Elena Bruess (ellevarela.bsky.social)

Find me now on Bluesky! (at)

Texas Environment & Climate Reporter for @capitalandmain and @pubhealthwatch

[Alejandra Martinez @alereports]

🥳🥳🥳

[Metcalf Institute @MetcalfURI]

We’re only five weeks out from AWJ! In anticipation of their arrival, we’re counting down to June 21 by highlighting two fellows each week. First up: @IssamAhmed and @Ellevarela! #AWJ2026
Read more about the fellows:
https://t.co/3sYUp19HtJ

[Public Health Watch @pubhealthwatch]

Corpus Christi is operating under reservoir shortages and city leaders are planning for a formal water emergency that would cut usage by 25% for residents, small businesses and industry.

From PHW contributor @Ellevarela for @StraightArrow__

https://t.co/k7BxEvPnei

[Maggie Gordon @MagEGordon]

It's a question being asked all over the country: What is going on with the water crisis in Corpus Christi?

@StraightArrow__ sent one of Texas' top environment reporters @Ellevarela to Corpus to find the answers on the ground.

Her dispatch: https://t.co/BVm1NRdpLf

[Fenceline Watch @FencelineWatch]

From @capitalandmain: Benzene emissions along the Texas Gulf Coast are among the highest in the nation. Benzene is a known cancer-causing chemical, & it's being released in communities on the fenceline of industry daily. #EnvironmentalJustice @Ellevarela https://t.co/16jojhPsvL

[SABEW @SABEW]

In the Government category, small division, the 2025 Best in Business Award winner is @Capitalandmain for “It’s Brown and Burns Your Eyes. In Small-Town Texas, Clean Water Is Elusive.” #BIB25

[Marcus Baram @mbaram]

And congrats to my amazing colleagues at
@capitalandmain who won #BIB25 awards from @SABEW:

@aubry_erin
@Ellevarela
@LAJourno
@Photospice
@robinurevich

[The American Prospect @TheProspect]

With Trump focused on building his 2000-mile border wall, virtually all environmental regulations designed to protect the community members and the wildlife of the Rio Grande have fallen by the wayside—with devastating effects. From @Ellevarela: https://t.co/zk0JQpWYEZ

[Jon Taylor @ProfJonTaylor]

After Years of Gains, GOP Pushes to Roll Back Chemical Regulations -- @Ellevarela @capitalandmain https://t.co/cIWXfHtO06

[The American Prospect @TheProspect]

Trump has waived every environmental and transparency rule to build his 2000 mile border wall, devastating the Rio Grande and the communities and wildlife that depend on it. From @Ellevarela: https://t.co/avh7NqDiFn

[steve marble @StephenMarble]

Known for Its Oil, Texas Became a Renewable Energy Leader. Now It’s Being Unplugged. @Ellevarela- https://t.co/3qmMrf5oH1

[Nicholas Persac @nicholaspersac]

"I'm just moments from leaving this place. I can't do the water anymore. I just can't."

In small-town Texas, clean water can be elusive: https://t.co/I2fmsyAFcp by @Ellevarela for @capitalandmain

[capitalandmain.com @capitalandmain]

Trump is proposing to defund the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (@chemsafetyboard), the lone independent agency watching over the Gulf Coast’s petrochemical corridor.

Story by @Ellevarela

https://t.co/cl24sypn5O

[Monique Welch-Rutherford @mo_unique_]

Bittersweet to see my final @Hou_Landing piece publish today. This story began as a tip from someone who attended one of our events. She had struggled to get anyone to pay attention to her concern—the removal of a beloved community mural —but believed I would handle it with care.

[T Bird @tbirdtko]

The HL Board are the same multi-millionaires that this city relies on to cover the gap in public services, parks, and everything else we deserve our government to provide. This is shameful. No one’s wellbeing and livelihood should be at the whim of a small group of millionaires.

[Matt Schwartz @Schwartz_Land]

Just walked out of @Hou_Landing for the last time.
Gone too soon, but lots of good memories.
Great newsroom. Great colleagues.
Come and get them.

[Houston Landing NewsGuild @HTXLandingUnion]

Please send emails to Ann Stern from @HoustonEndowmnt, Jeff Cohen of @Arnold_Ventures, Alex Lopez Negrete from @LopezNegrete, Algenita Davis from @DowntownHouston, Anne Chao of Houston Asian American Archive and Rich Kinder from Kinder Foundation. 💜

https://t.co/mqH7ZVt0pe

[Houston Landing NewsGuild @HTXLandingUnion]

Read our full statement on where we stand with bargaining for our severance packages.

Please consider sending emails to the Houston Landing board of directors demanding they return with a fair and just offer. 🔗

[Industrious Labs @industriouslabs]

This excellent story from @Ellevarela for @Hou_Landing highlights that landfills aren't just hidden piles of trash. They have very real and devastating consequences for people and communities. Read it here:
https://t.co/aWkzSWqRjv

[Houston Landing NewsGuild @HTXLandingUnion]

@Ellevarela's spoke on the importance of having healthcare until at least January 2026.

For some members, our healthcare coverage is tied to very specific needs and changing it abruptly and quickly would put us under extreme duress, especially while searching for new jobs.