Community

Texas’ highway investments over the past decade are paying off, according to a report released at the end of last year. As The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports, drivers are saving money and spending less time in traffic, and fewer people are dying on the road. Lubbock Lake Landmark is kicking off 90 years of discovery, for which it has events and expert lectures planned throughout the year. This Saturday at 10:30 a.m. is a Waterfowl Workshop, hosted by the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists.

Salem Abraham claims Minnesota-based Xcel Energy has not lived up to its promise of protecting the region from wildfires. The company vehemently disagrees.

Here are some ways you can give back to the Lubbock community in December.

Joe Ely was a Texas music legend who drove humbly at the leading edge of an evolutionary wave in alternative country music, and many talented West Texas musicians came with him. Butch Hancock and Terry Allen spoke with KTTZ about the life and career of their close friend, the role that West Texas played in their music, and the role Joe Ely played in their lives.

Wolfforth City Councilmember Wesley Houck has announced his run for Lubbock County Judge. He is the only candidate opposing incumbent county judge Curtis Parrish in upcoming primary elections. Our Brad Burt reports he’s joining in a uniquely contentious week for Lubbock county politics. The City of Lubbock is accepting applications for several of its advisory boards and committees. The application deadline is December 31, and the term for the positions starts June 1, 2026. Click here for a list of vacancies.

Sunday is Texas Tech’s annual Carol of Lights at the Science Quadrangle, the university's way to kick off the holiday season. But almost 60 years ago, the occasion was a somber affair following the murder of Sarah Alice Morgan on Dec. 4, 1967.

This Sunday is Texas Tech’s annual Carol of Lights at the Science Quadrangle, the university's way to kick off the holiday season. But almost 60 years ago, the occasion was a much more somber affair following the murder of Sarah Alice Morgan on Dec. 4, 1967. Our reporter Mia Shephard has more on that night and its lasting legacy.

The newly passed federal ban on hemp-based products containing THC, set to go into effect in Nov. 2026, could have a significant negative effect on the Texas economy.Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says the ban could hit a wide range of Texas industries. Tomorrow is National Memory Screening Day and Texas Tech’s Garrison Institute on Aging is joining the effort. Our Bishop Van Buren reports the GIA will be offering free screenings at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center’s Academic Event Center tomorrow at 2 p.m., followed by a lecture by Texas Tech psychology professor Dr. Gayle Ayers from 3 to 4 p.m.

During Native American Heritage Month, traces of Indigenous history across the South Plains continue to shape life in West Texas. For groups like Native American People of the Plains and Beyond, visibility and education remain central to preserving culture and correcting long-held misconceptions.

The Veterans Food Bank of Lubbock is set to open next month and organizers are calling on the community to contribute to its first food drive through Dec. 16. More information at the nonprofit's Facebook page. Our Samantha Larned reports now is an ideal time for folks to get their flu shots to reach peak immunity in time for Thanksgiving, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Meanwhile, after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP, some Texans have started receiving partial payments.