https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/stephen-simpson/The latest news by Stephen Simpson.enFri, 10 Oct 2025 14:23:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/10/texas-summer-camps-youth-meeting-cost/During a Friday state hearing, parents of July 4 flood victims said camps should prioritize the safety even if costs are high.By Stephen Simpson and Terri LangfordFri, 10 Oct 2025 14:23:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/10/texas-summer-camps-youth-meeting-cost/Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025, after deadly flood waters washed through the region.Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/texas-naloxone-narcan-distribution-federal-budget-cuts/In addition to the cuts, local nonprofits are also having problems accessing federal help for opioid reversal medication, such as Narcan.By Stephen SimpsonTue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/texas-naloxone-narcan-distribution-federal-budget-cuts/Boxes of Narcan nasal spray at Janel Rodriguez's home in Hays County on March 30, 2023.Boxes of Narcan Nasal Spray at Janel Rodriguez's home March 30, 2023, in Hays County.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/Professors are afraid to publicly speak out, system leaders left key questions unanswered and advocates worry for LGBTQ+ students’ mental health.By Jessica Priest, Jayme Lozano Carver, Sneha Dey, Ayden Runnels, Lindsey Byman, Stephen Simpson and Terri LangfordFri, 26 Sep 2025 11:00:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/26/texas-tech-university-system-transgender-identity-restrictions/The Texas Tech University's administration building on July 8, 2020. The Texas Tech University System issued guidance Thursday instructing faculty to comply with recent executive orders and state laws recognizing only the male and female genders.View of the Administration building on the Texas Tech University campus on July 8, 2020.Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/texas-minors-21-age-limit-thc-hemp/Two state agencies have now adopted the temporary rule while they work to adopt formal rules to limit who can buy THC products.By Paul Cobler and Stephen SimpsonTue, 23 Sep 2025 11:46:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/23/texas-minors-21-age-limit-thc-hemp/THC products sit near the cash register in Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.THC products sit near the cash register in Hyde Park Market in Austin on May 5, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-family-child-protective-services-commissioner-audrey-oneill/O’Neill is the fifth commissioner of the beleaguered Texas Department of Family and Protective Services since 2012.By Stephen SimpsonThu, 18 Sep 2025 11:08:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-family-child-protective-services-commissioner-audrey-oneill/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-thc-hemp-marijuana-ban/High priority bills that propose banning THC have not moved through the Texas House, as the current overtime session could conclude in the coming days.By Stephen SimpsonFri, 29 Aug 2025 13:43:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-thc-hemp-marijuana-ban/THC edibles pictured here on July 29, 2025, outside of Midway, TX.THC edibles on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, outside of Midway, TX. Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-aca-american-camp-association-accreditation/More than 75 Texas camps have met dozens of safety standards to become accredited by the American Camp Association, which can be a lengthy and costly process.By Stephen SimpsonFri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-aca-american-camp-association-accreditation/Camp Mystic, pictured here in Hunt on July 9, 2025, was not accredited by the American Camp Association.Camp Mystic in Hunt on July 9, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-rfk-make-america-healthy-again/Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. complimented Texas as Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a prohibition on using state tax dollars on specific products with additives, among other measures.By Stephen SimpsonWed, 27 Aug 2025 16:24:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-rfk-make-america-healthy-again/U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks about the state of American health care at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 during Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of the Make America Healthy Again bill.U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks about the state of American healthcare at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 during Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of the Make America Healthy Again bill.Manoo Sirivelu/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-legislature-ivermectin-otc-prescription/Some people use the drug to treat COVID, even though it’s not approved by the FDA for such use.By Terri Langford and Stephen SimpsonWed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-legislature-ivermectin-otc-prescription/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/Senate Bill 15’s supporters say police shouldn’t be publicly maligned for unproven allegations. Critics say the bill disincentivizes agencies from properly investigating complaints.By Alex Nguyen, Hayden Betts and Stephen SimpsonFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/22/texas-police-records-g-file-senate-bill-15/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/Senators moved fast on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the second special session. With House Democrats back in Texas, bills can now move through that chamber.