Happy Friday the 13th ✨

We’ve had a lot of these lately, but this one has a bit more significance. Six years ago today, North Texas began shutting down due to COVID-19. If it all feels like a blur, here is the national timeline. As for Texas, Gov. Abbott issued a disaster proclamation on March 13. A stay-at-home order came April 2.

How has your life changed since then? Are there any hobbies you picked up that you still do today? What did the time teach you? I’d love to read your reflections and share them in one of next week’s newsletters.

You can write to me here.

But outside of this specific Covid anniversary, Friday the 13ths get a bad wrap. It’s funny that working folks love Fridays, as it signals a weekend of freedom, but Friday has long been seen as an unlucky day, and the number 13 scares so many that we don’t even have a 13th floor in hotels. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the myths behind what’s lucky and unlucky, check out this article here.

Whether you’re superstitious or not, I’m claiming this day will be a great one for all of us. Focus on the positives, let frustrations pass through you, and do something that brings you joy.

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, COURIER DFW

Why this year’s bluebonnet season is anything but predictable

Texas’s bluebonnet season may face some issues this year. (Steven Martin/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By Sam Cohen

The 2026 bluebonnet season may be a little more sparse this year than others, according to a recent report from Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Its wildflower forecast stated that Texans can expect a “varied season for blooms,” with some areas struggling to see prosperous buds due to an unseasonably dry fall and winter in places like Hill Country that typically see an abundance of flowers. Bluebonnets, like other wildflowers, are influenced by microclimates. Given that the state is seeing a continued drought and uneven rain, these things impact how seeds are germinated (i.e., how they’re spread).

You see, bluebonnets are pretty dependent on the moisture accumulated from autumn rainfall to spread and sprout throughout the winter before erupting into full bloom during the spring. Since it’s been really dry, these tiny seedlings haven’t had as much of an opportunity to travel and nestle into the side of the road as they have in previous years.

Here’s when to expect what does bloom

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🤑 World Cup rentals: If you’re considering renting your home out for the World Cup this summer, here’s what you should know, including some specifics if you live in the city of Arlington. (Arlington Report)

🦹‍♂️ Texans are getting got: Texans lose $10 billion a year to online scams, according to a consumer report. Here are the three platforms where they happen the most.

🕳️ Sinkhole sagas continue: White Rock Lake Trail is still closed after a bicyclist noticed a sinkhole opening along the path last week. What caused this? An abandoned sewer line.

Want to know more about the growing problem of sinkholes throughout North Texas? Tap the button below, and I’ll discuss the problem in an upcoming newsletter.

What’s up with all the sinkholes??

Feel Good Fridays

🏀 Greatness in the bloodline: Two Dallas brothers, who are both high school basketball coaches, are taking their teams to the state championships this weekend. (WFAA)

🍨 Late-night treat: A new over-the-top ice cream sundae shop is opening in Fort Worth tomorrow, and it’s promising to deliver your dessert until midnight, anywhere within a 40-mile radius. Get the scoop here. (Culture Map Fort Worth)

🥫 No questions asked: Grocery hikes, food stamp cuts, and the SNAP benefits hacking of last fall prompted two Arlington women to run food pantries from their porch. Nonperishables, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies are up for grabs, no questions asked. (Fort Worth Report)