Happy Hump Day, y’all,

Last week, we talked about trending baby names and the value of a name. A few of you wrote in with your perspectives, including one mother who said she picked such a unique name for her daughter in the ’60s that, to this day, she’s the only one who comes up when you Google the name. (Yes, I’m dying to know the name, but let’s just use our imagination. 😆)

But what about a name that’s almost too common on Google—like Texas. I ran across a video about the number of Americans named after states. Of course, there were big numbers for Virginia, Washington, and Georgia, but I was surprised to see that an estimated 255 people today have the name “Texas.” Texas Jones, Texas Sanchez, Texas Patel—I kinda love it! And I sure hope they all have slick mouths and the nickname Tex.

You know anyone with cool Texas-esque names? Let me know.

Paratransit riders are advocating to keep DART services available in University Park, Addison, and Highland Park. (Danazar/CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Sam Cohen

On May 2, voters in University Park, Addison, and Highland Park are set to decide whether they want to remain within the DART public transit system or opt out of it. For North Texas residents who rely on DART’s paratransit services, the loss of this accessible option would deeply impact their everyday lives. Francis Zalace, who is a quad-amputee, is speaking openly about the challenges she faces getting from one place to the next when paratransit vehicles are unavailable. “I’m very limited on the type of vehicles that can transport me, but all of DART vehicles are equipped to be handicap accessible for my needs,” she told KERA.

Even though Zalace has to request rides a day in advance to take her to church or to run other errands, DART’s system is still the most reliable in the area. Without these services, she said it takes her about an hour to get to church and another hour to return home. Getting to the grocery store is another obstacle that’s easier to overcome with the help of the city’s paratransit system. Zalace said being able to take these trips with ease helps her feel less isolated. Over 700,000 rides through DART’s paratransit system were logged last year, so it’s clearly a much-utilized and much-needed service.

🚃 Streetcar proposed: Could it be a better use of DART funds? Dallas’ transportation department is considering a streetcar that would go from Fair Park to the Convention Center, but they want you to weigh in. (Dallas Morning News)

🏕️ North Texas camping: Looking for a close-to-home spring activity for your family? Dinosaur Valley State Park, just 60 miles outside of Fort Worth, was recently named one of the best family camping destinations in the US.

👩‍⚖️ The Dallas County voting saga ends: The Texas Fifth Court of Appeals has rejected a recent petition from a Dallas County Republican aiming to force the county to once again use precinct-based voting for the May 26 runoff election. In case you missed it, here’s what happened. 

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

COURIER DFW is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.