An April report from Denton Community Services Director Jesse Kent showed that affordable housing tax credits and tax exemptions were not resulting in lower rent rates for Denton renters.

The overview: Federal and state agencies use area median income, or AMI, to calculate what rent rates are affordable at different income levels, Kent said.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development calculates AMI for Denton with income information from several counties in or near the larger Dallas area, including Dallas, Collin, Hunt, Denton, Rockwall, Kaufman and Ellis counties, according to Kent's report.

As of 2025, HUD data shows the Dallas region’s AMI for a family of four is $117,300 annually, while Denton’s AMI is $80,900, according to city data. When the state and federal agencies set affordable housing prices in Denton, it’s based on what’s affordable for the Dallas area’s median income, not the city of Denton.

Some background: City leaders adopted new affordability criteria for Denton City Council to approve federally funded tax credits at a Nov. 18 work session.

Ice Cream Labs, an ice cream shop off I-35, opened in early April, owner Krishna Rupa said.

The overview: The business offers ice cream scoops in bowls and cones, and the cones are made in-house, Rupa said.

Ice Cream Labs offers several ice cream flavors, including cookie dough, banana pudding and butter pecan, along with mango and açaí-flavored sorbet.

Rupa said the company will host a grand opening event later this summer. The event will feature $1 ice cream scoops and free churro bites.

• 2430 E. I-35, Ste. 136, Denton

A new $130 million East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station was unveiled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on May 11.

The station is part of the DFW Forward capital improvement plan, a $12 billion project that will update many portions of the airport that opened 51 years ago, according to the airport website.

The East facility, commonly referred to as ARFF, is the first part of combining four stations into two.

A closer look: J.E. Dunn Construction and PGAL are behind the design-build partnership for the ARFF projects.

The new East Station has 10 apparatus bays, 21 dorm rooms, a dedicated training and fitness space, a support area for hazardous material, decontamination and equipment storage, and includes an F5-rated storm shelter, according to a news release.

Also of note: During the May 7 DFW Airport board of directors meeting, three ARFF contracts were awarded.

Oncor is providing and installing the necessary electric service infrastructure for both of the new ARFF stations for $1.27 million.

In addition, three new vehicles were approved for purchase.

Several business have filed construction permits with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Check out five major construction permits filed around the Metroplex.

1. Simpson Manufacturing expansion: California-based manufacturing company Simpson Manufacturing is scheduled to build a 278,000-square-foot expansion at its McKinney plant near the McKinney airport, according to TDLR documents. The expansion will add space to the existing manufacturing and warehouse buildings, and include a remodel for the building’s office and training space. The company produces construction equipment and parts, including  anchors and fasteners, their website states.

• Location: 2151 S. Airport Drive, McKinney

• Estimated timeline: Sept. 1-March 31, 2028

• Estimated cost: $57 million

2. Krypton Solutions office and research facility: TDLR documents show Krypton Solutions, a manufacturing services provider, will start construction on a new office and research building in Plano in August. The company offers design services and builds parts and electrical components for manufacturing, according to Krypton’s website.

• Location: 3060 Summit Ave., Plano

• Estimated timeline: Aug. 1-Aug. 1, 2027

• Estimated cost: $14.8 million

On May 26, Republican voters will choose their nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff election between former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French and incumbent Jim Wright.

The overview: The Republican railroad commission race is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Wright and French were the two highest-performing candidates in the five-way primary race, with Wright receiving 32.1% of the vote and French collecting 31.7%.

The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face state Rep. John Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the November midterm election. Third-party candidates may also appear on the November ballot.

Did you know? The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. The agency has three commissioners elected to staggered six-year terms.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, with runoff election day May 26.