Lubbock 2024 Highlights: Aqua Cabana Scandal, Electric Market Changes, and Healthcare Breach

Lubbock endured a rocky 2024, highlighted by Aqua Cabana Water Park's bogus claims and stolen photographs, the city's electric market opening, and a ransomware attack that exposed the data of over 1.4 million healthcare consumers. The year saw issues in infrastructure, cybersecurity, and community trust, paving the way for a reflective 2025.

In late September, a ransomware attack affected hospital operations in Lubbock and El Paso. The systems of the University Medical Center (UMC) in Lubbock and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) were compromised, exposing over 1.4 million patients' data.

The hack compromised sensitive information such as names, birth dates, driver's license numbers, medical records, and financial information. While most systems had been restored by October, patients were not told of the full scope of the breach until late November.

The data leak affected 650,000 patients in TTUHSC Lubbock, 815,000 patients in TTUHSC Lubbock, and 501 patients in UMC Lubbock. The breach resulted in significant wait times at Covenant Health, raising worries about cybersecurity in healthcare.

Aqua Cabana Water Park sparked outrage early in 2024 with a viral social media post claiming Lubbock municipal authorities made the permission process too complex. However, the city promptly refuted these claims, noting that no communication or permissions were ever submitted.

Adding to the incident, Aqua Cabana used promotional photographs taken from Tennessee's Soaky Mountain Waterpark without permission. By the end of the year, Aqua Cabana had vanished from social media, calling its ambitions and integrity into question.

Lubbock's electric market formally opened on December 31, 2023, allowing citizens to choose their providers for the first time. Companies such as TXU Energy and Reliant entered the market, bringing competition but also bewilderment to many long-time residents who were inexperienced with shopping for power.

The city held town halls and gave information to help residents adapt, while Lubbock Power & Light maintained the infrastructure. By March 2024, the transition had begun, and as of December, virtually all inhabitants had been assigned providers.

As Lubbock approaches 2025, the expectation is for a year with fewer surprises and more significant community support.

‍