Texas A&M has big plans for small reactors as it expands the nation’s largest nuclear engineering program and partners with six startups to develop new power plant technologies.

The conversation is shifting from total data center bans to rules and regulations.

Source: Data center pushback sparks proactive regulations across Texas | KBTX

Burnet’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1873!

Source: District sets hearing for proposed northeast zone | Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County officials have taken a public stance against the issuance of unstudied groundwater permits in the county. Read the story to learn more about the county’s new resolution and the concerns surrounding a proposed rock quarry on Hoover Valley Road.

Source: Burnet County government takes public stance against unstudied groundwater permits | DailyTrib.com

How much fresh water is in the United States? It’s a tough question, since most of the water is underground, accessible at varying depths. In previous decades, it’s been answered indirectly from data on rainfall and evaporation. Knowing how much groundwater is available at specific locations is critical to meeting the challenges of water scarcity and contamination.

Source: Detailed map reveals groundwater levels across the U.S. | Phys Org

New research shows that crops are far more vulnerable when too much rainfall originates from land rather than the ocean. Land-sourced moisture leads to weaker, less reliable rainfall, heightening drought risk. The U.S. Midwest and East Africa are particularly exposed due to soil drying and deforestation. Protecting forests and improving land management could help stabilize rainfall and crop yields.

Source: Scientists find hidden rainfall pattern that could reshape farming | ScienceDaily

Materials scientists at Rice and collaborators have developed a material that uses light to break down a range of pollutants in water, including “forever chemicals” or PFAS.

Source: Engineered material uses light to destroy PFAS, other contaminants | Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University

Paddlers, fishers and farmers have been enjoying a three-week artificial boost in the Rio Grande, thanks to a treaty payment from the government of Mexico. In December, President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her commitment to the 1944 treaty between the two governments that regulates water in the Colorado and Rio Grande river basins. “In recent weeks, […]

Source: Mexico wraps up latest water payment to the US | Big Bend Sentinel

Residents in Hood County voiced their disdain for a proposal 2,600 acre data center with hope to function as soon as 2027.

Source: Hood County gives conditional approval to 2,100-acre data center development after pushback | KERA News

Bexar County has been in continual drought for four years, but a switch to an El Niño weather pattern may provide some relief.

Source: Could a shift from La Niña to El Niño in 2026 finally bring drought relief for San Antonio? | KSAT