Local news

Texas Tech Equestrian Center offers training and support for Lubbock community

Olivia O'Rand

During Red Raider football season, Fearless Champion takes center stage as the Masked Rider charges onto the field before home games—but at the Texas Tech Equestrian Center, horseplay is a year-round commitment.

Lubbock ISD board trustee for district one, Lala Chavez, introduced Tuesday's town hall to discuss the possible ESA program and the future of Lubbock public education.

While state lawmakers seem poised to pass private school vouchers, voters in West Texas feel ignored

Brad Burt

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.

Flowers bloom along a pedestrian walkway on Texas Tech's campus just outside of the Administration Building in Lubbock, TX. Apr. 8, 2025.

Texas Tech plans campus changes after study with architecture firm

Bishop Van Buren

Texas Tech University has released the final summary of their campus strategic alignment plan, a long-term vision for reshaping the university's physical and academic environment.

Katherine Wells, Lubbock Health Department's director, looks through a vaccine log on March 17. Wells and her staff are working to stem the measles outbreak in the Lubbock area as well as throughout Texas.

Lubbock’s public health director fights to stop measles and build public trust

Jayme Lozano Carver

Katherine Wells was celebrated early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then public health became a political litmus test.

While various types of voucher plans have been proposed in states across the country in recent years, the issue has always proved controversial among voters, particularly in rural areas. In West Texas, voters are still considering the costs and benefits of ESAs and whether their legislators are listening.

In rural Texas, some voters are hesitant about school vouchers. Are their lawmakers listening?

Brad Burt

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.

Lubbock health official says federal funding cuts will hurt efforts to contain measles outbreak

Terri Langford

In Lubbock, federal grants helped hire workers to help with measles testing, vaccination to combat the outbreak that has spread to 15 counties.

Monterey High School’s Aaliyah Chavez, ESPN’s No. 1 women’s basketball recruit for the class of 2025, stands with her family on stage while being interviewed by ESPN after announcing her commitment to the University of Oklahoma, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock hoops star Aaliyah Chavez commits to Oklahoma

Bishop Van Buren

ESPN’s No. 1 women’s basketball recruit for 2025 has committed to Oklahoma, bypassing Texas Tech and other top programs while cementing her legacy at Lubbock Monterey.

Texas lawmakers are expected to settle differences between four pieces of legislation meant to save the state's water supply.

Texas lawmakers will debate saving the state’s water supply after key legislation is introduced

Alejandra Martinez

The state House and Senate have similar proposals to solve the state's water crisis, but there are stark differences on how to invest billions of dollars to resolve.

A toppled damaged transformer lays charred in an open patch of grass at Avenue X and 44th Street. There is a haze of brown dust in the sky behind.

Wildfires, dust and wind create hazardous conditions, evacuations in the Texas Panhandle

Samantha Larned

Amid dangerous weather conditions, 65,000 Xcel Energy customers are without power and several wildfires burn in the Texas Panhandle. While collapsed structures and zero visibility affect drivers and residents across the region.

Police, Fire, and State Troopers respond to reports of gas leaks, smoke, and flames on campus after a substation explosion Wednesday night.

Update: substation explosion at Texas Tech causes power outages, evacuation on campus

Brad Burt

An underground fire and explosion at a power substation on the Texas Tech University campus Wednesday night caused multiple power outages and evacuations, sending students to an early spring break. This is a developing story.