Lone Star Deep Dive

Tonya Kleuskens

5.0 (1)
Politics

Welcome to Lone Star Deep Dive! We believe that when we take the time to talk to one another, we often find connections that lead to a better understanding of our communities, our state, our nation -- and ourselves. Join us on a journey to explore the intersection of passion, personality and public policy.

Sep 3

Shannon Lackey - Randall County Texas, Election Administrator

In Episode 46, Tonya talks with Randall County Texas Election Administrator, Shannon Lackey, who answers all the big questions about the registration process and the abundance of misinformation showing up in our inboxes and social media. As Tonya has mentioned a lot on this podcast, voting rights and voting education are what the League of Women Voters was organized around and dedicated to for the past 106 years. Remember that you can always find an abundance of voting information at the League's nonpartisan voter info portal, Vote411.org. Find out how to register, check your registration status, learn who will be on your ballot, and access the full Nonpartisan Voters Guide online. So when our local libraries, coffee shops, and grocery stores run out of print copies of the LWV Voters Guides, just know that it's always available online at Vote411.org. Shannon Lackey is the Randall County Elections Administrator. She was appointed as Randall County’s first Election Administrator in December of 2012, though she began her career in elections in 2006. She was appointed as the Election Manager in the County Clerk’s office and served under two county clerks before the appointment to Elections Administrator. Shannon is a Texas Registered Election Official (TREO) and CERA (Certified Election/Registration Administration). (CERA is the highest National certification that can be achieved in the Election Administration profession.) She currently serves on the Legislative Committee for Texas Association of County Election Officials (TACEO), the Election Education Committee for Texas Association of Counties (TAC), and Shannon has served on the Board of the Texas Association of County Election Officials. DIVE DEEPER! Randall County Election Administration LWV Vote411 Texas Texas State Law Library Voting in Texas Texas Secretary of State
Aug 29

Melissa Musick Nusssbaum - Eden Bleeding

Vote 411 - Information for registering to vote, candidates for your ballot and more. On Episode 44, we are featuring a beautifully-presented talk by Colorado-based author and columnist, Melissa Musick Nussbaum. It's titled Eden Bleeding: Reflections on a Century of Groundwater Use. Melissa reflects on her family and memories of growing up in Swisher County, Texas, recalling a life when water from the Ogallala Aquifer gushed from the earth. (The original talk was given at the Conference on Community Water in February of 2026. Watch the video with her slideshow of memories from her time growing up, before the resource of water was critically endangered. Melissa Musick Nussbaum is a teacher, author and speaker. She is a regular columnist for the National Catholic Reporter and Celebration. Melissa grew up in Swisher County in the town of Tulia, TX; she has lived for many years in Colorado Springs, CO. DIVE DEEPER! Ogallala Commons (YouTube) Ogallala Common (Website) National Catholic Reporter
Aug 21

Dr. Chris Grotegut - The Vision, County Wide Water Supply District

VOTE 411 In episode 43, we listen to Dr. Chris Grotegut from Deaf Smith County, TX, where he recently spoke at the 2026 Community Water Conference, presented by Ogallala Commons. As Chairman of the Hereford Economic Development Corporation, Chris maps out the vision for replenishing community water by establishing a 60,000-acre aquifer replenishment zone. Watch the YouTube video here. We apologize for the places in the audio that cut out a bit. The content of the conversation can be helpful for other communities facing the same water concerns, so we are using the audio that we have. Chris is a first-generation son of German immigrants, now living in Deaf Smith County, TX with his wife and two sons. He and farm manager, Eugenio Porres, have been transitioning an 11,000-acre irrigated farm to native perennial grasslands since 2013. The Grotegut family also owns and operates a veterinary clinic in Hereford, TX. DIVE DEEPER! Hereford Economic Development Corporation City of Hereford High Plains Underground Water Conservation District Drought Monitor
Aug 4

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 CommonsAdaptive Grazing: Managing DroughtRestoring Ecosystem Function
Jul 23

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
Jun 30

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
Jun 19

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! YouTube with slides presentation 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 Bill Gates Notes: ”The turbulent era of AI is here. The choices we make are critical.”
Jun 17

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

Welcome to Lone Star Deep Dive! We believe that when we take the time to talk to one another, we often find connections that lead to a better understanding of our communities, our state, our nation -- and ourselves. Join us on a journey to explore the intersection of passion, personality and public policy.

Creator

Tonya Kleuskens
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

49
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© League of Women Voters of Amarillo
Show Website

Lone Star Deep Dive