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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An unvaccinated child has died from measles in West Texas. The death comes after weeks of a growing outbreak that has sickened more than 130 people in Texas and New Mexico, most of them children.
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The first death in relation to the ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas has been confirmed by local and state health officials. The patient was an unvaccinated school-aged child, hospitalized in Lubbock last week. -
Health officials say measles cases in West Texas have more than doubled since last week, with at least 58 confirmed cases and 13 hospitalizations. Several counties have begun vaccination drives. -
Updated data and information from public health officials on confirmed measles cases in the region. -
From overpopulated shelters to an abundance of stray animals, Lubbock citizens are familiar with the city’s so-called ‘dog problem.’ This week, Lubbock City Council heard from residents, advocates, and city employees as it considers steps to assist Lubbock Animal Services. -
The priorities identified by the Community Health Needs Assessment and the Community Health Improvement Plan are access to health care; mental health, substance use and homelessness; addressing chronic conditions; STIs and teen pregnancy; and improved coordination of information services and resources. Last month, Lubbock Public Health’s director presented the reports before city council, but after pushback from representatives, the vote to approve was rescheduled to Jan. 14. -
Lubbock Independent School District’s Board of Trustees has approved the consolidation and closures of three LISD campuses. Going into effect in the 2025-2026 school year, “phase one” of the plan impacts Hodges Elementary, Overton Elementary, and O.L. Slaton Middle School. -
The Buddy Holly Center’s annual Celebración exhibition is a tradition dating back to the 1980s, helping the Lubbock community celebrate life, death, and culture. We spoke to museum staff and artists about what the Day of the Dead and the art at the exhibit means to them. -
After several years of near-inactivity, the Invertebrate Zoology Collection at the Museum of Texas Tech University is back to providing resources to entomologists everywhere. In the spirit of the season, we visited the facility and heard from the collection’s curator who says bugs like these deserve more attention. -
Between inflation, costly mandates, and an apparent lack of support from the state government – public school districts across Texas are struggling with their budgets, and Lubbock county is no exception.
