The KTTZ News Team

Yesterday, the City of Lubbock recognized January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and January 23rd as Texas Blue Sand Project Day. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on local advocacy for victims of human trafficking. On Monday, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" Opal Lee wrote an open letter to President Trump, asking him to choose unity over division.

The City of Lubbock announced that residents have a new way to access their utilities account to pay bills. Residents can now visit the city’s website at mylubbock.us and click the tab that says “City of Lubbock Utilities Bill.” Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider has more on the state budget proposals from the Texas Senate and House. And according to the Community Foundation of West Texas, more than half a million dollars were raised to support Lubbock nonprofits this past Giving Tuesday.

As his first action after arriving at the White House, President Donald Trump pardoned people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including Lubbock man Ryan Zink. Meanwhile in Denton County, KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports that federal officials are accusing a homeowner's association of racially discriminating against renters receiving government assistance. And across the state, influenza cases are on the rise.

Local north Texans are still opposed to a proposed reservoir that KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports could supply water to the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 2050. And as President Donald Trump enters the White House with a host of plans, Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says his plans for mass deportations could have dramatic effects on Texans and the Texas economy.

Following his election as Speaker of the Texas House, Lubbock Representative Dustin Burrows announced former Texas Tech chancellor Robert Duncan as Chief of Staff for the legislative session. Our reporter Olivia O'Rand has more on the upcoming retirement of Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District's superintendent Keith Bryant. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission says the data of as many as 61,000 individuals may have been improperly accessed by agency employees and recommends folks review their accounts.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and community service efforts are planned in Lubbock to honor the hero of the American Civil Rights movement. Click for more on local events around the city.Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports on Texas' involvement in a brief backing Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate for public school classrooms. And ERCOT expects normal grid conditions as another arctic blast moves into Texas.

Yesterday, Leprino Foods Company hosted an official opening ceremony at a new facility, expected to bring $10 billion to the Lubbock economy over the next 10 years. Meanwhile in central Texas, bird flu continues to spread. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has more from Texas Parks and Wildlife on recommended steps for protection.

Yesterday, Lubbock City Council approved two reports from Lubbock Public Health and two amendments to city codes regarding pet ownership. Texas House members voted Lubbock Republican Dustin Burrows into the Speaker position yesterday. Our reporter Brad Burt has more from West Texans on the decision.

Today is the first day of Texas' 89th Legislative session; lawmakers will vote to fill the role of Speaker of the Texas House, with Lubbock’s Dustin Burrows and David Cook from Mansfield seemingly leading the race for that seat. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the upcoming Point-In-Time homelessness count later this month. The South Plains Homeless Consortium and the Texas Homeless Network are holding a training session for those interested in volunteering from noon to 1 P.M. at Monterey Church of Christ’s Fireside Room.

Ahead of the 89th Legislative session in Texas' congress, the Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports state lawmakers will find out today just how much money they’ll have to work with when crafting the state’s next 2-year budget. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports a new Texas A&M report shows rural counties are short on criminal attorneys who represent low-income defendants.