Local leaders and rural revitalization experts say Texas’ smallest towns can survive — despite a shift to urban and suburban counties — but it will take investments.

Texas desperately needs more and denser housing to keep up with the demand. But zoning restrictions get in the way, a Texas Tribune analysis found.

Democrats in Lubbock and Amarillo hope Kamala Harris’ candidacy and a backlash to abortion laws will help make their long-held vision of a blue wave a reality.

Members of the Abilene Christian University football team were injured after a team bus crashed Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas.

To help raise money the Lubbock-area food bank recruited a Michelin-recognized chef.

The City Council did approve $5,000 for security, about one-fifth of the money it withheld over last month.

Texas Tribune journalist Jayme Lozano Carver has written about health care for years. Most recently, she reported on how little access there is for women and new moms in the Texas Panhandle.

The arts center that organizes the monthly art walk, which draws 20,000 to downtown Lubbock, said the drag show happened at an off-site location and had no association with it.

After repeated attempts to convince the City Council to make zoning changes, residents asked the federal government to intervene.

Advocates say public pools are necessary community infrastructure and save lives. Splash pads have become a more affordable option.

A hailstone found in the Texas Panhandle could potentially break the record for the largest hailstone ever found to have fallen in Texas.

Short of an immediate statewide response, Texans who lost homes and livestock are taking matters into their own hands to better prepare their property for a wildfire.

A ballot proposition would have instructed police not to arrest people who have four ounces or less of marijuana.

There is no process in Texas for a voter-driven statewide referendum. So, supporters are going city by city to build statewide momentum.

Texas’ turnover rate has held steady at 40% since 2014. That’s slightly above the new national average.

Federal officials said the nation’s milk supply should be not at risk after a bird flu outbreak hits dairies in Texas, New Mexico and Kansas.

A third infant nearby also contracted botulism last August. Local and state health officials said there is no public health emergency.

With menu items like birria brisket ramen, the Bar-B-Que Bandidas in Lubbock are challenging the norm of Texas barbecue and a male dominated industry.

Years in the making, the transition from a municipal electric company to an open market has left some residents unsure.

The Texas attorney general has sued five other cities that have passed similar policies decriminalizing marijuana.

Rural Texas towns like Levelland on the South Plains are increasingly turning to the arts to help revitalize their downtowns and provide more attractions for families.

Police say officers investigating a domestic disturbance fatally shot a man who they say ran at them with knives in West Texas.

California basketball coach Mark Madsen says Fardaws Aimaq was called “a terrorist” by a heckling fan after a game against UTEP this week in the SoCal Challenge.

Voters in several Texas cities have sought to decriminalize marijuana. However, their efforts have been met by reluctant city councils that say they can’t go against state law.

The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the state’s smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.

Supporters of the amendment say it will protect farmers as the state’s largest cities continue to grow. Opponents suggest the amendment is too broad and ambiguous.

Amarillo's city council said it will continue to study the issue. The city is one of just a few in Texas to reject the policy pushed by anti-abortion activists.

A Texas county near New Mexico has banned helping people traveling to get an abortion.

Lubbock is now the fourth, and largest, county to pass the ordinance which would punish people through civil lawsuits for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside of Texas.

Only one Texan, Rep. Pete Sessions, remains in the race for House Speaker. Republicans will hear from the candidates Monday night as they try to fill the job following U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s failure to win a majority.

Like many regions in Texas, the county jails and hospitals have been at capacity with people needing mental health help. Local leaders hope a new 200-bed facility will alleviate pressure.

Home to more than 260,000 people, the West Texas town of Lubbock is no stranger to passing local laws by petition. In 2021, residents overwhelmingly approved a local ban on abortion.

Cochran County commissioners meet Thursday to discuss the ban. Abortion-rights supporters say the bans are unenforceable and meant to stoke fear.

Malik Dunlap returned the first of his two interceptions for a touchdown, Tahj Brooks set a career high with 158 yards rushing and Texas Tech got its first win of the season, 41-3 win over lower-division Tarleton State.

Syphilis rates in Texas continue to climb, alarming healthcare workers who see the highest increases among pregnant people and newborns. A shortage of treatment is complicating efforts to combat it.

The water in these four unincorporated communities near Lubbock has been undrinkable for years, residents say. They hope to win $3 million in state grants to improve their systems.

The emerging technology, paid for by a grant established during the 2023 legislative session, will help emergency health care workers talk with doctors in emergency rooms to better care for critical patients.

West Texas residents are organizing over their love — or concern — for books. Meanwhile, from Lubbock to Midland and Odessa, librarians are trying to reaffirm libraries’ role as community hubs.

A minority of farmers in the Texas High Plains region are looking to organic and regenerative techniques to keep their soil healthy year round, despite a dry climate.

A new federal complaint comes as the city updates its zoning laws for the first time since the 1970s.

One year after a devastating drought, Texas agriculture watchers are wary that the positive effects of a wet spring could be zapped up with extreme heat.

