Chili cookoff spices up Carrollton American Legion

Joe Johnson adds extra venison to his venison chili with anchovy adobe sauce and ghost pepper.

12 cooks lined a wall at the Carrollton veterans organization, bringing homemade chilis ranging from sweet and spicy to mild with venison. Cups were stacked beside the warm slow cookers, with chili …

Hiatus Day Spa expands in Addison with new spa, planned headquarters

Hiatus Day Spa employees and community representatives celebrate the spa's new Addison location during a Metrocrest Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting Sept. 28. The spa opened Sept. 5 in Town Hall Square at 5310 Belt Line Road.

Hiatus Day Spa • Med Spa celebrated the opening of its new Addison location Monday with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Metrocrest Area Chamber of Commerce. The spa, located at 5310 Belt Line …

Carrollton renews $1.2 million Flock contract amid resident concerns

Carrollton Police Commander Zach White discusses the city's use of Flock Safety technology during the Sept. 15 Carrollton City Council meeting. Police officials told the council the technology helps the department respond to crime amid staffing constraints and that officers must independently verify automated license plate reader alerts before taking action.

Carrollton renewed a nearly $1.2 million contract for 82 Flock Safety cameras as a group of residents continues to press city leaders for greater oversight and transparency over the police …

Internet gap affects 1 in 10 Farmers Branch children, Census estimates show

A student works on a laptop in a library. Local libraries offer free Wi-Fi and computer access for students and families who do not have reliable internet access at home.

More than 1 in 10 children in Farmers Branch live in a household without an internet subscription, nearly twice the statewide rate, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. …

Local News

Farmers Branch water, sewer rates to rise 12% Nov. 1

Beginning November 1, water and sewer rates will increase by 12%. The adjustment is necessary to align rates with the true cost of providing water and wastewater services and to provide resources for …

Metrocrest Services to host financial forum for small businesses

Businesses are invited to a free financial forum Oct. 12 at Metrocrest Services in Carrollton. Metrocrest Services, in partnership with Liberty Capital Bank, will host the Small Business …

Addison invites residents behind the scenes of town development

The Town of Addison's Development Services division is launching its first Development 101 Planning Academy, a three-session course designed to help residents understand how land use decisions are …

Competitive Camera to come to Farmers Branch

One of the largest camera shops in North Texas, Competitive Camera, is moving locations to Farmers Branch after 27 years at Dallas’ Design District. The doors of the nearly 9000 square-foot …

A video shoot at a local fitness center captures content for digital marketing. Maverick Digital recommends businesses use real photos and locally focused content to strengthen their online presence and visibility in search results.

Local SEO in Dallas

It's 6:47 p.m. on a Tuesday in July. It's 102 degrees outside, and a Dallas homeowner's AC just quit. They grab their phone and type: "emergency AC repair near me." Google shows three businesses …

CFBISD outlines plan to address $24 million budget deficit

Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) has launched a new website outlining its financial challenges and plans to reduce spending as declining student enrollment and rising …

CFBISD Board of Trustees members, Superintendent Dr. Wendy Eldredge, Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne and state Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez break ground on the new Farmers Branch Elementary School. The campus, funded through the district’s $716 million bond package approved by voters in 2023, will replace the original school, which opened in 1967.

Farmers Branch Elementary breaks ground on next chapter

For nearly 60 years, Farmers Branch Elementary has been a place where generations of students have learned, grown and made memories. On Monday morning, the school began writing its next chapter as …

Garland native A’jaLynn Bostic, a four-time Texas state champion in powerlifting, is among the inaugural recruits for Dallas College’s women’s flag football program. Bostic will join the Richland Thunderducks as six Dallas College campuses prepare to field teams, with the first regular season scheduled to begin Feb. 19, 2027.

Dallas College launches women’s flag football at six campuses

Dallas College is launching a collegiate women's flag football program in Texas, as women's flag football surges nationwide and prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. …

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Business

Office rivalries head outdoors for Addison Corporate Field Day

Addison businesses will have a chance to trade desks and conference rooms for some friendly competition when Corporate Field Day returns Oct. 15. Hosted by Addison Parks and Recreation as part …

The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey is open through Nov. 13 to for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The confidential survey asks business owners about their recent challenges, financing experiences and outlook for the future. The Metrocrest Area Chamber is a partner in this year’s nationwide survey.

