Local news

Texas Tech Public Media and the Lubbock-Avalanche Journal hosted a forum discussion with all four of Lubbock's mayoral candidates for the 2026 local election on April 15.

Abbott toured the Automotive Technology and Welding Facility on the South Plains College campus in Levelland, a specialized center where students can earn technical certifications that the governor hopes will address a shortage of skilled labor in the state.

Jackalope Creative’s “Tinier Desk” series is creating a space for Lubbock artists to showcase their raw talent with the community.

The Texas Tech University System announced that it will be closing all academic programs 'centered on' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The process will include a program review, admissions freeze, and closure. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to finish their degrees.

In January of this year, Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees approved a “District Optimization Plan," with criteria to determine which area schools will be considered for consolidation or closure in the future. A new dashboard on the LISD website shows which Lubbock schools are below the mark.

The City of Lubbock recently launched new performance metrics on its website, providing data, goals, and progress updates from various departments. And by the end of the month, the city will have a full redesigned website, with a focus on user experience and accessibility.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centers of Lubbock and of El Paso are among the nine schools that received funding for the program, increasing the total number of accredited forensic psychiatry fellowships.

Elevated to critical fire weather is expected to persist across the South Plains and broader West Texas region as record-breaking March heat, strong winds and ongoing drought conditions continue to dry out vegetation. Officials warn that despite a brief cooldown from a passing cold front, wildfire risk will remain moderate into early next week, with recent fires in the Panhandle and South Plains underscoring the growing danger.

Billie Caviel and her husband, Alfred, owned and operated Lubbock's first Black-owned pharmacy near 19th Street and Avenue A for nearly 50 years. Friends say Billie was continually invested in bringing arts and education to the next generation.

Following sex abuse allegations against labor icon Cesar Chavez, a number of organizations have cancelled annual celebrations typically held in March. Rather than cancelling its day of community service, Los Hermanos Familia in Lubbock has renamed the event. Meanwhile, Lubbock Democratic Leaders are calling on the city to rename the street that also honors Chavez.