Water

Gov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.

A longstanding dispute over water-sharing between the U.S. and Mexico is raising concerns for farmers in South Texas. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports the U.S. government has now denied Mexico’s latest request for water, citing ongoing shortfalls in Mexico’s required deliveries. Hockley County, Garza County, and Hale County have joined the list of Texas counties reporting measles cases connected with the ongoing outbreak in the region.

The state House and Senate have similar proposals to solve the state's water crisis, but there are stark differences on how to invest billions of dollars to resolve.

Our Bishop Van Buren reports on Lubbock City Council's approval to purchase a device that detects forever chemicals in drinking water. This week, Lubbock congressman Jodey Arrington, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, celebrated the passage of the House Budget Resolution. Tomorrow, Lubbock Animal Services is offering free vaccinations and microchipping for dogs and cats. The clinic starts Saturday at 8 A.M. at the LAS building at 3323 SE Loop 289.

With cold weather arriving today across the region, ERCOT expects grid conditions to be normal. Lubbock's mayor signed a purchasing agreement last week, securing 85% of the land needed for Lake 7. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the project moving forward. On Friday night, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the Texas-New Mexico border. Quakes have become more common in the region in recent years.

Lubbock Republican State Senator Charles Perry says he’s planning to file a bill that could dedicate up to $5 billion in funding for water projects across the state. This month, Lubbock police expanded use of an e-citation app. Our reporter Olivia O’Rand has more on developing technology with the department. Enrollment is open for the City of Lubbock citizen education program. The application, syllabus, and more information can be found at mylubbock.us/Lubbock101, the deadline to apply is March 3.

Two years after lawmakers created a $10 million program to address leaking wells in rural counties, none of the money has been distributed.

In Sunday’s State of the State Address, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared water issues an emergency item that Texas legislators should take on this session. The Texas Newsroom's Blaise Gainey has more on a potential Educations Savings Account program being debated on the Texas Senate floor today.

Nonprofit, public policy organizations including Texas 2036 and the Texas Water Association have made water infrastructure one of their priorities this legislative session.

Local north Texans are still opposed to a proposed reservoir that KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports could supply water to the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 2050. And as President Donald Trump enters the White House with a host of plans, Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says his plans for mass deportations could have dramatic effects on Texans and the Texas economy.