Stories by Mose Buchele, KUT
Dog owners take note: Toxic algae early warning system is in the works
The heat of summer is here and that means toxic blue-green algae may return to Austin lakes and creeks. Last year, at least five dogs died after swimming in parts of Lady Bird Lake containing the algae. This year, the…
Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 13, 2020
Kinder Morgan sued over drilling fluid spill in Blanco County
The pipeline company Kinder Morgan violated the Safe Drinking Water Act when it spilled tens of thousands of gallons of drilling fluid into Blanco County groundwater, according to a new lawsuit from local landowners and groundwater conservation groups. In late…
Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jun 24, 2020
Hays County revokes permits for Kinder Morgan pipeline
The Hays County Commissioners Court has revoked permits it issued allowing Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway pipeline project to bore under county roads. The move is the most recent flare-up in a long-standing battle between Hill Country landowners, local governments and…
Energy • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Apr 23, 2020
Amid historic oil bust, Texas regulators consider the once unthinkable: Keeping it in the ground
In a move that would have been unimaginable just a couple of months ago, Texas is considering limiting oil production in the state. Capping the amount of crude that can be pumped is a power the state has not used…
Resources • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Apr 15, 2020
After emergency orders, Austin seeks more money for housing and small businesses
The city of Austin’s Economic Development Department doesn’t know how many residents will lose income because of the bar and restaurant closures and crowd-control rules announced to stop the spread of COVID-19. But with more than 125,000 people working in…
Austin • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Mar 18, 2020
Opponents of Austin trash transfer station take their case to the state
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a public hearing Thursday night on a proposal to build a garbage transfer station in North Austin. The project is facing growing opposition from public officials, neighbors and environmental groups. The Austin Community…
Resources • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Feb 7, 2020
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Austin backs off plans to stabilize Shoal Creek slope after impasse with landowners
The city is abandoning efforts to stabilize a part of the cliff that runs along the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail near Pease Park after landowners up the hill refused to grant property easements needed for the work. Heavy…
Transportation • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jan 21, 2020
Austin unveils design for a new bridge on the southern end of Lady Bird Lake
The city of Austin is one step closer to taking down the “last major barrier” on the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. And according to city street designer Nathan Wilkes, the idea came from the public. The…
Transportation • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Dec 11, 2019
Hill Country landowners say Kinder Morgan is lowballing them. Special courts are agreeing.
Kay Pence owns a ranch in the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg. About a year ago, she got a call from the pipeline company Kinder Morgan. The caller told her the company planned to run a section of its 430-mile…
Local Government • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Nov 26, 2019
Austin joins legal fight against Permian Highway Pipeline
The city of Austin is signaling it intends to sue Kinder Morgan, the company behind the proposed Permian Highway Pipeline – a 430-mile natural gas line that has provoked major opposition in the Texas Hill Country. In filing its notice…
Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Oct 17, 2019
Hill Country landowners get ready for fight over another proposed pipeline
Charles Chaney Jr. has Utopia on his mind. The Texas City resident is a month away from retirement and Utopia is the name of the scenic Hill Country town where his family has lived for generations. He had planned to…
Energy • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Oct 2, 2019
This September is on track to be the hottest ever in Austin
There was a time when it seemed like summer could have gone differently; a wet spring and a relatively mild June had us thinking maybe this year wouldn’t be so bad. Boy, that didn’t last long. “Yeah, we dried out…
