San Angelo pianist Terry Mikeska has already checked an item off of his bucket list to start the year, by performing on perhaps his grandest stage yet— a black-tie event in Washington, D.C. that was among the largest leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration.

Yesterday, the City of Lubbock recognized January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and January 23rd as Texas Blue Sand Project Day. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on local advocacy for victims of human trafficking. On Monday, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" Opal Lee wrote an open letter to President Trump, asking him to choose unity over division.