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Alejandra Martinez, Alex Nguyen, Ayden Runnels, Eleanor Klibanoff, Emily Foxhall, Joshua Fechter and Stephen SimpsonMon, 18 Aug 2025 21:30:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-senate-second-special-session-thc-disaster-relief-bathroom-bills/State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/texas-kratom-hemp-thc-opioid-drug/Texas law bans the sale of synthetic kratom, but it isn’t enforced. Earlier this year, legislation died in the Texas House to ban the natural plant, too.By Stephen Simpson, Data reporting by Dan KeemahillFri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/texas-kratom-hemp-thc-opioid-drug/A worker shifts a barrel of kratom inside the 1836 Kratom warehouse and headquarters in Pflugerville on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. 1836 Kratom produces the natural form of Kratom, and owners Tiffani and Jeremy Steding caution against the use of synthetic kratom, often called 7-OH.A worker shifts a barrel of Kratom inside the 1836 Kratom warehouse and headquarters Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 in Pflugerville, TX. Kratom is shipped to the United States as a crushed powder and is distributed by 1836 Kratom into various consumption forms.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-crime-labs-THC-hemp-ban-regulations/Crime lab officials told lawmakers Wednesday they are struggling to keep up with deadlier drugs like fentanyl and a THC ban or new regulations would add to the challenge.By Stephen SimpsonWed, 13 Aug 2025 15:38:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-crime-labs-THC-hemp-ban-regulations/Steve Dye, city of Allen police chief, testifies in favor of House Bill 5 banning THC during a committee hearing at the state Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Dye spoke on the worrying cost of testing THC products and enforcing regulation.Steve Dye, city of Allen chief of police, testifies in favor of Senate Bill 5 banning THC during a committee hearing at the state Capitol in Austin on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Dye spoke on the worrying cost of testing THC products and enforcing regulation.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-rural-thc-hemp-cannabis-marijuana/As lawmakers continue to debate banning hemp-derived THC, some rural Texans say it helps ease addiction, health concerns and economic woes that hit their communities the hardest.By Stephen SimpsonFri, 01 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-rural-thc-hemp-cannabis-marijuana/Romana Harding greets goats and miniature horses on her farm outside of Midway, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Romana plans to use the 10 acres she owns to make a farm for other veterans to visit and experience healing.Romana Harding greets goats and miniature horses on her farm outside of Midway, TX, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Romana plans use the 10 acres she owns to make a farm for other veterans to visit and experience healing.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-hemp-thc-senate-bill-5/The Senate’s decision signals another potential standoff with Gov. Greg Abbott, who vetoed a similar ban earlier this year as he called for more regulations instead.By Stephen SimpsonWed, 30 Jul 2025 14:26:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-hemp-thc-senate-bill-5/State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, sponsor of Senate 5 which would ban THC-containing products, speaks on the Senate floor on July 30, 2025.Employees trim leaves off a hemp flower at Caprock Family Farms, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Lubbock. The farm harvests the hemp and then manufactures the product to businesses, if requested.Annie Rice for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-thc-senate-ban-abbott-hemp/Senate Bill 5 would ban products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid, creating criminal offenses for possession of hemp-derived THC.By Stephen SimpsonTue, 22 Jul 2025 15:23:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-thc-senate-ban-abbott-hemp/Texas Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, speaks during a public hearing on his bill to ban THC at the Capitol's Senate Chambers on Tuesday.Texas Sen. Charles Perry R-Lubbock speaks during a public hearing at the Senate Chambers on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-marijuana-hemp-data-poison-control-overdose/Experts say poison control data don’t specify which calls are related to hemp versus more dangerous K2, but show that most THC poisonings cause minor side effects.By Stephen Simpson, Data reporting by Dan KeemahillTue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/texas-marijuana-hemp-data-poison-control-overdose/A container of dried hemp plant with leaves and stems, photographed on Jan. 23, 2020.A container of dried hemp plant with leaves and stems on Jan. 23, 2020.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./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/2025/07/14/texas-schools-budget-cuts-mental-health/Federal cuts and a lack of dedicated mental health funding from the state could erode programs to address chronic absenteeism, crises and more.By Stephen SimpsonMon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-schools-budget-cuts-mental-health/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/texas-hemp-thc-marijuana-medical-regulations/Medical program leaders want a ban on synthetic delta-8 THC, which makes up the bulk of consumable hemp products.By Stephen SimpsonTue, 01 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/texas-hemp-thc-marijuana-medical-regulations/Texas Original Director of Cultivation Jason Sanders gives a tour of the business’ facility on Sept. 26, 2024. Texas Original is Texas’ first licensed medical cannabis distributor.Texas Original Director of Cultivation Jason Sanders gives a tour of the business’ facility on Sept. 26, 2024. Texas Original is Texas’ first licensed medical cannabis distributor.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune