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Only eight years after Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” shocked the world, Earth Day dawned in Texas. Now, governments and corporations have embraced Earth Day with messages and policies that resonate with many worldwide. But in Texas on that first Earth Day (April 22, 1970), many saw the moment as a radical uprising, with teach-ins on college campuses like the University of Texas and placards in street protests demanding an end to the unregulated pollution of air and water.

Despite monumental changes in regulation, some recent Texas Standard stories suggest how much more work remains to be done. Just this week, we heard about an “ultra-emitter” event when a brief leak in an aging Texas energy pipeline led to the release of methane equivalent in impact to the annual emissions of some 16,000 automobiles. And with global warming and drought conditions growing more intense and persistent, concerns continue to mount over water, long in short supply in Texas. The recent discovery of a new aquifer in Texas may help some on that front, but the call – now louder than ever – is for greater stewardship of our natural resources and a conscientious approach to consumption.

Since the first Earth Day protests in Texas in 1970, much has changed. This year, as in recent years, communities across Texas will stage festivals and other events celebrating the planet and the collective effort to protect it. But as challenges continue, and continue to emerge, our team of producers, editors and reporters statewide are committed to bringing you the latest. Not just on Earth Day, but every day. Until next week, we’ll see you on the radio.

What do you think? Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email and let us know.

- David Brown

Sticker shock: Texas homeowners reeling over high property appraisals

Home values are on the rise, but how high your taxes are depends partly on the tax rates that will be set this summer and fall. Many taxpayers may be considering filing a protest with their local appraisal district.

This Earth Day, an environmental educator says Texans should focus on water

“Water is the source of life, we cannot live without water," says central Texan Lanny Smith, aka Earthman. "So we are our brother and sister’s keeper on this planet, and it’s important that people conserve water.”

With federal rent relief dwindling, eviction rates are on the rise in big Texas cities

Eviction Lab, based at Princeton University, tracks evictions across the country. Its researchers found eviction rates in Houston, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth are as high now as they were at the start of the pandemic.

How to make cascarones, and why the confetti-filled eggs remain a beloved tradition

In Texas, they show up not only during Easter, but also at birthday parties and festivals. Cracked one over someone's head recently?

Gov. Abbott’s task force on concert safety outlines 5 key factors in Astroworld incident (Houston Public Media)
'It feels like a dystopia': Trans youth in Texas navigate an uncertain few months (KERA North Texas)
See how Austin Community College turned a mall into a campus (KUT Austin)
Bexar County Commissioners approve DeLorean tax break (Texas Public Radio)

The Talk of Texas is running down the state’s entire 254 counties – Anderson to Zavala – with points of interest pulled from the Texas Standard archives.

Is there a can't-miss attraction in your area? Drop us a line and let us know.

A map of Texas counties highlighting Aransas, along the gulf coast

Aransas County

Established: 1871
County seat: Rockport
Population: 23,830
Visitors welcome: Next to Corpus Christi and its namesake port, coastal Aransas County thrives on tourism, especially the towns of Rockport and Fulton. The “apocalyptic” devastation of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 brought several economic challenges, especially to hard-hit Rockport. That’s why officials urged tourists to return, soon after Harvey made landfall.
Whoop there it is: Wildlife thrives along the Gulf Coast. Whooping cranes are a recurring sight. We’re also told that fishing At Redfish Bay’s Seagrass Habitat “feels like wild Texas.”
One last thing: This Rockport resident sure missed the point: Don’t smuggle contraband archeological artifacts into the U.S. from Mexico.