Lubbock has the highest average electricity rates and bills in the state, just over a year after the city opened the market to companies, according to a recent study.

In January 2024, Lubbock officially made the switch from being a city-regulated market to a deregulated market. The move involved Lubbock joining the ERCOT grid and LP&L shifting focus to maintaining power infrastructure.

Now, a study by the Home Energy Club has determined that Lubbock has the highest electricity rate and average utility bill in the state. These factors earned it the title of the least affordable energy city.

Power to choose: Here’s what Lubbock consumers should know as electric providers enter open market

The top five least affordable energy cities were:

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Lubbock with an average of 17.32 cents kilowatts per hour. San Angelo and Abilene, tied with an average of 16.19. Wichita Falls with an average of 15.85. Lewisville with an average of 15.35. Pearland, Galveston, Texas City and League City tied with an average of 15.08.

These rankings were determined through a survey of 1,600 customers across Texas and data from the Department of Energy, the Energy Information Administration and the American Council for Energy Efficiency. Data included electricity rates as a percentage of income and average rates, which were used to calculate average bills.

Nathan Schluter, content manager for Home Energy Club, explained the report’s findings and offered advice on how Lubbock residents could help themselves.

Why is Lubbock electricity so expensive?

Lubbock’s average, according to the report, is 17.32 cents per kilowatt hour, at least three cents higher than the state average. Average bills are $242.49, based on that rate.

That average includes LP&L’s power delivery charge. LP&L now handles only transmission and distribution, which includes having to purchase power from other places when needed.

“That’s part of why there’s a slightly higher cost in Lubbock,” Schluter said. “The transmission and distribution system out there is further from most generators, so there’s an increased cost for purchasing electricity from generators that are further away.”

Another reason for high bills is the weather. With the April 5 snowstorm, dust storms on March 14 and March 18, and Lubbock being dubbed the third windiest city in the state, the city’s weather has been intense in 2025 alone.

“The average usage level in Lubbock is fairly high, because not only do you have the excessive summer heat that Texas is famous for, and closer to the Panhandle, you also have colder winters, which typically leads to basically every part of the year, you have a reason to use more energy,” Schluter said.

This article continues after the gallery.

As for what goes into a rate, Schluter mentioned the cost of natural gas and other energy sources, such as solar and wind.

“If there’s a change in the gas market and then the cost per barrel of oil goes up, it can affect material electricity rates, because such a big chunk of your electricity comes from gas,” Schluter said. “(Solar and wind) can help defray some of the volatility of the natural gas market, but they come with their own volatility.”

Lubbock is also new to deregulation, so competition needs time to mature. As more electric providers join the area, it will bring prices down, according to Schluter.

“It may be a little challenging at first, but I’m optimistic that it’ll get better,” Schluter said. “I know right now it seems like it’s just more expensive and a headache on top of that, but I think it should get better as the market grows and gets used to deregulated energy.”

Your electric plan may be why it is so expensive. Here’s an explainer on the real cost of free nights, variable rates and other plans.

“If you’re looking at your rates and going ‘this is crazy expensive, why is it so high?'” Schluter said. “Review whatever your current contract is and make sure you’re enrolled in a good, straightforward fixed-rate plan.”

Schluter encouraged people to avoid variable-rate energy plans, as the rates can jump drastically.

“They expose you to the market in a very bad way,” Schluter said. “The cost could dip and variable rates can look really good for that week, but then the next week, when suddenly it’s 105 and the humidity is a million percent, that variable rate can go right back up.”

Time-of-use plans, designed to reduce strain on the power grid, can also be tricky. These plans can include discounted or free nights and weekends, but the rates are higher the rest of the time.

Those rates could go as low as five cents or free, but during high-use hours, it could cost 24-25 cents per kilowatt hour, not including utility fees. In order to make the most of this type of plan, consumers have to shift their usage times to those low periods.

“The idea of the time-of-use plan is to say ‘we’re going to charge you a lot for electricity, like a very high rate during that period’, but if you wait until 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., they’ll offer a discounted rate,” Schluter said. “It’s a bit of a devil’s bargain.”

Another plan is bill credits, which offer a credit to customers who reach a certain amount of kilowatt hours. If that number, usually 1,000 or 2,000, is not reached, customers don’t get the credit and are hit with a high rate only shown in the energy fact label.

