Richardson has seen a number of Middle Eastern restaurants and cafes open in the last several months, primarily in the south area of the city.

The details: Much of the new restaurant growth can be found in several shopping centers that primarily focus on Middle Eastern and Arab businesses, including The Arabian Village and Al Ameera Plaza, in addition to several openings outside of the centers.

• Ayat, 200 W. Spring Valley Road, Richardson
• Hamburgotti’s, 1057 S. Sherman St., Ste. 120, Richardson
• Mutabak Karak, 1057 S. Sherman Street, Ste. 110, Richardson

Technology company Andrew will relocate and expand its Richardson headquarters, according to a news release from the city.

The details: Andrew, an Amphenol company, is a global provider of wireless network infrastructure solutions, like antennas and network systems wireless communications in indoor and outdoor environments.

Andrew will move from 2601 Telecom Parkway to a nearby larger facility at 2920 Telecom Parkway, leasing around 42,000 square feet of office, engineering and lab space.

A closer look: Richardson approved a $150,000 business retention grant to support Andrew’s relocation, which Magner said is in line with the city’s strategic plan for economic development.

Quote of note: “We’re particularly excited because this is highly aligned with our economic development plan,” City Manager Don Magner said. “Anytime that we can help retain a company of the quality of Andrew and see them grow and expand in one of our target industries, it’s a real confirmation of the work that we’re doing.”

Dallas Area Rapid Transit services will remain unchanged for now in Richardson and Plano after Highland Park residents voted to withdraw from the transit system, according to unofficial final voting totals released by Dallas County. Addison and University Park residents voted to stay with DART.

Services in Highland Park are set to end May 14, the day after votes are canvassed, but remaining services in the rest of the DART member cities will remain unchanged.

What you need to know: Close to 70% of Addison voters and 54% of University Park voters favored staying with DART, according to unofficial final voting totals, while 70% of Highland Park voters elected to withdraw from the transit agency.

Quote of note: “The future of North Texas will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART,” said Randall Bryant, DART board of directors chair, in a news release. “We are focused on expanding this system with partners who recognize that transit drives economic growth, connects people to opportunity, and strengthens communities.”

Stay informed on five road projects happening around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Collin County
Spring Creek Corridor intersection improvements
Project: The Spring Creek Corridor will receive additional turning lanes, new concrete pavement, barrier-free ramp reconstruction, sidewalk replacements and signal modifications in Plano.

Update: The southbound right lane from SH 121 to 800 feet south of Headquarters Drive will be closed. The project is in final design and is awaiting property acquisition before construction can move forward. Public Works Community Investment Program Manager Drew Zaeske said construction is estimated to be completed in the second quarter of 2029.

• Timeline: May 2026-May 2029

• Cost: $8 million

• Funding source: city of Plano

Tarrant County
Lipscomb Street and Forest Street
Project: The outline for the work is replacing the waterline, sanitary sewer lines, storm drainage and adding sidewalks, according to city documents.

Update: The project has a contract completion date by the end of May.

• Timeline: June 2025-May 2026

• Cost: $1.5 million

• Funding sources: city of Grapevine, Tarrant County

More than 53,000 students will be invited to join Texas’ education savings account program this week, the state comptroller’s office said May 4.

The details: Families will be notified by email between May 4-6 if they were awarded funds in the second round of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, per a news release from the comptroller’s office.

To date, nearly 96,000 students have been selected to participate, with these students set to receive about $820 million of the $1 billion state lawmakers allocated for the program, an agency spokesperson said. Of the 53,000 second-round awardees, over 51,000 are from low-income families. The other 2,000 students accepted this week were found to qualify for disability-related funding, the agency said.

The background: Families accepted to the TEFA program will receive state funds to send their children to private schools or homeschool them for the 2026-27 school year.

Proponents of the new program have said it will expand educational opportunities, while critics have expressed concerns that the program will unfairly benefit students already enrolled in private schools.