If you shouted expletives on your morning drive, you're not alone. Dallas-Fort Worth traffic really has gotten worse since the pandemic.

Why it matters: Civic leaders love to cheer for the population boom in North Texas, but commuters are feeling the brunt of the growth while sitting behind the wheel.

• The average commuter lost $1,618 from wasted fuel and lost productivity in 2024, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 Urban Mobility Report.

State of play: The average driver in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area spent 69 hours sitting in traffic in 2024. That's four more hours than in 2019.

• Drivers in the region wasted more than 64.3 million gallons of gas last year sitting bumper-to-bumper. That's 21 gallons per D-FW driver.

Stunning stat: McKinney, which was once a small exurb of Dallas, now has major city traffic congestion. The report separates out part of northern Collin County and Denton County from the sprawling D-FW metro in the dataset.

• The average McKinney commuter wasted 57 hours in traffic last year, up from just 19 hours in 2019.

Zoom in: Denton saw a less drastic jump in traffic. The average Dentonite spent 37 hours in traffic last year, up from 32 in 2019.

• In D-FW, drivers can expect a trip that should take 20 minutes to take at least 26 minutes in traffic, the report says.
• Dallas-Fort Worth roads are congested nearly seven hours every day.

The big picture: North Texans aren't alone. The average U.S. commuter is spending a record 63 hours each year stuck in traffic.

• That's the most since the earliest measurement in 1982.

The intrigue: Though the traditional rush hour has returned, the midday has gotten more congested since 2019.

• And Thursdays now rival Fridays for having the worst after-work traffic.

The Texas Stock Exchange is closer to launching next year after raising more than $250 million in capital in its second round of funding.

The latest: TXSE also announced Friday that J.P. Morgan provided an equity investment, adding to the list of financial institutions backing the Dallas-based stock exchange.

• BlackRock, Citadel Securities and Charles Schwab Corp. have already invested in the exchange.

What they're saying: TXSE CEO James Lee called the investors the type of "institutional pillars that you want under a stock exchange."

• "J.P. Morgan joining us is a big step. It's another institutional validation of what we're doing, and it's also a reflection of how strategic the state of Texas is globally," Lee said at a Dallas Citizens Council luncheon Friday.

What we're watching: Whether TXSE launches in the first quarter of 2026.

• Dallas is already home to NYSE Texas and a new regional headquarters for Nasdaq.

The U.S. turkey flock is the smallest in 40 years, and a fall rebound of avian flu is adding strain before Thanksgiving.

Why it matters: Wholesale turkey prices are roughly 40% higher than last year, driven by disease losses and tighter production, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Driving the news: Nearly 514,000 turkeys have been affected by fresh bird flu outbreaks in October, per USDA data.

• The National Turkey Federation tells Axios there will be enough turkeys for Thanksgiving, though supply could tighten for fresh or specific-size birds if cases rise in the coming weeks.

By the numbers: About 195 million turkeys were raised this year — down 3% from 2024 and 36% from the 1996 peak.

Zoom in: H-E-B tells Axios its turkey supply is strong and prices are holding steady from last year.

💰 The Trump administration could green-light food assistance payouts by Wednesday, after federal courts ordered officials to tap into emergency funds to keep aid flowing. (Axios)

⚾️ Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is leaving Texas for the Los Angeles Angels. (ESPN)

⚽️ FC Dallas are out of the MLS Cup playoffs after losing Game 2 Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. (DMN)

🚨 Authorities arrested a suspect in thefts of over $37,000 of merchandise from several North Texas Target stores. (FOX4)

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Just behind Plano's Koreatown is one of the largest coffee shops we've visited in North Texas.

• Thanks to Axios Dallas reader Adriana C. for the recommendation.

What to expect: Local Good Coffee has lots of indoor and outdoor seating and pickleball courts, with basketball and volleyball courts nearby.

• You can also meet people casually over small bites and pastries, which are sourced from McKinney and Grapevine.

The intrigue: The coffee shop says its sales help support the Chase Oaks Church's Local Good Collective.

What to order: Their fall menu has four options, including an oatmeal cookie latte and a drink flavored with pecan and toasted coconut.

• We got the matcha latte.

Where: Local Good Coffee Co., 201 Legacy Drive, in Plano

Cost: $4.50

Pro tip: The shop can get crowded but you can usually find a spot by the time you order.

Six word review: Warm matcha + cozy space = good days.

😋 Have a favorite coffee shop we should try? Hit reply and let us know.