The Dallas Wings' plans to practice and play in their eponymous city have taken off. The team broke ground last week on a new practice facility in Dallas.

Why it matters: Dallas, hoping to become more of a tourist destination, is spending millions of dollars to move the Wings from their current home in Arlington.

• Once the move is complete, the Wings will practice in West Oak Cliff and play at Dallas Memorial Arena in downtown.

Follow the money: The practice facility is estimated to cost around $49 million, using city, state and private funding.

• It's projected to open before the Wings' 2026 season.

The intrigue: The practice facility won't just be for basketball. The building will include an outdoor workout area, a "lifestyle suite" for hair and nail services, meeting spaces and mothers' rooms for nursing.

• The Wings will also host community events such as basketball clinics and life skills classes.
• "Our professional athletes will serve as role models not seen from afar on a television or social media platform, but in this community's backyard, right here in West Oak Cliff, up close and personal," Dallas Wings CEO Greg Bibb said at the groundbreaking.

Zoom out: The Wings have a 15-year, $19-million use agreement with the city of Dallas for Dallas Memorial Arena, located at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, with the option to renew for another 15 years.

• The city pushed back the arena's completion date to 2027 because FIFA is using the convention center for the 2026 Men's World Cup.

A company that tested its autonomous trucking technology in North Texas went public on Nasdaq last week with a roughly $2.5 billion valuation.

Why it matters: Kodiak AI says it had one of the largest operating company de-SPAC deals of the year after merging with Ares Acquisition Corp. II.

How it works: A combination of sensors — camera, radar and LiDAR — help the "Kodiak Driver" examine the surrounding environment and adjust to the behavior of other drivers.

State of play: California-based Kodiak has tested its technology in Texas' Permian Basin and on routes between Dallas County and Houston. The company's freight clients include IKEA, C.R. England and Tyson.

• Kodiak's autonomous trucks currently make deliveries from city to city with a safety driver behind the wheel to monitor the system.
• The company plans to start driverless deliveries next year, per a company spokesperson.

Between the lines: Kodiak's decision to go public via SPAC with Ares Acquisition Corp. II came down to timing, Kodiak CEO Don Burnette tells Axios Pro.

• "It was a more sure path to get into the markets with a faster timeline," he says.

What's next: Kodiak has a large contract with Austin-based Atlas Energy Solutions that Burnette says will allow the company to deliver hundreds of trucks by the end of 2026.

Go deeper: Read Burnette's full Q&A on Axios Pro Deals

💰 Dallas has increased its funding for the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center by $1.4 million to $5.9 million. (KERA)

✈️ Fort Worth-based American Airlines faces an employment discrimination suit alleging the company failed to provide reasonable accommodations for a blind employee and then fired her. (DMN)

🔐 About $675 million in federal funding earmarked for community projects in Texas are in limbo as a government shutdown looms. (Texas Tribune)

This South Indian chain stands out among the many Indian restaurants and grocery stores in North Texas.

Why it matters: For more than four decades, coming across a Saravanaa Bhavan in another city or even country has be an anchoring experience for South Asians.

What to order: Masala dosa, served with mashed, spiced potatoes and an assortment of chutneys. The green and white chutneys are our favorites.

Where: Saravanaa Bhavan, locations in Irving, Plano and Richardson.

Cost: $14.25

Pro tip: This food is meant to be eaten with your hands.

Six word review: Crispy edges, hearty potato filling — perfection.

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