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Axios Dallas
Cook Children's sues Texas to retain Tarrant County Medicaid patients
The Cook Children's Health Plan is suing the State of Texas over its plans to end its Medicaid contract next year, alleging the decision was "unilateral" and "flawed."The big picture: For decades, the state's health commission has contracted with community-based health systems to provide care to low-income families and families with specialized needs.The commission now wants to give Medicaid's STAR and CHIP contracts to for-profit companies.Why it matters: The changes will affect 1.8 million Texans, per Cook Children's.The Fort Worth-based system has helped hundreds of thousands of Tarrant County families for over 20 years through its partnership with STAR and...
Alamo Drafthouse's North Texas theaters will reopen this summer
Alamo Drafthouse is planning a comeback in North Texas after five of its locations in the region closed abruptly last month.Why it matters: Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired Alamo Drafthouse Cinema — the first time in 75 years that a major Hollywood studio will own a movie theater company.The shuttered Alamo theaters will reopen in "rapid succession" this summer, the Austin-based chain recently announced.The big picture: Alamo has dozens of theaters across the country and offers high-end amenities with its movies.State of play: An Alamo franchisee's bankruptcy filing triggered last month's closures in Denton, Dallas' Cedars neighborhood, Lake Highlands, Las Colinas,...
Court upholds Texas' gender-affirming care ban
The Texas Supreme Court has upheld the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.Driving the news: The all-Republican court ruled Friday that the Texas Legislature made a "permissible, rational policy choice to limit the types of available medical procedures for children."Senate Bill 14 has been in effect since September.Why it matters: The Supreme Court's decision is a big win for Texas lawmakers who have long sought to trim the rights of transgender people.Catch up quick: Families, medical providers and LGBTQ+ organizations sued the state in July 2023, alleging that SB 14 violates the state's constitution.Friction point: The parents who filed...
New development coming to the Fort Worth Stockyards
The Fort Worth City Council approved incentives this week for another phase of development in the historic Stockyards district.Why it matters: The Stockyards, once home to one of the largest livestock markets in the U.S., are intertwined with Fort Worth's identity. The district continues to hold the world's only twice-a-day cattle drive.The new development aims to strike a balance between adding amenities and maintaining the district's old-timey feel.Flashback: The first phase of the Fort Worth Heritage Project, approved a decade ago, focused on redeveloping Mule Alley and opening Hotel Drover in the Stockyards. Fort Worth officials say the additions increased...
Baylor Scott & White and Blue Cross Blue Shield extend contract deadline
Baylor Scott & White and Blue Cross Blue Shield have agreed to extend their contracts temporarily so patients don't lose in-network coverage on Monday.Why it matters: Texas' largest insurance provider and nonprofit health system will continue negotiating reimbursement rates until October. The extension means Baylor will remain in-network at least until then.The big picture: There are dozens of Baylor Scott & White facilities in North Texas, including several hospitals.Catch up quick: Baylor had notified Blue Cross it would terminate their relationship July 1 if the insurer didn't significantly increase its payments to the system, per Blue Cross.The two started negotiations...
35-acre arts district coming to Prosper
The town of Prosper is developing an arts district in hopes of becoming a destination for getaways, weddings and shopping.Why it matters: Prosper, located 36 miles north of downtown Dallas, used to be considered on the outskirts of North Texas. Now it's part of the region's population and development boom.The town's arts district will be the first large mixed-use development north of U.S. Route 380, per the Dallas Business Journal.Driving the news: Town officials approved zoning changes this month that will allow the 35-acre, $300 million project to move forward.The intrigue: Prosper's population grew 10.5% between July 2022 and July...
Fiesta expands in North Texas
Fiesta Mart is expanding for the first time since 2015.The Houston-based supermarket chain that already had a strong presence regionally opened its 60th Texas location yesterday in Lewisville.Why it matters: Fiesta has had to compete with other chains such as El Rancho and H-E-B in recent years for Latino shoppers.The Lewisville opening marks a new chapter for the chain, which also plans to remodel all of its Texas locations by the end of 2025.The intrigue: Fiesta offers baked goods, ingredients and fruits and veggies that are popular in Latin America.The 49,000-square-foot Lewisville location was previously a 24-Hour Fitness. It includes an in-house bakery, tortilleria and restaurant.Shoppers can also get groceries delivered through Instacart and Uber Eats.What they're saying: Fiesta chose Lewisville for its long-awaited expansion because of the city's growth, senior regional director Richard Gonzales said in a news release.What's next: The Lewisville Fiesta will hold more grand opening events at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks to pick last in the NBA draft
The NBA draft starts tonight and the Dallas Mavericks have just one pick — No. 58, the last of the second round. The big picture: There's no clear No. 1 pick in this draft, unlike last year, when the San Antonio Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama. The Atlanta Hawks pick...
Texas Medical Board provides some clarity on abortion ban exemptions
Texas doctors don't need to wait until a pregnant person is at risk of death to provide them an abortion, per new guidance from the Texas Medical Board.Why it matters: Texas law prohibits performing an abortion, offering exemptions when the life or health of the pregnant patient is at risk. Violators face felony charges, fines or revoked medical licenses. The law has led to confusion and fear among many doctors and patients.The Texas Supreme Court last month declined to clarify when a medical emergency justifies an abortion in a case brought by 22 women who suffered complications during pregnancy.The big...
