Following the approval of new funds from the state, Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees approved new items in its budget for this school year. Our Brad Burt reports that this includes an average 13% pay increase for certified teachers and 14% for paraprofessionals. Lubbock’s city council will be holding public hearings today regarding its tax rate and the city’s 2025-26 budget. Citizens can sign up to speak outside the council chambers before the meeting begins at 2 P.M.

The long-anticipated park in downtown Lubbock has raised enough funds to begin construction. Officials expect construction to take 9-10 months, and be completed by the end of next year. Dove hunting season begins in Texas today. Texas Public Radio’s Jerry Clayton has the details. Lubbock's city offices are closed today for Labor Day, affecting residential trash collection, landfill operations, libraries, museums, community and recreation centers, and public health.

Saturday's opening game for the Red Raiders will feature a performance from multiple generations of Tech’s Goin’ Band. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the band's centennial celebration. CitiBus has announced the return of the Park N Ride Gameday Express at Texas Tech football games this season, offering roundtrip service to and from Jones AT&T Stadium for $6 per person. Passes are purchasable through the GoPass App. The Gameday Express will begin three hours before kickoff and continue until one hour following the end of the game.

Almost a year after it closed, Garza County officials say they are finalizing the sale of the Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility to the state of Texas. Lubbock Public Health has confirmed the presence of both the St. Louis Encephalitis Virus and West Nile Virus in the area. Our Bishop Van Buren reports the city is urging residents to avoid contact with mosquitos. And after a human case of screwworm was confirmed in the U.S., the Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a resource page on its website.

Lubbock Area United Way kicked off its annual fundraising campaign yesterday. This year’s goal is not measured in dollars donated, but in lives impacted. The Texas Legislature passed a bill in the regular session to provide resources to volunteer firefighters in response to the 2024 Panhandle Wildfires. Our reporter Brad Burt has more on SB 34, which will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Texas' attorney general is directing all Texas school districts not involved in ongoing litigation to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports that this comes after a federal judge paused the new Texas law, saying it violates the freedom of religion. In Lubbock, the public is invited to attend Coffee with the Mayor in District 5 tomorrow. Our reporter, Samantha Larned, has more from the city as it works to increase participation. The event begins at 7 a.m. at the United Supermarkets at 11310 Slide Road.

School is back in session and students at Lubbock ISD are all eligible for free lunch, without needing to apply for meal services. Our Olivia O’Rand has more on the Community Eligibility Provision and what schools in other districts qualify as well. A former teacher and coach with Lubbock ISD has been accused of multiple counts of sexual assault. The teacher was placed on leave and resigned in 2024, and our reporter Bishop Van Buren says he was arrested last week.

The Texas House passed several bills related to floods and other natural disasters yesterday. They include disaster funding, emergency plans, and improved communication for first responders. Here in Lubbock, readers and comic fans have a busy weekend ahead. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on the Lubbock Book Festival and Hub City Comic Con.

All three of Lubbock's biggest school districts showed improvements in the new academic accountability ratings for the 2024-25 school year. Our Samantha Larned reports Lubbock ISD, Frenship ISD, and Lubbock-Cooper ISD all received a B as an overall score. This time last year, Lubbock was reaching record high temperatures for several consecutive days. This August, things are looking a bit cooler.

The Texas Tech University System has entered a new partnership with the FBI focused on focus on strengthening national security, cybersecurity, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Our Bishop Van Buren reports on the signing ceremony. Last week, the City of Lubbock was dealing with cybersecurity concerns of its own, resulting in the temporary shutdown of its systems. Our reporter Samantha Larned has the latest from the city.