https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jess-huff/The latest news by Jess Huff.enTue, 27 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/east-texas-school-choice-closures/The schools were closed last week after years of declining enrollment. The school communities said increased choices were to blame.By Jess HuffTue, 27 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/east-texas-school-choice-closures/Starla Hill, principal at Coston Elementary in Lufkin, greets visitors on May 6. Lufkin Independent School District closed both the Coston campus and Kurth Primary at the end of the school year.Starla Hill, principal at Coston Elementary, greets visitors Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Lufkin, Texas. Lufkin Independent School District will be closing the campus at the end of the school year in an effort to reduce spending.Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-screwworm-cattle-industry-border/U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz hope to fund an operation to kill the parasitic fly before too much damage is done.By Berenice Garcia and Jess HuffWed, 21 May 2025 14:20:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-screwworm-cattle-industry-border/The U.S. has once again suspended live animal imports at the southern border as fear of screwworm grows.Cattle are brought across the U.S.-Mexico border at the livestock import/export facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on January 22, 2021.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/texas-child-marriages-ban/Before the House takes a final vote on the bill, it could face a proposal that would allow adults and minors to marry if their age gap is three years or less.By Jess HuffTue, 13 May 2025 18:06:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/texas-child-marriages-ban/The dome of the Texas State Capitol on Thursday, April 24, 2014.The dome of the Texas State Capitol on Thursday, April 24, 2014.Anneke Els Paterson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/10/texas-child-marriage-loophole/Lawmakers in 2017 took a major step to end most child marriages. However, emancipated teenagers 16 and older can get married.By Jess HuffSat, 10 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/10/texas-child-marriage-loophole/Texas lawmakers are debating a bill that would close a loophole that allows certain teenagers to marry before they are 18.The Capitol dome is seen from the north side of the complex in Austin on March 18, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-legislature-teachers-parents-protections/A fiery debate on the House floor Friday gave way to the Senate Bill 412’s final vote. Supporters say it’s needed to protect children.By Jess Huff and Sofia SorochinskaiaFri, 02 May 2025 19:16:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-legislature-teachers-parents-protections/Critics say Senate Bill 412 will lead teachers and librarians to remove any materials out of fear it could be seen as too mature. Supporters maintain it is a crucial next step in protecting Texas children.The library at Blanco Vista Elementary in San Marcos on Nov. 4, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-may-election-ending-legislature/The Texas House is considering a bill to abolish May elections, which have the lowest turnout of any election.By Jess HuffFri, 02 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-may-election-ending-legislature/Texas might end May municipal elections if the Legislature approve a bill that would move most contests to November.Love Vial, center, votes at the West Gray Multiservice Center in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 7, 2023.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-farm-loans/If approved, the legislation would expand one of the state's most popular loan programs with even lower interest rates.By Jess HuffTue, 29 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-farm-loans/A farmworker harvests spinach at Johnson's Backyard Garden, an organic farm east of Austin, on April 21, 2020.A farmworker harvests spinach at Johnson's Backyard Garden, an organic farm east of Austin, on April 21, 2020.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-gulf-of-america-name-change/Senate Bill 1717 would require the name of Gulf of Mexico to be changed in every official reference made by a state agency, resolution, rule or publication.By Jess HuffThu, 24 Apr 2025 15:27:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-gulf-of-america-name-change/Senate Bill 1717, which seeks to rename the Gulf of Mexico, was passed with 20 out of 31 senators in favor of the bill.Beach goers at the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Corpus Christi on July 6, 2024.Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-rural-trinity-hospital-closes/Residents in Trinity County will now have to travel 30 miles to access the closest hospital.By Jess HuffWed, 23 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-rural-trinity-hospital-closes/Mid Coast Medical Center in Trinity is scheduled to close April 25 after just 14 months in operation. The district is working quickly to find someone to take over the hospital, which serves the East Texas town of Trinity, about 90 miles north of Houston.Mid Coast Medical Center - Trinity is scheduled to scheduled to close after just 14 months in operation. The district is working quickly to find someone to take over the hospital, which serves the East Texas town of Trinity, about 90 miles north of Houston.Mid Coast Medical Center - Trinity websitehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/21/texas-school-vouchers-reactions/Texas Republican lawmakers in regions known for support of public schools defended voting for vouchers, saying they gained leverage to seek concessions.