The Dallas Morning News

The Dallas Morning News food team taste tests and ranks the 10 Big Tex Awards food finalists with the help other journalists from the paper. Think of this as your everyman's guide to the State Fair of Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vape shops in North Texas are selling potentially illegal and dangerous products marketed as kratom over the counter, and one industry advocate says it’s time for authorities to step up enforcement; in other news, after last year’s botched rollout of a new application, the FAFSA form is now available to a select number of students – including a few in Dallas – while most must wait until Dec. 1. The federal college financial aid form typically opens Oct. 1; around four dozen current and former Dallas elected officials and local leaders called on voters Wednesday to reject three proposed city charter changes they say would endanger the city and how it serves residents for years to come; and, in a move surely designed to flood any Nickelodeon-loving millennial with nostalgia, the kids TV network has partnered with restaurants around the country to create real-life versions of the SpongeBob SquarePants Krabby Patty to mark the show’s 25th anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas’ new children’s hospital is getting another $100 million donation toward the construction of a $5 billion pediatric care facility, Children’s Health and UT Southwestern announced Tuesday; While 1 in 4 women in the United States will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime, Langbein said that statistic increases to 1 in 3 in Texas. In Dallas, police statistics show there have been more than 6,600 intimate partner crimes in 2024. Nine were fatal;  Armyworms — named for their tendency to march in troops — have hatched in throngs this fall across North and Central Texas, where they are wreaking havoc. Gardening groups on Facebook are rife with photos of the caterpillars and once-green lawns turned brown. Lawn care companies say they are receiving far more calls than usual, and agricultural organizations have published alerts; and, what makes a taco a great taco? Is it the tortilla? Is it the meat? Is it the salsa? Is it some mysterious secret ingredient?  Surely, you have tried more than one taco in your life. Some have been good, some have not. We asked four North Texas Hispanic restaurateurs to help solve the riddle. These restaurateurs primarily deal in tacos, focusing in on what makes the dish a delicacy worth coming back for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coppell trustees narrowly voted to close its oldest elementary school Monday night, with district leaders lamenting the painful decision as necessary because of a financial squeeze triggered by declining enrollment and stagnant state funding; In other news, Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed Monday to block a ruling that he says prohibits his office from enforcing vote-harvesting restrictions and investigating potential violations. A federal judge ruled Friday that a section of the 2021 law aimed at preventing election fraud in Texas violated the First Amendment by placing “an invalid restriction on speech” and the 14th Amendment’s due process clause by being “unconstitutionally vague.”; a 6-month-old baby taken from her Rockwall home Monday morning was found hours later with her biological parents in Missouri; And how ready are you for the polls? The Texas general election is November fifth. The Dallas Morning News Voter Guide can help you prepare to cast your ballot. Check out the guide today at dallasnews.com/voterguide to compare candidates, get recommendations, and build your own ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Abby McCloskey talks with legendary Dallas news anchor and fellow Dallas Morning News contributing columnist John McCaa about disruptions in the media landscape and which news reports can be trusted in the lead-up to November's election. The site McCaa recommended is www.refdesk.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The county agreed to pay $750,000 to the family of 52 year old Georgia Kay Baldwin, who died in 2021; also, after serving half of her 10-year sentence for murder, former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger became eligible for parole yesterday. Guyger fatally shot Botham Jean in his Cedars apartment in 2018; for more than a month, the Araujo family worked to build a roller coaster in the front yard of their Grapevine home. But after a complaint from a neighbor, they were forced to dismantle it; and how ready are you for the polls? The Texas general election is November fifth. The Dallas Morning News Voter Guide can help you prepare to cast your ballot. Check out the guide today at dallasnews.com/voterguide to compare candidates, get recommendations, and build your own ballot. Visit dallasnews.com/voter guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price says Dallas should consider building its own jail, suggesting it could help lower the near-capacity county jail population. Price told City Council members on Wednesday that space at the over 7,100-person capacity Lew Sterrett Justice Center remains an issue, and he believes the city isn’t paying enough to cover its costs; In other news, when the Texas Railroad Commission was created in 1891, regulating trains was part of its mission. The state agency’s duties have changed but the name has not, which can be confusing, particularly for voters who choose the three commissioners who create many of the rules governing Texas’ fossil fuel industry; And Southwest Airlines economy fare passengers may have to sacrifice some precious legroom to make way for new premium seating sections on many of the carrier’s planes. The company unveiled plans Thursday for new boarding and seating configuration arrangements to accommodate assigned seating in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of the state fair, the DMN food team brought in science fellow Miriam Fauzia to get at just why we love to eat fried food. She shares the "why" and dives into tips to get the most out of your fried food-eating experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attorney General Ken Paxton is making a third attempt at blocking the State Fair of Texas’ new policy that would stop most people from carrying guns at the 24-day event, which begins Friday; In other news, as late summer transitions to fall, North Texas is experiencing significant outbreaks of black crickets. Instead of using pesticides, crickets are repelled by essential oils such as peppermint, citronella or vinegar; the city of Allen clamped down on smoke shops, issuing new regulations within the city. The new ordinance, passed 7-0 at the Tuesday city council meeting, limits locations and outlines rules regarding minors and criminal activity on the premises; and  so much for keeping the lovely Garden Cafe in Dallas a secret. TikToker Stephanie Camillee, who runs an account called Your Dallas Guide shared a video that’s been viewed nearly 200,000 times about Old East Dallas gem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An appeals court on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to reject Attorney General Ken Paxton’s latest attempt to block the State Fair of Texas from banning most people from attending while carrying guns. The 15th District Court of Appeals ruling in Austin means the fair’s new policy allowing only elected, appointed, or employed peace officers to bring firearms onto the fairgrounds is still in effect starting Friday, when the annual event begins in South Dallas’ Fair Park; In other news, Dallas-based Invitation Homes has agreed to pay a proposed $48 million settlement after the company was accused of “unlawful actions against customers.” That’s according to a  Federal Trade Commission announcement Tuesday; many Dallas council members were concerned Monday when they learned tiny homes or sanctioned parking lots — places where people experiencing homelessness can stay temporarily— could add five months to the time providers spend rehoming people; and Dallas Trinity FC new head coach Pauline MacDonald is finally with the team after having visa issues. MacDonald will coach her first game today when Trinity visits Brooklyn FC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices