Austin’s Bag Ordinance goes into effect soon. Starting March 1, the majority of Austin businesses will stop providing single-use paper and plastic bags. That’s because the City of Austin has a goal of zero waste by the year 2040. This measure is among the first steps toward that goal. Businesses and customers alike are already making some adjustments. Aiden Cohen struggles with the curse of the suburban shopper: “I have a bunch of reusable bags in my trunk,” says Cohen, “but I don’t always bring them into the place where I’m doing my shopping.” Cohen is not only a shopper; he’s also with Austin Resource Recovery, the agency in charge of promoting the city’s bag...
» read more

The 83rd Texas Legislature has already called for spending to improve the state’s water infrastructure. Now, Governor Rick Perry’s saying the economy depends on another major investment: “We’ll have to deal with our transportation needs if we want to keep our winning streak going," Perry said. "I mean that is just the facts.” Where Does the Money Go? So how will the legislature react? Well a good place to start is in the office of the Senate’s Transportation Committee member Robert Nichols. And the first question to ask: Does the Texas Department of Transportation have the money it needs to maintain our roads? "Not on a permanent basis at all," Nichols said. "We have a fundamental problem, and that is the revenues that TxDOT have long term do not allow enough money...
» read more