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The city of Palestine was a railroad town if there ever was one.

Palestine is a midpoint between Dallas, Houston, and Shreveport. In 1872, the town raised bonds worth over $5 million in today’s dollars for a railroad company that would become Union Pacific. In exchange, the company pledged to build a depot and workshops in the town, and remain there “forever and thereafter.”

The City of Palestine and Anderson County have been trying to hold Union Pacific to that pledge, since in the present day, the railroad has designs on leaving the town altogether. But the final chance to make their case may have already come and gone

Amber Gaudet, transportation reporter for the Dallas Morning News, spoke to Texas Standard about the history of the agreement and the current court fight. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: First, describe how big of a deal Union Pacific’s been in Palestine over the years.

Amber Gaudet: I mean, you know, this has always been a rail town. They employed at one point over a thousand rail workers.

Something that I heard from officials is these are some of the highest paying jobs left in Anderson County, which has a per capita income of $23,000. You know, these rail jobs typically pay around $50-$60,000 from what they’ve told me. And, you know, this is one of the top 20 employers in the city of Palestine.

So, you know, officials say this closure would really hurt the local economy because railroad jobs have always been the lifeblood of the town. And Palestine’s really built its reputation around being a rail town.

I visited a few months ago and there are signs of the railroad on pretty much every street. So, you know, railroad theme parks, little caboose is in front of the businesses signifying membership in the in the Chamber of Commerce there. So, I mean, people there who their family has worked for Union Pacific for generations really can’t imagine it being anything else.

Part of the identity of the town, it sounds like. So why is Union Pacific so keen to leave Palestine? And where would it go?

Yeah, they’ve been fighting for years to close the freight rail repair shop there. They say that they have to send their rail cars thousands of miles out of the way for repair there and that the shop is severely outdated.

And so this is just a business decision at the end of the day. Their argument in court has been that this jobs pact restricts interstate commerce, which is preempted by federal law that was passed after the contract was signed.

And, you know, so far the courts have agreed with that decision, at least the last ruling in the case the county was trying to fight by asking the Texas Supreme Court to agree to hear the case again. But that was denied last week.

Well, you said “jobs package.” I was struck by the language of the company promising to build a depot and have workshops, stay there forever and thereafter. That sounds pretty unambiguous here.

Yeah. You know, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these shop agreements were actually pretty common, especially among railroads. Some of them still exist today – not just in Texas, but in other states across the nation. Some of these still exist.

But as rail started to decline and we had the Great Depression, widespread adoption of automobile, the airplane, things like that… Then rail companies started dropping passenger service. And, you know, a lot of them filed for bankruptcy.

So these jobs pacts just kind of fell by the wayside. And this is, I guess, one of the last vestiges of that.

Well, now I understand that the Texas Supreme Court recently declined to hear this case between Palestine and Union Pacific. Does that mean that the city has run out of ways to compel Union Pacific to stay in town?

So the county has one avenue left. They can petition the court for a rehearing, which their attorney has said they will do within 30 days.

But those pleas rarely succeed. And if the court denies that motion, then there are no avenues left and Union Pacific can close that shop.

If Union Pacific pulls out of Palestine, does that mean an end to the relationship altogether?

Well, you know, Union Pacific will still run trucks through the town, which the critics in Palestine have said that if the railroad is going to continue to use the land there, then they should either honor its promise or give that land back.

Is there any timeline here? Do we know what the next foot to drop might be?

So like I mentioned, the attorneys said that they plan to file that motion for rehearing within about 30 days. And then there is no specific deadline for the court to make a decision.

But on average, they usually take about 60 days to rule on those petitions for rehearing. If they decide against that, at that point, Union Pacific could close it the same day theoretically, although they haven’t given a specific timeline.

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The Houston metro might be a concrete jungle, but it's also home to the largest lagoon in Texas. Lagoonfest Texas is located in Texas City, where you'll find an all-summer-long celebration centered around a 12-acre, 24-million-gallon oasis that's so clear, you can see straight through to the bottom. Come escape the chaos of city life and kick back with your toes in the sand while sipping a frozen cocktail — life doesn't get much better than that!

Spanning 12 acres, this crystal-clear lagoon near me is by far one of the largest lakes in Texas.

Tucked away on Lago Mar Boulevard in Texas City, it's the site of Lagoonfest Texas, an epic celebration of summer that runs six days a week beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Festivalgoers will enjoy tons of water activities, including an inflatable waterpark and slides.

Unleash your inner child, or sip cocktails on the beach while the kids play - set the pace; the choice is all yours!

And plenty of rentals are available, from sailboats, bumper boats and kayaks to standup paddleboards, and the coolest aqua cycles.

Speaking of kicking back with your toes in the sand, there are several ways to go about it.

Private cabanas, lounge chairs, and even rooftop decks are available for rent, offering various levels of luxury to suit everyone's needs.

