Community Impact Dallas Metro

👀 Check out the latest grocery store news in Frisco!

Frisco P&Z commission to consider conveyance plat, site plan for potential 2nd H-E-B project Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission are expected to vote on a site plan and conveyance plat for a 22.7 acre project on land owned by H-E-B Grocery Company.

Dallas sees progress in housing the homeless & Lewisville focuses on affordable housing solutions

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Dallas sees progress in housing the homeless & Lewisville focuses on affordable housing solutions The Oct. 14 episode of the DFW Breakdown focuses on affordable housing considerations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.

Community Impact CEO John Garrett and San Antonio Business News Publisher Mark Medici moderated a panel discussion on regionalism within Texas, focusing on the potential for Austin and San Antonio to grow into a super region.
Garrett and Medici interviewed Charlie Amato, chair of the Southwest Business Corporation, and Roy Spence, chair and co-founder of the advertising agency GSD&M.

Becoming a super region: 6.7M people projected to live in the Austin-San Antonio corridor by 2030 Becoming a super region: 6.7M people projected to live in the Austin-San Antonio corridor by 2030

Cato spoke with Community Impact Newspaper in September about joining the transportation organization and how to promote safety throughout DART’s 13 member cities that include Dallas, Richardson and Plano. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q&A: New DART Police Chief Charles Cato strives to make Dallas transit system safest in the country Dallas Area Rapid Transit hired Charles Cato as its new chief of police Aug. 18. Cato spoke with Community Impact Newspaper in September about joining the transportation organization and how to promote safety throughout DART’s 13 member cities.

Richardson ISD will host Dyslexia Parent Night on Oct. 4 to help educate parents about the learning disorder. The event will be held at the Professional Development Center, 701 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson, from 6:30-8 p.m. RISD dyslexia therapists will explain what intervention programming the school district uses.

Richardson ISD hosts Dyslexia Parent Night to improve awareness, education Richardson ISD will host Dyslexia Parent Night on Oct. 4 to help educate parents about the learning disorder.

Wildfire activity in Texas has increased over the past two weeks due to high temperatures and a lack of rain. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported some areas of the state are at risk of “significant wildfires” through the end of September and early October.

Forest Service warns of increased wildfire risk in North, Central, East Texas The Texas A&M Forest Service reported some areas of the state are at risk of “significant wildfires” through the end of September and early October.

Raise Your Hand Texas will be hosting two forums for candidates vying for seats in the Texas House of Representatives for Districts 61 and 70.

These events are part of a series of nonpartisan educational candidate events for the Nov. 8 election. The forums will operate as meet-and-greet events for residents and candidates. Food and beverages will be provided.

The forums are sponsored by Austin-based Raise Your Hand Texas, an advocacy organization working to improve public education.

Candidate forums for Texas House Districts 61, 70 coming up in Collin County Raise Your Hand Texas is hosting candidate forums for the two legislative races on the November ballot.

McKinney City Council is expected to appoint members to a citizen bond committee during its Sept. 27 special meeting for a bond to fund improvements at McKinney National Airport, according to a presentation at a Sept. 20 city council work session.

McKinney City Council considers appointees for citizen bond committee The “single issue” bond election for McKinney National Airport development projects is expected to be called for in May 2023, Director of Strategic Services Trevor Minyard said at the meeting.

The North Texas Food Bank is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Its mission, according to its website, is "to close the hunger gap in North Texas by providing access to nutritious food."

The North Texas Food Bank reported delivering more than 136.9 million meals and more than 32 million pounds of fresh produce in fiscal year 2021-22.

North Texas Food bank celebrates 40th anniversary of hunger relief efforts The North Texas Food Bank reported delivering more than 136.9 million meals and more than 32 million pounds of fresh produce in fiscal year 2021-22.

The first H-E-B in the DFW area will open in Frisco tomorrow, Sept. 21. See a sneak preview of the store in the link below.

FIRST LOOK: H-E-B readies for Frisco opening Take a look at the first H-E-B grocery store in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Big changes may be coming to Texas’ community colleges. A commission established by the Texas Legislature in 2021 is set to recommend an overhaul of community college funding, which would alter a complicated allocation system to focus primarily on student performance.

