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Jess Huff

@jess-huff

Hi y'all! I'm a Texas Tribune reporter based in East Texas. I cover the people, places and policy that impact this region.

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22.04.2025
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Latest posts by Jess Huff @jess-huff

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East Texas bar owners seek changes to liquor laws Texas cities and counties largely control when and where liquor can be sold. Just three counties are totally dry.

Bar owners in Angelina County want to loosen local liquor laws.

If voters agree, bar owners would be allowed to advertise more widely, membership would no longer be required to drink at a bar, and liquor could be sold countywide.

06.01.2026 15:56 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Weather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear. Federal forecasters issued their first flood warning at 1:14 a.m. on July 4. Local officials haven’t shed light on when they saw the warnings or whether they saw them in time to take action.

Weather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear. www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/t...

09.07.2025 00:42 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Randall County GOP chair charged with 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.

New: The chair of the Randall County Republican Party was booked into jail Monday on a state felony election fraud charge.

08.07.2025 22:10 πŸ‘ 144 πŸ” 52 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 14
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🚨 First #TribFest2025 speakers announced: Karl Rove, Maureen Dowd, Tony Gonzales, @jasmineforus.bsky.social Glenn Hegar @schiff.senate.gov Mattie Parker, Renard Johnson, Jeff Flake, @postbaron.bsky.social CatherineFlowers + more. 11/13-15 in Austin. Tix at festival.texastribune.org #txlege

06.05.2025 12:23 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Everything we know about the 3 people who want to run Starbase, Texas’ next city All three β€” running unopposed β€” have longstanding connections with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company headquartered in South Texas.

Little is publicly known about the three people poised to lead Texas’ next city, Starbase, which includes the launch site for Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The Texas Tribune and Sunlight Research Center reviewed public records and social media sites to learn more about each candidate. Here's what we found.

02.05.2025 14:47 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1
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Texas may officially recognize Gulf of America change after Senate gives first OK 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.

New: Texas lawmakers are considering following President Donald Trump’s lead and renaming the body of water that touches 367 miles of the state’s coast to the Gulf of America.

24.04.2025 20:33 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 15 πŸ“Œ 8
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Labor Department Official Warns That Staff Who Speak With Journalists Face β€œSerious Legal Consequences” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff issued the warning as department employees have spoken to the news media about harms they see resulting from the dismantling of their agency, wh...

A top official in the Department of Labor this week informed all staff members that they could face criminal charges if they speak to journalists, former employees or others about agency business. Speaking to reporters is not a crime!

23.04.2025 13:30 πŸ‘ 197 πŸ” 107 πŸ’¬ 8 πŸ“Œ 7
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Financial hardships shutter East Texas hospital 14 months after reopening Residents in Trinity County will now have to travel 30 miles to access the closest hospital.

After a brief reprieve thanks to federal pandemic funding, rural hospitals have begun to close again. Trinity County residents will say goodbye to their hospital on Friday.

23.04.2025 12:59 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Track the spread of measles in Texas Texas is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 30 years. The virus has infected more than 600 people and killed two school-aged children.

Texas is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 30 years. The number of cases reported has risen to 624 cases in 26 counties, as of April 22.

You can keep track of Texas' historic measles outbreak here:

22.04.2025 16:43 πŸ‘ 220 πŸ” 107 πŸ’¬ 13 πŸ“Œ 14
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Why Texas Republicans are trying to rein in high home prices and rents There’s political urgency for Republicans to deal with housing affordability, especially as surveys find most Texans say housing costs are a top concern.

There’s political urgency for Republicans to deal with housing affordability, especially as surveys find most Texans say housing costs are a top concern.

22.04.2025 13:50 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

Water is meant for more than utility in East Texas. It's a culture and an economy.

But in Texas' drier regions, it's running out. Water planners are looking for a solution.

22.04.2025 13:26 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0