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<h1> <span><a class="plain" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/">Tribpedia</a>:</span> <a class="plain" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/texas-railroad-commission/">Texas Railroad Commission</a> </h1> </header> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-12"> <nav class="pagination"> <ul class="pagination"><li class="disabled"><span class="disabled prev"><span>&lsaquo;</span> previous</span></li><li><span class="current page">1</span></li><li><a href="?page=2" class="page">2</a></li><li><a href="?page=3" class="page">3</a></li><li><a href="?page=4" class="page">4</a></li><li><a href="?page=5" class="page">5</a></li><li><a href="?page=6" class="page">6</a></li><li class="last"><a href="?page=2" class="next">next <span>&rsaquo;</span></a></li></ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="grid"> <article> <div class="cell w-12 content"> <p><p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/" target="_blank">Texas Railroad Commission</a> (TRC) is a state agency with regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and gas industry, pipeline transporters, the natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations.</p> <p>Railroad Commissioners are elected to six-year terms with one Commissioner seeking election every two years.</p> <p>The Railroad Commission's ...</p></p> <a class="permalink" href="about/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Read More</a> </div> </article> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-12"> <article class=" "> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/16/texas-and-petroleum-industry-broaden-lawsuits-agai/">Texas, Petroleum Industry Broaden Suits Against Denton</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:03:13 -0500" title="2015-06-16 11:03"> June 16, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/16/texas-and-petroleum-industry-broaden-lawsuits-agai/comments/"><span class="value">35</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/16/texas-and-petroleum-industry-broaden-lawsuits-agai/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/EDIT_6-1-15_Fracking_5857_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/EDIT_6-1-15_Fracking_5857_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Cooper Neill</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process.</div> </div> <section class="summary"> <p><span>The Texas Oil and Gas Association and the General Land Office have expanded the scope of their lawsuits against Denton. Both are taking aim at the city’s moratorium on new gas drilling and the toothless fracking ban still on its books. </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/16/texas-and-petroleum-industry-broaden-lawsuits-agai/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </section> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_1"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/12/railroad-commission-no-industry-ties-large-north-t/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3668_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3668_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Marjorie Kamys Cotera</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/12/railroad-commission-no-industry-ties-large-north-t/">Regulators: No Evidence Wells Caused 4.0 Quake</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:59:19 -0500" title="2015-06-12 13:59"> June 12, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/12/railroad-commission-no-industry-ties-large-north-t/comments/"><span class="value">42</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>After wrapping up a round of testing, Texas regulators say they have found no evidence that injecting oilfield waste into five disposal wells triggered the largest recorded earthquake in North Texas’ history.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/12/railroad-commission-no-industry-ties-large-north-t/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_2"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/09/porter-takes-over-railroad-commission-chairman/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/08/DavidPorterRRC_copy_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/08/DavidPorterRRC_copy_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/09/porter-takes-over-railroad-commission-chairman/">Porter Takes Over as Railroad Commission Chairman</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 9 Jun 2015 11:51:45 -0500" title="2015-06-09 11:51"> June 9, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/09/porter-takes-over-railroad-commission-chairman/comments/"><span class="value">8</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>The Texas Railroad Commission has a new leader. The state’s three-member oil and gas regulator on Tuesday unanimously elected </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/david-porter/">David Porter</a><span> as its chairman. He replaces </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/christi-craddick/">Christi Craddick</a><span> in the largely ceremonial role.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/09/porter-takes-over-railroad-commission-chairman/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_3"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/03/more-questions-answers-denton-ponders-next-steps/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/10/Denton-Fracking_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/10/Denton-Fracking_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Brandi Korte / Frack Free Denton</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/03/more-questions-answers-denton-ponders-next-steps/">After Fracking Ban, Denton Residents Ponder Next Steps</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Wed, 3 Jun 2015 06:43:27 -0500" title="2015-06-03 06:43"> June 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/03/more-questions-answers-denton-ponders-next-steps/comments/"><span class="value">41</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Frustrated Denton residents flooded a city council meeting Tuesday for a conversation about fracking that stretched late into the night. Now that state lawmakers have slapped down the city's fracking ban, despondent residents wonder what else they can do. </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/03/more-questions-answers-denton-ponders-next-steps/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_4"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/01/though-fracked-again-denton-says-fight-isnt-over/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/EDIT_6-1-15_Fracking_5857_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/EDIT_6-1-15_Fracking_5857_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Cooper Neill</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton鈥檚 ban on the process.