1. Dallas reports 2nd human case of West Nile virus
Dallas County Health and Human Services reported the second human case of West Nile virus of the summer July 21.
The patient, a female resident of the city of Dallas, was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a severe case of the virus, according to a news release from the agency. The case was reported in the ZIP code 75231, which includes Vickery Meadow and part of Lake Highlands.
The first human case this year was found in a male resident of the ZIP code 75212, which includes west Dallas.
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2. Tesla picks Flower Mound for new dealership location
Electric vehicle company Tesla plans to build a new dealership and service center in Flower Mound.
The company approached the Flower Mound Planning and Zoning Commission on July 24 with site plans for a 51,391-square-foot location on a vacant 5.33-acre lot at 1805 Justin Road, per the commission agenda. Tesla is requesting exceptions for underground utilities and architectural standards on the project. The commission approved the application with a 6-0 vote.
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3. Community learning garden coming to Tupps Brewery site in east McKinney
The East McKinney Learning Garden, a new collaborative effort between the McKinney Parks Foundation and the city of McKinney, is expected to be completed this fall, according to a presentation at a July 27 McKinney Community Development Corp. board meeting.
Bruce Mead, a McKinney Parks Foundation board member, began looking into the idea of creating a learning garden in late 2022.
The project is intended to be an effort to help address food insecurity in the McKinney area, he said. Mead took inspiration from other local community garden projects, such as Community Garden Kitchen and Shiloh Field Community Garden.
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4. DART to provide ‘enhanced service’ with 100 new security officers
Dallas Area Rapid Transit plans to add more than 100 transit security officers to its fleet, the agency announced July 25.
The new security officers will provide “enhanced service” on DART’s light rail vehicles and platforms, along with the Trinity Railway Express, according to a news release. They will focus on monitoring violations to DART’s code of conduct and any unlawful activities on DART property.
The officers will add to DART’s already existing staff of 252 DART police officers and fare enforcement offers. Funded by the agency's Ridership Improvement Funds, the program will cost $15.3 million in its first year, a DART spokesperson said.
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5. More than 1,400 events planned this winter in Grapevine, Christmas Capital of Texas
Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas, is gearing up for the holiday season this July.
The Grapevine Convention and Visitor Bureau announced that tickets go on sale July 25 for a variety of events later this year. There will be more than 1,400 events this holiday season spanning 40 days in Grapevine. Great Wolf Lodge will announce its Snowland plans at a later date, according to a news release.
Tickets that will be available for purchase include:
- North Pole Express: Co-presented by Trinity Metro TEXRail and Great Wolf Lodge, riders head to the North Pole on this trip on the train.
- Peace Plaza Ice Rink: Skate under the stars next to a 50-foot live Christmas tree at Harvest Hall.
- Live Christmas performances at the Historic Palace Theatre: Watch The Texas Tenors, the "Nutcracker," Kraig Parker’s Elvis Christmas show, Elton & Cher’s Christmas show and, new this year, "Reba — The Christmas Tribute."
