The KTTZ News Team
Our team of dedicated, Lubbock-based, local reporters delivering news to and from West Texas.
Find us on social media @ttupublicmedia or email us at kttztv@ttu.edu
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Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and the Silent Wings Museum is marking the occasion with free admission and a full day of events. Our Bishop Van Buren reports on festivities, including a ceremony, dance lesson, and live music. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Meanwhile, since the start of the federal government shutdown, veterans’ requests for food and housing assistance have spiked. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports more than 100,000 veterans are being affected in Texas alone.
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Two members of the Texas Republican Party reportedly were resigned this week. KERA's Penelope Rivera reports the shakeup comes amid a Democratic wave in elections across the U.S. Meanwhile, Texas Tech fans are gearing up for Saturday's home football game against BYU. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren breaks down the top-ten matchup.
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Out of 17 propositions on the ballot this week, six were focused on property taxes. The Texas Newsroom's Blaise Gainey reports that added to other recent efforts by the state to reduce property taxes, the changes will cost the state north of $50 billion dollars. Proposition 3, which saw 70% approval with Lubbock County voters, will allow judges to deny bail to more people accused of certain violent and sexual crimes. The change means more people will likely remain in jail before their trial.
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Lubbock City Council gave the final vote to repeal an updated ordinance that would’ve required permits, fees, and fines for electronic police alarms. For those who paid an updated permit fee in that time, the Lubbock Police Department is issuing a refund. Those who have not received their refunds by Nov. 18 are asked to call Alarm Permitting at (806) 775-3041. Just over 12% of registered voters in Lubbock county turned out for this year’s statewide election. That’s more than double the percentage of Lubbock county’s last constitutional amendment election with no local items on the ballot more than a decade ago. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren breaks down two of the 17 constitutional amendments that stand out as particularly significant for West Texas.
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Election Day is here, with 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot — and for the first time in more than a decade, Lubbock County voters won’t see any local measures to decide on. With the federal government shutdown now in its second month, Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports many of those veterans are struggling to get the health care to which their service entitles them. And the State of Texas has finalized a $1.3 billion settlement with Google for violating users privacy rights. Find a full list of Election Day polling locations here.
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Tomorrow is Election Day in Texas, with voters deciding on 17 proposed constitutional amendments. Our Brad Burt reports that Lubbock County saw unusually high early voting turnout for this type of election — more than 13,000 ballots cast — though that’s still just 6.7% of registered voters. Statewide turnout remains low, with fewer than a million Texans voting early. The amendments cover issues from tax cuts to a multibillion-dollar state water fund.
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The last week of October is International Bat Week. Our Samantha Larned reports on research at Texas Tech's Natural Resource Management Department into how bats adapt to human infrastructure in the state. Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the Texas Workforce Commission has awarded grants to four West Texas school districts as part of the Jobs and Educations for Texans program. Two of those grants are in partnership with South Plains College to train Denver City ISD and Seagraves ISD.
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Quail hunting season kicks off in Texas on Saturday. Our Bishop Van Buren reports the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says it is encouraged by population numbers, but quail hunting at the Lake Alan Henry Wildlife Mitigation Area has been canceled again this year. Experts say Texas is still experiencing a teacher certification crisis. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports students could pay the price, even after new state legislative efforts begin.
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After cooler temperatures arrived this week, post-cold front conditions are now driving elevated fire danger across parts of West Texas. Our Bishop Van Buren reports the Texas A&M Forest Service has responded to over 130 wildfire incidents this October. Lubbock’s city council has voted to repeal a recent ordinance update that would’ve required permits, annual fees, and false call fines for owners of alarm systems that alert the police electronically.
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The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez reports the Texas Agriculture Commissioner is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s call to import beef from Argentina, saying it would hurt Texas ranchers already facing historically low cattle numbers. Our Samantha Larned reports on a community ofrenda at the Mahon Library for Día de los Muertos. Community members can contribute photos of their loved ones by bringing them to the Mahon reference desk through Oct. 30.