Back

Director's Picks

U.S. Supreme Court hears Texas case that could change how states compensate landowners for their property

Summary

On January 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case involving Texas landowners, led by Richie DeVillier, seeking compensation from the state after a highway project resulted in flooding on their properties east of Houston. DeVillier and other property owners argue that the flooding, caused by actions taken by the state during the revamp of Interstate 10, constitutes a government taking of private property under the U.S. Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court's focus was on whether the case should be heard in federal or state courts. A ruling in favor of the landowners could redefine the interpretation of the Fifth Amendment, impacting how states compensate property owners. The outcome may influence the nation's approach to government takings and compensation standards. Regardless of the decision, the lead counsel representing DeVillier expressed optimism about the case's overall success.

discover more

February 7, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Seattle advocacy groups are promoting social housing as both an affordable housing solution and a climate strategy.

February 6, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Texas oil and gas companies are pushing for the state to gain regulatory authority—known as primacy—over carbon capture projects, which involve injecting carbon dioxide...

February 6, 2025
Human Health
Human Health

A Trump administration executive order freezing all foreign aid has led to the abrupt shutdown of U.S.A.I.D.-funded clinical trials worldwide, leaving thousands of participants...

February 6, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The Trump administration has placed 168 Environmental Protection Agency employees on administrative leave, a move widely seen as the first step in shutting down the agency’s...

February 6, 2025
Economic Justice
Economic Justice

Community leaders in historically Black and brown neighborhoods of Houston are calling for greater government attention to long-standing issues such as infrastructure neglect...

February 5, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The Trump administration has swiftly removed key environmental justice and climate data from government websites, including the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool...

February 5, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Exxon has applied for tax subsidies to build an $8.6 billion plastics plant in Point Comfort, Texas, raising concerns among environmentalists and local residents.

February 5, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The Environmental Protection Agency has partially lifted a spending freeze that had halted funding for environmental programs under the bipartisan infrastructure law...

February 5, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

Experts from government, academia, and activism gathered in Philadelphia to discuss climate disaster preparedness as the Trump administration considers cutting FEMA funding.

February 4, 2025
Economic Justice
Economic Justice

The Trump administration has removed the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), a key resource used to identify disadvantaged communities for environmental justice..

January 31, 2025
Education
Education

Despite Donald Trump’s push to expand offshore drilling, oil companies are unlikely to act on new leases in the Gulf of Mexico due to an already over saturated market.

January 30, 2025
Food & Water Justice
Food & Water Justice

The EPA is reassessing the health risks of nitrates in drinking water, with growing concerns that exposure could increase cancer risk.

January 29, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

President Trump’s temporary freeze on federal grants and loans created widespread uncertainty for environmental and climate programs before being rescinded.

January 29, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

A coalition of U.S. power companies is urging the Trump administration to weaken coal ash regulations, arguing that cleanup requirements are overly burdensome.

January 29, 2025
Education
Education

Black farmers in Nicodemus, Kansas, have practiced sustainable agriculture for generations, using climate-smart methods long before they became widely recognized.