Happy Friday, y’all,

Before we start the weekend, let’s briefly talk about the whale in the room. Yes, I’m referring to the famous 82-foot-tall whale mural in downtown Dallas, which is no more after the city painted over it to make room for World Cup art. The cover-up made it to The New York Times, pissed off country music star Kacey Musgraves, and the mural’s artist is suing the city. Woah.

🐋 Why is the artist upset?

The artist and ocean conservationist, known as Wyland, told CNN he was never contacted about the plans. He says the mural is a piece of cultural art that helped fuel the Dallas public art scene, which took off shortly after its 1999 rendering. The mural was also part of his Whaling Wall series, in which he painted 100 whale murals across the country to raise awareness of marine conservation.

Wyland and his attorney say the new paint violates the Visual Artists Rights Act, or VARA, which protects the integrity of an artist’s work—basically, they’re saying this mural was not removed legally.

🐋 Why are locals upset?

Many North Texans don’t like that the pending World Cup, a temporary event, has the power to destroy something so cherished and iconic in the city.

This has reignited an important discussion about public art and artists’ rights to their work. Legalities aside, do you agree with the city OK’ing the cover-up of the whale wall? Let me know.

No, this was unnecessary

No prob, let’s see something new

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, Courier DFW

MAGA is alive and well in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the US Senate, waves to supporters at an election night primary watch party on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

By Brian McManus

Texas Republicans didn’t just hold their primaries last night. They issued a verdict on who they are.

The results were unambiguous. Ken Paxton—impeached by his own party, investigated by the FBI—is the state’s Republican nominee for United States Senate. Mayes Middleton, a self-funded oil heir who has virtually no courtroom experience and spent $16 million calling himself “MAGA Mayes,” is the Republican nominee for attorney general. Bo French—a candidate who asked his social media followers to vote on whether Jews or Muslims pose “a bigger threat to America”—is the Republican nominee for railroad commissioner, having defeated an incumbent endorsed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R). In each race, the candidate most aligned with Donald Trump’s brand of politics won. In each race, experience, institutional support, and establishment credibility lost.

The message from Texas Republicans could not be more clear: MAGA is not a moment. It is the party.

Let’s dig into the winners

Authorities confirm 3 fatalities following gas explosion, five-alarm fire at Dallas apartment

(Joi Louviere/ Courier Texas)

Authorities have confirmed two women and one child have died following a gas explosion at an apartment building in Oak Cliff near the corner of East 9th Street and North Patton Avenue on Thursday. ⁣The Dallas Fire Department is still working on recovery efforts as of Thursday evening. ⁣A reunification and donation center has been set up at W.H. Adamson High School. A Dallas Democrat Precinct Chair, Hon. Sylvia Collins, resided in an Oak Cliff apartment building and is missing.

Hear from the Dallas Fire Department here

📂 H-E-B in the Big D: On Wednesday, H-E-B submitted a Texas Department of Licensing and Registration filing calling for a $52 million construction project at I-635 and Hillcrest Road in Dallas. It includes a construction start time of March 2027. (My SA)

🫨 Far-right groups target principal: Fort Worth ISD has reassigned a newly-hired Muslim principal following online backlash from far-right conservative groups after she was named the new principal at Western Hills High School earlier this week. A now removed post from the district alluded to the educator’s social media support of Black Lives Matter, Palestinians and immigrants—these were flagged as political bias. (KERA)

🐕 The water leak detective: A Labrador retriever mix named River is helping the city of Mansfield conserve water. The rescue dog is now in charge of hunting down water leaks across the city by sniffing for traces of chlorine through concrete. (Axios Dallas)

Join COURIER and 3.14 Action on June 11 for Facts vs. Fiction: The Fight for Science in American Democracy.

Misinformation isn’t just noise. It’s shaping policy decisions that determine who can afford care, which communities are protected, and how our government responds to real-world risks.

This live conversation will examine what’s at stake when facts are ignored and how science-informed leadership has shaped policy on healthcare, climate, agriculture, and public health. At a moment when institutions and public trust are under attack, we’ll explore what happens when decision-making is driven by evidence, what it takes to rebuild trust, and why scientific integrity is essential to democracy.

Stay tuned for more speaker announcements, and don’t miss this conversation.

RSVP today!

🦖 Summer is for the kids: Mark your calendars, Universal Kids Resort in Frisco has announced it will officially open on July 1. Here are the attractions to expect at the 20-acre park. (NBC 5)

🌏 Trivia teacher: A North Texas history teacher talks about her experience competing on the Fox show “The Floor.” Check out her episode, which aired on May 20, here. (Fox 4)

🩰 Supporting ballerinas: An organization that promotes diversity in ballet is offering year-long scholarships to help girls of color thrive in a discipline where they’re often left out for cultural or financial reasons. Learn more here. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)