Predicting 2025's biggest stories in Texas
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An aerial view of the downtown Dallas skyline, where big things will be happening in 2025. Photo: Kirby Lee/Getty Images
City leaders stepped down, public schools grappled with budget deficits, restaurants experienced the "Keith Lee effect" and women's sports boomed in 2024 in North Texas.
Why it matters: The problems and successes of Dallas-Fort Worth didn't reset the moment the ball dropped and we rang in 2025.
- Many of 2024's issues will continue this year.
Here are some storylines we're watching in 2025:
💰 Public funds for private schools: The next Texas legislative session begins this month, bringing another push to pass a school voucher bill that would give families public money to pay for private education or home schooling. The measure came up short during the last legislative cycle.
- Nationwide, voters have rejected school voucher programs amid opposition from public school advocates, even as the GOP continues to push the initiative.
🏢 New city leaders: Dallas lost its city manager and police chief to Austin and begins the year in a hiring frenzy to pick a new chief executive. The city manager will then oversee the search for the next top cop.
- Fort Worth will also be without a police chief after Neil Noakes steps down in May.
⚽ World Cup prep: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Toyota Stadium in Frisco and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas will be upgraded this year to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
- AT&T Stadium will host nine of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup matches next year. Dallas will be a key host city for the World Cup, with the international broadcast center operating from the downtown convention building.
✈️ Airport expansions: Construction will continue at DFW Airport on a sixth terminal and upgrades to terminals A and C. McKinney is also planning to expand its airport so it can offer commercial flights in the future.
⚡ Our power grid: North Texas avoided major outages last winter. With more frigid weather expected in the coming months, the state's power grid will be put to the test once again.
- Texas continued to set new energy usage records last year. Texans set a new January peak demand record around MLK Day last year.
🏠 Housing affordability: High property values and mortgage rates will continue to burden current and prospective homeowners.
- The incoming administration's planned tariffs could increase construction costs nationally. Housing supply, homelessness, property rights and tax relief could be on the docket in the upcoming Texas legislative session.
📈 Our population growth: Dallas-Fort Worth continues to draw new residents, and most are flocking to the suburbs.
- Kaufman County, Rockwall County, Parker County and Ellis County are among the 10 fastest-growing large Texas counties, per an Axios analysis of Census Bureau data comparing 2019–2023 with 2014–2018.