Samantha Larned
ReporterSamantha Larned is a reporter and producer with NPR Lubbock. Originally from Arizona, Samantha began her journalism career at Arizona Public Media in Tucson. She moved to Lubbock and started with KTTZ in 2023 and quickly became intrigued by all the city had to offer. Samantha has a focus on social issues and culture journalism.
You can often find Samantha at her desk at KTTZ, on the road looking for a story, or in the stacks at the public library.
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Lubbock ISD recently announced its campuses will now be offering free breakfast and lunch for all students through the Community Eligibility Provision. Outside of CEP, there are other meal resources for public school students and families. -
In the last school year, all three of Lubbock’s biggest school districts showed improvement in their academic accountability scores from the Texas Education Agency, and all three with overall B-ratings. KTTZ has a breakdown of the relevant numbers and what those ratings mean. -
After eight months and 762 cases in the state, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced the end of the West Texas measles outbreak. However, work continues for Lubbock Public Health. -
Nonprofits across the country have been grappling with changes in federal spending and the cuts to departments and grants. As coordinator with other local organizations, Lubbock Area United Way has been updating partners on developments at the state and national level, and advocating for policies suited to West Texas. -
The Home Utility Management System would allow households to collect and utilize energy and water for themselves, rather than relying on a grid. While federal funding is still up in the air, researchers with the project are seeking new opportunities to implement the system in practice. -
Lubbock City Council has approved the recommended recipients for the Cultural Arts Grant Program. Included in the recommendations was the First Friday Art Trail, one year after a controversial decision from the council that cut funding for that event. However, this year saw a change in the guidelines for the grant, restricting political and “controversial” programming. -
The Mesquite Mile project began in 2020, combining regional plants and human infrastructure to mitigate flooding in the Heart of Lubbock neighborhood. The city has seen streets flood this summer with severe weather and storms across the state. But in May 2025, the Mesquite Mile’s NEA grant was withdrawn. -
Members of Lubbock’s queer community and their allies showed up to the city council chambers for the third June in a row, advocating for the city to recognize Pride Month. Organizers and participants said the council did not acknowledge their campaign or protest. -
South Plains Community Action Association, Inc., or SPCAA, serves approximately 114 counties in Texas, with a focus on assisting in rural communities. It is one of many organizations whose programs are under threat in upcoming federal budget proposals. -
With school almost out for summer, many students — in Plainview, Tahoka, and beyond — step out of the classroom and into the public library. Between summer reading programs and the year-round story times, events, and educational opportunities, public libraries are ever evolving to meet the needs of their communities.
