The Calm-Me-Downs Wrangle from Far Left Texas

Texans turned out at the state cemetery to pay their respects to Sarah Weddington this afternoon in Austin. #txlege #RoeVWade @DMNPolitics

https://t.co/SR9U43Nyf9

— BeLynn Hollers (@Belynnhollers) February 10, 2022

Martha Menchaca's new book gives an overview of Mexican Americans' embattled experiences throughout Texas history to present day.

Released through @UTexasPress, you can read an excerpt of her work here: https://t.co/4sEZ1VgjeF

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) February 11, 2022

The 1813 Battle of Medina was one of the largest and bloodiest battles in Texas history. Yet little is known about it, including the actual location of the battle.

Now, the largest organized effort to locate the battle site has begun. https://t.co/rIVuZ0968U

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) February 9, 2022

A sneak peek at Powderhorn Ranch, an unspoiled, 17,351-acre coastal paradise set to become a state park.https://t.co/GY7jDPPQs3

— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) February 10, 2022

Blue Oyster Cult at Oyster Bake just makes ✨sense✨

They'll join Chingy, Josh Abbott Band, Puddle of Mudd, Bobby Pulido, & more to help San Antonio burn out the day, burn out the night for the return of one of Fiesta's biggest events.https://t.co/hkfn6dOsKR @mySA @Oyster_Bake

— Maddy Skye (@MaddySkye) February 9, 2022

Galveston’s Mardi Gras tradition began more than 150 years ago.

Islanders held private masked balls in 1856 & 1867. Galveston's earliest recorded public celebration of Mardi Gras was in 1871. Now, the annual event is among the largest in the nation.

📷: @GalvestonIsland pic.twitter.com/SkwsOq5aTq

— Texas Historical Commission (@TxHistComm) February 8, 2022

#SXSW2022 is back (March 11-20) and we're more ready than ever to give you the scoop on the coolest bands, films, interactive, free stuff, and parties. To kick it off, here’s how it’s going to look this year! https://t.co/hkZ0FR0uRM

— Do512 (@Do512) February 10, 2022

The largest antiques mall in the Southwest attracts locals who are regulars and road-trippers who are curious. https://t.co/EObmB7LfqJ

— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) February 10, 2022

Confession: We were on vacation last week and went to the butterfly migration sanctuary atop Sierra Chincua in Michoacán. It’s one of the most fantastic natural wonders I’ve ever seen. Where we were, it was snowing Monarchs. pic.twitter.com/vydT9u92E2

— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) February 9, 2022

The Environmental Wrangle from Far Left Texas

You might have seen massive smoke in East Houston this morning. pic.twitter.com/dG0Fkyvx0o

— Air Alliance Houston (@airallianceHOU) February 7, 2022

Dark smoke and huge flames.#petrometro pic.twitter.com/MfV0pk6lli

— Sema (@_SemaHernandez_) February 7, 2022

Another Monday, another unpermitted air emission. #SSM Valero Houston Refinery flare putting off thick smoke in southeast Houston - ABC13 Houston https://t.co/sW4oDsxjY4

— bryan parras (@HighTechAztec) February 7, 2022

Per @TCEQ initial reports: Here are the initial emission totals (in pounds) from Friday night's power outage in Texas City. #GalvNews pic.twitter.com/GjP8Uwqc64

— John Wayne Ferguson (@JohnWFerguson) February 7, 2022

Flaring at Valero’s Houston refinery in Manchester sent black smoke billowing above the city’s East Side Monday morning. [...] (That) follows another flaring event Friday night (Feb.4) at the Galveston Bay refinery owned by Marathon Petroleum Corp. It too blamed flaring on a power outage. ...

Shell Chemical Company also alerted neighbors to possible flaring at its Deer Park plant Monday night, though the cause was unclear. Shell was not immediately available for comment.

Flaring events like these rain chemicals on the city’s eastern neighborhoods, polluting the air and affecting the health of sensitive groups, said Bryan Parras, an East Side resident and an organizer with the environmental advocacy organization Sierra Club.

“One of these events can exceed the permitted levels they are allowed to emit for the entire year, depending on how long the flaring lasts,” he said.

