Matthew Bernard wanted to build a home. He bought a small lot in Oakland, California, and began clearing several diseased and fallen trees that the local fire department had identified as hazards. The result was a $915,000 “mitigation fee” from the city of Oakland—nearly five times the value of the lot itself. Under Oakland’s tree ordinance,...
Another Texas summer is coming to an end soon, and despite the scorching temperatures, the electric grid has kept the A/C running. ERCOT didn’t falter when faced with a new all-time peak energy demand record on July 22. But hot, sunny days are only one end of the spectrum. According to a TPPF/Overton Insights poll released yesterday,...
Safe Schools and Fair Standards Key points: Texas’s higher education code is not aligned with Supreme Court precedent on the correct standards for defining harassment. Texas statute does not define what makes conduct “severe,” “persistent,” or “pervasive.” The existing legal framework should remain intact but needs updated definitions that protect both free speech and students...