DTX-RIC: Impact 11/3/2025

Plano City Council will consider calling a special election at a special meeting Nov. 5 that will determine if Plano will remain part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART, system, per a city news release. 

What you need to know: If council votes to call the election, Plano voters will decide in a 2026 election if the city should withdraw from DART in favor of alternative transit solutions or remain with the agency. The release cites a 2023 study from Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors that revealed a “clear disparity in spending” as a primary reason for the special meeting.

Some context: DART’s board of directors voted Sept. 9 to approve service changes, including reduced train and bus route frequencies. 

Quote of note: “For years, the city of Plano has worked to hold DART accountable for the hundreds of millions of tax dollars contributed by our residents,” the release states. “Given these circumstances, city leaders believe it is time to ask residents directly: Should DART continue to operate in the city of Plano?”

Brothers Morad and Mohamed Barghouti will soon be expanding their smash burger food truck to a new brick-and-mortar restaurant in Richardson.

What they offer: The menu features the signature “Hamburgotti,” a halal-style smash burger offered in single-, double- or triple-patty options. Hamburgotti’s also offers a catering menu with the option to order up to 100 “Hamburgottis” with chips and drinks included.

North Texas Food Bank and Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, is bracing for “a surge in need.”

The situation: Rising food costs are already causing food banks to see an increased need, according to a statement from Feeding Texas. In addition, on Nov. 1 individuals are expected to lose assistance from SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program provides qualifying individuals and families monthly food benefits.

Quote of note: “A delay in benefits isn’t just inconvenient—it’s devastating," NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham said in a news release. "It means empty pantries, skipped meals and added stress for families already living on the edge.”

What it means: Plano-based NTFB serves 12 counties across the region, including 51,317 individual SNAP participants in Collin County, according to NTFB data.

Approximately 460,000 Texans have Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Advocates are encouraging Texas voters to approve State Proposition 14, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to spend $3 billion to launch the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

The overview: Proposition 14 would allocate $3 billion in state dollars to fund the institute for the next 10 years. The institute would work with researchers and doctors to study the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

All funding for the institute would come from existing state revenue, donations and potential federal grants, meaning no new state taxes or fees would be created.

What they're saying: "If Proposition 14 passes, it really will establish Texas as an incredible leader in our country," neurological researcher Joshua Shulman said. 

At the polls: Early voting runs through Oct. 31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.