https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jess-huff/The latest news by Jess Huff.enThu, 04 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/04/diboll-texas-quincenera-capital/Diboll’s growing Hispanic population has inspired a new economy of party planners and DJs to produce quinceañeras. City leaders are taking notice.Jess HuffThu, 04 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/04/diboll-texas-quincenera-capital/Sienna Raley, flanked by her parents Maria and Troy, begins the Grand Entrance at her quinceañera Saturday, Dec. 16, in Diboll.Guest stand and applaud as Sienna Raley, flanked by her parents Maria and Troy, begins the Grand Entrance at her Quincenera Saturday, December 16, 2023, in Didoll, Texas.Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/15/tyler-texas-menorah-holiday-decorations-downtown/Smith County’s top elected official said the downtown square’s holiday decorations policy seeks to avoid a “hodgepodge.”Jess HuffFri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/15/tyler-texas-menorah-holiday-decorations-downtown/The menorah at the Texas Capitol, on Dec. 14. Officials in Smith County, which includes the city of Tyler, rejected a local request to display a menorah this year, citing a secular decorations policy.The menorah at the Texas Capitol, on Dec. 14, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/12/texas-property-tax-cuts/Tax policy is messy. Here are a few tips to help you understand what the recent voter-approved tax cuts mean for your mortgage.Jess HuffTue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/12/texas-property-tax-cuts/Homes along central Longview's Centenary Drive on Friday Dec. 17, 2021. Property owners can expect to see their tax bill drop after voters approved a series of amendments during the 2023 election.Homes along central Longview's Centenary Drive on Friday Dec. 17, 2021.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/06/lufkin-texas-rudolph-pumping-unit-christmas-tradition/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.Jess HuffWed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/06/lufkin-texas-rudolph-pumping-unit-christmas-tradition/The Huntington High School High Steppers drill team stands at attention at the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit lighting ceremony in downtown Lufkin on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.The Huntington High School High Steppers drill team stands at attention at the Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit lighting ceremony in downtown Lufkin on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/29/weaponized-open-records-texas-government-transparency/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.Jess HuffWed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/29/weaponized-open-records-texas-government-transparency/David Stua in front of the Angelina County Court House in Lufkin on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.David Stua in front of the Angelina County Court House in Lufkin on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.Joel Andrews for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/27/texas-2023-election-bond-issues-nacogdoches/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.Jess HuffFri, 27 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/27/texas-2023-election-bond-issues-nacogdoches/Downtown Nacogdoches will receive updates if voters approve a package of bonds this fall.Downtown Nacogdoches on October 3, 2022 in Nacogdoches.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/19/harris-county-election-2022-audit/The audit does not suggest the outcome of the election would have changed despite “multiple failures.”Jess HuffThu, 19 Oct 2023 17:57:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/19/harris-county-election-2022-audit/Election judges and Harris County employees wait in line to drop off ballots and supplies from polling locations at NRG Arena Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Houston, Texas.Election judges and Harris County employees wait in line to drop off ballots and supplies from polling locations at NRG Arena Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Houston, Texas.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/08/el-paso-affordable-housing/Housing costs have soared in the Texas city in recent years, while the state cuts back on funding.Jess Huff, Capital & MainTue, 08 Aug 2023 15:20:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/08/el-paso-affordable-housing/Downtown in El Paso, on Oct. 30, 2020.Downtown in El Paso, on Oct. 30, 2020.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune