https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jess-huff/The latest news by Jess Huff.enTue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/tyler-texas-light-rail/The Tyler metro area is home to about 250,000 and a growing health care hub. City leaders want to get ahead of more traffic.By Jess HuffTue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/tyler-texas-light-rail/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-cities-counties-budget-crunch/Economic uncertainty, inflation, strict state limits on property tax collections and uncertainty around future federal funds have crimped local budgets.By Joshua Fechter, Berenice Garcia, Jess Huff, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Jayme Lozano CarverThu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-cities-counties-budget-crunch/The Dallas skyline at sunset on Oct. 14, 2024.The Dallas skyline from the Top o' Texas Tower ride at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, TX on October 14, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-water-supply-crisis/A growing population, leaking pipes and changing climate threaten the state’s water supply. Texas lawmakers hope a $20 billion investment will help.By Alejandra Martinez, Berenice Garcia, Carla Astudillo, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Jayme Lozano Carver, Jess Huff, Suraj Thapa and Yuriko SchumacherThu, 11 Sep 2025 11:15:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/11/texas-water-supply-crisis/Jay Ornelas, El Paso County Water Improvement District Manager (left) and Ramon Tirres (right) in Clint, Texas on march 5, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/east-texas-water-supply-bill/The House refused Senate changes allowing exports to continue while the state studies its underground water supply. Lawmakers left the Capitol without reaching a compromise.By Jess HuffWed, 03 Sep 2025 13:57:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/03/east-texas-water-supply-bill/Lawmakers are at odds on whether to stop new water exports from East Texas, which includes the Houston County Lake.The Houston County Lake in Houston Co. on Nov. 30, 2022.Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/east-texas-water-legislation-carrizo-wilcox/A Dallas businessman has proposed studying the aquifer to see if he can pump millions of gallons out of East Texas, a plan that residents distrust.By Jess HuffMon, 25 Aug 2025 16:10:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/25/east-texas-water-legislation-carrizo-wilcox/A Dallas area businessman wants to drill for water near the Houston County Lake in East Texas. Texas lawmakers are poised to limit new extractions for at least two years.The Houston County Lake in Houston County, Texas on on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. (Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune)Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/east-texas-water-kyle-bass-cody-harris-texas-legislature/Dallas businessman Kyle Bass has proposed exporting millions of gallons of water from East Texas to other parts of the state.By Jess HuffFri, 22 Aug 2025 11:37:51 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/east-texas-water-kyle-bass-cody-harris-texas-legislature/State Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, speaks during Texas Water Day at the Texas Capitol on March 3. Harris has introduced legislation that would temporarily stop any new permits to tap into an East Texas aquifer.House Natural Resources Chairman Cody Harris, R-Palestine, speaks during Texas Water Day at the Texas Capitol on March 3, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/aransas-county-courthouse-hurricane-harvey-problems/The Aransas County courthouse was supposed to open in 2023. But officials have faced voter backlash and a constant stream of design and construction problems that have delayed the opening.By Jess HuffThu, 21 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/21/aransas-county-courthouse-hurricane-harvey-problems/In the distance, Rockport City Hall, left, and the newly-built Aransas County courthouse, right, can be seen over the boats docked in the Rockport Harbor, on June 17.The Rockport City Hall Building (left) and the newly-built Aransas County Courthouse (right) can be seen over the boats docked in the Rockport Harbor.Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/harris-county-child-care-vote/The debate over whether to ask voters to cover the program comes as the nation’s third-largest county faces a projected $270M budget shortfall.By Jess HuffMon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/harris-county-child-care-vote/Harris County Judge Lina Hildago wants taxpayers to help pay for the county's work improving the region's child care landscape.Shelbi Adams spends her morning watching over children at Katherine Sage Temple Early Learning Center, on Tuesday February 25, 2025, in Diboll.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-east-carrizo-wilcox-aquifer-wells/Texas law largely allows landowners to do what they want with the groundwater beneath them, potentially protecting the latest plan to ship water out of East Texas.By Jess HuffTue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/texas-east-carrizo-wilcox-aquifer-wells/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/east-texas-black-farmers-donald-trump/Trump’s rollback is another example of the federal government’s lackluster efforts at giving Black farmers a boost in recent years.By Jess HuffThu, 17 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/east-texas-black-farmers-donald-trump/Roy Mills speaks about growing hay at J&R Mills Family Farms in Nacogdoches County on Feb. 26, 2025.Roy Mills speaks about growing hay at J&R Mills Family Farms, on Wednesday February 26, 2025, in Nacogdoches County.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/texas-robert-roberson-execution-date/Roberson’s attorneys have asked the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals to pause his execution until the court has considered his case.By Jess Huff and Stephen SimpsonWed, 16 Jul 2025 11:51:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/texas-robert-roberson-execution-date/Shackled and chained, Robert Roberson is led away from his lawyers by an Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy Wednesday morning after a new execution date of Oct. 16, 2025 was set by presiding Judge Austin Jackson of Smith County at the Anderson County Courthouse in Palestine.Shackled and chained, Robert Roberson is led away from his lawyers by an Anderson Co. Sheriff’s Office deputy Wednesday morning after a new execution date of Oct. 16, 2025 was set by presiding Judge Austin Jackson of Smith County at the Anderson County Courthouse in Palestine.Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/crockett-texas-installs-sirens-hill-country-flood/As the public scrutinizes parts of the Hill Country for a lack of sirens during the July 4 floods, Crockett turned its own tragedy into preparedness.By Jess HuffTue, 15 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/crockett-texas-installs-sirens-hill-country-flood/The city of Crockett has secured funding to install a siren system, such as the one shown here in Comfort on July 10.A siren alert system in Comfort on Thursday July 10, 2025. Across the state in East Texas, the city of Crockett has secured the funding and has embarked on installing its own auditory alarm system.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/randall-county-gop-chair-felony-election-fraud/Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat.By Jess HuffTue, 08 Jul 2025 17:08:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/randall-county-gop-chair-felony-election-fraud/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-child-care-disabliiteis-legislature/Lawmakers added $100 million to a child care scholarship program but failed to expand access to free preschool for children with disabilities.By Jess HuffMon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-child-care-disabliiteis-legislature/Texas lawmakers added $100 million to the state's child care scholarship fund. However, advocates worry the state is falling behind taking care of its youngest living with disabilities.A students watercolors at the Learning Tree childcare center in Yoakum, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://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 Tribune