North Texas

Oct 08 2019, AMY MARTIN

Austin-based group to bring Big Bend to Big D

Oct. 8, 2019

For most people, Big Bend is a myth. They’ve never been there. They’ve read an article perhaps, seen photographs, maybe a documentary. Big Bend is what they conjure it to be in their mind, undoubtedly romanticized to the max.

So how do you get people to care about the land they’ll never experience? Can the urgency of a live arts performance convey enough sense of place to create compassion for a landscape and its inhabitants?

Oct 07 2019, MINNIE PAYNE

Green careers to be showcased at Irving event

Oct. 7, 2019

Want to make a career out of saving the planet?

The city of Irving is hosting a free Environmental Career Symposium on Saturday, Oct. 19.

City of Irving Environmental Programs Coordinator Emily Asbury and her staff aim to enlighten people interested or curious in environmental job opportunities.

Oct 02 2019, ANDREW RIDOUT

New vegan restaurant pops up in Plano

Viridescent Kitchen, a new vegan café in Plano, offers a plant-based, largely gluten-free menu. Founded by Laura Thornthwaite, Gabrielle Reyes, and Brooke Ali, it features dishes like Monster Nachos and Beyond Beef Figgy Burger. The restaurant prioritizes taste, environmental friendliness, and caters to dietary needs.

Oct 01 2019, JOHN KENT

DFW Solar Tour marks decade of promoting clean energy

The DFW Solar Tour celebrates a decade of promoting renewable energy, offering a free, self-guided event with 30 locations across Texas. It highlights solar and wind energy solutions, sustainable technologies, and features demos and workshops at nine Learning Centers on October 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sep 27 2019, Shirley Jinkins

Arlington creek project will sacrifice mature trees, homeowner says

Tammie Carson faces losing her backyard haven, including nine mature trees and parts of her deck, due to Arlington’s Kee Branch creek restructuring, affecting 73 homes by removing 240 trees to combat erosion. Opinions on the plan are mixed, with ecological concerns from residents and support for improved drainage from city officials.

Sep 24 2019, Valerie Villarreal

Big Spring watchdog named Citizen Scientist of the Year

Dallas environmental advocate Ben Sandifer was named Citizen Scientist of the Year by the Texas Stream Team. Photos courtesy of Ben Sandifer.

Sept. 24, 2019

A local environmental watchdog was recognized by a state-wide water agency for monitoring a Dallas County spring.

Last week, the Texas Stream Team announced that Ben Sandifer had been selected as the 2019 Citizen Scientist of the Year.

Sep 20 2019, MARSHALL HINSLEY

Birds in steep decline since 1970s

Since the 1970s, North American bird populations have decreased by 3 billion due to habitat loss and industrial agriculture, according to a study led by Ken Rosenberg. The decline affects various species, except waterfowl, but conservation efforts could reverse this trend, emphasizing individual and large-scale actions.

Sep 19 2019, JULIE THIBODEAUX

Homeowners fight concrete plant planned in Tarrant County

Tarrant County residents, supported by Mansfield officials, oppose a proposed concrete plant due to pollution concerns. They’re preparing for a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hearing and have raised funds for legal fees. Residents fear health impacts, and local representatives argue the plant belongs in an industrial, not residential, area.

Sep 18 2019, JULIE THIBODEAUX

Dallas artist rescues castoff hubcaps

Dallas artist Sharon Zigrossi transforms castoff hubcaps into art, embellishing them with found objects to create vibrant designs. Her work, sold under "Blooming Hub Caps," uses discarded materials, reflecting her love for recycling. She also hosts workshops, sharing her meditative creative process with others.

Sep 17 2019, JOHN KENT

New Allen STEAM center promotes environmental ed

Allen ISD's new STEAM Center, designed by VLK Architects, integrates arts into STEM education with indoor-outdoor learning spaces, sustainable design, and innovative facilities, promoting environmental education. It addresses a national STEM skills gap and offers diverse classes and real-world experiences, including ecological zones and a living laboratory pond.