Dallas

blue

Axios Dallas Partners

Dallas Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Dallas with Tasha Tsiaperas and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi.

Axios Dallas

Standard

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

Axios Dallas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Dallas Members

Membership

Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll

On the Republican side, Paxton and Cornyn lead Hunt, but no candidate has enough support to avoid a runoff.

Politics & Policy

U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jasmine Crockett" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-2026-democratic-primary" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-2026-democratic-primary" target="_self">Jasmine Crockett</a> (D-Dallas) leads state Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/11/talarico-crockett-us-senate-texas-advertising" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/11/talarico-crockett-us-senate-texas-advertising" target="_self">James Talarico</a> (D-Austin) for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, according to a small survey of 350 registered voters taken before Talarico&#x27;s viral interview with late-night host <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stephen Colbert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" target="_self">Stephen Colbert</a>. Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/texas-senate-talarico-crockett-race-identity" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/texas-senate-talarico-crockett-race-identity" target="_self">Democratic race</a> features two rising stars in the party with contrasting styles and messages. The winner will set the tone for the party in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas midterm election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/24/texas-democrat-primary-turnout-high" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/24/texas-democrat-primary-turnout-high" target="_self">Texas midterm election</a> with nearly every statewide office on the ballot.

More Democratic ballots cast than Republican in Texas primaries

Democratic voter enthusiasm during the primary could signal high Democratic turnout for the general election.

News

More Texas voters are turning out to cast ballots in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/12/08/texas-primary-election-paxton-cornyn-crockett-talarico" data-vars-content-id="45746767-4792-49dc-9cdc-45eb29f873fd" data-vars-headline="More Democratic ballots cast than Republican in Texas primaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/12/08/texas-primary-election-paxton-cornyn-crockett-talarico" target="_self">Democratic primary</a> than the Republican primary during early voting.Why it matters: Primaries tend to attract the most dedicated voters. High Democratic turnout in March could signal greater Democratic turnout in the November midterm election.

How "Landman" has been a boon to TCU

The Paramount show's second season uses the university as a backdrop.

Rich people, oil money and college freshmen — what could possibly go wrong?<ul><li>Taylor Sheridan&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Landman&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/08/13/fort-worth-film-paramount-taylor-sheridan-landman" data-vars-content-id="e9b0119e-6f80-4612-8f9e-7719f4dccda8" data-vars-headline="How &quot;Landman&quot; has been a boon to TCU" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/08/13/fort-worth-film-paramount-taylor-sheridan-landman" target="_self">&quot;Landman&quot;</a> has given Texas Christian University free publicity by using the school as a backdrop for the chaos and conflict of its second season.</li></ul>

Waymo launches driverless car service in Dallas

The coverage area and ridership are limited for now.

Driverless Waymo rides have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="started in Dallas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/11/18/waymos-driverless-cars-to-hit-dallas-roads-soon" data-vars-content-id="f1827bd4-03b2-46ab-9bc4-dc0976c76193" data-vars-headline="Waymo launches driverless car service in Dallas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/11/18/waymos-driverless-cars-to-hit-dallas-roads-soon" target="_self">started in Dallas</a>, with limited ridership at first. Why it matters: Waymo&#x27;s debut turns futuristic tech into a commuting option, moving the technology past its testing phase and into daily life.

Paramount-backed Fort Worth production campus eyes expansion

Investors envision a master-planned studio campus to attract top-tier productions.

Business

Showbiz is buzzing in Fort Worth.<ul><li>The city already has Texas&#x27; largest film and TV production complex, and a major expansion is in the works, investors announced Wednesday.</li></ul>

A toolkit for helping Dallas' neighborhoods

West Dallas, Vickery Meadow and South Dallas are most vulnerable to gentrification.

Over 40% of Dallas neighborhoods are either susceptible to or currently experiencing gentrification, a nonprofit has found.<ul><li>And the majority of them are in southern Dallas.</li></ul>

Revitalizing southern Dallas: $80.5 million Forest Theater project to address inequities

The Forest Theater could reopen for its 77th anniversary in summer 2026.

The Forest Theater&#x27;s tall green marquee along Interstate 45, on the way out of Dallas toward Houston, hasn&#x27;t lit up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in 50 years" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/07/20/dallas-historic-forest-theater-second-act" data-vars-content-id="a7f0fdbe-1a59-462d-a265-5ccd601e2911" data-vars-headline="Revitalizing southern Dallas: $80.5 million Forest Theater project to address inequities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/07/20/dallas-historic-forest-theater-second-act" target="_self">in 50 years</a>.<ul><li>But after years of intense fundraising, the theater&#x27;s champions are closer to raising the roof(top).</li></ul>

Prosper developing a 35-acre arts district

It will be the first large mixed-use development north of U.S. Route 380.