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/01/though-fracked-again-denton-says-fight-isnt-over/">Though Fracked Again, Denton Says Fight Isn't Over</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 1 Jun 2015 22:16:11 -0500" title="2015-06-01 22:16"> June 1, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/01/though-fracked-again-denton-says-fight-isnt-over/comments/"><span class="value">30</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span><span>Seven months after a rag-tag group of local activists scored a surprising victory over the state’s powerful oil and gas industry when Denton voted to ban hydraulic fracturing, a natural gas company Monday resumed operations under a state law passed to overturn Denton's ban.</span></span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/01/though-fracked-again-denton-says-fight-isnt-over/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_5"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/30/proposal-would-delay-railroad-commission-scrutiny/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/30/proposal-would-delay-railroad-commission-scrutiny/">Proposal Would Delay Railroad Commission Scrutiny</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> and <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a></li><li><time datetime="Sat, 30 May 2015 12:43:31 -0500" title="2015-05-30 12:43"> May 30, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/30/proposal-would-delay-railroad-commission-scrutiny/comments/"><span class="value">11</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>The Railroad Commission of Texas would avoid intense legislative scrutiny until 2023 under a deal reached late Friday, a surprise six-year reprieve that rankled the oil and gas regulator’s critics.</p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/30/proposal-would-delay-railroad-commission-scrutiny/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_6"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/12/amid-local-control-fight-gop-proposal-cities/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/TxTrib-0410_Kefferx430X_JPG_312x176_crop_q100.JPG" alt="State Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland on April 10, 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/TxTrib-0410_Kefferx430X_JPG_800x1000_q100.JPG" title="State Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland on April 10, 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">State Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland on April 10, 2013.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/12/amid-local-control-fight-gop-proposal-cities/">Amid Local Control Fight, a GOP Proposal Cities Like</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 12 May 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-05-12 06:00"> May 12, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/12/amid-local-control-fight-gop-proposal-cities/comments/"><span class="value">5</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span><span>GOP lawmakers have lobbed a lot of legislative bombs at local control this year. But c</span>ity officials are crossing their fingers that one Republican proposal – what consumer advocates call the session’s most important bill for natural gas utility customers – will pick up steam before time runs out.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/12/amid-local-control-fight-gop-proposal-cities/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_7"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/08/texas-house-again-aims-dentons-fracking-ban/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/10/Denton-Fracking_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/12/10/Denton-Fracking_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Brandi Korte / Frack Free Denton</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/08/texas-house-again-aims-dentons-fracking-ban/">Texas House Again Takes Aim at Denton's Fracking Ban</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 8 May 2015 18:49:22 -0500" title="2015-05-08 18:49"> May 8, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/08/texas-house-again-aims-dentons-fracking-ban/comments/"><span class="value">34</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Four days after the </span><span>Senate approved </span><span>landmark legislation that would pre-empt local control over a variety of oil and gas activities,</span><span> the Texas House advanced another response to Denton's vote to ban hydraulic fracturing.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/08/texas-house-again-aims-dentons-fracking-ban/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_8"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/04/denton-fracking-bill-headed-abbotts-desk/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling005_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013"> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Mark Graham</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/04/denton-fracking-bill-headed-abbotts-desk/">"Denton Fracking Bill" Headed to Abbott's Desk</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 4 May 2015 14:49:36 -0500" title="2015-05-04 14:49"> May 4, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/04/denton-fracking-bill-headed-abbotts-desk/comments/"><span class="value">67</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>The so-called “Denton fracking bill” is headed to Gov. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/greg-abbott/">Greg Abbott</a>’s desk. The Senate on Monday approved a bill to pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities — a measure that has stirred concerns in some towns that have sought to blunt the effects of drilling close to homes, schools and businesses.</p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/04/denton-fracking-bill-headed-abbotts-desk/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_9"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/24/justices-prolong-high-profile-fracking-battle/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/19/MethaneWell_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Steve Lipsky shows the methane contamination of his well by igniting the gas with a lighter outside his family's home in Parker County near Weatherford, Texas on June 17, 2014."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/19/MethaneWell_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Steve Lipsky shows the methane contamination of his well by igniting the gas with a lighter outside his family's home in Parker County near Weatherford, Texas on June 17, 2014." