DTX-GCS: Impact 10/8/2025

An increase in trash and recycling rates in Grapevine took effect Oct. 1.

The Grapevine City Council approved the rate increase during its Sept. 16 meeting.

According to city documents, Republic Services compared the rates to the consumer price index for costs in the area. The rate increase is 5.25%, resulting in $0.96 increase in residential service—$18.29 to $19.25 per month.

Meeting coverage: Council also approved the purchase of fleet vehicles for several departments due to age and/or mileage, according to city documents. The total cost is $6.9 million.

The Grapevine Police Department will receive 19 of the vehicles.

What else?: Fortson Contracting Inc. was awarded a contract to replace guardrails along Snakey Lane near Grapevine Lake.

The Rice, Texas-based business will replace 350 linear feet of guardrails in three different locations along Snakey Lane, according to city documents.

The town of Trophy Club will be known as the Texas Town of Patriotism for the next 10 years.

Town Council member Steve Flynn mentioned during the Sept. 22 meeting that the town was bestowed that title after the 89th legislative session.

According to previous reporting, Rep. Ben Bumgarner, R-Flower Mound, and Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, led the work in Austin to get the designation passed.

In Parker's filing, it said, "Since its inception, the Town of Trophy Club has set an inspiring example by making patriotism a centerpiece of community life and civic engagement, and its efforts deserve to be duly recognized."

Quote of note: “When you plant your flag, know that you had a part in achieving this recognition,” Trophy Club Mayor Jeannette Tiffany said.

What else? The town has five parks with patriotic-themed names and flags are flown at eight different locations. For the past 12 years, every street and every neighborhood in Trophy Club has planted flags for the city’s Fourth of July celebration.

Keller-based All American MMA now has a location in Southlake.

All American MMA owner Rocky Budri worked with Lonestar Mat Club owners Dr. Glenn Vo and Dr. Susan Tran in Southlake and merged the two wrestling clubs.

The focus is to build state- and national-level competition teams in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling in Southlake, according to coach Travis Clark.

Quote of note: “We're basically trying to not only build a powerhouse in Texas, but we want to build a powerhouse in the entire country as far as jiu-jitsu and wrestling goes,” said Clark, who is the head wrestling coach at Euless Trinity High School.

The background: Budri has operated All American in Keller since 2014. With the merger, All American will operate the wrestling portion in Southlake, while bringing jiu-jitsu, Clark said. He said the plan is to get the jiu-jitsu program up by Nov. 1, while boxing and Muay Thai could come in 2026.

From Oct. 13-19, Texas residents will not have to pay to apply to in-state public colleges and universities.

The details: During Free College Application Week, application fees will be waived for all Texas residents applying to undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities located in Texas. First-time college students, transfer students and students returning to school are eligible, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

To qualify for the fee waiver, all applications must be submitted through ApplyTexas, the state’s college application portal.

What they're saying: “Texas prioritizes opportunities for students to pursue the best education they need to succeed in high demand, good-paying jobs after graduation,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in an Aug. 29 news release. “By supporting our students today, we are investing in a stronger Texas tomorrow.” 

Put in perspective: Most high school seniors apply to 5-10 colleges or universities and each application costs about $60-$75, state lawmakers estimated in June.