Community

Tomorrow is election day in Lubbock’s District 4 city council special election runoff between candidates Tim Green and Gary Boren. Saturday is also Lubbock Public Library's Back-to-School Bash at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. You can find more information and register by the end of the day for a free CitiBus pass to the event here. Meanwhile, in Austin, a planned system of ultra-high-voltage transmission lines that would move electricity across Texas faced strong opposition at the state capitol this week. As KUT's Mose Buchele reports, rural landowners and opponents of renewable energy are asking lawmakers to put the brakes on the project.

The HEARD Coalition is a local advocacy group that provides substance response and prevention resources for young people in the community. Our Samantha Larned reports that to help with its response, the group – along with other prevention groups – are seeking public response on mental health, substance use, and health access challenges. You can find a link to the survey here. The US will resume imports of Mexican cattle on August 24th, easing a yearlong trade disruption that tightened livestock supplies and pushed costs higher across the beef industry. Reporter Stephania Corpi has more on how this news is bringing relief to Mexican Ranchers and US feedlots.

Just a stone's throw away from Leftwich Park, a colorful collection of rocks offers a space for neighbors to connect, participate, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

The 2025 study from Social Connection in America found that 63% of participants reported never taking action with their neighbors. Here in Lubbock, our Riley Wilson reports on a little rock library intended to spark community engagement and appreciation of nature.

As members of the data center and energy industries gathered in Austin this week to discuss the growing infrastructure needs of large-scale data centers in Texas, Democratic candidates who have spoken against data centers will be kicking off a West Texas tour from Lubbock this weekend. Gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, Lieutenant Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin, and others will be at The Garden at 1801 Buddy Holly Avenue in Lubbock on Saturday from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Our Riley Wilson reports that Lubbock Lake Landmark is kicking off its annual Archaeology Days today, with activities planned through Saturday. Tours of the excavation site and laboratory will be at 9:30 and 11 a.m. each day. The Landmark is located at 2401 Landmark Dr.

The City of Lubbock Public Libraries are accepting school supply donations ahead of the annual Back-2-School Bash through July 23. Our Samantha Larned reports on how folks can contribute. You can find the online registry and a list of drop-off locations here. Intense flash flooding over the weekend, killed one person in San Antonio. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick reports more flooding is expected this week for a large portion of the state.

The Trump administration announced this week that it will not renew the U-S-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that, while the three countries will continue to negotiate in hopes of extending the agreement, the prospects of failure could have consequences for Texas’ businesses, as well as consumers. Lubbock will be celebrating Independence Day tomorrow with its annual 4th on Broadway celebration. The parade will begin at 9:45 a.m. from Avenue M and move east on Broadway towards MLK Blvd. A picnic and evening concert will take place at the South Plains Fairground, with fireworks beginning at 10 p.m. You can find maps of the parade route, parking information, and vendor locations at CivicLubbock.org.

Lubbock Independent School District is seeking recommendations from the community in the naming of three new schools. The board of trustees will consider names based on geographical features, names with historical significance, names of retired educators or board members, or that recognize community partners. You can submit suggestions through Aug. 1. Tonight, the Lubbock ISD board of trustees is holding a public hearing regarding the proposed district budget and tax rate for the upcoming school year. Our Samantha Larned reports the proposed tax rate is unchanged from last year and the total budget is a more than 11% decrease from last year. You can find links to the budget and to request public comment here.

Today is Juneteenth, honoring the day enslaved people in Galveston learned of their freedom two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Our Riley Wilson reports on the weekend of events in Lubbock, including a cookout this evening, and parade and festival on Saturday. You can find a schedule of events with addresses here. According to a nationwide survey, beekeepers lost more than 60 percent of their commercially managed honeybee colonies between the summer of 2024 and early 2025. Texas Public Radio's Tim Gutierrez reports the bee crisis could have consequences far beyond honey production.

State officials are asking Texans to help protect the state's white tail deer population from screwworm. Texas Public Radio's Brian Kirkpatrick reports the deer drive a nearly $10 billion annual hunting industry. Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer is hosting Coffee with the Mayor series for all districts tomorrow at 10 a.m. on the 2nd floor of Citizens Tower at 1314 Avenue K. Also tomorrow, TxDOT will host a public meeting over plans to replace the south Loop 289 bridge over Slide Road at the TxDOT training center off I-27 and Slaton Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m.