With populations rising in Prosper and Celina, local officials and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District are expanding water infrastructure to meet growing demands.

Some context: In 2024, both municipalities agreed to fund a $269 million expansion of the Doe Branch Water Reclamation Plant, which serves both communities.

The gist: The plant was previously expanded in 2021, but local officials said continued population growth in both municipalities prompted the need for another expansion. Construction was estimated to cost $209.9 million, but the project has seen price increases, primarily due to inflation.

Why it matters: Prosper and Celina officials are projecting water and wastewater rate increases over the next several years, particularly due to funding the Doe Branch expansion project. While the Doe Branch expansion will address improving wastewater capacity, officials are also planning for increasing future water supply alongside development.

Zaxbys could be opening a new location in Prosper.

The details: Construction on the new restaurant is scheduled to start this April, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The chain's menu features fried chicken fingers and wings, salads, sandwiches, along with sides such as fried pickles, loaded fries and Texas toast.

• 5620 W. University Drive, Prosper

Construction at the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and paving along Legacy Drive in Prosper are two of many new projects filed recently with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Here are five of the most expensive permits filed with TDLR in the past week.

1. Cook Children’s West Tower expansion

2. Residence Inn McKinney

3. Legacy Drive paving and drainage improvements

4. Bank 7 Frisco Branch

5. Fuel station and car wash for H-E-B in Denton

Beginning April 1, Texans can no longer use food stamps to purchase sweetened beverages and candy.

How we got here: During the 2025 legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 379, which prohibits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from being used to purchase candy and sweetened drinks. In August, the federal government approved a waiver allowing Texas to implement the prohibition beginning April 1.

Texas will be the ninth state to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used on sugary items, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

How it works: Under SB 379, Texans will not be allowed to use their SNAP benefits to buy sweetened drinks containing any artificial sweeteners or at least 5 grams of added sugar, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. SB 379 also bans the purchase of candy with Lone Star Cards.

It is up to Texas businesses to determine which items are no longer SNAP-eligible, update their store purchase systems and train staff to recognize the newly restricted items, according to the HHSC.