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Axios Dallas
Texas AG sues Denton, Austin, other cities over marijuana ordinance
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Denton and four other cities over their policies to decriminalize marijuana.Details: The suit alleges municipalities don't have the authority to do so under state law, the AG's office announced Wednesday.Denton officials tell Axios they are aware of the lawsuit but have not yet filed a response.Why it matters: The news represents the Republican-led state's latest attempt to roll back Democratic cities' home rule authority.The state legislature passed a law to prevent district attorneys from not prosecuting certain crimes, such as low-level drug offenses, as well as one to limit local regulations on businesses.Catch...
Dallas-Fort Worth renters paying more than 30% of their income on rent
More than half of Dallas-Fort Worth renter households are cost-burdened, per a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.Why it matters: Texas renters are more cost-burdened than ever before — meaning they're spending more than 30% of their incomes on housing, the report says.Pandemic protections have expired and more people are experiencing homelessness.The big picture: Rental costs nationally hit record highs in 2021 and 2022 but started to level last year.Zillow's rent index in December was up just 3.3% over the last year, more on par with inflation.By the numbers: More than 608,000 renter households...
Sandman Hotel in downtown Fort Worth is still closed
The site of an explosion that injured 21 people in downtown Fort Worth remains closed three weeks later, as lawsuits pile up in the case.Why it matters: The Sandman Signature Hotel and Musume, an Asian fusion restaurant in the building, are shuttered while the source of the explosion remains under investigation.So far, no one has taken responsibility for it and the answer might have to come from the courts.Catch up quick: The Sandman Signature Hotel opened last spring in a historic 1920s building. Twenty-six of the hotel's rooms were occupied at the time of the Jan. 8 blast, which jolted...
Luka Dončić jersey is sixth top-selling in NBA
Luka Dončić's jersey was the sixth most popular in the NBA in the first half of this season, according to new rankings shared by the league Tuesday.Why it matters: Dončić's popularity, combined with his high scoring run over the past few weeks, show us that maybe there's still hope for the Mavericks to at least do better than last season.It's difficult to hope for much more with our Dallas teams these days. Except for the Rangers. 🏆How it works: The NBA looked at NBAStore.com sales from the first half of the regular season to determine the ranking.State of popularity: The Warriors' Steph Curry ranks first, followed by the Celtics' Jayson Tatum and the Lakers' LeBron James.San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is the highest-ranked rookie since Kristaps Porziņģis in the 2015-16 season. Porziņģis played for the Mavs from 2019 to 2022.The intrigue: Suns guard Devin Booker's jersey sales rank one spot below Dončić's sales, yet another reminder that Dončić is his daddy.Meanwhile: The Mavs were 10th in the NBA in the first half of this season for top-selling merchandise.The Lakers took first place.Flashback: Dončić's jersey consistently ranked fifth in the first and second halves of the regular season last year.
American Airlines Flight 1989 will fly from Kansas City to the Super Bowl
American Airlines swiftly jumped on the Traylor bandwagon by adding Flight 1989 from Kansas City to Las Vegas and Flight 87 from Vegas back for the Super Bowl.Driving the news: The Fort Worth-based airline added the flights for the weekend the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce play the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11.Of note: If you're not a sports fan or a Swiftie, you may have missed that Kelce and Taylor Swift are dating.Kelce wears No. 87. Both were born in 1989, and Swift has an album titled for her birth year.What they're saying: "We are in our football era," American Airlines said in a statement. "To our customers who are huge sports fans, look what you made us do."Yes, but: KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn't forgotten. There are three Flight 15 options between the two cities, referencing Mahomes' jersey number, per AP news.Plus, United Airlines added a Flight 1989 too from KC to Vegas.The bottom line: Traylor fans "take the moment and taste it."
Dallas sees high number of office-to-apartment conversions
Data: RentCafe; Table: Axios VisualsThe Dallas area is one of the top metros for converting vacant office space into new apartments, per a new RentCafe report.Why it matters: Redeveloping underused office space is a key part of plans in many big cities to adapt to post-pandemic realities and create much-needed housing, Axios' Kate Marino reports.Driving the news: More than 3,100 Dallas area apartments will be converted from office space this year, and more than 3,800 are planned in the future.The Dallas region falls behind just New York City and Washington, D.C., in the number of planned office conversions.Zoom out: More...
Taylor Con-Dallas is coming to Hilton at Lincoln Centre
Taylor Swift lovers are organizing a convention in Dallas to fangirl over her music together, without her.Driving the news: Taylor-Con Dallas will take over the Hilton at Lincoln Centre on March 15 and 16, and tickets have sold out.The event coincides with All-Con, a four-day cosplay convention at the Hilton.Details: The convention will include dance parties, bracelet exchanges, an Eras costume catwalk, trivia, scavenger hunt and giveaways.Reality check: It's highly unlikely that Swift will be there. She's still touring the world.Yes, but: We wouldn't mind it if she stops by Dallas to meet her fans — she doesn't have any concerts scheduled the weekend of Taylor-Con.The bottom line: …Are you ready for it?
Texas rancher Brian Firebaugh charms Netflix's "The Trust"
A new Netflix game show testing contestants' ability to trust other people puts a charming Texas rancher to the test.Driving the news: "The Trust" started releasing episodes Jan. 10. The final episode dropped last week.How it works: Eleven strangers start with $250,000 to split evenly but, from episode to episode, they have to choose if they want to vote anyone out of the group.The contestants grapple with their motivations for the money and their loyalties to each other.Zoom in: Brian Firebaugh of Hubbard, located between Fort Worth and Waco, is one of three Texans on the show.The Marine Corps veteran...
