The KTTZ News Team

The Texas State Board of Education moved one step closer to approving a controversial curriculum that embeds Bible stories into elementary classes yesterday. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports on the 8 to 7 vote. Following a series of meetings at campuses across the city and a statement of no confidence from the local chapter of the NAACP, the Lubbock Independent School District Board of Trustees is holding a meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the possibility of closures and consolidations.

The State Board of Education is expected to vote Friday on whether to approve curriculum that has drawn criticism for including Bible stories at the elementary level. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports on a Texas coalition's new book sharing experiences with migrants' kindness and generosity.

Health and Human Services data shows an encouraging decline in north Texas related to the opioid epidemic. KERA's Marina Trahan Martinez reports that so far this year, local deaths involving fentanyl use are trending down. And Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says the Texas Senate is looking at how to protect the state’s power grid against worst-case scenarios.

According to the Texas Water Development Board, last month was the driest October since 1952 and the hottest on record since 1895. Texas Public Radio’s Marian Navarro has more on Gov. Abbott saying he will not support tuition increases in public higher education through 2027. The city of Odessa has banned transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity.

Lousiana's Ten Commandments mandate for public schools was struck down by a federal district court, this week. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says that’s not likely to stop Texas lawmakers from taking up their own version. Lubbock has one of the highest rates of aggravated domestic violence in U.S. cities with a population over 250,000. A program by U.S. attorneys from the state focused on prosecuting domestic abusers may be at risk once president-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Today is the last day to register for the Garrison Institute on Aging's Alzheimer's Awareness Symposium. Our Samantha Larned says this year’s free event has a focus on the family members acting as caregivers. You can RSVP by calling 806-743-7821 or visiting TTUHSC's website. KERA's Pablo Arauz Peña has more on estimates that Texas’ population reached 30.5 million people this year.

A political science professor with McMurry University says that with factors like uncontested races — of which Lubbock had 13 — the Democratic Party in West Texas is in shambles. The future of the region's major industries like oil and gas, may be affected by President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to foreign affairs.

The Texas Comptroller told the Senate Committee on Local Government last week that the legislature needs to take action on the rising price of housing in the state. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies has more. Here in Lubbock, the Silent Wings Museum is offering free admission in honor of Veterans Day today, with a special ceremony beginning at 11 A.M.

KERA's Katherine Hobbs reports that conservationists at the Fort Worth Zoo released a record-breaking number of Texas horned lizards in the month of October. Texas Parks and Wildlife says now is the time to plant wildflowers to help our pollinators. You can find more information on what to plant in your region from the Native Plant Society of Texas at npsot.org.

Lubbock’s public transportation provider, Citibus gave a route study presentation at Tuesday’s city council meeting about adjustments, improvements, and expansions to its services. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on the council’s response to the proposed next steps.