Dallas-Fort Worth was second only to the Houston metro in the number of residents who moved to the region between 2024 and 2025, per new U.S. Census Bureau data.

The big picture: Population growth is slowing in most counties nationwide amid a massive drop in immigration amid tighter enforcement.

• The U.S. overall still grew by 0.5% between 2024-25. But that's down from 1% over the previous period.

Zoom in: Dallas-Fort Worth added 123,557 between July 2024 and July 2025, only about 3,000 fewer than Houston.

• Collin County, which added 42,966 residents, was second in population growth nationwide. Harris County, where Houston is, was first with 48,695 new residents.

The intrigue: D-FW's growth is largely due to migration, not births.

• The region added 55,444 people from other countries and 18,197 from domestic migration.

Zoom out: International migration fell in nine out of 10 U.S. counties between 2024 and 2025 compared to the prior period, the Census Bureau says.

• Nationwide natural change (births minus deaths) held steady, while international migration plummeted from about 2.8 million people to 1.3 million — about a 55% drop.
• Caveat: The Census Bureau' international migration data include both foreigners and Americans coming home from abroad, including military service members.

Between the lines: Regional growth is driven by population increases in the suburban counties outside Dallas and Fort Worth.

• For example, Kaufman County continues to be one of the fastest growing counties with a population over 20,000 with 5.7% growth.
• Nearly 210,000 people now live in Kaufman County, up from just over 145,000 in 2020.

Texas already has one of the country's first AI laws on the books, but Americans say they still want more guardrails.

The big picture: Nearly two-thirds of Americans now use AI regularly and want stronger oversight, but are conflicted on how far regulation should go, according to a new national survey from AI governance nonprofit Fathom shared exclusively with Axios.

By the numbers: 40% of respondents say they're excited about AI, while 23% say they're concerned. Another 35% feel both.

• 90% say it's important that AI products for kids should be verified as "safe" before they're used.

Catch up quick: Texas lawmakers moved ahead of Washington last year, becoming the third state to adopt a comprehensive AI law.

• The law, which took effect Jan. 1 and applies broadly to companies doing business in Texas, bans harmful AI systems that encourage a person to commit physical self-harm or engage in criminal activity.
• It also prohibits discrimination, constitutional rights violations and exploitation of minors.

Yes, but: The policy gaps are already showing up.

• Texas lawmakers also banned deepfakes in campaign ads, but AI-generated political content is still spreading in 2026 races.

The bottom line: AI policy is moving but not as fast as the tech.

Methodology

🗃️ Bed, Bath & Beyond is expected to buy Coppell-based The Container Store for $150 million. (DMN)

⚽️ Frisco's Toyota Stadium will serve as a base camp for Sweden while Mansfield Stadium will host the Czech Republic for the 2026 Men's World Cup. (NBC5)

🚨 Rappers Pooh Shiesty and Big30 are accused of robbing and kidnapping Gucci Mane and two men at a Dallas music studio in January. Eight suspects were arrested Wednesday, per the Department of Justice. (WFAA)

⚖️ An immigration judge has ordered an SMU alum who was detained in Dallas by ICE last year to voluntarily return to Mexico. (KERA)

The Texas Rangers are second in the American League West as they return to Arlington for their home opener.

State of play: Rangers fans get a chance to try new ballpark foods and see the team face the Cincinnati Reds at 3pm today.

• The Rangers are in town through Wednesday.

Catch up quick: The team opened the season in Philadelphia, where they lost on opening day but won the series.

• They won their second series in Baltimore and return home with a 4-2 record, trailing the Houston Astros by half a game in the division.

Yes, but: Rankings don't matter this early in the season, so let's talk about food.

• The team is debuting a 9th Inning Rally sombrero. A fried tortilla is shaped like a hat, then filled with chips and a nine-layer dip. (Of course, there's a hat-shaped container to hold all of it)
• "Nachos you can wear on your head!" the team said on X.

Other new ballpark foods include an Elote Dawwg, the Pig Kahuna and Hawwt Dawwg biscuits and gravy.