Just another day in Big Greasy.

Satellites have detected massive gas leaks : NPR

It’s Not leaks:

There's new evidence, collected from orbiting satellites, that oil and gas companies are routinely venting huge amounts of methane into the air. https://t.co/cgIY51kXCf

— 🌹 🔥 Dark Warlord 🔥 🌹 (@drkwarlord) February 11, 2022

Shaken by #fracking quakes, Texas is forced to act https://t.co/0iV4ciosay #Permian

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 10, 2022

"#Earthquakes in #TX doubled in 2021. Scientists cite years of #oil companies injecting sludgy water underground."

Imagine solving earthquakes, #ExtremeWeather & #ClimateChange all at the same time with the same solution ! 🌎#TXLege#CarbonDividendshttps://t.co/r7uo0XDnqH

— @CCLHouston (@CCLHouston) February 11, 2022

Listen & Learn, in case you're not up to date on @NatButterflies closure due to dangerous threats, harassment & targeting by MAGA political operatives hellbent on disrupting & destroying our nice things--like butterfly sanctuaries (not to mention libraries & soon, highways) https://t.co/R7RrmQhyHC

— National Butterfly 🦋 (@NatButterflies) February 10, 2022

Bruce Melton at The Rag Blog wrote a comprehensive essay about what he called the 'Tex-Ice' disaster ahead of Valentine's week, offering some survival stories about our current emergency and some new solutions to our existential crisis.  Sharon Wilson for Earthworks reminds us that methane releases are the damaging ecological impacts of Texas winter storms nobody really mentions.  Clean Technica points out the hidden costs of keeping natural gas-fired electric plants online (paying surge prices in a Uri-like event).  And Luke Metzger at Environment Texas has new research showing the role rooftop solar could have played in preventing 2021 Texas power crisis.

The last Wrangle this week has my calm-me-downs, and it will appear later today.

The Social Justice Wrangle from Far Left Texas

Including the legal and criminal justice news, some labor updates, and a few posts marking Black History Month.

Many teachers and staff have had to take on more responsibilities as colleagues get sick or quit. Meanwhile, pay hasn’t increased to match that extra work. https://t.co/KL1H0yElqt

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) February 9, 2022

Reform Austin wants to know what the hell we're doing to public school teachers.

“To try to come up with an extra $400 a month, that’s not that easy to do.”

Rent prices in Texas are soaring. Experts say the state's landlord-friendly regulations and lack of rent control put tenants in difficult financial positions.https://t.co/b0OOBY5eKB

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) February 10, 2022

A City-owned hotel in North Austin is being converted into an apartment community with support services to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness https://t.co/NC5QXCAyY8

— KVUE News (@KVUE) February 9, 2022

Abortions in Texas fell by 60% in the first month under the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. in decadeshttps://t.co/E17kPjNTCk

— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) February 10, 2022

A friend of mine who lives in New Mexico has been doing clinic escorts. She says over half the cars are from Texas.

Punishing people seeking an abortion with higher costs and more disruptions isn’t working for Texans. It’s hurting them. #txlege https://t.co/wOqNhhg2yE

— Erin Zwiener (@ErinForYall) February 8, 2022

Sexual assault affects 33.2% of adult Texans. Back in Sept., Gov. Abbott promised he'd "eliminate rape" when questioned about why TX's abortion ban doesn't include exceptions for survivors.

We’re still waiting for Abbott to keep his promise. #txlegehttps://t.co/sX2JRA2qVP

— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) February 7, 2022

In the Texas mail ballot case, the Texas AG’s office clearly cut and paste arguments from the abortion case (but didn’t proof the doc). #txlege pic.twitter.com/dO4bF3dH38

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) February 9, 2022

Breaking: Court records show Dallas police officers injured some 2020 protesters who were backing off, complying https://t.co/eJGmR72bFC exclusive from @KelliSmithNews and @KMTorralva

— Mede Nix (@medenix) February 10, 2022

The Dallas County district attorney has obtained arrest warrants for two DPD officers accused of using excessive force in the same summer uprisings.

