Regional

According to the committee's summary report, submitted Wednesday, the largest and most destructive fires were caused by power lines and other electrical equipment in disrepair because “irresponsible” oil and gas operators and utility providers were not held accountable.

Our reporter Brad Burt has an update on efforts to bring an abortion travel ban to Amarillo city council. And Texas Public Radio's Pablo De La Rosa has more on conversations between President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador cracking down on irregular migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last Monday’s eclipse marked the end of International Dark Sky Week. Our reporter Olivia O’Rand reports how its bringing awareness to the impact of light pollution in West Texas.

Our reporter Brad Burt has more on the power company blamed for igniting the largest wildfire in Texas history, which says it’s accepting responsibility— but denying any negligence related to the downed poles that sparked the fire. And KERA's Bill Zeeble reports on a group of Dallas grade schoolers who were visited by scientists in anticipation of the solar eclipse.

The Smokehouse Creek fire began on Feb. 26 due to a downed electricity pole. The blaze consumed over a million acres, making it the largest wildfire in Texas history. On Thursday, a representative from Xcel Energy's Southwestern Public Service Company testified before a Texas House committee charged with investigating the Panhandle wildfires.

The largest wildfire in the history of the Lone Star State broke out at the end of February and torched the Texas Panhandle for almost two weeks. One month later, our Olivia O’Rand spoke with a local fire expert on the benefits of fire management.If you are a farmer or rancher who has been affected by the fires, the Texas Farm Bureau offers applications for assistance through the Texas Panhandle Wildlife Relief Fund.

State and federal agriculture officials are investigating a disease impacting cattle in the Texas Panhandle and Kansas, officials with the Texas Farm Bureau say dairy farmers are taking extra precautions to protect their herds. and Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro has more on five individuals arrested for allegedly trafficking military-grade firearms to a Mexican drug cartel.

Lawsuits are starting to mount in connection to the historic wildfires in the panhandle. And KUT’s Olivia Aldridge has the latest as the Texas Medical Board plans to discuss guidance for physicians navigating the medical exception to Texas' abortion law.

After the death of a nonbinary student in Oklahoma, our reporter Samantha Larned has more from LubbockPRIDE, who has called upon the city and local school districts to ensure measures are being taken to protect LGBTQ+ youth. And a committee of Texas lawmakers will look at the causes and response to the devastating wildfires north of Amarillo.

An electric utility company is acknowledging where their facilities may have played a role in igniting the largest wildfire in Texas history. And the Texas Newsroom’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reports many state representatives who voted against Gov. Abbott's school voucher plan lost during Tuesday’s primaries.