The Ledger
Daily digest straight from the source
Thursday, September 3, 2026
The lead · Sep 3
Commissioners approve salary grievance but reject pay raises for elected officials
Lubbock County commissioners voted 4-1 on August 24 to raise Tax Assessor-Collector Ronnie Keister's pay from $91,000 to $110,000 through a salary grievance after denying 2 percent raises for elected officials, Lubbock Lights reported Thursday, September 3. Commissioner Michael Dalby cast the lone no vote.
Sources Lubbock Lights · EverythingLubbock
More Local
Benji Snead named chief editor of Lubbock Lights
Lubbock Lights announced Wednesday, September 2 that Benji Snead, former KCBD News Director and host of The Wake Up Call on 92.3 The Hub, is its new chief editor. Snead said he is excited to bring readers new ways to experience the site's local journalism.
Sources Lubbock Lights
Joshua Allen asks for a new trial in the Ferrum Capital fraud case
Joshua Allen, convicted August 18 with Michael Cox on four federal counts in the Ferrum Capital case, has filed for a new trial, Lubbock Lights reported Wednesday, September 2, arguing jurors got the wrong legal standard on what counts as a security. Sentencing is set for December.
Sources Lubbock Lights · EverythingLubbock
Council gives first approval to police and fire agreements, funded by a tax increase
Lubbock's City Council on Tuesday, September 1 gave initial approval to a one-year police agreement adding 10 officers with 5 percent raises and a first-ever six-year firefighter deal adding about 22 firefighters yearly, roughly $7.8 million total, raising the average home's city tax bill about $103. Final vote September 8.
Advanced GraphixPolice identify the two men in Tuesday's fatal apartment shooting
Police identified Parris Smith, 24, who died, and Malcom Smith, 34, seriously injured, after a Tuesday, September 1 early-morning shooting at an apartment in the 5500 block of 19th Street. The Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit says Parris fired through the floor, shot Malcom, then himself.
Sources EverythingLubbock · KFYO · KCBD
Reward reaches $5,000 in the 2017 hit-and-run that killed Alcadio Barron
Lubbock police said Wednesday, September 2 the reward in the February 10, 2017 hit-and-run that killed 21-year-old Alcadio Barron near Marsha Sharp Freeway and Avenue Q now reaches $5,000, raised by his family after hundreds of dead-end leads. Tips: Crime Line, 806-741-1000.
Sources EverythingLubbock · KFYO · FOX 34 · KCBD
Tortilla throwers will be ejected: Tech sets rules for Saturday's Galaxy Stadium opener
Texas Tech on Wednesday, September 2 detailed gameday rules for Saturday's sold-out Galaxy Stadium opener against Abilene Christian: tap-to-enter mobile tickets, new weapons-detection gates, clear bags, cashless concessions, no re-entry, a $6 Citibus shuttle, and immediate ejection for throwing anything, tortillas included.
Sources Texas Tech Athletics · EverythingLubbock · KCBD
State
PUC clears first Permian Basin power superhighways as Paxton joins opposition
The Texan reported Wednesday, September 2 that the PUC unanimously approved Oncor's first two Permian Basin Reliability Plan 765-kilovolt lines August 28, running Glen Rose to far West Texas, as Attorney General Ken Paxton joined opponents; the American Stewards of Liberty will seek rehearing.
Sources The Texan · High Plains Public Radio
Data center executives tell Perry's committee they will pay their own way on water and power
Lancium CEO Michael McNamara and QTS's Ryan Kuithe told the Texas Senate water and agriculture committee, chaired by Lubbock's Charles Perry, on Tuesday, September 1 that their West Texas projects will cap water use near 25,000 gallons daily and fund their own power infrastructure.
Sources KTRE · Texas Scorecard · KCBD
Cruz and business leaders pitch Trump Accounts in Austin
Senator Ted Cruz told an Austin event Monday, August 31 that Trump Accounts, the $1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for children born 2025 through 2028 with yearly contributions capped at $5,000, are transformational, as business leaders pledged matches, The Texan reported Thursday, September 3.
Sources The Texan
Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLPU.S. & World
U.S. and Iran trade heaviest blows in a month; crude nears $95
U.S. missiles struck about 100 Iranian military targets and two government tankers Tuesday and Wednesday, September 1-2; Tehran answered with drones and missiles at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, largely intercepted. Iran reported 18 dead, including four at a wedding near Hormuz. Brent crude climbed toward $95.
Sources Fortune · PBS NewsHour
DOJ: report people here illegally or risk welfare grants
A 19-page Justice Department opinion released Wednesday, September 2 by Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Craddock says every state agency, not just welfare offices, must report people known to be unlawfully present to DHS or risk future TANF and SSI grants. Democratic-led states are already suing.
With the CDC silent, doctors' groups issue this fall's vaccine guidance
Four physician organizations covering pediatrics, family medicine, OB-GYN and infectious disease issued flu, COVID and RSV vaccine recommendations Wednesday, September 2, filling a gap left by the CDC's lack of updated fall guidance. Insurers signaled they will cover the recommended shots.
NBA suspends Clippers owner Ballmer a year in cap-circumvention case
The NBA on Wednesday, September 2 suspended Clippers owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fined the team $30 million, stripped five first-round picks and fined Kawhi Leonard $700,000 over a $28 million Aspiration endorsement it found circumvented the salary cap. The Clippers promise to fight the findings.
Sources Chicago Sun-Times · NPR
Chevron commits $7 billion to double Venezuela output
Chevron confirmed Wednesday, September 2 it will invest more than $7 billion in Venezuela over five years, targeting roughly 600,000 barrels daily, about double current output, days after the new U.S.-Venezuela oil agreement. CEO Mike Wirth said the expanded position reflects confidence in the country's resources.
Sources FOX 32 Chicago · NPR