The latest High Plains news from The Texas Tribune.
Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge was set to grow up to 700,000 acres to protect wildlife in West Texas and the Panhandle. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/65b0bb469284a3a4209c9251de84d6df/Muleshoe%20NWR%20USFWS.jpg)
A group representing High Plains region farmers has launched a campaign to make buyers aware of synthetic fibers’ impact on the environment and health. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/73c9ff8d0605f7f37ab2c53acb512fc8/0512%20Wild%20West%20Water%20AR%20TT%2014.jpg)
The facility will bring mental health resources closer to the largely rural region that’s home to nearly 436,000 people. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/db370759315f3c3a75cbcb79ab41cc75/Panhandle%20Hospital%20TT%2001.jpg)
Katherine Wells was celebrated early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then public health became a political litmus test. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75ceffbcfaee8c36601c949c0cbe7417/0317%20Katherine%20Wells%20MR%20TT%2009.jpg)
Across the country, dairy producers have dumped milk and infected chickens have been killed, including millions of egg-laying hens, causing egg prices to skyrocket. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b53796a49ea8fd9ec6f88d98401a47f/0122%20Screwworm%20JH%20TT%2012.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/986e2fd2ae16eb6d1dd2993338a558a3/0928%20Cornudas%20Cookoff%20JH%2003.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9f943b8bc91775698fda315df4fc6c0/1013%20Women%20and%20Harris%20AR%2007.jpg)
The City Council did approve $5,000 for security, about one-fifth of the money it withheld over last month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9b8ea9f5f70fdc2902ee5a3b0c379d7/First%20Friday%20Art%20Trail%20TT%20TT%2004.jpg)
A group of anti-abortion advocates must now decide whether they want the city voters to have the final say on their proposed policy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f2a761e6dd3b5f1c38974080deea76db/0528%20Abortion%20Update%20MR%2010.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/841f86387ce02d9782247f4d9cffd1a3/0403%20Wildfire%20File%20MC%20TT%2052.jpg)
Supporters began the petition drive after the City Council punted on the proposed policy. Voters may have the final say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/987fd3804348ceb34d4d4b86a75421e8/0529%20Covid%20Amarillo%20MS%2002.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dd1e9b420f50ae0376da4d0712cbb91a/Dairy%20Story%20IPA%2012.jpg)
The wildfires offers a reminder that most of rural Texas is protected by volunteers. And there aren’t many of them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b330810d05ab5548b228afb9c3957d37/Panhandle%20Wildfire%20Reuters%20TT%2001.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/10493aa27f6db34b954377179863bf29/0214%20BBQ%20Banditas%20JR%20TT%2022.jpg)
The Texas attorney general has sued five other cities that have passed similar policies decriminalizing marijuana. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13da2742b8221706472023aafe2f2243/0925%20Decriminalization%20JR%2001.jpg)
According to the most recent census, Texas has fewer than 26,000 Hispanic farmers compared to 236,000 white farmers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8a912b501fe93786148d1fc9378fc2dd/1018%20Farming%20Family%20MR%2007.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7c3486b0964b1d0bcdac9a1e459cf1db/1205%20Wallace%20Theater%20MR%2003.jpg)
A handful of local governments have already put the legally dubious bans in place. The news that Amarillo will take the issue up again comes shortly after a Dallas woman left the state for an abortion after losing a legal battle to obtain one here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3216201613648b6b8637885f18922cd1/0528%20Covid%20Amarillo%20MS%2001.jpg)
The region that includes Amarillo, a Panhandle city of more than 200,000 people, and surrounding towns has long been a mental health care desert. Officials hope a new $159 million hospital can help reduce a massive spike in suicide attempts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b07c215a1bd9c4b11416477475a04c1b/Downtown%20Amarillo%20MS%2002.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5912eaeec86d7f6161c457250dda3090/0925%20Decriminalization%20JR%20TT%2002.jpg)