Texas aims to tie community college funding to student outcomes, increase need-based financial aid The new draft recommendations from the Texas Commission on Community College Finance have been widely supported by educators and workforce leaders.

The land is located at the northwest corner of Silverado Trail and McKinney Ranch Parkway. David Kalhoefer with Peloton Land Solutions presented on behalf of the applicant a request to modify the land from a planned development district and regional employment center to allow for single-family residential and commercial uses.

McKinney City Council approves proposed residential, commercial uses on about 10 acres The land is located at the northwest corner of Silverado Trail and McKinney Ranch Parkway.

Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland retired Sept. 14 after more than nine years of service with the city, according to a city news release.

Across more than 40 years in fire and rescue services, Piland has worked as fire chief for Volusia County Fire Services in Volusia County, Florida; shift commander of operations for the Virginia Beach Fire Department in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and as chief of the Frisco Fire Department.

Frisco fire chief retires; city to begin search for replacement Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland retired Sept. 14 after more than nine years of service with the city, according a city news release.

Ernest Belmore Jr. started his career as a classically trained French chef in the 1990s before leaving the industry to work in real estate. However, a few months later, he said he had a burning in his belly and a yearning to create “a complete quality experience.”

“I thought up this concept from start to finish and sketched it in one night on a piece of paper,” he said. “Like, five months later, I found it, and I thought, ‘Yeah, this is pretty good.’”

BuzzBrews Kitchen offers an inclusive space in Dallas On the corner of Live Oak and Skillman streets, BuzzBrews Kitchen offers a unique experience with a melting pot of patrons.

Marissa began her food journey as a food blogger, with heavy emphasis on savory recipes. It was during a trip to New York with her husband, Jeff, that they tried cookies at famous NYC bakeries, and Marissa’s pursuit of the perfect cookie began.

“[When] we came back home, I just... couldn’t get cookies off my mind,” Marissa said.

Cookie Society in Frisco continues to grow, introduce new products Marissa Allen began her food journey as a food blogger, with heavy emphasis on savory recipes.

The additional workstations were recommended by the Public Safety Commission as part of its alternate site expansion. These new workstations will bypass current limits and allow the alternate site the ability to take more 911 and non-emergency calls. The alternate site is used when calls surge during citywide emergencies, according to the city website.

Plano City Council approves capacity expansion for city's 911 calls The additional workstations were recommended by the Public Safety Commission as part of its alternate site expansion.

The nonprofit organization Friends of Dallas Animal Services aims to raise $50,000 this year at the 14th annual North Texas Giving Day online event.

The nonprofit works to raise funds to support the Dallas Animal Services Department. The department operates the city's animal shelter and helped place 1,603 dogs and 689 cats into homes from October-December last year, according to DAS data.

Online charity event looks to support Dallas Animal Services Department Nonprofit organization Friends of Dallas Animal Services aims to raise $50,000 this year at the 14th annual North Texas Giving Day online event. The nonprofit works to raise funds to support the Dallas Animal Services Department.

Williams began her professional career in Garland ISD where she taught high school Spanish and held various campus and leadership positions. Williams moved to PISD in 2018 as the district’s deputy superintendent and chief operating officer. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q&A: Get to know Plano ISD's new superintendent Theresa Williams The Plano ISD board of trustees picked Theresa Williams in March to take over as the district’s next superintendent following the retirement of former Superintendent Sara Bonser at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Richardson is closing its city hall until further notice after an Aug. 22 fire early in the morning.

Richardson City Hall, located at 411 W. Arapaho Road, suffered significant smoke and water damage that prevented all offices from opening today. Richardson Director of Communications Greg Sowell said all city staff are advised to stay home until the building is opened.

Richardson City Hall closed until further notice after fire damages building Richardson is closing its city hall until further notice after an Aug. 22 fire early in the morning.

Professional Golfers’ Association of America held an opening ceremony Aug. 22 for the main building of its new campus at 1916 PGA Parkway in Frisco. The 106,621-square foot building sits on a 30-acre practice facility and overlooks the entire PGA Frisco campus, which is slated to fully open next spring.

