Dallas, TX
Study: Plano the 2nd happiest city in the country, while Dallas checks in near the bottom
A sprawling Dallas suburb is one of the happiest places in the country, according to a new study.
SmartAsset set out to find where Americans are happiest, and the financial technology firm concluded that Plano is the nation’s second-happiest, just behind Arlington, Virginia.
No other Texas cities cracked the top 25. The closest is Fort Worth at No. 38, and Arlington is the 47th happiest place. Dallas is downright morose at the 11th least happy city in the country. Houston is even sadder as the 10th least happy city.
What gives? SmartAsset evaluated cities by 11 variables in personal finance, well being and quality of life. Measures included the marriage rate, average traffic volume, percent of households earning more than $100,000, share of residents below the poverty line, life expectancy and number of residents who report being physically inactive.
“Money can’t always buy happiness,” SmartAsset wrote. “However, quality of life can influence your financial decisions and outcomes.”
Plano scored exceptionally well across the board. More than 52% of its households earn more than $100,000, and only 4.9% live below the poverty line, which is $31,200 for a family of four. In 2022, the median household income in Plano was about $105,000, according to the U.S. Census.
Compare that to Laredo, called the second-least happy city in the country, where only 26% of households earn more than $100,000 and 20% live below the poverty line. The median household income in 2022 was roughly $60,000.
Plano’s life expectancy is 82.2, compared to 78.3 in Dallas. The suburb’s marriage rate is 56%, significantly higher than Dallas’ 39.7%. Roughly 90% of Plano residents have health insurance compared to only 74% in Laredo.
This isn’t the first time Plano has received attention for just how happy it is. In 2022, it was named the 6th happiest city in the U.S. It has also been named one of the safest cities and one of the best places to raise a family.
If you’re looking for the happiest state, though, you’ll have to head to California, where three of its cities landed in the top 10.
Dallas, TX
Dallas weighs $500 million‑plus repair plans as City Hall’s future comes up for debate
Dallas, TX
Dallas weather: Flash flooding strands vehicles near DFW Airport after heavy rain
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Dallas, TX
Dallas Cowboys’ Path To NFC East Crown Gets Easier After June 1 NFL Trade Frenzy
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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