Hamlin
Hamlin, TX · Municipal
ktxs.com
Cooling centers are available as triple-digit heat persists
BIG COUNTRY, Texas — Triple-digit temperatures are continuing across the Big Country, and the city of Abilene is reminding residents that several cooling centers are available for anyone who needs a place to escape the heat. The following locations are open:. City Light Community Ministries, 1441 N. Fourth St.:...
acuoptimist.com
$1.7 million Elmer Gray Stadium overhaul nears completion
Elmer Gray Stadium, home to ACU soccer and track and field, is getting its first major overhaul since it opened in 2015, a $1.7 million project funded entirely by outside donors rather than the university. From 1955 to 2014, track and field events were held at the original Elmer Gray...
Texas Observer
Come and Take Them, Dan Patrick
Last Wednesday morning, I welcomed students back into my high school library. Perhaps they were trying to escape the sweltering August heat, but regardless of why they walked in, the first-day-of-school energy in Abilene was contagious. I was sleep deprived from the to-do list running through my head the previous evening, but I felt energized seeing the floor of my library once again full of students.
wheninyourstate.com
Texas AI expansion puts new pressure on Abilene’s already strained housing market
Big tech promised a revolution, and for Abilene, Texas, it arrived through the Stargate Project. The Abilene campus began construction in 2024 under Crusoe and later became Stargate’s flagship site, tied to OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and other project partners. But for the folks living there, the change has been...
Graham Leader
Wind turbine recycling company headed to Breckenridge
A company that recycles wind turbine blades into concrete products is coming to Breckenridge after the city commission unanimously approved a zoning change Aug. 4 to allow the operation in industrial districts. Cutting Wind, owned by Rob Piscatelli, plans to operate out of 705 Industrial Loop. Piscatelli said Breckenridge's location...
ktxs.com
Firehouse Subs opens 1500th restaurant, awards $37,000+ grant to Abilene FD
ABILENE, Texas - The Abilene Fire Department received a grant for a new rescue boat and water-rescue equipment from Firehouse Subs as part of the restaurant’s 1,500th grand opening. Deputy Fire Chief Michael Burden said the department is ready to add the new tools to its water-rescue program. “This...
BigCountryHomepage
How datacenter activity is impacting the City of Abilene’s FY 2027 budget
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Data center activity means more money for the City of Abilene, and that impact is reflected in the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Sales and property tax revenue is expected continue to see a substantial increase in Fiscal Year 2027, and both the General and Minor Improvement funds are set to […]
takemetotn.com
This Forgotten Texas Ruin Is Worth the Trip
Out in the windswept prairie north of Abilene sits a cluster of crumbling stone chimneys and weathered foundations that tell the story of frontier Texas. Fort Phantom Hill was built in 1851 to protect settlers and travelers along the western edge of civilization, but it was abandoned just three years later under mysterious circumstances. Today, these haunting ruins stand as one of the most atmospheric historical sites in West Texas, offering visitors a chance to walk through history without the crowds or commercialization found at more famous landmarks.
BigCountryHomepage
West Texas Fair & Rodeo 2026 less than one month away. . . here’s what’s new this year!
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The West Texas Fair and Rodeo is getting ready to return to Abilene, bringing carnival rides, fair food, livestock shows, creative arts and rodeo competition to the Taylor County Expo Center. This year’s fair runs Sept. 10-19, with several changes and additions planned for the annual event. Rochelle Johnson, executive vice […]
BigCountryHomepage
Abilene community honors unaccompanied Navy veteran at final farewell
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – There are moments when a community comes together to honor someone they never knew. Tuesday morning at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, the community did just that as a fallen veteran was laid to rest without family members there to say goodbye. Current military members, veterans and strangers gathered […]
BigCountryHomepage
Finalist selected for renaming of north Abilene recreation center
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A finalist has been selected for the renaming of a north Abilene recreation center. The City of Abilene’s Parks and Recreation Board met earlier this week to discuss renaming the recreation center at Arthur Sears Park off Ambler Avenue, which opened to the public in April with no official name after […]
The Abilene Reporter-News
Wylie ISD sees slight dip in latest state ratings
The Texas Education Agency released the official accountability ratings for the 2025-2026 school year for public schools and districts across the state on Friday, Aug. 14. Wylie ISD received a score of 88 out of 100 or a B in the A-F accountability ratings from the TEA. That is a slight decline from the 2024-25 school year when the district received a score of 92. For the 2025-2026 school year, Wylie ISD received a B rating for student achievement, a C for school progress and a B for closing the gap. Here are the 2025-2026 accountability ratings for each Wylie ISD school with ratings in parentheses for the 2024-25 school year: Wylie East Elementary School: A (A) Wylie East Intermediate School: C (B) Wylie East Junior High School: A (B) Wylie High School: B (B) Wylie West Early Childhood Center: A (A) Wylie West Elementary School: A (A) Wylie West Intermediate School: A (A) Wylie West Junior High School: A (A) More: See how Abilene ISD schools performed in new ratings In 2025-26, Wylie ISD had an enrollment of 5,617 students. The Hispanic student population for the 2025-26 school year was 25.7%, the White population was 59.5%, and the African
Yahoo!
Abilene community honors unaccompanied Vietnam veteran at final farewell
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - There are moments when a community comes together to honor someone they never knew. Tuesday morning at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, the community did just that as a fallen veteran was laid to rest without family members there to say goodbye. Current military members, veterans and strangers gathered to ensure an unaccompanied veteran received the honor he deserved.
Yahoo!
In Abilene, Texas, AI data center growth is deepening an already tight housing market
Abilene, Texas, saw the arrival of the Stargate Project, a major AI data center expansion promising thousands of jobs and increased tax revenue, but residents are feeling the impact through rising housing costs and other challenges. Abilene, Texas, was pitched as a winner in one of the world's largest AI...
lubbocklights.com
Cox defense focuses on character: Five supporters praise the man they’ve known for years, doubt he could be dishonest
When Michael Gross – who’s defending Michael Cox in the Ferrum Capital federal fraud trial – made his opening argument last Monday, he said when the jury hears from people on Cox’s witness list, “You’ll find him not guilty on all four counts.”. Cox...
BigCountryHomepage
800+ attend Democratic Senate candidate’s rally in Abilene
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — More than 800 people attended Democratic Candidate for Senate James Talarico’s rally in Abilene on Thursday, according to his campaign. The rally was part of his New American Dream Tour, which includes stops around the state. Talarico spoke about the economy and affordability during his time in Abilene. In an interview […]
Yahoo!
LIST: 2026 school ratings across the Big Country
BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - The 2026 A-F School Accountability Ratings are now online. Here's a look at the overall district ratings for Big Country school districts. Want more local news? Download the KTAB+ app for your Smart TV to stay informed on the latest news and watch episodes of exclusive shows made in-house! Find out how to get KTAB+ on your television with our download guide.