Local small businesses invited to weigh in on financing, economic outlook

The Metrocrest Area Chamber is partnering with the Federal Reserve System to draw responses to the 2026 Small Business Credit Survey, a nationwide effort to better understand the financial challenges …

Maverick Digital advertisement appears on a screen inside a North Texas fitness center. The Carrollton-based company operates an indoor billboard network in gyms, restaurants, retail businesses and medical offices throughout the area.

Dominating the Dallas market

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is experiencing unprecedented economic expansion. From the corporate high-rises of Downtown Dallas to the bustling retail corridors of North Dallas, Carrollton, and …

The Metrocrest Area Chamber's 2026 Annual Golf Classic will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrollton. This year's tournament, presented by M&A Technology, will also collect new clothing and hygiene items to benefit students and families through the CFBISD Educational Foundation.

Metrocrest Chamber Golf Classic tees off Sept. 23

The Metrocrest Area Chamber will bring together golfers and local business leaders for its 2026 Metrocrest Annual Golf Classic on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrollton. …

Physical-digital ads can help local businesses overcome ad fatigue by capturing foot traffic.

The death of the social ad

Across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, business owners face a bleak digital marketing reality: traditional social media advertising is yielding fewer conversions at unprecedented costs. Over the …

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Families can celebrate fall at Carrollton’s annual Perry Pumpkin Patch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum. The free event will include a petting zoo, face painting, children’s crafts, vendors and fall-themed photo opportunities.

Carrollton fills October calendar with pumpkins, music, Halloween events

Carrollton has a full slate of community events planned for October, including fall festivals, live music, recreation programs, public safety classes and Halloween activities. Perry Pumpkin …

More lifestyle

Young pickleball players take to the court at a Pickleball Central event. The Junior PPA Tour will select players for its new 14-and-under and 18-and-under development teams following the Junior Pickleball World Championships, Nov. 5-8, at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch.

Young pickleball players to compete for spots on new elite team at Brookhaven

The Carvana Junior PPA Tour has announced the formation of the Junior PPA Select Team, a premier development pathway aimed at identifying, training and elevating the next generation of elite …

Harley investigates the scents at a dog park. His reactive behavior sometimes meant his owner had to focus on keeping everyone safe, leaving an occasional pile of poop behind.

We've all been there: An honest talk about dog poop

I'll start with a confession. I have left dog poop behind. My black lab, Harley, took his business seriously. He'd put his head down and sniff every blade of grass and every fallen leaf, taking …

Spectators watch competition during the Toys “R” Us PPA Finals at Life Time Rancho San Clemente in San Clemente, California, in May. Professional and amateur pickleball competition returns to Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch Nov. 2-8.

Amateur pickleball players can register for November tournament at Brookhaven Country Club

Local pickleball players have until Oct. 26 to register to compete when professional and amateur pickleball returns to Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch this November. The Opendoor …

Pumpkins in a variety of colors and sizes bring a touch of fall to the season. Carrollton’s upcoming events include the Perry Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 10.

Around Carrollton: Book sale, fall festivities and free CPR training ahead

Carrollton residents can shop for used books, catch live music downtown, celebrate fall at the Perry Homestead Museum or learn how to perform CPR during a full slate of city programs and events over …

Michael Fazende of UrbanTail deodorizes a yard after completing an initial cleanup. Free yard deodorizing is included with every first cleanup and gives the team another chance to check the yard for anything they may have missed.

The first visit: What actually happens when you call UrbanTail

There's a moment almost every new customer goes through before they ever call us. It usually sounds something like this: "I should be able to handle this myself." I understand that feeling …

Rediscover the lost secrets of history, one mystery at a time

(BPT) - Where is Alexander the Great really buried? What led to the disappearance of the dodo? And how much do we truly know about the Neolithic cultures that shaped the earliest chapters of human …

5 Meaningful Holiday Gifts That Give Back All Year

(BPT) - The holidays are approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about what you'll give your loved ones. This year, go beyond traditional presents and give your friends and family a …

How to stay healthier this year: Schedule your flu shot

(BPT) - It's that time of year again: Temperatures are dropping, kids are heading back to school — and cold and flu season isn't far behind. To help you and your family stay healthier this fall …

5 Insurance Company Tactics That Could Shrink Your Injury Claim

(NewsUSA) - After a car crash, dealing with injuries, medical appointments and vehicle repairs can be overwhelming enough. Then comes another challenge: dealing with insurance companies.While …

Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent?

Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.