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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Tasha Tsiaperas and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi.

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Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star in Michelin's first Texas guide Monday. 

Why it matters: A Michelin Guide endorsement brings cachet to restaurants that may already be well-loved locally but less known nationally.

The latest: The France-based star-tiered dining guide awarded stars to 15 Texas restaurants. 

Between the lines: Dallas-Fort Worth was snubbed with just one starred restaurant. That's compared to seven starred restaurants in Austin and six in Houston. 

Yes, but: Julian Shaffer of Rye in Dallas won a special exceptional cocktails award. 

Context: The state's tourism agency and tourism boards from five Texas cities, including Dallas and Fort Worth, paid to bring the Michelin Guide to the state.

Other cities — like Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York — have had Michelin guides for years.

The Lone Star State has its own James Beard Awards category. It was broken out from the Southwest category in 2020.

How it works: A group of anonymous inspectors judged restaurants on the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, chef's vision, consistency and value. Service and restaurant decor were not considered.

The guide includes a full list of Michelin recommendations, Bib Gourmand awards (for quality food at a good price), and Michelin Green Stars for sustainability champions.

Zoom in: Seven D-FW restaurants won Bib Gourmand awards:

🍽️ Michelin's guide to Dallas, Fort Worth

Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star.

Illustration of a trophy wearing a chef's hat

Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star in Michelin&#x27;s first Texas guide Monday. Why it matters: A Michelin Guide endorsement brings cachet to restaurants that may already be well-loved locally but less known nationally.

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Note: Countries are arranged by share of total trade; Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Axios Visuals

Texas stands to take the hardest hit of any state under the Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, leaving businesses and consumers bracing for higher prices and economic fallout.

Why it matters: If foreign goods cost 25% more, someone has to absorb the difference — either businesses or consumers.

Some estimates suggest the new tariffs could cost the average U.S. household $830 a year — and that's before factoring in likely retaliatory tariffs from Canada, China, and Mexico.

State of play: President Trump triggered a global trade war with the biggest U.S. trade partners Tuesday by slapping 25% tariffs on exports from Canada and Mexico and 20% on China.

The tariffs on imported goods could cost the Texas economy an estimated $47 billion, per economic research firm Trade Partnership Worldwide.

Zoom in: Arlington Mayor Jim Ross warned that rising production costs could lead to higher car prices, weakened demand and potential job losses at the General Motors manufacturing facility in the city. 

The big picture: The tariffs will affect big-ticket items like cars and machinery, but also consumer staples — everything from groceries to beer and oats.

The impact will be especially sharp on goods that are harder to produce domestically, such as many agricultural products.

The other side: Trump campaigned on using tariffs to revive domestic industries.

Threat level: Because Texas is deeply integrated with supply chains — from Mexico in particular — the state will more heavily feel the strain, Tony Payan,  director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at the Baker Institute, tells Axios.

"Because Texas is the origin, destination or transit point of two-thirds of binational trade, clearly, Texas will be more affected than other states that are not as integrated," he says.

Texas faces big blow from Trump's tariffs

Texas stands to take the hardest hit of any state under the Trump tariffs, leaving businesses bracing for higher costs.

Texas stands to take the hardest hit of any state under the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump tariffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/03/trump-tariffs-price-hikes-goods" data-vars-content-id="3cb236a1-88a7-49fd-a199-4facd1988839" data-vars-headline="Texas faces big blow from Trump&#x27;s tariffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/03/trump-tariffs-price-hikes-goods" target="_self">Trump tariffs</a> on Mexico, Canada, and China, leaving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="businesses and consumers bracing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/02/24/texas-business-trump-tariffs-immigration" data-vars-content-id="3cb236a1-88a7-49fd-a199-4facd1988839" data-vars-headline="Texas faces big blow from Trump&#x27;s tariffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/02/24/texas-business-trump-tariffs-immigration" target="_self">businesses and consumers bracing</a> for higher prices and economic fallout.Why it matters: If foreign goods cost 25% more, someone has to absorb the difference — either businesses or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="consumers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/04/trump-tariffs-impact-china-canada-mexico" data-vars-content-id="3cb236a1-88a7-49fd-a199-4facd1988839" data-vars-headline="Texas faces big blow from Trump&#x27;s tariffs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/04/trump-tariffs-impact-china-canada-mexico" target="_self">consumers</a>.

