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Whose Books' Anniversary Celebration Promotes Reading Culture in Dallas

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Whose Books' Anniversary Celebration Promotes Reading Culture in Dallas


Whose Books in Oak Cliff is marking its third anniversary Saturday, November 9, with Shelf Shuffle, a communal celebration and book drive benefiting Activating Reading Communities Organization (ARCO), the nonprofit overseen by Whose Books founder Claudia Vega. ARCO will also be celebrating by offering discounts for Whose Books customers, prizes, and vendors for attendees to enjoy.

“Whose Books [is] a social impact, independent bookstore that handles…the retail piece of the book selling, right? And then our nonprofit arm is ARCO, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that handles all of the programming, all of the community outreach, [and] all of our gifting of books into the community,” says Vega, explaining the relationship between the two organizations.

Vega sees the two-pronged approach of engaging with the community through both Whose Books and ARCO as critical to fulfilling the mission statement she and her husband, John, set for themselves when they originally opened their store in a small space in Tyler Station. They had spent 20-plus years working as Dallas educators. “I think my husband and I had always had this…dream of opening up a bookstore for our community,” she says. “We both grew up here in Oak Cliff, and reading was a really big part of both of our lives as children.”

They were aware, though, that not everyone had the same access to books that they did growing up. Working in education frequently reminded them of this fact. “It was just very inconsistent in Oak Cliff for a long time with what kind of book access and book ownership access there was,” she says.

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The Vegas identified the root cause of the reading challenges facing their community. They built their store to promote a culture of reading for residents. They put together a plan to use Whose Books to tackle these issues of access head-on. Their initial idea was met with some skepticism, though. “We got a lot of…side glances and weird comments and people who didn’t want to lease to us,” Claudia Vega recalls. They were told that unless they sold alcohol, the store would not be successful. The skeptics told them that Oak Cliff already had The Wild Detectives, so another bookshop would be redundant.

“Wild Detectives is a great bookstore,” says Vega. “We love it. But what we were trying to create was something different, right? Something that was more family-centered and community-facing and that centered primarily on reading culture and books, not coffee and alcohol. And it wasn’t easy, but we were fortunate enough that we found an incubator space over at Tyler Station to…launch things and test it out.”

In 2021, Whose Books opened in Tyler Station in the central Oak Cliff neighborhood of Elmwood. The community response, Vega recalls, was overwhelmingly positive. It outgrew the space, and in 2023 they relocated the shop to its current location in Bishop Arts. After the move, Vega launched ARCO to execute on Whose Books’ mission in new ways.

“One of the things that we realized really, really quickly was that we were going to need to do more than just have the bookstore,” says the founder. “We were going to need to have a very focused, mission-driven effort in the form of a nonprofit.” 

Vega says about half of the people they interacted with were already readers who were excited to support Whose Books, but they also had a number of patrons who she recalls “were curious and who [were] maybe new to reading, that [had] never been in a bookstore before and didn’t really know how to engage with it…but wanted to.”

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Since its founding a year ago, the nonprofit arm, ARCO, has been busy. “We’ve had over 100 free community-facing, literary-focused events this year,” says Vega, who serves as the nonprofit’s executive director. “That [includes] story time, author events, book clubs, community, and conversations, but all centered somehow on literature or a book.” 

ARCO has donated over 2,000 books through many of its programs. “We’ve made this huge kind of impact in getting people talking about and engaging with books in our community that previously hadn’t, and it really has been beautiful.”

Shelf Shuffle represents the next evolutionary step for Whose Books and ARCO.

“We’re encouraging people to bring us donated books that are gently used,” says Vega. “We are asking for books that are from 2019 on, with an emphasis on BIPOC stories and voices. That’s a big part of what ARCO does, is to really uplift inclusion and representation in literature, knowing that if people see themselves in the literature, they’re more likely to engage with it.” 

The book drive will also help ARCO expand its scope of influence. “We have people in other parts of the community, other ZIP codes that we engage with and say, you know, we really want some book access there. Well, then these donated books will give us an opportunity to help and go put books in these locations.”

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ARCO employs “pay what you can” format for the used books, and any proceeds help cover the costs of free storytime events and book giveaways. The event will also feature a live jazz band, as well as a handful of “coffee and populist vendors” according to Vega, who says the ultimate objective is “creating a community space for people to come together and to engage with each other in a way that’s festive, but also helps to uplift literature.” 

The Saturday, November 9, anniversary celebration at Whose Books is scheduled from 11 AM to 2 PM. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP for free here. 512 W. Davis St.

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Hip-hop hitmaker Cardi B coming to AAC in Dallas

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Hip-hop hitmaker Cardi B coming to AAC in Dallas


Cardi B, one of hip-hop’s most outsize personalities — and one of its most reliable hitmakers — is coming to Dallas.

The New York City-born rapper broke through in 2017 with the hit single “Bodak Yellow,” launching a chart-topping run that soon included “I Like It” and the blockbuster hit “WAP.” Her Grammy-winning debut album, Invasion of Privacy, cemented her as a defining voice in contemporary rap, blending brash humor, confessional storytelling and club-ready production.

The 33-year-old’s success helped boost the profile of women in a genre long dominated by men, encouraging record labels to sign more female rappers. She has frequently teamed up with rising female artists, including GloRilla, FendiDa Rappa and “WAP” collaborator Megan Thee Stallion.

Cardi’s stop at American Airlines Center is part of the arena run supporting her second studio album, 2025’s Am I the Drama? Recent shows in the “Little Miss Drama Tour” have leaned into spectacle, with elaborate staging, surprise guest appearances and a set list that spans her entire career.

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Fans can expect a high-energy performance built around booming trap beats, pop hooks and Cardi’s signature unfiltered banter — the same mix that has helped her sell out dates across the tour and turn concerts into party-like events.

DETAILS: March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Tickets start at $334.10, but some verified resale tickets are cheaper. ticketmaster.com.

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Pop legend Diana Ross performs March 7 at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

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OTHER CONCERTS

Bluesy psychedelic rock band All Them Witches performs March 7 at House of Blues Dallas.

Bluesy psychedelic rock band All Them Witches performs March 7 at House of Blues Dallas.

Travis Pinson

ALL THEM WITCHES March 7 at 8 p.m. at House of Blues Dallas. ticketmaster.com.

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DIANA ROSS March 7 at 8 p.m. at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. winstar.com.

RICH BRIAN March 7 at 8 p.m. at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum. axs.com.

TRACE ADKINS March 7 at 10 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. billybobstexas.com.

AFROJACK March 8 at 3 p.m. at It’ll Do Club in Deep Ellum. eventbrite.com.

LITHE March 8 at 8 p.m. at House of Blues Dallas. ticketmaster.com.

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CONAN GRAY March 10 at 8 p.m. at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. ticketmaster.com.

MATISYAHU March 10 at 8 p.m. at the Granada Theater in Dallas. prekindle.com.

OUR LADY PEACE, WITH THE VERVE PIPE March 12 at 8 p.m. at Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall in Fort Worth. ticketmaster.com.

PAUL WALL March 12 at 9 p.m. and March 13 at 10 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. billybobstexas.com.



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GOP candidates for Texas House face off in Collin County, Park Cities, North Dallas

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GOP candidates for Texas House face off in Collin County, Park Cities, North Dallas


The fiercest legislative primary fights Tuesday in North Texas were inside the GOP.

In Dallas County, two moderate GOP incumbent representatives faced challengers after being censured by their own county party.

In Collin County, several Republican state House members were fending off rivals running to their right.

The Dallas Morning News will provide live election results this evening when the polls close at 7 p.m. Results will be updated throughout the evening for statewide races and Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant counties.

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Dallas County, House District 108

Republican Morgan Meyer, first elected in 2014, was challenged by attorney Sanjay Narayan in a district that includes the Park Cities, Oak Lawn and Preston Hollow.

Narayan criticized Meyer for backing renewable energy expansion and for being censured by the Dallas GOP last year.

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Meyer was among House Republicans targeted after disputes over the House speaker vote and chamber rules. He and other lawmakers called the censure effort unconstitutional.

In the campaign, Meyer focused on property tax relief and emergency preparedness after the Camp Mystic tragedy.

Small business owner Allison Mitchell is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Dallas County, House District 112

Republican Angie Chen Button, who has represented the district covering parts of Dallas, Richardson and Garland since 2009, drew three primary opponents.

Button has highlighted her support for small businesses and public schools and her bipartisan record. A senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, she would play a key role in the state’s property tax debate if reelected.

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Dallas-area delegation in the Texas House of Representatives on Sunday, May 30, 2021, showing State Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Garland, in the chamber.

Bob Daemmrich / Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto

Opponents Chad Carnahan and Tina Price attacked Button for being censured by the Dallas GOP last year, a move she and other lawmakers have criticized as an internal party power struggle.

Carnahan, a businessman, said he wants to lower property taxes and prevent Shariah in Texas.

Price said she would improve public schools and spur the re-use of old buildings. Also in the GOP race: Perry E. Barker Sr.

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Democrat Zach Herbert was unopposed.

Collin County, House District 61

Two Republicans are seeking to represent the district that covers most of McKinney and parts of Frisco and Celina.

Incumbent Keresa Richardson, who was elected in 2024, and former state Rep. Frederick Frazier both support eliminating property taxes.