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Jess HuffMon, 21 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/21/texas-school-vouchers-reactions/Public school advocates rally with Democrat House members in the Texas Capitol before the Texas House started their debate on their school voucher proposal on April 16, 2025. The bill was approved the following day. As the legislation inches closer to becoming law, some Texans across the state remained skeptical of the proposal and worried about its impact on public schools.Public school advocates rally with Democrat House members in the Capitol Rotunda prior to the morning session on April 16, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/east-texas-defends-water-lake-the-pines/After a deal to pipe water from Lake O’ the Pines to North Texas came to light, residents voiced opposition everywhere they could to block it.By Jess Huff and Alejandra Martinez, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherThu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/east-texas-defends-water-lake-the-pines/Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the shores of Lake O’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water.Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the Lake o’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water, on April 9, 2025. “What about our future generations, our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What are they going to have if they take the lake?”Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/doge-texas-elon-musk-social-security/Dozens of federal offices were expected to close in Texas, but the reality continues to shift.By Jess HuffTue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/08/doge-texas-elon-musk-social-security/A Social Security recipient in Nacogdoches said the local office closing won't affect her because she has had to travel to Lufkin for services.Downtown Nacogdoches on October 3, 2022 in Nacogdoches.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-child-day-care-cost-crisis/Adding more funding to scholarships is just one way experts say state lawmakers could address Texas’ child care crisis.By Jess HuffThu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-child-day-care-cost-crisis/Clarissa Alday spends her morning reading to children at Katherine Sage Temple Early Learning Center in Diboll on Feb. 25, 2025.Clarissa Alday spends her morning reading to children at Katherine Sage Temple Early Learning Center, on Tuesday February 25, 2025, in Diboll.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/25/lufkin-texas-school-closures-private-school-vouchers/The Lufkin school district says it must do a better job of promoting itself amid growing competition from charter schools and homeschooling.By Jess HuffTue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/25/lufkin-texas-school-closures-private-school-vouchers/The Lufkin school district last week closed two schools after a sustained drop in student enrollment for more than a decade. School leaders said an increase in education options is part of the reason.Students get onto a bus following classes at Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 27, 2023. Public school officials in rural areas like Lufkin face budget challenges because of proposed school choice legislation, which provides taxpayer-funded alternatives to sending a child to a local public school.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-domestic-violence-legislation/Reported domestic violence incidents have risen 26% since 2019.By Jess HuffThu, 13 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-domestic-violence-legislation/A book and brochures on display at the East Texas Crisis Center in Tyler on Jan. 8. Several Democratic state lawmakers hope to address family violence this session.The East Texas Crisis Center, on Wednesday January 8, 2025, in Tyler.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/greg-abbott-property-taxes-voters/Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services.By Joshua Fechter and Jess HuffMon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/greg-abbott-property-taxes-voters/Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants all local governments to seek voter approval before increasing local taxes — and at least 66% must say yes for the hike to go into effect.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/30/longview-texas-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-donald-trump/Some residents see the charging stations as an economic boom to the town, while others find it an assault on the oil and gas industry in Texas.By Jess HuffThu, 30 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/30/longview-texas-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-donald-trump/Traffic makes its way through the intersection of Loop 281 and Gilmer Road in Longview on Jan. 24.Traffic makes its way throught the intersection of Loop 281 and Gilmer Road in Longview on Friday January 24, 2025.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/blueprint-for-texas-cities/Despite its history as a “frontier state,” Texans largely live in metropolitan areas that are seeing exponential growth.By Jess Huff, The Texas Tribune, and Texas Tribune Events StaffTue, 28 Jan 2025 17:10:31 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/blueprint-for-texas-cities/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/31/texas-attorney-general-state-bar-lawsuit-dismissed-brent-webster/The state bar sought to take away the law license of Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster over a Texas lawsuit challenging 2020 presidential election results.By Jess HuffTue, 31 Dec 2024 14:47:23 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/31/texas-attorney-general-state-bar-lawsuit-dismissed-brent-webster/First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conferencein Austin on June 9, 2022.First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/23/texas-nursing-home-ombudsman-program/Officials hope state lawmakers will boost the budget of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, an independent state agency, which can often be an elderly Texan’s only lifeline to the outside world.By Jess HuffMon, 23 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/23/texas-nursing-home-ombudsman-program/Advocates for Texas residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities say they need more staff and volunteers. They hope state lawmakers will help.An empty room at the Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on April 1, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune