When Ahmad Elattar lived in New York City, there was a halal cart on every corner, serving rice with chicken, lamb and a traditional white sauce, he said.

He wanted to bring those flavors to Allen, so he opened Halal Papi with his business partner and brother-in-law Adam Khalid in November 2025.

“It's not fast food, but it's like a home-cooked meal that's served to you fast,” he said.

A closer look: Elattar said he studied restaurants like Chipotle and Cava for inspiration, and wanted to focus on offering great food and great customer service.

His approach to customer service starts with how well he treats his employees, and “treating every customer as if they're an extension of your friends,” he said.

A Krossover Barber Shop in Allen is under new ownership, owner April Liggins said.

The details: The business offers haircuts, beard grooming, hair coloring services and more, according to its website. Liggins purchased the barber shop over the summer and renovated the interior, including painting and adding new barber stations, she said.

• 1201 W. McDermott Drive, Allen

Check out five upcoming and ongoing transportation projects around Dallas-Fort Worth.

1. Park Boulevard arterial concrete repair

Project: The city of Plano is removing and reconstructing a concrete arterial street and sidewalk along Park Boulevard from US 75 to east city limits.

Update: Bids for the project opened in mid-October and construction is estimated to start in late November or early December, city officials said.

• Timeline: November 2026-June 2028

• Cost: $4.7 million

• Funding: city of Plano

2. East Bethany Drive Asphalt Overlay Project

Project: The scope of the project includes constructing a protective layer of asphalt over the existing pavement to extend the life of the roadway, city of Allen documents state.

Update: The construction contract has been awarded to Overland Corporation, city officials said.

• Timeline: Construction expected to begin no later than April 15, 2027

• Cost: $1.6 million

• Funding source: city of Allen

Democrats saw decisive wins up and down the ballot in Texas and across the nation in the Nov. 3 election, flipping the Lone Star State to Democratic control for the first time in a generation.

The big picture: Texas has had a Republican governor, state Senate and state House since 2003. Next year, the state will be led by a Democratic governor, with a Democratic lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate and House lawmakers likely electing a Democrat to lead the chamber—however, the senators themselves will remain majority-Republican.

More details: How much power Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin will have over the Texas Senate is largely up to senators, who will approve the chamber's new rules when the legislature convenes in January.

Sam Hooper, a legislative attorney and consultant, said he was "hopeful" that the election results would lead to "a more collegial Senate" and cooperation among lawmakers of both political parties.

The majority-Republican Senate and majority-Democrat House will have to find a balance, as bills cannot become law without approval from both chambers.