Brad Burt

Governor Abbott has declared a state of emergency over the New World Screwworm and its potential impact on the U.S. livestock industry, as state experts are calling on all Texans to help monitor for the flies. Meanwhile, West Texas ranchers are not panicking, taking the news as another part of an already difficult job.

Following last week’s primary runoff election, Congressman Jodey Arrington spoke to KTTZ about the Republican nominee for his seat, issues facing the region, and his expectations for the party and the state headed into the general election in November.

Public transportation and electric vehicles aren’t always viable options for rural Americans looking to decrease their spending at the gas pump. West Texas has historically had some of the lowest gas prices in the state, but families are also feeling the pressure. With summer travel building demand, experts worry that serious relief will not be evident for quite some time.

Students and faculty held a mock-funeral outside of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents meeting on May 7 to protest recent action from system administration regarding the course content review process and systematic “phase out” of programs centered on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Election Day for Lubbock County’s municipal and school elections took place May 2. The City of Lubbock had four positions on the ballot and three of those representatives remain unchanged, including Lubbock’s mayor.

Abbott toured the Automotive Technology and Welding Facility on the South Plains College campus in Levelland, a specialized center where students can earn technical certifications that the governor hopes will address a shortage of skilled labor in the state.

In January of this year, Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees approved a “District Optimization Plan," with criteria to determine which area schools will be considered for consolidation or closure in the future. A new dashboard on the LISD website shows which Lubbock schools are below the mark.

Billie Caviel and her husband, Alfred, owned and operated Lubbock's first Black-owned pharmacy near 19th Street and Avenue A for nearly 50 years. Friends say Billie was continually invested in bringing arts and education to the next generation.

According to the City of Lubbock, the City Council will set a special election date at its next regular meeting. Rose will remain until his successor is elected.

Young Texans, including students in Lubbock, continued protests and walkouts over the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite threats from the governor and state education leadership.