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 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. -
Local artists and community members say Lubbock City Council's decision to defund the First Friday Art Trail demonstrates a misunderstanding of the art displayed at the event and indicates a lack of involvement in cultural activities. -
Several school districts from the South Plains received letters last week from the ACLU of Texas, asking that they revise their dress-code policies to comply with the CROWN Act, intended to prohibit race-based hair discrimination. -
Metropolitan Planning Organization seeks public comments on near and far future of Lubbock's streetsThe Lubbock Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking public comment ahead of the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program. -
In addition to the sit-ins, advocacy for the city of Lubbock to recognize Pride Month the previous two years has included a letter-writing campaign. All of which, organizers and community members said, have gone without adequate response from elected officials. -
Nationally, educational institutions of every level are struggling to staff mental health counselors, and the entire state of Texas faces a shortage of care providers. With increased conversations about staffing, retention, demand, and budgeting for college mental health services, we took a look at what mental health resources are available to college students in the greater Lubbock area. -
For the most part, trees are not native to the High Plains, but Lubbock Memorial Arboretum aims to give West Texans a way to enjoy nature and teach them about growing in a place that presents such unique challenges.
