Houston Chronicle: Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill to prevent communities from banning energy practices including fracking in their areas, cementing a victory for the oil and gas industry.
Abbott's signature is the culmination of a marker he set down in January, when he took aim at local regulations affecting not only fracking but tree cutting and plastic bags. He said local regulations were leading to Texas being the "California-ized."
Critics pointed out that Abbott and other top Republicans often take umbrage...