Happy Friday, y’all,

The World Cup is officially here! Let’s start with a few updates and interesting stories about the event.

⚽ FIFA has dropped its no-outside-water-bottle rule, as much of Dallas Stadium will be in direct sunlight. Fans can now bring one soft, plastic bottle inside. Well, thanks, FIFA. 🫠

⚽ If traffic and road closures are your top World Cup concerns, here are the roads to avoid and times to expect the worst traffic.

⚽ Dallas’ brand-new Halperin Park will host match-watch parties throughout the Cup. This is a great excuse to check out the new park while rooting for your favorite teams. Get more info here.

⚽ Faith leaders are urging Dallas residents to join a peaceful protest tomorrow, to use the attention of the World Cup to also bring attention to the ICE deportations happening at Dallas Love Field. Read more here.

If you missed our World Cup in North Texas special edition newsletter that went out on Sunday, you can always check it out here for all the Cup basics, including low-cost ways to celebrate.

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, Courier DFW

Fort Worth firefighter’s final wish: A kidney for the love of his life

A Fort Worth firefighter’s dying wish was to find an organ donor for his beloved wife. (Marek Studzinski/Unsplash)

By Sam Cohen

Before Fort Worth firefighter Todd Brook passed away on June 5, he publicly declared his dying wish: He wanted to find an organ donor for his wife, Jennifer Brook, who is in need of a kidney transplant. Jennifer has been living with polycystic kidney disease for a few years, and Todd had every intention of being her donor until he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in October. When he first received his diagnosis, doctors told the Brooks that Todd would only have “three to six months to live.”

Despite receiving ongoing end-of-life care at their home in Glen Rose, Todd spoke with the media about his desire to find an organ donor for his wife, with whom he had been for 16 years prior to his death. At the time, Todd said, “She’s 100% the most important thing in my life, and not being able to be there for her is killing me now.” He added, “I’m fighting for Miss Jenno to get a kidney,” making a heartbreaking plea that is all too familiar to the roughly 90,000 people across America who similarly need a kidney transplant.

Keep reading →

👋 Goodbye, City Hall: After a dramatic, hours-long Dallas City Council meeting on Wednesday night, council members voted ‘no’ on repairing Dallas’ city hall building, and the city manager has been instructed to start looking for a new site. (WFAA)

🧒 Child well-being low in TX: Researchers studied children’s economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors, and Texas ranked among the bottom 10 states in three categories.

🌯 A Tex-Mex classic gone: Today, Dallas-founded On The Border Grill & Cantina will close the doors on what’s left of the 44-year-old franchise, after years of money troubles. (Culture Map Dallas)

🍪 Magnolia to your table: Magnolia Table baked goods, from the famed Waco lifestyle entrepreneurs, Chip and Joanna Gaines, are now available for purchase at Central Markets and H-E-B’s across Texas.

🐉 A new festival: The first-ever Lake Lewisville Dragon Boat Festival is coming later this month. Here’s what you need to know. (Denton Record-Chronicle)

🎉 Something to celebrate: Eleven Cooks Children’s patients will serve as flag bearers for the Sunday World Cup match, where the Netherlands takes on Japan. Meet one of the children here. (CBS)