Dallas, TX
Dallas should be the leader in supporting DART
As North Texas grows, Dallas should take the lead in mobility and public transportation. That means staying committed to Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
Instead, Dallas is leading in the wrong direction. The city has talked about using DART funds to cover massive pension obligations. Similar talks continued at a Government Performance and Financial Management Committee meeting last month, when council members approved a legislative priority to “seek restructuring of DART sales tax contribution.”
The full City Council will discuss the proposal and vote on it this fall. Council members didn’t commit to much, and deliberately left the language open-ended so it can be fleshed out in later discussions.
Still, we don’t like where this conversation is going. Plano’s and Rowlett’s city councils have already passed resolutions in support of cutting sales tax funding to DART.
Dallas-Fort Worth’s population is projected to keep growing by huge margins for the next couple of decades, adding millions of jobs in the process, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Not only can DART continue to help drive economic development as it has for decades, it can also help move a growing workforce while reducing congestion on already crowded roads, making the region more competitive. And for those without access to cars, DART’s services are critical.
Dallas residents depend on DART far more than those from neighboring suburbs, with over 70% of riders hailing from the city, according to a May memo. How DART is treated around the horseshoe should reflect that.
Make no mistake, DART has work to do. During the pandemic, between fiscal years 2019 and 2021, DART’s ridership nearly halved, down from just over 70 million to about 36 million, according to a DART spokesperson. Since then, ridership has crept back upward, with DART providing around 50 million rides across all modes of transportation last fiscal year.
Total ridership at the end of this fiscal year is projected to be about 58 million, a DART spokesperson said. Reaching that number would represent good progress, but would still leave room for improvement.
From the 26-mile Silver Line that will stretch from Plano to DFW International Airport to added security, cleaning crews and a system modernization program that will see 95 light rail vehicles and 522 buses replaced, among other upgrades, DART has invested millions over the last few years to boost ridership and improve service. Those efforts appear to be working and deserve time to play out.
The answer to DART’s troubles should not be disinvestment but instead to work with the agency on long-term solutions. Billions have been invested in DART over the years. Treating that as a sunk cost would be incredibly shortsighted.
DART and its member cities can still help each other grow, and Dallas can set an example. In a city committed to an equality of opportunity DART can help provide, that should be a no-brainer.
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Dallas, TX
Triggered Fire Alarm Evacuates Dallas Love Field, Disrupts Flights And Security Screening
Dallas Love Field airport in Dallas, Texas | Image by Markus Mainka/Shutterstock.
A triggered fire alarm forced the evacuation of Dallas Love Field on Tuesday afternoon, disrupting air traffic, halting security screening, and causing widespread flight delays.
According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, crews responded around 2:09 p.m. after a fire alarm was activated in the airport’s main terminal. The first arriving engine company reported “overheating equipment,” which officials later identified as a malfunction involving an HVAC unit. Fire officials said there was no fire, smoke, or injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop for Dallas Love Field shortly after 2 p.m., which was lifted later in the afternoon. According to FlightAware, at least 87 flights were delayed during the disruption.
Dallas Love Field acknowledged the incident publicly as crews were responding.
🚨 Dallas Fire Rescue is responding to a fire alarm at DAL. For your safety, please follow the airport staff’s instructions. We will provide updates as they become available from DFR. Thank you for your understanding. pic.twitter.com/IHNbEwdhp6
— Dallas Love Field Airport (@DallasLoveField) January 13, 2026
“Dallas Fire Rescue is responding to a fire alarm at DAL. For your safety, please follow the airport staff’s instructions. We will provide updates as they become available from DFR. Thank you for your understanding,” the airport’s official account posted on X at 2:24 p.m. on January 13.
Airport officials later said the alarm had been cleared and that security screening was reopening, though passengers were warned to expect continued delays as operations normalized.
“UPDATE: Dallas Fire-Rescue has cleared the alarm, and the TSA screening queue is reopening. The cause of the alarm is under investigation. Passengers may experience delays during security screening, so please be patient. Thank you for your understanding,” the airport X account posted on X at 2:56 p.m. on January 13.
As the evacuation unfolded, travelers turned to social media seeking information about flight status and diversions. One user said their flight had been diverted and asked when aircraft would be allowed to land again. The airport account responded by directing passengers to the FAA’s ground stop status page.
