"Denton Voters Approving State’a First Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing"

"DENTON — In a state where the oil and gas industry is king, Denton on Tuesday was poised to become the first city in Texas to ban hydraulic fracturing with voters approving a grassroots initiative against the controversial drilling method.

With 37 of 39 precincts reported by late evening, about 59 percent of voters in this college town of 123,000 had cast ballots for an ordinance that will drastically restrict drillers’ attempts to tap the rich natural gas reserves within the city limits. Calling the ordinance unconstitutional, state and industry officials have pledged to contest it in court and state lawmakers have said they may pass legislation to block it.

Cathy McMullen, a home health nurse and leader of the Denton Drilling Awareness Group, which collected nearly 2,000 petition signatures to place the issue on the ballot, choked up, wiped away tears and hugged her husband as she celebrated Tuesday night at Dan’s Silverleaf, a downtown bar and concert venue not far from City Hall."

Max B. Baker reports for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram November 4, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Results Are Mixed on Soda Tax And Anti-Fracking Ballot Measures" (Los Angeles Times)

"Athens Is Fifth Ohio Community To Pass Rights-Based Fracking Ban" (Akron Beacon Journal)

"Mixed Results in Local US Anti-Fracking Votes" (News24)