Why some Texas Gen Zers are tabling homeownership for now
Steep housing costs are putting Gen Z's homeownership dreams on hold.The big picture: Gen Zers, roughly those aged 12-27, feel deeply pessimistic about the world around them, Axios' Erica Pandey reports.For this story, we're focusing on the adult cohort.What they're saying: Unless someone has inherited money, is married or was gifted the property, "I don't see how Gen Z can afford it," says Annabelle Hull, who spends nearly $2,000 a month on her one-bedroom apartment in Dallas.The 22-year-old renter tells Axios buying isn't on her mind anytime soon because she can't afford a down payment.State of play: Many younger adults...
Texans are expecting rolling blackouts this summer, poll finds
A new survey of 1,200 registered Texas voters by researchers at the University of Texas found little confidence in the state power grid.State of play: Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they thought it's likely the state will experience rolling or temporary blackouts this summer, per the Texas Politics Project poll out Thursday.And 51% of the poll's respondents said they thought it's likely there will be a widespread failure of the electric grid this summer.Threat level: Grid operators said last week that there's a 12% chance of rolling blackouts in August because of increased demand.Flashback: Last summer, Texas set 10 new all-time peak demand records and Texans were asked to conserve electricity at least 11 times.The fine print: The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.83% and was conducted May 31 to June 9, before ERCOT warned of summer outages.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Denver.
Dallas-Fort Worth population boom threatens water supply
Dallas officials are reviewing the city's long-term water plan to ensure it can address the needs of a rapidly growing population. Why it matters: By 2070, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area could need an additional 360 million gallons of water a day — more than four times the region's newest reservoir's current production.
New Netflix docuseries features Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders
A new Netflix docuseries is out this week about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, an elite squad with highly coveted spots and millions of fans. The big picture: The director of "Cheer," which followed Navarro College cheerleaders for two seasons, is back with "America's Sweethearts," which showcases what it's like to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
Opal Lee, grandmother of Juneteenth, returns home
Eighty-five years ago this week, Opal Lee's family home in Fort Worth was terrorized by a racist mob. Her family had to relocate to another home a few blocks away.At 97, Lee has returned home.Why it matters: Lee is a civil rights icon and a driving force behind the creation of the Juneteenth federal holiday.Grapevine-based HistoryMaker Homes and Dallas-based Texas Capital worked with Trinity Habitat for Humanity to build Lee a new house on the same lot her family was forced to abandon in 1939.Driving the news: The house was completed within three months, in time for Juneteenth.Lee, who was...
Juneteenth museum planned for Fort Worth gets boost
Opal Lee, known as the grandmother of Juneteenth, wants Americans to commemorate the holiday long after she's gone.She's working with local and national civil rights advocates to open a National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth in 2026.The big picture: Located in Fort Worth's Southside Historic District, the 50,000-square-foot museum will include an amphitheater and food hall. It will host guest lectures, community events and performances.Museum officials tell Axios they have raised half of the $70 million they need.The latest: Trinity Habitat for Humanity plans to build 100 homes over the next five years in Lee's honor, Trinity Habitat CEO Gage...
Dallas Mavericks' improbable run falls short in Boston
The Dallas Mavericks' hopes for an NBA title this year came to an end Monday night in Boston.Why it matters: The Mavericks were up against one of best NBA teams in recent years.We can harbor pain, or we can find hope.Catch up quick: The Celtics dominated the finals, only losing Game 4 in Dallas. This is their first championship in 16 years.The Mavericks were also hungry for their second championship after a 13-year drought, but often faced large scoring deficits against the Celtics. They lost 106-88 in Game 5 Monday night.Reality check: Dallas overcame a lot this year. Rookie Dereck...
What Dallas-Fort Worth's ozone action days mean
Notice a haze over the skyline recently? It's not blurry vision. It's smog. Why it matters: D-FW does not meet federal air quality standards. The region typically has the most ozone action days — when the concentration of ground-level ozone reaches levels of health concern — of any area in Texas. Yes, even more than Houston.
4 Texas House Republicans, including 3 North Texans, censured over campaign rules
Four Texas House members — including three from North Texas — were reprimanded this week for campaigning against their Republican colleagues.Why it matters: A 2019 Texas House Republican Caucus rule prohibits members from campaigning against GOP incumbents, in hopes of eliminating discord and promoting solidarity.The censure doesn't have any consequences other than condemning a lawmaker's actions, but it does highlight a GOP divide.State of play: The censured state representatives are: Brian Harrison of Midlothian, Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth, Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, and Steve Toth of The Woodlands.They had campaigned against several GOP incumbents, including House Speaker Dade Phelan,...
Blue Cross Blue Shield says Baylor Scott & White could move out of network
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is warning patients that Baylor Scott & White Health could move out of network.Why it matters: The state's largest insurance provider recently sent letters to its members notifying them that the state's nonprofit health care system could be removed from its network, causing uncertainty for thousands of patients.State of play: Baylor Scott & White has told Blue Cross Blue Shield it will terminate their relationship July 1 if the insurer doesn't significantly increase its payments to the system, a Blue Cross spokesperson tells Axios.They're still negotiating. If they can't reach an agreement, then Baylor...
In epic cricket upset, the U.S. tops powerhouse Pakistan
One of the biggest upsets in cricket history happened in North Texas Thursday: The less-experienced U.S. team defeated cricket superpower Pakistan.Why it matters: It's perhaps an American national team's most stunning upset since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" over the Soviet Union.The big picture: The U.S. is having a cricket moment. The Men's T20 World Cup is being played here for the first time.The U.S. team features many players who don't play the sport full-time. A hero of the Pakistan win, Saurabh Netravalkar, works at software company Oracle.The latest: The U.S., which qualified for the World Cup for the first...
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Axios Dallas, anchored by Michael Mooney, Tasha Tsiaperas, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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