Schluter recommended that everyone look at the electricity facts label on their plans. These labels break down charges and discounts, and how the company calculated the advertised rate.

“Honestly, just doing your research, looking at past power bills and then reading the electricity facts label – those are the key ingredients to getting the most out of your deregulated experience,” Schluter said.

People can compare plans through powertochoose.org. Customers should look at their total energy usage for the year, as the month-by-month usage will differ, and you can find patterns in how seasons affect bills.

“I always want to quote Spider-Man, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’,” Schluter said. “It’s so true. You have to take the time, because no one else is going to do the research for you.”

Here’s how you can reduce your electric bill

Some tips on lowering usage include:

Change the thermostat by seven degrees.

Use LED lightbulbs.

Turn off lights when you leave the room.

Wash laundry with cold water.

Upgrade appliances to Energy Star-certified options. These can be expensive, but use less energy.

Use smart power strips that can detect when items are not in use and turn off.

“Another good idea is looking for, we call it phantom power, or vampire energy,” Schluter said. “These are devices that are using electricity even when they’re not in use.”

These can include gaming systems, Wi-Fi routers and coffee machines.

“It seems small, but if you’re doing it for all of these devices over several hours, it can add up and help save on your energy costs pretty significantly,” Schluter said.

Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

Lubbock saw an assortment of business news from restaurants to retail in March. Here’s a look at what opened, closed and confirmed upcoming spots in the Hub City.

In 2023, March saw seven business announcements. March 2024 saw at least 21. This most recent March reported at least 17 announcements, which continues the year’s trend of less openings than in 2024, according to prior A-J reporting.

Which new restaurants, businesses opened or moved in March 2025?

Annor Family Discount opens retail store

What: This new, family-owned, shop offers affordable fashion, according to its social media page.

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When: March 28.

Where: 2541 34th St.

Core Wellness opens spa with childcare options

What: This new wellness center offers massage, dermatology, IV vitamin infusions and more, along with complimentary childcare for clients during services. The business will have a grand opening on May 1.

When: March.

Where: 8339 Upland Ave.

Desert Nomad Boutique offers western, boho clothing inside Katy & Co. shop

What: This Friona-based boutique prides itself on offering “a mix of western, edgy, & boho” style, according to its social media.

When: March 29.

Where: 10605 Slide Road #200.

Eclectic Finds vintage store moves to bigger space in Wolfforth

What: This vintage shop moved for more space early in March.

When: March 5.

Where: 7702 Farm-to-Market 179, Suite 7, in Wolfforth.

Five Below opens new retail location for $5 finds

What: The retail chain known for selling items for “tweens, teens and beyond” for around $5 or less added another Lubbock location this month.

When: March 15.

Where: Caprock Shopping Center, 2625-2905 50th St.

Gameday Men’s Health opens testosterone replacement therapy space

What: Gameday is a health service that delivers testosterone replacement therapy.

When: Mid-March.

Where: 13806 Quaker Ave. #100.

Kokomo Korean opens Lubbock restaurant with specialty corndogs, boba tea, mochi donuts

What: This Asian fusion eatery has seen success in its home- and neighbor- cities of Midland and Odessa. Owned by two sisters, the restaurant offers large Korean corndogs with incredible cheese pulls, desserts one could find in animes, and a selection of teas. Another unique offering is their branded boba tea plushies. The grand opening celebration will be on Saturday, April 5, though people can come by in the week leading up to join in giveaways and get an early taste.

When: March 31.

Where: 5217 82nd St., #106.

Lubbock National Bank adds location on Quaker Avenue

What: Lubbock National Bank opened another bank near the Vintage Township neighborhood.

When: March 27.

Where: 12103 Quaker Ave.

Pro-Care Medical Center enters Lubbock market to provide injury care

What: This new healthcare clinic specializes in accident and injury care. People can learn more about the location, team and services at procaremedcenter.com/locations-and-contact/lubbock-chiropractic-pain-injury-services/.

When: March 17.

Where: 2318 50th St.

Roni’s Mac Bar opens customizable mac and cheese restaurant near Texas Tech University

What: This restaurant offers customizable macaroni and cheese bows and grilled cheese. The franchise started in Waco after the founders switched from their edible cookie dough business to a build-your-own Mac and Cheese bar concept.

When: March 21.

Where: 2400 Glenna Goodacre Blvd.

Salt by Angie, fine dining restaurant, opens in historic building

What: Salt by Angie offers fine dining dishes and cocktails.

When: Late March.

Where: The Historic Kress Building, 1109 Broadway.

Willi C’s Breakfast House & Lounge opens new eatery with meals less that $15

What: This new restaurant offers breakfast and lunch all week long. Prices range from $2 to $12 on the menu, which includes burritos, chicken and waffles, and fried fish with fries and a salad.

When: Around mid-March.

Where: 2510 MLK Jr. Blvd.

Here’s which businesses, restaurants closed in March 2025

Party City shuts down in Lubbock months after company files for bankruptcy

What: The party ended for the company after it filed, again, for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a December 2024 report. The Lubbock location continued for several months before finally shutting its doors in March.

When: Mid-March.

Where: 6038 Marsha Sharp Freeway West, #100.

See full list of stores: Party City is going out of business nationwide

Here’s which businesses, restaurants announced or denied Lubbock locations in March 2025.

Color Me Mine pottery franchise hopes to add creativity in Lubbock

Seeking franchisee: Color Me Mine, a paint-your-own-pottery franchise that started in 1991, is a company that offers hundreds of shaped pottery for customers to paint. The company is now seeking a Lubbock franchisee. If one is found, the average time between signing contracts and opening a space is around eight months.

Franchise opportunity: Color Me Mine paint your own pottery franchise seeks Lubbock location

Field House of Plainview to offer loaded potatoes, fresh bread to Lubbock with new to-go restaurant

Confirmed: Field House, a Plainview favorite sandwich shop known for fresh bread and huge loaded, baked potatoes, recently confirmed it is coming to Lubbock. Field House To Go, 8004 Quaker Ave., Suite C, is expected to open in April 2025.

Graze Craze details plans for charcuterie snacking business near Texas Tech

Confirmed: The upcoming Graze Craze at 4206 19th St., Suite 200 will offer catering and a variety of charcuterie and box options that can feed between 1 and 20 people. Items on the boards are fresh, and the sauces are made at the store.

Mano Negra Brewing Co. is coming back, this time to downtown

Announced: Months after being forced to leave their original location in Cactus Alley, the brewery confirmed it’s new space. The brewery will open at 701 Broadway, Suite 103, potentially in late April. Follow the business on Facebook for construction updates.

Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

Play The Dangers Of Driving Through A Flooded Road

S​enior meteorologists Jonathan Erdman and Dina Knightly contributed to this article.

A​ mixed bag of dangerous weather ripped across the South Tuesday, bringing storms and tornadoes from Oklahoma and Texas to Louisiana and Mississippi, plus flooding rain, raging wildfires, a dust storm and even snow.

Power was knocked out to hundreds of thousands of people, including in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, flight delays stacked up and homes and businesses were damaged.

W​inds ushered in by the storms caused schedule changes for some Mardi Gras parades in the New Orleans area and fueled wildfires that prompted evacuations and a shelter-in-place order in Texas.

(​MORE: Severe Weather Forecast | Storm Maps Tracker)

Here are our live updates as the weather tore through the region into Tuesday night:

H​ere’s the latest look at the numbers, from PowerOutage.us:

T​exas – 212,079 power outages, most of them customers of Oncor

A​labama – 35,095 power outages

L​ouisiana – 28,369 outages

M​ississippi – 25,189 outages

O​klahoma – 12,360 outages

T​ennessee – 10,502 outages

On Wednesday the storms slide east with an enhanced area of storms possible from southern Virginia to South Carolina. Tornadoes, damaging winds, power outages and hail are all possible. Storms will also be possible in the D.C. area, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

R​esidents in Sinton, Texas, are being told to stay put until at least 8 p.m. local time. The reason? Wildfire smoke, from a blaze that earlier today forced the evacuation of the community’s high school and elementary school.

Sinton is in San Patricio County, northwest of Corpus Christi, and is sometimes called the “Gateway to the Gulf Coast.”

A​ wildfire forced meteorologists out of their office at the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi. The staff was evacuated around 4 p.m. local time and later posted a photo on social media. The post noted wind gusts around 60 mph and a red flag warning and wind advisory in effect for the region.

Students arriving for classes walk past damage from the roof that was sheered off by high by winds at Plano West High School Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Plano, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A worker walks through debris from a damaged warehouse after storms moved through Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Lewisville, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

S​peaking of wind, it’s a good thing New Orleans moved up some of today’s Mardi Gras celebrations. Wind gusts up to 70 mph were clocked in the area later.

The line of thunderstorms moving through Mississippi has produced winds gusts to 70 mph near Jackson and a possible tornado caused damage to a roof near the community of Jayess. Winds are strong well ahead of this line and trees are down near Birmingham, Alabama.

A new tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center until 1 a.m. local time in Alabama and part of the Florida Panhandle. The threats include some intense tornadoes, wind gusts to 80 mph and large hail.

Flooding is one of the most dangerous types of weather we cover. With just over an inch of rainfall in a short amount of time, Jackson, Mississippi, saw some flash flooding today. It doesn’t take a lot of rain to flood, but when it comes in quickly, even an inch can flood roads.

As the sun sets and the threat of severe weather continues, it’s important to note that tornadoes during the night are about twice as likely to kill people, versus those that happen in daylight. New research also shows that tornado deaths at night are on the rise.

One reason for the increased lethality after dark is the lack of visibility and therefore lack of eyewitness storm reports.

Another reason is that people might miss alerts for tornado warnings and other important information because they are sleeping.

Read more here on how to prepare for overnight tornadoes.

C​rews in Sinton, Texas, are working to battle multiple brush fires, according to local news reports. O​ne of the blazes forced the evacuation of both Sinton High School and Sinton Elementary, KRIS-TV reported. S​inton is located in San Patricio County, about 18 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. Officials across parts of Texas are warning of dangerous fire weather to high winds ushered in by today’s storms.

A​n update posted about 20 minutes ago by Texas utility provider Oncor says crews are working to restore power to those impacted by the storms. More than 201,000 Oncor customers are without electricity, with about one quarter of those located in Dallas County. The update did not give a specific estimate of how long repairs might take.

R​evelers packed the streets of New Orleans for the peak day of Mardi Gras, despite the threat of bad weather.

S​ome parades were moved earlier and others postponed to work around the severe weather headed toward the city as the day went on.

“Mardi Gras is all about having these moments. This city is like nowhere else in the country right now,” Kendall Calyen, 41, told The Associated Press, marveling at the 200-year-old tradition unfolding before his eyes.

People participate in the Society of Saint Anne’s parade at Mardi Gras Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

There is a tornado watch until 7 p.m. local time for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Primary threats include a few tornadoes that could be intense. There could also be scattered wind gusts to 80 mph and hail to 1 inch.

More than 410,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers are without power in Texas alone, according to PowerOutage.us. Since each account can represent multiple people in one building or household, the actual number of people affected is typically many times larger.

M​ississippi and Louisiana are each reporting about 30,000 outages, while Alabama sits at about 21,000 and Tennessee at 8,400.

M​ore than 14,000 outages are also being reported in Oklahoma.

Tornadoes can occur any time, anywhere, but some states are more prone to them than others and they happen more often at certain times of the year.

From around 1950 to the 1980s, data showed tornadoes most often happened from northern Texas into Oklahoma and Kansas.

But more recent research shows “Tornado Alley” is shifting southward.

These are some reports we just received from the National Weather Service near Garden City, Kansas:

Multiple trees were downed due to high winds, some on homes.

A pergola collapsed over a home’s back porch.

Sheet metal was ripped off the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation’s Holcomb Station just southwest of Garden City.

An 85 mph wind gust was measured at Garden City just after 2:30 p.m. local time.

Severe weather in Irving, Texas, this morning ripped through homes, blew out windows and mangled trees and power lines. Watch this video to see what it looked like.

More than 375 flights to or from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport are canceled, according to airline tracker FlightAware.com. Another 660 were delayed. In all, that adds up to about half of the flights scheduled today. More than 150 flights are also impacted at nearby Dallas Love Field.

The latest observations and satellite imagery indicates airborne dust from western Texas and New Mexico has now reached Dallas-Ft. Worth metro, about nine hours after the Metroplex was socked by severe thunderstorms with 83 mph winds. Quite a surreal day, indeed!

The plumes of dust are also moving into Waco, and will soon reach the Austin and San Antonio metro areas, as well.

I​n addition to evacuations, a wildfire near San Antonio, Texas, is also disrupting traffic. A social media update from the city advised drivers to avoid Interstate 37 on the south side of San Antonio.

