Our Top 5 Stories of 2013

Photo Illustration by Lars Baron/Getty Images

Two of our top stories this year looked at a new water fund for Texas.

As we ring in a new year, we’re taking a look back at some of the top stories for StateImpact Texas in 2013. From cattle rustlers to electric cars, these were the five most popular stories of the year:

1. Cattle Theft on The Rise in Texas, Despite Tougher Penalties: “Ranchers saw a sharp jump in cattle rustling last year in Texas and Oklahoma. Over 10,000 cows and horses were reported missing or stolen. That’s an almost 40 percent increase from the year before. It’s a trend that’s surprised some in law enforcement.”
2. Everything You Need to Know About Proposition 6, Texas’ Water Fund: Texans had an opprtunity to vote on a new water fund for the state this election, and we took a close look at what exactly the fund could do.
3. Tesla Has Eyes for Texas, But Will the State Oblige? “Because of state law (which is similar to those in many other states), manufacturers of cars can’t directly sell new cars to customers in Texas. Enter Tesla, who wants to do just that, and is now engaged in a full-press charm offensive to get the Texas legislature to amend the law.”
4. If Proposition 6 Passes, What Comes Next for Water in Texas? Voters approved the first major spending on water project in decades this year: “If there’s one thing that is certain, it’s that Prop 6 would likely spur a burst of interest in the state water planning process, a bottom-up system in which regional groups put together proposals for their areas and then send those up to the state level for inclusion in the State Water Plan.”
5. After West Fertilizer Explosion, Concerns Over Safety, Regulation and Zoning: In the days after a deadly explosion that killed fifteen and destroyed dozens of homes, questions arose over what could have been done to prevent it: “Even at this early stage of the investigation, there are signs that not all was right with the plant, like the fact that it had as much as 270 tons of ammonium nitrate (which can be explosive) at the site, but no sprinklers or fire barriers. It’s also brought up questions about regulation in Texas, and whether homes and schools should be so close to industry.”