Texas News

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. LUBBOCK — Texas firefighters are gaining more control over the remaining wildfires in the Panhandle, more than two weeks after the infernos first engulfed large swaths of the region and burned more than 1 million acres. As of Monday, the Smokehouse Creek fire — which quickly became the largest wildfire in state history…

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The Texas Panhandle faces a long road of recovery following a series of wildfires this month that have scorched more than 1 million acres. Federal, state and local governments are working with the communities to support the region, a panel of officials told The Texas Tribune Friday. “I think it’s fair to say…

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Xcel Energy acknowledged its involvement in the ignition of the Smokehouse Creek Fire Thursday. “Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company said in a statement Thursday. Xcel said its has been cooperating with investigations…

News & Politics After a Wildfire Killed Thousands of Cows, Texas Ranchers Quietly Count Their Losses On the rolling hills outside Canadian, Texas, where cattle herds were decimated and fertile ranchland has been reduced to a charred wasteland, some things are too painful to discuss. By Peter Holley Peter Holley Peter Holley is a staff writer and native Austinite who writes about news and culture across the state of Texas. View Articles Email RSS March…

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. CANADIAN — Farmers and ranchers in the Panhandle lost livestock, buildings and infrastructure in the wildfires still raging through the region. Now they’re looking to rebuild. More than 100 people packed a room at the Hemphill County Exhibition Center on Tuesday afternoon looking for answers about what government assistance they can tap to…

The announcement came hours before Republican Gov. Greg Abbott was expected to meet with firefighters in Canadian, another town that’s experienced heavy destruction. FRITCH, Texas — A Texas fire chief whose small town was among the hardest hit last week by historic blazes sweeping across the Panhandle died Tuesday while fighting a structure fire, authorities said. Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith was the first at the scene of the fire and died from his injuries after…

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. FRITCH — Many Panhandle residents whose dwellings and possessions burned in the region’s ongoing wildfires may never financially recover for one simple reason: Their homes weren’t insured. “A lot of the people who have lost a home had no insurance,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Friday press conference. “So there are a…