Accountability

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.

In the last school year, all three of Lubbock’s biggest school districts showed improvement in their academic accountability scores from the Texas Education Agency, and all three with overall B-ratings. KTTZ has a breakdown of the relevant numbers and what those ratings mean.

Members of Lubbock’s queer community and their allies showed up to the city council chambers for the third June in a row, advocating for the city to recognize Pride Month. Organizers and participants said the council did not acknowledge their campaign or protest.

Lubbock elected a new mayor in June 2024. Since then, it’s been a busy year for the region. Now, one year later, the KTTZ news team sat down with Mayor Mark McBrayer to discuss his term so far, including issues like public safety, city growth, housing, and budget challenges.

The oversight agency missed key inspections and left prisoner complaints unresolved.

Republican state Rep. Brooks Landgraf proposed the ban after a fire at an Odessa area chemical storage facility that allegedly filled a nearby neighborhood with "black sludge." House Bill 3866 is now on Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

With Lubbock ISD’s $290 million bond the only item on most Lubbock ballots in the May 3 election, many are considering the possible costs for taxpayers and the value of public schools in Lubbock’s economy. At the same time, questions of transparency and participation remain top of mind for district staff and community members alike.

Demonstrators filled streets in cities and towns all around the Lone Star State on Saturday for "50501" demonstrations. The coordinated, nationwide protests against the Trump administration saw major turnouts reported in Houston, Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Some Texas legislators may be done questioning the merits of education savings accounts as it moves to a vote in the State House, but voters aren’t. Model programs in other states are showing rural voters could stand to lose the most, and they’re preparing to do the math on election day.

This legislative session, creating Education Savings Accounts — which would let parents use public funds towards private education costs — is a top priority for many Texas Republicans. But the voucher plan has also caused contentious clashes between some rural voters and the lawmakers who represent them.