Local news

Lubbock’s first mayoral election runoff ends Saturday in a clear victory for District 3's former city council representative, Mark McBrayer, and Gordon Harris wins the race for District 2’s city council seat. And KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports the Texas Supreme Court will not weigh a Denton divorce case that questions whether IVF embryos are legally property or human children.

With a collective total of six years of city council experience across all seven members, McBrayer acknowledged that many challenges are expected in the following months.

Tomorrow, Lubbock will celebrate “Juneteenth,” a federal holiday marking the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas and the end of slavery after the American Civil War, with a parade and festival in Mackenzie Park. And Texas Public Radio's Camille Phillips has more on a Texas high school student invited to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team.

Lubbock residents gathered before the city council for a silent rainbow sit-in for the second year in a row on Tuesday. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on local efforts pushing the city of Lubbock to declare June as Pride Month. And KERA's Paul DeBenedetto reports Texas successfully blocked the Biden administration from expanding sex discrimination protections to LGBTQ students.

In addition to the sit-ins, advocacy for the city of Lubbock to recognize Pride Month the previous two years has included a letter-writing campaign. All of which, organizers and community members said, have gone without adequate response from elected officials.

Lubbock’s city council gave final approval to the zoning change on Tuesday that greenlights a 7-story student housing project in the historic South Overton neighborhood. The project has been a source of tension between residents, developers, and city leaders since it was introduced last year.

South Overton residents are “extremely disappointed and disheartened” by Lubbock's city council greenlighting a 7-story student housing project in the historic neighborhood.

Community leaders, educators and members of tribal nations are calling on the Texas State Board of Education to include the renewal of an American Indian/Native Studies course on the Board’s agenda this Friday. If the course is not renewed before it expires, educators say it will indefinitely delay its availability moving forward.

Our news team recently sat down with both Lubbock Mayoral Candidates for interviews about topics important to Lubbock voters.

Some back-and-forth amendments to an ordinance from the city council going back to October of last year led many to speak out in surprise over reports of high costs when responsibility for repairs changed from city crews to city-approved private contractors without their knowledge. Now, Committee chair Jeff Reese says he doesn’t want to make that mistake with their new recommendations.