The KTTZ News Team

As the year comes to an end, our news team looks back at Lubbock’s top stories from 2024. From elections and city controversies, to wildfires, to education and arts: here is your Lubbock year in review.

President Joe Biden has granted 39 pardons and nearly 1,500 commutations for prisoners, including former Lubbock businessman Benny Judah. Houston Public Media’s Gail Delaughter looks at how Texas Christmas tree growers keep supplies strong despite a drought over the summer. Between this weekend and the new year, AAA projects 9.1 million people in Texas will travel more than 50 miles from home.

Yesterday, Lubbock Compact announced an update to its Lubbock Environmental Action Plan project, with a new interactive air quality map on its website. Meanwhile, KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports North Texas businesses that contribute to poor air quality could be subject to fines. And Texas' Health and Human Services Commission has asked the state for funding to improve systems and expand staff.

Texas lawmakers are again attempting to get death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify about his conviction. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports Roberson was blocked from testifying in person the first time he was called. The City of Lubbock is accepting applications for several boards and committees through December 31. The term for the positions will begin June 1, 2025. Applications can be submitted at www.mylubbock.us/cityboards.

KUT's Olivia Aldridge has more on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against a doctor in New York for allegedly prescribing abortion medication across state lines. Property tax and insurance are mostly to blame for increasing housing costs in North Texas. KERA's Marina Trahan Martinez reports that renters are also paying for those higher rates.

In 2021, nearly 30,000 children were in foster care in the state of Texas. Studies done by the National Foster Youth Institute show that half of students in foster care do not graduate high school. Our reporter Olivia O’Rand has more on WHIT: a San Angelo-based program looking to help serve foster students across the state.

Following last week's vote to close Hodges Elementary School, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, families in the attendance zone for Hodges will be in the boundaries for Bean Elementary. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on the decision from the Lubbock Independent School District’s Board of Trustees and what comes next.The district's transfer window is open Dec. 17 through Jan. 17.

Research released this week finds the teacher workforce in Texas is more diverse than that of the country as a whole. But as KERA’s Nadya Faulx reports, it’s still not reflective of the state’s students. And KERA's Priscilla Rice has more on an inclusive new North Texas park for children of all abilities.

In yesterday’s meeting, Lubbock’s city council approved its priorities for the upcoming state legislative session. This week, Mayor Mark McBrayer also gave his support for Lubbock’s legislator for District 83 Dustin Burrows in his race for Texas' Speaker of the House, a role which he says would move the interests of West Texas forward.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 93,000 Texans who have served are eligible for healthcare benefits, but unenrolled. The VA is encouraging veterans exposed to blasts during their service to pursue care. And our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on Lubbock Animal Services' donation campaign and advice for pet owners this holiday season.