Jessica Priest

@jessica_priest

Professionally curious, but normally too busy to tweet! Higher education reporter @TexasTribune

Joined May 2010

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3KFollowers

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Aug 23

A Texas college was warned that a proposed lease could violate the law. Two decades later, the college went further. It donated 38 acres to a private religious school. “Faith and patience is the path,” said the college’s former attorney. propublica.org/article/weathe…

jessica_priest's tweet card. The donation raises questions about government oversight at a time when Texas officials are increasingly blurring the lines between church and state.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · 16 h

‘College hazing’ or training? Amid shortage, air traffic recruits wash out. washingtonpost.com/business/2025/…

jessica_priest's tweet card. Almost 20 percent of air traffic control trainees fail to complete training at their first tower or center, slowing efforts to rebuild the workforce.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · 17 h

Texas A&M System’s new leader hints faculty senates in state leaders’ crosshairs will stay texastribune.org/2025/07/28/tex… via @TexasTribune #highered

jessica_priest's tweet card. In an interview with the Tribune, Chancellor Glenn Hegar also said he would prioritize student outcomes over big projects and skirted questions about diversity and academic freedom.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 25

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers texastribune.org/2025/07/24/ken… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. Despite having an office with hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton frequently opts to hire private lawyers. One cost taxpayers more than $24,000 in one day.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 22

texastribune.org/2025/07/22/tex…

jessica_priest's tweet card. Senate Bill 5 would ban products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid, creating criminal offenses for possession of hemp-derived THC.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 21

John Zerwas, Jim Davis named finalists to lead UT System, UT-Austin texastribune.org/2025/07/21/uni… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. Both Zerwas and Davis have been serving as interim leaders of the university system and its flagship.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 21

Canceled Baylor LGBTQ+ study stirs strong reactions in Waco texastribune.org/2025/07/18/bay… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. A grant to help churches better minister to LGBTQ+ people prompted fury. A decision to return the grant then spurred disappointment.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 21

ICE on Campus: What You Need To Know usnews.com/news/education…

jessica_priest's tweet card. College students should carry valid immigration documents and know their constitutional rights, experts say.

Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 21

5 Key Takeaways from trial to stop the Trump administration from the “ideological deportation” of international students insidehighered.com/news/global/in…

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jul 18

insidehighered.com/news/global/in…

Jessica Priest Retweeted

Texas Tribune@TexasTribune · Jun 27

Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten college access for nearly 500,000 Texas college students bit.ly/44n6RtI

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jun 27

United Methodist Church can fight to prevent split with SMU, Texas Supreme Court rules texastribune.org/2025/06/27/tex… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. The school sought to leave the church because of differences over gay marriage and clergy. The court did not decide whether SMU could be prevented from separating.

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Jessica Priest Retweeted

Atirikta@AtiriktaKumar · Jun 26

Texas A&M, university systems in other red states will create their own agency to review schools’ quality standards texastribune.org/2025/06/26/tex… via @TexasTribune with @jessica_priest

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jun 24

Texas directs public universities to identify undocumented students texastribune.org/2025/06/23/tex… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. The directive comes after a court rescinded undocumented students’ eligibility for in-state tuition. It’s unclear what information schools might ask from students and how their immigration data will …

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Jessica Priest Retweeted

Renzo Downey@RenzoDowney · Jun 23

State Sen. @joanhuffman up with a #TXAG campaign website #txlege

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Jessica Priest Retweeted

Jon Taylor@ProfJonTaylor · Jun 21

Here's how Pell Grant changes could affect local undergrads -- @DanyaPH @SAReport sanantonioreport.org/heres-how-pell…

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jun 23

Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for federal summer lunch program texastribune.org/2025/06/23/tex… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. Abbott cited uncertainty over federal funding of the program as his reason for rejecting the state’s participation.

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Jessica Priest Retweeted

Lily Kepner@lilykepner · Jun 23

EXCLUSIVE: ACC board to join lawsuit over Texas Dream Act repeal. Here’s why Trustees are intervening. statesman.com/story/news/edu… via ⁦@statesman⁩.

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Jessica Priest@jessica_priest · Jun 23

.@GregAbbott_TX signed Senate Bills 37 and 2972 last night. The legislation is expected to limit faculty influence and restrict speech on college campuses. Context: texastribune.org/2025/06/19/tex… via @TexasTribune

jessica_priest's tweet card. Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.

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