North Texas

Aug. 8, 2017 

If local tree ordinances fall in the Texas Legislature, will anyone hear? So far, two weeks into the special session with two weeks to go, residents, cities and tree professionals are raising a hubbub over it. It’s a battle over local control and the tree protections in place in 110 Texas cities, by a city of Austin count. Three bills would revoke or restrict cities’ and counties’ rights to set rules for tree removal – SB 14, HB 70 and HB 7.

At the July 22 Senate hearing on Senate Bill 14, close to 150 witnesses showed up in opposition.    

Ask your legislator to protect Texas trees and stop the hijack of HB 7. .

Aug. 8, 2017

We ask two grocery store chains to tell us what's accepted in plastic bag recycling bins. Image courtesy of Trex. 

Aug. 7, 2017

Many grocery stores offer bins where customers can drop off plastic film bags for recycling. But have you ever wondered whether that department store bag or plastic wrapping you stuck in there gets also recycled?

We asked two major grocery stores, Albertsons and Tom Thumb, which are owned by the same parent company, and HEB/Central Markets, for the scoop.  

Annette Baker and Marianne Lacko opened Nature's Plate in the Lake Highlands area in Dallas in 2015. Photos courtesy of Nature's Plate.

Aug. 4, 2017

Two health conscious sisters are making it easy for Dallasites to eat their veggies.

The AirCheckTexas Program may provide up to $600 to repair your vehicle or up to $3,500 toward a qualifying replacement vehicle. 

Aug. 1, 2017

A state program helps vehicle owners comply with emissions standards by providing financial assistance to repair cars or replace older models.

The Julia Burgen Linear Park, named for the former city council member and early environmentalist, was dedicated in Arlington in May.

July 25, 2017

In the world of ecology, sometimes moving forward means looking around.

In 1995, Arlington’s city council had a big decision to make for flood control of Johnson creek. One path was to follow the Army Corps of Engineers idea for a massive concrete ditch through the city.

Senate Bill 14 and House Bill 70, ban cities, counties and even HOA from restricting property owners’ removal of trees or other vegetation. 

July 24, 2017

Bills to pre-empt local ordinances protecting trees throughout Texas are being pushed through the legislature right now, unless public opposition stops them. More than 100 cities in Texas that already have tree ordinances would be affected.

Texas Historic Tree Coalition president Mary Ann Graves rebuts those who want to overturn local tree ordinances. Above, a tree is protected by wood planks during construction at a private residence in Austin on June 12, 2017. Austin Price/The Texas Tribune.

July 24, 2017