The proposed project that would install 43 high-capacity wells drew the ire of East Texans, worried their wells would run dry.
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
State Government
Texans have started to receive partial SNAP payments
The federal government paused SNAP payments at the beginning of the month because of the shutdown.
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Health care
“We don’t know what we’re going to eat”: Texans are still waiting for November SNAP benefits
Although the federal government has said it will deposit half of November benefits, Texans are still unsure when money will land in their accounts.
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Graphics and data reporting
An East Texas landowner fenced off a community’s favorite fishing spot, igniting multiple legal battles
Phillip Surls, a local businessman who owns much of the property around the Cutoff, has argued he blocked access to the stream to protect his cattle and that the waterway is not public.
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Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis
Plan to pump billions of gallons of water from East Texas appears on hold
An East Texas farm sued the local groundwater conservation district that has authority over the aquifer that would be pumped. As part of a settlement, the district has voided its original permits.
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Economy
A growing East Texas city is exploring a new transportation method: 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.
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Economy
Texas cities, counties pinch pennies amid slowing economy
Economic uncertainty, inflation, strict state limits on property tax collections and uncertainty around future federal funds have crimped local budgets.
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Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis
Running Out: Texas’ water crisis — and the path forward
A growing population, leaking pipes and changing climate threaten the state’s water supply. Texas lawmakers hope a $20 billion investment will help.
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Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis
Lawmakers fail to pass a bill to end massive water exports from East Texas
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.
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Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis
Texas House approves bill that would limit water exports from East Texas — for now
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.