🎣💥 Illegal Fishing by Mexican Cartels Threatens Texas' Red Snapper Industry and Gulf Fisheries
💥⛏ Uranium Mining Revival in South Texas Fuels Nuclear Renaissance, Raising Environmental Concerns 🌊🚫 Henry Cuellar Claims Credit for Texas Buoys Idea to Deter Migrants
🎣💥 Illegal Fishing by Mexican Cartels Threatens Texas' Red Snapper Industry and Gulf Fisheries
Chris Gray, Gulf Coast Reporter, Houston Chronicle.- Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations, primarily involving Mexican cartels, are wreaking havoc on Texas’ red snapper industry. The U.S. Coast Guard regularly intercepts lanchas—small boats used by cartels to illegally fish in the Gulf of Mexico, often resulting in large hauls of red snapper. These illegal activities undermine U.S. efforts to preserve fish stocks and threaten local livelihoods. Despite ongoing interdictions, such operations are highly lucrative for cartels, who often use the proceeds to fund other illicit activities like drug trafficking. Local academics and law enforcement are working together to highlight the importance of sustainable fishing and raise awareness about the impact of IUU fishing. As U.S. authorities continue to seize fish and vessels, experts push for accurate sustainability assessments and management practices to protect the Gulf’s ecosystem and the legitimate fishing industry.
🌊🚫 Henry Cuellar Claims Credit for Texas Buoys Idea to Deter Migrants, Raises Concerns Over Tactics
Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune.- U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, recently claimed credit for suggesting the use of buoys in the Rio Grande to deter migrant crossings into the U.S. He pitched the idea to Border Patrol years ago as a way to prevent migrants from claiming asylum once they touch U.S. soil. Cuellar said the concept did not proceed due to permit issues from the International Boundary and Water Commission. However, he supported the alternative to a land-based border wall in his district. Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the buoys and razor wire along the Rio Grande, but critics, including Cuellar, have raised concerns about the safety and legality of these barriers. Cuellar opposed the state’s unilateral actions, urging coordination with the federal government while remaining open to border security measures.
💥⛏ Uranium Mining Revival in South Texas Fuels Nuclear Renaissance, Raising Environmental Concerns
Dylan Baddour, Inside Climate News.- Dormant uranium mines are reopening in South Texas as part of a push for a nuclear renaissance in Texas. This new mining activity aims to supply uranium for next-generation nuclear reactors, driven by growing energy demands from tech industries and the need for zero-carbon power sources. However, local communities express concerns about the impact on the region's groundwater, especially with in-situ mining methods that may pollute aquifers. Efforts to start uranium mining face opposition due to the risks posed to drinking water, as regulatory bodies, such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, have approved permits despite environmental concerns. As the state and federal governments push for nuclear expansion, residents fear long-term water supply contamination. The growing demand for nuclear energy in Texas may transform the state's energy landscape but also raise environmental risks.
📰💔 Argentine-Mexican Journalist Adriano Bachega Shot Dead in Nuevo León
Carlos Álvarez Acevedo, Zeta.- Adriano Bachega Olvera, a 53-year-old Argentine-born journalist who became a naturalized Mexican citizen, was shot dead on December 3, 2024, while driving his car on Lázaro Cárdenas Avenue, between Monterrey and San Pedro Garza García in Nuevo León. Armed assailants approached his vehicle and fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene. Witnesses reported the car, a gray BYD, crashed into a central median after the attack, causing traffic disruption. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and found around ten spent 9mm and assault rifle casings. Paramedics confirmed Bachega's death at the scene. Bachega was the chief editor of Diario Digital Online and a business consultant, also managing a website called “Directo al grano.” His murder marks the third journalist killed under the government of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in Mexico.