DTX-RIC: Impact 10/17/2025

Richardson ISD students from kindergarten through eighth grade performed above national norms in the beginning-of-the-year Measure of Academic Progress, or MAP exams.

The results, presented at an Oct. 9 board of trustees meeting, show that all of these grade levels surpassed national averages in the MAP Reading English assessment.

According to RISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum, this is the first time in a few years that the district has had every single grade level above national norms in one of these exams.

The big picture: The data collected by the exams—which were administered in September—shows growth compared to the beginning of the 2024 school year in all assessed areas, including Reading English, Reading Spanish and Mathematics.

In addition, most grade levels performed above national norms on the Reading Spanish and Mathematics exams, with only fifth and eighth grades falling a few points below, respectively.

Phenix Salon Suites is planning to open a second Richardson location early next year.

What you need to know: Malak Stewart, local owner of the Southlake location, will be the owner of the new location in Richardson. The salon is expected to open in February 2026 and will be located in the Promenade North shopping center, according to Stewart. Additionally, the facility will include 47 mini-suites, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

• 650 N. Coit Road, Ste. 2320, Richardson

New flights and destinations from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport started in early October from EVA Air and Frontier Airlines. In addition, construction projects that are part of DFW Forward continue. Check out this list of four updates from the airport.

1. EVA Air holds a ceremony for inaugural flight: EVA Air held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 3 with dignitaries from the airline, the airport and the city of Fort Worth for a new flight between Dallas and Taiwan.

2. Roadwork continues at DFW Airport: Crews from Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating Inc. have started to pave portions of the East West Connector project. The 1.65-mile roadway will extend Rental Car Drive from International Parkway to SH 360.