Good morning, Abilene.

A year ago on May 2nd an EF3 tornado hit Hodges, flattening homes and leaving neighbors like Bradley and Stacey Poor to seek shelter and assist others.

Most of the neighborhood has been restored now—showing the strong unity that helped the community rebuild.

On May 3, 2024 at 7 p.m., an EF3 tornado struck the Hawley/Hodges area, injuring a family of four and destroying homes — the tornado was 210 yards wide, 3.29 miles long, and had winds over 165 mph that tossed trucks and trailers 100 yards.

Goodnight Franklin, a young band (from Brownwood) that participated in this year's Tiny Desk Contest, hopes to secure a chance to perform at NPR's space in Washington D.C. if selected.

The Grace Museum will open The Spark Science Center at Abilene Heritage Square early next year — a new venue offering interactive STEAM exhibits and traveling displays — to inspire learning and career paths.

Abilene CityLink faced network issues on Saturday when a cyber incident left its paratransit service with only three drivers instead of the usual twelve.

City officials are taking steps to fix the system and recruiting new drivers—while reviewing wages to attract more applicants.

Greater Than Three, an adaptive sports program founded by Hedi Wachtel after her spinal cord injury, offers monthly pickleball and cycling events for people with mobility loss to stay active — it will also seek donations and volunteers during Abilene Gives through May 6.

Paramount Laughs: Beningo & Boronkay

7-10 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — $19 - $29 — Enjoy a night of clean comedy with Andy Beningo and Bill Boronkay bringing laughter about family and marriage.

Jake Hooker & The Outsiders Concert

10 PM — Taylor County Coliseum — Ticket prices vary — Get ready for an evening of country music with Jake Hooker & The Outsiders.

Etched in Embers Live Concert

8 PM - 2 AM — The Zone — $6.25 — Enjoy an electrifying night with Etched in Embers, fresh off their tour with Papa Roach and featuring local bands.

Buffalo Gap Flea Market

11:00 PM - 10:59 PM — Buffalo Gap Flea Market — Free entry — Explore a variety of unique items at this leading local flea market.

Lockjaw Concert

7-8 p.m. — The Zone — Ticket prices unknown — Experience the Monster Inside Texas Tour with top Texas bands in an electrifying live performance.

Chamber Best Practices

9:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. — Texas State Technical College in Abilene (Downtown Campus) — $50/person incl. Resources and Lunch — Learn valuable strategies to enhance your business practices in the local community.

Flying Bison Home Opener

7-11 p.m. — Walt Driggers Field — Free entry for kids under 3 — Kick off the 2025 season with giveaways and exciting baseball action as the Flying Bison face off against the Joplin Outlaws.

Texas West Area Assembly Spring 2025

May 30 - June 1 — MCM Eleganté Suites Abilene — Pre-registration required — Connect and collaborate to preserve our legacy with a community-focused assembly.

KCDConcert! 2025

2-5 p.m. — Paramount Theatre — Children 5 and under free — Experience an enchanting afternoon of dance as Key City Dance Co. presents their 5th annual recital 'Under the Stars'.