The U.S. doesn’t produce the minerals and metals needed for renewable energy, microchips or military technology. Companies are rushing to open new mines in Texas.
Dave Harmon
Dave Harmon joined the Tribune in 2017 after spending 18 years at the Austin American-Statesman as a reporter, assistant metro editor and member of the investigative team. A Kalamazoo, Michigan, native, Dave moved to Texas with his family in 1981 and went to high school in Katy. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a journalism degree, he started his reporting career in the Rio Grande Valley at The (McAllen) Monitor, covering health care and the environment on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border. Dave lives in Austin, is a proud Longhorns fan and taught journalism at his alma mater as an adjunct instructor for more than a decade. He’s proficient in Spanish and travels frequently to Mexico.
Posted in
Politics
Sylvester Turner eulogized as a man of faith, family and public service to Houston
The former Houston mayor’s funeral drew more than 1,000 mourners on Saturday, including 20 of his congressional colleagues from both political parties.
Posted in
Economy
Harris County program decreases automatic evictions when tenants don’t come to court
After the court eviction diversion initiative started, default evictions favoring landlords dropped 44%.
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Criminal Justice
Hundreds illegally got Texas teacher licenses through cheating ring, Harris County prosecutors say
Five people were charged in connection with the scheme. Investigators say aspiring teachers would pay for help cheating in the certification test.
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Energy
Texas overrides local lawsuits to negotiate smaller settlements with polluters, Harris County officials claim
A 2017 law lets the state block local governments, individuals and nonprofits from suing polluters and pursue the cases itself.
Posted in
Economy
Texas’ economy could take a hit if Houston dockworkers’ strike persists
Workers who load and unload shipping containers from cargo ships are at an impasse in labor contract negotiations.
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Energy
Fourteen years after BP oil spill, Galveston scientists are striving to save the Gulf’s deep-sea coral
The massive 2010 oil spill damaged or killed coral in the Gulf of Mexico. Now some of the $20 billion settlement is helping researchers learn how to help the coral recover.
Posted in
Health care
Families and advocates for disabled Texans pushing for caregiver pay raise
A state Medicaid program pays caregivers of intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals living in community-based homes. Families, advocates and providers want lawmakers to increase that hourly pay.
Posted in
Politics
Mourners describe Sheila Jackson Lee as a dedicated public official
The congresswoman represented her Houston district for 30 years. Several services are planned ahead of her Thursday morning funeral.
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Hurricane Beryl
Houston property insurance is already expensive. Hurricane Beryl will make it worse.
Insurance researchers and analysts expect insurers will continue raising already high premiums — and become more selective with what type of damage they cover.