https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jess-huff/The latest news by Jess Huff.enMon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-hunting-sheep-helicopter/Aoudad sheep are joining the short list of animals Texas lawmakers allow to be shot from a helicopter, along with coyotes and feral hogs.By Jess HuffMon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-hunting-sheep-helicopter/Barbary sheep, also known as Aoudad sheep, were introduced to Texas from their native habitat in North Africa mid-20th century. Popular among hunters, considered an invasive species by farmers and ranchers, the Texas Legislature has added them to the list of animals that can be hunted helicopters, along with feral pigs and coyotes.Barbary sheep, also known as Aoudad sheep, were introduced to Texas from their native habitat in North Africa mid-20th century. Popular among hunters, considered an invasive species by farmers and ranchers, the Texas Legislature has added them to the list of animals that can be hunted helicopters, along with feral pigs an coyotes.Courtesy of Leroy Williamson/Texas Parks and Wildlifehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/Lawmakers sought to close gaps in education and support funding for agriculture, disaster preparedness and health care this year.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Jess Huff and Berenice GarciaThu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-maha-food-labels-vaccines-robert-kennedy/Texas is poised to lead the country in an initiative to inform denizens of what’s in their food. Food industry experts say it’s going too far.By Terri Langford and Jess HuffMon, 02 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-maha-food-labels-vaccines-robert-kennedy/A woman pushes her shopping cart down an aisle at a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo, Texas, on June 29, 2023.A woman pushes her shopping cart down an aisle at a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo, Texas, on June 29, 2023. According to clients of The Lord’s Pantry of Leon County, Brookshire Brothers is the only grocery store in the county which they describe as a food desert.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/29/texas-child-care-scholarship-funding/Reallocated funding for the program that will go to providers will benefit nearly 95,000 children on a waitlist for scholarships.By Jess HuffThu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/29/texas-child-care-scholarship-funding/Pita Espinosa leads a group of young children in a song that teaches Spanish words at the Learning Tree child care center in Yoakum in 2022.Teacher Pita Espinosa leads a group of young children in a song that teaches Spanish words at the Learning Tree childcare center in Yoakum on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://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 Tribune