The KTTZ News Team

A longstanding dispute over water-sharing between the U.S. and Mexico is raising concerns for farmers in South Texas. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports the U.S. government has now denied Mexico’s latest request for water, citing ongoing shortfalls in Mexico’s required deliveries. Hockley County, Garza County, and Hale County have joined the list of Texas counties reporting measles cases connected with the ongoing outbreak in the region.

Wednesday afternoon, The Texas Senate passed a bill authored by Lubbock’s Sen. Charles Perry, that would ban the use and sale of THC products that are currently legal across the state. After an unexpectedly early spring break — with evacuations, gas leaks, power outages, fires, and closures on campus — our Bishop Van Buren reports Texas Tech University will resume classes on Monday as planned. This weekend is Lubbock's annual Bike Rodeo to teach kids about bike safety. The rodeo is open to the public and will take place Saturday from 1 to 3 P.M. at Safety City, located at 4500 Avenue U, in the southeast corner of Clapp Park.

Fire dangers continued this week on the South Plains and in the Panhandle, with wildfires, evacuations, and low humidity across the region. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports on proposed changes to the state's bail system being discussed by Texas lawmakers. The public is invited to attend Coffee with the Mayor tomorrow morning, hosted by Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer and District 5 council member Jennifer Wilson. The event begins at 7 A.M. at United Supermarket located at 11310 Slide Rd.

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that would create a designated time to pray and read the Bible or other religious text during the school day. Texas and New Mexico have a combined measles case count of 317 since late January, surpassing the C.D.C.’s total measles cases for the United States in all of 2024. Our Samantha Larned reports on a change in Texas' classification of certain cases. Meanwhile, here in Lubbock, Texas Tech has announced two potential measles exposure sites: the Carpenter/Wells Complex and the Student Health Services clinic from March 4 through 12.

The Texas legislature takes up a bill today that would give parents more freedom to ignore doctors' recommendations around prescribing psychotropic medications to treat mental health conditions. Texas Public Radio's Paul Flahive reports some advocates say the bill could put kids at risk. And yesterday, state lawmakers heard testimony on a bill that would require sheriffs in Texas to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce immigration law.

The Texas Tech men’s basketball team will begin play in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the matchup. Calmer weather helped to slow wildfires in the Texas Panhandle as crews worked toward containment, but some fires continue to burn across the state.

Texas Tech University, along with representatives from the City of Lubbock and Lubbock Power & Light, hosted a press conference yesterday to address the fires and power outages on Tech campus. There is no current danger on or around campus, but power will remain off in certain areas while investigations are underway.

Forecasters say West Texas is bracing for another round of intense wind and high fire danger on Friday. Potential gusts across the south plains could reach up to 80 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. The No. 9 ranked Red Raider men's basketball team kicks off Big 12 Tournament play tonight. KTTZ reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the efforts to build on the program’s 100th season.

Lubbock's city council gave final approval on a zoning change in the Tech Terrace neighborhood, permitting the construction of a student housing project where the Godbold building once stood. Our reporter Samantha Larned has an update on the measles outbreak in Texas in New Mexico region, plus two new cases reported in Oklahoma. Texas Tech University is hosting a free car clinic today for students, students, faculty, and staff from 10:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the northwest portion of the Commuter Satellite parking lot, on the corner of 10th Street and Texas Tech Parkway.

The vote center program was introduced in Lubbock almost 20 years ago, allowing voters to cast a ballot from any vote center location in the county, regardless of their address. Our Brad Burt reports on the unanimous vote from Lubbock County Commissioners to oppose legislation to eliminate these centers. In the wake of this weekend's time change, The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez has more on the potential end of daylight saving in Texas.