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Cooper Neill</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Steve Lipsky shows the methane contamination of his well by igniting the gas with a lighter outside his family's home in Parker County near Weatherford, Texas on June 17, 2014.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/24/justices-prolong-high-profile-fracking-battle/">Justices Prolong North Texas Fracking Battle</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:19:04 -0500" title="2015-04-24 15:19"> April 24, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/24/justices-prolong-high-profile-fracking-battle/comments/"><span class="value">89</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>In the latest chapter of a long running legal fight, a Fort Worth oil and gas company gets permission from the Texas Supreme Court to pursue defamation damages from a Parker County man who accused it of fouling his well.</p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/24/justices-prolong-high-profile-fracking-battle/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_10"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/21/study-gas-activities-most-likely-caused-azle-quake/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3668_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3668_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Marjorie Kamys Cotera</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/21/study-gas-activities-most-likely-caused-azle-quake/">Study: Gas Activities "Most Likely" Caused Texas Quakes</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:13:39 -0500" title="2015-04-21 15:13"> April 21, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/21/study-gas-activities-most-likely-caused-azle-quake/comments/"><span class="value">48</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>Gas industry activity “most likely” triggered a series of earthquakes that shook two North Texas towns from late 2013 through early 2014, new peer-reviewed research shows.   </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/21/study-gas-activities-most-likely-caused-azle-quake/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_11"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/20/texas-mulls-railroad-commission-name-change-again/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/20/texas-mulls-railroad-commission-name-change-again/">Will Texas Ever Change Railroad Commission Name?</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:18:54 -0500" title="2015-04-20 21:18"> April 20, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/20/texas-mulls-railroad-commission-name-change-again/comments/"><span class="value">13</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>A group of lawmakers is trying – again – to change the Railroad Commission's name to reflect what it does. This time, proponents want to call the agency the Texas Energy Commission. </p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/20/texas-mulls-railroad-commission-name-change-again/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_12"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/17/_DSC8883Darbylayout_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, lays out HB 40 that would curb local control over oil and gas activities on April 17, 2015. With a 122-18 vote, the House sent the bill to the Senate."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/17/_DSC8883Darbylayout_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, lays out HB 40 that would curb local control over oil and gas activities on April 17, 2015. With a 122-18 vote, the House sent the bill to the Senate." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, lays out HB 40 that would curb local control over oil and gas activities on April 17, 2015. With a 122-18 vote, the House sent the bill to the Senate.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/">Texas House Approves "Denton Fracking Bill"</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 17 Apr 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-04-17 06:00"> April 17, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/comments/"><span class="value">76</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span><strong><span><strong><span><strong>UPDATED:</strong> </span></strong></span></strong>The Texas House on Friday approved House Bill 40, which would pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities. <strong><span><strong><br/></strong></span></strong></span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/17/texas-house-drill-denton-fracking-bill/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_13"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/smitherman-lands-job-law-firm/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/12/TxTribLive-Smitherman110_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Chairman Barry Smitherman of the Railroad Commission of Texas in his office, May 31, 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/12/TxTribLive-Smitherman110_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Chairman Barry Smitherman of the Railroad Commission of Texas in his office, May 31, 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Chairman Barry Smitherman of the Railroad Commission of Texas in his office, May 31, 2013.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/smitherman-lands-job-law-firm/">Barry Smitherman Lands Job at Law Firm</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:03:23 -0500" title="2015-03-31 10:03"> March 31, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/smitherman-lands-job-law-firm/comments/"><span class="value">8</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Barry Smitherman, the only person to serve both on the Texas Railroad Commission and the state’s Public Utility Commission, will practice energy law at Vinson and Elkins, the international law firm announced Tuesday.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/31/smitherman-lands-job-law-firm/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_14"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/30/house-committee-passes-compromise-drilling-rules/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling014_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="A well pad is flanked by Fort Worth's skyline on Sept. 27, 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling014_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="A well pad is flanked by Fort Worth's skyline on Sept. 27, 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Mark Graham</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">A well pad is flanked by Fort Worth's skyline on Sept. 27, 2013.