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Community Impact sat down with the president and chief executive officer of the TurfMutt Foundation, Kris Kiser, to discuss the importance of lawn maintenance and a few tips to ensure your yard looks good year-round.

The TurfMutt Foundation is a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor living and the care and stewardship of yards, parks and other green spaces, according to its website.

Responses have been edited for length, clarity and style.

Why should homeowners take care of their lawns?
Our outdoor spaces, particularly our lawns, are an extension of our home. During COVID, people really did reconnect to the outdoors. It was a safe space where you could entertain, cook and meet with friends and family. It created a connection to the outdoors that we used to have.

What common mistake should homeowners watch out for when planting?
Time of year. You want the ground to essentially be thawed, so you don't want a hard freeze. Remember that newly planted plants will need water, likely supplemental water, until they're established.

Despite declining revenue, Frisco ISD officials are projecting a balanced budget next fiscal year that could include a 2% raise for teachers and staff.

The overview: District officials and the board of trustees reviewed preliminary budget projections during a May 7 meeting. FISD anticipates about $752 million in operating revenue for fiscal year 2026-27, down from roughly $771.7 million in the current fiscal year, according to district projections. Kimberly Smith, FISD’s chief finance and strategy officer, said general fund revenue has decreased largely due to declining student enrollment.

What it means: Smith presented trustees with three payroll formula options tied to raises and funding for vacant positions. Trustees generally supported Option B, which would provide a 2% raise while funding 40% of vacant positions, saying it would provide more financial flexibility moving forward.

What’s next? The board will hold a public hearing and consider adopting the budget in June, meeting documents state.

Uncle Julio's closed its Frisco location on May 13. 

What you need to know: The restaurant's voicemail said the location closed because of "lease related circumstances."

The Frisco location first opened in April 2024. It served fish tacos, vegetable fajitas, carne asada, honey chipotle salmon, quesadillas and more.

A new fast-casual shawarma restaurant is opening soon in Frisco.

The details: Robo Shawarma is opening May 19, according to a social media post by the business. The restaurant's menu will feature freshly carved shawarma wraps and plates.

• 7875 Custer Road, Ste. 103, Frisco

McKinney officials moved forward with site plans for a Chuy's restaurant while Plano ISD anticipates a $44 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. McKinney P&Z approves site plan exception for Chuy’s restaurant
2. Next phase of Prosper Coit Road expansion delayed almost a year
3. Plano ISD anticipates $44M budget shortfall next fiscal year
4. Plaza Premium Group opens 2 new lounges at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
5. Collin College, UNT to offer new co-enrollment degree program in Frisco
6. Novartis breaks ground on new $280M Denton facility

After dozens of Texas primary races ended without a clear winner in March, candidates for those seats will face off in an overtime round, known as a runoff election, this month. Texans can vote early in the runoff election from May 18-22, with election day May 26.

How it works: State law requires that primary candidates receive more than 50% of the votes cast to advance to a general election.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican and Democratic voters will choose who they want to represent them in statewide offices, legislative and Congressional seats, the State Board of Education and county-level positions. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the ballot in November.

On the ballot: The statewide Republican runoff races include:

• U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
• Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy
• Texas railroad commissioner: Jim Wright and Bo French

• Texas attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski
• Texas lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Vélez