Texas police killed 141 people last year, according to a database. At least 22, including Aaliyah Anders, were Black.
Jess Huff
Jess Huff joined the Tribune in 2023 and is based in Lufkin, Texas. She grew up in Utah and has also lived in Arizona and the Netherlands. Her latest adventure brought her to East Texas where she worked for The Lufkin Daily News, leading the publication to numerous awards for investigative reporting in the region. Jess attended Northern Arizona University on a debate scholarship and fell in love with the journalism program after a course on alternative storytelling devices. Her work has been published in the Arizona Daily Sun, The Associated Press, The Lufkin Daily News, Capital & Main and a number of local outlets across Texas.
Posted in
Demographics
From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teen’s story tells us about homelessness in rural Texas
Georgia DeVries, an East Texas 17-year-old, shared her experience living in a car for one month last year on TikTok.
Posted in
Courts
U.S. Supreme Court hears Texas case that could change how states compensate landowners for their property
Landowners east of Houston are seeking compensation from the state after a highway project led to flooding on their properties.
Posted in
Economy
Texans will face another election after approving property tax cuts
Voters in Texas’ 50 largest counties will now elect new three members of their respective property appraisal district boards.
Posted in
Demographics
This town wants to be named the quinceañera capital of Texas
Diboll’s growing Hispanic population has inspired a new economy of party planners and DJs to produce quinceañeras. City leaders are taking notice.
Posted in
Demographics
An East Texas city goes secular for the holidays, rejecting a menorah in downtown holiday display
Smith County’s top elected official said the downtown square’s holiday decorations policy seeks to avoid a “hodgepodge.”
Posted in
Guides
I’m a Texas homeowner. When will I see my tax cut?
Tax policy is messy. Here are a few tips to help you understand what the recent voter-approved tax cuts mean for your mortgage.
Posted in
Economy
In this East Texas town, a 45-foot tall oil pump is a holiday symbol and connection to the past
Rudolph the Red-Nose Pumping Unit has long been a holiday tradition in Lufkin. The machinery, now used worldwide to extract oil from the ground, was invented by a local businessman.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
How one man’s open records obsession sparked a fight over transparency and power in East Texas
Once a tool of journalists and concerned citizens to hold government accountable, open records requests have been increasingly used by political opponents and conspiracy theorists to slow down the pace of government.
Posted in
Economy
One of Texas’ oldest towns needs $200 million for upgrades. It’s asking voters to approve $44 million this fall.
The East Texas town is one of 218 local governments asking voters to approve new debt for repairs and upgrades to city infrastructure. Local leaders say inflation isn’t helping them keep up with capital needs.
