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.

Last night, the City of Lubbock hosted a nearly-4-hour meeting to discuss the potential development of large-scale data centers, with comment from about 70 members of the public. Our Samantha Larned reports that while city staff have recommended policies to support further control over developments, some citizens say that concerns over enforcement remain unchanged.

Tonight, the City of Lubbock will be hearing from citizens on the subject of large-scale data centers in a public meeting. The meeting will take place in the banquet hall of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center at 5:30 p.m. The subject of large-scale data centers has raised concerns and even some pushback from Lubbockites. Our reporter Brad Burt has more on another meeting this week, organized by residents petitioning to get Lubbock’s city government to enact a moratorium on data centers in the city. The discussion is scheduled for July 8 at 6 p.m. at the YWCA Event Room at 6501 University Ave. You can find information on the city's meeting and moratorium efforts here.

Heat-related illnesses have been rising throughout the year in the region, according to the CDC. Our Riley Wilson has more from a local expert about how to prepare for heat exposure and how to respond in the event of an adverse heat reaction.

The Trump administration announced this week that it will not renew the U-S-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that, while the three countries will continue to negotiate in hopes of extending the agreement, the prospects of failure could have consequences for Texas’ businesses, as well as consumers. Lubbock will be celebrating Independence Day tomorrow with its annual 4th on Broadway celebration. The parade will begin at 9:45 a.m. from Avenue M and move east on Broadway towards MLK Blvd. A picnic and evening concert will take place at the South Plains Fairground, with fireworks beginning at 10 p.m. You can find maps of the parade route, parking information, and vendor locations at CivicLubbock.org.

Over the last month, Governor Greg Abbott has announced more than $400 million in grants to energy providers outside the state’s ERCOT system as part of a new funding program to upgrade electrical infrastructure across the state. Our Brad Burt reports this includes $113 million for Xcel customers in the South Plains and Panhandle, where downed power lines have been linked to devastating wildfires. Meanwhile, Abbott's opposition to data centers continues to grow, a reversal of his invitation to data centers moving to Texas last year.

Beef prices at the grocery store are already high, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects they could rise another ten percent by the end of the year. Harvest Public Media’s Michael Marks reports the U.S. cattle herd is at its smallest since 1951. With Independence Day this Saturday, our Riley Wilson reports that Lubbock Police are encouraging the public to report illegal fireworks in the city. You can file a crime report on the LPD's crime reporter here or contact the non-emergency line at (806) 775- 2865. The National Safety Council’s fireworks guidelines can be found here.

More cases of the New World Screwworm are being reported. KEDT's Rob Boscamp says 27 cases of the New World Screwworm have now been reported in the country in the past month, with all but one in Texas. Meanwhile, Lubbock city leaders are asking for citizens’ opinions ahead of a public meeting to discuss the subject of large-scale data centers. The meeting will take place on July 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the banquet hall of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The city is also taking public opinion in an online survey that’s open through July 2. Results of the survey will be presented at the July 7 meeting.You can find a link to that survey here.

The special election for Lubbock City Council’s District 4 representative is headed to a runoff. After votes were counted on Saturday, candidates Tim Green received 47% of the vote and Gary Boren took 38%. The special election runoff will be held in August. The Texas State Board of Education has approved a reading list that requires students to learn bible passages. As KERA's Bill Zeeble reports, the new required K-12 reading list will go into effect in 2030.