North Texans are voting on DART's future, bonds for schools and local leadership in the latest election.

Why it matters: The election results could have far-reaching consequences for transportation and education in North Texas.

Driving the news: Early voting began this week and will continue through Tuesday. Election day is May 2.

The big picture: Residents in Highland Park, University Park and Addison are deciding whether their cities should keep their DART membership or withdraw from the agency.

• The cities pay DART millions of dollars each year, but are now deciding if it's a worthwhile expense for their residents.
• Plano, Irving and Farmers Branch were also considering cutting ties with DART, but canceled those elections after the transit agency agreed to boost board representation from smaller cities and give them a portion of sales tax revenue that funds the agency.

Zoom in: Dallas ISD is asking voters to approve a $6.2 billion bond package that includes funding for 26 new schools, renovations, safety upgrades and pool repairs.

• If approved, the package would be the largest school bond in the state's history. The district estimates the package would increase property taxes by $33 per year for the average Dallas ISD home valued at $525,000.

Zoom out: Arlington ISD is asking voters to approve a $501 million bond package for two new schools, buses, synthetic turf and new tech devices for students and staff. The package would also increase property taxes by 1 cent, equating to $18 per year for homes valued around $300,000.

• Birdville ISD wants to renovate buildings and update its security with a $475.5 million bond package and says it would not increase taxes.
• Also on the ballot: school board and city council positions in multiple jurisdictions.

When you go: Check your county's website to find your polling location, timing and sample ballot: Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.

• Don't forget your ID to vote.

What's next: The highly contentious Republican runoff for U.S. Senate is May 26. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Sen. John Cornyn.

Dallas is one of the most polluted places to live in the country, according to a new American Lung Association report.

Why it matters: Air pollution threatens everyone's health, but especially the hundreds of thousands of children and seniors in North Texas with heart and lung conditions.

State of pollutants: All of the major North Texas counties earned failing grades on key air quality metrics in the ALA's 2026 State of the Air report.

• Dallas-Fort Worth has the ninth most high ozone days out of 226 U.S metros, with nearly 8.9 million North Texans at risk, per the report. The estimate includes 2.2 million children and nearly 738,000 people with asthma.
• The county averaged 50 orange ozone days and four red ozone days between 2022-24.
• D-FW was the 13th worst U.S. metro last year for its number of high ozone days.

The big picture: About 44% of Americans, or 152 million people, are living in counties that received failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, per the report.

• California cities dominate the most-polluted lists, despite several seeing declining pollution levels.

What you can do: Check daily air pollution forecasts at Airnow.gov, and reduce emissions by driving less and using less energy at home.

💯 The Dallas Stars are 2-1 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in double overtime early this morning. Game 4 is Saturday. (AP)

💰 Fort Worth ISD will increase teacher salaries by 5% starting next school year, hoping to boost retention and hiring. (WFAA)

🚨 Authorities rescued a woman and arrested a male suspect in a standoff that started late Monday and ended early Wednesday. (FOX4)

🍪 Food manufacturer Bimbo Bakeries USA announced it will move its headquarters to Irving from Horsham, Pennsylvania. (DBJ)

🎤 Sit down, be humble. Hear a symphonic take on Russian composer Igor Stravinsky's "Petrouchka" and Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer Prize-winning album "DAMN."

• 7:30pm Saturday at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. Tickets start at $68.

🍿 Create a scene. The International Film Festival's lineup this year includes table reads, film screenings and a discussion with Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Michael De Luca.

• Starts today and ends April 30 at various locations. Passes start at $75.

🦕 Hold on to your butts. Dig for fossils and learn all about dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest. There will also be a Tricera-tots area for young dino lovers.

• Friday-Sunday at Fair Park's Centennial Hall. General admission starts at $30.

🏎️ Start your engine. Check out over 700 cars and live action drifting at FuelFest. Dancer Matt Steffanina, the Fast & Furious franchise's Tyrese Gibson and Paul Walker's brother Cody Walker will make an appearance.

• 1-8pm Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Tickets start at $53.