The Back Nine Golf location officially opened at Hickory Creek Plaza in Denton in late December, owner James Price said.

The details: The Back Nine Golf is a chain of golf simulators that offers booths where golfers can practice their game indoors in a simulated environment, according to the company’s website.

The Denton location features a 140-square-foot putting green and four golf simulator bays, one of which is a private suite, Price said. The company offers membership packages, and non-members can rent a bay for $50 per hour.

• Opened in late December
• 5017 Teasley Lane, Ste. 121, Denton

Several city of Denton road projects near the University of North Texas were supposed to wrap up at the beginning of January have been pushed back, city officials confirmed.

Take a look at five transportation updates in Denton.

Ongoing projects
Alice Street
Project: The street is receiving utility installations and pavement replacement along with the replacement of pavement, curb, gutter, and any sidewalks from Crescent Street to Panhandle Street.
Update: Water main and sewer lateral installation continue on Alice Street with tie-ins scheduled for the beginning of February. The estimated completion date for the utility installation is Jan. 30, not the original Jan. 9 completion date.

• Timeline: May 2025-June 2026
• Cost: part of $50 million road update for 2019 Bond Neighborhoods 2 & 6 project
• Funding source: city of Denton 2019 Bond Program

Pennsylvania-based Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop is set to open a new location in Flower Mound.

What they offer: The candy store sells candy, including in bulk, international snacks, chocolates, toys, over 350 glass-bottled sodas and games, according to a news release. The Flower Mound location will also serve hand-scooped ice cream, milkshakes and floats.

Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop also offers its $5 candy buffet, which allows customers to fit as much candy into a box for a fixed price, according to its website.

Before you go: Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop doors will open at 4:05 p.m. on its first day in business, according to the news release.

• 650 Parker Square, Flower Mound

Construction for the 2026 FIFA World Cup's International Broadcasting Center has started and is among other projects recently filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Here are five of the most expensive permits filed with TDLR in the past week.

1. Harmon Road Apartments: A 3,143-square-foot leasing office in north Fort Worth is scheduled to begin construction in March of this year, according to a TDLR filing. The apartments will be located off US 287 near the Chisholm Ridge.

• Location: 1701 E. Harmon Road, Fort Worth
• Estimated timeline: March 1, 2026-Aug. 1, 2027
• Estimated cost: $41 million

Three Democratic candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad R. Hassan and James Talarico are competing for the Democratic nomination for a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

The details: Each state has two U.S. senators, with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn currently representing Texas. Cornyn, whose seat is up for election, is running for reelection in an eight-way Republican primary.

The winning Democratic candidate will face the winner of the Republican nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.

Eight Republican candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Republican incumbent John Cornyn is seeking a fifth term as Texas' senior senator. Each state has two U.S. senators—Cornyn currently serves alongside Republican Ted Cruz.

Seven Republican candidates are challenging Cornyn for the Republican nomination: John O. Adefope, Anna Bender, Virgil John Bierschwale, Sara Canady, Wesley Hunt, Gulrez “Gus” Khan and Ken Paxton.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Republican primary, a runoff election will be held between the two top vote-getters on May 26.

Looking ahead: The winning Republican candidate will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.