Samantha Larned

The TCEQ has temporarily shut down its online application system and has suspended all notices of intent for stormwater construction related to data centers, after a report from a national watchdog organization claimed the commission was violating the governor’s directive. Other actions like air emissions certifications and pollution notices for data center support structures appear unchanged.

Last year, more 124 children in Texas died from child abuse or neglect, including two in Lubbock. One local funeral director turned her heartbreak into action with the No Whispers Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for the families who wish to honor the victims of child abuse.

Last month, Lubbock City Council began the procedure to adopt a pause on large-scale data center development. If the moratorium passes, it will be two years until another one can be put in place. With more information and potential changes likely to come out of the state’s legislative session, one councilman has argued that the city should hold off on playing its moratorium card. All the while, the clock may be ticking on the statewide pause on data centers.

Lubbock’s city council passed a resolution on Tuesday initiating the procedure to adopt a 90-day pause on the development of any large-scale data centers. The council will need to hold two public hearings before the moratorium can officially begin.

Lubbock ISD and Texas Tech K-12 have launched a new virtual education program, intended to reach more families and provide resources for student success. Applications are open through August 10.

Lake Meredith, near Amarillo, was recently designated as “fully infested” with invasive zebra mussels. The mussels have been spreading across Texas for more than 15 years and Lake Meredith is the north-most body of water in the state to be infected. TPWD says the mussels have the potential to damage treatment equipment in what is a municipal water source for the region, but water officials with the lake say they're prepared.

On July 7, the City of Lubbock hosted a public meeting to hear residents’ thoughts and concerns about large-scale data centers. As city officials try to balance the potential benefits with the risks, a majority of the approximately 70 members of the public who spoke at the meeting were against allowing data centers in the city.

In April, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center hosted a tour of a clinic built in a retrofitted shipping container in Burton, Texas. It’s the latest collaboration in an ongoing effort to bring community-run clinics to rural areas, where access is harder to achieve.

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.

Republicans in Lubbock County have their party’s official candidates for the November general election for several offices including Texas’ Congressional District 19 and county commissioners for Precincts 2 and 4.