The KTTZ News Team

With the semester ending, both Lubbock and Frenship ISD will provide free meals this summer for children 18 and younger, regardless of enrollment status. Our Bishop Van Buren reports LISD's program will begin on Monday and Frenship's will begin June 2, both run through late July. Despite an original push to for regulation, the Texas House has given initial approval to a complete ban on consumable THC products. It still must pass a final reading in the House before it returns to the Senate.

The increasing size and frequency of wildfires in the Panhandle is putting strains on rural fire departments. Our Brad Burt reports that a bill to bring funding and equipment for these departments is now headed for Governor Abbott’s desk. The Buddy Holly Center and the Silent Wings Museum are once again taking part in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and families through September 1. You can find a list of qualifications, identification, and all the participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

This week, the Texas Senate gave final approval to the Uvalde Strong Act, a bill focused on improving school safety training and coordination between officers and schools. After the retirement of longtime head coach Jill Schneider, Lubbock ISD has announced a new head girls basketball coach at Monterey High School. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren breaks down the hire. Civic Lubbock, Inc. has extended sign-up deadlines to June 15 for volunteers, sponsors, and both food and non-food vendors for the 4th on Broadway event. More information can also be found at LBKJuly4th.org.

Hodges Elementary School shut its doors for good this weekend, one of three Lubbock ISD schools being consolidated. Our Bishop Van Buren attended Hodges' farewell event on Saturday and reports on the school's legacy. The Texas Senate unanimously passed legislation offering free cancer screenings to firefighters. It now goes to the governor's desk for final approval.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported an increase of only one measles case connected with the West Texas since Tuesday. Our Samantha Larned has more on how counties in the region are faring. Severe dust storms have been plaguing far West Texas and New Mexico this spring. A new study examines the cost of these storms.

The tooth of the prehistoric giant ground sloth has been uncovered right here in Lubbock as part of an environmental review for the Loop 88 highway project. Our Bishop Van Buren spoke with TxDot and reports on the discovery. Today marks the first day Lubbock's splash pads are open for the summer. The Mae Simmons, Maxey, and Rogers splash pads will be open this weekend from 10 A.M.to 8 P.M., beginning at 3 P.M. during the week, and return to normal hours starting May 23.

The City of Lubbock recognized graduates of its annual citizen education program, Lubbock 101, at Tuesday's council meeting. Schools are also taking this time to celebrate their students' accomplishments. Our Bishop Van Buren reports on Lubbock Monterey's graduating basketball star Aaliyah Chavez receiving her 2025 Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year trophy yesterday.

Lubbock Democrats hosted a workers’ town hall Monday night, inviting District 19 U.S. Congressman Jodey Arrington to take questions from West Texans. Several veterans came to the town hall, hoping to speak with Arrington, including one who announced his own intention to run for the District 19 congressional seat this week. Meanwhile, our Bishop Van Buren reports that Lubbock ISD has posted an opening for the position of Monterey High School's head football coach.

The Texas House has just over two weeks left to give Senate bills their critical second reading. Following action in the House over the weekend, Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider has a roundup of some of the bills poised to make that critical deadline, including property taxes and voter registration. One bill — which passed earlier this session and was signed into law by Governor Abbott — will allow families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. The program is expected to start in Fall 2026, but the Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey says critics are still fighting to stop it.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting a decrease in the number of new measles cases connected to the West Texas outbreak. Our Samantha Larned says the three most affected counties — Gaines, Terry, and Lubbock — saw no new cases from Tuesday to Friday. After winning its first-ever Big 12 Championship on Saturday, Texas Tech's softball team will host the NCAA Tournament Regional Round for the first time in program history.