In West Texas, growing oil production comes with deadly highways

Mar 4, 2019
A combinations of dense traffic and time-pressed truckers has led to a spike in fatal crashes.
Trucking instructor Don Jefferies outside the training class he teaches at Houston Community College. 
Travis Bubenik for Marketplace

A look at Venezuela's economy as Maduro begins his second term

Jan 10, 2019
An estimated 5 million Venezuelans have left the country due to high poverty rates.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech during the ALBA Summit at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas on March 17, 2015.
FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images

EPA moves raise questions about future of methane reduction market

Dec 26, 2018
Texas is of course a big oil state, but it’s also home to a growing industry focused on reducing emissions of oil field methane, a climate change causing gas. But the Trump administration is loosening the rules on methane, which could leave these methane-reduction companies with a smaller market for their products and services. The […]
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Mexico's new president has an ambitious goal: end massive fuel imports from the U.S.

Dec 12, 2018
Mexico's new president wants to end massive fuel imports from the U.S.
Aerial view of an oil complex called 'Cantarell' of Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos), in the Gulf of Mexico, off Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche State, Mexico.
ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images

OPEC fights falling prices with production cuts

Dec 7, 2018
Analysts say OPEC's decision is less about raising prices, and more about stopping them from falling further.

What does this week's OPEC summit have to do with Cinderella?

Dec 5, 2018
The real action at the oil meeting in Vienna might be in a stairwell.
OPEC+ member Russia produces over 10 million barrels of oil a day
RYAD KRAMDI/AFP/Getty Images

OPEC set to meet with an eye on cutting oil production

Dec 5, 2018
OPEC oil producing countries are scheduled to meet in Vienna on Thursday to discuss possible production cuts as a way to boost prices. Oil prices have been sliding in recent months. At the recent G-20 meeting, Russian and Saudi Arabian leaders signaled a willingness to work toward cuts, but what might that mean? Click the […]

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Houston’s refineries and plants are vulnerable to hurricanes. Will a $32 billion plan save them from flooding?

Nov 27, 2018
When hurricanes hit Texas, the whole country feels it. Now, there’s a plan to lessen the blow.
A view of the Houston Ship Channel.
Travis Bubenik for Marketplace

Competition propels global airlines into smaller cities

Nov 21, 2018
Seeking less competition, global airlines are opening stops in smaller cities. But can the new routes survive?
A scene from a WOW air promotional video commemorating the start of service to/from Cleveland Hopkins Airport this past May. Less than six months later, WOW air announced that it was pulling out of Cleveland. 
Courtesy of WOW air

Oil prices slip, and their future is cloudy

Nov 20, 2018
As stock prices fell today, so did the price of oil. The price of crude has dropped 30 percent since last month amid signs the world economy and oil demand are slowing down. And there’s plenty of oil about. Even so, you might want to fill up your tank now and be worried. Influential voices […]