Texas allows certain children to get married. Lawmakers may close that loophole.
Lawmakers in 2017 took a major step to end most child marriages. However, emancipated teenagers 16 and older can get married. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9112fac2569cc789aa7a57df139e1d97/0318%20Capitol%20Features%20KG%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/1019_Jess_Huff_2x3.jpeg)
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.
Latest Contributions
-
![The Capitol dome is seen from the north side of the complex in Austin on March 18, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas strips protections for teachers, parents who share “obscene” material with children
A fiery debate on the House floor Friday gave way to the Senate Bill 412’s final vote. Supporters say it’s needed to protect children. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/86597770fa3110cb0b7132d2100c0f9b/Library%20File%20JV%20TT%2002.jpg)
![The library at Blanco Vista Elementary in San Marcos on Nov. 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Will Saturday’s elections be the last one in May for Texas?
The Texas House is considering a bill to abolish May elections, which have the lowest turnout of any election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7ee7fd3a4432596c9aebb3bf213cdc7/1107%20Election%20Day%20Houston%20AM%2018.jpg)
![Love Vial, center, votes at the West Gray Multiservice Center in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas farmers could have greater access to low-interest loans under a bill the Senate is considering
If approved, the legislation would expand one of the state's most popular loan programs with even lower interest rates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cf901220ac922ae5d2e0fcf8b4aaaf15/East%20Austin%20Farm%20JV%20TT%2054.jpg)
![A farmworker harvests spinach at Johnson's Backyard Garden, an organic farm east of Austin, on April 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0eb6ae60bd9d375c394c11667bfbf426/0706%20Beryl%20Corpus%20PG%20TT%2027.jpg)
![Beach goers at the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Corpus Christi on July 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3cf2bb3890d491e93c96392b3cf863e8/Mid%20Coast%20Medical%20Center%20Trinity%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Mid Coast Medical Center - Trinity is scheduled to scheduled to close after just 14 months in operation. The district is working quickly to find someone to take over the hospital, which serves the East Texas town of Trinity, about 90 miles north of Houston.]()
Credit: Mid Coast Medical Center - Trinity website -
“It’s what’s best for a very select few”: Some Texans are skeptical about vouchers as they near the finish line
Texas Republican lawmakers in regions known for support of public schools defended voting for vouchers, saying they gained leverage to seek concessions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7bde5578ec25b5e30f16954de83ada2e/0416%20Voucher%20Day%20BD%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Public school advocates rally with Democrat House members in the Capitol Rotunda prior to the morning session on April 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
East Texans united to stop a water sale to Dallas suburbs — for now
After a deal to pipe water from Lake O’ the Pines to North Texas came to light, residents voiced opposition everywhere they could to block it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b039f87301c60dbe5666bed700356ac7/0409%20Lake%20o%20the%20Pines%20ST%20TT%2039.JPG)
![Mary Spearmon holds two of her grandchildren, Malikyi and Alajiah Elliott, at Hurricane Creek Park on the Lake o’ the Pines, where she would come with her late husband and their growing family to fish and enjoy the water, on April 9, 2025. “What about our future generations, our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What are they going to have if they take the lake?”]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
As DOGE rips through the federal government, Texans wonder what it means for them
Dozens of federal offices were expected to close in Texas, but the reality continues to shift. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6e15b58fa1f273e2414a1b434b7718d/Nacogdoches%20File%20MF%2003.JPG)
![Downtown Nacogdoches on October 3, 2022 in Nacogdoches.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
95,000 Texas children are waiting for state help to pay for day care
Adding more funding to scholarships is just one way experts say state lawmakers could address Texas’ child care crisis. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1942bccdcbcddb0e55dffad29c67b74/0225%20Child%20Care%20Gap%20MC%2019%20TT.jpg)
![Clarissa Alday spends her morning reading to children at Katherine Sage Temple Early Learning Center, on Tuesday February 25, 2025, in Diboll.]()
Credit: Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune