News & Updates
‘Lights Out’: Austin businesses to turn off lights overnight to save migrating birds
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to approve an effort to get Travis County residents and businesses to turn off some of their lights to help save birds’ lives. The statewide initiative asks residents and businesses to turn off non-essential...
It’s (past) time to save our rural land heritage
On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, from 6:00 – 7:00pm, the Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA) will host an evening program on “Saving our Rural Land Heritage.” Guest speakers are David K. Langford of the Hillingdon Ranch in Kendall County, and Rob and Teresa Ohlrich...
Graphic documentary shines light on wildlife killing contests
San Antonio’s Pam Harte felt compelled to tackle the controversial issue of wildlife killing contests after witnessing the weigh-in at one Texas’ biggest killing competitions in 2018. The episode moved Pam and her husband Will Harte, who now live and work on a storied...
Boerne, Texas, is a Hill Country Hideaway
Texas is good at keeping its gems hidden. It secures many of them far, far away from city limits, down long deserted roads or secluded in dusty corners, and if you want to find them, you're better off wandering in a rented Mustang convertible than following...
Bill Neiman’s Native American Seed Farm in the Texas Hill Country is on a mission to help people restore the earth.
Mid-September, half a year before Texas wildflower season starts, and it’s been terribly dry and horribly hot at the Native American Seed Farm northeast of Junction. The rains of spring and summer pretty much quit back in June. This morning, in the dark, Bill Neiman...
Calling all birders: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department need citizen scientists
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are asking citizen scientists to help monitor black-capped vireos from April 10th to July 1 at Inks Lake State Park and Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas. The previously endangered...
Analysis: The fight over local control turns to representation — and lobbyists
Efforts to bar local governments from hiring outside lobbyists or joining associations that lobby the state government are gaining steam, after falling short two years ago. If Texas lawmakers go ahead with current proposals, they’ll be hurting small towns more than...
Texas lawmakers want to prevent another power crisis. But the legislation doesn’t go far enough to do that, critics say.
Both the Texas Senate and House have written bills that attempt to prevent another massive power failure in extreme temperatures. But parts of their legislative proposals are drawing criticism for not going far enough to prepare electricity infrastructure for...
Nature-based infrastructure bill headed to House floor as Legislative session continues
Texas State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) presented several house bills for the 87th Texas Legislative Session in committees this week, one of which is heading to the house floor. Zwiener presented House Bill 48 to the House International Relations and Economic...