The Keller ISD board of trustees will attempt to finalize plans to close its three intermediate schools and reassign students before the district's winter break begins, Superintendent Cory Wilson said during an Oct. 29 board meeting.

The overview: Keller ISD staff is currently using preliminary boundary maps to verify how the address of each student affected by the consolidation fits into the proposed attendance zones. 

The boundary realignments support the district’s approved plan to close all three of its intermediate campuses and transition to a system where elementary schools will serve pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, middle schools will include grades 6-8 and high schools will serve students in grades 9-12, according to a KISD news release.

What’s next: Preliminary discussions on boundary alignments will begin with the board of trustees later in November, Wilson said at the Oct. 29 meeting.

Stephens Sweet Shoppe will be one of the new businesses opening at The Keller Depot.

The mobile candy store launched in 2024 and is owned by Tina Stephens and her husband, Jason Peterson.

The overview: The business traveled throughout North Texas to various events and festivals and was based at the Box Office Warehouse Space in north Fort Worth until last year. The mobile unit has been parked at the family's Keller home as Stephens and Peterson looked for a new location.

The store will offer a variety of wrapped candy and treats, similar to the more than 100 varieties offered inside the trailer. Stephens said they will rotate the offerings like they do with the mobile unit, adding seasonal sweets throughout the year.

Stephens Sweet Shoppe will take over the former Catherine Anne's Books location. The owners hope to open by Christmas, but that heavily dependent on construction and permitting.

• 128 Bates St., Keller

A new QuikTrip is now operating in north Fort Worth. 

The details: The location opened at the beginning of October, according to the store manager. In May, a QuikTrip spokesperson said Sept. 17 was the anticipated opening date, according to previous reporting.

In addition to selling gasoline for vehicles, the location offers snacks, sandwiches, slushies, pastries and kitchen-prepared hot foods like pizza, tacos, breakfast items and pretzels.

• 3336 Alliance Gateway Freeway, Fort Worth

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

Upcoming projects

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

State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black legislator in Texas history, said she has the votes to become Texas House speaker when the legislature convenes in January.

What to know: Thompson released a list Nov. 6 of 90 House members whom she said pledged to support her speaker candidacy.

The 87-year-old was first elected to the legislature in 1972 and took office the following year. She would become the first woman and the first Black lawmaker to serve as Texas House speaker.

The context: Thompson's candidacy comes after Democrats swept Texas' statewide seats in the Nov. 3 election, ending 24 years of Republican dominance. Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, threw his hat in the ring for speaker on Nov. 5 before endorsing Thompson less than a day later.

Quote of note: "I know that with the colleagues that are being sent to the legislature, both Democrats and Republicans working together, we can make a difference in the state of Texas and the lives of the people that we represent," Thompson said.