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Walmart to expand drone deliveries in Dallas area
Walmart is partnering with Wing, the drone delivery provider powered by Google's parent company, Alphabet, to expand service at two North Texas stores.Driving the news: Drone deliveries will start next month at Walmart's Frisco location on Preston Road.A second location hasn't been announced, but deliveries are planned to begin before the end of the year.Why it matters: Using electric drones in lieu of human delivery drivers is cheaper, faster and better for the environment, per Wing.Details: Drone deliveries will be available six days a week within 6 miles of participating stores.Wing's technology makes it possible for drone operators to oversee their movement from a remote location.The drones can travel up to 65 mph.Catch up fast: Walmart already offers drone deliveries at 11 locations in the Dallas area through a partnership with DroneUp.Three locations are in Garland, two are in southern Dallas, and stores in Mesquite, Murphy, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett and The Colony also use the service.The bottom line: Wing drones will enable Walmart to reach 60,000 homes from the two locations.Sign up for Axios Dallas for free.
Vaccine exemptions increasing in Texas
Data: CDC; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosThe share of Texas kindergarteners granted exemptions from required vaccines nearly doubled between 2012 and 2022, per CDC estimates.Why it matters: Vaccinations reduce the spread of childhood illnesses — some potentially fatal — that once plagued the country, such as polio.Studies show an increased risk of infection from vaccine-preventable diseases among exempt children, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.Driving the news: The anti-vaccine movement was growing even before the COVID-19 pandemic but has become more mainstream since 2020.While COVID-19 vaccination is not required for young children attending U.S. public schools, concerns about that shot may...
Dallas mayor, council member want bigger property tax cut
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and another City Council member are requesting a revised budget proposal to make a bigger cut to the property tax rate.Driving the news: On Aug. 8, city manager T.C. Broadnax presented a proposed $4.6 billion budget with a 0.65 cent cut to the property tax rate.The mayor and Council member Cara Mendelsohn say that's not enough of a decrease to reduce property tax payments for residents.Why it matters: Homeowners are paying more in property taxes because home values went up even as cities have cut tax rates.As a result, city revenues — and budgets — have grown.Catch...
Dallas mayor, council member want bigger property tax cut
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and another City Council member are requesting a revised budget proposal to make a bigger cut to the property tax rate.Driving the news: On Aug. 8, city manager T.C. Broadnax presented a proposed $4.6 billion budget with a 0.65 cent cut to the property tax rate.The mayor and Council member Cara Mendelsohn say that's not enough of a decrease to reduce property tax payments for residents.Why it matters: Homeowners are paying more in property taxes because home values went up even as cities have cut tax rates.As a result, city revenues — and budgets — have grown.Catch...
Activities for kids in Dallas-Fort Worth during heat wave
Even though school is back in session, you've still got evenings, weekends and holidays to find ways to occupy your kids.Here are some options if you're in a pinch:Get those steps in. If you don't mind sweating a bit, take an evening stroll at one of the many walkable developments, including Grand Prairie's EpicCentral, Dallas' Klyde Warren Park and The Sound at Cypress Waters.Sea things. We're fortunate to have multiple aquariums, including the Dallas World Aquarium, SEA LIFE Aquarium inside Grapevine Mills Mall and the Dallas Children's Aquarium at Fair Park.Catch a movie. If your child is old enough to sit through a movie, there are a few options to choose from right now — and more on the way.Be curious. Take advantage of all the kid-friendly museums in our region. You could visit a new one every day, for weeks. Most of them offer discounts for kids, too.Rule the world. KidZania in Frisco touts itself as a "city built for kids, run by kids." Play Street Museum is also pretty popular, with several locations in North Texas.Worthy of your time: Here's a list of indoor play areas for kids.Sign up for Axios Dallas for free.
Dallas viewed as safest large U.S. city in new Gallup poll
Data: Gallup; Note: Each city rated by half of the sample; Chart: Axios VisualsDallas is considered the safest of 16 large U.S. cities in a new Gallup poll, which ranks Chicago and Detroit as the least safe.Why it matters: Perception mostly mirrors reality in Dallas, where the mayor and police chief have been touting a drop in violent crime as an example of the success of the city's crime-reduction plan.Details: The poll found that 74% of respondents viewed Dallas as safe, ranking it just ahead of Boston.That's an increase from 2006, when 69% of people polled by Gallup said they...
5 things you should do during a summer power outage
Power outages are always a menace, but extreme weather like the recent heat wave here makes them dangerous.Driving the news: Hundreds of North Texans lost electricity for several hours on Sunday, when the heat index reached 113 degrees.A car crash knocked down a power line in Las Colinas, leaving multiple apartment buildings without power into the night.In Carrollton, a transformer fire caused outages nearby.Here are some tips if you experience a power outage in the heat:Find out why. Figuring out the source of the outage — such as severe weather, a downed power line or a rolling blackout — could...
Texas commits billions towards better roads and public transit
Texas plans to spend $142 billion on its transportation infrastructure as part of a long-term effort to improve safety and connectivity and reduce congestion on its roadways.Driving the news: Gov. Greg Abbott's office announced the record funding last week, saying the state's "booming economy" made it possible.Why it matters: North Texas always seems to have road construction underway to accommodate its fast-growing population. That won't be changing anytime soon.Details: Abbott's funding will allow the Texas Department of Transportation to move forward with its 2024 Unified Transportation Program.The 10-year, $100 billion plan includes improvements to highways, public transportation, rail and freight.Projects...
Dry, hot weather causing Dallas-area water main breaks
The combination of extreme heat, a drought and increased water use during the summer is stressing North Texas water pipes.Driving the news: A water main burst late last week in downtown Fort Worth, causing street flooding and reducing water pressure in neighborhoods more than a mile away.The city has repaired hundreds of broken pipes in recent weeks as water usage has set records.Why it matters: Many Texas pipes are old, making them prone to cracking during droughts and extreme weather conditions.In 2021, the state lost about 132 million gallons of water from breaks and leaks, according to the most recent...
Texas students struggle in math, reading
Texas students in grades three through eight are underperforming in math and half of them read below their grade level, per STAAR test results.Driving the news: The Texas Education Agency released the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results this week, noting improvements since 2020 and 2021.Why it matters: Texas students haven't fully rebounded from the effects of the pandemic, and Dallas ISD's superintendent has repeatedly called on the state to do more to fund school districts.How it works: STAAR testing, which takes place toward the end of every school year, includes reading, writing, math, science and social studies.The...
Brutal heat returns to North Texas
After a few days of reprieve, the heat is about to really crank up in North Texas.Why it matters: The region is under an excessive heat warning and air quality alert Friday, and more warnings are possible in the coming week.Friday's high is forecast to be 110.The big picture: The Dallas-Fort Worth area had temperatures below 80 degrees on Tuesday for the first time in more than two weeks.The low remained above 80 for more than 15 days, or 377 hours, until 2am Tuesday, per the National Weather Service. That broke a record set in 1998 for the longest recorded...
Judge hears arguments in Texas' lawsuit against Planned Parenthood
A federal judge will decide whether Planned Parenthood should repay Texas millions of dollars the organization received through Medicaid after hearing arguments on the case this week.Driving the news: Texas' suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton and an anonymous whistle-blower filed the lawsuit last year under the federal False Claims Act, claiming Planned Parenthood defrauded the state's Medicaid program of at least $10 million.The nonprofit says the claims are "meritless."Why it matters: Planned Parenthood, which has roughly three dozen health clinics in Texas, claims the state's ongoing litigation is an attempt to shut down its centers.The intrigue: U.S. District Judge Matthew...
Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas
Data: BLS; Chart: Axios VisualsSales tax revenues are dropping in many North Texas cities after huge jumps largely due to the rising cost of goods.Why it matters: Cities are in the midst of adopting budgets for the next fiscal year based on projected property tax and sales tax revenues.Many North Texas cities are increasing their budgets despite proposing property tax rate cuts.Details: Dallas increased its sales tax revenue by $15.5 million from October 2022 through February.But, in three of the four months since February, the city had lower collections than in the same period last year, per a city memo.By...
Millions in income moved out of Dallas during the pandemic
Reproduced from Economic Innovation Group analysis of IRS data; Map: Axios VisualsMoves out of Dallas County resulted in a 1% drop in adjusted gross income between 2020 and 2021, according to an analysis of tax data from the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a nonpartisan think tank.But Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs and exurbs outside of the county had increases in adjusted gross income during the pandemic due to migration to those areas.State of play: When millions of Americans rethought their living situation during the pandemic, their moves changed the geography of where money is made in the United States, Axios' Neil...
Millions in income moved out of Dallas during the pandemic
Reproduced from Economic Innovation Group analysis of IRS data; Map: Axios VisualsMoves out of Dallas County resulted in a 1% drop in adjusted gross income between 2020 and 2021, according to an analysis of tax data from the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a nonpartisan think tank.But Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs and exurbs outside of the county had increases in adjusted gross income during the pandemic due to migration to those areas.State of play: When millions of Americans rethought their living situation during the pandemic, their moves changed the geography of where money is made in the United States, Axios' Neil...
AI's effect on jobs in Dallas
The Dallas metro could lose 13% of its jobs to artificial intelligence, per a new analysis.Driving the news: The region is among the 25 metro areas most at risk of AI-related job loss, according to Chamber of Commerce, a digital research company. It used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to analyze employment numbers in the 50 most-populated metro areas.Potential job loss estimates were based on the percentage of at-risk jobs in each metro area, according to Chamber of Commerce.Why it matters: AI software and large language models — including ChatGPT — may soon be able to do all manner...
AI's effect on jobs in Dallas
The Dallas metro could lose 13% of its jobs to artificial intelligence, per a new analysis.Driving the news: The region is among the 25 metro areas most at risk of AI-related job loss, according to Chamber of Commerce, a digital research company. It used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to analyze employment numbers in the 50 most-populated metro areas.Potential job loss estimates were based on the percentage of at-risk jobs in each metro area, according to Chamber of Commerce.Why it matters: AI software and large language models — including ChatGPT — may soon be able to do all manner...
U.S. trucker shortage impacts Texas
The U.S. is in the middle of a freight recession, and Texas, which sits in the middle of many routes, is feeling the hit.Why it matters: Texas and California have more trucks on their roads than other states, according to the Texas Trucking Association.The rise of e-commerce has heightened the demand for big rigs, but there aren't enough truckers to meet the need.The big picture: 8.4 million people were employed in trucking-related jobs across the economy in 2022, not including the self-employed.There were 3.54 million truck drivers, an increase of 1.5% from 2021.Yes, but: The country also faced a shortage...
U.S. trucker shortage impacts Texas
The U.S. is in the middle of a freight recession, and Texas, which sits in the middle of many routes, is feeling the hit.Why it matters: Texas and California have more trucks on their roads than other states, according to the Texas Trucking Association.The rise of e-commerce has heightened the demand for big rigs, but there aren't enough truckers to meet the need.The big picture: 8.4 million people were employed in trucking-related jobs across the economy in 2022, not including the self-employed.There were 3.54 million truck drivers, an increase of 1.5% from 2021.Yes, but: The country also faced a shortage...
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is finally a Hall of Famer
Dirk Nowitzki was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame over the weekend as a member of its 2023 class.Driving the news: The honorees received their rings and orange jackets on Friday. They headed to Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday with their families, friends and mentors to formally be celebrated as Hall of Famers.The intrigue: Nowitzki's induction to the Hall of Fame reaffirms his greatness.The 7-foot German native was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and traded to the Mavericks on draft night. He's the only NBA player to play on the same team for 21 seasons.Dallas has honored...
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