The KTTZ News Team

The trial for 25-year-old Omar Soto-Chavira, charged in the 2021 murder of a Lubbock County Sheriff's deputy, has been delayed after Soto-Chavira was found incompetent to stand trial. And KERA’S Zara Amaechi reports a Dallas nonprofit is developing a toolkit to combat housing displacement. Also, Lubbock Animal Shelter is offering free adoption for any of their long-stay dogs for the whole month of September.

Lubbock-area school districts released a joint statement after a series of threats early last week that led to multiple schools being evacuated. And Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider has more on the Attorney General's threats to sue counties over certain efforts to increase voter registration.

The Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees approved a new property tax rate yesterday. And Texas Public Radio's Camille Phillips reports The American Civil Liberties Union and several other organizations filed briefs this week in an ongoing lawsuit over books removed from the Llano County library.

Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on the incoming chief of Lubbock Fire Rescue following his confirmation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. And Lubbock Public Health announced the city's first human death from the West Nile Virus.

Ector County has issued a disaster declaration in response to pollution from a recent chemical fire at an industrial facility outside of Odessa. KERA’s Katherine Hobbs reports that the Texas Civil War Museum will close its doors in October. And Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer will be holding Coffee with the Mayor, beginning with District 1 on Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Texas Tech rodeo fans are upset following the termination of six-year head coach Jerrad Hofstetter. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more on students in Texas Woman's University's new aeronautics program who took their first flights last week. And the City of Lubbock is asking residents of the Parkway-Cherry Point neighborhood to meet with City officials this week and discuss ongoing plans for development.

Our reporter Brad Burt has more on how a joint arrest effort involving federal and local law enforcement has officials highlighting the issue of stolen guns and a need for responsible gun ownership. And the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has received complaints about smoke from underground smoldering at the site of buried debris from Lubbock’s 1970 tornado.

Texas Tech Public Media collaborated with several community partners to put on a Public Education Panel on September 9. Our news team has created a list of resources to provide further context for attendees and anyone interested in the current state of public education in Texas.

Our Bishop Van Buren reports that attendees of the South Plains Fair this month shouldn't expect much change to the fair’s gun policy, despite calls to do so from critics of the Texas State Fair’s new gun ban. And this Saturday the Buddy Holly Center is hosting a free celebration in honor of the musician's birthday.

Dove-hunting season is underway and experts say hunting the bird is vital for wildlife conservation, KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports. And a group of Democratic state senators has asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate allegations of voting rights violations in Texas. Texas Public Radio's Marrian Navarro explains.