School starts in Allen ISD in about two weeks, and district officials are planning to welcome thousands of students into classrooms. Here are some essentials to know for the upcoming school year.

Important dates:

• First day of school: Aug. 13
• Fall break: Oct. 12-14
• Thanksgiving break:  Nov. 23-27
• Winter break: Dec. 21-Jan. 1
• Spring break: March 15-19
• Last day of school: May 27, last day of instruction for students
• High school graduation: May 28, ceremony for Allen High School graduates

McKinney-based artist Andrea Holmes finished downtown Allen’s first mural in early July, she said.

The details: The mural, named “Wings of Allen,” is the eighth in a 100-piece series focused on birds, she said. The piece includes images that represent the city and region, such as an eagle, bluebonnets and cone flowers. Holmes also drew inspiration from Chloe Mae Studios, where the mural is located, by incorporating a “light, dusty color palette,” she said.

Also of note: This project is the first mural in downtown Allen and Holmes said she hopes the mural can "pave the way" for other artists to bring pieces to the downtown area.

“I love the idea that just some paint can totally transform an area, and it can become a landmark for a place,” Holmes said.

Get involved: Chloe Mae Studios is hosting a mural reveal and reception for the project from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 8. Individuals can also purchase pieces of Holmes’s artwork at the studio.

• 202 S. Austin Drive, Allen

Arcade and restaurant chain Dave & Buster’s is now open.

The roughly 40,000-square-foot venue is the largest Dave & Buster’s location in North Texas, Event Sales Manager Jeff York said.

The details: Dave & Buster’s locations offer arcade games, as well as a food and drink menu featuring chicken wings, burgers, cocktails and more, according to its website. The venue also offers screens showing sports including NFL games, UFC matches and other major sporting events, as well as spaces for events including birthday parties and corporate gatherings.

Quote of note: “We have wonderful latest and greatest games,” General Manager Reschelle Karanja said. “We are so excited to be here in the community.”

• 4064 W. University Drive, McKinney

American Express will expand its Centurion Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

The $35 million project, according to a state filing, will expand and renovate the lounge into a neighboring space near Gate D12 at Terminal D at DFW Airport.

The details: The expansion will make the lounge nearly 50% larger, adding more seating, a new dining area, a walk-up ice cream window and a second full-service bar, according to a news release.

The expected opening will be in 2027, according to a news release. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings show an estimated completion date for the 18,000-square-foot project of Nov. 19, 2027.

“American Express has long been at the forefront of the airport lounge experience, and we continue to build on that legacy and raise the bar as we grow our network,” said Audrey Hendley, American Express Travel president.

The background: The American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW Airport opened on Sept. 27, 2018.

• 2333 S. International Parkway, Terminal D, Gate 12, DFW Airport

A new James Avery location is coming to Denton, and a pool supply store will start construction in Trophy Club. Check out five of the latest construction permits filed around the metroplex.

3400 at Cityline renovation
A corporate office space at 3400 at Cityline, an office park, will undergo about $12 million in renovations, according to TDLR documents. The documents state the project will cover about 36,000 square feet and cost $12 million. 

• Location: 3400 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 470, Richardson
• Estimated timeline: Aug. 31-Dec. 31
• Estimated cost: $12 million

• Location: 1732 S. Loop 288, Ste. 100, Denton
• Estimated timeline: Sept. 28, 2026-Jan. 11 2027
• Estimated cost: $423,800

Texas lawmakers are considering cutting a costly, decade-old tax break for the state’s booming data center industry.

The overview: Texas spends more than $1 billion annually on the sales tax exemption, and the comptroller’s office estimated in 2025 that due to the program, the state will lose about $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over the next two years.

The Lone Star State is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, and the Data Center Coalition, which advocates for the industry, has argued that the tax break program is key to maintaining that title. Senators and members of the public who spoke at a July 27 hearing disagreed.

Looking ahead: Amid a bipartisan push for more regulation of data centers, senators indicated that they intend to add more strings to the tax exemption program or eliminate it entirely.

"The question is whether or not we need to have a special session where all of us are focusing in on this," Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said.

“We do,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, replied.