Skating car hops, kolache makers and a few other people I've met this year

By dwray in The nature of things

In this business, we see a lot of ugly things. You know getting into this that you'll cover car accidents, murders, fires and see a side of life that most people only have to see if they're experiencing it, it's ...

One man's trash, another man's ... energy?

By dwray in The nature of things

If you've ever seen that Gregory Peck movie, "The Big Country" you may have caught that Texas is indeed rather large. You might have also noticed the size of this place if you've ever had to drive across it. Anyway, ...

Question of the day: Have you gotten an early start on holiday shopping?

By dwray in The nature of things

“No, I haven’t even started yet.” Ashley Ashby, stay-at-home-mom, Victoria. ”Yes, I’m almost finished.” - Dorothy Schwartz, writer, Beeville. “No, and I probably won’t get started.” - Henry Kazmir, Edna. “No, I always wait until the last minute.” - Roxane ...

Mutilated dolphins found on Gulf of Mexico shores

By dwray in The nature of things

There have been more dolphin deaths in recent years - 798 have been found on the shores of the Gulf since February 2010. The NOAA Fisheries declared an "unusual mortality event" last May when 123 dolphins washed up on the ...

Limited shale exploration on federal lands in the Rockies

By dwray in The nature of things

While working on my story on the Eagle Ford Shale after President Obama's re-election from last Sunday, it was pointed out that though the president is unlikely to interfere in the play here in South Texas, his policy already leaned ...

Gone with the wind: Will the Texas wind energy industry end?

By dwray in The nature of things

If you've driven out toward Corpus Christi, I'll bet you noticed those giant wind turbines spinning away. Wind turbines aren't quite as ubiquitous as sightings of cattle and oil derricks, but they've become a more common sight in Texas in ...

And they said it would never happen: U.S. to be top oil producer

By dwray in The nature of things

Once upon a time, the United States was the top oil producer in the world. In fact, according to Dan Yergin's history of the oil industry, the U.S. got its place on the world stage because of all the oil ...

301 million trees killed in the drought

By dwray in The nature of things

After a brutal drought that wreaked havoc on so much of the state last year,we've had enough rainfall in these parts that it seems it's about over, but we are still surveying the damages. Months and months ago, reports said ...

Organic food: The Cordelia Chase complex?

By dwray in The nature of things

I went through a phase where I really liked organic produce. I wasn't entirely sure what tasted different, but I knew that somehow paying a few dollars more for bananas and spinach was going to do me good. That was ...

If you're eating genetically modified food, do you want to know?

By dwray in The nature of things

So between soy beans, corn, sugar beets and canola, you've probably been eating plenty of genetically modified food for years. The question is, do you want or need to know about it? In California, there has been a debate for ...