Group urges state to ban bee-killing pesticides

The Austin-based advocacy group Environment Texas will be holding a press conference at the Capitol this Thursday to draw attention to the threats bees and other pollinators face from pesticides known as neonicotinoids. Many communities and businesses, including the city of Austin, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, have halted their use of these toxic chemicals in order to protect pollinators. Environment Texas wants the Legislature to declare a moratorium on neonicotinoids and to hold interim hearings investigating the threat to bees. Activists will be delivering 9,000 petition signatures to legislators to bring home their point that Texans demand better protections for bees. The press conference is Thursday, July 25, at 10 a.m. on the south steps of the Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave.