Good morning, Lubbock! In today’s edition: Project Matador’s bold AI power push, a Broadway spectacle in Water for Elephants, a cozy Winter Orchard Festival, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Inside a notable real estate deal: Dallas-based The Multifamily Group closed the sale of 280 multifamily units in Lubbock, near major employers and the West End development, with the buyer assuming existing Fannie Mae financing — read the full story.

Big ambitions, bigger uncertainties: Fermi America and Texas Tech teamed up on Project Matador to power AI near the Pantex plant, involving a land trade, huge power plans, and unclear revenue for Tech — get all the details.

Community celebration under winter skies: On January 24, Juicy Lucy’s Veggies/Graveye Harvest Co will host the Winter Orchard Festival on the back patio, featuring worldwide performances and inviting the Lubbock community to join — get all the details.

Community care that changes lives: Lubbock Meals on Wheels is seeking year-round volunteers as signups fade, with biggest need for drivers delivering thousands of meals a day across over seventy-seven routes, says coordinator Nicole Thomas — see how to get involved.

Celebration marks a milestone: Covenant Children’s welcomed 2026’s first baby, a moment celebrated as a miracle, as staff handled a flurry of other births. The milestone arrived earlier this week — read the full story.

Burritos that hit right: When you need a warm, foil-wrapped reset, Burrito King delivers breakfast staples that don’t mess around and hearty lunch options from barbacoa to asada, plus a smothered pick for extra comfort. Portions hit the spot, flavors stay bold.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🍽 Roundtable Luncheon: “Bye, Bye Broadway Bricks: Renovation in Downtown Lubbock” @ Lubbock Women’s Club | Monday (1/12) at 12:00 PM – Pull up a chair, and a plate, for a luncheon roundtable on the fate of Broadway’s bricks and what downtown’s renovation means. Expect frank talk from folks in the know, preservation-versus-progress tension, and opinions. Because only here do we debate bricks over lunch.

🎗 Raising Cane’s Fundraiser @ Raising Cane’s #051 | Thursday (1/15) at 4:00 PM – If your kitchen’s on strike, swing by Raising Cane’s on University and turn chicken fingers into support for LubbockPRIDE. Mention LubbockPRIDE at checkout, or use code RCFUND96 online, and 15% goes back. Easy dinner, good cause, zero dishes, maybe friendly faces.

⛄ Planter Pot Snowman Craft @ Godeke Branch Library | Thursday (1/15) at 4:00 PM – Skip the slush, build a snowman that survives a 70-degree afternoon at Godeke Branch Library. Paint a small planter pot into Frosty’s cousin, for ages 8 and up, with adult assistance recommended. Grandkid outing, coffee after, hero status secured.

🛍 Thrift and Thrive @ Lubbock Habitat for Humanity Restore | Thursday (1/15) at 4:00 PM – Winter market vibes, indoors at the Habitat ReStore, with local vendors and finds that make you feel useful. Shop a little, support Lubbock Habitat for Humanity, and call it community service with better lighting. Think treasure hunt without the dust, warm, friendly, and guilt-reducing.

🍷 Warmth & Wine January Wine Dinner @ The Willows Event Center & Catering | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Take a break from pretending you like Dry January and sink into a cozy wine pairing dinner with candlelight, comfort, and courses that actually warm you up. Think curated pours, indulgent bites, and conversation you can hear without shouting. Winter, handled.

🐘 Water for Elephants @ Buddy Holly Hall | Friday (1/16) at 7:30 PM – Broadway’s Water for Elephants brings circus-size heart, spectacle, and nostalgia, with real emotional heft. No clowning around, a Critic’s Pick with jaw-drop moments, gritty romance, and a reminder reinvention is not just for kids. Heads up, season members get first dibs, single tickets in fall.

🎶 Jere Lowe @ Cotton Court Hotel | Friday (1/16) at 8:00 PM – Jere Lowe brings West Texas Americana to Cotton Court’s Midnight Shift on Broadway Street, the kind that feels lived-in and neighborly. Expect tight songs, a little twang, and a groove that pairs with a good pour, a breezy patio, and unhurried conversation. No bro-country theatrics.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Lubbock report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 25°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 51. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 25. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 57°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 57. West northwest wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Most popular house this week

In Davis Park, a sought-after South Lubbock neighborhood, this two-year-old stunner sits on a full acre with a three-car garage, a dedicated office, and a spacious storage closet. Four oversized bedrooms and three full bathrooms with fully tiled showers, plus a half bath, handle the daily rush. Soaring ceilings, 8-foot doors, custom built-ins, and luxury fixtures and appliances set a polished tone. The laundry room links directly to the primary closet, and a safe room adds peace of mind.

Out back, a covered patio with Beat the Heat shades pairs with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Entertaining flows easily across the one-acre yard.

Take a peek inside →