The upcoming Sunset Amphitheater project in McKinney is about 70% complete and could accommodate more shows per year than previously expected, according to developers. 

Bob Mudd, Venu’s vice president of construction and market expansion, said the entertainment venue could receive a temporary certificate of occupancy by April 1.

The current situation: Mudd spoke about the project's progress and additional investments being made during an Oct. 5 joint meeting between McKinney City Council, McKinney Economic Development Corp. and McKinney Community Development Corp. An amended and restated Chapter 380 agreement for the project was approved at the meeting.

What it means: The action will enable the city manager, MEDC president and MCDC president to combine four previously approved amendments into one updated agreement, according to a city document. The updated agreement would also include a provision enabling a sale-leaseback transaction as a result of Venu’s expected investment growing from $220 million in the original agreement to more than $330 million, Mudd said.

“Our cost today is right at $334 million,” Mudd said.

Cafe LaFaye opened in downtown McKinney this summer, a company representative said.

The details: Located within the McKinney Flour Mill, the business offers coffee, tea and pastries, such as muffins, banana bread and beignets, according to its website.

• 407 E. Louisiana St., McKinney

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."