Dug Begley

Houston

Investigative Reporter at Chron

Houston Chronicle rapid response investigations reporter. No, I do not know what that means, thanks for asking. [email protected]

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Articles

Threat of Trump tariffs upsets the Texas ports that sustain 2.5 million jobs

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

Leaders of Texas ports and the companies that rely on the ports have spent the past two weeks of tariff upheaval doing what the ship captains do practically every minute of every day: Study the information and keep an eye on the horizon. The one thing they agree on is nobody really knows for sure what the conditions will be for very long at the 23 Texas ports that by many estimates generate more than one-quarter of the state's gross domestic product. A few predict calm seas.
Houston Health expects 25% loss in Trump administration budget cuts

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

Houston Health Department expects the Trump administration's abrupt cancelation of a federal grant program started during COVID to punch a $42 million hole in its planned spending, including $12 million for personnel, as officials assess the potential impact on local public health. In a statement, officials confirmed the loss of funding, but said they would have no further comment at this time, nor would they outline how the money was used.
What federal funding cuts could mean for Houston workers and retirees

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

For Space City, looming federal spending cuts are akin to thousands of small meteorites raining down. Some are going to burn up, if they arrive at all. And some will land faster and harder than others. Taken together, they have the potential to nick away at social services and extend into areas of research and public safety that mean jobs for Houston area workers and safer homes, schools and hospitals for residents.
Explore this map of Texas' busiest state parks

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley
Possum Kingdom? Old Tunnel? Here's how 10 Texas state parks got their names.

1 month ago | expressnews.com | Dug Begley

Every Texas state park is special to someone, Texas parks director Rodney Franklin said. Whatever the reason, supporters of the 90-plus parks often revel in the chance to see unique natural features such as rocky canyons, clear rivers and epic views. Many fans of the parks - more than 9 million annually - flock to see the birds, wildlife and even alligators that call the parks home. Often the park is named for the feature that is its showpiece. At Brazos Bend, there is a bend in the Brazos River.
Possum Kingdom? Old Tunnel? Here's how 10 Texas state parks got their names.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

Every Texas state park is special to someone, Texas parks director Rodney Franklin said. Whatever the reason, supporters of the 90-plus parks often revel in the chance to see unique natural features such as rocky canyons, clear rivers and epic views. Many fans of the parks - more than 9 million annually - flock to see the birds, wildlife and even alligators that call the parks home. Often the park is named for the feature that is its showpiece. At Brazos Bend, there is a bend in the Brazos River.
New wave of Texas state parks are taking shape, aimed at thinning crowds

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

There are approximately 31.3 million Texans and 640,000 acres of state park land. That means everybody can enjoy their own 890 square feet - about the size of a small two-bedroom Houston apartment. Sharing it, however, is leading to some challenges for park goers and state officials. Crowded parks and the need to reserve popular campsites months in advance are common. So is the sense that surges of people are taking away some of what makes parks special.
White Oak Greenway reopened, but closures loom for damaged trail bridge

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

A key trail connection will remain open, most of the time, as officials continue plotting how to replace two key White Oak Bayou bridges used by runners and cyclists. After initially closing the White Oak Greenway trail where it travels below the MKT Trail Bridge near Hogan Street, structural engineers determined the part of the damaged bridge over the White Oak trail is safe. The White Oak trail was then reopened, said Erin Jones, acting communications director for Houston Public Works.
Debris from I-10 rebuild shuts down popular trail bridges over White Oak Bayou

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

Not one, but two popular trail bridges spanning White Oak Bayou were struck by loose construction materials from ongoing work along Interstate 10, closing both spans as well as a key stretch of trail, isolating portions of the running and cycling path. "These closures demand an urgent response," said Robin Holzer, deputy director of Bike Houston. "All of these agencies must work together immediately to plan and create a safe network of detours, as required by the City's design manual.
Where were Houston's deadliest crashes in 2024? Search our map.

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Dug Begley

By Dug Begley Houston roads are the deadliest in the state, owing in part to the city's size and its high number of high-speed crashes. The Whitmire administration, armed with new thinking on road policies, has focused its resources on traffic enforement. Despite those efforts, 2024 saw the highest recorded number of deaths for drivers, passengers and pedestrians in Houston. Search the map below to see where these fatalities occurred.