Happy Wednesday 🍩

Do you remember when Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their newborn baby “Apple” back in 2004? For many, the name seemed like a silly celebrity-only move. Like, who could get a professional job with a name like “Apple?!” (But I guess nepo babies don’t necessarily have to work.) But maybe Gwyneth and Chris weren’t weirdos, but trend forecasters, who knew that fruit names would be society’s new classic.

More than 20 years later, and fruit names are on the rise, but not without criticism. Lemon, Clementine, Juniper, Olive, and yes, Apple, are all gaining popularity in the US. You’ll also hear the name Alani—a Hawaiian word meaning “orange tree.” What do you think about this budding trend? Do you think names restrict career growth?

I would also be interested in hearing whether any of you dislike your name or regret the names you’ve given your children. Write in and let me know. 

You might remember that the most popular baby names in Texas in 2024 were Noah, Liam, Emma, and Olivia. Reliable data for 2025 is hard to come by right now, but here are the names we know are dropping drastically in popularity. 

To see what other baby names were the top choices in 2025, look here. For other baby name trends to watch, click here.

Heads up: You won’t get a newsletter from me tomorrow. We’re launching a redesign of our site. 🎊 I’ll be back in your inbox bright and early on Friday, and I will include a list of weekend events for you, so look out for that. 

A $6,000 reward is being offered in the cold case of Brent Alan Gutheinz, a UT Dallas student murdered in 1997. (Kristina Shvedenko/Unsplash+)

By Sam Cohen

Last week, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that it was raising the reward to $6,000 for anyone with information regarding the 1997 cold case murder of Brent Alan Gutheinz. The 22-year-old UT-Dallas student’s body was discovered a few days after he initially went missing. At the time, numerous witnesses were interviewed and several leads were pursued, but no official arrests have ever been made. In an effort to solve Gutheinz’s murder, the Texas Rangers and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office are working together to explore new avenues, including forensic testing that may at last provide concrete answers.

An increased reward is being offered in the hopes that someone in the Grayson County community will come forward with information that law enforcement personnel are seeking in regard to major financial transactions Gutheinz made in the months leading up to his murder. In any instance where a cold case is being examined, the exact reasoning behind this request will be kept private to ensure the overall integrity of the investigation.

🦸‍♂️ Spiderman needs saving: A Denton man, who became known for bringing joy to the community by dressing up as Spiderman, is asking the community for help paying $80,000 in lifesaving medical care debt. The man, who runs a local animal rescue, had no health insurance at the time of hospitalization. (NBC 5)

📖 The bookworms have spoken: The city of Dallas wanted to cut its library budget by $2.6 million, but in a survey, the majority of residents said they wanted the budget increased. Now, city leaders are discussing how to keep all the libraries open, while establishing flagship locations that would be open longer and offer extended programming. (Dallas Observer)

🏗️ Border wall business: Southwest Texas leaders and residents say they don’t need or want a border wall throughout their region. Their revolt could end plans for hundreds of miles of construction. Read more here. (Axios)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Joi Louviere with reporting by Sam Cohen and editing by Paula Solis.

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