For those seeking a quieter experience, Paradise Shore Beach is a private, secluded alcove with limited capacity.

Don't worry - you'll still have access to all the festivities on the mainland - only with the addition of

a tranquil oasis to escape the high-energy Lagoonfest atmosphere whenever the mood strikes.

An entire food court plaza boasts all sorts of delicious eats, with everything from juicy burgers to mouthwatering tacos.

In addition, there are have several different bars to choose from, all of which serve the most refreshing frozen cocktails.

You'll also be treated to live music every weekend, and concert ticketholders get exclusive early admission into Lagoonfest.

Evening hours are extended so you can jam out under the stars.

Ticket prices vary based on how long you'd like to stay as well as the amenities and upgrades you intend to purchase.

Doesn't the largest lagoon in Texas sound like the best way to spend a vacation this summer? Visit the Lagoonfest Texas website or Facebook page for more information, including hours, prices, and ticket purchases. Have you ever been to Lagoonfest Texas? If so, we'd love to hear all about your experience in the comments section below.

If you're traveling through, spend the night in a vintage train car at the Galveston Railroad Museum in Texas, about 20 minutes down the road.

Central Galveston County has been under a Flash Flood Warning from the National Weather Service since just after 5 a.m.

TEXAS CITY, Texas — Emergency management officials in Texas City are warning residents to stay off the roads as storms lead to flooded roadways.

Parts of the area have seen three to six inches of rainfall Friday morning.

RELATED: Weather Impact Alert Day: Flash Flood Warning for Harris County until 9:45 a.m.

RELATED: LIST: High water locations, street flooding as heavy rain falls in the Houston area

“We are experiencing numerous flooded roadways and flooded vehicles. Please stay off of the roads until the water recedes,” officials said in an alert sent out.

They also said all of the Texas City buildings and facilities will be closed until noon.

Central Galveston County has been under a Flash Flood Warning from the National Weather Service since just after 5 a.m. when storms began to bring heavy rains to the area.

Multiple high-water spots have been reported in the area. One on the Gulf Freeway heading north near Holland brought traffic to a crawl coming from Galveston.

HIGH WATER: check this out, 45 Gulf northbound at Holland. Traffic is very slow going only able to use a far left lane with high water on the highway. Take care friends. @KHOU @chitakhou pic.twitter.com/T6DN5elCW4

— Jennifer Reyna (@JenReynaTV) July 26, 2024

Video also showed the Dickinson Bayou just off the Gulf Freeway near Old Bayou Road overflowing its banks into backyards, business parking lots, and neighborhood streets.

The heavy rains also led to backups on some of the feeder roads through both towns where drivers were left stalled out and in some cases even had to be towed to safety.

WEATHER IMPACT ALERT | The Texas City Office of Emergency Management is asking people to stay off the roads until water recedes. They're reporting flooded roads and vehicles.https://t.co/86O46JJqiG pic.twitter.com/We0TpCvzl8

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) July 26, 2024

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Texas’ most populous cities lost roughly 88 billion gallons of water last year because of aging water infrastructure and extreme heat, costing them millions of dollars and straining the state’s water supply, according to self-reported water loss audits.

The documents show that bigger municipalities are not immune to water issues often seen in smaller, less-resourced communities around the state. All but one big city saw increased water loss from last year's audits.

While cities are losing water because of inaccurate meters or other data issues, the main factors are leaks and main breaks.

Here's how much each of Texas' biggest cities lost last year, according to their self-reported audits:

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Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and El Paso must submit water loss audits to the Texas Water Development Board yearly. Other water agencies must do audits only every five years, unless the city has over 3,300 connections or receives money from the board.

“What we have right now is not sustainable [or] tenable,” said Jennifer Walker, National Wildlife Federation’s Texas Coast and Water Program director.

The cities of Houston and Dallas saw the biggest increase in lost water reported. Houston saw a 30% jump from last year's audit, while Dallas saw an increase of 18%.

Houston is the largest populous city in the state, home to roughly 2.3 million Texans; it lost around 31 billion gallons of water last year.

Houston Public Works blames the region's long drought from June 2022 to December last year for the increase. Droughts cause clay in soil to dry up and shrink, stressing older water lines and making them more likely to break and leak. Officials said this, combined with aging infrastructure, led to a significant increase in water leaks across the city.

“HPW will continue to pursue all funding options available to help replace aging infrastructure,” the Houston spokesperson said.

Aging infrastructure isn’t only a Houston problem. Dallas officials said they only expected a roughly 4% increase in water loss in 2023. They saw a double-digit increase instead.

A Dallas Water Utilities spokesperson said the city is investigating the cause of the increase and “reviewing records to ensure all allowable unbilled/unmetered authorized uses were properly accounted for in the 2023 calculation.”