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Axios What's Next

Data: Migration Policy Institute; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios

Dallas County was among the counties with the most unauthorized immigrants in mid-2023, according to new estimates.

The population could be lower now, after President Trump's deportation efforts.

Why it matters: The report, from nonpartisan think tank Migration Policy Institute (MPI), offers insight into a group that's notoriously hard to count — and thus understand.

Nationally, an estimated 13.7 million people lacked legal immigration status in 2023.

By the numbers: Texas was home to the country's second largest population of unauthorized immigrants. Around 14% of the nation's unauthorized immigrant population, or nearly 2 million people, lived in the state.

Among U.S. counties, Dallas County had the fifth largest unauthorized immigrant population. An estimated 319,000 people in the county lacked legal immigration status in 2023.

The latest: Immigration and Customs Enforcement has maintained a strong presence in the Dallas area this year.

The agency made around 11,300 arrests between January and July across its Dallas field office region, which covers Oklahoma and the northern parts of Texas, per the Deportation Data Project's most recent figures.

Zoom out: Nationwide, around 6.3 million children were living with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent, the MPI report says.

About 9.6 million of the country's unauthorized immigrants had a job, per the MPI report. Nearly 2 million worked in construction, followed by 955,000 in food services.

Yes, but: The flow of newly arriving immigrants has slowed and possibly reversed this year with fewer border crossings, stronger enforcement and efforts to discourage immigration overall, MPI's report notes.

Dallas County among top areas for unauthorized immigrants

The population growth might have slowed — or reversed — amid President Trump's deportation effort.

Dallas County was among the counties with the most unauthorized immigrants in mid-2023, according to new estimates.<ul><li>The population could be lower now, after President Trump&#x27;s deportation efforts.</li></ul>

Data: Department of Education release; Map: Axios Visuals

The University of North Texas is among roughly 45 universities under federal investigation over allegations that they participated in "race-exclusionary practices."

Why it matters: The investigation is part of a broader Trump administration push to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which have been repeatedly targeted since President Trump entered office.

A Texas law that took effect last year bans public universities from maintaining offices and programs that support historically underrepresented groups, including people of color or members of the LGBTQ community.

State of play: The schools are being investigated for possibly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin at federally funded institutions, the U.S. Department of Education said.

The schools are being accused of violating the law by working with The PhD Project, an organization the education department says "purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities but limits eligibility based on the race of participants."

Threat level: Schools found to be in violation of Title VI could lose federal funding.

Context: The PhD Project was founded in 1994 to increase diversity in business schools.

Catch up quick: Gov. Greg Abbott threatened the Texas A&M University president's job earlier this year on claims the school was violating state law banning DEI programs.

The university typically sent people to the PhD Project's annual conference, and the school's lawyer found the conference would be allowed under the law's recruitment exemptions, per the Texas Tribune.

Other public colleges, including the University of Texas and UNT, participated in the conference in the past but won't this year.

A&M ultimately changed plans to send anyone to the conference.

Zoom in: UNT says it is cooperating with the Department of Education investigation and is no longer affiliated with the PhD Project.

The big picture: Texas is one of multiple states passing anti-DEI laws to prohibit diversity programs in public schools and colleges.

The same Houston-area state senator who authored Senate Bill 17 — to ban DEI at Texas public universities — has written a similar bill for K-12 public education. It's currently in committee.

The other side: Washington and New Mexico have passed bills requiring higher education institutions to offer training on DEI or antiracism.

