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Texas energy companies have gotten a break from monitoring chemical leaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, Texas has suspended some environmental rules for oil and chemical plants due to limited staffing. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has provided more than 100 environmental monitoring and inspection exemptions since...

Oil and gas refineries and chemical plants are scattered across the Texas Gulf Coast – the nation’s petrochemical corridor. They’re a big source of revenue for companies in the industry, but for the people who live near these structures, they have been a source of danger, chronic health problems and constant worry. A woman in...

Personal injury lawyers explain what you need to know about ranitidine Concerns about possible links between Zantac use and cancer have been mounting in recent months. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) told drug makers on April 1, 2020 to pull the popular heartburn drug immediately from store shelves due to...

On January 30, 2020, a gas well fire at The Chesapeake Energy Corp. in Burleson County triggered a massive explosion and killed three workers. This marked the seventh Houston-area incident since mid-2018 to catch the attention of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Prior to that, the board only conducted investigations in the Houston area once...

Large tankers can often be seen off the coast of Texas transporting chemicals, oil, and gas. When a catastrophe involving one of these massive boats occurs, it can be devastating. Workers on board can be severely injured or thrown into the water. In addition, chemical spills can cause pollution on a massive scale and can...

Multiple chemical plant explosions and fires have occurred throughout Texas within the past few years, resulting in several injuries and fatalities. In March of 2019, an explosion and fire at Intercontinental Terminals Co.'s Deer Park facility burned for three days and pumped copious amounts of black smoke into the air (which could be seen as...

According to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), there were 4,414 pedestrian fatalities across the United States in 2008 — accounting for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities. By 2017, that number rose to 5,977 or 16 percent. Overall, the rate of pedestrian deaths has risen by 35 percent, while other traffic fatalities...

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among children, underscoring the life-saving importance of child car seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the seats reduce the chance of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. NHTSA also reports that an alarming 46 percent of seats are...

Cycling has become increasingly popular in Houston. With this growing popularity comes the good and the bad. Infrastructural improvements around the city have become more accommodating for bicyclists, as Houston continues to expand its on-street bikeways and off-street trails. On the other hand, bicycle fatalities have increased by 25 percent since their lowest point in...

Statewide data asserts that Houston leads Texas as the most dangerous city for road users. According to a 2017 Texas Department of Transportation report, approximately 226 people died on Houston roads. Across the state of Texas, pedestrians are especially at risk. A 2018 report by the Governors' Association for Highway Safety concluded that Texas ranks...