Arts and Culture

San Antonio native and conjunto legend Flaco Jiménez has died at the age of 86.

Last summer, Lubbock’s city council voted to reduce funding for the First Friday Art Trail from the Cultural Arts Grant Program. Now, one year later, the council was once again tasked with approving the grant recipients recommended by Civic Lubbock, Inc. KTTZ's Samantha Larned reports this year's funding was approved with a unanimous vote from the city council after some changes to grant guidelines, including a restriction on "controversial" issues.

Lubbock City Council has approved the recommended recipients for the Cultural Arts Grant Program. Included in the recommendations was the First Friday Art Trail, one year after a controversial decision from the council that cut funding for that event. However, this year saw a change in the guidelines for the grant, restricting political and “controversial” programming.

The Mesquite Mile project began in 2020, combining regional plants and human infrastructure to mitigate flooding in the Heart of Lubbock neighborhood. The city has seen streets flood this summer with severe weather and storms across the state. But in May 2025, the Mesquite Mile’s NEA grant was withdrawn.

The Lubbock Lake Landmark is offering free public tours and activities from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday through Saturday, as part of its “Archaeology in Action” event. KTTZ's Bishop Van Buren reports the event will also feature a children’s excavation area, demonstrations and storytelling. The Lubbock Garden and Arts Center’s 55th annual Fall Festival is coming up in September, and organizers are encouraging vendors and entertainers to register for spaces and performances. To register or find out more, visit ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/garden-arts-center.

A high school librarian found an old Bible at Boerne High School dating back to 1614. No one knows who brought it to Boerne from Germany.

In anticipation of more anti-ICE protests here in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has deployed the Texas National Guard to San Antonio. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports on the decision and expectations in the city. Voting is now open through June 16 to decide the fan-favorite mural from the winners of the 2025 Storm Drain Art Project. You can see the murals in person downtown on the corner of 13th Street and Texas Avenue and visit mylubbock.us/StormDrainArtProject to view them online and vote for your favorite.

The small, unassuming studio played a key part in country music history

And to top it off, “They put quite a bit of Big Red into their barbecue sauce.”

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.