Richardson residents are set to see water and wastewater rate increases this November in response to rising costs for water and infrastructure.

The overview: Richardson last adjusted its water and wastewater rates in November 2025, but City Manager Don Magner said the standard rate increases will no longer be sufficient to cover rising costs. In addition to increasing users’ volume rate, city staff recommended that Richardson also increase its monthly base charge, with higher fees for larger water meters.

The cause: The North Texas Municipal Water District has had “noteworthy increases” in its wholesale rates for 10 consecutive years, Magner said, while inflation continues to drive up utility operating and infrastructure costs.

Quote of note: “We really don’t pay for water,” said John McCaskill, clinical professor of public and nonprofit management at The University of Texas at Dallas. “We pay for the ability to move water.”

Urban Tandoori Pizza is coming soon to Richardson.

 The details: The restaurant will serve a variety of pizzas, sandwiches and wings with a mix of Italian and Desi flavors. The menu is 100% halal, per its website. Urban Tandoori Pizza is set to open in early September.

• 1403 E. Campbell Road, Ste. 108, Richardson

SH 5 in McKinney is turning into a 4-lane roadway and a hospital in the Alliance area is expanding its neonatal unit. Check out some of the latest construction projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

1. Core Scientific renovations
One of Denton’s two data centers, Core Scientific, will see renovations for a 27,678 square-foot facility to be used as a data hall, according to a TDLR filing.

• Location: 8171 Jim Christal Road, Denton
• Estimated timeline: Sept. 1, 2026-May 31. 2027
• Estimated cost: $110 million

• Location: From Spur 399 to south of FM 1378
• Estimated timeline: June 1, 2026-Dec. 1, 2028
• Estimated cost: $60 million

Texas voters will choose from Republican Bo French, Libertarian Arthur DiBianca and Democrat Jon Rosenthal in this November's Texas Railroad Commission race.

The details: The winner of the race will be sworn in to replace incumbent Commissioner Jim Wright in January.

French beat Wright in a May Republican primary runoff, advancing to the general election. Rosenthal ran uncontested in the March Democratic primary, while DiBianca was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Did you know? The three-member railroad commission does not have any jurisdiction over the state's railroads—that authority was transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government by 2005, according to the commission's website. Instead, the agency regulates Texas' oil and gas industries.

Looking ahead: Early voting in dozens of local and state races runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.