WEATHER ALERT
More than 100 Texas counties lack plans to curb damage from natural disasters
Read full article: More than 100 Texas counties lack plans to curb damage from natural disastersThe plans, which are required by the federal government to access certain grants after a natural disaster, are laborious to assemble ā especially for rural counties.
Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attention
Read full article: Three years after BLM protests gripped nation, a police shooting in Lufkin draws little attentionTexas police killed 141 people last year, according to a database. At least 22, including Aaliyah Anders, were Black.
From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teenās story tells us about homelessness in rural Texas
Read full article: From couch surfing to sleeping in a car: What one teenās story tells us about homelessness in rural TexasGeorgia DeVries, an East Texas 17-year-old, shared her experience living in a car for one month last year on TikTok.
In this East Texas town, a 45-foot tall oil pump is a holiday symbol and connection to the past
Read full article: In this East Texas town, a 45-foot tall oil pump is a holiday symbol and connection to the pastRudolph 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.
How one man's open records obsession sparked a fight over transparency and power in East Texas
Read full article: How one man's open records obsession sparked a fight over transparency and power in East TexasOnce 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.
These women want careers as truck drivers. Theyāre claiming they canāt get a job because of their gender.
Read full article: These women want careers as truck drivers. Theyāre claiming they canāt get a job because of their gender.The Dallas-based trucking company, Stevens Transport, said they do not discriminate against women and the complaint is based on a āmisunderstanding.ā
Looking for an economic rebound, an East Texas town looks to the arts ā and is rebuffed by the state
Read full article: Looking for an economic rebound, an East Texas town looks to the arts ā and is rebuffed by the stateA town of 34,000 people, Lufkin sits deep in the Piney Woods, a region dotted with rural towns. Local civic leaders hope a long list of efforts can revitialize the cityās downtown and reboot its economy.
Millie Thompson Williams, first woman elected to help lead Texasā Alabama-Coushatta, dies
Read full article: Millie Thompson Williams, first woman elected to help lead Texasā Alabama-Coushatta, diesThompson Williams is remembered as a spiritual leader and educator who āliked seeing what the possibilities were.ā
Texas is preparing for more wildfires without a break from heat in forecast
Read full article: Texas is preparing for more wildfires without a break from heat in forecastThe number of acres burned this year is dramatically lower compared to 2022. But a rash of new fires have put state and local officials on edge.
Giraffe named Twiga, who was among the oldest cared for by humans, died at age 31 at East Texas zoo
Read full article: Giraffe named Twiga, who was among the oldest cared for by humans, died at age 31 at East Texas zooA giraffe named Twiga who died over the weekend at an East Texas zoo at the age of 31 was among the oldest giraffes being cared for by humans.
Texas to receive $3.3 billion in federal funds to boost broadband expansion efforts
Read full article: Texas to receive $3.3 billion in federal funds to boost broadband expansion effortsThe federal money will be added to the $1.5 billion investment made by state lawmakers this session to increase broadband availability across Texas.
Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.
Read full article: Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.Texas Rural Funders hopes a one-stop resource for grant applications and writers could help small towns win money to fund innovation and capital needs.
With billions of dollars on the line, East Texans say a crucial state map incorrectly shows they already have broadband
Read full article: With billions of dollars on the line, East Texans say a crucial state map incorrectly shows they already have broadbandEast Texans worry they could miss out on federal dollars because a state map that will help determine where the money goes shows they already have access to broadband. Residents say their broadband is chronically unreliable.
Rural Central Texasā plentiful trees make power outages a frustrating way of life after storms
Read full article: Rural Central Texasā plentiful trees make power outages a frustrating way of life after stormsLeon Countyās judge wants the state to help clear trees around power lines after residents again go without electricity following another storm.
East Texas nonprofit hopes small loans and job training will ease the hardships of leaving prison
Read full article: East Texas nonprofit hopes small loans and job training will ease the hardships of leaving prisonFormerly incarcerated Texans face numerous barriers to restart their lives. Without help from the state, the Next Chapter program in Lufkin is helping people released from prison get back on their feet.
12-year-old Texas girl dies after shooting her father and plotting to kill entire family, deputies say
Read full article: 12-year-old Texas girl dies after shooting her father and plotting to kill entire family, deputies sayThe 12-year-old Texas girl who shot her father before turning the gun on herself has died from her injuries, authorities said.
12-year-old Texas girl who shot father before shooting herself in head planned to kill entire family, deputies say
Read full article: 12-year-old Texas girl who shot father before shooting herself in head planned to kill entire family, deputies sayA 12-year-old shot her father in the abdomen before turning the gun on herself after planning to kill her entire family, according to Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier.
Trent Ashby and Chris Paddie become first two Republicans to file for Texas House speaker
Read full article: Trent Ashby and Chris Paddie become first two Republicans to file for Texas House speakerState Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, and state Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall. Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTwo Republicans declared their candidacies for speaker of the Texas House on Thursday, becoming the first from their party to enter the race. State Reps. Trent Ashby of Lufkin and Chris Paddie of Marshall join two Democrats in seeking the gavel: Senfronia Thompson of Houston and Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio. Candidates are vying to replace Republican House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, who will retire after serving one term thanks to a political scandal last year. Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black person in the history of the Texas Legislature, filed Friday to run for the gavel.