It’s really easy to become anti-police when all this is true. It wasn’t until I needed help the most that I realized just how worthless cops are in terms of protecting anyone but fascists https://t.co/Iv6xmNMOh1

— Jessica Rae Luther Rummel (@Kali_Ma_TX) February 7, 2022

UPDATE: In June, we published bodycam footage of a Texas sheriff’s deputy, Patrick Divers, tasing an unarmed refugee child at a shelter for migrant children.

We’ve learned that Divers won’t be disciplined. https://t.co/FZEd1n69OC

— Reveal (@reveal) February 10, 2022

This story started with a tip from an anonymous caller who said the TDCJ regional director got fired because his mother-in-law was selling drugs in the prison parking lot.

I’ve been following this tip for 3 years. Here’s my latest story, and a THREAD: https://t.co/eXJUmgi3n4

— Keri Blakinger (@keribla) February 10, 2022

Jantzen Verastique wanted to tell the grand jury her story. About being a Latina mom worried about her adopted Black sons. About being shot with pepper balls and arrested.

Then she came face-to-face with this sign. Important Reporting from @milesmoffeit.https://t.co/9rDWUGkHpE pic.twitter.com/JwlOAnhr4L

— Lauren McGaughy 🌟 (@lmcgaughy) February 8, 2022

Turmoil at the top of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles as executive director resigns while agency grapples with fake license tag problems, @NBCDFW reports. #txlege #licensetags #Texas #txdmv https://t.co/GF87fenVyu

— John Gravois (@Grav1) February 8, 2022

And a second top official at the TxDMV has now resigned.

Crooks are now reverting back to trying to produce tampered tags instead of infiltrating the TxDMV’s system to print real ones, officials said. https://t.co/z2rCW0mkyW

— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) February 11, 2022

"In April, J&J attorneys consulted with Jones Day lawyers, who explained how the company could use a Texas law to split the company’s consumer-product business into two parts." #txlege #safetyhttps://t.co/Dy3x0xUF7N

— Texas Watch (@TexasWatch) February 9, 2022

Battling painkiller addiction: Texas’ $225 million opioid settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is biggest to date for generic drugmaker as other litigation continues elsewhere. #opioidcrisis #opioids #genericdrugs #Teva #painkillers https://t.co/sSP9RPfrS7

— John Gravois (@Grav1) February 7, 2022

How ransomware attacks on 23 Texas cities changed the way cyber-criminals operate https://t.co/4XZvjga9od #TXLege

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 8, 2022

New: Sutherland Springs victims & families will receive $230M+ from the U.S. government, a judge ruled. He found that the Air Force bore most of the responsibility for the 2017 massacre for failing to flag the shooter's criminal history.https://t.co/9MBbmqv295 w/ @djfroschWSJ

— Elizabeth Findell (@efindell) February 7, 2022

A Border Patrol agent logged welfare checks that didn’t happen. Only one medical professional was caring for 200 sick migrants. The government hasn’t said whether anyone is being punished. A joint report from @ProPublica and @ElPasoMatters.https://t.co/TygRjjv4xL

— El Paso Matters (@elpasomatters) February 8, 2022

Troy Nehls says the U.S. Capitol Police entered his office and took photos of confidential information. An inspector general will investigate.

Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger defended his officers in the matter — denying Nehls' allegations. https://t.co/7R1t3hkQGQ

— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 8, 2022

Never seems to slow down with the "bad apples".

A San Antonio Starbucks is getting a lot of attention for becoming the first store in the state to join a nationwide unionization movement after filing a petition to the National Labor Relations Board late Monday night. https://t.co/8K7GOFd4Me

— KENS 5 (@KENS5) February 9, 2022

*30,000* Steelworkers in Texas are teetering on the edge of a massive strike. Negotiations continue, but I’m very curious to see how this one goes https://t.co/WDPV6fkkzu

— Kim Kelly (@GrimKim) February 8, 2022

And some BLM to close.  Environmental news and calm-me-downs in subsequent posts.