Videos posted online appeared to show long lines of passengers waiting both inside and outside airport facilities as the evacuation and re-screening process played out. As of Tuesday evening, some departing flights — including Southwest Airlines flights scheduled to major hubs such as New York and Atlanta — were still listed on FlightAware as delayed or delayed but en route, though it was not immediately clear whether all of those delays were directly caused by the alarm.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said the HVAC issue was left to airport maintenance, and units remained on scene while the situation was assessed, according to a local television report.
Dallas, TX
Eagles Sign TE With Dallas Goedert’s Future Up In Air
In typical Philadelphia Eagles fashion, the franchise has been busy, transaction-wise, over the last few days.
The Eagles were knocked out in the Wild Card Round by the San Francisco 49ers and have started getting ready for the long offseason ahead. That already includes a lot. The Eagles signed eight to reserve/futures deals on Monday. That’s not even close to all, though. On Tuesday, the Eagles announced that the franchise has removed Kevin Patullo as the team’s offensive coordinator after a roller coaster of a season offensively.
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On top of that, the Eagles announced three more futures deals on Tuesday. Philadelphia announced that it has signed tight end E.J. Jenkins, offensive tackle John Ojukwu, and running back Carson Steele to reserve/futures deals. Of this group, Jenkins arguably is the most interesting.
The Eagles were busy on Tuesday
“The Eagles signed three players to future deals: tight end E.J. Jenkins, tackle John Ojukwu, and running back Carson Steele,” the Eagles announced. “Philadelphia has now signed 11 players to future contracts after inking eight on Monday. TE E.J. Jenkins. Jenkins signed with the Jets after going undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2023. The tight end first joined Philadelphia’s practice squad in 2023 and spent the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Eagles. He has played in 10 games for the Birds, two this past season, taking his only NFL catch for a touchdown.”
Philadelphia’s tight end room is completely up in the air heading into the offseason. Dallas Goedert is a pending free agent after spending the last eight seasons with the team. Goedert was third on the team with 60 catches, to go along with 591 yards and a team-leading 11 touchdown receptions.
The tight end on the team with the next-closest number of receptions was Grant Calcaterra with nine for 76 yards and a touchdown. Kylen Granson had seven catches for 40 yards. The Eagles don’t have a long-term solution in place at tight end. Calcaterra and Granson are also free agents this offseason, like Goedert.
Jenkins is 27 years old and has just one catch for seven yards and a touchdown while appearing in 10 games for Philadelphia. He’s likely not the long-term answer either, but with Goedert, Calcaterra, and Granson all heading to free agency, keeping at least one potential option with the team throughout the offseason is positive.
Tight end arguably is the position to watch for Philadelphia this offseason.
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Dallas, TX
FC Dallas Opens Preseason as Eric Quill Sets the Tone
FC Dallas officially opened preseason this week, with manager Eric Quill beginning his second full season in charge of the club. On Monday, players and coaches took to the training pitch at the Toyota Soccer Center for the first time in 2026 as preparations for the upcoming MLS season got underway.
“It feels like you’re a kid again. Even as I coach, I don’t touch the ball, but to be able to touch the grass and see the youthful exuberance, energy, and the guys getting back with their chemistry, it’s really fun,” said Quill. “It’s a lot of fun; the hour goes by fast. I’m just looking forward to the whole season.”
For players like forward Logan Farrington, there was a relief to be back on the pitch after a couple of months away from Frisco.
“The first day, I think everyone is happy to be out there on the grass with one another,” said Farrington. “The weather was great today, the ball was flying around. There were a couple of loose touches, but that was to be expected. It feels great to be back and have everyone around here.”
In 2025, the club struggled to find consistency in the opening months of the season before turning things around over the final two and a half months of the regular season en route to a playoff appearance. Quill is hoping to take those final two months and expand on that positive momentum into the new season.
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“Last year we were trying to set a foundation, which I think we did,” said Quill when comparing his first preseason last year to this year’s. “Now it is about how we evolve in year two. That is the goal, in the ways we need to evolve and execute that evolution every day.”
Dallas will train in Frisco this week ahead of a trip to Portugal next week, where the club will play a trio of matches before returning home for games against MLS opposition in February — a stretch Quill has emphasized as critical to building cohesion early.
“Every day matters,” stated Quill. “Every day that you walk through the building matters. Also, self-reflect and be your own worst critic, and how you want to get better and improve. How we grow these relationships with all of the new faces, you rely on a lot of leadership to connect the dots of that locker room tightness. As we grow in preseason, it is all about how fast we can become a team.”
For FC Dallas, the message from day one is clear: the work for 2026 has already started, and there’s no time to waste.
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