45 universities under federal investigation

UNT under federal DEI investigation

The University of North Text is one of dozens of schools under scrutiny.

The University of North Texas is among roughly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="45 universities under federal investigation" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDMvMTQvdHJ1bXAtZWR1Y2F0aW9uLWRlcGFydG1lbnQtaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi1kZWk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B878090ce" data-vars-content-id="cd37eae7-5661-4ca0-ab74-e0b65986d7c0" data-vars-headline="UNT under federal DEI investigation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDMvMTQvdHJ1bXAtZWR1Y2F0aW9uLWRlcGFydG1lbnQtaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi1kZWk_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B878090ce" target="_self">45 universities under federal investigation</a> over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWQuZ292L2Fib3V0L25ld3MvcHJlc3MtcmVsZWFzZS9vZmZpY2UtY2l2aWwtcmlnaHRzLWluaXRpYXRlcy10aXRsZS12aS1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9ucy1pbnN0aXR1dGlvbnMtb2YtaGlnaGVyLWVkdWNhdGlvbi0wP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B05cad55a" data-vars-content-id="cd37eae7-5661-4ca0-ab74-e0b65986d7c0" data-vars-headline="UNT under federal DEI investigation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWQuZ292L2Fib3V0L25ld3MvcHJlc3MtcmVsZWFzZS9vZmZpY2UtY2l2aWwtcmlnaHRzLWluaXRpYXRlcy10aXRsZS12aS1pbnZlc3RpZ2F0aW9ucy1pbnN0aXR1dGlvbnMtb2YtaGlnaGVyLWVkdWNhdGlvbi0wP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B05cad55a" target="_self">allegations</a> that they participated in &quot;race-exclusionary practices.&quot;Why it matters: The investigation is part of a broader Trump administration push to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which have been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="repeatedly targeted" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDEvMjMvZGVpLXRydW1wLWRpdmVyc2l0eS1hZmZpcm1hdGl2ZS1hY3Rpb24_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B3b9bc554" data-vars-content-id="cd37eae7-5661-4ca0-ab74-e0b65986d7c0" data-vars-headline="UNT under federal DEI investigation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/39015408.92/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjUvMDEvMjMvZGVpLXRydW1wLWRpdmVyc2l0eS1hZmZpcm1hdGl2ZS1hY3Rpb24_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/61571d580bb18027b8e26002B3b9bc554" target="_self">repeatedly targeted</a> since President Trump entered office.

Apple Maps has added some artsy new features to win over more Dallas and Houston drivers.

The big picture: Free phone apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze have turned Mapsco and bulky navigation devices into tools of the past.

Apple Maps hasn't always been as user-friendly as its competitors, but it has come a long way.

Details: The new Apple Maps features released last week include more detailed navigation graphics showing turn lanes, trees, medians, bus lanes and crosswalks.

Certain landmarks, like the Dallas Museum of Art and AT&T Stadium, have a 3D appearance on the app, and they look even cooler in the nighttime view.

Houston maps will show landmarks like Waterwall Park, Space Center Houston and Minute Maid Park, with details like the Astros' home run train and Space Shuttle Independence.

Other new features show traffic conditions and the best lane for an approaching exit.

Of note: The Dallas area is also getting a Look Around feature that Houston has, showing street-level images of landmarks like the ones Google Maps already has.

What's next: Anyone with Apple Maps and iOS 15 or higher will automatically receive the enhanced navigation system update.

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Apple Maps gets upgraded in Dallas and Houston

New features show traffic conditions and the best lane for an approaching exit.

A rendering of an upgraded Apple Maps image

The new Maps app will look more like this. Map: Courtesy of Apple

Apple Maps has added some artsy new features to win over more Dallas and Houston drivers.The big picture: Free phone apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze have turned Mapsco and bulky navigation devices into tools of the past.

Transit

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National

Dip in immigration is slowing metro Houston's explosive growth

AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,000: -1.2%. 

Shafaq Patel

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