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Lone Star Deep Dive

Lone Star Deep Dive

by Tonya Kleuskens

Government Politics

Season 2

Fernando Falomir - Fifth generation rancher - Chihuahua, Mexico

In episode 42, we are listening in on fifth-generation cattle rancher Fernando Falomir from Chihuahua, Mexico; he recently spoke at the 2026 Community Water Conference, presented by Ogallala Commons. On the Falomir Ranch, they have learned to manage their land with an average of four inches of annual rainfall. What Fernando has to say should make the 17-inch annual rainfall in the High Plains feel like a tropical rainforest! You can view Fernando’s video presentation, complete with slides here. Spanish version video here. Fernando Falomir studied biogeochemistry at the University of Colorado and got involved with holistic management in 2004. In 2017, after many years of hard work following regenerative principles, as well as the utilization of animals as the primary tool for land restoration, the family ranch reached a productivity of 40 acres per animal unit. DIVE DEEPER! All of the speakers at the Community Water Conference are listed here. Ogallala Commons Adaptive Grazing: Managing Drought Restoring Ecosystem Function

Dr. Robert Mace - Water Policy & Correlative Rights

In Episode 41, Tonya presents the first speaker from the Community Water Conference, organized by Ogallala Commons, earlier this year. Dr. Mace, speaks about Water and Texas Policy. To view the video of Dr. Mace’s presentation, including slides, you can find it here. Dr. Robert Mace is the Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Texas State University. Robert has over 30 years of experience in water resources and policy. DIVE DEEPER! Ogallala Commons The Meadows Center for Water an the Environment

From Aquifers to Policy

In Episode 40, Tonya offers a webinar produced by the League of Women Voters of Texas earlier this year. Teri Marsh, Water Advocacy Chair for LWV Texas, hosts "From Aquifers to Policy." More information about our presenters, Natalie Ballew (Groundwater Division Director at the Texas Water Development Board) and Adam Foster [Executive Director of Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, can be found below. Additionally, please scroll down to Dive Deeper for a link to the full video on YouTube, which includes some highly informational slides. Natalie Ballew is the Groundwater Division Director at the Texas Water Development Board, bringing expertise in groundwater resources and policy development. They provide direction and guidance for the TWDB Groundwater Division, which encompasses Groundwater Monitoring, Groundwater Modeling, Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS), and Groundwater Technical Assistance. Their work supports the collection, interpretation, and provision of accurate information on Texas's groundwater resources to various stakeholders. Adam Foster became the Executive Director of TAGD in February 2024, bringing over 15 years of experience in groundwater science and regulation. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and serves as the primary point of contact for TAGD members, the Texas Legislature, state agencies, and other organizations on groundwater-related issues. Before joining TAGD, Adam served as the Program Hydrologist for the Water Well Program at the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR), where he worked closely with groundwater conservation districts on a wide range of groundwater management and policy matters. Prior to his tenure at TDLR, he was a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Adam holds a Master of Science in Chemistry from Texas State University, where he also earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. DIVE DEEPER! From Aquifers to Policy - Video with slides Explore Texas Water Development Board State Water Planning Planning Group Schedule: Find you region! Region A (Panhandle) Reports Aquifers Map Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District PGCD Rules & Meetings Schedule PGDC helpful links

LWV Dallas & Adrian Shelly - AI in Texas

On Episode 39, Tonya is sharing the Dallas League of Women Voters discussion with Adrian Shelly, Director of Public Citizen’s office in Texas. Adrian will lead us through important questions concerning AI Projects Proposed throughout Texas, such as: —What are the Financial, Water and Energy Impacts? —Why are some communities fighting hard against them? —How much nuclear energy is proposed to support AI projects and how would it aﬀect Texans’ air, water, health, and safety? Adrian Shelly is a native Texan from the City of Houston. He is the Director of Public Citizen’s Texas Office. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. Adrian has worked in Clean Air Act litigation, in the Texas legislature, and as the Executive Director for Air Alliance Houston. While working in Houston, he oversaw passage of diesel truck engine idling ordinances in Houston, Galena Park, and Jacinto City. Adrian joined Public Citizen in 2017 as the Director of the Texas Office. He works on issues including clean energy, public health and environmental enforcement, environmental justice, and ethics reform. At Public Citizen he has celebrated victories including the passage of climate plans in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio and the planned closure of coal plants including the J.K. Spruce plant in San Antonio. Adrian enjoys spending time with his family, reading, playing music, growing food and other plants, and being outdoors. Let’s listen now to “Is AI Right for Texas?” on the Lone Star Deep Dive podcast. Thanks for listening! DIVE DEEPER! Texas is becoming a Data Center Hot Spot. Sierra Club: Wading into Data Centers. Public Citizen: Policy Solutions for Data Centers LWV: Data Center Gold Rush

