Share this page!

Texas Tribune Profile picture
Twitter logo
27 May, 4 tweets, 2 min read
.@buzzfeednews' data analysis found that the catastrophic failure of Texas’s power grid in February killed hundreds more people than the state has acknowledged. bit.ly/3i1Gcfg
We reported in the wake of the storm that the state failed to deliver vital emergency information as millions of Texans fought to survive brutal winter weather without power and water. bit.ly/2Szvody
The state enabled the worst carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in recent U.S. history, we reported with @NBCNews and @propublica. bit.ly/3usWCQk
We're tracking lawmakers' moves to change the power grid this #TXlege session here.

There is broad support among them for creating an emergency alert system for future power outages. bit.ly/3wCwPGX

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Texas Tribune

Texas Tribune Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @TexasTribune

Texas Tribune Profile picture
28 May
1/ Justin Aguilar’s bingo halls lost thousands of dollars during February’s deadly winter storm. Then, the bingo halls got a $120k electricity bill.

Texas is discussing whether to include businesses like his in a massive winter storm bailout. #TXlege bit.ly/2TftkI4
2/ The bingo halls had an electricity plan that offers cheaper power when Texas' electricity supply is sufficient — but higher rates when it’s not.

Exorbitant power bills now loom over thousands of Texas businesses that are waiting for the state to help them seek low-cost loans. “If we had to come up with ...
3/ During the storm, electricity regulators set power prices at the maximum rate — $9,000 per megawatt-hour — for several days.

Because the freeze knocked out many of the state’s power generators, electricity companies had to buy what little power was available at that rate. “The markets need a circuit...
Read 11 tweets
Texas Tribune Profile picture
27 May
Texas mothers on Medicaid can currently keep their health coverage for just two months after giving birth.

They would keep it for half a year instead under a bill passed by the Senate Thursday. #TXlege bit.ly/3fM2Sh2
2/ Maternal health advocates said the bill — originally pitched as a one-year extension — could reduce the state’s maternal mortality rate and offer vital help to mothers with conditions like postpartum depression or health complications in the months after giving birth.
3/ The proposal stands to affect tens of thousands of women in Texas.

About half the babies in Texas are born to mothers on Medicaid — about 181,000 in 2018.

Black women die disproportionately while pregnant or after delivery, according to state reports.
Read 6 tweets
Texas Tribune Profile picture
26 May
NEW: An investigation revealed that Rick Dennis, an Austin lobbyist, did not use a date rape drug on two legislative staffers.

But Capitol staffers say he has a history of harassment — and that the institution's culture perpetuates misconduct. bit.ly/2QVQSB9 #TXlege
2/ Rumors of the accusation rocked the Capitol in late April.

But after investigating, the Texas Department of Public Safety found the allegation baseless and was fueled by one of the staffers trying to cover up behavior of her own that night. bit.ly/2QVQSB9
3/ Still, the incident lays bare larger questions about a Capitol culture that many women staffers say often leads to lesser allegations of misconduct and harassment being brushed under the rug by those with the power to act. #TXlege bit.ly/2QVQSB9
Read 13 tweets
Texas Tribune Profile picture
25 May
1/ Mary Baker has cut down on everything she can to make ends meet while looking for a job. She cancelled cable and halted some medications.

Now that Gov. Greg Abbott opted Texas out of federal unemployment assistance, she may have to stop buying insulin. bit.ly/3fJ664F “I just don't know how I’m ...
2/ The governor announced all federal unemployment assistance programs will end for Texans after June 26, including the extra $300-per-week pandemic benefit and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, despite Congress extending the programs through September. bit.ly/2TjAFqf
3/ Those who have exhausted 26 weeks of Texas unemployment aid will stop receiving all unemployment assistance — federal and state — on June 26.

Before opting out of federal programs, Texas was extending aid for those who used up regular state benefits. bit.ly/2T7i2pc
Read 6 tweets
Texas Tribune Profile picture
20 May
Reporters have always been present at executions to observe the state as it wields its greatest power over life. Media reports often provide detail excluded from state records.

But reporters were not let in to witness Quintin Jones' execution Wednesday. bit.ly/3v7F2Tl
TDCJ spokesperson Jeremy Desel said Wednesday night that the media’s non admittance was an error and resulted from a miscommunication between prison officials.
Typically, when an execution is set to proceed, prison officials call the press office across the street, and the spokesperson walks the reporters over. He said that call never came.
Read 4 tweets
Texas Tribune Profile picture
19 May
1/ Texas is set to execute Quintin Jones this evening.

Jones was sentenced to death 20 years ago after he killed his 83-year-old great-aunt.

But two relatives say they’ve forgiven him and want his sentence commuted to life in prison. bit.ly/3f0P96y
2/ In 2001, Quintin Jones was put on death row in Tarrant County after he beat his 83-year-old great-aunt, Berthena Bryant, to death with a baseball bat because she refused to lend him money.

He said he was on drugs. bit.ly/3f0P96y
3/ Bryant’s sister has since forgiven Jones.

She says he is filled with remorse and is now a different person. In a petition asking the state pardons board and governor to change his sentence to life in prison, she and his brother begged the state not to victimize them again.
Read 8 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @TexasTribune has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @TexasTribune!

Read all threads by @TexasTribune

:(