Development

The town of Prosper is developing an arts district in hopes of becoming a destination for getaways, weddings and shopping.Why it matters: Prosper, located 36 miles north of downtown Dallas, used to be considered on the outskirts of North Texas. Now it&#x27;s part of the region&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population and development boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2024/05/17/charted-our-massive-growth" data-vars-content-id="e61898f0-3d3c-44ae-bd63-9ef194bc8dcf" data-vars-headline="Prosper developing a 35-acre arts district" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2024/05/17/charted-our-massive-growth" target="_self">population and development boom</a>.

Dallas-Fort Worth's population is still booming

Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties were among the top 10 counties nationwide to add the most people in 2023.

Texas — and specifically North Texas — saw some of the biggest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/07/dallas-fort-worth-america-boomtown" data-vars-content-id="c45d5210-4392-4a7d-9443-b549a40babe8" data-vars-headline="Dallas-Fort Worth&#x27;s population is still booming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/07/dallas-fort-worth-america-boomtown" target="_self">population</a> increases nationwide last year.The big picture: The Lone Star State has six of the country&#x27;s top 10 fastest-growing counties by percentage and eight of the top 10 counties with the largest numeric growth, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new U.S. Census Bureau report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/population-estimates-more-counties-population-gains-2023.html" data-vars-content-id="c45d5210-4392-4a7d-9443-b549a40babe8" data-vars-headline="Dallas-Fort Worth&#x27;s population is still booming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/population-estimates-more-counties-population-gains-2023.html" target="_blank">new U.S. Census Bureau report</a>.

Fixing streets, adding housing, growing parks vying for Dallas bond dollars

Housing advocates want more money for affordable housing.

Dallas has $1.1 billion in proposed bond funding up for grabs for streets, parks, housing, public safety and arts projects — and everyone wants a piece of it.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2024 bond proposal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/11/15/bond-proposal-city" data-vars-content-id="41feffbb-14c7-4ea6-a28b-89c3b870b257" data-vars-headline="Fixing streets, adding housing, growing parks vying for Dallas bond dollars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/11/15/bond-proposal-city" target="_self">2024 bond proposal</a> will address just a fraction of the infrastructure needs citywide.

AT&T Stadium is getting a glow-up

The upgrades are slated for completion by the summer of 2025.

Sports

AT&amp;T Stadium will undergo $180 million in upgrades starting in January as part of a broader renovation project reportedly totaling $295 million.Why it matters: The upgrades are slated for completion by the summer of 2025, just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Dallas is co-hosting with 15 other North American cities.

Dallas City Council to finally decide on short-term rental ordinance

The issue has become a fight over property owners' rights, what neighborhoods want and how much the city can and should regulate.

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a short-term rental ordinance that would require all operators to register with the city and pay hotel and occupancy taxes.<ul><li>Council will also consider whether to adopt a code change that would enact a near-complete ban on the rentals.</li></ul>

Proposed Dallas bond package addresses housing shortage

Council members have started hosting town hall meetings for residents to learn about the proposed 2024 bond program.

A $1 billion municipal bond program in Dallas should prioritize funding affordable housing, advocates say.Driving the news: Council members have started hosting town hall meetings this month for residents to learn about the proposed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2024 bond program" data-vars-click-url="https://dallascityhall.com/departments/bond-construction-management/DCH%20Documents/BCM_2024%20Bond%20Program_Final_053023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="6992fb47-d3a2-4d12-a354-8e6bef5b0e32" data-vars-headline="Proposed Dallas bond package addresses housing shortage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dallascityhall.com/departments/bond-construction-management/DCH%20Documents/BCM_2024%20Bond%20Program_Final_053023.pdf" target="_blank">2024 bond program</a> and give input on how funding should be prioritized.

Texas attempts to save Fairfield Lake State Park — by condemning it

The use of eminent domain for the purpose of a public park is rare in Texas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has opted to use eminent domain in an attempt to save Fairfield Lake State Park from a Dallas developer who hopes to turn the land into a community of multimillion-dollar homes.Driving the news: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously on Saturday to condemn the popular state park and surrounding land, about 90 miles south of Dallas, three days before the state&#x27;s lease on the land was set to expire.

Development 🏗️

Paramount-backed Fort Worth production campus eyes expansion

A toolkit for helping Dallas' neighborhoods

Revitalizing southern Dallas: $80.5 million Forest Theater project to address inequities

Prosper developing a 35-acre arts district

Dallas-Fort Worth's population is still booming