"The Hill" is a historic, five-block area of #ArlingtonTX. It was the only area designated for the city's African American residents when racially segregated neighborhoods were the norm. Read more from the Arlington Historical Society: https://t.co/6O1DQ2GcHu #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/uM4iRtIPC4

— City of Arlington (@CityOfArlington) February 8, 2022

The @HoustonTexans picked an awful time to do right by Lovie Smith https://t.co/fEpFzOG5X5 #HouNews

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 8, 2022

Adding this to my Black History Month list of Very Performative Things Black People Do Not Need https://t.co/QjY9B4XKaf

— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) February 8, 2022

In 1923, #txlege passed a law prohibiting Blacks from voting in Democratic primaries. Dr. Lawrence Nixon, born OTD 1883, spent 21 years, including 2 trips to the Supreme Court to correct this. pic.twitter.com/m27rV4GI2n

— Retro Snacking (@Retrosnacking) February 9, 2022

The Freeze that Saved Greg Abbott's Bacon

“It got cold and the lights stayed on” is weak sauce, as political slogans go. But for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the season’s first ice storm couldn’t have come out much better. https://t.co/d3XLYw7eUQ

— Ross Ramsey (@rossramsey) February 7, 2022

NEW: Texas’ power grid held up during last week’s winter weather.

Experts say it wasn’t seriously tested.https://t.co/SIOB8B8imW @TexasTribune #txlege

— Joshua Fechter 📝 (@JoshuaFechter) February 8, 2022

For this month's anniversary of TX's blackout last year, @truthout has partnered with @TexasObserver to publish my latest—a deep look at how Texans are navigating climate PTSD in a failing state after last week's #TexasFreeze & last year's #WinterStormUri. https://t.co/DTQuuT354f

— Candice Bernd (@CandiceBernd) February 10, 2022

We still gotta pay that Abbott tax, tho.

Railroad Commission gives green light for a $3.4 billion bond sale to cover Winter Storm Uri natural gas losses

Details on the Terminal at https://t.co/PeaDoxJ61G#ONGT #NatGas #OOTT #txfreeze #Houston #txlege pic.twitter.com/A99uJCLq8i

— Sergio Chapa (@SergioChapa) February 8, 2022

As @nikigriswold pointed out, #wind provided lots of power last week, ironically helping state leaders who have consistently bashed it, get through the week with plenty of cushion. Much maligned, wind was a hero last week.#txlege #energytwitter 1/🧵https://t.co/mimyFlUoxb

— Doug Lewin (@douglewinenergy) February 9, 2022

Reliable natural gas in Texas is more expensive than #Renewables plus battery storage, according to @RockyMtnInst. We need a new electric grid, not cronyism to prop up the old one: https://t.co/fgtHryYsIS @HoustonChron #txlege #energytwitter

— ChrisTomlinson (@cltomlinson) February 9, 2022

Let's not slight the capitalist POV.

Scrutinizing the Texas power grid: Explaining how a competitive market made the state a runaway leader in electricity. @mitchschnurman continues his deep dive into the system's performance. #txlege #TexasPowerGrid #energy #electricity #TexasFreeze #txwx https://t.co/611jk2Kb2C

— John Gravois (@Grav1) February 9, 2022

And last, the local takes.

During the #TexasFreeze I stayed at a hotel in the Med Center to be sure we’d be staffed at the ER. After, I went straight to help with mutual aid distribution. As temps drop, it could happen again, in part bc my opponent “didn’t pay close enough attention.” We deserve better. pic.twitter.com/YGJ3ocKKWG

— Molly Cook for Texas Senate (@MollyforTexas) February 3, 2022

As ice, sleet and snow blanketed Texas last week, members of a nonprofit ministry in Dallas ramped up search and rescue efforts for people experiencing homelessness. https://t.co/Sx1Jjba6ey

— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) February 7, 2022

"I don't want to go to the broken house." Texans are still trying to recover from the #WinterStorm of 2021. The story is not over. Take 4:41 this morning and watch this video. #AbbottBlackout #FixTheGridhttps://t.co/6LuY6xCgmz

— Texas Sierra Club (@TexasSierraClub) February 9, 2022

On the lighter side, Evil MoPac invited us to play Texas Winter Storm Bingo.