On the other side of North Texas, Fort Worth saw an increase from 5.6 billion gallons lost in 2022 to 5.9 billion gallons in 2023, losing Cowtown more than $8 million.

Walker, from the National Wildlife Federation, said numbers are also rising because cities are getting more accurate in reporting water loss.

Fort Worth has a “MyH2O program” that replaced all manual read meters with remote read meters and implemented a Real Water Loss Management Plan in 2020 to focus the city efforts related to leak surveys, leak detection and the creation of district metering areas.

“It is actually a testament to how we are using available data to make better decisions and improve reporting with a higher level of confidence,” said Fort Worth Water Conservation Manager Micah Reed.

Last year, voters passed a proposition that created a new fund specifically for water infrastructure projects that are overseen by the Texas Water Development Board.

The agency now has $1 billion to invest in projects that address various issues, from water loss and quality to acquiring new water sources and addressing Texas’ deteriorating pipes. It’s the largest investment in water infrastructure by state lawmakers since 2013.

Walker calls the $1 billion a “drop in the bucket.”

Texas 2036, an Austin-based think tank, expects the state needs to spend more than $150 billion over the next 50 years on water infrastructure.

While some of the Texas Water Fund must be focused on projects in rural areas with populations of less than 150,000, Walker said the bigger cities could also receive some funding.

In San Antonio, the San Antonio Water System isn’t “waiting for [the state] to come and tackle the problem for us.”

The city lost around 19 billion gallons of water in 2023 and has seen an increase over the last five years.

“We're in a state that doesn't even fund public education,” said Robert Puente, president and CEO of the San Antonio Water System. “So good luck to us getting some money from the state on these issues.”

Earlier this week, the SAWS board of trustees unanimously approved a new five-year water conservation plan.

The city of Austin lost around 7 billion gallons of water in 2023.

Austin has hired a consultant to review it's water loss practices and metrics, according to city officials. The capital city is also in the process of replacing water mains around Austin.

Walker said while Texas lawmakers should invest more money in water infrastructure, city officials also need to hire more staff and better planning to address water loss.

The one city that lost less water in 2023 was El Paso, which reported losing 475 million fewer gallons last year. Since El Paso is in the desert, water conservation and having a “watertight” infrastructure is the city's main focus, said Aide Fuentes, El Paso Wastewater Treatment Manager.

“That makes us a little bit different from the rest of Texas in that sense,” Fuentes said.

El Paso Water officials aim to reduce water loss by 44%.

Walker said the data shows that cities should make the case to state lawmakers to continue addressing water infrastructure in the next legislative session. She added this issue isn’t going away.

“We really need [to] try to live with what we have and not lose the water that we already have in place and make sure that it's reaching its intended destination,” Walker said.

Disclosure: San Antonio Water System and Texas 2036 have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!

A city in southern Texas received more than its average monthly rainfall on Wednesday, and more is expected as Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in Mexico early Thursday morning.

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a slew of advisories along the coasts of Texas and Louisiana as Tropical Storm Alberto sent rough waters and foul weather miles away from the storm's center. The system is the first tropical storm of what many experts have predicted will be a very active hurricane season.

Read more: Learn About Emergency Funds and Where to Keep Them

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm's maximum sustained winds in Mexico were documented at 50 miles per hour. However, the NHC stressed that people near the storm shouldn't focus on the forecast path, as the storm is very large and could bring impacts such as rainfall, flooding, and wind far from its center, including in Texas.

After a heavy day of rain on Wednesday, Brownsville, Texas, saw more than 4 inches of rain in some spots, exceeding its average monthly rainfall of 3.86 inches. According to the NWS office in Brownsville, some lingering rain was expected on Thursday, with around half an inch forecast for Brownsville and 1.5 inches forecast in surrounding areas.

Newsweek reached out to NWS Brownsville by phone for comment.

"Rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Alberto will begin to diminish today across southern Texas," the NHC said. "Rainfall associated with Alberto, however, will continue to impact large regions of Central America, north across northeastern Mexico. This rainfall will likely produce considerable flash and urban flooding along with new and renewed river flooding."

Read more: How to Build an Emergency Fund

As of Thursday morning at around 7:20 a.m. Eastern time, there were some lingering weather advisories in place in southern Texas related to the tropical storm, including a tornado watch, a flood warning, and a tropical storm warning, among others.

"Even with Alberto making landfall, some hazards are still expected to linger through today and possibly into tomorrow," the NWS tropical storm warning said. "Beach and marine conditions are expected to remain hazardous through today and tomorrow. This includes coastal flooding up to 3 feet, deadly rip current, high surf, and isolated gusty winds and low visibilities in isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms. Another 2-4 inches of rainfall is also possible today."

The heavy rainfall could benefit Texas's drought, which is documented as severe for more than 93 percent of Cameron County where Brownsville is located. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor Map was issued on Thursday but only includes data through Tuesday, before the bulk of the rain arrived.