the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s nonattainment status for clean air, and managed to piss off everyone involved. First, here’s what our only governor proposed: … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments