"Texas Messes With Denton"

"A week after a historic vote to ban hydraulic fracturing (or fracking — the controversial drilling method that forces oil and gas from shale formations with pressurized water, sand and a host of chemicals), Denton, Texas, has been told the state will continue to issue drilling permits within the city limits.

'It’s my job to give permits, not Denton’s,' said Christi Craddick, chairwoman of the Railroad Commission of Texas. 'We’re going to continue permitting up there because that’s my job.'

Also known as the Texas Railroad Commission or TRC, the three-member state body actually has no jurisdiction over the rails, but it does regulate the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipelines and uranium mining in the Lone Star State. TRC commissioner is an elected office; at present, all three members are Republicans."

Gregg Levine reports for Aljazeera America November 11, 2014.