It was another busy week in North Texas. Our free Courier DFW newsletter brings these straight to your inbox, Monday-Friday. Want to know more about education issues throughout the state? Subscribe to our Wednesday TexEd Report newsletter.
New tacos in town: Texas Monthly recently released its list of the 25 Best New(ish) Texas Taquerias in 2026, and two Fort Worth-area shops, and a few Dallas ones, earned shoutouts.
Abbott through the years: Under Gov. Greg Abbott’s 11-year tenure, the state has positioned itself as the premier destination for corporations, but outside of financial success, the numbers tell a different story.
Love from tragedy: A Uvalde woman fell in love with the Fort Worth artist who painted a mural in her town in remembrance of one of the children killed in the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting. Read this love after loss story here. (KERA)
The Seattle panic: From the anti-trans bathroom bill and ban on trans athletes in college sports to the Children’s Hospitals launch of a detransition center, Texas policies are pushing gender-diverse residents to more progressive cities like Seattle. But the city is having trouble keeping up with newcomers.
Jan. 6er threatens Frisco: A notorious conservative influencer and pardoned Jan. 6 rioter pulled up to the Frisco City Council meeting on Tuesday, spewing “great replacement theory” hate around two proposed Hindu temples and an Islamic mosque. He ended his outbursts with a graphic threat to the council. (Dallas Observer)
Rainy day kids: If you need help figuring out what to do with your kids’ energy when they’re stuck inside on rainy days, check out our guide.
No vote, no game: The NAACP has called for Black athletes, alumni, and fans to boycott athletic programs at public universities in states redistricting Black voting rights, including Texas. Learn more about the “Out of Bounds” campaign and what it hopes to achieve.
Best places to live: Eleven North Texas cities have made the 2026 US News and World Report’s list of best places to live, including Rowlett, Wylie, and Allen. Tap here to see which city placed the highest. (Culture Map Dallas)
Required reading: In April, the Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to a mandatory list of books all public schools will be required to teach starting in 2030, including passages from the Bible. Now, after criticism, the TEA is asking you to weigh in.
A delicious bribe? A city council member in a Fort Worth suburb was arrested Friday on allegations of felony bribery—he delivered boxes of pastries to potential voters with campaign flyers attached to the top. Tap here for all the details. (Fort Worth Report)
A compassionate duo: Two Dallas women are leading a charge to help refugees and asylum seekers at the border with food, clothing, and shelter. Click here to learn more about the Rio Valley Relief Project and how you can help. (Dallas Observer)
Fuel for DPD: Gas station chain QuikTrip just announced its biggest philanthropic donation yet, and it’s $10 million toward the construction of the new Dallas Police Department training center. Read more about the development of the training center and why QuikTrip donated. (WFAA)
Better energy: Texas needs more diverse energy sources, and for those most impacted to be a part of the conversation, said an advocate with GreenLatinos. Latino and low-income communities see the brunt of the health effects from plant pollution.
Better roads for a fee: The city of Fort Worth is considering charging households $3 a month for the maintenance of city streets. Click here to see the cost breakdown and learn how this would work for apartment complexes. (Fort Worth Report)
Mavs switchup: The Dallas Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd have agreed to part ways after five seasons working together. Read the statement from the team’s president here. (NBA)
Bagels x BBQ: This weekend only, Dan’s Bagels is teaming up with The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque and Panther City BBQ to offer diners barbecue brisket sandwiches on Jalapeño Cheddar sourdough bagels.
Inclusive bathrooms: DFW Airport was recently awarded an $8 million grant to make accessibility improvements to 37 bathrooms. The money will be used to make them more accessible for wheelchair users and for families traveling with strollers. Here are a few other ways the money will be used.
A veteran and his dog: An unhoused disabled veteran left his beloved dog at a Fort Worth fire station last week, penning a three page letter explaining how having no safe place to leave the dog is preventing him from getting the help he needs. In turn, the fire firefighters worked with a nonprofit to gift the man an RV. Watch the full story here. (NBC 5)
Teen ingenuity: Some Irving middle schoolers have invented power-generating shoes, with enough strength to charge a cellphone. They also developed an app to track the steps of those shoes. See how it all works here. (Spectrum News)
Tough love? The Dallas Wings coach called out his team’s selfishness in a post-game interview last week, surprising many with his bluntness, but maybe it worked. The team came back with a 92-67 win over the Washington Mystics, with starting forward Paige Bueckers saying, “We played selfless tonight.” (USA Today)
