Government & Development
Expenses rising higher than expected revenue has city looking at challenging budget for fiscal 2026-27
City officials say specialized expenses—such as emergency vehicles, road materials and public-safety facilities—are increasing much faster than tax and fee collections Lubbock officials are preparing for a difficult 2026-27 budget process as modest revenue growth collides with rapidly increasing costs for vehicles, construction materials, employee compensation and other municipal needs. City Manager Jarrett Atkinson and members of the Lubbock City…
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Texas Supreme Court lifts pause in Corley–Meurer dispute, leaving Corley in office for now
The Texas Supreme Court has ended a temporary pause in the legal fight over Lubbock County’s Precinct 2 commissioner seat, declining to order a visiting district judge to withdraw the ruling that returned Jason Corley to office. The decision means Corley remains the county-recognized Precinct 2 commissioner while related proceedings…
Lubbock County narrows game-room protections as lawsuit alters new operating-hour limits
Lubbock County has tightened its regulation of game rooms, limiting operators’ ability to retain grandfathered status after ownership changes, permit revocations or extended closures. County commissioners approved the revised ordinance on Feb. 23, 2026, building on regulations that took effect the previous year. The amendments also changed the appeals process,…
Lubbock County clerk candidates split over handling same-sex marriage licenses
A disagreement over same-sex marriage licenses exposed a significant policy difference among the three Republicans who sought the Lubbock County clerk nomination in 2026. Jim Baxa said he would not personally execute a clerk’s certificate for a same-sex couple because doing so would conflict with his religious beliefs. However, he…
Ryan Zink made January 6 prosecution central to unsuccessful congressional bid
Ryan Zink did not distance himself from his involvement in the events of January 6, 2021, while running for Texas’ 19th Congressional District. Instead, he made his prosecution—and his contention that the federal case was unfair—a central argument for electing him. Zink, a Lubbock resident who works in oil-field safety,…
Abraham Enriquez framed congressional campaign as a West Texas American-dream story
Abraham Enriquez presented his family’s journey from migrant farm labor to a congressional campaign as evidence that the American dream remained possible in West Texas. Enriquez, a Lubbock native and first-time candidate, sought the Republican nomination for Texas’ 19th Congressional District after Rep. Jodey Arrington announced he would not seek…
Jason Corley made lobbying reform, affordability central to congressional bid
Lubbock County Commissioner Jason Corley made inflation and the influence of lobbyists central themes of his unsuccessful 2026 campaign for Texas’ 19th Congressional District. Corley argued that Washington policymakers had become too responsive to large companies, lobbyists and campaign donors—and not responsive enough to the families, farmers and small businesses…