Richardson, an entrepreneur, said she would expand the Texas voucher-like program for education.

Frazier, a former police officer and McKinney City Council member, was more cautious about expanding the program.

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Frederick Frazier speaks as Rep. Keresa Richardson looks on during a candidate forum for...

Frederick Frazier speaks as Rep. Keresa Richardson looks on during a candidate forum for Republicans in Collin County ahead of the March primary election at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Anja Schlein / Special Contributor

Two political newcomers, Jackie Bescherer and Brittany Black, are running in the Democratic primary. Both oppose Texas’ voucher program and vow to increase public education funding.

Collin County, House District 67

Republican Rep. Jeff Leach, first elected in 2012, faces Matt Thorsen in a district that includes parts of Plano, Allen, McKinney and Melissa.

Leach has highlighted his conservative record, including legislation barring Shariah in Texas courts. He also served as a House impeachment manager during Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 2023 trial, a role he has defended amid backlash from activists.

Thorsen, a small business owner and former youth pastor, helped lead the effort to censure Leach last year. He has criticized Leach’s impeachment role and accused him of siding with Democrats on House rules.

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Both support eliminating property taxes, expanding education savings accounts and oppose the development formerly known as EPIC City. Two Democrats are also running, though the district has leaned Republican.

Collin County, House District 70

Three Republicans are competing for the nomination to run against incumbent Democrat Mihaela Plesa, who is running unopposed in her party’s primary.

Democrat Mihaela Plesa responds to questions during a District 70 Candidate Forum hosted by...

Democrat Mihaela Plesa responds to questions during a District 70 Candidate Forum hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas at Plano ISD Academy High School in Plano on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

Liesbeth Powers / Staff Photographer

George Flint, a former district judge and Collin County Republican Party Chair, emphasized eliminating property taxes and securing the border in his campaign.

Jack Ryan Gallagher, an attorney, said he would attract companies to North Texas, improve public schools and partner with local law enforcement if elected.

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Michael Hewitt, an attorney, said he would gradually lower property taxes and work to keep Texas a business-friendly state.

The district includes parts of Plano, Richardson and Far North Dallas.



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Dallas Fed says ‘older, experienced workers’ likely have less cause for concern about AI job displacement

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Dallas Fed says ‘older, experienced workers’ likely have less cause for concern about AI job displacement


Artificial intelligence hasn’t yet triggered the broad job losses many feared — at least not for experienced workers.

That’s the takeaway from a new analysis by J. Scott Davis, an assistant vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, who examined employment and wage trends in industries most exposed to artificial intelligence.

Davis argues the data tell a more nuanced story — one that’s challenging the traditional career ladder, and helping older employees earn a bit more.

Since ChatGPT’s debut in late 2022, overall US employment has risen about 2.5%, according to Davis’ analysis, which uses an AI exposure index developed by researchers and published in the Strategic Management Journal. At the same time, employment in the sectors most exposed to AI has slipped by roughly 1%.

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Wages tell a different story. The average weekly pay nationwide has climbed 7.5% since fall 2022. And across the most AI-exposed industries, wages have grown faster, up 8.5%.

If AI were simply replacing workers, both employment and wages would likely be falling, Davis wrote.

Instead, Davis points to a divide between “codified” knowledge — the kind learned from textbooks and in university courses — and “tacit” knowledge gained from hands-on work experience.

“Returns on job experience are increasing in AI-exposed occupations,” Davis wrote. “Young workers with primarily codifiable knowledge and limited experience will likely face challenging job markets.”

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, his analysis found that the occupations most exposed to AI tend to offer larger pay premiums for experienced workers.

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In roles with less hands-on experience, AI exposure is associated with weaker wage growth, he wrote.

Workers under 25 in AI-exposed industries have also experienced employment declines, according to Davis’ analysis.

“There appears to be less cause for concern about widespread job displacement for older, experienced workers,” he wrote.

A less dire picture… so far

The findings offer a counterpoint to the more apocalyptic predictions about AI’s impact on the labor market.

Last week, Citrini Research published a memo, written from the hypothetical perspective in 2028, that theorized how AI could crush the US jobs market and trigger a broad-based market collapse.

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“What if our AI bullishness continues to be right…and what if that’s actually bearish?” the memo asked.

Top executives inside the AI companies are worried about jobs, too.

Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, the company that runs Claude, warned that AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level office jobs. OpenAI’s head of product, Olivier Godement, said the life sciences, customer service, and computer engineering industries were all about to get automated. And Boris Cherny, the creator of Claude Code, said that he doesn’t believe the job title “software engineer” will exist next year.

For now, at least, the Dallas Fed paints a different picture of today’s jobs market. It points to less mass displacement and market ruptures — and more power for employees who already have their foot in the door.

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