The KTTZ News Team

Following sex abuse allegations against labor icon Cesar Chavez, a number of organizations have cancelled annual celebrations typically held in March. Rather than cancelling its day of community service, Los Hermanos Familia in Lubbock has renamed the event. Meanwhile, Lubbock Democratic Leaders are calling on the city to rename the street that also honors Chavez.

Former Lubbock city councilman Gary Boren has declared his intention to run for city council District 4 after Brayden Rose announced his resignation last week. Lubbock’s Chamber of Commerce kicked off its annual Lemonade Day campaign yesterday, launching an initiative that aims to teach kids entrepreneurship through running lemonade stands. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more from the ribbon cutting. And Texas families now have at least another two weeks to apply for the state's new school voucher program after a federal judge in Houston ordered an extension.

Senate Bill 12, passed in the 2023 Texas Legislative session is set to go into effect for the first time tomorrow. Our reporter Samantha Larned explains the so-called 'drag ban bill' has been blocked from enforcement for two years. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that state Attorney General Ken Paxton can obtain records from LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports it’s part of an investigation tied to Texas’ ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Texas is already poised to break a record this year for the largest turnover in its congressional delegation in a single cycle – either because of voluntary retirements or reelection losses. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that will hurt Texas’ ability to address its needs in Washington. And KTTZ's Mia Shephard reports on Covenant Children’s new Small Baby Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, designed for infants born before 30 weeks of gestation.

Texas parents have less than a week left to apply for Texas Education Freedom Accounts — the state’s school voucher program. Last year, the Texas Legislature funded it to the tune of $1 billion dollars. Our Brad Burt reports the Texas Comptroller’s office has been accepting applications for just over a month, and more than 160,000 students have applied for the program’s first year.

The state’s health department has finalized sweeping new regulations for the Texas hemp industry. As KUT’s Nathan Bernier reports, the new rules include sharply higher fees on businesses and a ban on selling smokable forms of cannabis. Terms end this year for several local elected positions, including school boards, and Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees recently passed a motion to cancel the LISD portion of the general election, because none of the races were contested.

Lubbock City Council saw a presentation yesterday from Lubbock Public Health on services and expenses for patients who are not Lubbock County residents. Our Samantha Larned reports the information was requested in relation to the approval of the latest iteration of a long-standing referral agreement with a substance use treatment center in Plainview. And last night, District 4 representative Brayden Rose announced his resignation from the Lubbock City Council.

This weekend, Texas Tech University announced the immediate pause of business travel to certain countries in the Middle East. The U.S. Court of International Trade has ordered the Trump administration to repay tariffs imposed by President Trump just over a year ago. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports many Texas businesses may wait years for any reimbursement. Former candidate competing to represent the Republican Party for Lubbock County Clerk, Jim Baxa has dropped out of the May runoff race.

Farmers are waiting longer for U.S. Department of Agriculture services. Harvest Public Media’s Macy Byars reports that more than a quarter of USDA employees have left their jobs since late 2024. More than four million Texans cast ballots in this year’s primary elections. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports Democratic turnout more than doubled compared with recent primaries and Republican turnout remained strong and consistent.

Last month, Lubbock County Commissioners passed an amendment to the game room ordinance which went into effect in May 2025. Our Brad Burt reports that one Lubbock game room owner has filed a lawsuit, claiming the new rules are unenforceable under the Texas and U.S. Constitutions. The U.S.-Israeli war in the middle east is influencing gas prices in Texas. Prices for regular unleaded gas in Lubbock increased by about 40 cents over the last week, according to AAA.