Police

Our reporter Olivia O'Rand has an update on announcements from the Lubbock Police Department as it continues to expand technologies, including for communication with the public. Yesterday, the chair of the Texas Senate’s Education Committee filed a bill that could boost teacher salaries by thousands of dollars if passed. KUT's Becky Fogel has more.

Lubbock Republican State Senator Charles Perry says he’s planning to file a bill that could dedicate up to $5 billion in funding for water projects across the state. This month, Lubbock police expanded use of an e-citation app. Our reporter Olivia O’Rand has more on developing technology with the department. Enrollment is open for the City of Lubbock citizen education program. The application, syllabus, and more information can be found at mylubbock.us/Lubbock101, the deadline to apply is March 3.

Advocates worry that rapidly shifting federal and state immigration initiatives will prompt more city police to funnel migrants without criminal records to federal agents.

Memphis Police Chief Rex Plant, who was shot last week in Hall County, was released from a Lubbock hospital yesterday. Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro has more on the temporary pause on a ruling that found parts of a Texas voter security law unconstitutional. And Civic Lubbock announced the tracks and artists to be featured on the 2025 Lubbock Music NOW album.

Texas Tech University released its annual Security and Fire Safety Report last week, revealing campus crime statistics for the calendar year 2023.

Texas Tech University released its annual Security and Fire Safety Report last week, revealing campus crime statistics for 2023. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has a breakdown of the numbers and comparisons from the past three years.

Federal officials say a small device that coverts firearms to machine guns is rapidly spreading across Texas. And they warn anyone making, selling, or using the device faces prison time. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga reports. And the U.S. Economic Development Administration announced a grant for the South Plains Association of Governments this week.

The trial for 25-year-old Omar Soto-Chavira, charged in the 2021 murder of a Lubbock County Sheriff's deputy, has been delayed after Soto-Chavira was found incompetent to stand trial. And KERA’S Zara Amaechi reports a Dallas nonprofit is developing a toolkit to combat housing displacement. Also, Lubbock Animal Shelter is offering free adoption for any of their long-stay dogs for the whole month of September.

Lubbock City Council approved a budget for the next fiscal year yesterday, with a 0.72% increase to property taxes to support it. This week also saw a vote on Lubbock County's budget postponed once again after two commissioners did not attend a meeting the second time in a row. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more. And multiple police departments have responded to reported bomb threats at Lubbock area high schools over the past two days.

A joint effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement led to the arrest of eight people in Lubbock on Wednesday. Officials are using the takedown to underline issues with stolen guns, modified weapons, and enforcing current gun laws in Texas.