Catch up on Community Impact’s coverage with the five biggest trending Denton stories from the month of May.
1. Novartis breaks ground on new $280M Denton facility
Pharmaceutical company Novartis broke ground on its new radioligand therapy manufacturing plant May 7 in Denton.
The Novartis plant is the first radioligand therapy, or RLT, manufacturing facility in Texas, according to previous reporting. The pharmaceutical organization will produce drugs for radioligand therapy, a form of targeted radiation used to treat advanced forms of cancer.
Victor Bultó, the Novartis U.S. president, said the partnerships with the city and nearby universities like the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University made the Denton launch possible.
“This will serve patients across the United States,” Bultó said. “This site represents a long-term commitment to operational excellence ... and to the people who will depend on the treatment made here to improve and extend their lives.”
Read more from Editor Gabby Bailey
2. George Ferrie, Erica Garland head to runoff for Denton City Council Place 5
Erica Garland earned 5,848 votes and 48.84%, and George Michael Ferrie received 5,741 votes and 47.94% for Denton City Council at-large Place 5 during the local May 2 election. Both candidates will head to a runoff in June. Caleb Meese received 386 votes, or 3.22%.
Denton election policy dictates that for a candidate to win a City Council election, a candidate must win at least 50% of the vote. If neither candidate earns 50%, a runoff election must be held after official results are canvassed.
The Texas Secretary of State's website states the runoff will be held June 13.
Learn more from Reporter Adam Doe
3. Fat Down BBQ brings smoked meats, homemade sides to Denton
Family-owned restaurant Fat Down BBQ held a soft opening in late March in Denton.
Fat Down BBQ offers slow-smoked meats, homemade sides, sandwiches, catering and a full bar, according to its website.
- Signature menu items include:
- Sliced or chopped brisket
- Smoked sausage
- Pork ribs
- Jalapeño creamed corn
- Mema’s potato salad
Find out more from Editorial Intern Hannah Hoffman
4. Q&A: FixAIRx officials share insight on the importance of checking a home's indoor air quality
Wendy Michaelis and her daughter, Anna Bell, are the owners and operators of FixAIRx, a forensic indoor environmental health company based in Denton County, which is dedicated to assessing the air quality to address complex indoor health concerns.
Elevated mold exposure can affect health, especially for people who are sensitive, allergic, asthmatic, immunocompromised or already dealing with other health concerns, Michaelis said. Damp or moldy buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma concerns, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, respiratory infections and eczema.
“It’s crazy that 13 years ago, I started this company to find solutions for Anna’s asthma. I never expected that this would become our journey together.” Michaelis said.
Community Impact spoke with Michaelis, a licensed mold assessment consultant, on how to monitor a home’s air quality, especially when it comes to mold assessment and mold remediation.
Read the Q&A from Editor Gabby Bailey
5. Data centers rise in Denton
During a Jan. 13 City Council meeting, Denton officials gave the green light to a specific use permit with Qumulus AI to construct and operate a new data center on leased land from the city near Western Boulevard and Jim Christal Road.
This marked the second time in less than two years that City Council leased land to a data center. On Nov. 19, 2024, Denton officials voted to lease a total of 78.85 acres of city land at 8171 Jim Christal Road to Core Scientific to expand its operations in conjunction with Core Weave, a major cloud service provider, according to city documents.
Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth said the city offers a rare combination of city-owned industrial land, reliable municipal power and a talent pool from nearby universities, making Denton a natural location for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
While city officials cited financial benefits of data centers in Denton, residents have raised concerns about the environmental impact and strain on utilities.
Dive deeper with Editor Gabby Bailey
