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Happy Friday sunshines ☀️

This week ushered in a new chapter for many Texans, with cultural celebrations that involve giving up something to get something greater. For some, restriction might just be a time to test their willpower, and others feel like challenging unhealthy desires is a path towards massive growth.

If you observe the season of Lent—a season of prayer, fasting, and repentance leading up to Easter—what have you decided to give up? If you’re up for sharing, reply to this email with what you’re letting go of this season. I’ll be sure to share some of your answers so those who want to participate, even if not religious, can pull some inspiration. ✨

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, COURIER DFW

Dallas neighbors rally for community cat protections in city’s animal code

Dallas’s community cats may gain protection under the city’s animal code pending a May vote. (Pict4life/Unsplash)

By Sam Cohen

In Dallas, outdoor cats are as much a part of the community as its non-feline residents. These strays are carefully managed in designated colonies and are non-feral, meaning they’re used to being around humans. Neighbors have banded together over the years to take care of the affectionately dubbed “community cats,” which have all been neutered or spayed to control the population. Meri Dahlke, who owns the Ten Bells Tavern, told NBCDFW that she’s been helping to take care of the beloved felines for 15 years. Part of Dahlke’s mission now includes persuading North Dallas to provide community cats with protection under its Chapter 7 animal code.

As Dahlke told the outlet, “A city the size of Dallas should have something in place already,” but it doesn’t. The current code only extends to feral cats, which are defined as being rarely seen and avoiding human contact. Sure, community cats may not come out to greet everyone who passes by, but they don’t avoid humans and aren’t considered feral, so they should have their own classification. Because of this oversight in the code, issues have cropped up regarding the trap-neuter-release process used to provide community cats with the care needed to live safely in their outdoor colonies.

See what Dallas plans to do about this

🏚️ No walls and no refunds: When a Dallas HOA discovered mold in the walls of two homes, it ordered the immediate removal of the walls, but it’s been a year, and no new walls have been constructed. Condo owners have been living a nightmare for a year. One neighbor is only separated from the outside by a plastic tarp. Get the full story here. (Dallas Morning News)

💇‍♂️ Sensory-friendly haircut: After going viral for haircuts tailored to children with neurodivergence, a local barber has raised enough money for his own shop in Richardson. Watch the interview here. (WFAA)

🚫 5 moves for no prayer times: A new Texas law requires school boards to take a recorded vote in a public meeting on whether to establish the designated prayer time in their schools. Five Tarrant County school boards, including Lake Worth, said ‘no.’ See what districts rejected the motion and their reasoning here. (KERA)

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public schools aren't a place to force religion

Families—not politicians—should decide if and when kids are ready for religion. That’s why Americans United for Separation of Church and State and our allies are fighting back against attempts to foist one narrow religion on public school students, including the mandatory Ten Commandments displays politicians are forcing on kids. Public schools are not Sunday schools. Learn more.