English rock star Phil Collins, a dedicated Alamo history buff, is donating his treasure trove of Alamo Battle and Texas Revoluation artifacts to the State of Texas, the Texas General Land Office has announced. 

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon plans to renovate its Harrington Petroleum Wing to better reflect modern developments in drilling technology and enhance the museum’s account of the energy industry’s impact on the Panhandle. 

Texas’ wind power production is gaining strength. Earlier this spring, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced a new record for wind power generation in our state. On March 26, wind power production peaked at 10,296 megawatts, or nearly 29 percent of the state’s total power grid at that moment. As more wind farms appear across Texas, along with increased transmission infrastructure to deliver the power where it’s needed most, more generation records are likely to be broken in the years to come. 

Natural Bridge Caverns has opened a new and expanded visitor’s center, including a 5,000-square-foot maze and a new gift shop.

A recent survey of Texas caves turned up good news for the state’s bat population: According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, evidence of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease currently devastating populations of bats across eastern North America, hasn’t appeared in this state.  

Hikers, bikers, dog-walkers, and sightseers! The City of Austin and The Trail Foundation announce the grand opening of the long-awaited Boardwalk extension of Austin’s hike-and-bike trail. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is adding 120 acres to the future Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, including lakefront acreage that will give park visitors access to Tucker Lake. 

I’ll be headed to The Woodlands next weekend to help judge the final event of 10^th annual Houston Wine & Food Week (June 2-8 )—the elaborate Chef’s Showcase—where dozens of chefs compete for a $5,000 cash prize, Waterford crystal, and bragging rights.  Not only does this event offer participants the opportunity to learn about wine-and-food pairings and get to know some of the state’s most influential chefs, but an associated auction has funneled more than  $675,00 to local charities.

If you’re going to go to the “extreme,” then Texas is the place to do it, and next weekend, two high-voltage sporting events are revving up competition here in the Lone Star State – ESPN’s X Games and Red Bull’s Cliff Diving World Series.

A new grassroots festival is launching in Austin to showcase a relatively little-known style of Mexican folk music called huapango. 

As the nation honors those who have died in military service on Memorial Day, dozens of events pop up this weekend to celebrate freedom and the unofficial start of the summer season.

On May 5 at the Koch Theater in New York City, Food Network star Ted Allen presided over a black-tie-clad crowd of chefs, bartenders, food writers, and culinary superstars to announce the winners of the 2014 James Beard Awards for excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and education in the United States.