City leaders are considering a zoning change to accommodate the future Cannon Beach surf resort at the northeast corner of Stacy Road and SH 121.

What’s happening: McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend new zoning for the project during a March 10 meeting. McKinney City Council is expected to consider the zoning request and take final action at an April 7 meeting, according to a city document.

If approved by council, more than 58 acres of land would be zoned to allow a mix of uses that are expected at the future surf park. Many of the same development regulations were already included under the land’s current “C3” commercial zoning, City Planner Jake Bennett said.

The background: Cannon Beach, which broke ground in December, will include a 3-acre surf lagoon, lazy river and a mineral hot springs circuit. The $200 million surf resort, announced in 2024, is being developed by the Cannon Development Group. It’s partnering with the city of McKinney, McKinney Economic Development Corp. and McKinney Community Development Corp.

Fried chicken chain Bojangles plans to open its first McKinney location this month, staff at the location confirmed.

The details: Bojangles locations serve chicken dishes, including chicken sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders, according to its website. The restaurant also serves breakfast and sides such as seasoned fries, macaroni and cheese, dirty rice and coleslaw.
 

• 200 S. Central Expressway, McKinney

Two new businesses are slated to join the rebranded 380 Marketplace retail center in McKinney.

Gravy & More is set to open in the third quarter of 2026 and Integrity Urgent Care is slated to open in the fourth quarter, Precision Investments Managing Partner Dan Avnery said in an email.

The specifics: Gravy & More will serve breakfast and lunch. Many items, including Gravy Train Breakfast and Papa Dave’s Meatloaf, are served with gravy. Integrity Urgent Care will offer a variety of healthcare services including urgent care, primary care, virtual primary care and occupational medicine.

• 2414 W. University Drive, McKinney

On a 25-acre park in Waxahachie, hundreds of actors and artisans will bring to life a 16th-century English village over eight weekends in spring, complete with jousting, feasts and Scarborough Castle.

Scarborough Renaissance Festival, one of the oldest and largest renaissance festivals in the nation, celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, providing immersive entertainment from April 4-May 25.

The overview: Visitors will have the opportunity to watch jousts and other entertainment on the festival’s 20 stages, explore games and rides, shop handmade goods, and eat and drink at the variety of restaurants, pubs and taverns. Around 100 cast members bring the festival to life, interacting with guests as villagers, nobles, performers and other characters to create what Assistant Entertainment Director Janna Zepp calls “interpersonal magic.”

How we got here: Although the festival has evolved over the years—additions include sit-down restaurants, ticket scanners and modern restrooms—Zepp said that interpersonal magic between actors and guests remains a constant.

“The moment you walk in the gate, you just feel the joy and the celebration," Zepp said.

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Families have until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the first year of Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The big picture: Under the $1 billion program, participating students will receive state funds for private education or homeschooling during the 2026-27 school year. It is unlikely that all applicants will be accepted, as application data shows more students have applied than the program can fund.

The program offers $2,000 to homeschooled students; $10,474 for private school tuition and related expenses; and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. With demand set to exceed available funding, applications will be prioritized based on need and household income.

How we got here: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025, with proponents saying it will expand options for families who don't want to send their children to public schools. Critics of the program have said it will unfairly benefit students already in private schools and divert funding from public schools.