John Umphress - Beekeeping in Texas

In Episode 38, John Umphress is back to talk with Tonya about his personal beekeeping and honey production and pollinators in food production. What does this have to do with public policy? Well, Tonya is forever curious about the interests of our guests and the life behind each politically aware and involved person we talk to! John Umphress is a life-long resident of Texas with more than 4 decades of experience in public policy, mostly in the fields of water and energy resources. Prior to his retirement, John spent 14 years at Austin Energy, where he developed the residential energy code for the city of Austin with the goal being design and construction of net zero homes. He is currently a beekeeper running 240 colonies and is building a zero-energy home in Burnet County. DIVE DEEPER! Honey Flow Texas Beekeepers Association Power Plants for Pollinators

Michael Ford - Panhandle Taxpayers for Transparency

In Episode 37, Tonya talks with Michael Ford about project Matador and Fermi in the Texas Panhandle, AI Data Centers in general and his organization, Panhandle Taxpayers for Transparency (also known as PT4T). He'll explain their work contesting the case over the proposed 93 gas turbines planned for the project, and why they are following up with a lawsuit against the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Mike Ford is a respected authority in the nuclear industry, bringing over 40 years of extensive experience spanning nuclear fuel cycles, advanced research, and strategic nuclear policy. As the host of The Nuclear Inner Critic podcast, Mike also leads critical discussions emphasizing transparency, accountability, and safety during our nation's resurgence of nuclear power. His insightful commentary provides constructive scrutiny of the crucial developments shaping today's nuclear landscape. Mike’s distinguished public service includes a decade and a half as a governor-appointed official in Texas, notably as Chair of the Texas Radiation Advisory Board and as the inaugural chair of the Texas Interstate Compact Commission for nuclear waste management. Beyond his nuclear expertise, Mike is passionate about civil liberties and constitutional freedoms, co-foundingPRA4Freedom.org, a grassroots initiative advocating for individual rights during COVID. This work tracks with his founding of PT4T more than a decade ago to inform Texas Panhandle residents about matters that affect city budgets and how our local government officials are spending public funds. DIVE DEEPER! Nuclear Inner Critic Podcast Panhandle Taxpayers for Transparency (PT4T) - FaceBook Panhandle Taxpayers for Transparency (PT4T) - Website Legal Support for PT4T - GoFundMe The Rain We Keep

Episode 36: Floyd Hartman

In Episode 36, Tonya talks with Floyd Hartman about his life in the Texas Panhandle, including his service to the City of Amarillo and his recent post at The RANGE. He serves as the Principal Investigator for Water Stewardship with The RANGE, "an industry-led innovation in research and development, forging strategic industry and education partnerships, prioritizing workforce development, and ensuring a healthy, secure, and dependable supply of food, fiber, and fuel." Floyd Hartman is a third‑generation, lifelong resident of Randall County. He grew up with a strong farming background that shaped his work ethic and commitment to community. For more than three decades, he has built a career in municipal water supply and public service, including over 25 years in executive leadership roles and service as Interim City Manager for a city of more than 200,000 residents. His work has focused on infrastructure, water resource management, and collaborative governance, along with long-standing involvement in regional and state water planning efforts. Community service has always been central to his life, from church and youth sports to broader civic engagement. Floyd has been married to his wife Terrie for 42 years, and they are proud of their three children and eight grandchildren. He holds a Masters of Public Administration-Government Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education/Business Administration; these degrees, as well as his extended career in public service, is what qualified him highly to work at The RANGE. His service to the community comes from a career of dedication and includes the following: Board Member, Panhandle Water Planning Group (Region A) · 2015–2025 Chairman, Region 1 Upper Red River/Canadian Flood Planning Group · 2020–2023 Member, Panhandle Legislative Advisory Committee on Water Resources · 2025–Present Member, American Water Works Association – Texas Section Member, Texas Water Utilities Association · Since 1995 Retired Volunteer Firefighter, City of Canyon · 1994–2003 DIVE DEEPER! THE RANGE Amarillo Water Utilities Texas A & M University: The Future of Produced Water Recycling Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District Region 1, Canadian-Upper Red Flood Planning Region

