Rural News

Disappointed by a lack of government support, the remote West Texas town raised the money it needed to connect 2,000 residents to high-speed broadband.

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.

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.

Updated data and information from public health officials on confirmed measles cases in the region.

Over half of newly hired Texas teachers are uncertified to teach in public schools. Our reporter Brad Burt has more from a recent education forum, where local experts talked about teacher pay, preparedness, retention and the impact on students, particularly in rural schools.

The South Plains Association of Governments is seeking public input from residents of fifteen counties surrounding Lubbock as part of its Safety Action Plan to improve road conditions and reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries across the region.

Ad Astra School has opened around the corner from Elon Musk’s corporate compound in rural Central Texas. Nonprofit filings show secondary schools and a university are also planned.

Despite the efforts of local governments and others, the move to provide internet access to millions of Texans has been slow and faces new challenges.

Almost half of Texas counties have nowhere to get prenatal care, let alone deliver a baby. This plan offers legislative proposals to shore up what’s left.

With inventories, monitoring and planned upgrades in the future, those using tap water in the city of Lubbock don't have much to worry about in terms of potability. But our reporter Olivia O’Rand spoke to local experts who say those outside of the city, on well water, are at risk of ingesting high levels of arsenic.