Axios Dallas

June 16, 2026
Happy Tuesday! Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach.
☀️ Today's weather: High near 90 and sunny.
🎵 Sounds like: "Cheerleader"
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🖋️ Situational awareness: A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display through tomorrow at the Hall of State in Fair Park. You can see it for free.
- The document is usually on display at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in downtown Dallas.
Today's newsletter is 869 thunderstruck words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Texas' confusing legal weed market
Back-to-back court rulings are clouding the Texas legal weed market.
Why it matters: State and federal crackdowns are threatening the future of Texas' multibillion-dollar hemp industry, leaving businesses uncertain about whether key products will remain legal by year's end.
The big picture: Texas regulators have spent years trying to rein in the industry after lawmakers legalized certain consumable hemp products in 2018 and opened the door to delta-8 THC's rapid growth.
Catch up quick: In 2021, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) added delta-8 to the state's list of controlled substances, effectively banning the sale of products containing the substance. The compound is similar to the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
- The same year, hemp leaders secured a temporary injunction that removed delta-8 from the list as the lawsuit plays out.
- Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed legislation banning THC last year and directed DSHS to enhance regulations.
- That led the agency this year to implement rules effectively banning smokable hemp products. Industry leaders sued and secured a temporary court order blocking the rules, which were supposed to take effect March 30.
The latest: In the 2021 case, The Texas Supreme Court ruled last month that DSHS was permitted to add delta-8 back to the controlled substance list.
- In the case from this year, a Texas appeals court ordered this month that the agency's rules banning smokeable hemp products could take effect.
- Texas hemp industry leaders say they're now waiting for DSHS to add delta-8 back to its controlled substance list.
The other side: When asked to confirm whether DSHS would have to reintroduce the delta-8 rules, agency spokesperson Lara Anton told Axios that "DSHS is still in the process of determining the next steps."
Zoom out: President Trump signed a bill last year that included a federal ban on many hemp-derived THC products. The law takes effect in November.
- Industry leaders are hopeful the Trump administration will reverse course before then. Last month, his administration reclassified certain types of marijuana at the federal level.
The bottom line: While the smokable hemp ban is in effect, all eyes are on how DSHS proceeds with delta-8 products.
2. ⭐️ "America's Sweethearts" returns
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are back on Netflix today for a third season of "America's Sweethearts."
Driving the news: Seven new episodes drop today, covering another round of auditions and game day prep. The season will also show how the cheerleaders are faring as social media influencers.
Flashback: The squad got a 400% pay raise after the show's first season aired. Contract negotiations were part of the second season's storyline.
The latest: Season 3 follows the 2025–26 squad, with 30 veterans returning for auditions and six spots available for newcomers, per Netflix.
- The cast includes fan favorite Reece Weaver and women auditioning for the team because they watched the show.
- "They'll never want an Aussie girl representing America's Sweethearts. It's hard but, you know, go the Cowboys," one candidate says in the teaser.
3. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits
⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Dallas County man's appeal from death row. Charles Flores argued his conviction improperly relied on a witness who changed her recollection after hypnosis performed by an investigator. (Texas Tribune)
🚨 A Frisco couple is accused of running a multi-million dollar scheme that promised clients curse cleansing and love readings. (KERA)
💰 A Dubai-based company is building high-end homes in Celina for its North American expansion and plans to start a project in Frisco next. (DMN)
🤠 The Czech Republic's national team, which is training for the World Cup in Mansfield, visited the Fort Worth Stockyards over the weekend. (Star-Telegram)
4. 🍽️ Tasty Tuesday: 33 Peaks Cafe
This Southlake coffee shop will have a cameo in Paramount's "Frisco King" series.
The intrigue: 33 Peaks' name was inspired by the mountain peaks of Nepal.
- "In Nepal, like you're trekking or hiking, you get to know people. This [shop] is kind of like a little stop in the journey of people's lives," co-owner Sunit Phadge says in a video.
Driving the news: The shop is closed today because of filming but has set up a temporary location at Southlake Baptist Church.

What to order: The Brooklyn — a latte with brown sugar, cinnamon and hazelnut.
Where: 33 Peaks, 1901 W. Southlake Blvd., in Southlake.
Cost: $7.25 for the large latte. Add rum cake made by a local family for $7.
Six word review: Cinnamon, whipped cream — icing on coffee.
😋 Have a rec for a future Tasty Tuesday? Hit reply and let us know.
This newsletter was edited by Bob Gee.
Our picks:
⛽️ Naheed is reading what's happening to gas prices in North Texas.
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