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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After seven years, the Lubbock County Expo Center is expected to present a plan to its oversight board Thursday in hopes of being approved by commissioners later this month. The proposal keeps the project in North Lubbock, but includes a voter-approved bond to meet necessary funding. -
After a crackdown on non-standard roadway markings at the federal and state level, the City of Lubbock will be removing public art from several crosswalks, including those paying tribute to Buddy Holly. City officials see the impact in Lubbock as a side-effect of lawmakers’ attempts to target “political messaging” in major cities. -
Sarah Curtis’ new biographical memoir ‘Daughter of a Song’ details the life and career of her father Sonny Curtis, as well as her relationship with him. From Meadow, Texas to Los Angeles to Nashville, Sarah Curtis explores her father’s world and the impact that had on her family. KTTZ sat down with Curtis ahead of her return to Lubbock to promote the book’s release. -
With a team of six, the City of Lubbock Cemetery maintains approximately 65,000 graves and is digging new ones every week. Arranging burials, finding plots, and dealing with the unexpected, the cemetery staff are caring for the families and the places they lay their loved ones to rest. -
Sonny Curtis, former member of The Crickets and writer of hits like “I Fought the Law” and “Love Is All Around," died on Sept. 19. Born in Meadow, Texas and cutting his teeth playing stages around Lubbock before making it big, Sonny Curtis is remembered as a mentor, role model, and friend by many in the community. -
Lubbock Lake Landmark is a snapshot of the land before settlement, preserving archeological evidence of early-human life and the natural history of the region’s plants and animals. Through its discoveries, education, and conservation, staff with the Landmark have reintroduced native wildlife driven out of the area, and continue to explore possibilities for the land and for those who love it. -
Texas is home to approximately 1,200 species of bee and about 25% of them are specialized bees, meaning they only pollinate specific plants. The bristly nama may not be a familiar name for those on the South Plains, but the plant and its purple flowers are all over Lubbock and its bees are hard at work to keep the ecosystem alive. -
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.
