The KTTZ News Team

A Hood County judge has sided against two proposed data center projects in a lawsuit. KERA's Emmanuel Rivas reports the developers argued the campuses should be automatically approved because of a missed deadline. Lubbock ISD is hosting its annual registration blitz tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at each of its campuses. Parents can register their students at any LISD campus, no matter which school their child will attend. Registration will require the student's birth certificate and social security card, the guardian's a government-issued photo ID, and proof of residency.

More than 1 in 5 Texans with student loans are in default, meaning they have not made a payment in at least 270 days. KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports that’s at least 10 percent more than a year ago. Lubbock Independent School District is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss potential names for the three new elementary schools being built, tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center. Our Charley Maranville reports the district is taking recommendations until August 1.

Saturday morning, Democratic candidate for governor Gina Hinojosa hosted a roundtable discussion in Lubbock with local community members to discuss data centers. She said that her hope with the conversation was to develop a path forward for regulation and oversight on these projects.

Lake Meredith, near Amarillo is a municipal water source for eleven cities, including Lubbock. Last month it was designated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as “fully infested” with invasive zebra mussels. Our Samantha Larned reports the mussels are known to impact infrastructure, such as pipes used for water treatment.

As members of the data center and energy industries gathered in Austin this week to discuss the growing infrastructure needs of large-scale data centers in Texas, Democratic candidates who have spoken against data centers will be kicking off a West Texas tour from Lubbock this weekend. Gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, Lieutenant Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin, and others will be at The Garden at 1801 Buddy Holly Avenue in Lubbock on Saturday from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Our Riley Wilson reports that Lubbock Lake Landmark is kicking off its annual Archaeology Days today, with activities planned through Saturday. Tours of the excavation site and laboratory will be at 9:30 and 11 a.m. each day. The Landmark is located at 2401 Landmark Dr.

While there are have been at least 35 cases of the New World screwworm in the U.S. this year, Mexico has recorded more than 30,000 cases. The U.S. suspended imports of live Mexican cattle in May of last year over screwworm concerns. Texas Public Radio's Stephania Corpi reports the nations' cattle industries depend on one another. A new report warns Texas could see a sharp increase in pollution as Al data centers fuel demand for natural gas power plants.

The City of Lubbock Public Libraries are accepting school supply donations ahead of the annual Back-2-School Bash through July 23. Our Samantha Larned reports on how folks can contribute. You can find the online registry and a list of drop-off locations here. Intense flash flooding over the weekend, killed one person in San Antonio. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick reports more flooding is expected this week for a large portion of the state.

A judge says Texas has to speed up putting jail inmates who are incompetent to stand trial in mental health facilities. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports the order is part of a ten-year-long lawsuit against the state. Last week, Governor Greg Abbott launched a new teacher-led state commission to shape public education. The Texas Classroom Commission is tasked with developing recommendations ahead of the next legislative session on how to support teachers and improve educational outcomes.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new program to expand fertilizer manufacturing in the United States as a response to rising input costs for farmers. Our Samantha Larned reports on the $500 million grant program. In Grandury, Texas, more than 800 residents are asking city leaders to declare no confidence in the city's manager and attorney due to the city's handling of a proposed AI data center on recently annexed land.

The American Association of University Professors and its Texas affiliate are suing the Texas Tech University System, claiming new curriculum policies amount to unconstitutional censorship. The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez reports the lawsuit asks a federal judge to block the policies. Despite a ban on sports betting in the state, "prediction market platforms" allow Texans to place money on event outcomes. The Texas Medical Association wants policymakers to restrict platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi to people 21 years and older.