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/30/house-committee-passes-compromise-drilling-rules/">House Committee Passes Compromise on Drilling Rules</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:23:05 -0500" title="2015-03-30 18:23"> March 30, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/30/house-committee-passes-compromise-drilling-rules/comments/"><span class="value">7</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>A House committee on Monday approved legislation that would limit local control over oil and gas activities — a committee substitute for a bill that initially stirred anger in city halls across Texas.</p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/30/house-committee-passes-compromise-drilling-rules/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_15"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/railroad-commissioner-rallies-natural-gas/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/08/DavidPorterRRC_copy_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/08/DavidPorterRRC_copy_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Railroad Commissioner David Porter was elected to a six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2010.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/railroad-commissioner-rallies-natural-gas/">Railroad Commissioner Rallies for Natural Gas</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 26 Mar 2015 18:43:41 -0500" title="2015-03-26 18:43"> March 26, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/railroad-commissioner-rallies-natural-gas/comments/"><span class="value">5</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Railroad Commissioner </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/david-porter/">David Porter</a><span> has kicked off an initiative to tout the benefits of natural gas, whose low price has benefited some power generators but bedeviled operators and other energy companies that bet big on it years ago.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/railroad-commissioner-rallies-natural-gas/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_16"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/senate-committee-advances-denton-fracking-bill/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/TxTrib-Fraser003_JPG_312x176_crop_q100.JPG" alt="Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Marble Falls, in 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/TxTrib-Fraser003_JPG_800x1000_q100.JPG" title="Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Marble Falls, in 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Bob Daemmrich </cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Marble Falls, in 2013.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/senate-committee-advances-denton-fracking-bill/">Senate Committee Advances "Denton Fracking Bill"</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 24 Mar 2015 16:49:42 -0500" title="2015-03-24 16:49"> March 24, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/senate-committee-advances-denton-fracking-bill/comments/"><span class="value">68</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>A Senate committee has advanced legislation to limit local control over oil and gas activities across Texas. The proposal is among nearly a dozen filed in response to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/12/15/dissecting-denton-how-texas-city-baned-fracking/">a North Texas town's vote to ban hydraulic fracturing</a> within city limits, and it's among those most likely to pass.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/senate-committee-advances-denton-fracking-bill/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_17"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/local-control-and-fracking-debate/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling005_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013"> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/10/17/TxTrib-UrbanDrilling005_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Mark Graham</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Fracking in Fort Worth, Sept. 27, 2013</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/local-control-and-fracking-debate/">Denton Fracking Ban Tees Up Local Control Fight</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 17 Mar 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-03-17 06:00"> March 17, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/local-control-and-fracking-debate/comments/"><span class="value">35</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>Plenty of lawmakers are siding with the oil industry in response to Denton's vote to ban fracking inside city limits. What's surprising this session is how few are weighing in for local control.</span> </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/17/local-control-and-fracking-debate/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_18"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/09/texas-takes-aim-crude-export-ban/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/Oil-Refinery_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="An oil refinery is shown in the Houston Ship Channel in 2011."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/Oil-Refinery_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="An oil refinery is shown in the Houston Ship Channel in 2011." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Louis Vest</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">An oil refinery is shown in the Houston Ship Channel in 2011.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/09/texas-takes-aim-crude-export-ban/">Texas Takes Aim at Crude Oil Export Ban</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 9 Mar 2015 17:37:49 -0500" title="2015-03-09 17:37"> March 9, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/09/texas-takes-aim-crude-export-ban/comments/"><span class="value">17</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>With prices stumbling and crude oil backing up in refineries and tank farms across the state, Texas lawmakers are raising a cry for repeal of the 40-year-old ban on most crude oil exports.  </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/09/texas-takes-aim-crude-export-ban/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_19"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/24/despite-low-prices-texas-oil-group-stays-optimisti/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/OilSunset_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/OilSunset_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Esteban Monclova</cite> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/24/despite-low-prices-texas-oil-group-stays-optimisti/">Despite Low Prices, Texas Oil Group Stays Optimistic</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:02:52 -0600" title="2015-02-24 14:02"> Feb. 24, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/24/despite-low-prices-texas-oil-group-stays-optimisti/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>Texas’ oil and gas industry is touting its record-breaking 2014 contributions to state and local government coffers, an effort to stay positive amid 2015's far gloomier revenue outlook. </p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/24/despite-low-prices-texas-oil-group-stays-optimisti/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_20"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/06/state-seismologist-profile/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/20/TxTrib-DisposalWell008_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Each day, dozens of trucks hook up to the Gulf Coast-run fracking fluid disposal well site near Gonzales, Texas."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/20/TxTrib-DisposalWell008_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Each day, dozens of trucks hook up to the Gulf Coast-run fracking fluid disposal well site near Gonzales, Texas." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Jennifer Whitney</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Each day, dozens of trucks hook up to the Gulf Coast-run fracking fluid disposal well site near Gonzales, Texas.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/06/state-seismologist-profile/">For State's Seismologist, Quakes Will Be the Easy Part</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 6 Feb 2015 06:00:00 -0600" title="2015-02-06 06:00"> Feb. 6, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/06/state-seismologist-profile/comments/"><span class="value">16</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span><span>A peripatetic seismologist and son of McCamey has been hired to figure out whether oil and gas drilling is causing earthquakes in Texas. No matter what he says, some people will not believe him.</span></span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/06/state-seismologist-profile/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_21"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/supreme-court-sides-mineral-owner-fraud-case/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/17/OilSupremeMoney_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/17/OilSupremeMoney_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/supreme-court-sides-mineral-owner-fraud-case/">Texas Justices Renew Royalty Owner's Fraud Case</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 3 Feb 2015 12:51:41 -0600" title="2015-02-03 12:51"> Feb. 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/supreme-court-sides-mineral-owner-fraud-case/comments/"><span class="value">3</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>In a case that highlights the challenges Texas mineral owners face in ensuring oil and gas operators pay what they promise, the Texas Supreme Court has revived the claim of a man who alleges he was shortchanged on royalties.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/supreme-court-sides-mineral-owner-fraud-case/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_22"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/texas-oil-and-gas-rigs/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/12/19/TexTrib-Best017_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Pipes used for fracking are shown in front of a Fasken OIl and Ranch drilling rig outside of Midland on Oct. 8, 2013."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/12/19/TexTrib-Best017_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Pipes used for fracking are shown in front of a Fasken OIl and Ranch drilling rig outside of Midland on Oct. 8, 2013." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Jerod Foster</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Pipes used for fracking are shown in front of a Fasken OIl and Ranch drilling rig outside of Midland on Oct. 8, 2013.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/texas-oil-and-gas-rigs/">Texas Bearing Brunt of Drop in Oil Drilling</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> and <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 3 Feb 2015 06:00:00 -0600" title="2015-02-03 06:00"> Feb. 3, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/texas-oil-and-gas-rigs/comments/"><span class="value">35</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>After a drop in drilling permits and months of plummeting oil prices, nightmares about idled drilling rigs are becoming reality, and Texas oilfields are the hardest hit. Here's the data illustrating how much rig counts are falling, and how Texas oilfields are faring.  </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/03/texas-oil-and-gas-rigs/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_23"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/27/texas-railroad-commission-opens-media/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/RRC-Seal_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/27/texas-railroad-commission-opens-media/">Texas Railroad Commission Revises Media Policy</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:25:44 -0600" title="2015-01-27 14:25"> Jan. 27, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/27/texas-railroad-commission-opens-media/comments/"><span class="value">8</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p>The Texas Railroad Commission is overhauling its media policy, striking language that mentions punishment for agency employees who relay incorrect information to news outlets.  </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/27/texas-railroad-commission-opens-media/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_24"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/23/regulating-local-control-oil-gas/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/21/TT-state-of-mind-gasline_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/21/TT-state-of-mind-gasline_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/23/regulating-local-control-oil-gas/">A Debate Over Fracking and Local Control</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> and <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a></li><li><time datetime="Fri, 23 Jan 2015 06:00:00 -0600" title="2015-01-23 06:00"> Jan. 23, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/23/regulating-local-control-oil-gas/comments/"><span class="value">2</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>After Denton voters decided to ban hydraulic fracturing, other Texas cities could weigh similar moves. L</span><span>egislators are expected to look at ways to avoid a city-by-city fight over drilling regulations. This is the fourth video in our eight-part State of Mind series.