M​ore than 400,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers across five states are without power. Here are the latest numbers, according to PowerOutage.us:

T​exas – 333,718 outages

L​ouisiana – 33,624

M​ississippi – 22,459

O​klahoma – 14,455

T​ennessee – 10,161

The National Weather Service has just confirmed a second Oklahoma EF1 tornado touched down early this morning. While only on the ground for about a minute, this tornado heavily damaged the Union Valley volunteer fire station, as well as snapped numerous trees in Pontotoc County near Stonewall, NWS found.

Advertisement A brief EF1 was also confirmed by an NWS damage survey in the Dallas-Ft. Worth suburb of Irving, with damage spread over a few blocks, the NWS-Fort Worth office noted.

The wind damage threat will continue overnight. That’s pretty much a certainty across the Deep South. The question, though, is how many tornadoes we get. They could be embedded within the line of severe t-storms or there could be supercells ahead of the line. There’s a lot of uncertainty in how many supercells we see ahead of that line of storms.

We always advise you to have a helmet handy when there is a chance of severe weather. Doctors say it can help prevent head injuries from flying debris or other hazards common when a tornado strikes.

Even a bicycle helmet or any kind of sports helmet can provide a good degree of protection.

Don’t forget closed-toe shoes, too, in case you need to walk over debris once the storm passes.

We just received reports from the National Weather Service of a few trees downed in northern Alabama between Birmingham and Huntsville. Wind gusts over 40 mph have also been clocked in the Florida Panhandle. That’s at least 300 miles ahead of the line of t-storms, which shows you the massive coverage of high winds from this expansive March storm, from the Dakotas to Colorado, New Mexico to the northern Gulf Coast and the Tennessee Valley.

Evacuations are under way due to a wildfire burning near San Antonio, Texas. An alert from Bexar County emergency officials about 20 minutes ago included a map showing a small number of buildings and some businesses in the evacuation zone.

E​arlier, officials warned of critical fire weather in the area today, fueled by high winds and low humidity.

Our live tracker page has all the maps and information you need to follow this storm and stay safe.

Y​ou can also check our latest severe weather forecast here.

Over 120 reports of severe thunderstorms, including high wind gusts and damage, have been received by the National Weather Service as of 2:15 p.m. ET.

The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth recorded wind gusts of 83 mph in Little Elm, Texas. Here’s a quick sampling of the wind gusts that hit other places in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex:

80 MPH, Wise County – Decatur

78 MPH, Dallas Love Field

74 MPH, Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport

72 MPH, Waco

First up, the severe thunderstorm threat is largely over in Texas, including Houston, as well as in Little Rock, Arkansas, though we can’t rule out a few isolated t-storms this afternoon with hail in north Texas and Oklahoma.

A new tornado watch has been issued for southeast Louisiana and all but northern Mississippi until 7 p.m. CST. This watch includes New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Jackson, Mississippi. The line of severe thunderstorms is now stretching from southeast Arkansas into Louisiana. A gust to 70 mph was measured at Ft. Polk, Louisiana just before 11:30 a.m CT.

However, high winds not from t-storms continue in Texas. A roof was blown off and trees uprooted or snapped near Wolfforth, just southwest of Lubbock, before noon, according to the NWS.

The National Weather Service confirms that an EF1 tornado touched down on the west side of Ada, Oklahoma, this morning just after 6 a.m. local time. With peak winds around 105 mph, the twister cut a path nearly four miles long. In an earlier update we showed you pictures of extensive damage in Ada. In a Facebook post the city government reported one injury, and said 24 families were displaced.

If the Lone Star State hasn’t had enough so far today, a dust storm is now surging east across the rolling plains of western Texas. Dust storm warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for the city of San Angelo, where visibility has been reduced as low as 1.5 miles in airborne dust, accompanied by wind gusts over 60 mph.

This dust plume could make it to at least parts of the Interstate 35 corridor this afternoon, including Dallas-Ft. Worth, Waco and Austin.

T​he video above posted by NWS San Angelo shows how dusty it is around Lake Nasworthy, where buoys bounce up and down on the choppy water.

Owasso Police Department is reporting flooding in low-lying areas. At least one car is reported to have stalled in the floodwaters.

