Local news

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, for aging patients as well as formal and unpaid caregivers across West Texas and the country, the struggle brings reminders every day.

To combat summer hunger, Lubbock and Frenship Independent School Districts are once again offering free summer meal programs for children 18 and younger, regardless of enrollment.

Many of the patients are being treated in Lubbock, a medical hub for the South Plains where the outbreak originated.

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

Lubbock voters passed Proposition A on Saturday, approving a $290 million bond for Lubbock ISD. The measure will fund major infrastructure projects, including three new elementary schools, two middle schools, campus safety upgrades, and enhanced classroom environments.

With school almost out for summer, many students — in Plainview, Tahoka, and beyond — step out of the classroom and into the public library. Between summer reading programs and the year-round story times, events, and educational opportunities, public libraries are ever evolving to meet the needs of their communities.

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.

The measles outbreak is not easing up around the country. The CDC reports 884 confirmed cases nationwide, three times the number of cases in 2024. In West Texas, where the outbreak started, pediatricians are concerned about potentially more children being exposed to the virus.

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.

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.