The Latest Breaking News from Lubbock

Some great news came out of Texas this week. Great, that is, if you happen to be one of the better-known viral diseases. Measles is going gangbusters, and in cases at the Covenant Children’s hospital in Lubbock, now comes as a twofer with liver poisoning caused by elevated levels of…

Katherine Wells was celebrated early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then public health became a political litmus test.

In rural West Texas, measles has sickened nearly 150 people, most of them unvaccinated. A school-age child has died. The virus is spreading among Gaines County’s Mennonite community, where government mandates are not trusted.

Declining vaccination rates, decreasing trust in government and a political unwillingness to endorse vaccines is shaping Texas’ measles response.

Two of the four cases are in Lubbock, which hasn’t seen a case in more than 20 years. Meanwhile, measles vaccination rates in Texas have fallen over the last four years.

A mixed-status family was driving to Walmart when a Lubbock officer stopped them and called ICE.

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

Meanwhile in the Panhandle, Republicans were less excited that Burrows won the speaker contest thanks largely to Democrats.

The new speaker’s power over the budget and committee assignments is expected to bolster established Republican leaders and some Democrats who supported the winner.