First McKinney Baptist Church will now be able to host more individuals experiencing homelessness when temperatures drop.

What happened: McKinney City Council members approved a variance Dec. 16 for the church’s permit to operate a warming station during extremely cold weather. The variance enables the church to host up to 100 individuals once the ambient temperature drops to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a city document.

First McKinney Baptist Church partners with Emmanuel Labor to run the McKinney Emergency Overnight Warming Station, or MEOWS.

Quote of note: Paul Ballesteros, founder of Emmanuel Labor, spoke on behalf of the church during the meeting.

Ballesteros said First McKinney Baptist Church is an ideal facility because of its size and its ability to provide showers for guests. Last year, the warming station didn’t open until January, but this year it’s been open for four nights already, he said.

“It is a great tool in our toolbox as a community to be able to reach people,” Ballesteros said.

Wishful Thinking, a gift boutique owned by Patty Streber, is now open in a new location in downtown McKinney.

The gist: In addition to Streber’s silversmithing art and jewelry, the shop also offers candles, local wall art and more. The space will also serve as Streber’s silversmithing studio.

• 108 W. Virginia St., McKinney

Plaza Premium Group will add two more lounges within Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in early 2026.

Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge will be located in Terminal D. The spaces will deliver a tailored experience for travelers with diverse expectations and travel with purpose and preferences, according to a news release.

The details: The dual lounge concept will be located near Gate D17. It will be the second in North America, joining Vancouver International Airport.

Plaza Premium First and the Premium Plaza Lounge will offer a lounge experience with personalized service, featuring dining, amenities and privacy, according to a news release.

The background: DFW Airport has been the home of Plaza Premium Group's regional headquarters for the Americas since 2023. The company employs more than 400 employees across the United States, according to a news release.

News about airports is flying around Dallas-Fort Worth with DFW International Airport aiming to open its sixth terminal by 2027 and McKinney National Airport gaining its first commercial service provider. 

See details from these stories and more in this list of the top six most-read stories from Community Impact's DFW coverage areas from Dec. 15-19.

1. Stonebriar Centre announces new tenants for 2026 in Frisco

2. H-E-B set to build 51,599 square-foot electronic fulfillment center in Frisco

3. Check out 6 restaurants newly opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

4. Avelo Airlines signs on as 1st commercial service provider at McKinney National Airport

5. See 14 senior living options in Frisco

6. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport board approves additional work on Terminal F, Skylink Station

Community Impact compiled important holiday travel-related information, including what to know about traffic and airport activity, gas price data, and driver safety tips ahead of the year-end travel season, which runs Dec. 20-Jan. 1.

The overview: Texans should give themselves extra time to reach their destinations the weekend before Christmas, with many travelers expected to hit the road Dec. 21-22. Congestion is also expected as some Texans return home Dec. 26, according to INRIX, a transportation data company.

Minimal traffic is expected Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1, although AAA warned in a Dec. 10 news release that unexpected delays could arise from severe weather or crashes.

For the first time, more than 8 million people nationwide are expected to take domestic flights during the year-end holidays.

More information: Texas drivers will likely pay less for gas this holiday season than in recent years, AAA fuel data shows. On average, one gallon of unleaded gas costs about $2.51 in Texas as of Dec. 18, down from $2.65 one year prior.