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

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Inside the Methodist Church divide in Texas

Decades of discord in the United Methodist Church have reached a tipping point.

News

Why downtown McKinney has so many tiny doors

Dozens of tiny doors are on display, with more in the works.

Texas economy draws outsiders, keeps natives

Texans are the most likely to stay in their home state compared to natives of other states.

What other cities can learn from car-dependent Dallas

North Texas' car-centricity affects low-income families the most.

Transit

North Texas business openings increasing

Business openings in the U.S. have exceeded 2019 levels every month this year.

More than 2,100 new businesses opened in the Dallas metro area in July, up nearly 38% from July 2019, per Yelp registration data.Why it matters: New business openings are a good measure of economic sentiment — people generally don&#x27;t take the risk of spinning up a new venture if they foresee economic peril ahead.

Heatwave negatively affected a quarter of Texas businesses

Lower customer demand was the primary driver of decreases in revenue for retail businesses.

Business

This summer&#x27;s heatwave negatively affected revenue and production at about a quarter of Texas businesses <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveyed by the Dallas Fed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/surveys/tbos/2023/2308q#tab-tmos" data-vars-content-id="eb30e0d1-282d-48b9-8d09-91f1efb9a385" data-vars-headline="Heatwave negatively affected a quarter of Texas businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/surveys/tbos/2023/2308q#tab-tmos" target="_blank">surveyed by the Dallas Fed</a>.Driving the news: For the first time in its monthly manufacturing and service sector surveys, the bank asked hundreds of Texas business executives about the impact of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="record-breaking heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/25/record-heat-dallas-fort-worth-before-cold-front" data-vars-content-id="eb30e0d1-282d-48b9-8d09-91f1efb9a385" data-vars-headline="Heatwave negatively affected a quarter of Texas businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/25/record-heat-dallas-fort-worth-before-cold-front" target="_self">record-breaking heat</a>.

Walmart expanding drone delivery in Dallas area

Wing drone deliveries will start next month at Walmart's Frisco location on Preston Road.

Walmart is partnering with Wing, the drone delivery provider powered by Google&#x27;s parent company, Alphabet, to expand service at two North Texas stores.Driving the news: Drone deliveries will start next month at Walmart&#x27;s Frisco location on Preston Road.

Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas

Dallas' contract economist predicts sales tax collections will continue slowing.

Sales 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 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adopting budgets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/09/dallas-budget-property-tax-cuts" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/09/dallas-budget-property-tax-cuts" target="_self">adopting budgets</a> for the next fiscal year based on projected property tax and sales tax revenues.<ul><li>Many North Texas cities are increasing their budgets despite proposing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property tax rate cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/09/fort-worth-budget-property-tax-cuts" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/09/fort-worth-budget-property-tax-cuts" target="_self">property tax rate cuts</a>.</li></ul>Details: Dallas increased its sales tax revenue by $15.5 million from October 2022 through February.<ul><li>But, in three of the four months since February, the city had lower collections than in the same period last year, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city memo" data-vars-click-url="https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY%2022-23%20Memos/June%202023%20Sales%20Tax.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY%2022-23%20Memos/June%202023%20Sales%20Tax.pdf" target="_blank">city memo</a>.</li></ul>By the numbers: Sales tax collections were down nearly 1.5% in June in Dallas compared to the same month last year, according to the latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas comptroller figures" data-vars-click-url="https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/local/allocations/sales-tax/top20.php" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/local/allocations/sales-tax/top20.php" target="_blank">Texas comptroller figures</a>.<ul><li>Frisco&#x27;s year-over-year sales tax collections dropped nearly 8% in June. Irving had a 2% drop.</li><li>Arlington had one of the sharpest declines — more than 20%.</li><li>Meanwhile: McKinney had a nearly 5% jump in sales tax revenues in June.</li></ul>Yes, but: Total sales tax collections from January to June are still up year over year in most North Texas cities.<ul><li>Fort Worth, for example, has collected 8.6% more in sales taxes in 2023.</li><li>Arlington&#x27;s sales tax collections are an exception, down nearly 3.5% year over year.</li></ul>What&#x27;s happening: Inflation has been slowing since last July, but prices are still high.<ul><li>The Consumer Price Index <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rose 4%" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/consumerpriceindex_dallasfortworth.htm" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/consumerpriceindex_dallasfortworth.htm" target="_blank">rose 4%</a> in the 12 months through July in Dallas-Fort Worth, down from last July&#x27;s high increase of 9.3%.</li><li>Local price gains remain higher than the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national CPI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/10/cpi-inflation-report-july-2023" data-vars-content-id="8d5559ac-ab31-43c1-a13c-637576b0b0d7" data-vars-headline="Sales tax revenues dropping in North Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/10/cpi-inflation-report-july-2023" target="_self">national CPI</a> rise of 3.2% in the 12 months through July.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: Dallas&#x27; contract economist, Dearmon Analytics, predicts sales tax collections will continue to slow over the next several months.