The following areas are under water:

96th Street North between 161 East Avenue and 177 East Avenue

106th Street North between 145th East Avenue and 161st East Avenue

106th Street North at 177th East Avenue

116th Street North between Memorial Drive and Sheridan Road

High wind warnings from the National Weather Service blanket parts of 15 states from the High Plains to the Appalachians.

These strong winds have already knocked a tree onto a carport in Lubbock, Texas, and blew over a semi on Interstate 70 in Brewster, Kansas. They’ll also likely trigger at least some scattered power outages in the areas covered by the high wind warnings.

Winds downed trees and damaged some vehicles at the Collin County Sheriff’s Office in McKinney Texas. In a Facebook post, the office shared that deputies were still out on patrol, but noted that all county offices would be closed until noon local time, as crews worked to restore power.

So far, over 90 reports of severe thunderstorms have been received by National Weather Service offices since late Monday night. The majority of them have been in a swath from the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex into southern Oklahoma.

NWS damage surveys will be conducted later to determine the number, strength and paths of any tornadoes. It is likely both Oklahoma and Texas just had their first tornadoes of 2025 early this morning.

Residents of Ada, Oklahoma are sharing photos of homes and other buildings torn apart overnight and early this morning. City officials are urging people to stay at home because there are “downed power lines, gas leaks and trees everywhere.”

During active weather, it’s critical to know the difference between watches and warnings.

A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in the watch area or other locations nearby. A watch means you should pay close attention to weather alerts and be ready to take immediate action. Anyone in manufactured housing or vulnerable structures should consider heading to stronger shelter.

A tornado warning means it’s time to take action now – quickly move into your shelter or safe space and stay there until the warning is over.

A warehouse for Benjamin Moore Paints is seen torn open after a suspected tornado ripped through Lewisville, Texas. Part of the warehouse collapsed and the debris buried semi-trailers and other vehicles nearby. The parking lot is covered with metal sheeting from the warehouse roof. It’s not yet clear if any workers were inside the building at the time of the collapse, but first responders are on the scene and there are no immediate reports of injuries.

Within the past hour or so, rain has quickly changed over to wet snow from eastern Colorado and far northwestern Kansas to parts of South Dakota.

Winds are also gusting from 30 to 55 mph in this zone. Conditions are deteriorating along stretches of Interstate 70, 80 and 90 in these areas. Whiteout conditions are possible in these areas, at times.

A home is reported destroyed and several campers are overturned in Kingston County, Oklahoma. In Nida, Oklahoma, a trailer home is left destroyed, according to Johnston County Emergency Management.

Marshall County Emergency Management reports power lines down and structural damage in the county. In Durant, a house collapsed, but no injuries are reported, according to Durant Emergency Management.

Irving Police Department is warning people to avoid the intersection of North O’Connor Road and West Pioneer Drive as significant storm damage is seen in the area.

In photos posted on social media by the police department, a wall can be seen completely torn off of an apartment building and the roof is damaged.

Today is a good example why you should take severe t-storm warnings as seriously as tornado warnings, as weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce wrote.

Wind gusts capable of downing trees and knocking out power are likely within the line of severe t-storms rolling through the South. It doesn’t take a tornado to do that. A falling tree can be life threatening. And as we’ve already seen earlier this morning, tornadoes can quickly form within the line of severe t-storms. Seek shelter with any severe t-storm or tornado warning today.

FlightAware.com reports more than 200 flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are cancelled as the area sees severe weather.

In North Texas, more than 200,000 customers are without power, according to PowerOutage.com. Some structures in the area have sustained damage from the storms.

A line of severe t-storms is near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border southward into northeast Texas. Damaging t-storm winds are the main threats right now with this line, with wind gusts strong enough to down trees and knock out power.

The severe threat has ended in both Dallas-Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City, though gusty winds are persisting.

Radar image, watches and warnings as of 8:25 a.m. EST.

Today is Fat Tuesday, the traditional peak of Louisiana Mardi Gras parades. But weather is getting in the way.

Parades are officially canceled in Jefferson Parish, which is part of the greater New Orleans area.

As of Monday evening, police in New Orleans said they were watching the weather closely. Some parade times were changed, but they said cancellations could be called closer to the events. At least one was canceled.

Last week, 25 Dairy Queen restaurants across the state suddenly shut down, leaving customers with several questions, mainly: Why?

A representative for Dairy Queen, Amie Hoffner, stated that the company does not publicly comment on contract terms or pending litigation. Hoffner did confirm that all 25 locations were owned by one franchise-owner, which continues to own and operate other Dairy Queen restaurants in the state.

