Happy Friday the 13th 🪄

Have you been watching the Winter Olympics? If not, you still have plenty of time to become temporarily obsessed with ski jumping and to figure out what curling is. You can watch all the events live on the Peacock streaming app or catch replays on NBC.

Let’s do a quick update on some of the Texans competing this year.

❄️ Plano’s Amber Glenn – Glenn has already won gold for figure skating and came in 3rd in the free skate. She’ll compete in the individual women’s free skate event on Tuesday and Thursday. 

❄️ McKinney’s Emily Chan – The pairs figure skater hasn’t competed in Milan yet, but will make her debut on Sunday with her partner Spencer Howe. 

❄️ Coppell’s Hannah Bilka – Bilka and the US Women’s Ice Hockey team are undefeated right now and will compete in the quarterfinals tomorrow and Sunday. 

❄️ Midland’s Boone Niederhofer – You haven’t missed this 32-year-old competing in the 4-man bobsled, but if that sounds interesting to you, set a reminder for Saturday, Feb. 21.

❄️ Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger – This National Hockey League All-Star and team beat Latvia yesterday, plays Denmark tomorrow and Germany on Sunday. If the US team goes all the way, the finals will air Sunday, Feb. 22, with more games in between.

❄️ UT grad Jen Lee – Combat amputee and three-time Olympic gold medalist Lee will represent sled hockey in the Winter Paralympics that begin March 6.

P.S. There’ll be no newsletter on Monday, but enjoy your President’s Day (hopefully a day off for you), and we’ll chat on Tuesday.

Buddhist monks will complete over 2,000 miles of their Walk for Peace in Fort Worth on Feb. 14. (William Howard/Shutterstock).

By Sam Cohen

On Oct. 26, 2025, a group of Buddhist monks departed Fort Worth’s Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center to embark on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace—part of the Buddhist faith revolves around monks embarking on lengthy walking pilgrimages, some of which go on for months at a time. The group has been gaining support (and popularity) on social media throughout their journey, with over two million people following along on Facebook and over one million tuning in on TikTok. The monks will complete their trek to Washington DC on Feb. 10 and 11. From there, they’ll take a bus back to Fort Worth, where they’re expected to arrive on Feb. 14 at 8 a.m., according to a recent social media update.

After they get off the bus, the group, along with their trusted companion, Aloka, is then expected to walk the remaining six miles back to Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center to complete the full cycle of their journey. A celebration is scheduled for that day, though exact details, including time, have not been shared as of writing.

🎹 Fort Worth honors gospel star: Music artist and Fort Worth native Kirk Franklin was honored by the Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday. The 20-time Grammy Award winner still lives in Fort Worth, despite his fame, and hosts initiatives in the city. Read more about his upbringing here. (Fort Worth Report)

🐶 Doggy love: Dallas Animal Services is asking people to spend some time at the shelter this Valentine’s Day. They’ll be hosting a Valentine’s Date Night Adoption event tomorrow and encouraging folks to consider fostering a dog, even if it’s just for a weekend. Learn more here. (Dallas Morning News)

🛤️ A Hail Mary to save DART: The Dallas City Council voted to give up majority control of the DART board and guarantee every city that uses the train has at least one seat. The move was done in hopes that other DART cities (Irving, Park Cities, Garland, Plano, Farmers Branch, and Addison) would cancel May elections that ask voters to decide if they want to fund the rail line. (WFAA)

Melissa and husband Dan got married 24 years ago in Maui. (Courtesy of Melissa)

Earlier this week, I put a call out for love stories from DFW newsletter subscribers. Since it feels like our feeds are often filled with sadness and messages of hate, I thought I’d risk the corny request to share some joy and, maybe, bring hope to others whose worlds feel lonely.

Even with the short notice and challenge to summarize their most sacred stories, a few readers wrote in and opened up. Enjoy these stories, and please write in if you’d still like to share yours. We need love stories 365.

Is it easier for you to learn about what’s happening in Texas and beyond through video? Check out our cut-to-the-chase videos!

1. Abbott says districts where students protest could see state takeover

2. Texas data centers have 6 weeks to report on water, energy usage

3. Why Rev. Freddie Haynes is running in District 30

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

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