Community Impact Dallas Metro

11/01/2022

The shelter, located at 1330 Columbia Drive, Richardson, had more than 50 dogs last week despite having a maximum capacity of 44. Animal Shelter Manager Noura Jammal said the shelter needs the public’s help in finding “forever homes” for its pets with nearly 40 dogs at the shelter being available for adoption.

The Richardson Animal Shelter is in need of dog adoptions after reaching full capacity at its kennel.

10/31/2022

Willie B. Johnson Recreation Center will have a grand reopening ceremony at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 at 12225 Willowdell Drive in Lake Highlands. The 20,000-square-foot recreation facility features new additions, such as a senior center, a technology center and a gymnasium.

The 20,000-square-foot recreation facility features new additions such as a senior center, a technology center and a gymnasium.

10/31/2022

The Finch Grill & Raw Bar is slated to open its first location Nov. 21 in Mockingbird Station. The restaurant offers a casual dining atmosphere offering an all-day menu, a brunch menu and a happy hour menu.

The restaurant offers a casual dining atmosphere offering an all-day menu, a brunch menu and a happy hour menu.

10/31/2022

Edmond’s Burgers & More opened Oct. 31 at 2919 W. 15th St., Plano. The family-owned restaurant serves burgers as well as a variety of wraps, sandwiches, wings, salads and more.

Edmond’s Burgers & More opened at 2919 W. 15th St., Plano.

09/27/2022

During a Sept. 21 news conference in Midland, Abbott cited recent increases in gang activity in the area and across Texas. He also highlighted gang activity related to the distribution of fentanyl, a deadly opioid.

Abbott said that over the past year, Texas law enforcement has “seized enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman and child in the entire country.” Mexican cartels, Abbott said, are transporting millions of doses of fentanyl into Texas, while gangs distribute the drug across the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott said that in the past year, Texas law enforcement has seized enough fentanyl to kill the entire U.S. population.

09/26/2022

Plano ISD has four informational sessions planned to help educate voters about the district’s five propositions on the November ballot.

The first proposition is for a voter approval tax rate election. The district is seeking approval to set its property tax rate at $1.25975 per $100 property value. If voters say yes, the district will receive an extra approximate $9 million to help with day-to-day operating expenses.

The district seeks voter approval on its property tax rate for the 2022-23 school year and on a nearly $1.5 billion bond package for capital projects.

09/26/2022

Good morning! Listen to the latest episode of The DFW Breakdown for the most recent news in the metroplex. On this episode, Community Impact reporter Colby Farr discusses how local nonprofits are bouncing back following the pandemic, even as they permanently readjust some of their processes. Plus, digital journalist Summer El-Shahawy digs into some of the latest commercial permits filed in the metroplex.

‎Show The DFW Breakdown, Ep DFW nonprofits recover & H-E-B opens Frisco store - Sep 23, 2022

09/20/2022

Frisco Family Services—a nonprofit focused on providing assistance to community members experiencing hardship—has seen a 65% increase in volunteer numbers since its low of 3,520 volunteers in the 2020-21 fiscal year at the height of the pandemic. However, the most recent numbers from June show the nonprofit is still operating with nearly 500 fewer volunteers than it did before the pandemic started.

At a time when community needs were high, nonprofits adapted to having fewer volunteers and in the process developed programs and initiatives that continue to be used even as COVID-19’s hold begins to wane.

09/19/2022

Student participation in career and technical education, or CTE, courses at McKinney ISD is “strong,” officials said. As of the 2019-20 school year, which is the most recent data available from the Texas Education Agency, more than half of all high school students in McKinney ISD have enrolled in these courses.

​​​​​​​Unlike traditional high school courses, these programs—which include courses from agriculture to transportation logistics—offer practical training and certification that helps students hone in on specializations earlier in their careers, according to the Texas Education Agen...

09/19/2022

The restaurant’s chef, Marina Studennikova, is Russian and created the recipes for the Eastern European menu. Vardanian is Armenian, and he said he chose Plano as the location for his eatery because there were not any places nearby that served Armenian barbecue.

“To do tasty barbecue, it is Armenian; it is in our blood,” he said. “When I was a kid, we were always doing a barbecue. It is like a tradition—it is a traditional meal.”

Albert Vardanian, owner of Deluxe Restaurant and Banquet Hall, said when first time customers walk through the doors of his business, they often express surprise over the elegant look of the restaurant.

09/08/2022

The investigation, which was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2020, revealed that Juul Labs intentionally marketed its products to youth.

In addition, Juul’s original packaging was misleading, the news release said, because it implied that the products contained little to no ni****ne.

The investigation, which was led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2020, revealed that Juul Labs intentionally marketed its products to youth.

08/17/2022

International muralist Guido van Helten went to work on his latest project the morning of Aug. 15, suspended dozens of feet in the air next to McKinney’s historic concrete silos and grain elevator with the help of a lift machine.

The city’s Silo Mural Project is not finished yet, but van Helten intends to complete the mural’s installation by the end of August. Completion will signal the end of a citywide project that started in July 2021, which included citizen surveys and partial funding from grants and donations, according to the city website.

International muralist Guido van Helten went to work on his latest project the morning of Aug. 15.

08/16/2022

“My eyes were set on CityLine for the longest time, because my wife was born and brought up in the Richardson area and we are very familiar with the community,” co-owner Rhett Bhatt said in a press release. “I did not see any good craft beer in that market, and there are many residential buildings there, which I think will result in many customers.”

Founded in 2008, The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer bar with 60 taps and 150 varieties of local, national and international beers, according to a press release.

08/16/2022

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Texas Education Agency released its accountability ratings for Texas school districts and campuses on Aug. 15.

