Denton ISD leaders are planning to repurpose Paloma Creek Elementary School after it did not meet Texas Education Agency standards for several years in a row.

The district’s board of trustees and district staff discussed the rezoning plans in a Feb. 24 meeting. Current students will be moved to nearby, higher-performing elementary schools as part of DISD’s Building Forward initiative, according to a district news release. Students will be moved for the 2026-27 school year.

The overview: During the meeting discussion, Superintendent Susannah O'Bara said the district is committed to ensuring students are learning at high levels.

“This is not an easy conversation or an easy recommendation, but we firmly believe we will better fulfill what we promised to our students and families this way,” O’Bara said.

Put in perspective: Paloma Creek has been scored a D for three consecutive years under the TEA’s accountability rating. When schools consistently perform poorly, the TEA gives districts several options to boost academic performance, including the option to reassign students to higher-performing schools, according to the release.

Pharmaceutical company Novartis will build and operate its first Texas radioligand therapy, or RLT, manufacturing plant in Denton on Shady Oaks Drive, according to a news release from the company. The site will be fully operational in 2028.

Some background: Denton City Council approved an economic development agreement with the company in December. Construction is expected to begin at the ned of this year, according to the release.

The new facility will produce drugs for radioligand therapy, a form of targeted radiation used to treat advanced forms of cancer, according to the Novartis website. In the treatment, a tumor-seeking molecule, or ligand, is combined with a radioactive isotope and delivers direct radiation to cancer cells. 

The Denton location will be the fifth manufacturing site of its kind in the United States, the release states.

The impact: The plant will be a 46,000-square-foot facility and is part of the company's $23 billion investment in the United States. The new plant will create local jobs in bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, quality and operations.

As springtime pollen allergies approach, North Texas residents with seasonal allergies may experience increased symptoms.

The specifics: Dr. Deepika Kumaresan, an internal medicine doctor with Baylor Scott & White, spoke with Community Impact about allergies in Dallas-Fort Worth, including symptoms, most prevalent allergens and treatment.

What are allergies, and what does the average person need to know about them? Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to substances that are typically harmless—like pollen, dust, mold, or pet dander. When exposed, the immune system releases chemicals such as histamine, which trigger symptoms ranging from sneezing and itchy eyes to more serious reactions. Understanding your triggers and recognizing symptoms early helps you manage allergies effectively. 

What time of year are allergies most prevalent, and why? In Texas—and especially North Texas—seasonal allergies can occur nearly year‑round due to our climate and plant diversity. 

• Winter (December-February): Cedar pollen is the main culprit.
• Spring (February-May): Tree pollens such as oak and pecan dominate.
• Summer (April-September): Grass pollen peaks.
• Fall (August-November): Ragweed surges until the first frost.

With a few days left to vote early in the March primaries, more Texans have turned out to the polls this year than in recent primary elections.

The gist: The increase is particularly pronounced among Democratic primary voters, state data shows, with more than twice as many Democratic votes cast by Feb. 24 than in Texas’ last gubernatorial primary.

Zooming in: Statewide, nearly 1.3 million Texans, or about 7% of the state’s 18.7 million registered voters, cast early ballots through Feb. 24, the eighth day of the 11-day early voting period. This is up from about 6% turnout at the same point in 2024 and about 4% turnout in 2022.

In interviews with Community Impact, election analysts attributed Texas’ rising primary voter turnout in part to a slate of competitive, high-profile races on each party’s primary ballot.

At the polls: Early voting in Texas’ Republican and Democratic primaries runs through Feb. 27, and primary election day is March 3. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location within their county of residence.