A portion of the proceeds from this year’s State of the City address were designated for a charity of the mayor’s choice. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren attended the presentation of a $17,500 check to the Guadalupe-Parkway Neighborhood Centers on Wednesday. The 2023 A-F school rankings were released yesterday after a lengthy legal challenge. Lubbock-Cooper ISD received a district rating of 89 out of 100, Frenship ISD was rated 82, and Lubbock ISD was rated 79. You can search the rankings of specific schools and districts at txschools.gov.

The City of Lubbock has implemented a hiring freeze for all full-time non-public safety positions after a concerning report on sales taxes. City manager Jarrett Atkinson says it’s not just Lubbock, with similar reports in Texas cities like Midland and Abilene. While the hiring freeze could save the City of Lubbock more than $1.6 million, current expectations are mapping out a $4.8 million shortfall.

The Lubbock county elections office reported around 1,000 voters for the first day of early voting. The single issue on the ballot for many Lubbock voters is the $290 million bond for Lubbock ISD. You can find voter information like polling times and locations at votelubbock.org. KTTZ's Samantha Larned reports the Lubbock city council authorized the purchase of the Godeke Branch Library.

Friday is the deadline for artists to submit entries for the 2025 Storm Drain Art Project. Our Samantha Larned explains winning artists will be invited to paint murals downtown to help raise awareness of the role citizens play in improving water quality. Application information can be found at mylubbock.us/StormDrainArtProject. Following his death Monday morning, the Diocese of Lubbock announced it will be holding a memorial for Pope Francis this Saturday at 2 P.M., at Christ the King Cathedral, 4011 54th Street.

Cases of a highly contagious bird flu strain have been confirmed in mammals across the South Plains, including here in Lubbock County. Our Bishop Van Buren reports if you see wildlife showing signs of illness, you can contact your regional Texas Parks and Wildlife office at 806-761-4930 or by visiting the TPWD website. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo says Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is once again suing the City of Dallas over what he says are unlawful handgun bans on public property.

This week, the Texas Legislature advanced a controversial bill to create Education Savings Accounts, or school choice vouchers. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey has more on the House's discussion and the preliminary approval of the program. Our Bishop Van Buren report's on Texas Tech Football’s annual Spring Game, which kicks off at 2 P.M. tomorrow at the Jones AT&T Stadium.

Two Texas Tech alumni and major donors, Cody Campbell and Dustin Womble, were elected chairman and vice chairman of the university's board of regents. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the appointments. The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, was in Lubbock yesterday. After the recent tariffs from the White House, she acknowledge the uncertainty farmers are facing. Tomorrow, Lubbock’s city offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday. Libraries and city museums will also be closed on Easter Sunday.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an increase of 20 measles cases since Friday. Our Samantha Larned reports that as cases continue to rise across the region, federal funding cuts are hindering response from public health departments. Today, the Texas House is expected to take up a controversial measure that would create a school voucher program for the state. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey says eyes are on rural Republicans and how they vote.

The Lubbock Police Department is investigating an incident involving a police K-9 that escaped its handler's backyard and left two with injuries on Saturday. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more on the attack. A bill in the state Legislature could make it harder to protest zoning changes in Texas. If passed, KERA’s Megan Cardona reports it would raise the threshold for a city council to vote on rezoning from 20-percent of property owners protesting, to 60-percent. Tonight, the Groves Branch Library is continuing its Medicare Education program 6-8 P.M. at 5520 19th Street.

Texas Tech has confirmed three international students have had their visa revoked. Meanwhile, KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports that 19 students at the University of Texas at Dallas have had their visas revoked. These students are among the hundreds nationwide to have their visas revoked by the U.S. government. This week, Lubbock Animal Services is hosting two adoption events: free adoptions at GolfSuites on Friday and an Easter egg hunt for long stay dogs on Saturday.