Smoke from Mexico is impacting temperatures and air quality across SE Texas

The report from the American Lung Association also highlighted significant disparities in air pollution exposure. People of color are more than twice as likely as white individuals to live in communities with failing grades.

This web article explores the impact of the federal government's decision to shut down the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Justice Screen and Mapping tool (EJScreen) following an executive order signed by President Trump. The story follows Ava Elizarraz, a Houston mother, who relied on the EJScreen to make informed decisions about her family's health and safety, such as finding neighborhoods with cleaner air and fewer environmental hazards. With the tool's discontinuation, Elizarraz faces challenges in accessing reliable environmental data. The article also highlights the efforts of the Public Environmental Data Partners, a coalition dedicated to preserving public access to federal environmental data, as they work to fill the gap left by the EJScreen's removal.

Officials have issued an air quality warning for Deer Park due to smoke from an ongoing fire, posing a health risk to sensitive groups such as children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.

A mulch fire at Frank's Nursery in Richmond sparks a multi-day response effort as multiple fire departments and agencies collaborate to control and dismantle the fire.

The EPA awarded four Houston neighborhoods with much-needed grant money this week.

Second Ward residents are frustrated after attending a meeting Monday night about air quality on Houston’s eastside.

A cold front moved through Southeast Texas Monday, bringing gusty wind from the west that is full of West Texas dust.

Many residents in the Houston area woke up to dense fog outside their windows following New Year’s celebrations.

Air Alliance Houston is taking action to address environmental concerns in a Southwest Houston community and raising awareness about air pollution issues.

Air quality in Houston has reached unhealthy levels after a cold front pushed smoke from an ongoing wildfire in West Texas, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Harris County is steadily building out a network of Air Quality Monitors, in part, because the state’s network of monitors has a history of being unreliable during times when people need them most, according to a Harris County Commissioner.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, just before Hurricane Harvey arrived, disconnected dozens of air quality monitors in the Houston area.

The U.N. weather agency says the world and especially urban areas experienced a brief and sharp drop in emissions of air pollutants last year.

Looking for ways to stay cool this summer?

A combination of high humidity and leftover smoke from 4th of July fireworks made for some foggy conditions as commuters headed out for the day

HOUSTON – Channel 2 Investigates uncovered a lapse in a safety net that so many of our communities depend on. A gap in air quality monitoring where dangerous chemicals could be released into the air. Nearly two months after our report, the Texas Commission On Environmental Quality is unveiling new technology aimed at improving that effort. Network of 200 Stationary Air MonitorsOne of the criticisms has been, right before a hurricane rolls in, the fixed air monitoring stations would go offline when they’re needed most as plants and refineries burn off excess chemicals as they’re being shut down. “Get real time data about the air, not just where our stationary air monitors are but all around the facility is going to be a game changer for us,” Baker said.

HOUSTON – As Hurricane Laura barreled toward the Gulf Coast a few weeks ago, in and around Houston, plants and refineries scrambled to shut down. During the shutdown and restart process surrounding Hurricane Laura, energy companies reported to TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) that 8 million pounds of emissions were released in Harris, Brazoria, Jefferson and Orange counties. There’s some opinion there but here’s a fact:During that exact same period that refineries shut down for Hurricane Laura, the state of Texas unplugged its air quality monitors in the storm’s path. Our state’s version of the Environmental Protection Agency is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). See what TCEQ did in response to Hurricane Laura.