Episode 35: Laurie Higgins-Kerley

In Episode 35, Tonya invited Laurie Higgins-Kerley onto the podcast to explore how her nonprofits, Dove Creek Equine Rescue and Led by Horses, have become a place where horses and humans heal together — and how anyone experiencing difficulty can find comfort and resilience in equine therapy. Laurie Higgins-Kerley is the Founder and Executive Director of Dove Creek Equine Rescue (DCER), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization she established in 2012 in Canyon, Texas. Inspired by her own profound healing with horses following the loss of her husband in 2008, Laurie built DCER into a thriving rescue and rehabilitation center dedicated to giving horses - who have experienced abuse, neglect, or surrender - a second chance at life. Under her leadership, Dove Creek has grown into a place where horses and humans heal together, each animal’s journey back to health mirroring the resilience and renewal she witnesses every day in the people who come alongside them. In 2017, Laurie earned her Equine-Assisted Coaching certification through the Academy of Coaching with Horses and founded Led By Horses, an equine-assisted coaching program at Dove Creek Equine Rescue. She has since received another certification from the EAL Academy in 2022 focusing on team building and is currently in the Equus Academy certification program with Kelly Wendorf. Drawing on horses’ extraordinary capacity to reflect human emotion and behavior with complete honesty and without judgment, Led By Horses creates transformative experiences for women veterans, first responders, grief groups, and corporate teams. Participants consistently describe breakthroughs in self-awareness, emotional regulation, and authentic leadership - discovering, through relationship with a horse, who they are when the noise of the world falls away. Laurie brings over two decades of experience as a retreat facilitator, holistic healing practitioner, and certified yoga teacher to everything she does. Her work is grounded in earth-based and indigenous wisdom traditions, and she holds a deep belief that healing is not a destination but a living, unfolding relationship, with ourselves, with the natural world, and with the horses who so generously show us the way. She makes her home in Canyon, Texas, with her husband Greg and their dogs and cat- where the high plains sky and the herd at Dove Creek remain her greatest teachers: "Our Vision is to heal the heart of humanity through authentic partnership with horses.” DIVE DEEPER! Dove Creek Equine Rescue

Is Nuclear Right for Texas

In Episode 34, Tonya joins the League of Women Voters of Dallas for their webinar, "Is Nuclear Right for Texas?," which took place in March 2026. This online event featured two professionals from the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS): Diane D’Arrigo and Tim Judson. They share their research and concerns about leaning on nuclear power as an environmental choice for Texas’ growing power needs. Diane D’Arrigo, Radioactive Waste Project Director, NIRS: Diane's main area of expertise is radioactive waste and radiation issues. In addition, she has considerable international experience. Diane has closely followed so-called “low-level” nuclear waste issues for decades, as well as national and international moves to deregulate nuclear waste that would allow it to be made into everyday household items and be dumped as regular trash. She has been with NIRS since 1986 and has a degree in chemistry and environmental studies and work experience in analytical chemistry and biological research. Tim Judson, Executive Director, NIRS: Tim joined NIRS in September of 2013 as the Associate Director, and he has served as Executive Director since 2014. Tim leads the organization's work on nuclear reactor and climate change issues, and he has written a series of reports on nuclear bailouts and sustainable energy. Tim also serves as chair of the Board of Citizens Awareness Network, one of the lead organizations in the successful campaign to close the Vermont Yankee reactor. He's also co-founder of the Alliance for a Green Economy. DIVE DEEPER! Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) League of Women Voters Dallas

Season 1

Episode 33: Claudia Stravato

In Episode 33, Tonya talks with Claudia Stravato about the Amarillo League of Women Voters study of Maternal Mortality & Morbidity and recent actions that have addressed concerns related to this issue. On February 2nd, The Amarillo Tribune reported on the 2024 Texas Health and Human Services report, quoting Dr. Teresa Baker, Regional Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at TTUHSC: "...in the local service area, 30% of pregnant people suffer from preeclampsia, and as high as 20% suffer from gestational diabetes; locally, seizure disorders and chronic hypertension have higher rates in our area than the rest of the state; overall, 5% to 20% of expectant mothers in our area experience one or more of these factors." Because of these high rates in the area, bringing awareness has become a priority! Claudia Stravato is currently a Political Science Adjunct Instructor of State & Local Government at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, and a former full-time faculty Political Science Instructor of State & Local Government. She earned her Master of Science in Government & Economics, and Bachelor of Science in Government & Economics from West Texas State University. Claudia did her post-grad work in Higher Education at Texas Tech University. In her earlier career, Claudia worked for Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock (Texas Senate). She was also Chief of Staff for Bob Bullock’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor and Campaign Director for State Comptroller of Public Accounts, including having served as Regional Field Manager in the Texas Panhandle. Claudia’s full list of achievements and honors is extensive and extraordinary, and we were honored to speak with this 50+ year League member and local community advocate. DIVE DEEPER! Amarillo Tribune coverage: Local efforts to combat maternal depression, mortality and morbidity. Amarillo Public Health / Women’s Health Clinic: The clinic is dedicated to supporting women’s health through confidential and compassionate care by offering a wide range of services — from cervical cancer screenings and contraception guidance to Medicaid navigation and resources for pregnancy support. The clinic offers services tailored to meet the needs of women in Potter and Randall counties. The Women’s Clinic can connect individuals with many different types of resources. Staff will walk you through a personalized assessment to understand your unique needs and circumstances. From there, the clinic can connect you with the most appropriate in-house services and/or trusted community partners, ensuring you receive the guidance, care, and resources needed. ~ Located at 850 Martin Road (off Amarillo Blvd.), Amarillo, TX, 79107. Ph: 806-378-6329

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