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/23/regulating-local-control-oil-gas/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid hide-media-extras"> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_25"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/11/cities-say-rule-could-raise-natural-gas-bills/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/NaturalGas-Pipeline_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt=""> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/NaturalGas-Pipeline_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="" class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> </div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/11/cities-say-rule-could-raise-natural-gas-bills/">Rule on Natural Gas Rate Hikes is Fuel for Debate</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a></li><li><time datetime="Sun, 11 Jan 2015 06:00:00 -0600" title="2015-01-11 06:00"> Jan. 11, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/11/cities-say-rule-could-raise-natural-gas-bills/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span>The Texas Railroad Commission recently endorsed changes to how cities can challenge natural gas utility rate increases. Commissioners say the new rule should help cut expenses for ratepayers. But some critics say the rule actually puts cities at a disadvantage. Some state lawmakers are already talking about potential legislation to block the rule.</span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/11/cities-say-rule-could-raise-natural-gas-bills/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_26"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/amid-new-swarm-quakes-researchers-head-irving/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3618_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Lynda Stokes, the mayor of Reno, Texas, testified before the Railroad Commission of Texas on Jan. 21, 2014. She voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/21/7C2A3618_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Lynda Stokes, the mayor of Reno, Texas, testified before the Railroad Commission of Texas on Jan. 21, 2014. She voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Marjorie Kamys Cotera</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Lynda Stokes, the mayor of Reno, Texas, testified before the Railroad Commission of Texas on Jan. 21, 2014. She voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/amid-new-swarm-quakes-researchers-head-irving/">Amid New Earthquakes, Researchers Head to Irving</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by Mose Buchele, KUT News </li><li><time datetime="Tue, 6 Jan 2015 16:55:03 -0600" title="2015-01-06 16:55"> Jan. 6, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/amid-new-swarm-quakes-researchers-head-irving/comments/"><span class="value">12</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><strong>UPDATED:</strong> Irving has experienced scores of small earthquakes in recent months, and seismologists are headed to town to help figure out what’s behind the shaking.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35; font-size: 15px;"> </span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;"> </span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/amid-new-swarm-quakes-researchers-head-irving/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div class="cell w-4"> <article class=" item_27"> <div class="media letterbox"> <a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/raw-gas-fuels-worry-for-rural-homeowner/"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/05/Palo-Pinto-gas-1_jpg_312x176_crop_q100.jpg" alt="Some rural Texans, including Jon Salis, have been getting untreated natural gas that can freeze up and, in rare cases, pollute homes. Salis poses at the gas line near his Lake Palo Pinto property."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150715145514/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/05/Palo-Pinto-gas-1_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Some rural Texans, including Jon Salis, have been getting untreated natural gas that can freeze up and, in rare cases, pollute homes. Salis poses at the gas line near his Lake Palo Pinto property." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Star-Telegram/Joyce Marshall</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Some rural Texans, including Jon Salis, have been getting untreated natural gas that can freeze up and, in rare cases, pollute homes. Salis poses at the gas line near his Lake Palo Pinto property.</div> </div> <div class="text_column"> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/raw-gas-fuels-worry-for-rural-homeowner/">Raw Gas Fuels Worry for Rural Homeowner</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by Jim Malewitz and Max B. Baker </li><li><time datetime="Tue, 6 Jan 2015 06:00:00 -0600" title="2015-01-06 06:00"> Jan. 6, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/raw-gas-fuels-worry-for-rural-homeowner/comments/"><span class="value">5</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <div class="summary"> <p><span><span>Thousands of rural Texas homes get their natural gas from "farm taps," hooking up to nearby pipelines that carry raw gas on its way from wells to processing plants. One homeowner shut down his furnace when he learned of the risks.</span></span></p> <a class="permalink" href="/web/20150715145514/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/06/raw-gas-fuels-worry-for-rural-homeowner/"> <i class="icon-share-alt"></i> Full Story</a> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-12"> <nav class="pagination clear"> <ul class="pagination"><li class="disabled"><span class="disabled prev"><span>&lsaquo;</span> previous</span></li><li><span class="current page">1</span></li><li><a href="?page=2" class="page">2</a></li><li><a href="?page=3" class="page">3</a></li><li><a href="?page=4" class="page">4</a></li><li><a href="?page=5" class="page">5</a></li><li><a href="?page=6" class="page">6</a></li><li class="last"><a href="?page=2" class="next">next <span>&rsaquo;</span></a></li></ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> </div> <div 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