Good morning, folks ☕

The 4 million people expected to visit North Texas for the World Cup may be a good taste of what it will be like to live in the metroplex a few years from now, because this region is growing quickly! New data shows that each year our population is increasing by bigger jumps than the year before. By 2027, DFW is expected to be the home of 9 million people.

Collin County is leading the growth, with 64,700 new residents in 2025. And while the bigger cities like Plano and McKinney still have room for more residents, it’s the smaller towns that are seeing the largest growth rates. Lowry Crossing is contributing the most to the county’s growth, along with Lavon and Celina (the fastest-growing city in the US in 2025).

Here’s a fun look at Plano in the late 1800’s—no sprawling shopping centers in sight. (Courtesy of Plano Magazine)

World Cup visitors will mean more cars on the roads and busier restaurants, but that’s just a small part of what growth affects. As the metro grows, we’ll be looking at how the infrastructures of all these cities grow, too. Water and sewer systems, emergency services, electricity, telecommunications, public transit, and city resources like parks and animal control will all be strained if they aren’t prepped for growth.

Denton, Flower Mound, and Carrollton are currently expanding their fire response capacity with growth in mind. The article below highlights the Dallas Police Department’s recruitment efforts, undoubtedly a response to the city’s growing population.

What do you think about the area’s growth? Write in or take the poll below.

I like a big city lifestyle

It’s getting too big for me

I can hardly afford to live here now

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, Courier DFW

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Dallas Police Department to host 3-day hiring event ahead of FIFA World Cup

The Dallas Police Department is holding a multi-day hiring event during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. (Elvert Barnes/CC BY-SA 2.0)

By Sam Cohen

The Dallas Police Department is looking to capitalize on the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s spotlight by hosting a three-day hiring event ahead of the upcoming tournament. The DPD’s recruiting efforts will be held from June 10-12 at Gilley’s, located at 1135 Botham Jean Boulevard. Deputy Chief Jordan Colunga is overseeing the hiring initiative, and he told CBS News, “Gilley’s is a Honky Tonk staple of Dallas, Texas,” making it the perfect place to set up shop.

Deputy Chief Colunga says the department wanted to hold this hiring event when more visitors and residents were in the area for the World Cup to increase attention for their efforts. “We want that broad net to get people’s eyes on us. We need to hire officers. We are hiring and that’s our motto, the three words: ‘we are hiring,’ and it’s going to be a huge event.” He said the DPD has a goal of hiring 750 officers within the next two years, and they’re prepared to welcome up to 600 people during this three-day period.

DPD’s recruitment struggles

🐳 Whale muralist sues for millions: The artist who painted the whale mural in downtown Dallas, which was recently painted over at the direction of the FIFA World Cup organizing committee, has filed a $25 million lawsuit against FIFA and the building owner. Read more about the federal law that’s the basis of his claim. (CBS News)

🫗 SNAP cuts abandon Texans: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s cost-share requirements will leave Texas responsible for paying $117 million in administrative costs related to the SNAP program, starting in October. As a result, an estimated 275,000 Texans are expected to lose their benefits due to the change.

⛪ The final sermon: A Fort Worth church established in the 19th century by a pastor and 12 formerly enslaved people held its last church service on Sunday. Now, what happens to the building and the community? (The Fort Worth Report)

📊 Data center dance: Mesquite City Council is working on tighter regulations on future data center developments. Proposed requirements include a utility demand analysis, a water impact plan, technical and noise studies, and set standards for how city resources, such as water and electricity, are used. (KERA)