A lawsuit, filed by franchisee Project Lonestar against the American Dairy Queen Corporation, offered some insight into what led to the 25 locations shutting down.

Which Dairy Queen restaurants closed? Here’s what we know and which are up for auction.

Project Lonestar vs American Dairy Queen Corporation alleges corporate’s breach of contract in potential sale

According to court documents obtained by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Monday, the lawsuit was first filed in the 160th Judicial District in Dallas County on Feb. 6. In it, Project Lonestar filed a petition for a temporary restraining order to halt American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQC) from terminating 25 of 38 franchise locations and withholding deliveries to the rest.

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The filing stated that in September 2024, ADQC notified Lonestar that it would terminate Lonestar’s franchises “for not remodeling them.” In that same month, the two came to an agreement where Lonestar would find a buyer for the restaurants.

In that agreement, Lonestar had 30 days to find a buyer, then ADQC had 30 days to approve the buyer. If the company did not, then Lonestar would have another 30 days to find a different buyer. It also stated that “all transfer requirements needed to be complete within six months from the date that (ADQC) approved the prospective buyer.”

On Sept. 25, Lonestar told ADQC that a prospective buyer had been found. ADQC claimed that Lonestar had to pay certain transfer fees before the evaluation process could begin, which was not in the original agreement, according to the lawsuit. In October, the prospective buyer filled out a franchisee application, which began the 30-day period for ADQC to approve.

The company, on Nov. 6, 2024, said it would not review until the fee was paid. The following week, the prospective buyer paid the fee. On Nov. 15, ADQC said it would not review until Lonestar caught up on royalty payments.

Between Nov. 16-19, an ADQC representative began meeting with the prospective buyer to open discussions. During this, the company informed the buyer about the agreement, including the need to sell within a 30-day window or else Lonestar’s franchises would be terminated. The prospective buyer then “reduced its offer to purchase franchise rights by several million dollars,” according to the documents.

A new sale agreement was reached between Lonestar and the prospective buyer on Nov. 20. When Lonestar informed ADQC the following week, ADQC refused to process the buyer’s application due to Lonestar’s royalty payments being behind. Under the original agreement, the royalty payments needed to be made weekly, not before approval could begin.

By January, Lonestar caught up on royalty payments, but ADQC argued that Lonestar did not. After “much back and forth,” ADQC agreed payments were up to date, but the process to transfer franchises to the prospective buyer still did not move forward.

A letter dated Jan. 30, 2025, from ADQC told Lonestar it had terminated 25 of Lonestar’s franchise agreements and “demanded that (Lonestar) comply with post-termination obligations.” It also stated that while the remaining 11 were active, ADQC had “instructed a key supplier that “all shipments of DQ products need to stop immediately.'”

This would result in the restaurants running out of food within days, according to the documents.

“Consequently, and as a direct result of (ADQC’s) breach, (Lonestar) has suffered actual, direct, economic and non-economic damages of at least $4,000,000,” the documents stated.

The lawsuit moved to the Northern District Court of Texas on Feb. 11, and 25 locations closed that week. Those locations were:

Some Texas Dairy Queen locations listed for auction

All locations except Farmers Branch were listed on localauctions.com. All listings state that bids are for “complete contents” of the restaurants.

“Multiple Dairy Queen locations are closing their doors and must liquidate the assets,” the auction site stated on its page. “Bid on a large variety of restaurant assets and related items that need to be removed from the location. Buyers are responsible for disassembling and removing purchased assets and must bring their own help and tools.”

A court date has been tentatively set for March 24, 2025 to review the case.

Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

As 2024 continues to see changes in Lubbock’s business scene, some readers have asked: Is the Hub City seeing more closures than usual?

Here’s how business trends are looking six months in to 2024, and how it compares to 2023. This only looks at Lubbock businesses and does not count businesses that moved from one location to another.

Which businesses have closed in Lubbock in 2024?

By the end of June, Lubbock lost 18 businesses. Only five of those were not restaurants or food trucks.

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On the non-restaurant side, closures and their reasons included:

Rue 21, 6076 Marsha Sharp Freeway West #300. The clothing retail company is in the process of filing for bankruptcy.

