[ZenGum]

I'm still waiting for facts, but I have a similar view forming.

However, I've heard that the plant was there first, and the school and nursing home were built later. Who made/allowed those decisions? Or did the plant change it's practices and become more dangerous.

In general, you're right - corporations pursue the line of greatest profit, and managers on annual bonuses have incentives to gamble with public safety. Add in the Texan love of "self-regulation", and you get this.