Dallas-Fort Worth's most checked out books of 2023
Britney Spears' and Prince Harry's memoirs were among the most popular digital books at the Fort Worth library last year. The big picture: A little more than half of Americans read at least one book last year, per an Economist/YouGov poll. Details: The library checked out 1.7 million printed books...
Texas governor, Dallas-Fort Worth officials visit India
Gov. Greg Abbott and several North Texas officials have spent the week in India with business leaders from Austin and around the state to boost trade and investment in Texas. Why it matters: Abbott, who recently visited Israel, continues to blaze an international trail as he fashions himself as a global leader, joined by business leaders from Texas' major metros to highlight the state's economic strength.
American Airlines reports $53B revenue for 2023
American Airlines appears to be on track for a strong 2024, after record 2023 revenue and the lowest number of annual flight cancellations in a decade. Driving the news: The Fort Worth-based airline shared its profit figures for 2023 Thursday in its fourth-quarter earnings report. Why it matters: The airline's...
Where Keith Lee should eat in Dallas
TikTok food critic Keith Lee is coming to town, and Axios Dallas readers had some great suggestions of where he should go.Why it matters: The Detroit native's ability to boost business at restaurants from Las Vegas to Chicago has been dubbed the "Keith Lee Effect."He's asking for local recommendations.What you said: Axios Dallas reader LaToya M. suggested Mike's Chicken, Melanie T. said Mot Hai Ba is a must-do, and Susan J. recommended Maya's Modern Mediterranean.David D. said the fried milk dessert at Uchi "is an absolute must."Meanwhile: Cathy B. recommends Lebanese food at Hedary's Mediterranean Restaurant in Allen."It's in a...
Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants, chefs named James Beard semifinalists
Two restaurants and six chefs from Dallas-Fort Worth are in the running for a 2024 James Beard award.Driving the news: The James Beard Foundation announced its semifinalists for awards honoring the best in food and drinks across the country.D-FW snagged three national nominations and five best chefs in Texas nominations.Why it matters: The James Beards Awards are essentially the Oscars of American cuisine.This year, there are 19 Lone Star State semifinalists, down slightly from last year.Flashback: North Texas had six finalists in national categories last year but didn't win any awards.Some of this year's semifinalists are familiar names from last...
North Texas-based Kyte Baby faces backlash after denying new mother's request to work from home
Kyte Baby, a popular baby clothing company based in Tarrant County, is facing intense public backlash after denying a new mother's request to work from home while her adopted baby was in neonatal intensive care.Why it matters: The public relations disaster at the woman-owned company exemplifies how the lack of paid leave policies in the U.S. leaves mothers scrambling, Emily Peck of Axios Markets reports.Many parents have posted on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram that they regret buying from Kyte Baby and will boycott the company.The big picture: Southlake resident Ying Liu, who grew up in China and has a doctoral...
Paxton spends $2.4 million in campaign money on impeachment defense
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spent almost $2.4 million on legal services around the time of his impeachment trial last year, his latest campaign finance report shows.Why it matters: The Texas Legislature spent at least $4.2 million in taxpayer money on impeachment proceedings, mostly on outside lawyers who prosecuted the case, according to the Texas Tribune.Paxton's campaign finance report sheds more light on the costs of the North Texas native's impeachment defense — though his use of campaign money is within "the permissible use of campaign funds," campaign law expert Roger Borgelt tells Axios.Catch up quick: Paxton was acquitted by...
Dallas-Fort Worth cold front replaced with rain
Freezing temperatures have been replaced by rain showers for most of this week.The big picture: After a warmer than average December, Dallas-Fort Worth is experiencing a cooler- and damper-than-usual January.The latest: Storm systems are passing through North Texas, bringing above-average rainfall.Rain is expected to continue midday through early afternoon, and there remains a chance of rain on Wednesday, per the National Weather Service.By the numbers: D-FW has already seen about 2 inches of rain this month, a quarter inch above average for January.The average temperature is 39.9 degrees, below the normal January average of 46.3.Meanwhile, December's average of 52.8 degrees was almost 5 degrees above normal.What happened: An arctic blast pushed the region's temperatures below freezing two weekends in a row.The high of 22 degrees on Jan. 15 set a new daily record for the lowest maximum temperature in Dallas-Fort Worth. The previous record was 23 degrees in 1917.What's next: More rain is expected Friday before a dry weekend.Yes, and: The 10-day forecast shows temperatures will stay well above above freezing.
Texas Rangers great Adrián Beltré likely to be voted into the MLB Hall of Fame
Texas Rangers great Adrián Beltré is expected to be a near-unanimous shoo-in to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.Why it matters: This is the first year Beltré is eligible to be inducted into the hall. He played eight years for the Texas Rangers — including during their 2011 World Series run — before retiring after the 2018 season.The third baseman is known for his skills on the field, but also his playful sense of humor, aversion to head pats and his kinship with opponents.Driving the news: The results of the 2024 Hall of Fame election will be announced at 5pm...
Here's what you need to know to register to vote in Texas
Texans have until Feb. 5 to register to vote to cast ballots in March's primary elections.Why it matters: The March primary will determine the Republican and Democratic candidates for federal, state and county offices.How it works: Check whether you're already registered and that your information is up to date before it's too late.If not, you can fill out a voter registration form online.Yes, but: The form must be printed and mailed to your local elections office.You can also register to vote when getting your driver's license.Of note: Address changes can be completed here.What's next: Early voting takes place Feb. 20 to March 1.Election Day is March 5.
Screen Time with AT&T's CEO John Stankey
John Stankey became the CEO of AT&T, the largest telecommunications company in the world, in July 2020 — amid the pandemic — after serving as both president and chief operating officer. Since then: He's led initiatives at the Dallas-based company to expand fiber and 5G networks nationwide, enticing...
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