The library.
Every report, public record, filing and news story behind our work, in one place. Each one has a short note on what it says, so you can check us yourself.
A note on paywalls. Some Lufkin Daily News stories need a subscription. They’re marked may need subscription. The note under each one tells you what we used it for, even if you can’t open it.
What we’ve published
- Powered Land
How East Texas water gets promised away without anybody asking East Texas. We were told 500 gallons a day. The records show a 13-million-gallon request and a 1.5-billion-gallon request.
- Our brief on the 2027 State Water Plan
The written comment we filed on Proposed Amendment No. 1 before the Water Development Board’s Sept. 24 hearing.
- The Texas Corporate Power Reset Act
Our memo and draft bill for the Legislature: companies chartered in Texas wouldn’t get the power to spend company money on Texas elections.
- The East Texas Dry-Cooling Mandate
Our policy proposal for cooling data centers without drinking up the aquifer.
- Our founder’s testimony
What Fawn Zion told the state in Austin, and what changed in the plan afterward.
- Wall of Shame
Energy and utility money to Deep East Texas officials, next to how they voted.
Records we pried loose
We got these through public records requests. Every one is the agency’s own file. See every request and its legal deadline.
- The City’s Data Center FAQ, as sent to Planning and Zoning
The Feb. 9 email that gave commissioners the City’s talking points on data centers.
- Planning and Zoning agenda email, draft minutes and bylaws
The Feb. 18 email sending out the Feb. 23 agenda, the draft Feb. 9 minutes and the commission’s bylaws.
- Feb. 23 Planning and Zoning agenda packet
- Feb. 23 Planning and Zoning minutes
- Feb. 23 sign-in sheet
- The Feb. 9 meeting recording
The official minutes call what residents said “concerns.” Listen and decide for yourself.
- The City’s letter asking the Attorney General to withhold records
The City cited economic development negotiations, internal policy advice and possible third-party business information.
- TCEQ Agreed Order on the Mill Creek sewage spills
About 6,100 gallons of untreated sewage, a fish kill, and 200,000 gallons of drinking water used to flush the creek. Our summary.
State water science
- TWDB Report 110: Ground-Water Conditions in Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties
The state’s 1970 study of our two counties. Pumping had pulled the Carrizo down nearly 500 feet, and the state warned there was room for only about 5 million more gallons a day. Our drawdown model uses its numbers.
- TWDB Report 327: Ground water around Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Tyler and nearby cities
Named the area between Lufkin and Nacogdoches one of East Texas’s two worst drawdown areas, pointing to the paper mills.
- The Status of Brackish Aquifer Studies in Texas
Salty groundwater under us hasn’t been studied as a water supply, so it isn’t a ready option. See the state’s zone designations.
- East Texas Regional Water Plan, Chapter 5B: Angelina County
Plans for new industry to buy water from the City, with Sam Rayburn as the long-term supply.
- State approval of the regional water plans
- State Water Plan changes after public comment
Where the board added data-center language and committed to better data on high-load digital infrastructure.
- Lake Kurth
Government filings, agendas and laws
- Pineywoods GCD proposed rule changes
Up for a public hearing Mon., Nov. 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., Kurth Lake Lodge.
- ERCOT Generation Interconnection Status report
The earliest public sign something big is coming. Our tracker reads it.
- Angelina County Commissioners Court agenda, Sept. 8, 2026
Every regular agenda has a Public Forum. County calendar.
- TCEQ agenda, Aug. 26, 2009
Lets the City divert up to 28,000 acre-feet a year from Sam Rayburn.
- Texas Water Code §36.116
- Lufkin City Charter
- SB 21 (2025): Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and HB 27 (2025): groundwater export study
- Texas Ethics Commission campaign finance search
- Who represents you
From the companies
- 1606 Corp. SEC filing
On the old North Lufkin power plant: no financing yet, no promise it closes, bought “as-is,” with pending lawsuits. Our summary.
- 1606 Corp. press release
Hired MDM Group to pitch the site to AI data centers, and lists selling its contract as an option.
- Microsoft on cutting data center water use
Says 79% of the water at its San Antonio site is recycled, reused or non-potable.
- Google’s Georgia data center on recycled water
News coverage
- AI data center planned on 1,000 acres at the former Southland millmay need subscription
- TCEQ asks the Amp Z developer if it can lower its numbersmay need subscription
- As AI data centers eye Lufkin, officials and residents debate water usemay need subscription
- County turns down Amp Z’s tax breakmay need subscription
- County hires outside legal help on data center tax dealsmay need subscription
- Angelina County seeks more authority over data centersmay need subscription
- Commissioners approve a 10-year tax break for Long Leaf Generatingmay need subscription
- 1606 Corp. signs agreement to buy the North Lufkin power plantmay need subscription
- Deadline pushed to October for the power plant salemay need subscription
- City of Lufkin has a deal to buy the paper mill’s water wellsmay need subscription
- Residents weigh in on the 2027 State Water Planmay need subscription
- Commissioners vote to ask the state for authority over data centers
- Lufkin residents blocked from speaking about AI data centers
- Letter of intent to buy AbitibiBowater’s water holdings
- Marking Texas history: Southland Paper Mills
- The 936
See something missing, or a link that broke? Tell us.