Elena Bruess (ellevarela.bsky.social)

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

And congrats to my amazing colleagues at @capitalandmain who won #BIB25 awards from @SABEW: @aubry_erin @Ellevarela @LAJourno @Photospice @robinurevich

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: trib.al/hPAOiMY

After Years of Gains, GOP Pushes to Roll Back Chemical Regulations -- @Ellevarela @capitalandmain capitalandmain.com/after-years-of…

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: trib.al/vfB1ItQ

Known for Its Oil, Texas Became a Renewable Energy Leader. Now It’s Being Unplugged. @Ellevarela- capitalandmain.com/known-for-its-…

"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: capitalandmain.com/its-brown-and-… by @Ellevarela for @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 capitalandmain.com/trump-administ…

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.

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.

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.

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. 💜 actionnetwork.org/letters/give-h…

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. 🔗

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: houstonlanding.org/houstons-trash…

@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.

We remain committed to supporting our members after the @Hou_Landing's board of directors voted to cease operations in mid-May. Full statement below:

This is a huge loss for Houston and the industry. Houston deserves high-quality, accessible journalism that covers our sprawling metro, especially underreported and overlooked communities. Sending love to all the people there, hope yall get hired soon 🩷

Three years. Three cities. Seven different doctors. Some misdiagnosed me. Many said my pain was in my head. All of them told me my period pain was normal. Except it was never normal. I had endometriosis and it was ruining my body. Here is my story: houstonlanding.org/endometriosis-…

“From grief to anger, anger, frustration, disbelief, fear, all of those mashed together in one. All of those feelings belong.” Excellent reporting from @DanyaPH houstonlanding.org/following-trum…

Houston spent millions for public housing to have AC. Tenants ask what went wrong houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t… via @RASchuetz