Cold Weather

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the House "stood for big business" after Speaker Dade Phelan signaled skepticism about reversing billions of dollars in charges for wholesale electricity during last month’s winter storm.

The deaths occurred in at least 25 counties. And 25 of the fatalities occurred in Harris County. Some Texas deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and medical equipment failure.

Christopher Collins of the Texas Observer, along with other journalists and watchdog groups, are pushing the nonprofit to release internal communications from February's blackouts.

Power plants owned by Austin Energy mostly stayed online during the storm — at a time when half the city was blacked out. That meant the utility could sell the excess power to the rest of the state for a high price.

Just like hurricanes, Dade Phelan says "we have to write a book on how to respond to this. And it starts with being an open dialog, in a bipartisan discussion."

Sen. Ted Cruz’s trip to Cancun may have been a higher profile misstep, but he’s not up for reelection until 2024 – an “eternity” in politics.

Some said the move would have saved companies and lowered electric rates for consumers hit by high prices in the storm.

When the Austin Aquarium lost power during February's winter storm, temperatures inside the building dropped to the 50s. In a video posted to TikTok and viewed millions of times, a mammal keeper at the aquarium snuggles the otters to keep them calm and warm.

Austin Water told council members Wednesday that it waited to tell people to conserve water out of fear the message would have the opposite effect and increase the demand for water.

On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for PUC Chair DeAnn Walker and Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Bill Magness to resign.