Shearer’s Foods, 3203 Ave. B, closed on March 31. The facility had been in operations since 2007 and closed due to a “decrease in demand,” according to company officials.

Reasons were not given for the closures of Soft Surroundings, 8201 Quaker Ave., Unit 116, or Embellish Decor, 5217 82nd #121, in February.

Catching Whimsy, 3407 98th St. Suite 400., closed in early January. The owners stated they were focusing on their other two businesses – Website Runners and Texas Regional Notary.

Out of these, Shearer’s Foods shook the community and resulted in the termination of 176 jobs. This closure was announced two days after Clayton Dubilier & Rice, a private investment firm, completed the acquisition of Shearer’s.

The other 13 closures were restaurants or food trucks. Here’s what closed, grouped by month, and why:

January: Whip’d Pies, 4406 114th St., Suite 200, said they were looking for a new location at the time. As of July 11, a new location has not been announced. Hub City Burger Bar, 3711 19th St., unexpectedly closed without explanation after only five months in business.

Tom & Bingo’s BBQ, 3006 34th St., said “these West Texas winds have blown us in a different direction & we find ourselves at the end of a great era.” The closure on Jan. 20 of the third-generation restaurant, which opened in 1952, shocked Lubbock barbecue fans. This would not be the only loss in the region’s barbecue scene for the year.

February: Senor Chubby’s Mexican Bar & Grill, 3410 98th St., Suite 1112, announced their Feb. 20 closure less than 48 hours before closing. Owners stated they were pursuing new opportunities. The location is now an Italian restaurant.

March: La Bella Pizza, 2112 50th St., closed without explanation. However, the closure of Rave On, 1300 Mac Davis Lane, inside Buddy Holly Hall, caused a stir in March.

United’s food and beverage division operated the restaurant and concessions inside Buddy Holly Hall, but the partnership came to an end in March. A statement from Lubbock Entertainment / Performing Arts Association mentioned that United wanted to focus on its core retail business and expansion plans.

In the same month, United also closed the last of Market Street stores’ salad bars.

April: Roll’n Bros Food Truck sold the business to a new owner, who rebranded it as Rudy’s Scratch Kitchen. This month also brought the closure of the iconic Hill BBQ, 3017 34th St. Hill BBQ’s closure came after months of social media posts calling for customers to visit.

May: Evie Mae’s BBQ in United at the corner of 114th Street and Slide Road. This became the third United-connected closure in 2024. United then opened their own barbecue offering, SMōK’D Pit Barbecue.

June: Broadway Fish & More, 1702 E. Broadway, closed to pursue the owners’ dreams in the food truck industry. Burklee Hill Vineyards, 1109 Broadway, also closed after 6 years in business. Chop Chop at the corner of 82nd Street and Indiana Avenue closed so the restaurant could focus on the other two locations.

Hooters, 4950 S. Loop 289, closed on June 23. The company decided to close 40 locations that were underperforming, according to a company statement.

While July’s numbers are not being used in these statistics, the month has already brought the closures of four businesses – The Fresh American, Joe’s Crab Shack, Lubbock Escapes and Urban Vibez Nutrition.

Are more businesses opening or closing in 2024 than 2023?

Comparing the closings in all of 2023 to six months into 2024, Lubbock is slightly below the halfway mark at 42%. Similar to last year, the community lost several popular businesses early on, which is likely what prompted the question.

The same comparison for openings showed a slight increase at 52%. In 2023, the most openings happened in August and December, so there is potential for that lead to increase by the end of the summer, if the pattern continues.

What types of businesses are opening, closing in Lubbock so far in 2024?

To no one’s surprise, food- and drink-based businesses made up the majority of openings and closings. Overall, restaurants took up 83% of closures and 47% of openings. The closures are up from last year’s 63%, and openings are fairly similar to 2023.

The year so far has seen three notable barbecue restaurants close, along with two upscale options – Rave On and Burklee Hill.

On the opening side for food- and drink-based locations, there were 27 total: five mobile trucks, four sandwich shops, three each for Mexican, American and drink stops, two each of barbecue and Asian restaurants, and one each for Persian, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean and Australian.

Non-food business openings for this report are broken down into these categories: health (includes hospitals and spas), retail (clothing, pet accessories, etc.), service (includes banks, childcare, real estate, salons, etc.), and entertainment. Retail had the most with 14, followed by service at nine, then health and entertainment businesses tied with four each.