"If we get to a point in any case, no matter who the defendant is ... that we feel there is insufficient probable cause, we have to alert the defense and alert the court," prosecutors said Wednesday.
The massive storm spread ice, snow and freezing temperatures over huge swaths of Texas, but power grid problems left millions weathering conditions in the dark in uninsulated homes.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Bill Magness was removed from his post Wednesday. He informed the organization he will not accept his $800,000 severance.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says his order ensures "that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny." Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted: "It is time!"
The Texas blackout is a reminder that climate-driven extreme weather stresses the U.S.'s power system in many ways. Much is needed to harden the grid for the future as the number of outages increase.
Texas allows companies to sell electricity at wholesale prices. When the price of electricity skyrocketed last week, that meant exorbitant bills for many residents who had been trying to save money.
What began as a call for donations to help Texas residents hurt by the storm grew into millions of dollars that will go to several local charities. Ocasio-Cortez visited a Houston food bank Saturday.
The president's declaration provides federal funding to individuals in 77 of the state's hardest-hit counties, opening up emergency aid for home repairs, temporary housing and other assistance.
The Texas weather calamity is an "absolutely awful nightmare," says City Council member Natasha Harper-Madison. "We're desperately waiting for state and federal cavalry to come a runnin'."
Houston area residents are reporting exorbitant prices of food, water, and hotel rooms while the state continues to deal with shortages of essential items after a winter storm hit the state.
Some prominent Republicans have blamed wind and solar power for the blackouts in the storm-stricken state. But the truth is that every source of generation fell short.
Amid power and water shutdowns, the extreme cold is disrupting the food supply. Customers are finding empty grocery shelves across Texas and people desperate to stock up are forming long lines.
The Texas Democratic Party is calling for the resignation of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who went on a family vacation in the middle of a deadly winter storm. He returned, calling the trip "a mistake."
Patients and families at a children's hospital are being asked to not take showers, KUT reports. They were also told the toilets can't flush, and staff are changing linens only as needed.
Amid gripping cold, millions in Texas are in the dark. "When you've not had power for 3 1/2 days ... you begin to question whether [blackouts] are rolling at all," says Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans.
About 7 million people in Texas, including residents of Houston, Arlington, Fort Worth, Tyler and San Antonio need to boil their water to ensure it's safe for cooking and drinking.
The nonprofit Sea Turtle, Inc. says it has brought in nearly 4,500 sea turtles and counting since Sunday. Still without power, it's heating its tanks with a commercial generator donated by SpaceX.
Nearly 3 million Texans are enduring extreme cold and are without power in their homes. The embattled ERCOT, which manages the state's power grid, said power has been restored to 600,000 households.