In the conservative High Plains city, LGBTQ leaders and activists say they feel unseen and unsupported by their elected officials.

The city of about 800 also suffered extensive property damage and power outages. Crews were still assessing the full scope of destruction Thursday, and Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration.

The Ogallala Aquifer serves farming communities in multiple states. When it runs dry, the agriculture industry in Texas and the nation is in jeopardy.

On the eve of a historic investment in connecting the Lone Star State, advocates worry maps that will help establish which communities get funding have bad information.

Three men listed on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted are now back in custody.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor found that a corporate-owned Whataburger illegally fired a nursing mother after she left the restaurant to express breast milk.

The federal Farm Bill is must-pass legislation that Congress debates every five years. It includes billions of dollars in farm subsidies and pays for food assistance programs.

There are more than 60 open federal civil rights investigations into Texas schools.

Water agencies have long resisted working together out of fear of losing their local powers. But an example from Florida could help save the Lone Star State’s water and infrastructure.

Nearly 18,000 cattle were killed in a barn explosion at the South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas near Lubbock Monday, KFDA-TV reported.

Hello and welcome back to the wild weather blog!

Bigger cities like Lubbock can unintentionally suck health care resources and professionals from smaller towns, creating what one local expert calls the “doughnut effect.”

Texas Tech has named second-year assistant Corey Williams as its interim coach for Big 12 tournament as the school continues its investigation of suspended coach Mark Adams.

The head coach is also being investigated for allegedly spitting on a player during a game earlier in the season.

Texas Tech has suspended coach Mark Adams over “an inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment” he made to a player.

De’vion Harmon scored 25 points and Kevin Obanor added 19 as Texas Tech defeated its second ranked opponent in three days, upending No. 6 Texas 74-67.

They talked about their campaigns and journey to the Legislature, what has stood out to them so far about working in the House and what they hope to accomplish this session.

Students reported enduring racial slurs, the sounds of whips cracking and monkey noises as they walked down school hallways.

School leaders have said they don’t tolerate racism and that they regularly train teachers how to deal with bullying. But parents say inaction by officials tells a different story.

Pop Isaacs scored 24 points, shooting 5 for 6 from 3-point range, and Kevin Obanor scored 20 and Texas Tech managed to overcome Nicholls late for a 78-71 win.

Those leaving are frustrated that the church has taken positions they feel are too liberal.

A dearth of nurses is leaving Texas seniors — especially in rural areas — without care.

Downtowns are deserted, hospitals are closing, teachers are leaving. Every part of life in rural Texas is harder — but it’s worth saving.

First lady Jill Biden and U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were in Texas Sunday to help members of their respective parties energize voters before Election Day.

Republicans may be waiting to vote on Election Day after former President Donald Trump pushed voting in person on Nov. 8 at a rally in South Texas.

Food banks across Texas are now struggling to keep up with growing demand even more than they were during the pandemic.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Cotton is Texas’ largest crop, and industry experts say they expect just half the normal annual yield — which will drive up costs for consumers.

Last May, Lubbock became the biggest city in Texas to ban abortion within city limits. Now, with abortion outlawed throughout the Lone Star State, the fight over reproductive rights is taking a new turn.

While wind farms in the region could help power and lower energy costs for at least 9 million homes, significant infrastructure upgrades would be needed to supply electricity from the region to other parts of the state.

The Texas Department of Public Safety announced that it has added two fugitives to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Lists.

In this week’s TribCast, Matthew speaks with Dave about the Texas House committee report on the Uvalde shooting and with Eric about the Jan. 6 hearings.

Lt. Mariano Pargas was the acting city police chief the day of the shooting. Mayor Don McLaughlin said the city is investigating Pargas’ role in the delayed confrontation of the shooter.

Lawmakers also discussed their stances on the issues impacting the region the most in a two-day event hosted by The Texas Tribune.

Texas Tech is planning a $200 million project consisting of new four-story building in the south end zone that will include locker rooms, offices for coaches and a field-level club area that the Red Raiders will go through before football games.

She will cover the Panhandle and South Plains through Report for America. She previously reported for Texas Tech Public Media.

Kevin Obanor scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half and finished with 13 rebounds as 11th-ranked Texas Tech beat No. 7 Baylor 83-73.

The decision, hailed by abortion opponents as a victory, is another indication of how legal protections for abortion have been gutted in Texas.

Police in West Texas on Monday arrested a 15-year-old boy after shots were fired a day earlier at a mall.

Texas Tech’s radio announcers have been suspended for a game by the Big 12 over comments about officiating in the Red Raiders’ 41-38 victory over Iowa State.

Two postal contractors in West Texas have been charged with stealing thousands of pieces of mail worth more than $4 million.

Skylar Thompson passed for 296 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, rallying Kansas State in the second half of a 25-24 victory over Texas Tech. The Wildcats came up big on Texas Tech's final two plays with a pair of sacks.

Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 399 yards and four touchdown passes to spark a 54-21 victory against Florida International at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Lubbock is one of the few sports hubs in West Texas, meaning college football games draw out-of-town crowds that fill local shops, restaurants and hotels. Some business owners and leaders there worry about lost revenue once the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma stop playing there.

Jay Hartzell said the switch to the Southeastern Conference was the best thing for UT-Austin’s student athletes and the university. Texas senators expressed disdain for the move and questioned how it came about.

Here are things to know for Friday, July 16:

One officer was killed and three others were wounded Thursday after a police standoff in a small West Texas city erupted in gunfire.

Planned Parenthood sued to block the "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance, passed by voters in May, but a federal judge said he didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case. The ordinance went into effect June 1.

The city made plans to join the state's main power grid in 2015. But some residents and leaders feel anxious about the move after February's deadly winter storm.

After years of studying how to practice medicine, they quickly learned how to treat COVID-19 patients, relay difficult news to loved ones and manage their own mental health during a pandemic.

Lubbock officials initially planned to join ERCOT once its 15-year-long contract with Xcel Energy, a member of the Southwestern Public Service Company, expires. Spencer lives in Lubbock, one of the few areas of the state not connected to Texas’ independent power grid. The failures of Texas’ independent power grid have led to some counties mulling a way out. Lubbock officials initially planned to join ERCOT once its 15-year-long contract with Xcel Energy, a member of the Southwestern Public Service Company, expires. AdLubbock City Councilperson Jeff Griffith he still feels confident Lubbock will move forward with the plans to join ERCOT.

HOUSTON – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday he is lifting business capacity limits and the state’s mask mandate starting next week. Abbott said that county judges can institute coronavirus-mitigation measures in their counties if the hospitalization rate rises above 15% for seven consecutive days. AdIn the Tuesday letter, Hidalgo and Turner said they believe lifting the mandate would be “premature and harmful” to the progress made in the pandemic thus far. Houston health officials announced Monday that wastewater testing has revealed an increasing amount of COVID-19 variants in the city with the UK version becoming the primary variant being detected.

Now their first scheduled game with Houston has been added to the postponement list. ___The Big 12 has announced the reschedule dates for nine women’s basketball games postponed this season because of COVID-19 protocols. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Thursday that Louisville's men's basketball game at Virginia Tech scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Ad___Saturday’s men's basketball game between Texas A&M and Florida has been postponed due to COVID-19. It's the third straight Florida men's game affected by the coronavirus.

HOUSTON – The City of Houston Municipal Courts Department will soon begin accepting passport applications at two locations on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Starting Monday, both the Central Houston (at 1400 Lubbock) and the West Houston (3203 South Dairy Ashford) Municipal Court locations will be designated as an Acceptance Facility for U.S. passport applications for U.S. citizens planning international travel, the city announced in a news release. Effective Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, Houston Municipal Courts will begin accepting passport applications on behalf of the @StateDept. pic.twitter.com/1pyzTT5vQ2 — HoustonMunicipalCrts (@HoustonMunCourt) January 29, 2021Appointments are required before visiting one of the two Acceptance Facility locations. AdCentral Houston Municipal Court1400 Lubbock, HoustonWest Houston Municipal Court3203 South Dairy Ashford, Houston

The Dallas County health department reported 33 available intensive care beds on Sunday for the county’s 2.6 million residents. Jenkins said most Dallas County businesses are likewise adhering to Abbott’s restrictions. But many county officials, including Jenkins, said bars are openly flouting guidelines and the TABC is not enforcing the rules. In most cases, local officials said they focus on educating wrongdoers instead of punishing them. Meanwhile, the city reported 245 people hospitalized with the virus on Sunday, down from a peak of 360 in late November but still enough to concern local health officials.

14 Texas Tech 58-57 on Thursday night, giving the Jayhawks a win in their conference opener for the 30th season in a row. Texas Tech (6-2, 0-1) had one more opportunity, with coach Chris Beard calling a timeout with 6.2 seconds left to set up a final play. Mac McClung led Texas Tech with a season-high 21 points, the third 20-point game this season for the transfer from Georgetown. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders had only seven turnovers and forced 16 Kansas turnovers, and had 16 second-chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. Texas Tech plays at Oklahoma on Tuesday night.

Facing restrictive policies prohibiting team sports, the University of New Mexico’s basketball teams have fled their home state, seeking refuge in Lubbock and Amarillo — two of the hardest hit coronavirus hot spots in Texas. The men’s team will reside in Lubbock temporarily, though UNM is still finalizing where the team will practice and play games. At West Texas A&M University, where the UNM women’s team will play, an official said the school is “pleased to host” the Lobos. According to Santa Fe New Mexican, Eddie Nuñez, UNM’s athletic director, chose West Texas because it was close to Albuquerque after considering a number of locations. Disclosure: Texas A&M University, University of Houston and West Texas A&M University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

With a week to go until Thanksgiving, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking people to keep their guard up as the number of coronavirus cases in the state continues to rise.