Our rainy June is keeping drought concerns at bay this summer and making World Cup visitors very happy.

Why it matters: While high temperatures are close to normal for this time of the year, this month has seen more rain than usual.

• DFW Airport recorded 7.4 inches of rain in the first half of June. The normal amount over that period is closer to 2 inches, per the National Weather Service.

The intrigue: Morning rain and cooler-than-expected temperatures last Sunday gave Japanese and Dutch soccer fans a great first impression of North Texas.

• England and Croatia fans will experience highs in the mid-90s today but with clouds and wind — a mild form of Texas heat.

Context: Tom Bradshaw, a meteorologist with the NWS Fort Worth office, says the recent rain is comparable to spring weather patterns.

• With the drier months of July and August on the way, it's good to get as much rain as possible in early summer, he says.
• 41.3% of the state is experiencing drought conditions, per the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map, compared with 81.8% three months ago.

What's next: North Texas' rain chances return tomorrow and will linger through Saturday. Thunderstorms are possible.

• "In Texas, you never really want to curse rainfall. Now, we obviously don't want to go overboard and have flooding — that goes without saying," Bradshaw says.

What we're watching: A tropical storm could form in the Gulf this week, possibly marking the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

• Houston is preparing for heavy rain, though Bradshaw says the storm isn't likely to impact North Texas much.

A recent UnidosUS poll of 500 Latino registered voters in Texas shows 67% disapprove of President Trump's job performance.

Why it matters: The erosion of Latino support for Trump, combined with dissatisfaction with the economy, signals danger for competitive GOP-held seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

The big picture: Nationally, cost of living remains the top issue shaping Latino voters' views of Trump, followed by immigration enforcement.

• The poll suggests Latino voters remain among the most fluid blocs in the electorate, giving Democrats an opening in Texas districts that shifted right in 2024.

State of play: Republicans redrew the Texas congressional map after making significant gains with Latino voters in 2024.

• The new polling suggests some Latino voters who backed Trump before may be reconsidering that support ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• 54% of respondents said they would vote for the Democratic House candidate in their district, compared with 28% for the Republican candidate.

Context: The bipartisan poll was conducted April 27–May 14 by BSP Research and Shaw & Company Research on behalf of UnidosUS.

• The poll is based on a sample of 3,000 Latino registered voters across the U.S., including 500 in Texas, with a margin of sampling error in the state of ±4.4 percentage points.

⛳️ Dallas' Scottie Scheffler is vying for a career Grand Slam as he plays in the U.S. Open this week. (CBS Sports)

⛽️ Five people are accused of participating in a theft ring that investigators say used skimming devices to steal customers' payment information and buy thousands of gallons of gas at stations. (NBC5)

🍕 Yum! Brands has sold Pizza Hut, which is based in Plano, for $2.7 billion in two separate deals. (DMN)

Our Axios publisher, Nick, recently asked us a serious — and perplexing — question: What unites North Texans?

Zoom in: Our country is divided right now. Is our region, too?

• We can't agree on the future of Dallas' City Hall, where the Mavericks and Stars should play, or when to put up our Halloween decor.

State of play: Before February 2025, North Texans were united by our love of Luka Dončić.

• Now, we need more soul searching. Are we united by our support for Scottie Scheffler? Our love-hate relationship with the Cowboys? Our disdain for Houston?

✍️ What do you think unites North Texans? Take a short survey on this page to let us know!

• Hot takes are always welcome.