Abortion

The course includes examples of when abortion is permitted to protect the life of the patient, but many experts say the complications women face in pregnancy are impossible to capture in a brief presentation.

An event organized by a student group intended to discuss abortion was cancelled by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center late last month, after backlash from conservative activists and Turning Point USA at Texas Tech. Now, another free speech group is calling on the TTUHSC to allow them to reschedule the event.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center cancelled an event organized by a student group, set to take place last week featuring a conversation about third-trimester abortion. Our reporter Samantha Larned reports the decision has been met with support and criticism from free speech advocacy groups.

The case centers on the Texas Heartbeat Act, a 2021 law that bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected and lets private citizens enforce the ban through lawsuits.

Last week, the Texas Supreme Court returned. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge reports it heard oral arguments in a case related to the state’s 2021 abortion ban. Today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the HEARD Coalition is hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at the YWCA at 6501 University Ave. City offices, libraries, museums, and community centers will also be closed for the holiday.

Texas' highest civil court is set to hear and rule on cases dealing with several hot-button issues, including hemp, gender-affirming care and the state's ban on abortions after detection of cardiac activity.

The study looks at abortions received by Texans both in state and out-of-state in the months after Senate Bill 8, a roughly six-week abortion ban, became law in 2021.

The opening of the West Texas State Veterans Cemetery, originally set for December, has been delayed. A new report finds that the state's six-week abortion ban has had the most significant impact on those under the age of 18. Texas Public Radio's Bonnie Petrie reports on why that might be. Just one week after District 19 congressman Jodey Arrington announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2026, and other candidates have already begun filing for his seat.

A group of Lubbock-area nonprofits came together earlier this week to discuss how new state laws will impact families and children. Our reporter Samantha Larned, has more from statewide advocacy agency TexProtects on the goals of the new policies. Several other new bills signed by Governor Greg Abbott will go into effect on Dec. 4 and the elimination of the STARR test is expected to be implemented in the 2027-28 school year.

On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released his official proclamation announcing a special legislative session. Texas lawmakers will be back in Austin starting on July 21. The session, which originally looked like it would focus on regulating THC, now includes several emergency preparedness topics.