Public Health Watch

01/08/2026

Texas releases more greenhouse gases than Saudi Arabia and is responsible for nearly half of the U.S.’ projected planet-warming emissions from new petrochemical projects.

Read the 13 stories that explore what the petrochemical expansion looks like in the Lone Star state.

01/08/2026

A repeat violator of the Clean Air Act expands in Houston.

A county judge stands by industry.

A historic Black neighborhood is threatened with extinction.

This is the petrochemical boom in Texas.

Read the full story in our bio

01/08/2026

An industrial construction spurt is well into its second decade in Texas, with little sign of slowing.

Public Health Watch presents 13 stories of what petrochemical expansion looks like in the Lone Star state.

A repeat violator of the Clean Air Act expands in Houston.

A county judge stands by industry.

A historic Black neighborhood is threatened with extinction.

This is the petrochemical boom in Texas. Read all 13 stories below.

https://publichealthwatch.org/2025/12/30/texas-petrochemical-expansion/

01/03/2026

Untitled

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma - an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series "Blood Work: Inside America’s Plasma-for-Cash Economy," Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies investigates and asks why Texas leads the nation in blood plasma donations....

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma – an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series “Blood Work: Inside America’s ...

01/02/2026

Blood Work: Crossing the Border to Sell Plasma

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma - an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series "Blood Work: Inside America’s Plasma-for-Cash Economy," Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies investigates and asks why Texas leads the nation in blood plasma donations....

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma - an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series "Blood Work: Inside America’s Plas...

01/02/2026

Blood Work: I Sold My Plasma in America’s Cash-for-Plasma System

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma - an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series "Blood Work: Inside America’s Plasma-for-Cash Economy," Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies investigates and asks why Texas leads the nation in blood plasma donations....

As more people are caught in the economic squeeze of rising cost of living, many are looking for ways to make extra money. A growing number are turning to selling their blood plasma – an essential ingredient in making many life saving medications. In a new series “Blood Work: Inside America’s ...

12/31/2025

As Trump pushed Mines to Increase Production, Protections for Black Lung Victims Stalled

From federal rulemakers all the way down to Kentucky lawmakers, 2025 was full of regulatory wins for mining companies. Meanwhile, health researchers confirm that deaths from black lung disease are rampant in the mine industry....

From federal rulemakers all the way down to Kentucky lawmakers, 2025 was full of regulatory wins for mining companies. Meanwhile, health researchers confirm that deaths from black lung disease are rampant in the mine industry.

12/31/2025

‘Fumed’ Found Problems With Houston’s Industrial Permitting Process. The City Changed its Policies.

Public Health Watch’s podcast highlighted residents’ lack of protection from industrial facilities moving into their neighborhoods — even when deed restrictions were in place. Three months later, the Houston Planning Department addressed the underlying problem....

Public Health Watch’s podcast highlighted residents’ lack of protection from industrial facilities moving into their neighborhoods — even when deed restrictions were in place. Three months later, the Houston Planning Department addressed the underlying problem.

12/30/2025

Special report: Public Health Watch chronicles, in 13 scenes, a fossil-fuel infrastructure boom in Texas that could worsen air pollution in some areas and exacerbate climate change.

Public Health Watch chronicles, in 13 scenes, a fossil-fuel infrastructure boom that could worsen air pollution in some areas and exacerbate climate change.

12/29/2025

The Loosely Regulated Petrochemical Barge Industry is Commandeering a Texas River

People who live on the San Jacinto fear chemical releases and explosions from the vessels. It’s unclear who’s policing the buildup....

People who live on the San Jacinto fear chemical releases and explosions from the vessels. It’s unclear who’s policing the buildup.

12/27/2025

Texas Boosted Its Funding for Dementia Prevention, but Alzheimer’s Advocates Want More From State Leaders.

Despite DPRIT developments, questions remain about how these research funds will be distributed and who will receive them. The Rio Grande Valley has been historically underserved and underfunded by the Texas government, leaving some to wonder if the same pattern will play out with DRPIT.

Read more at publichealthwatch.org

11/25/2025

Texas Workers Keep Dying in the Heat

Despite its blazing temperatures, Texas has no labor protections for heat. That leaves workers, especially immigrants, vulnerable on the job....

Despite its blazing temperatures, Texas has no labor protections for heat. That leaves workers, especially immigrants, vulnerable on the job.