PGA Frisco hosts 'Welcome Home Celebration' for new building The 106,621 square foot building sits on a 30-acre practice facility and overlooks the entire PGA Frisco campus, which is slated to open next spring.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit is adding Charles Cato as its new chief of police after an extensive search, according to an Aug. 18 release from the agency.

Cato, who holds a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas and almost 33 years of experience in law enforcement leadership positions, will be responsible for DART’s police department, which consists of 250 licensed police officers, 110 fare enforcement officers and 67 support staff members.

DART selects Charles Cato as new chief of police for transit agency's law enforcement department DART’s police department consists of 250 licensed police officers, 110 fare enforcement officers and 67 support staff members. New chief of police Charles Cato will oversee the department’s security services and current and future emergency preparedness initiatives.

The city of Dallas is proposing $1 billion bond program for the May ballot in 2024. According to Adriana Castaneda, director of Bond and Construction Management for Dallas, the 2024 Bond would include 11 proposals totaling $1 billion. The total price of the bond program is subject to public feedback and city recommendations.

City of Dallas would commit $325 million for street improvements as part of $1 billion bond proposal Dallas residents previously voted on a city bond program in November 2017 when voters approved 10 proposals totaling $1.05 billion. As of this June, the 2017 Bond Program has committed 79% of the funds towards city programs.

“I define community engagement as not only being in the community, but being a part of the community,” Plano Mayor John Muns said via email. “One of the popular ways our citizens get involved is through our city boards and commissions where you can serve your passion and serve Plano.”

Plano offering residents chance to serve on city boards, commissions The city of Plano is offering residents an opportunity to serve on the city’s standing boards, commissions and committees.

Plano ISD board of trustees unanimously called for a $1.49 billion bond election during its Aug. 16 meeting. The bond package, which includes four propositions ranging from $19.21 million to $1.16 billion, will go before PISD voters during the Nov. 8 election.

If all four propositions are approved, PISD would be able to spend a total of $1,495,638,000 for “critical” projects in the district, 2022 Future Forward Task Force co-chairs Rick Cinclair and Marshall Jackson said on Aug. 2.

Plano ISD board of trustees call $1.49B bond election for November If all four propositions are approved, PISD would be able to spend a total of $1,495,638,000 for “critical” projects in the district, 2022 Future Forward Task Force co-chairs Rick Cinclair and Marshall Jackson said on Aug. 2.

From the classes of 2018-2021, the percentage of DISD graduates who enrolled into college immediately after high school slid from 58% to 46%, a presentation from district staff showed. The sharpest drop between those years was from the classes of 2019 to 2020. The number of students heading to college dropped by 11 percentage points in those years. Staff partially attributed that trend to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dallas ISD working to increase college admission rates for graduates Dallas ISD is expanding its College and Career Advising Program in an effort to encourage more students to seek higher education opportunities.

Officials with JDM School of Dance are celebrating the studio’s 10th year in business at 8404 Stacy Road, Ste. 200, McKinney. To celebrate 10 years in business, an anniversary party will be hosted at the studio Aug. 27 from 3-5 p.m. The event will include giveaways, free dance classes, food and more.

JDM School of Dance celebrates 10 years of business Tap, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, acrodance, lyrical and cheer classes, as well as combination classes for new dancers under 6 years old, are offered at the studio.

The Hope Clinic of McKinney marked its fifth anniversary in July. The clinic offers health care services to low-income, uninsured Collin County residents, according to its website. Its services include primary care, physical therapy, counseling, women’s health and more.

Hope Clinic of McKinney marks 5th anniversary in McKinney The clinic is now located at 103 E. Lamar St. in McKinney, but it first opened at the Baptist Immigration Center at 505 Titus St., before relocating in 2019.

According to Gun Violence Archive, a national nonprofit that provides public access to gun violence data, there have been over 30 mass shootings in Texas this year. The organization defines a mass shooting as a single incident where at least four people are injured or killed by a bullet.

Richardson ISD, Dallas ISD monitoring security protocols as school year begins “We all have to work together to make sure our schools continue to remain safe,” Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said. “We want to be proactive, not reactive.”