Texas schools are rated on a A-F scale based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. This year, schools that received a rating below a C were considered “not rated,” in alignment with Senate Bill 1365, which was passed in 2021.

This year, 25% of school districts improved on their letter grades from 2019. The Texas Education Agency typically releases accountability ratings annually, but the procedure was paused during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

07/29/2022

The plot of land is zoned for agricultural use, meaning the land can be used for agricultural purposes with the potential to be an urban area in the future, according to the city’s zoning ordinance.

The applicant requested to rezone the area to highway zoning, which permits a mixture of land uses, such as office and retail, and is for properties specifically located off US 380 or SH 121, according to the zoning ordinance.

The highway district also applies to properties off the Dallas North Tollway, according to Planning and Zoning Manager Jonathan Hubbard.

The Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission suggests approval of rezoning for property located off the Dallas North Tollway.

07/28/2022

American Hero offers a variety of sandwich options, serving cold cuts that include ham, turkey and roast beef, as well as offering made-to-order classics, such as the Philly cheesesteak and Italian meatball sub.

Great American Hero is moving to the Timber Creek Crossing Center in Dallas.

07/28/2022

McKinney Planning & Zoning commissioners gave a favorable recommendation for a proposed project that would develop about 216 senior multifamily units on about 12.9 acres in Craig Ranch.

Bob Roeder presented on behalf of the applicant and said this “particular part of McKinney” needs a project such as this one. He pointed to the medical facilities across the street from the tract on Alma.

“This fits really neatly within sort of the infrastructure of business and professional services that are there,” he said.

The proposed project site is at the southwest corner of Alma Drive and Collin McKinney Parkway.

07/28/2022

Fried chicken restaurant Mighty Chick plans to open at 8900 Ohio Drive, Ste. A, Plano, in August after previously operating in Watauga, according to owner Jenny Ko. Ko said she is awaiting the completion of inspections at the site before setting a grand opening date

Fried chicken restaurant Mighty Chick is coming soon to Plano after previously operating in Watauga.

07/27/2022

During the workshop, City Manager Don Magner said Richardson has 113 vacancies, equivalent to 10.9% of the city’s projected staff size. This is higher than the city had in 2019, when it recorded a 4.9% vacancy rate. Public services and parks and recreation are the most affected departments, according to city documents presented at the workshop.

Richardson plans to increase compensation packages and rework its retirement plan to help fill several city vacancies, according to a July 25 budget workshop.

07/27/2022

The city of Frisco has an ordinance that restricts the maximum height of wall signs on buildings and the maximum percentage of the wall length the sign occupies

In order for a variance request to be approved, the applicant must satisfy a certain criteria. The sign must not affect adjacent property; it must have a unique design; it must be needed because of a restricted area or typography unique to the property; and it must also improve public convenience, per city documents.

Frisco’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance for the store’s 6-and-a-half-foot-tall sign.

07/22/2022

Rodeo Goat Ice House serves fresh grass-fed beef burgers that are ground in-house as well as salads, sides and desserts. The menu features over 20 playfully named burger selections titled after local personalities, including the popular Hola Señorita and Brad Sham burgers.

The Rodeo Goat Ice House opened an East Dallas location at the Casa Linda Plaza on July 14.

07/21/2022

Dallas-based developer KDC completed construction on the second phase of Independent Financial’s $150 million headquarters campus. KDC completed construction on the phase one building of the campus in 2019, which is located on a 10-acre site at SH 121 and Grand Ranch Parkway. The Phase II building is a mirror image of the first but about 20% larger.

The new building more than doubles Independent Financial’s presence at the McKinney Corporate Center Craig Ranch.

07/21/2022

The shop offers Asian-inspired flavors of premium ice cream as well as baked goods. Churn and Bake partners with local businesses to source its ingredients, according to the shop’s page.

07/18/2022

In this episode, Community Impact editor Erick Pirayesh discusses the growing trend of DFW cities reviewing their policies toward short-term rentals.

Reporter Sara Rodia and Lewisville Realtor Brandy Jett weigh in on the trend of increased institutional investment in local residential real estate.

‎News · 2022

01/07/2022

Walmart announced plans Jan. 7 to temporarily close its neighborhood market store at 1501 Buckingham Road, Richardson, to allow a third-party specialist the opportunity to clean and sanitize the store due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

12/14/2021

Richardson City Council voted unanimously Dec. 13 to appoint Don Magner as the new city manager.

The City Council appointed Deputy City Manager Don Magner to replace City Manager Dan Johnson, who is retiring.

12/14/2021

The Richardson ISD board of trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jeannie Stone during its Dec. 13 meeting and approved a separation and release agreement with her. The board then named Tabitha Branum as the interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year.

The Richardson ISD board of trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jeannie Stone during its Dec. 13 meeting and approved a separation and release agreement with her.

12/10/2021

According to an agenda for the meeting posted to the district website, the board will consider a "voluntary separation and release agreement" with Superintendent Jeannie Stone followed by the appointment of an interim superintendent to take her place.

According to an agenda for the meeting posted to the district website, the board will consider a

12/10/2021

In an email sent to PISD parents on Dec. 9, district officials said evidence of significant cracking in the floors of the fine arts center building "do not meet the aesthetic standards established by Plano ISD." The email states that PISD does not intend to take occupancy of the facility until "this deficiency” is resolved to the district's satisfaction.

In an email sent to PISD parents on Dec. 9, district officials said evidence of significant cracking in the floors of the fine arts center building

10/29/2021

FDA greenlights Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11

The FDA on Oct. 29 authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include those in the 5-11 age group.