U.S. trucker shortage impacts Texas

The country faced a shortage of 78,000 qualified drivers in 2022.

The U.S. is in the middle of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="freight recession" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/31/truck-drivers-freight-industry-downturn/" data-vars-content-id="81ef59cc-e821-4368-ae49-287a1f950404" data-vars-headline="U.S. trucker shortage impacts Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/31/truck-drivers-freight-industry-downturn/" target="_blank">freight recession</a>, 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.

Illustration of an outline of a man holding a CB radio mic and steering wheel.

How to make the most of tax-free weekend in Texas

Be sure to check what does and doesn't qualify before shopping.

North Texans who procrastinated on school supply shopping are in luck because tax-free weekend runs from Friday to Sunday.Why it matters: The statewide sales tax holiday covers most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks under $100.

North Texas' "Silicon Prairie" gets billions in new investment

North Texas could emerge as a global microchip and tech leader.

A set of multibillion-dollar chipmaking facilities under construction in Sherman — a city of 45,000 about 60 miles north of Dallas — could solidify North Texas as a global microchip and tech leader.The big picture: From North Texas to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Phoenix" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/03/02/phoenix-semiconductor-chips-tsmc-intel-asm" data-vars-content-id="8f5b6772-4e44-41c4-ab19-1c35b9eb69ef" data-vars-headline="North Texas&#x27; &quot;Silicon Prairie&quot; gets billions in new investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/03/02/phoenix-semiconductor-chips-tsmc-intel-asm" target="_self">Phoenix</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="upstate New York," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/27/biden-micron-syracuse-semiconductor-plant" data-vars-content-id="8f5b6772-4e44-41c4-ab19-1c35b9eb69ef" data-vars-headline="North Texas&#x27; &quot;Silicon Prairie&quot; gets billions in new investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/27/biden-micron-syracuse-semiconductor-plant" target="_self">upstate New York,</a> cities and regions across the country are vying for a piece of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$280 billion federal package" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/biden-chips-bill-signing" data-vars-content-id="8f5b6772-4e44-41c4-ab19-1c35b9eb69ef" data-vars-headline="North Texas&#x27; &quot;Silicon Prairie&quot; gets billions in new investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/biden-chips-bill-signing" target="_self">$280 billion federal package</a> President Biden signed last year in hopes of boosting the domestic chipmaking industry and reducing the country&#x27;s reliance on Chinese tech components.

Illustration of a wireframe futuristic landscape of mountains surrounded by abstract circles, radical colors and semiconductors.

What it takes to be one of Texas' top earners

If you&#x27;re hoping to be in the top 1% of your state, moving out of Texas will give you a better shot.Driving the news: A new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="SmartAsset analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/top-1-percent-income-2023" data-vars-content-id="88eb8dde-e63c-4d8e-9892-ded9123a6bb2" data-vars-headline="What it takes to be one of Texas&#x27; top earners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://smartasset.com/data-studies/top-1-percent-income-2023" target="_blank">SmartAsset analysis</a> of IRS tax filer data captures where the country&#x27;s wealthiest people are concentrated.

Texas part of national GDP's shift from the Northeast to the South

Americans are spreading out — and Texas has been a key beneficiary.

Texas is among the six fast-growing Southern states that now add more to the national GDP than the Northeast, which has been the perennial powerhouse, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bloomberg reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-06-29/millions-move-to-the-south-as-us-economy-favors-its-wealth-job-opportunities?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top&amp;sref=yLCixKPR" data-vars-content-id="8e3f438b-e806-48c7-92e5-c0285d5ff776" data-vars-headline="Texas part of national GDP&#x27;s shift from the Northeast to the South" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-06-29/millions-move-to-the-south-as-us-economy-favors-its-wealth-job-opportunities?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top&amp;sref=yLCixKPR" target="_blank">Bloomberg reports</a>.Why it matters: Americans are spreading out physically and economically — and Texas has been a key beneficiary of the change.

Dallas rises in ranks of most expensive cities in the world

Dallas is now the 53rd most expensive city in the world for international employees, per consulting firm <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mercer&#x27;s 2023 report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mercer.com/insights/total-rewards/talent-mobility-insights/cost-of-living/#price-movement" data-vars-content-id="64edb197-3d3a-4a8d-8578-ee58688ee644" data-vars-headline="Dallas rises in ranks of most expensive cities in the world" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mercer.com/insights/total-rewards/talent-mobility-insights/cost-of-living/#price-movement" target="_blank">Mercer&#x27;s 2023 report</a>.Driving the news: Two Texas cities — Dallas and Houston — jumped more than 20 spots in this year&#x27;s ranking, which analyzes the cost of living in more than 400 cities.

A photo of the Dallas skyline, from the Margaret McDermott Bridge.

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