TreeFolks’s Carbon Credit Program Taking Root

bySumaiya Malik

When Tamara Stutz heard about a free tree planting program at her neighbor’s house, she was sold. Coordinators from TreeFolks, an Austin-based non-profit, had reached out to property owners in her neighborhood outside Manor offering to plant trees in an effort to prevent floods.

“This is a 100-year floodplain we are standing on,” Stutz said when Reporting Texas visited in April.

By February 2020, Stutz had more than 1,800 saplings planted on 3⅓ acres of her 30-acre farm. Her part of the bargain: Leave them alone. The trees would fend for themselves. Stutz was so delighted with how the saplings progressed that she asked TreeFolks to come again in 2021.

Stutz gets trees and protection against erosion and everyone benefits from the carbon dioxide-sequestering potential of her saplings. TreeFolks earns carbon credits for planting the trees, which the organization then sells to the City of Austin. 

A carbon credit is “a tradable credit granted to a country, company, etc., for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases by one metric ton,” […]

Sex Workers Struggle as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues

byShelby Woods and Andrew Roberts

Bars, strip clubs and brothels have been shut down as non-essential businesses across the country closed for the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many sex workers out of a job. “It has completely stopped business,” said Mistress Natalie King, a dominatrix in New York City. “There are no in-person sessions to be had.” And unlike millions of […]

What Collapse of Oil Prices Means for Texas’ Future

byTyler Lewis

Slack demand caused by the coronavirus crisis on top of excess production translates into a perfect storm for the global oil industry.

Texas’ Membership-only Card Clubs Circumvent Gambling Laws

byReid Jowers

Some gamblers have started using a loophole in state law to play cards for money at so-called card clubs.

Texas Plays Its Role in America’s Board-Game Comeback

byKatherine Corley

A renewed interest in board games has spawned an increase in amateur board game developers, particularly in Lone Star hotspots Dallas and Austin.

Short-Term Austin Rentals Point to Longer-Term Problems

byRobert Larkin

Critics say short-term rentals are putting upward pressure on housing prices in Austin.

Austin’s VW Bus Guru Brings the People’s Vehicle Back to Life

byMary Cantrell

Volkswagen vans are getting harder to find because of nostalgic demand for “a whole stack of metaphors on wheels.”

A Veterans’ Gaming Charity Blazes Trails, But Opens Old Wounds

byZach Caldwell

As Operation Supply Drop expanded beyond video games for overseas military, its founder left, saying the organization had become “just another veteran’s charity.”

Fewer Foreign Applicants Could Mean Fewer Jobs Around Texas Colleges

byDanielle Smith

A national survey found that international students generated $1.9 billion in economic activity in Texas in the 2015-16 school year.

Austin Company’s Rifle Magazines Will Go Into the Field With Marines

byZach Caldwell

Soldiers were already buying Magpul ammo holders because of their superior reliability over standard-issue models.

Easy Come, Easy Go: Tattoo Removal Isn’t Such a Big Deal Now

byBetsy Joles

The availability of laser treatment is prompting many to get rid of their body art.

Analysts: Trump Immigration Policies Could Spell Trouble for the Texas Economy

byMolly Smith and Lynda Gonzalez

A policy of mass deportation would have a significant effect on Texas’ economy, which depends on immigrant laborers to fill jobs in its construction, agriculture and hospitality industries, according to economists and industry insiders.

Tech Firms Increasing Their Recruiting Efforts Among Veterans

byDagney Pruner

Tech recruiting firms are seeking talent among former service members. One appeal: Their dedication and ability to adapt to challenging situations — traits well suited for the tech field.