Articles by Paul J. Weber

Texas Oil Pipeline Billionaire Sues Beto O’Rourke For Defamation

A Texas oil pipeline billionaire is suing Beto O’Rourke for defamation after the Democrat criticized his $1 million donation to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign following last year’s deadly winter blackout. O’Rourke, who won the Democratic nomination for governor last …

More Than 1,000 Flights Canceled as Winter Storm Threatens Heavy Snow, Ice

Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, governors urged residents to stay off roads and schools closed campuses as a huge swath of the U.S. braced for a major winter storm that was set to put millions of Americans in the path …

New Texas Blackout Rules Won’t Go Into Effect This Winter

Regulators of Texas’ oil and gas industry that buckled during February’s deadly freeze moved Nov. 30 toward making some producers more prepared for cold weather, but not in time for this winter as the nation’s power grid monitor warned the …

New Texas Blackout Rules Won’t Go Into Effect This Winter

Regulators of Texas’ oil and gas industry that buckled during February’s deadly freeze moved Tuesday, Nov. 30 toward making some producers more prepared for cold weather, but not in time for this winter as the nation’s power grid monitor warned …

Air Force Mostly at Fault in Deadly 2017 Texas Church Attack, Judge Says

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Air Force is mostly responsible for a former serviceman killing more than two dozen people at a Texas church in 2017 because it failed to submit his criminal history into a database, …

Experts Say Texas Is Missing Chance to Avert Deadly Blackouts

Elzie Ford lost power in his freezing home for nearly a week during February’s catastrophic blackouts in Texas. By the time the 68-year-old widower was found on the floor, his hands were purpled with frostbite. He died the next day. …

Texas House OKs Bill Allowing Carrying of Handguns in Public Without Permit

Texas handgun owners would no longer need a license or training to carry their weapon in public under a bill that cleared a major vote April 15 over Democrats who railed against loosening gun laws after the 2019 mass shooting …

CEO of Texas Power Grid Fired After Deadly February Blackouts

Texas’ power grid manager was fired on March 3 amid growing calls for his ouster following February’s deadly blackouts that left millions of people without electricity and heat for days in subfreezing temperatures. Bill Magness, CEO of the Electric Reliability …

Deadly Power Outages Lead to Board Resignations at Texas Grid Operator

Top board leaders of Texas’ embattled power grid operator have resigned following outrage over more than 4 million customers losing electricity during the mid-February deadly winter storm, including many whose frigid homes lacked heat for days in subfreezing temperatures. The …

Texas Hospitality Sector Hardest Hit in Pandemic; State Has $1B Budget Hole

The coronavirus pandemic has created a nearly $1 billion deficit in the Texas state budget as the nation’s energy hub remains hampered by a slow recovery and a half-million fewer jobs than a year ago. The forecast by state officials …