Health
September 2, 2020
In Port Arthur, Creating COVID-19 Medical Equipment Puts Residents’ Health at Risk
Local petrochemical facilities pump out essential plastic goods—for gloves, masks, gowns, and more—as well as harmful pollutants.
Oil and Gas
Politics & Policy
August 21, 2020
Why One Expert Predicts a Major Hurricane Hitting Houston Would Be “America’s Chernobyl”
Terence O'Rourke has spent a decade warning officials that a storm making landfall directly in Galveston Bay could be much worse than even Harvey.
Politics & Policy
April 13, 2020
How to Erase a Neighborhood
The East End neighborhood of Freeport was once a thriving community. Today, the few remaining residents are about to be pushed out by the port. What happened?…
Politics & Policy
March 18, 2020
Is Climate Change Denial Thawing in Texas?
Surprising statements by oil industry leaders have grabbed headlines. But the bigger change is underway more quietly, among young Republicans.
Music
March 17, 2020
This Lead Singer Had a Successful Career in Oil and Gas, Then She Got an Offer to Play Letterman
The Suffers’ front woman, Kam Franklin, on quitting her job to do music full time.
Politics & Policy
March 17, 2020
How Will the Oil Bust and the Coronavirus Affect the Texas Budget?
Historically, the Lege has met shortfalls with tax increases or spending cuts. Whether Dems or the GOP are in power makes all the difference.
Energy
February 18, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 11: The Last Frontier
Record-breaking oil production in the Permian Basin has brought the boom to the Big Bend’s doorstep for the first time. Is it too late to save this pristine landscape?…
Energy
February 11, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 10: The Mitchell Paradox
No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas.
Energy
February 4, 2020
Boomtown, Episode 9: A Dark Horizon
Christian talks with renowned business writer Bethany McLean about how the finances of fracking aren't what they're cracked up to be.
Energy
December 17, 2019
Boomtown, Episode 2: The Rise of the Permian
The Santa Rita oil well, named after the patron saint of impossible dreams, launched the first Permian Basin boom and has been fueling the dreams of West Texas wildcatters ever since.
Energy
May 6, 2019
A New Pipeline Through the Hill Country Is Pitting the Oil Industry Against Landowners
The state’s biggest industry finds itself in an unusual position: facing landowner-friendly reforms at the Texas Legislature.
Energy
September 15, 2018
Tackling the Financial Reality of ‘Saudi America’
In her new book, Bethany McLean explores the unstable financial future of fracking.
Business
June 22, 2016
Out of Gas
How Aubrey McClendon, “America’s most reckless billionaire,” left some Houston energy firms holding the tab.
The Culture
April 21, 2015
On Shaky Ground
So what’s with all those earthquakes in North Texas? Is fracking really to blame? Let us give you a visual.
Energy
April 13, 2015
Silica Alley
A funny thing happened on the way to the San Angelo fracking sand transloading facility. …
Politics & Policy
December 15, 2014
Tilting at Gas Wells
Skip Hollandsworth drills into the surprising (and not so surprising) fortunes of Denton’s anti-fracking ballot measure. …
News & Politics
April 21, 2014
The Rough Guide to Frackistan
Energy reporter Russell Gold gives us a reason to give a frak about fracking.
Business
January 2, 2014
Keeping Lawsuits “Friendly”
The oil boom is back, so it stands to reason that other affectations of Oil Patch abundance wouldn’t be far behind. Like the “friendly lawsuit.”…
Oil & Gas
October 29, 2013
The Feds and Fracking: A Chicken or Egg Question
Federal officials like to remind the public that the invention of hydraulic fracturing owes a great debt to government funding and support. Houston oilman George P. Mitchell would have disagreed.
Energy
October 21, 2013
The Energy Hunter
George Mitchell didn’t set out to launch one of the biggest oil and gas rushes in world history—he just wanted to coax some more gas out of an old well near Fort Worth.
Working Life
April 11, 2013
Tracey Zettner, Oil and Gas Sales Representative
“I haven’t thought about the bust or what I’ll do then. I live one day at a time. I’ll go with it as long as I can.”…
Business
November 2, 2012
Texas Business Report: Chuck E. Cheese’s Ad Campaign Flops
The chain's parent company's strategy of investing more in a digital media campaign targeting moms seems to have backfired, with profits dropping 33 percent. …
