Did Texans freeze to death because of pipeline fraud?

PLUS: What would Jesus do about trans kids?

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Good morning.

In 2002, as it operated under bankruptcy, Enron sold off its furnishings. While former employees couldn't get their retirement savings back, they could try to buy their old Aeron office chairs at a discount, take home a 200-pound stainless steel E, or just snag a color yo-yo emblazoned with the company's logo. We wish we could get our hands on one of those yo-yos now. As important as it was to see Enron's leaders brought to justice for malfeasance and new laws passed to protect investors, one of Enron's many games --- moving around energy supplies not to improve delivery but to turn huge profits at customers' expense --- appears to have popped back up after a little sleeper trick.

The deadly power failures that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 may have been caused in part by pipeline operators who withheld natural gas from generators until prices spiked. How can we know that? A former Enron energy trader, Erik Simpson, has brought a lawsuit against 92 companies on behalf of all Texans that alleges they illegally manipulated markets. Houston Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson has detailed the lawsuit in a four-part series. You can read our reaction here.

This week, with many schools back in session or about to start, we'll also be looking closely at the state of education funding. Of course we'll be watching the upcoming Republican presidential debate as well. As always, let us know what's on your mind (and if you happen to have one of those Enron yo-yos). Email us at viewpoints@houstonchronicle.com.

- The Editorial Board 

 

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Our picks

Photo by: Kin Man Hui/Staff Photographer

Did Texans freeze to death because of pipeline fraud?

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Frozen turbines didn't cause the Winter Storm blackouts. Pipeline firms allegedly withheld gas supply to drive up prices. Kansas, Oklahoma and the feds are investigating. Not Texas. 

 

Photo by: Joe Holley Eagle Pass wants border security but not Abbott's Operation Lone Star boondoggle By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board The governor's disastrous campaign has militarized a small town, stolen a public park and endangered lives.

 

Photo by: YouTube Livestream Screenshot Mike Miles and the Rocky Horde Takeover Show (Thumbs) By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Also: Pornhub carding? Paxton's Uber-shady affair. Sheriff's action movie manhunt. Menil and the tomb raiders.

 

Photo by: Bela Ugrin, HP Staff / Houston Chronicle Why Dean Corll, the 'Candyman' killer, should still give you nightmares By Lise Olsen Fifty years after Dean Corll's mass murders were discovered, we still don't know how many teen boys he killed. A toxic tale of homophobia, porn and the 1970s.

 

Photo by: Sharon Steinmann, Staff Photographer What would Jesus do about trans kids? By Craig Henderson The father of a trans daughter writes that, as a Christian and a psychologist, he's had many questions — but has no doubt about gender-affirming care.

 

Photo by: Michael Wyke, Contributor Researchers: How cops change schools By Lucy C. Sorensen, Shawn D. Bushway, John Engberg For nearly a decade now we have studied the troubling, longer-term effects school resource officers have on certain particularly vulnerable populations within a school.

 

Photo by: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images It's not just old people who support Social Security By W. Andrew Achenbaum Millennials believe the system will support their parents. And they want it for themselves, too.

 

Photo by: Texas Central Partners / Texas Central Partners All aboard? Amtrak could fast track Houston-Dallas bullet train. By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Amtrak's interest in the Houston-Dallas bullet train proposal will force Texas Central to prove that the project is even viable in the first place.

 

Photo by: Butch Dill, AP Georgia on Trump's mind? Why this indictment could sink him. By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board The racketeering charges against the former president and his associates including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, reveals how his actions depend on others to enable him.

 

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From our readers

Photo by: Texas Central Partners Houston-Dallas bullet train is a boondoggle that won't serve... Lee Avery, Spring: "I will take my four-hour schlep up I-45. How often per year do you drive to Dallas anyway?"

 

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer Heaven help HISD's special education students. TEA and Mike Miles won't. Joe Sosa, Katy: "I found your  article extremely disturbing. After teaching special education students for over 42 years, I know firsthand the time, services and support that exceptional students need to succeed."

 

Photo by: YouTube Livestream Screenshot Mike Miles' NRG show was humiliating for teachers Susan Shafer, Houston: "If Mr. Miles wants the community on his side, maybe he should take a little time to formulate a respectful plan, since it affects the livelihood of thousands of professionals he says he wants to retain."

 

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